#i was hoping anthony would officially join the band :(

[le-velo-pour-dru]

Well, I guess it's official that Dallon's a solo artist now 💔

[suitofvibraniumarmor]

If You Just Realize

Part Eight: Marry Me

Summary: Whether they’re ready for it or not, Sebastian and Y/N’s wedding day arrives.  Pairing: Sebastian Stan x Reader Word Count: 2585 Series Warnings: Death, angst, sadness. Lots of creative licensing, I’m sure. Chapter Warnings: Drinking, confused feelings, fluff ... oh and that one scene at the end ...  Square Filled: This entire series will fill my realized feelings square for @marvelfluffbingo​​​​​. A/N: I’ve much enjoyed writing this series, and I hope all of you enjoy reading it! The tag list is open; requests to be added can be done so here. There are bits and pieces of Romanian throughout the series, mostly from Google Translate and the few things I’ve picked up as I learn the language.

Series Masterlist

The morning of the wedding, Y/N woke up in a room at the Waldorf with Kennedy. Everyone except for Kennedy was unaware of the truth in their arrangement and had insisted that the engaged couple not sleep even in the same apartment the night before. Y/N’s family was in a couple of other rooms in the same hotel but had given her space with her friend for the time being. 

She started the coffee pot then went to the bathroom to do her business, wash her face, and take a good look in the mirror. These were the last few hours she’d ever be single; even after their marriage ended, she wouldn’t be ‘single’, she would be ‘divorced’. 

“This is too weird,” she mumbled, moving away from the mirror and towards the coffee pot. She poured herself a cup and then one for Kennedy too when her friend began to stir. Y/N sat back on the bed, against the pillows, trying to focus on the positives of the day. 

Kennedy sipped on the warm liquid and nodded. “Mmm, yes, that’s good. How are you feeling this morning?”

Y/N snorted. “Nervous as hell. I know I want to do this, I know I’m doing the right thing, but I don’t — I don’t know. It’s weird at the same time.”

“Do you love him?”

“Sebastian? Of course I love him. He’s one of my closest friends. I wouldn’t do this kind of thing for just anyone, you know.”

Kennedy took another drink of her coffee. “I know that. I know you love Seb, but what I’m asking is, are you in love with him?”

Y/N thought about that for a good minute. She wanted to answer honestly, but she simply didn’t know — and she told Kennedy as much. 

“There was a moment the other night, when he came and proposed, just the way I had told his mother that he had done. He hugged me really tight and I sort of cuddled into him. I could just breathe in his smell … it was so strong and masculine and comforting … so Seb. And I thought, ‘Yeah. I could get used to this.’” She shook her head and set her coffee on the bedside table. Her stomach wasn’t up for consuming anything. “But that doesn’t mean I’m in love with him, and it certainly doesn’t mean I should get used to anything in this little arrangement.” 

She slid off the bed and went to unzip the garment bag that protected her dress. Anytime now, Georgeta, Milena, Y/N’s sister-in-law, and her grandmother would be joining them in the room, anxious to get the bride-to-be wedding-ready. She ran her fingers softly over the pretty embroidery on the dress and shook her head. 

“My feelings aren’t the most important thing at the moment. Getting through today, getting Sebastian custody of Milena — that’s what’s important. Finish that coffee, I’ll call down to room service to bring up a spread for the ladies coming to meet us soon.”

Y/N couldn’t meet Kennedy’s eyes. If she did, she knew that the confused feelings brewing within her would only bring her to tears, and she refused to cry anything but happy tears on her wedding day. 

Sebastian couldn’t stop looking at the clock. Every minute that passed, he was one minute closer to marrying Y/N; one less minute she had to back out on him. Not that he expected that of her, but, well, he was nervous.

“I was nervous too, the day I married your mother,” Anthony commented, taking over the cufflink Sebastian had been working the last few minutes to secure. “Marrying someone with a child is a big commitment. You were older. We knew how custody was going to work with you. Marrying someone who hasn’t had that child very long, leaves a person with a lot of unknowns.”

The younger man frowned. “You think this is a bad idea?”

“Not at all,” Anthony assured with a kind smile. “What I’m trying to say — and I guess not doing a great job of saying — is that you’ve found someone really special, Sebastian. I’m very proud of you and I’m very happy for you.”

Sebastian’s shoulders released some tension. “Thanks. That means a lot, really. Mom and I both lucked out with you, I think.”

Anthony clapped him on the back before pulling him in for a hug. “Anything you and the girls need, come to us. We’ll help you. We’re here to help you.”

“Thanks.” He looked at the clock again. “An hour. How is there still an hour to go?”

With a roll of laughter that can only come from someone who has lived through the same experience before, Anthony clapped his stepson on the back. 

“C’mon, let’s get you a beer to take the edge off. Shall we?”

“Yeah, a beer sounds good,” Sebastian sighed, heading down to the kitchen with Anthony. 

Y/N’s grandmother zipped up the back of her dress, and her stepmother helped her balance while she pushed her feet into her shoes and fixed the buckle. She stood and smoothed out the dress, tucked her curled hair behind her ears, and took a shaky breath before going to the floor length mirror to get a good look at herself. 

“So pretty,” Milena told her, smiling shyly as she leaned into her grandmother. 

Y/N looked at the small girl, wearing her own pretty dress, and grinned. She remembered now why she was doing this; why her own feelings didn’t matter. She would have a good life with Sebastian and Milena, for as long as they would have her. Milena would have the support and the family she needed. Sebastian wouldn’t crash into parenthood alone. 

Y/N crouched in front of Milena, careful not to crease her dress. She took Milena’s hands in her own. “Not as pretty as you. It’s just about time, princess — you ready for me to marry your uncle?”

Milena nodded emphatically. Y/N held out her hand and the two of them walked ahead of the other ladies, hand in hand all the way to the courthouse. 

Despite the beer he’d had before coming to City Hall, Sebastian was well-aware of his nerves as he waited for their appointed ceremony time. Y/N was waiting behind with Milena and her father, wanting to wait until the last possible second before Sebastian saw her. 

“Give me that much tradition, anyway,” she had smirked. 

He could see that it was something important to her, and once she walked through the doors, her arm hooked through her father’s and her other hand holding tight to Milena’s, Sebastian decided the wait had been entirely worth every second of anticipation leading up to the moment her father placed Y/N’s hand in his. They both leaned down to kiss Milena on the cheek, then sent her to sit with Georgeta for the rest of the ceremony. 

“You look so beautiful,” he whispered, taking her hands in his. 

She smiled up at him and he knew his compliment had gone far. “Thank you. You’re quite handsome in that suit.”

He smiled, too. The justice was ready to start the ceremony then, but Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off of Y/N; she was truly a vision in that embroidered dress. She was done up more than her everyday appearance, but she was still the woman he knew. He was proud to know that she was his, at least for a little while. 

In fact, he had a difficult time keeping up with where they were at in the ceremony for all the staring at her he was doing. Y/N didn’t seem to notice, and thank goodness Sebastian was paying enough attention to know when it was his turn to speak. 

Repeating after the justice, Sebastian said the vows they had chosen together. “I promise you, Y/N, that I will be your loving and loyal husband from now on. I will share with you all of life’s joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, until death parts us.”

Carefully, he slid the band from her wedding set onto her finger. Her eyes were glazed with tears, and Sebastian hoped they were happy ones. Y/N slid a gold wedding band on the appropriate finger of his left hand and repeated the same vows. Her voice caught and a couple of tears fell before she go to the part about death parting them; perhaps knowing the vow was a lie already was difficult. He would have to remember to apologize to her later; he would never stop thanking her for doing all of this for him. When her vow was complete, she squeezed his hands and let out a deep breath. 

“As a ceaseless reminder of this hour, and of the promise you have made to each other, these rings also speak of the oneness you now experience as husband and wife. By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I officially pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Y/N’s eyes went wide; Sebastian realized they had never discussed this part. Of all of the people watching, though, only Kennedy knew that this was not a marriage borne of love, but of necessity. Of one friend in need and the other friend coming to his aid. Quickly taking control of the moment, Sebastian dropped her hands to cradle her face. 

“I love you,” he whispered before pressing his lips to hers.

Her response was soft and hesitant at first, but after that first initial meeting of their lips, she pressed into him, her arms going around his neck. Sebastian wrapped his arms around her middle to have her as close as possible. Were it not for the applause of their audience, he might have let the kiss go on until she pulled away. 

The reception dinner was a small affair, only attended by the family members who had attended the ceremony, Kennedy, and a couple of other local, mutual friends. There was good conversation and lots of laughter. The newlywed couple felt so much love surrounding them. 

At the end of the night, Milena went home with her grandparents. Y/N and Sebastian headed to a different room in the Waldorf — a gift from his parents — amidst a beautiful sparkler send off. Kennedy winked at Y/N when the girls hugged, letting her friend know the sparklers had been her idea. Even under the circumstances, she appreciated that Kennedy had remembered Y/N always liked the idea and made it happen for her. 

The cab ride to the hotel was quiet. They were both tired, but also anxious. There were certain things expected on a wedding night … kissing to seal their vows in front of everyone was one thing. Sleeping together was an entirely different story. 

Once in the room, where their overnight bags had already been dropped off, Y/N dropped down to the mattress and gave him a nervous smile as he locked the door behind them. 

“Comfy,” she commented, though they both were already aware of the quality of beds in the hotel. 

Sebastian nodded, nervously shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m pretty tired. You?”

She shrugged. “Tired, yeah. A little overwhelmed.”

Kicking off his shoes, Sebastian announced that he was going to shower; she should go ahead and comfortable, get to sleep, if she wanted to. Y/N nodded and waited for him to leave before moving from the mattress. 

As it was, when he came out from the shower, shirtless in gym shorts, his hair still dripping a little, Y/N was still in her dress, leaning back against the headboard with her legs and bare feet stretched out in front of her. She was flipping channels on the television but smiled when she saw him. 

“Can’t get the zipper,” she chuckled, “otherwise I’d be in pajamas by now. Do you mind?”

She came to stand in front of him, sweeping her hair out of the way. Sebastian licked his lips and, with shaky hands, slowly pulled down the zipper at the back of her dress. With the pull tab down as far as it would go, he could see black lace peeking out at him; it matched the bra straps coming over her shoulders and securing behind her back. He swallowed so hard, it had to be audible. 

“Is that it?” Y/N asked. 

Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut for a second and cleared his throat. “Yeah. Sorry.”

He hadn’t realized his hand was resting on her hip until she turned to thank him and they were suddenly centimeters apart from each other. Sebastian’s hand came up to caress her cheek. Y/N’s eyes were wide and searching his face for any type of explanation as to what he was thinking. 

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his head falling toward hers. “Thank you, Bright Eyes, for marrying me today.”

Barely able to breathe, let alone manage words, Y/N only nodded. Her hands came up to the backs of his arms and rested there. Seconds that felt like minutes passed in antagonizing suspense before Sebastian cupped her chin and pressed his lips softly to hers — the way he would have done if they had continued their kiss from earlier in the day. 

Y/N didn’t hesitate this time to return his kiss; it was as though she had been waiting all day for him to do this. Her hands slid up his arms before clasping behind his neck, pulling him into her even more. She was the one who first ran her tongue lightly over his bottom lip, but Sebastian happily and willingly allowed her access. 

It wasn’t until, from instinct, he gently pressed her back toward the bed that they parted. He kept his hands at her hips until she was steady, then took a full step back. 

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Y/N/N. This wasn’t part of the deal. I don’t expect — that’s not what you agreed to.”

“It was both of us,” she excused. “Not saying it’s not good that we stopped. That’s a big line to cross. The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions and we should be careful not to feed off of that.”

“You’re right. Anyway, I’m going to get some ice. I’ll let you do what you need to do.”

She didn’t say anything — hell, she wouldn’t even look at him. Sebastian cursed himself all the way down to the ice machine and back, wondering how many more times he was going to risk ruining his closest, most important friendship before this was all over. 

Comfort came for him when they settled into bed, finally, and Y/N scooted right next to him and laid her head on his chest. She held her left hand up for both of them to see; the diamond sparkled from the light of the television in the otherwise dark room. 

“Can’t believe we got married today,” she breathed. 

Sebastian smirked and put an arm around her. “Me either. Regret it yet?”

She sat up only enough so she could turn and place a chaste kiss on his lips. “Not for a single second. Do you?”

Sebastian shook his head and kissed her again. She settled back against his chest, drawing in a deep breath before her eyes fluttered closed. He knew that he should sleep, too, but instead he lay awake for a couple of hours, working to process through the feelings that seemed to suddenly be too much for his mending heart to contain. 

AllOfTheThings: @captain-s-rogers​ @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan​ @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked​ @hurricanerin​ @horsesandbandsforlife​ @im-not-an-armrest-im-short​ @captain-rogers-beard​ @shynara51​ @sea040561​ @pinknerdpanda​ @xtina2191​ @jackryanplz​ @beakami​ @heartsaved​ @fullprunerebelstatesman​ @blackwidowismyhomegirl​ @averyrogers83​ @jennmurawski13​ @connie326​

IYJR: @elsatxx​ @tanelle83​ @amanda-teaches​ @etherealwaifgoddess​ @kmuir1​ @ntlmundy​ @jayankles​ @rebekahdawkins​ @denise1605​ @rhadigen​ @peace-love-hobbitness​ @itsallyscorner​ @mizzzpink​ @auspiciousharriet​ @the-murder-strut-murdered-me​ @learisa​ @tellmewhatyouwill​ @katherinereid​ @lokilokilokilokilokiloki​ @thewolfsenate​

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Winner’s Curse: Epilogue

Note: Wooo boy, it’s over. Now I know not many people may have read this, it may not have the best editing and some parts are a bit vague and not the best. In fact I’ll probably revise some parts at a later date or if I ever decide to post on A03, but I am still super proud of it. I think I did some great character parts and there are some sections that I’m just super proud of. I’m also happy that I actually finished it. It’s my longest fic to date and I actually completed it! 30 chapters. Well 32 if you include the prologue and epilogue. So cool! Plus I wrote what I really wanted, which I’ll admit was not the plot. The plot was a bit wonky and maybe I had too many characters that I didn’t juggle well and didn’t give them all equal exploration. Also action scenes were hard for me to write so those were not the best. But still- getting to explore these characters and their relationships and include several of my favorite Disney characters. Very fun. Also thanks to @edream93 for encouraging me when this was just a little idea, looking over some sections and offering advice and for overall being an amazing person. Check out her WLTF and other descendants fics like London Fog Nightcaps. And for the final time, hope y’all enjoy reading.

Flash forward to summer break in Agrabah

Jordan stretched, cracking her back after sitting hunched at her desk for the past hour editing her latest video How to Date a Djinn Episode 3. She had finally convinced the tech-averse Calix to join her in making satire videos of all the most terrible dates she had been on. Initially, she had planned for it to be a serious thing where she reminded her viewers of genie autonomy and the idea they had feelings behind their wishing powers, but Calix was never good at playing emotional PSAs.

Besides it was more fun that way to spoof how terrible, and sometimes ridiculous her romantic suitors were. Plus the hilarity kept her from thinking too much about the bitterness of the memories.

She cracked her neck and poofed outside to Aziz’s room where her lamp laid on its usual perch. Outside she could hear the thump of running feet and the screech of confused peacocks.

“Malik! No riding the peacocks!” A servant shouted

“Yes, riding peacocks!”

“No, Noor, Fahran, that’s not allowed. Get off of them!”

Jordan shook her head in amusement at the kids' antics.

Noor and Fahran were having a blast hanging out with their new “little” brother as they called the 5 year old. Though they were family in a way. Jade was the half sister to Aladdin’s half brother, Mozonroth. And Malik was their nephew. Even though the family tree was a bit tangled and confusing to visualize in your head.

And where Jade and Malik were concerned, Jay was also included as Aladdin had originally planned in inviting the former thief to Agrabah so they could get to know each other, and Jay, to get in touch with the more savory side of his heritage. Jay and Aladdin had especially hit off as they compared lives on the streets and bragged about some of their more daring heists so any concern of whether the Jafar connection would sour things was gone. All together, Jay, Jade and Malik were new, though unofficial members of the family. Aladdin, and Jasmine decided to hold off any official adoption in respect to Jay and Jade’s feelings.

Though, having three new members meant triple the chaos, the running in the halls and inevitable breaking of antique objects. It was still triple the fun.

Razoul, predictably, despised the decision. But hey, he wasn’t the sultan.

Jordan peeked out to the hall, no sign of peacock racing or frazzled servants anywhere. Since she’d been inside so long she decided to go outside to the backyard.

Passing the living room, she saw Jay playing some sort of Wii-fit game against Carlos, Lonnie and Gil whose scores were also reflected on the screen even as they played millions of miles away in their own living rooms. Jordan checked the time, ah it was 2’o clock on the doubt. Jay always called his friends at this time since it was when the time zones converged suitably for all of them to chat.

Jade was lounging on the couch, facetiming her girlfriend, Yzla. Jordan waved, and Jade waved in return, focusing mainly on their conversation which involved some llama prank with Empress Malina. Yzla was staying with Emperor Kuzco and his family. A arrangement Kuzco had initially been against but his wife and son overruled him. Which was for the best because apparently Yzla and him were hitting it off like two peas in a pod, scaring Malina, by tricking her into thinking Kuzco had changed into a llama again.

Huh, that reminded her, she hadn’t checked social media in a few hours. So she scrolled through, looking at Ben’s new post that there was to be a new class in the fall. Magic 101 with Flora, Fauna and Merrywhether and many surprise guest lecturers.

The Magic 101 class had been one of Uma’s many ideas for the new and improved Auradon. She told Ben of Alexandria’s reasoning for the revolt, explaining that the pressure for magic creatures to deny their magic was a strong reason for resentment, and most importantly, unfair. And Ben, who had been present at several meetings where mermaids, fairies and others stated their petitions of complaints, agreed. King Ben had removed the magic ban and decided to institute the Magic 101 class. Contrary to the name, the class wasn’t for magical beings, they already knew how to deal with their powers and not use them to affect others or supposedly cheat at life. The class was a requirement for Auradonians to learn about their fellow beings, how it was a vital part of them and the greater natural world.

Ben had actually suggested that she’d be the magical liaison and teacher assistant for the new Magic 101 classes but she had politely declined. She did accept going as a demonstrator whenever it was time for her Dad’s guest lecture.

But a fulltime TA? It sounded like too much work, her powers were not applicable to the greater magical population, and most importantly, she really wanted to get back to doing her auratube show. Especially now that she was bound to have so many new subscribers thanks to her newfound fame for helping to defeat the Coven.

Jordan had considered doing a series about the Isle mission against the Coven in order to get the story straight and not create too wild legends regarding their month and a half there. And okay, there was also the fact that she wanted to renew her hits after losing subscribers after not posting for a month.

But she ultimately decided not to. It was their mission, only they’d get what happened in that wild untamed place of evil and poverty. Besides, it was very personal and she didn’t want to have to go into her fights with Aziz and Jay on Auratube. Or her encounter with Antiquam.

No she’d rather not think about the latter for a very long time.

Dismissing those thoughts she scrolled through several more posted announcements like the newly formed Minority Kingdom Council made up of representatives from Atlantis, Atlantica, Arrendelle, Kuzcoropia, and Pydrian, who were overrun by environmental and tourism concerns as Alexandria brought up. There was also a new class of Vks that were coming in. Basically the teen population of the Isle.

The orphans and kids from the Isle were sent to boarding elementary schools around Auradon as well as foster care with professional trained therapists for the abused youngsters.

Ben’s decision to bring the whole teen population in had been a controversial one. But he had stood by it, stating that he was taking the advice of his people, the ones from his generation who were to make up the future generation and a schoolwide vote had agreed that the Vks should be let in.

Granted it had taken a two month lobbying campaign led by Mal and Evie with Lonnie, Carlos, Jane and Jay’s help. But they did, they persuaded lots of royal kids that it was better to bring Vks over. It also helped that Mal, Jay, Evie, Carlos and Uma had been pronounced Auradon’s saviors thrice in a row so…

Though it wouldn’t be until August that all the Vks, with a few exceptions like the resolutely bad CJ Hook and Prince Lars, and Antiquam, would be able to get to Auradon. But they would, Uma was making sure of it. Even Zevon and Ginny were coming despite their actions in proudly helping the Coven, Ben believed they just needed to be removed from the negative influences of their mothers.

Some Vks had already come over like Carlos’ cousin. Diego had refused to enter the VK program through school, but through the work progrm. Now he and his band, Rotten Apples, could introduce Isle grunge rock to Auradon’s farmer populations and inspire them to use music to express themselves. Carlos informed them that Diego wasn’t too into that inspiration and empowerment stuff, but he was loving the popularity. And he often crashed to the Radcliff house to catch up with Carlos and get a break from his adoring fans.

Harriet Hook, also in the work program, was working in Neverland, serving as guard for docks and a pretty mean one too, Jordan heard. Any tourist that tried to sneak

Not that everyone was residing in the homes of their parents’ enemies. Celia Facilier was living with her sister Freddie, and Freddie’s girlfriend, Ally at the Mad for Tea Shop. Also as a student by day and helping her sister as the evening entertainment at night. Singing only. FG was still wary of introducing such sketchy magic as card readings. Celia did choose to be a TA to her sister’s class, Goodness 101. Freddie was taking over for FG to make it a revamped, less patronizing seminar of how to act in Auradon with Ally popping in for politeness lessons and Carlos with therapy dogs. Though FG still stayed in the room to supervise and make sure the class stayed on track and not turn into “Everything that’s wrong about sappy sweet Auradon.”

Dizzy was reunited with her mother, her aunt Anastasia, her uncle, the Baker and Anthony Tremine and they lived in the faculty building of Auradon Prep. Easy for Anthony and Dizzy to get to school and for the Baker to go to his new job as school cook.

His baguettes were to die for, so flaky and crispy. Even Chad reluctantly agreed to their goodness when she interviewed him for student reactions to the new cook. Anastasia and Drizella were the new cosmeticians in training at the school’s day spa even though the two still argued over what was a better color and such.

Also working in Auradon’s kitchen were Gil, and Cosette’s mothers who had taken in their other’s sister’s sons, Gaston Jr, Gaston the Third and Gaston (IV) the Great. Their mother had been deemed just as abusive as Gaston and was to stay on the Isle with him. Gil had been nervous about living with his brothers again but he had Cosette by his side and Harry and Uma just a street away. Harry was just as fiercely loyal as ever to his crew and to Uma, who he’d wait for outside of Ben’s office, waiting for their meetings to end.

Gil also had Jay on his side. And though Jordan had absolutely no proof, she just felt something between them, and she was planning to use this summer to sniff out just what it was.

It had been more controversial to bring back some adult villains like Anastasia and Circe, but Ben had explained that he was not in the business of tearing families apart and adults were able to change too. Smee, for instance, wanted to retire from swabbing desks and wanted his second act in life to follow his lifelong dream. Be a clockmaker, ironically enough considering his boss’ fear of the ticking. Same with other low level henchmen like Jace and Harry, and Hun soldiers that had been following the battle orders and propaganda Shan Yu had fed them.

Ben had promised not all adults would come over, especially not ones that had abused their children, and that he, Mal and Uma were designing a careful vetting process for this program.

As for the Auradonian bred villains. Morgana and Morgaine hadn’t stayed in the dungeon for long. One day the guards had come down to give their food and they were just gone. No one knew where they went and no magic had been able to locate them. Merlin said it was no use trying. The Le Feys were tricky and wouldn’t reappear again unless they wanted to.

Kyro, Victoria and Alexandria were in therapy now in a new building away from the dorms and those who would shun them for their actions like the media that had reviled them when the news leaked out. It was a bit of a depressing building Jordan thought since one could see it if they leaned far out their windows. The outside of it looked like an insane asylum but Evie enthused about how open- aired and peaceful it was inside. The point of it was to clear the outside world, and focus on healing. What’s more, since Uma learned of FG’s somewhat oblivious and condescending advice from Alexandria, they hired a new counselor. A Dr. Mickey Mouse.

So yeah, things seemed to wrapping out into a happily ever after for all.

Jordan walked into a door, rubbing her head of the bruise and cursing herself for not looking up. Tucking the phone in her pocket, she was about to open the door when Aziz opened it for her, heading inside from hanging out on the hammock.

He didn’t even look at her as he entered, he was busy chatting on the phone with who else, his new girlfriend.

Aziz had stayed true to his word that he and Lala were just friends, and remained just friends for three months. It had irritated Jordan to no end to watch them sneak discreet looks, study together since Lala only knew the Atlantean alphabet and not the English, and dance around their feelings as if the obvious wasn’t there. And it took all her self control to honor her vow to not meddle and send a flying carpet in to speed things up.

At least Aziz did not shut her out completely and still went to her advice for what to do when he asked her to be his girlfriend.

“What if she says no? Or doesn’t know what that is. Jay did say it was only gang activity. Or maybe she’ll just say no because she thinks she’ll go crazy like her mom. But I really want her to say yes. Oh Allah, what if I mess it up instead by acting like an idiot. Or she already thinks that. I walked into a wall yesterday.”

“Aziz, she likes you,” Jordan reassured him, “I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Like a leopard with dinner, she totally wants to eat you. In a sexy, hungry with desire way. Not cannibal way. And really, walking into a wall? That’s not a dealbreaker or even embarrassing. If you want to talk about embarrassing, nothing can top the time you popped in front of that yoga instructor you were trying to impress.” “I had food poisoning from the oysters!” Aziz yelled indiginantly.

“Doesn’t change the fact that you shitted during downward dog,” Jordan smirked at Aziz’s flustered angry face, “Nor was it like that time when you tried to impress Anxlin with a butterfly knife and ended up-”

“Will you stop bringing up the past?” Jordan decided to change tactics and be the serious, comforting big sister that he wanted, “Just speak from the heart. You’re on the same page with so many things, and you talk so much. Sooo much, it’s kinda annoying. Especially when you’re yapping in my room when I’m trying to watch a movie. But anyway, I think when the time comes your heart will guide you to say the right thing. And if not… your lips can speak for you.”

So with that fabulous advice if Jordan said so herself, on the last day of school, before they went their separate ways for vacation. Aziz went to her room and asked her.

And while she said she wouldn’t meddle, Jordan totally turned into a bee to go through the keyhole and eavesdrop on their conversation. For moral support. Just Aziz didn’t know about it.

It was endearingly awkward as Aziz stammered through some rambling monologue of how he liked her a lot, and only if she was okay with it, but he really thought they had something so woud she maybe consider being his girlfriend.

Aziz should probably have gotten some lessons from Jay on the art of smooth, but Lala seemed to get it. “So if we’re in a relationship we do what we do now… but with kissing?” she clarified.

“Yes!” Aziz agreed eagerly, then tried to dial down his excitement, “I mean sure, if you want.”

“I would really like that,” Lala bit her lip nervously but her expression was hopefully as Aziz leaned in.

Their kiss was short, two seconds at the most. Jordan would have given it a three out of five. It was unsure and the two seemed to be surprised they even did it. But it was clear from the look in their eyes, that they only saw each other and the rest of the world was already fading away for them, that that small kiss was perfect to them.

So they kissed again. Much more purposefully this time. Oh Allah, Jordan was so proud when Aziz added some passion and slipped tongue first. He was really growing up.

And they kissed again, and again and soon they were making out on Lala’s bed, which was starting to get kinda gross and Jordan was feeling weird about watching them. So she took that as her cue to leave.

But now she had plenty of new things to annoy Aziz about so she took it as a plus.

Grabbing him by the arm to stop, Jordan grabbed his camera.

“Hi, Lala, how are you?” Jordan waved, mugging for the camera as Aziz grabbed it back, and tried to push her out of the frame. The white-haired girl was dressed up in Evie’s new line of summer clothes with her hair up in a bun, and most startingly, her brown eyes were human.

It was silly that Jordan was surprised by Lala’s human eyes, she had been the one to change them when in a burst of good will offered all their allies on the adventure a wish. Lala hadn’t used the offered three wishes, just one, which was to remove the leopard spell Queen La had put on her. She lost her cat eyes and the habit of walking on all fours, but she still had her cat-like grace which Jordan chalked up to natural ability. It had been three months since that wish, but she had been so used to Lala’s cat-like slits with the dilated pupils. It had been a unique marker like the scar that everyone could see on Lala’s leg when she wore shorts.

“I’m well. Aziz sent me your new vlog about Odiferous, it was very interesting.” Lala nodded curtly. Jordan knew Lala was usually guarded against everyone so the coldness didn’t bother her as much as it used to. Thanks to hanging out with Aziz and Jade, she was starting to slowly warm up to people she wasn’t close to even though her tone didn’t reflect it.

“How are the Porters?” Jordan asked, cutting off whatever Aziz was about to say next. He glared at her, but she ignored. Hey, she said she’d stop mothering him. So now it was back to  annoying big sister privileges.

“They’re well. Kerchak and I are going tree surfing tomorrow.” Lala answered. When Ben put up the invitation of Vks in need of foster homes or adoptive families, the Porters offered to take in Clay Clayton, and Lala. Clay refused and went with his Aunt, Lady Waltham who was thrilled to meet her surly nephew for the first time. Lala joined the Porters where she was helping their gorilla reserve, connecting with animals instead of hunting them for food and survival.

It was bound to be awkward considering their daughter’s actions, but Auradon seemed to consider it part of their penance even though they hadn’t known what Victoria had planned to wrought. But according to Lala, they did their best to skirt around that sensitive issue and treat her like a guest, and she was starting to befriend Kerchak. He even gave her a leopard of her own which she named Euware II though the pet made Tarzan a bit wary. Still, Lala had to stay in her room on weekends when Victoria visited from therapy.

“That’s great. When are you coming to visit? I know Jade is just dying for you to visit. It’d be fun. We can go sand surfing, oh and explore some of the caves under the citadel. Oh, oh and I just know Aziz wants to show you some of the secret alcoves in the palace. They’re great for making out and-” “Go away!” Aziz waved her off

“You want me to leave? But who will chaperon you two? Who will tell Lala all the embarrassing stories from your childhood? I’ve been holding onto blackmail for a reason, Aziz. I must tell her,” Jordan turned to the screen, “But seriously, come visit. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Thank you!” Aziz sighed in exasperation, “Give me 5 minutes, I’ll join you to go to the bazaar later, Jord.”

“See ya!” Jordan called over the shoulder as she headed to the palace kitchen, still hearing some snippets of Aziz’s conversation about his summer psychology classes. His new passion since Jordan had suggested that since he liked overanalyzing and counselling other people's problems, he could research into being a psychologist.

Upon reaching the outside, Jordan took a big breath of the sweet summer air with a hint of jasmine and the coconut and sighed.

Life was good.

Of course, life was always good when it was summer vacation but it was more than that. She had really committed to what she had learned on the Isle. She lived in the present now, and tried not to wallow in the anger and resentment that extended to almost every human she met.

Did that kind of positive mindset always work? Hell no, sometimes, someone would grab her arm, requesting for a wish, rubbing her jacket as if that was the lamp and not her. Yeah, that stupid event would irritate her all morning but she didn’t go into her spiral of how all humans were greedy monsters, her life sucked that she had to walk among them and so on and so forth. She learned to vent to Aziz and let it go.

She would always meet bad people in her life, when that happened, if the situation was appropriate, she would blow a mini sandstorm in their face and move on.

She’d also gotten more sensitive about complaining about humanity in front of Aziz. She tried to complain of an individual person and not make broad generalizations about the mortal race, and repeat that Aziz and his family were the exception.

Well Aladdin’s family, and Uma, and Jay, and Lonnie, and Calix and Ben, and she was starting to realize her circle of those she trusted was expanding.

It felt good to have that knowledge.

Even if Aziz might not always be there, though she’d kill him if he wasn’t, she still had others who cared about her.

Then again, she, Calix, Aziz, Jay and Uma had been through a harrowing adventure that nearly destroyed the world they knew, and had to face their greatest fears and insecurities to do so. If that didn’t make you trust a person, what would?

There were also her parents. Her parents always had her back.

That was another thing she’d been committed to doing since she got back from the Isle and saved Auradon.

Her parents had been the first ones to get there, magical teleportation after all and were laying out the blue carpet and making plans for the greatest party in all of Agrabah for their daughter, the hero. Instead of getting annoyed by their zany antics as usual, and annoyed at how they ignored the fact she faced possibly life-ending danger against their enemies, she just hugged them.

The act had clearly surprised them because both of their jaws broke off and fell to the floor before snapping back up like a ball. But they loved the change in her nonetheless.

Ever since then, she’d been going out with them every other weekend, be it ice skating on Saturn’s rings or clubbing or going out to drink in celebration of the banning of the Magic Ban.

She had thought for so long that if she let herself act even a little bit like them, she’d be signing herself to a fate of servitude, never being taken seriously, and becoming a negligent oblivious person who only wanted to focus on fun.

She had worried that if these things didn’t come naturally to her, she’d have to fake it in order to fit in and be palatable to her own parents. So they wouldn’t become bored with her. She hadn’t liked thinking about it, but she always felt that was the underlying reason they left her.

But she lived in the present now and shoved all those thoughts away. She did what she wanted without thinking of the implications. And she found that actively listening to what they were saying, how they constantly suggested ideas for their next adventure, how it was too bad she had school and couldn’t come with them to their trip. They didn’t think she was a damper on their party style, they wanted her to be with them. And she usually said to each invitation.

YOLO, right. Well more like YOLFSMAWEI.

(You Only Live Forever So Might As Well Enjoy It. Not as catchy but infinitely more accurate)

Family time was a lot more enjoyable that way instead of brooding that once it was over, they were going to forget about her and go about their lives as if they didn’t have a daughter.

Although, Jordan still did crave for a meaningful talk where she got to tell them about some of her issues with their lack of parenting oversight, and maybe delve into how abandoned she felt when they wouldn’t discuss such issues like her rape, they still weren’t ready for that.

Though Aladdin was talking to her dad on her behalf, and it seemed he was starting to soften to it.

Until then, she had two sets of parents. Aladdin and Jasmine, probably the first humans who she trusted, and respected. The first ones who saw her as a child and not a being for wishes. They gave her the love and attention she had craved when she needed it. They stood by treating her like everyone else, as she wished, even when it meant disregarding her excuses that her genie-ness exempted her from getting in trouble. They were always present her lives and were the ones that reminded her that her supposed fate was not a fate, that no one could shackle her, not unless they went through them. They encouraged that there other sides to her besides being a genie. That she should work hard, be kind, be honest and be independent.

Her mom and dad, who loved her with all their hearts and thought of her as their best friend. It wasn’t the most parental relationship but she had started to accept that it would never be. They were genie parents, not human ones, and it was finally sinking in that the rules would always be different from them. No matter that Jordan looked human and was raised by them. But that’s what made them special. No one else in the world would get her quite like her mom and dad.

Aziz opened the door, knocking her in the back and she moved over so he could wait beside her.

She checked her phone. Her parents were supposed to come here five minutes ago so they culd go to the bazaar together.

They probably weren’t going to come for another twenty minutes.

Ah genies, Jordan sighed, they were never going to be punctual. She wondered how many years it would be before she started viewing time as an unimportant mortal construct.

She was about to pose that question to Aziz, whether it would occur in his lifetime or in her 5,000s when a green and blue poof popped up in front of them.

“We’re here!” The two blew the smoke away to reveal the pair in matching red and white striped tuxedos with a blinking “Genie and Eden” sign hanging behind them.

“It’s Genie and Eden!” Eden announced

“Eden and Genie!” Genie intoned.

Then with a snap of a finger, the props and costumes disappeared, and Genie sat thoughtfully in the air, “We can’t quite choose which sounds better.”

Eden went back to a form-fitting black leotard with a black bowler hat, smoking a cigar in her best Liza Minelli voice, “Whaddya think, daughter dear, whaddya think?”

“I think we should go to the bazaar and have the people decide which is better.” Jordan suggested, knowing that if they did it here, they wouldn’t leave.

“By george, she’s right!” Genie exclaimed transforming into a nerdy account, “Statistically, it is always better to test things with a test audience, and according to my calculations that the Agrabah bazaar has the best cross-pool of audience with 10% bearded, 40% kids..” He transformed into his usually big blue self, “Aaand let’s get outta here!”

“Wait up!” Jay yelled, nearly running into the four of them with Jade at his side, “I wanna go to the bazaar too, there was that awesome scimir I wanted to buy.” “Yeah me too, I want to steal things too… I-I mean buy. Buy with money. That I did not steal from the mean guard.” “His name is Razoul, and you really shouldn’t. He already doesn’t like you.” Aziz shook his head.

“I don’t like him, and that’s what makes it so tempting.” Jade defended.

“Yeah, he kinda has it coming,” Jay agreed.

“Now, now, we won’t say anything about it. But you must stop,” Eden warned in a prim British accent, poofing into a blue serge suit like a certain famous nanny, “Now spit spot, hurry up, we don’t want to be late to the bazaar.”

Genie transformed into a Bert to his wife’s Mary Poppins, adding, “Come ‘ere ye kiddos and ‘urry it ‘up.”

Jay and Jade stared at each in the classic “What the hell?” expression that bystanders always had whereas her parents were concerned. Aziz and Jordan just shrugged and smiled.

And so they went off to the bazaar and as the sun beated down on them, and Jordan whipped up a hijab from air to keep off the heat, she hummed a familiar tune which Aziz and her dad easily picked up.

“As you wind through the streets at the fabled bazaars with the cardamom-cluttered stalls. You can smell every spice while you haggle the price of the silks and the satin shawls. Oh, the music that plays as you move through a maze in the haze of your pure delight. You are caught in a dance. You are lost in the trance of another Arabian night…”

[sagehaleyofficial]

HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (11.6-11.12.19):

NEW MUSIC:

·         With Confidence premiered their cover and music video of Train’s iconic track “Drops of Jupiter.” The band, along with many others, are contributors to the second volume of Songs That Saved My Life by Hopeless Records and their nonprofit organization, Sub City.

·         Poppy premiered her brand new track “BLOODMONEY,” alongside a video that finds her kicking ass and taking names. This comes after wrapping up a run on the Threesome Tour with Bring Me the Horizon and Sleeping with Sirens.

·         Originally slated to be released last Friday, All Time Low livestreamed their tribute Nothing Personal documentary a day early on Twitch. Speaking with Alternative Press, frontman Alex Gaskarth revealed the reasoning behind the band’s decision to rerecord the album.

·         Bring Me the Horizon debuted their fiery new track “Ludens” from the forthcoming soundtrack Death Stranding: Timefall (Original Music from the World of Death Stranding). Yesterday, the band shared their new action-packed music video for the song.

·         The Blink-182 live album, The Mark, Tom and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!), is finally available to stream again in certain regions on Spotify. Recorded in 1999, the album includes material from the trio’s first three albums: Cheshire Cat, Dude Ranch and Enema of the State.

·         Motionless in White released a new music video for their song “Undead Ahead 2: The Tale of the Midnight Ride.” They also added more dates to their co-headlining tour with Beartooth and revealed Stick to Your Guns will be joining them on the full 2020 run.

·         You, Me and Everyone We Know teased fans on their social media accounts and also posted a video of an acoustic track on their website, marking their first new song since 2016. Back in 2016, the band revealed in a Tumblr post explaining their reasoning for calling it quits.

·         Fireworks released a brand new track last Thursday titled “Demitassem,” making the song the first new music by the band since 2014. They also tweeted a link to a website that offers a survey and then takes you to the song.

·         After the announcement that their new album You’re Welcome would be released November 15, A Day to Remember took to Instagram last Friday to delay it. The album is now slated to be released in early 2020.

·         As It Is’ latest EP in their reimagined versions series, Acceptance: Reimagined, was released and features reimagined versions of “The Haunting,” “The Hurt, The Hope” and “The End.” Starting this past March, the band have been reworking The Great Depression into different styles.

·         Waterparks felt like taking control of their old music and released a medley of sorts of some songs from their second album, Entertainment. While the 7:43 song features elements from the entire album, it showcases “Tantrum”, “Crybaby” and “Peach (Lobotomy).”

·         Billie Eilish took to Twitter to announce her new single “Everything I Wanted.” The song will be Eilish’s first new music since her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, was released in March of this year.

·         Silverstein announced plans to release an album of concert recordings, LIVE: When Broken is Easily Fixed. Slated for release November 19th, the record is compiled from various recordings from their 2018-2019 tour centered on their debut album of the same name.

·         Weezer snagged Adam DeVine and Barak Hardley, who appear in the upcoming comic thriller Spell, for the strangest therapy session in their “California Snow” video. The band dropped their Black Album earlier this year.

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

·         Falling in Reverse canceled their forthcoming Episode IV Tour with Crown the Empire and Tom MacDonald, set to kick off last Thursday, November 7th. The cancellation comes with the tragic news of guitarist Derek Jones’ fiancé suffering complications from her metastatic cancer.

·         Angels & Airwaves announced the addition of a second leg for their upcoming winter tour, which will kick off in January 2020. The news comes on the heels of the release for AVA’s “Kiss & Tell” music video.

·         Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness and AWOLNATION are teaming up for the Lightning Riders Tour next summer. The run kicks off in late May in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and wraps up in Troutdale, Oregon, in June.

·         My Chemical Romance added another show for their reunion run at Download Japan 2020. Billboard also confirmed former touring drummer Jarrod Alexander would join them for the reunion shows, and the band revealed Thursday would be their opener.

·         Billie Eilish headed to White’s label studio in Nashville last Wednesday with brother and collaborator FINNEAS. She is also partnering with Global Citizen to offer fans a chance to work their way into the shows on her tour.

·         Ed Sheeran joined ONE OK ROCK onstage at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on the latter’s Eye of the Storm Japan Tour. ONE OK ROCK supported Sheeran on the Asia leg of his Divide World Tour in April and May earlier this year.

·         Fall Out Boy played a “special show” with iHeartRadio in Seattle yesterday and offered locals the chance to attend at no cost. The band are preparing to release another greatest hits record and live-streamed the entire gig, also doing a Q&A and chat about their upcoming tour.

·         In This Moment announced that they are bringing along Black Veil Brides, DED and Raven Black for a spring tour. The In Between Tour kicks off March 24th at the Orlando House of Blues and wraps up May 17th in Morrison, Colorado, at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

OTHER NEWS:

·         Green Day fans were quick to spot Lou Taylor Pucci, the actor who portrayed St. Jimmy in the band’s “Jesus of Suburbia” music video, in an episode of American Horror Story: 1984. The video followed the teen’s heartbreak and struggles opposite Whatsername, portrayed by Kelli Garner.

·         My Chemical Romance frontman, Gerard Way, announced that Doom Patrol is receiving a special stand-alone issue in the series written by DC imprint Young Animal’s Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad. He announced the new comic on his Instagram account last Wednesday.

·         Circa Survive and Saosin vocalist, Anthony Green, revealed via Twitter he has relapsed in his addiction. Many of Green’s fans and fellow artists responded in support for the musician, and he previously penned an essay for Spotify about his journey with substance abuse.

·         The Black Parade has officially re-entered the Billboard 200 chart. According to Chart Data, which tracks various Billboard charts and collects data on the most popular albums and EPs, this is My Chemical Romance’s first entry in over two years.

___

Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley,” only at @sagehaleyofficial!

[pawsnread]

Legacies

Another of the SongXiao brood Legacies stories, this one focusing on A-Qing. Chronologically, it occurs about 5 months after the Where We Come Alive ficlet, Decorating, and about 3-4 months before Song Yating’s story.

Additional story notes at the end.

Ever since she was little, A-Qing always wanted to dance. After she learned to walk, it wasn’t long before she was skipping, twirling, and attempting leaps like all the ballerinas and dancers she saw on television. Dad always smiled at her and would laugh happily when he told her she’d light up a stage one day, dance as beautifully as Papa. A-Qing didn’t know what he meant at first; when had Papa ever danced? In her memory, her Papa was always graceful, gliding rather than walking. She had seen him fence all her life and thought Papa’s grace was because he fenced épée, the most elegant of the three weapons.

It wasn’t until one morning when A-Qing was just seven years old that she saw him actually dance. He had forgotten something at home so Dad had stopped by on the way to school; A-Qing could remember the awe she felt seeing her Papa in the middle of the empty strip, music filling the space, sleeves all aflutter as he twisted and leapt. He was beautiful in his movements, but she had never seen him perform. Beyond his private moments at the fencing school and at home, her Papa never danced and so A-Qing never truly knew what he was capable of.

“A-Qing!”

Her dark pigtails waved about her as A-Qing turned at the call. Rushing towards her with gleeful smiles on their faces were her dance group. Amara Patel hooked one brown arm through A-Qing’s before towing her along, Danny Miller and Lan Ying trailing beside them.

“Is it true?” Amara asked as they made their way towards the front gates. It was another special lecture day, the last for the school year, and the group was making their way to greet their parents and siblings.

“Is what true?” A-Qing asked curiously. She turned as Ying grasped her other arm with a giggle.

“Cousin Yue said your dad is performing today,” she said.

“Papa did say he was coming.”

“Have you ever seen him dance?” Danny asked curiously. A-Qing frowned as she glanced at her friends and fellow dancers.

“A few times. I know he danced when he was at the academy. Dad said he performed at some of the special lectures. But I’ve never seen him perform in front of anybody.”

“Aunt Yaqin was the one who taught him, I heard,” Ying chimed. “He must be amazing then.”

“I suppose,” A-Qing said uncertainly. She knew her Papa always excelled at whatever he did - he was an Olympic gold medalist after all - but she didn’t have a good gauge of his dancing abilities. Dad always said he was good, but Dad was biased when it came to Papa. And A-Qing didn’t deny he was talented, but she still wondered why, if he was so gifted in dance, he hadn’t done more.

As they neared the gates, laughter and shouting could be heard, academy uniforms mingling with casual clothes as students greeted their families. The friends separated, promising to meet up later as A-Qing joined the rest of her siblings and Uncle Anthony* to greet her parents and younger siblings. As she accepted her Dad’s hug, she couldn’t help but glance around in wonder.

“Where’s Papa?” A-Qing asked. Behind her, Lijuan let out a squeal of delight as Uncle Anthony swung her around like a top.

“Getting ready,” Dad replied with a wink. He slung an arm around her shoulder, a knowing smirk on his face as their little band of misfits made their way to one of the auditoriums.

The space was already near full but their family managed to find seats with a good view. It was brightly lit but there were dozens of paper lanterns hung, little tea light candles flickering within their depths. One of the art classes had painted a lakeside at night backdrop, which hung behind the raised stage; to one side sat three high school students, all Lans by their robes and headbands, tuning a piano, dizi, and erhu. A quiet murmuring filled the room, drowning out the sounds of the instruments. A-Qing spied her teacher, Lan Yue, and the Headmaster speaking with a woman she had only seen in photos. Lan Yaqin hadn’t given up teaching completely when Yue had returned from grad school, but choreographing stage productions took up most of her time these days. But, A-Qing supposed the prospect of seeing one of her former students perform again had brought her back.

“Ah, here we go,” Dad said quietly as Yue made her way onto the stage, pale blue robes moving in her wake. A hush fell over the crowd as she elegantly saluted them all.

“Each dance has a story,” Yue said, her quiet voice carrying throughout the silent room. “We ardently hope you will enjoy this performance. With the heaven official’s blessing, nothing is forbidden.**”

A low questioning murmur sounded at her last words but Yue did not elaborate. As she made another salute, A-Qing turned in curiosity towards her Dad; she just noticed the smirk on his face as the lights suddenly dimmed. The murmurs silenced as the lanterns brightened and illuminated the stage. Where Yue once stood saluting the crowd, Xiao Xingchen had taken her place in the same saluting position. He wore simple white robes, the sleeves long and flowing. Dark hair was styled in a half knot, the ends loose about his shoulders. He dipped his head once, a soft smile on his face. As the music began, he started to move.

Dad had said before that Papa’s dances told stories and that people couldn’t help but watch when he performed. A-Qing always assumed it was an exaggeration, that Dad’s love and wistfulness made him embellish stories of their academy days. But, watching her Papa perform and seeing the awe and admiration on everyone else’s face - a look she knew was on her own face - A-Qing knew what Dad had said was true. Her Papa moved fluidly across that stage, sleeves fluttering just like that day when she was seven. His face was serene as he danced, his hair swirling around him in waves. He moved with the music, his spins and leaps almost effortless. As her Papa danced, A-Qing could see the story in her mind, a thousand year tale of a wandering fallen god through hardship and happy times.

With one last spin, one last flutter of white sleeves, he ended in another perfect salute, her Papa’s calm voice carrying through the still auditorium, repeating that phrase just as the music faded.

“With the heaven official’s blessing, nothing is forbidden.”

There was the briefest moment of silence as the music ended before loud applause echoed. Her Papa gave one more salute before straightening, a smile on his face. A-Qing sat quietly amidst the applause and praise, watching as Papa caught Dad’s eye, the two of them sharing a nod and knowing look. But all she could think about was the dance, her Papa’s grace, and those last three words.

Nothing is forbidden.

A small smile creased her face. She didn’t think she would ever be as graceful or beautiful as her Papa, but she was willing to try. Her parents had instilled into all of them the will and determination to work for what you wanted. She planned to do her best and make them proud. And, one day, A-Qing hoped she would be able to perform and enchant the audience just as easily and beautifully as her beloved Papa.

Additional Notes: *If you’ve read the LAHL SongXiao stories, you’ve already met Uncle Anthony. He is actually Sam, Song Lan’s eldest brother; his middle name is Anthony. He didn’t want the kids calling him ‘Uncle Sam’ because of reasons. He briefly debated having them call him Uncle Falcon but nobody agreed to that.  **Yes, yes I did make that reference. Yes, Xiao Xingchen is dancing that role. Also, I realize the second half of that verse has a number of different versions depending on the translation. I took the fan translation used in this video.

[thecomicsnexus]

OMEGA MEN #9-11 DECEMBER 1983 - FEBRUARY 1984 BY ROGER SLIFER, TOD SMITH, MIKE DECARLO, ANTHONY TOLLIN AND ADRIENNE ROY

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)

Kalista attends the royal coronation ceremony at the royal palace and resumes the role of queen of Euphorix. Her first official act as the reinstated queen is the deactivation of Euphorix's planetary shield. A huge celebration is held and hundreds of attendees rejoice at their newfound freedom from tyranny.

Elsewhere, fringe elements of the Citadel Empire regroup under the leadership of the Citadel's supreme military commander and the Earth man Harry Hokum. Together they travel to formerly occupied worlds executing political prisoners. They also succeed in locating the crippled Omega Men mothership and find the injured Harpis. Shlagen however, also on the ship, manages to avoid capture in an escape pod. Hokum sends a ship to retrieve him, and Shalgen's shuttle is shot down where it crashes onto a planetoid. Shlagen emerges from the wreckage but runs into the bounty hunter Lobo. Lobo agrees to take Shlagen to Euphorix.

When the Citadel learns that Euphorix's planetary shield has been dissolved, they mount a steadfast invasion. Raider ships bombard the coronation ceremony and the attending Omega Men are quick to fight back. They succeed in repelling the invaders and former monarch Alonzo Dulak re-activates the shield. Primus transmits a broadcast to Harry Hokum requesting a summit in the hopes that the two factions might be able to forge an accord. Hokum agrees to the meeting.

Meanwhile, Tigorr, on his way back from the Citadel Homeworld finds the scuttled remains of the Omega Men mothership. Inspecting its empty corridors, he is surprised when two predatory animals known as Ravagers leap out and attack him. He shapeshifts into his full feline form and fights back, but the overwhelming strength of the Ravagers prove too much for him and he is knocked unconscious.

Elsewhere, Primus sends Nimbus to act as the Omega Men's official delegate. He arrives at the pre-arranged meeting place to discuss terms with Harry Hokum. Unfortunately for Nimbus, Hokum baits him into a trap and Nimubs is locked inside an airtight room. Even his shadow powers won't allow him to escape. When Primus learns what has happened, he has little choice but to turn to Lobo for help. Lobo agrees to help Primus, but for a very special price - a single human life.

Lobo brings the remaining fugitive Omega Men to a prison planet run by the Citadel. Harry Hokum is content with simply disintegrating the lot of them, but the Citadel commander wants to savor their pain. Once inside, the Omega Men are marched down one of the numerous prison blocks. Suddenly, the Omega Men break free of their bonds. It was all a ruse. Lobo is actually working alongside the Omega Men in an effort to rescue their captured allies. Harry Hokum presses a switch that releases a pack of Ravagers. The vicious animals pounce on the Omega Men and even their own various powers are not enough to keep them at bay. Broot, still haunted by his recent experiences, is reluctant to raise his fists, even to defend himself. Lobo encourages the Changralynian by planting the idea that the ones responsible for ordering the death of Broot's child might reside inside this facility. Brute finally unleashes his anger and begins battering the walls until his fists smash through to an adjacent passageway. The Omega Men scramble into the tunnel to escape from the Ravagers.

The tunnel leads them to the prison's command center where the Citadel commander and Harry Hokum have Tigorr suspended from a torture device. Primus uses his telekinesis to unseat the Citadel commander, bringing him down to their level. Harry activates a laser grid, but the Omega Men have come prepared for just such a trap. Each of them is fitted with a personal force shield designed by Euphorix's Alonzo Dulak. Lobo disconnects an explosive device from his belt and gets in close to the Citadel commander. The device explodes and the commander is killed. Primus extends his force shield to protect Lobo from the blast.

Harry Hokum, in a bid to consolidate his power proposes a deal with the Omega Men. Now that the commander has been killed, Harry is the highest ranking member of the old Citadel Empire. He suggests that Primus and he should split the territory of the Vega star system between them. After some deliberation, Primus agrees, but with the caveat that Hokum's Empire may only include worlds that join with him of their own free will. All others will be invited to join the New Vega coalition. Hokum agrees and a broadcast is sent out to the various races within the Vega star system. Surprisingly, several worlds voluntarily agree to become part of the New Citadel Empire, including Broot's home world of Changralyn. Just as many however, decide to align themselves with Primus.

After solidifying the deal, Primus receives a message from Kalista on Euphorix. Unwilling to risk any further invasions to her world, she is erecting the planetary shield permanently. Once this is done, nobody will be able to enter or leave Euphorian air space. Primus is left with a choice: Stay and help rebuild the coalition of free Vegan worlds, or return to the world of his birth.

The Omega Men bring Harpis to the world of Rashashoon. Harpis has suffered a sever nervous breakdown due to her injuries as well as learning that her sister Demonia had been killed. Prior to becoming the winged warrior, Harpis spent a great deal of her youth working at a bordello in the city of Raggashoon. The bordello's mistress Mama Madame greets the Omega Men and Harpis is hooked up to a neural stabilizer. Mama Madame uses a process known as a Psycho-Drama in an effort to heal Harpis' psychological scars. The Omega Men witness the visual display and learn a great deal about their teammate's past.

Flashback While still humanoid, Harpis and her older sister Demonia came to Raggashoon many years ago to work as professional companions. hey were both thrilled with the prospect of earning wealth and power and living in the sort of opulence that only Mama Madame could provide. Harpis found herself highly suited to most of Raggashoon's clients and became one of Madame's most popular providers - even more so than her jealous, yet protective sister Demonia. Although Mama Madame usually catered to clients loyal to the Citadel, she also provided companionship to various revolutionaries. 

During these years, Harpis had relations with the Karnan Tigorr, as well as Tigorr's second-in-command Delengis Jarouq, the latter of whom she fell deeply in love with. Such attachment was strongly discouraged amongst those under Mama Madame's charge and it was made all the worse by the fact that Jarouq was a revolutionary.

One evening, a high ranking Citadel leader, Komand'r of Tamaran, came to Raggashoon to find suitable mates for her troops. Harpis and Demonia were both selected, but Komand'r was not content with simply hiring them for an evening. She had both women undergo drastic genetic modification so that they would be physically alluring for their selected mates. Demonia was transformed into a serpentine woman whose visage reflected her twisted heart. Harpis was turned into a winged bat-like creature with claws and a tail. While Demonia embraced her new appearance, Harpis was horrified. Komand'r would often times have the women present at battle sites so they could witness their mates in action. Harpis was present when Komand'r's forces fought against Tigorr's revolutionaries at the Battle of Tamaran. 

Seeing her lover Delengis Jarouq present on the field, she could no longer sit idly by and do nothing. She fled from her keepers and joined the ranks of the revolutionaries. The revolt failed, and Harpis was sent to a prison planet along with Delengis and Tigorr.

While in prison, Harpis learned that another band of revolutionaries led by the warriors Primus, Broot and Kalista had staged a breakout. This incident exploded into a violent firefight and where it was believed that Jarouq had been killed. Free from captivity, Harpis, Demonia and Tigorr joined with Primus' team to form the Omega Men.

As the rest of the Omega Men keep vigil over their comrade, a strange visitor enters the room - Delengis Jaroug. He had actually survived the original attack, but is now a cyborg.

REVIEW

This could count as a “Secret Origins” for the whole group, but there is still much backstory to reveal. This is amazing because it means that there may have been some kind of bible before the series started (either that or Slifer improvised very well).

This Lobo is a different character, he is not even a Czarnian yet. I wonder if we are going to see him change before the crisis. He is more intelligent than the Lobo we know.

Primus makes some really difficult choices, and while Tigorr failed in keeping the peace... I still agree with his methods. There is no diplomacy that can keep freedom in the Vegan Star System at this point.

I give these issues a score of 8

[spencecreates]

More old stuff with Anthony that makes me sad. And is in first person for some reason.

Disclaimer: written with only vague knowledge of the military

His name was Corperal Gabriel Villa. But when we were alone, I'd call him Gabe to irritate him. He had dirty blonde hair and deep green eyes. The only shade of green I’d ever enjoyed. He was thirty at the time I met him, five years older than myself.

He was a Christian and a military chaplain that was supposed to guide us on our way. I hadn't realized how lenient Christians were with certain things until he'd invited me out to get a few drinks. But maybe that was just him. Though at this point, I hadn't realized men liking men really wasn't all too strange after all. Nevertheless, he persisted.

Our marriage wasn't much of anything official in terms of legality. It was vow between us and God. He'd given me a ring that'd belonged to his grandfather and I'd given him my father’s ring. No one ever knew.

Our first night together was behind the locked door of a motel room. If anyone found out, who knew what would happen.

“How are you feeling, Tony?” he asked, fingers carding through my hair. It's amazing the things you can remember after so many years. I couldn't tell you what motel it was or what room but I can tell you that Gabriel always smelt of peppermint and clean linen.

I just gave him a hum in reply and I could feel his warm laughter where my head rested on his chest. I had never been so content as I had been in that moment or since.

“That's not an answer,” he said softly, tugging at my hair. “Are you sore at all, darling?”

I shifted a bit and gave out a soft huff at the pain in my hips. But when he attempted to move, I wrapped an arm around him to keep him in place.

“I am,” I finally answered. “But I'm fine. I just want to stay here.”

Another laugh, this one sending dizzying happiness through me.

We shared everything that night. I told him of my past and the reason I'd joined the military. Before I'd been hesitant to tell anyone, worrying that my childhood wasn't what I thought it was and it was merely the fears of a child that had magnified it to such proportions.

He told me of growing up in Oregon, of how his father had beaten him and then kicked him out because of his sexuality. It hurt my heart to think that such a gentle soul had been hurt in such a way.

“It doesn't matter,” he told me, voice soft and not a hint of the pain he'd experienced. “It was a plan for my life. God's plan. It was then that I decided I'd wanted to help people, make the world a better place.

His aspirations gave me something I hadn't had in all my years. Hope.

The next month, we were shipped out overseas and into battle. Our time together became limited but we tried. He stayed with us most of the time, probably seeing more combat than a chaplain was supposed to. He'd never shot a soul, the weapon holstered to his back more for show than anything.

Each morning he'd pray for us, voice a quiet whisper as he sat out and greeted the sun with his words. Sometimes I'd listen. I'd listen as he'd thank God for the day, the food, friends. Sometimes he'd thank God for me.

It was those times that I'd realize he was the first solid thing in my life. The first thing I thought would stay. The metal band resting against my finger assured me of that every day.

He'd then go on to ask him to keep everyone safe and allow everyone to go home to their families. The pleading in his voice when he'd pray for this was enough to make my heart ache, to make me want to go and comfort him. But I never did.

The prayer of that particular day is forever engraved in my memory. Mostly because of how different it had been.

Everyone slept around me, snoring filling the air as Gabriel made his way away from the group. His morning prayer.

“Holy Father, thank you for today. Thank you for the food we eat. For keeping us safe and… Thank you for Anthony,” he whispered as I strained to hear. His voice cracked and there was a hitch in his breathe. “Lord, I can't… I don't think I can do this anymore. There's so much death and pain around me. It physically hurts to think about. Please, please, take me, take all of us away from here. Please let us all get home safe soon.”

All the times I wish I could change, the one I wish to change the most was that day. I wish I would have gotten up and gone to him and comforted him. But I had stayed in my place, listening to his broken sobs because I was scared of the consequences of outing our relationship.

That day he was much more cheerful. He'd sang hymns under his breathe and walked along close beside me. I couldn't equate this man with the one I'd heard sobbing that morning.

We all heard the gunshot before we realized what had happened. A moment of confusion was replaced with alterness as we tried to find the threat. It wasn't until we heard something drop to the ground that we realized.

“Gabriel!” I shouted. I fell to my knees beside him as cold horrified dread went through my veins. Blood marred his features, coming from the bullet wound in his forehead. It ran around his perfect green eyes, wide and glassy and distant.

Someone was saying my name but I wasn't even listening, holding Gabriel to my chest. Once they were sure the threat was no longer a problem, the other four men stood around us. I knew they knew now but I couldn't care less.

One of them, Laurens if I remember correctly, crouched beside me and did something. I wasn't even paying attention as he spoke, his words lost on me.

“Captain,” he said loudly and I finally looked at him. The only thing I remember about him was the expression on his face. “I think this is yours then.”

He pressed something into my hand and I looked down to see my father’s ring, the one I gave Gabriel. So they knew now.

The five of us never spoke of that day again unless it was to remind each other of what exactly we were fighting for. No one pointed out the rings I wore around my neck now and I can only assume no one ever told about what they found out about me.

At night when no one else is around, I'd grip the rings around my neck and stare at the sky. When I was younger, I'd have prayed at times like this but now I found there was no reason to anymore. There couldn't be a God.

After all, he took the only angelic figure I ever knew out of my life.

His name was Gabriel Villa-Hooper. And he was the light of my life.

[wigwurq]

WIG REVIEW: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Yes, I saw the #1 movie in America the weekend it opened. YAYYYS I saw it for free using Moviepass (!) YES IT IS THE WORST BIOPIC I HAVE EVER SEEN. Yes, really. And I have seen Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story starring Anthony Michael Hall! This is worse! But what about the wigs? Buckle up - I HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS.

Straight up: I love Queen and Freddie Mercury. And when this movie was announced, I feared that their/his story would be sullied AND I WAS RIGHT. As was Sacha Baron Cohen (THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD HAVE PLAYED FREDDIE MERCURY) for walking away from this doomed project years ago. We were left with Rami Malek as Mercury instead. I do not watch I, Robot and as far as I can tell, Malek is a malnourished baby bird who is trying his hardest under bad script and directional circumstances. 

We first see him in this lewk which I can only describe as offbrand Laurie Metcalf. This is not the worst wig but gurl it ain’t good.

Before you can say “what year did Laurie Metcalf get that perm on Roseanne?” Mercury suddenly goes from bullied college student/airport baggage attendant to lead singer of of Queen aka “HIS FAMILY!!!!!!” because why waste time on character or story development?! BRING ON THE SILVER CATSUIT AND HOPE EVERYONE JUST LIKES HIS LIPSYNCING! To be fair, Malek can lip sync for his LIFE - even with those prosthetic chompers - and enduring a new wig with bangs that screams “80s mallrat turned single mother”

Also right before officially joining Queen, Mercury meets this bish named Mary who he likes because from what I can tell, she has a nice fur coat and can get him a discount at BIBA. Hey, sounds like true love to me! This movie tells you (for 2+) hours that Mary was Mercury’s AIN’ TRUE LOVE despite him being bi and also giving no examples as to why they like each other except for love of fashion and cats (though this is how I determined most of my gay friendships in college but I didn’t make an overlong movie about it). 

I will give this movie credit for showing Mercury to be the crazy cat lady that he was but honestly, I could have used more kitty content. This movie could have used at LEAST half an hour more on these cats. Seriously.

Instead, we got to see these bedraggled wigs screaming into microphones as they tried to finesse the finer points of the song Bohemian Rhapsody. All of these wigs are basically Halloween versions of Spinal Tap wigs as are the characterizations. 

UGH AND THEN MIKE MYERS TURNED UP. Look, I love So I Married An Axe Murderer as much as the next guy but OYYY. Myers plays an EMI executive who refuses to release Bohemian Rhapsody as a single because it’s too long and operatic and says something like, “no one will ever sing along to the radio to this in their car” because THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE DOES IN WAYNE’S WORLD, GET IT?!?!?!?!?! If that Easter Egg doesn’t make your eyes roll out into the Black Sea, his “Da Bears SNL Sketch” look certainly will. 

Of course, Bohemian Rhapsody goes on to be a huge hit and the movie trolls you by putting a bunch of negative reviews of the song on the screen to prove JUST HOW WRONG EVERYONE WAS and just as you’re getting to the singalong part of the song, the movie inexplicably moves into tour montage territory because ????? There are zero consistencies stylistically or otherwise in this movie and it is definitely NOT for anyone who actually likes Queen’s music as their songs are interspersed like a frenetic wedding DJ and their best album, Sheer Heart Attack, doesn’t even get a mention.

The movie is far more content making you wonder whether Mercury will marry Mary despite his bisexuality (spoiler alert: HE DOESN’T) and telling you about ever 5 minutes that QUEEN IS A FAMILY SO STOP TRYING TO BREAK US UP, IRISH CHAUFFEUR FROM DOWNTON ABBEY! 

The wigs get progressively scraggly throughout the late 70s until Mercury decides to cut off all his hair and get a stache which signals the end for the band for some reason (?) and leads to another Easter Egg in which the dude who plays Brian May (who really does look a lot like him) says that he’ll never get a haircut. GET IT, BECAUSE HE NEVER DID. 

Throughout the film, May (who may have been the reason Sacha Baron Cohen rightly walked from this mess) is shown as an angelic guitar god who gave the world (and mainly Queen’s fans) WE WILL ROCK YOU AND THEREFORE CANNOT DO ANY WRONG. Mercury, on the other hand, is led to hell and back via a leather bar and a shitty solo career in Munich by Littlefinger from Game of Thrones and that Downton chauffeur with a mustache. Nothing gets too scandalous or seedy because this movie is rated PG-13 for some reason so you will definitely see Mercury get diagnosed with AIDS but you won’t see how. I choose to blame parttime director and fulltime asshole Bryan Singer for most of the movie’s flaws. OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY. May he be electrocuted in a hot tub for his many crimes, of which this is #1. 

And then we come to the uncanny valley of an ending! This movie chooses to believe that the apex of Queen was their Live Aid performance which is recreated through ALL OF THE COMPUTERS. But first, Mercury goes and finds this random cater waiter who he met once and brings him directly to meet his Indian parents so that his dad can tell him he loves him all on the way to Wembley Stadium the course of about 2 minutes so that they could spend a full 20 minutes showing you THE ENTIRE LIVE AID SET. Because you’d definitely rather watch Malek be Mercury performing to a sea of computers than just, you know, watching the actual performance on YouTube. Meanwhile, some doofus playing Bob Geldof in a sad mullet wig sits in a silent room where no one is making ANY donations for Live Aid until Queen performs. “Based on a true story” has never been truer. IN CONCLUSION I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO MAD AT A MOVIE. Actual footage of Queen performing “Don’t Stop Me Now” plays over the credits and is the only watchable part of the film. 

VERDICT: DOESN’T WURQ

[neverisalongtime-ja-blog]

Chapter 39: Crystal

This chapter has a  Josh POV!

Thank you all for reading the fic! ♥♥♥

Reach chapter 38

Even though Richard had many liabilities with the release of his band’s album, he managed to get some free time, and together with Mark and Stephanie decided to join Anastasia on the first Chicago date when Dead Curse had to return to The Getaway Tour. Anastasia had been so distracted with Richard that she completely forgot to text Josh after the Glastonbury concert and even during the days that followed.

Before heading to Chicago, everyone had a stop in New York where they spent a couple of days off. One of those nights, Richard and Anastasia had their first official date. They went to an amazing sushi restaurant in Soho and she was so impressed about how easy it was to be around him. He was such an easy going guy, he could turn any topic into a deep conversation and she loved that, also his looks were so attractive to her: that brown hair all sleek to the back, his black jeans and black shoes, the way he rolled up his sleeves… He had this sharp style, proper of a big rock band leader, which he was. She liked everything about him, especially the fact he was completely single and he didn’t seem like having too many issues.

After the dinner they walked to a bar where an underground band was performing. Richard loved to discover new bands and that was one of An’s passions too. They had a lot in common when it came to tastes. She was so happy and relaxed and above all, she was calm. She could be herself around Richard and she didn’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing or afraid of a girlfriend popping up once in a while.

That was a great night. When she went back to Mark’s apartment (where she was staying while in New York), she checked her phone and messages from Josh appeared on the screen.

Josh: Is everything ok? Haven’t heard from you in a couple of days – She completely forgot.

An: Yes! I’m sorry! Wanna facetime?

Josh: Sure!

She changed into her sleeping clothes, got in bed and called him immediately.

-          Hi – He said on the screen. He was laying on his hotel bed, ready for sleep with his messy hair that made Anastasia smile.

-          Oh Josh! I'm still overwhelmed by Glasto. I’m so sorry for not texting you – He smiled.

-          Don’t worry. I knew you were alive because of Eric – He laughed.

-          Eric was giving you notifications about me? How sweet.

-          Well, we were talking about how amazing Glastonbury was…

-          Oh my God Josh! It was!

-          You looked amazing and everyone sounded so on point.

-          There were no mistakes! It was a perfect show! There were moments when the crowd was singing so oloud that I couldn’t even hear myself – Josh smiled once again.

-          You and Mandy showed that chemistry you two have, Anthony and Flea smiled so much at that. Nobody had a bad thing to say when we watched you on the screens and, believe me, that is a very hard group of people to please.

-          Really? Everyone liked it?

-          We had such a great time watching you guys. It was some kind of a small break we all needed.

-          I’m so glad to hear that. Did you see how my boots shined?

-          Yes – Josh laughed hard – I saw your boots – Anastasia smiled - You look gorgeous – He said.

-          That’s because I still have my makeup on. I just got home like a half hour ago.

-          You were out?

-          Yes, I went to have dinner with Richard – Josh changed his face to a more serious expression.

-          The guy from the band you made that video with?

-          Yes – Anastasia kept talking without realizing the effect her words were having on Josh – He went to Glasto to join us!

-          How cool – Josh said without moving a muscle on his face.

-          Yeah. He is really nice. He is coming with us to the first Chicago date also, tomorrow – Now Josh’s face showed anger and Anastasia saw it – Is there something wrong?

-          No – Josh said showing that definitely something was wrong.  

-          Josh…- Anastasia said rolling her eyes – I think I’m gonna call it a night and I’ll see you tomorrow.

-          Sure – Josh said – Have a good night – and he hung up.

 He acts like such a teenager sometimes, Anastasia thought.

                                                  … Josh POV …

Josh couldn’t sleep that night just imaging Anastasia and Richard having a date. This was what he feared since day one: seeing her with another man. It was his fault, he knew it but he wasn’t mentally prepared yet to be in a fully committed relationship with Anastasia. He didn’t feel self-confident enough to keep a girl like her. Now anxiety was attacking again and the only image on his mind was Richard and Anastasia, together.

Josh hadn’t met Richard yet but he googled him. Now he knew how Richard looked like, like the perfect example of a good-looking front man. “Such a cliché”, Josh thought. The guy had a child and was recently divorced. Josh just didn’t see Anastasia getting into such situation, but he was sure that Richard could offer Anastasia something he couldn’t at the moment: stability. Although he started to wonder if Richard was using Anastasia as a rebound.

Anastasia was sure a great looking woman, she was so attractive physically and maybe Richard was only seeing that. Richard don’t know her like he do, he thought.

Josh spent the entire night having a conversation with himself, until the sunlight began coming through the hotel curtains. It was time to face that day, he was going to see An again, he was going to meet Richard and he had never felt so excited and terrified at the same time before.

Josh decided to stay in bed until it was time to leave for the venue. He didn’t receive a text from Anastasia letting him know she arrived in Chicago so he wasn’t sure if she was in town yet. To be honest, he didn’t want to know. He had a show to play that night and he needed to stay focused, so went on his laptop and logged on to Facebook, something he didn’t do often. As soon as his newsfeed appeared on the screen, Josh regretted it. There was a bunch of posts from Anastasia from London and New York, there were a bunch of photos where she appeared next to Richard. Anger started taking over Josh’s body. Suddenly, there popped a video of An and Richard on a plane singing along to the song ‘Crystal’ by New Order, which made Josh remember the conversation An had with him about The Killers and New Order and all those fake bands names… and there was the anger again. An captioned the video with the phrase “Yeah, we love this song”. ‘We’? Josh thought. They’re already a ‘we’? he said to himself.

Josh actually liked that song, so he listened back to it to remember it. Some of the lyrics hit him, so, in that moment, he decided it would be the song he’d cover that night. Maybe it would be a childish move but he wanted to do it, and the song didn’t belong to Richard so, he thought it was safe.

He put his notebook aside and rested his head on the pillow looking to the ceiling. He was just hoping for An to come back from London so he could have her in his arms again and now that wasn’t going to be possible. She looked so amazing on that Glastonbury show, so sure of herself... that confidence gave her such a sensual aura and he just wanted to have her back in his bed, but no. All because of this Richard guy.

It was time for the venue, so Josh got up, had a quick shower, got dressed and walked downstairs to hop on the van that was going to take them there. He walked straight to the stage to do some soundchecks, without making eye contact with anyone, just his guitar tech. After a good forty minutes of trying some pedals, Josh walked to his dressing room but the Universe got in the way and he ran into Mark, Anastasia and… Richard, looking like a GQ Magazine cover, smiling at her and talking to Mark as if they’d known each other for years. Josh tried to avoid them, but Anastasia saw him and called his name. That damn voice that he adored.

-          Josh – He hated his name but when she pronounced it sounded like angels calling him.

-          Hey! – He turned around and hugged her tight.

-          Meet Richard – She had to do it.

-          Nice to meet you, man – “Man”, who talked like that nowadays?

-          Same – Was all he managed to say.

-          I’m excited to see you guys play. Last time I saw the Chilis, John was still in the band! – Richard, Anastasia and Mark laughed but Josh only gave them half a smile.

-          Hope you don’t get disappointed – Josh said and saw Anastasia’s face turning serious – I would like to stay and chat but I’m really tired and I’m going to my dressing room to have some rest – He walked away without saying goodbye and he could feel Anastasia’s eyes on the back of his neck.

Josh was so angry and deep inside of him he knew all of this was his fault. He went into his dressing room, grabbed a guitar and started to play it, that always calmed his mind but a few minutes later the door opened and Anastasia entered closing it behind her, she was about to rant, he saw the fire in her eyes.

-          Why did you act that rude back there? – She asked him.

-          Rude? – He said knowing that was going to make her furious. He loved to see her angry.

-          Are you testing me? – She asked back – You were so dry and stiff.

-          Sorry. I’m not having a good day – Josh answered.

-          Sorry to hear that – She said.

-          Are you dating that guy? – Anastasia stood still and he knew she was trying to find the right sentence to say.

-          Is there some kind of permission I need from you or something for that? – An acted so arrogant sometimes, always finding the words to make Josh lose his mind. Pushing his buttons.

-          I asked you a simple question. Are you or are you not dating that guy? – He said again, he was still angry. She smiled with sarcasm. The atmosphere was tense.

-          I went on a date with him but I don’t think you can say we are ‘dating’ – She paused – Yet – She finished.

-          So, do you want to? – He asked.

-          To be honest with you, yes – He hated when she was that honest. He would rather hear her say no and lie to him.

-          What about me? – He saw her opening her eyes big.

-          What about you? – She said – What about you? – She repeated – What about me when you decided to go after Lauren?

-          Oh, the Lauren thing again? – He wasn’t measuring the words that were coming out from his mouth and he was sure she wasn’t either.

-          You have some serious balls to say that – Anastasia put her hands on her waist just as she always did when she was angry – Don’t you think I deserve someone who just wants only me?

-          How do you know he wants only you? – Josh asked putting the guitar aside.

-          He is not treating me like a side chick, for a start – Anastasia’s face was pure anger at this point and even like that she looked beautiful.

-          He is a musician in a big band, he doesn’t want only you.

-          Yeah. I guess you are the perfect specimen to say that – He was feeling the rage on his veins.

-          He just got divorced, you are just a rebound – He didn’t think about any of those words, they just came out. She stood silent and he could see her big turquoise eyes getting watery.

-          Fuck you, Josh! – She screamed and ran out of the room.

The room became a little bit darker when An left, because, even angry, she had the power to light up any space she stepped into. It was like she was a rainbow but Josh was colorblind. He looked at the floor, trying to understand his own attitude. He acted so impulsively, he was doing that a lot lately. Damage was done.

He didn’t come out to see Dead Curse play, but from his room he could hear the music and the people cheering. He just wanted to avoid watching him seeing her on stage, admiring her, screaming for her, just the way he himself had done so many times around the world during the last year. In some way, it felt like Richard was a usurper, taking his place in her life but at that moment, Josh couldn’t see that it was his own fault. He left her alone, he allowed Richard to enter her life. He was blind with rage and jealousy.

Josh went back to the safe place he knew: Lauren. He tried to stop thinking about Anastasia and hearing her singing like angels from the stage wasn’t helping, so he went out and called Lauren on the phone. She was in some kind of party because he could hear the music and the fuss through the phone. They didn’t speak much, she told him she missed him, he told her the same, it wasn’t a lie, and then she hung up leaving him on the line.

He couldn’t deny that this Lauren thing was growing; she treated him well and was always so happy in his company; that gave him joy. Again, he could control her, something that the so-sure-of-herself Anastasia never allowed. He went back inside when Dead Curse finished their set, so he got ready to take the stage.

The first show in Chicago was horrible. Josh missed all the lines and kept messing up the notes, Anthony and Flea kept looking at him angry. He was a mess, but now it was time to play his solo and he made sure Anastasia and Richard were at a side of the stage, this was for them.

By the time he pronounced the first line of the song, the whole crowd at the United Center went wild.

 We're like crystal

We break easy

I'm a poor man

If you leave me

People started to sing along with Josh.

 I don't know what to say

You don't care anyway

I'm a man in a rage

With a girl I betrayed

Here comes love

It's like honey

You can't buy it with money

You shook me to the core

You shook me to the core

Josh managed to look at Anastasia and she was there, standing still with her big turquoise eyes going even bigger, not moving. He had an effect on her and that was what he was looking for. He didn’t see her the rest of the show, she must have ran away, just like she always did. They were so alike.

The next morning Richard was gone, but Josh didn’t make an effort in speaking to Anastasia and she didn’t come near him. She only approached him the following Sunday, when they were taking a flight back to Los Angeles.

-          I’m sick of your innuendos with your covers. So, please stop it – She said to him when she went by his seat and then walked away.

During those weeks off in California, Josh decided he was going to focus on playing music, but he also invited Lauren to spend some time with him. He hoped that it would help him forget about Anastasia for a while, but deep inside he knew it was going to be impossible. 

[didiletyouknooow]

24. Super Bowl II

So here’s the second part of the Super Bowl chapter! I hope you have fun reading it :)  I wish you all a wonderful weekend! _______________

Finally it was THE day. I was already awake and had showered when Josh woke up. He looked very tired. Well, it was 10am. I was still confused by the jet lag so I couldn’t sleep that long. We had a long day to go. “Did you sleep well?” Josh asked me while he was still lying in bed. “Kind of. I woke up very often due to my jet lag” “Oh I’m so sorry” he said, took my hand when I passed his way to go to the bathroom and pulled me into the bed. I fell directly on Josh who started kissing me. I couldn’t, all I could do was laughing. “Outch, it hurt when I fell into the bed” I laughed. “Sorry, I just wanna kiss you” he grinned, his hair covered his face. “But” I said into our kisses. “We have to hurry up, you said we drive to New Jersey at noon, so get up!” I ended our kisses and finally went into the bathroom.

Unlike his band mates Josh didn’t prefer to have breakfast in his room. Instead he always went to the breakfast room of the hotel. He liked watching people and looking outside the window while having breakfast. So we went downstairs and had a very nice and lovely breakfast buffet waiting for us. “Are you nervous?” I asked him while he drank his coffee. “Hm, kind of. It’s a huge crowd, I mean all the viewers at the television. It’s totally crazy” “It’s the biggest crowd you ever played for?” “I’m not quite sure. In 2007 I played at the Live Aid in London with the Chilis but, you know, I was only the back up for John but now…” “…now you’re the lead guitarist with your sexy silver jacket! And you will definitely not play shit during the gig because it’s playback! Do you think people will notice it?” ”Sure they will. And I don’t like it that we do playback but, you know, the NFL makes the rules. I still don’t know whether I should use in ears or not. I think it could make it more realistic”  “Sorry, I don’t know anything about playing live” “Well, I have to think about it...” “At least it’s a great experience and you will look very sexy with your silver jacket!” “Exactly” he smiled. “Well, except of the sexy….” “Josh!” “Hm?” “Please, don’t make yourself small, okay? When I say you’re sexy then you’re sexy” “Okay….I just….I don’t know, Olivia said the jacket would be great” “It is!” Yesterday Josh showed me the silver jacket he would wear on stage later. He knew that Bruno and his band would wear golden jackets so his sister had the idea of him wearing a silver jacket. So he bought one and it looked so good on him!

After our breakfast we finally got into the van who drove us to MetStadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While leaving the main exit Josh was holding my hand very strongly. He even kept holding it while driving to the stadium. You can tell he was veeeeery nervous and excited for the things that would come. I was surprised because I’ve never seen him like that before. He talked less and just looked out of the window. 

Finally it happened: we arrived at the MetStadium in New Jersey. There were many people waiting at the stadium so the van drove to the back entrance. Josh and I left the car and we went directly into the stadium which was a very weird feeling for me. It felt like I belonged to the crew although I was just his girlfriend who didn’t know anything about the band and the crew and their work. We were welcomed by some assistants of the stadium and they showed us the lounge where we would stay during the game. Josh told me that it was the official VIP lounge in the stadium. Every important and famous guest will come here. Wow, didn’t make me nervous at all, haha.

At least I wasn’t the only one who seemed to feel a bit misguided. There was also Clara and her little sister who were here. Sure Anthony brought his son and girlfriend with him. So I wasn’t the only one leaving behind when the guys went to a short meeting with Bruno and his band. “Hey Eileen, how are you doing?” Clara welcomed me after a while. “Great, a bit jet lagged. What about you?” “I’m great, too and also very excited for tonight. Oh this is my little sister Sunny” she introduced me to the little girl standing next to her. I smiled at her and she said a loudly “Hiiiiii” to me. “So do you wanna have some coffee?” Clara asked me and I agreed so we went to the little buffet. It’s so funny some years ago I worked as a waitress at special events and now I was the guest at such special event.  “And how’s life in Berlin? Is it cold at the moment?” “Oh yes it’s winter. When I left it was still snowing” “Really? Oh great!” “No it sucks. I mean Berlin is a city and when you have to work you can’t enjoy the snow” “Okay right…didn’t think about that” she laughed. “Do you often join the band?” I wanted to know while I put some sugar in my coffee. “Hm, no. I used to be their photographer back in 2011 when they toured but then I studied and now I don’t have time to join them on tour. I just pick the nicest places to join them for a concert” she told me. “Great idea” I agreed with her. “So today I’m here and I will go to their next show in L.A. I guess. But that’s all. I mean, after all it’s just their job” “Yes, it is. Although it’s not a typical job” “It’s definitely not a typical job” she laughed. “I mean who can still behave like a little kid at their job?” “I don’t know!” I laughed. “So and you and Josh….is it…is it serious?” she suddenly wanted to know. “I think so” “But you’re moving to Oregon I heard” Wait, how did she know? “Sorry, my dad told me because Josh talked with him about it. He seemed very sad and said you both argued about it” Clara explained me. “Yeah we did” I told her. “But now everything’s fine. I don’t think that I have to move to Oregon. It’s just a kind of Plan….C….or D?” “Oh well then I hope plan A or B will come true” she laughed. “I hope so too!” “Well, you’re very cool. Finally there is a girl in my age which isn’t a model” she giggled. “Why?” “Look at Anthony…I mean I really like him! But I was never friends with his girlfriends” she told me. “What about Chad’s wife?” “She’s nice but…she’s much older than me” Clara laughed. “I mean it’s cool that you’re like my age so I’m not just hanging out with my younger sister…which I love! Don’t get me wrong but when I was on tour with them I was often bored when I had to wait for them or so because I was on my own and there was no one I could have a talk with” “What about Mia?” I asked although I didn’t want to know it. “Yeah, she was there sometimes but….she’s a chaotic and very specific person. Not everyone get along with her easily” “Except of Josh!” I joked. I was totally cool with it…totally cool. Okay I wasn’t. “But no one really understood it. Chad and my dad liked her but Anthony didn’t get along with her. They even argued one day about such a silly thing. I don’t know what it was but Anthony was very angry and told Josh that Mia shouldn’t comment on things she doesn’t know about” Oh well, seemed like Mia wasn’t everybody’s darling.

 Clara and I talked for a while until the guys came back. Josh and I went to the terrace and he tried to explain the rules of American Football to me but I think I didn’t get it.   “Sorry Josh but I think you could keep explaining it for five hours and I still wouldn’t get it” I excused. “Oh well, doesn’t matter. I hope you have a good time though” he said while kissing me. “Oughhhh” a childish voice interrupted our kiss. It was Sunny. “You’re kissing!” she noticed. “Yeah we do” Josh laughed at her. “That’s what adults do sometimes” he told her. “Urgh, it looks nasty” “Well, some day you will do it, too!” I said. “Yes, one day you’re going to kiss someone and it will be great” Josh said while looking at me. “You mean, I will kiss you?” “Me?” Josh asked laughing. “But you’re like my uncle” she stated. “That’s right so….you’re going to kiss some one else because I’m already kissing Eileen” “I don’t wanna see it. So I go!” she let us know before she turned around and went to Clara. Josh and I started laughing.

The lounge got more and more crowded. Josh parents and Olivia also showed up. We welcomed them and talked a bit before the game began. The Super Bowl XLVIII between the Seattle Seahwks and the Denver Broncos started. Although I didn’t quite understand the rules I found it very interesting to see live. I watched it sometimes with my dad and my brother but I never got what it’s so interesting about it. Well now I knew although I didn’t understand why suddenly it was 8-0 for the Seahawks. After a few minutes Josh and the band had to leave to prepare for the halftime show. So I stayed with his family at our seats and kept watching the game.

Then it was time! The lights turned off and the halftime show started with a child choir who sang Bruno Mars’ hit “Billionaire”. Then he did a short drum solo until he sang “Locked Out of Heaven”. Wow I was very impressed by this guy. He and the band rocked the stage and everyone was singing and dancing. But I was still so excited for the Chilis to come. I didn’t know when they would come, Josh didn’t tell me. He wanted it to be a secret for me. He just told me that they would sing together with Bruno. But before, I was dancing to “Treasure”. I LOVED this song so much. It always made me dance and sing when I had a bad day. Then the guitars started and I had a clue in which song this could lead. Well I was right. Suddenly the Chili Peppers appeared on stage and “Give It Away” started. Anthony was dancing and singing with Bruno while I was watching Josh on the big screens in the stadium. He was just being Josh jumping around pretended to play his guitar.

When Bruno started playing “Just The Way You Are” I took a short video and sent it to Madison who was a big Bruno Mars fan. She must’ve been a bit jealous I guessed. But this song was the song we both listened to when we first met at a college party.

After the halftime show was finished the lights turned on again and after a few minutes the game continued. “Wow, it was such a great performance. By both of them!” Josh’s dad told me. “We’re so proud….we’re so fucking proud” his mother said with tears in her eyes. I knew that it was the most recognized event in the USA and many people watch it whether they’re a football fan or not. So I knew that it was a big honor to play the half time show. But I must also admit that I never was into this sports but it was interesting how they could make such a big event and show out of this finals. Every sports final or big event in Germany looks like a wannabe-event compared to the super bowl.

In the end the Seattle Seahawks won the super bowl 43-8. We watched the ceremony and finally it looked like everything went crazy. Olivia and her boyfriend had bet on the Seahawks so they celebrated their win. Josh’s parents just celebrated this great evening and me and Clara brought us some beer to celebrate. Although it was very cold outside we wanted to have a beer.

After the game the party continued in the private lounge. It was more crowded than before the game. Clara and I just stood their watching people. Sometimes famous, sometimes wannabe-famous. You can tell there were some girls who wanted to be seen no matter by whom. I always wondered how they came so far? Do they know the right people? Probably.

While we were standing there Lenny Kravitz just passed our way. Clara and I looked at each other without saying anything and afterwards started laughing because he was so small! “Wow, I never thought he’s that small!” I said. “Oh I knew but it was so weird seeing him in reality. I mean I saw a lot of famous musicians but never Lenny Kravitz!” we decided to get another drink due to this shock. When we walked to the bar I noticed my phone ringing. “Yep?” “Little Sis, why didn’t you tell me that your boyfriend plays at the half time show at the super bowl?” “Ehm” “Sorry I didn’t want to phone you in the middle of the night. In Germany it’s already night, right? Sorry but….aaahhhhh!” “Actually I’m in New Jersey at the stadium” I said and waited for his response. Shit I forgot phoning him. “What the….really?” “Yes” “Oh you’re lucky girl!” “I know…sorry I didn’t tell you but it was top secret” “Yeah, I can imagine….but how was it?” “It was so fucking great! I can’t believe it!” “Oh I’ve bet on the Seahawks!” “They won right?” “Ahhhh, why are you in the stadium if you’re not interested in the game?” Marc laughed. “Just because you’re falling for a rock star. Always the same” he joked. “Sorry!” “Well I wish you a beautiful night! Drink some beer with Josh and have a great time!” Marc said and we hang up.

Finally Josh appeared at the lounge. I was SO happy seeing him and put my arms around him to glomp and kiss him. I was so fucking proud of him. “There is our guy” Josh’s dad said and backslapped him. His mother also hugged and kissed him and you could tell that Josh didn’t really like it. We must’ve treated him like he was the Super Bowl MVP. “Wanna drink something?” I said, took his hand and we walked over to the bar. On the way to the bar Josh met a lot of people who wanted to talk to him so we always took a little stop and he chatted for a while until we went on. I think it took us like 20 minutes to finally reach the bar. I ordered some drinks and we clinked glasses. Sure Josh had to talk to a lot of people. So I often stand there, smiling and saying my name while he pretended to be nice and talked with them although I knew that he was much tensed.

Later Chad, Flea and Anthony joined us with their families and it was a big crowd just sitting and talking a lot. Chad was there with his kids and his wife while Flea was with Clara and Sunny. Anthony’s son was still awake because it was a special night. He seemed to be very impressed by everything around him. Just Anthony’s girlfriend looked a bit bored while Anthony talked to a New  York politician.

I was sitting at my white chair watching the people in the room when suddenly I noticed a person I knew from television. It was Aaron Paul! He was there with his wife Lauren. Oh my god, I was a big fan of Breaking Bad and I loved Aaron and his wife. To me they were relationship goals! “Ehm, excuse me” I said to Josh and got up. “What are you doing?” he asked me. “Just meeting someone” I went over to them and gathered my courage to say hello to them. “Hi Aaron” I heard myself saying. He looked at me, a glass of whisky in his hands, smiling. “Hi unknown woman” he laughed. “Do I know you?” “Ehm no” I giggled. “But I just thought that Jesse Pinkman is here” “Oh yes, he is. I just left for the bathroom, but right, he’s here” he joked with me. “I’m Aaron” he finally said and I also introduced myself. “Here you are!” Josh said. He was standing behind me. “Oh look, aren’t you Josh Klinghoffer?” Aaron said while looking surprised at Josh. “I am” “Great show man, really, great show. But Bruno also kicked ass!” “Thanks and yes he did” Josh said while they shook hands. “I’m Lauren” Aaron’s wife introduced herself to us. We had a little talk and Aaron told us that he and Lauren attended every super bowl of the last years and it was something like a highlight of their year – except for Coachella and their date of wedding. I was so happy that I met those two lovely people, honestly! Sure I wanted to take a picture with them so finally Josh made a picture of us three until Aaron and his wife had to leave. We said them goodbye and headed back to the others. “Who was this guy?” Josh whispered to me. “It was Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad!” “Oh well, right” He remembered. “You’re such a fangirl” “Oh hell I love him so much!” “Tzzz” Josh rolled his eyes. 

It was almost midnight when the party in the stadium ended – but this doesn’t mean that there wasn’t any party left. Sure there was an official after game party in a hotel near the stadium. The Chilis wanted to attend the party so Josh and I followed the others to the party. But before, we had a short look into the empty stadium. We opened one of the glass doors and went down a few stairs until we stopped at a seat. “Wow, this looks so amazing. I mean it’s full of shit but, you know, it’s full of emotions, music, sports, sweat, crying, laughing, just people being happy” I said. “Yes it is” Josh said while hugging me from behind. For a while we just stood there looking at the stadium. Suddenly there was a song playing from the inside. It was “Don’t Look Back In Anger” by Oasis. “That’s my favorite song!!” I freaked out and started to sing along very loudly. I think I embarrassed Josh when I started singing so loud but in the second chorus he joined me. So we were standing there in the empty stadium singing Oasis. What a special night. 

The music at the party wasn’t that good. But the drinks were for free so many people attended the party. Sure you could only get in with a special ticket or connections. So for me it was just a fucking special night. First the game, then the half time show, meeting Aaron Paul and now the party in this expensive luxury hotel. Totally out of my league I thought. But I just enjoyed it. I was with Josh and that’s what made me completely happy.

After a few drinks and the 47645th person Josh met during this night we finally met Bruno Mars. He looked totally different than on stage. He wore tight pants and a colorful shirt and some golden rings and necklaces. “You must be Eileen” he said and I was shocked. How did he know my name? “Ehm, right” “Josh told me about his girlfriend who’s with him” he laughed. “Maaaaan, he’ so crazy in love with you” “Okay, well” I blushed. “Did you have a great time during the game?” “I had, it was great” “I wanted the Broncos to win but well, next time” he said and then talked with Josh about the game. Later we took a selfie which I sent to Madison. Oh well, she must be very jealous I thought. 

Josh and I left the party at 3am and went back to the hotel in New Jersey. It was a very cold night so when we arrived at our hotel room I froze. But I knew how we could change it. I felt so happy the whole night that I couldn’t stop but kissing him. I just wanted to feel him again.

So we kissed and hugged and kissed and finally fell into the bed. We fell into the bed without stopping kissing each other. I didn’t know why and how but Josh has started his iPod before we started making out so now Noel Gallagher sang “Slide Away” why I was completely lost in Josh’s eyes and just wanted him to be close. “Josh?” ”Hm?” ”Can we please consider this song as our song?” “Okay, it’s….beautiful” “It is. It really is…”

It was so romantic. It was a special night and I hoped this night would never end.

 “Now that you're mine We'll find a way Of chasing the sun Let me be the one that shines with you In the morning we don't know what to do” ______ Listen to this beautiful version of “Slide Away” by Noel Gallagher:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgQ_iwK1y64

Oh btw: here’s one reason why Aaron Paul & his wife Lauren are relationship goals: http://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Aaron-Paul-Surprise-His-Wife-Birthday-2016-42788169

[networkingdefinition]

Liquor Stores Quotes

Official Website: Liquor Stores Quotes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

• Because people see violence on the movie screen, they’re not going to go out and hold up a liquor store and kill somebody. It really doesn’t correlate. – Dean Koontz • Being a parent is a life sentence. You see, that’s why normal people should not have children because if you raise a kid with only love and support, I guarantee that kid will be in rehab by the time he is 16. Why? Because you never introduced him to Mr. Back-of-Your-Hand. You know why I only broke into a liquor store once? ‘Cause my father introduced me to Mr. Back-of-His-Hand and its wiley sidekick, Mr. Foot-in-My-Ass. – Christopher Titus • Boy, a drive-through liquor store. God bless America! A place where you can drive through and buy whiskey, beer… just the thing for that drunk driver who’s constantly on the go. Cant stop now! I’ve got places to go, people to hit! – Drew Carey • But really, what else are you going to talk about in line at the liquor store? Childhood trauma seems like the natural choice, since it’s the reason why most of us are in line there to begin with. – Jenny Lawson

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Liquor', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_liquor').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_liquor img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. – Ogden Nash • Even a band of angels can turn ugly and start looting if enough angels are unemployed and hanging around the Pearly Gates convinced that all the succubi own all the liquor stores in Heaven. – P. J. O’Rourke • History is the heavy traffic that prevents us from crossing the road. We’re not especially interested in what it consists of. We wait, more or less patiently, for it to pause, so that we can get to the liquor store or the laundromat or the burger bar. – Mal Peet • I buy water at the liquor store across the street from where I live. So I’m walking into the door, and standing, loitering, outside the door is a man. And I walk by him to go in, and he says, “I want pussy!” Now, I don’t want to seem conceited or anything, but he was talking about me! – Sarah Silverman • I feel a certain amount of freedom just cruising to the liquor store to get water or whatever. It just feels good. It makes me feel young getting on the bike and – again, not going crazy, I do bunny-hops and I’ll hit some curbs and stuff – but just feeling like a kid again. – Matt Skiba • I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought huge quantities. I could feel them wondering why I wasn’t dead yet and it made me uncomfortable. They probably weren’t thinking any such thing, but then a man gets paranoid when he has 300 hangovers a year. – Charles Bukowski • I prefer liquor store robbers with hungry kids to companies that locate offshore to avoid U.S. taxes. – Warren Buffett • I went downtown as a lawyer and then I worked in a liquor store at night, as I had done all through law school. And so when I got to the point where I could give up the night job, I joined the political club. – David Dinkins • I’ve never argued against any technology being used when you have an imminent threat, an active crime going on. If someone comes out of a liquor store with a weapon and fifty dollars in cash, I don’t care if a drone kills him or a policeman kills him. – Rand Paul • Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genius a better discerning. – Oliver Goldsmith • Life, as the signs in the liquor stores say, is too short to drink bad wine. And summer is too short to read bad books. – David Frum • Marijuana is not much more difficult to obtain than beer. The reason for this is that a liquor store selling beer to a minor stands to lose its liquor license. Marijuana salesmen don’t have expensive overheads, and so are not easily punished. – William F. Buckley, Jr. • My wife says, and I agree with her, that what would be really great for Maine would be to legalize dope completely and set up dope stores the way that there are state-run liquor stores. You could get your Acapulco gold or your whatever it happened to be – your Augusta gold or your Bangor gold. And people would come from all the other states to buy it, and there could be a state tax on it. Then everybody in Maine could have a Cadillac. – Stephen King • Not a Harvard-type education, just a not-sticking-up-a-liquor-store-type education. – Chris Rock • One side of the street is a Church; across the road is a liquor store. Both of ’em keepin us poor. – Chuck D • Outside the youth center, between the liquor store and the police station, a little dogwood tree is losing its mind; overflowing with blossomfoam, like a sudsy mug of beer; like a bride ripping off her clothes, dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds, so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene. It’s been doing that all week: making beauty, and throwing it away, and making more. – Tony Hoagland • Should alcoholics go to liquor stores? – Ally Carter • Sometimes they were together so often that it felt as though they really were a couple; sometimes weeks and months would go by before they saw each other. But even as alcoholics are drawn to the state liquor store after a stint on the wagon, they always came back to each other. – Steig Larsson • The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies. – Rush Limbaugh • There, gleaming in the glow, was that ten-horsepower rotary engine under a seat. A key glistening in the ignition. I imagine the top speed for that old mower was five miles per hour. It might have taken an hour and a half or more for me to get to the liquor store, but get there I did. – George Jones • These growth hormones, where can I get a bunch of them? Is there some way that, with electricity, you could stimulate your own growth hormones? Plug yourself in for five minutes, there’d be a little jolt, but you’d get used to it. It wouldn’t be bad at all; in fact, you’d get to enjoy it, probably. Then away you’d go, and youth wouldn’t be wasted on the young anymore. You’d be 25, with a 95-year-old mind. Granddad would start breaking into liquor stores and staying out late. Hope we have it soon! – David Lynch • We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families who eat together regularly are statistically less likely to stick up liquor stores, blow up meth labs, give birth to crack babies, commit suicide, or make donkey porn. If Little Timmy had just had more meatloaf, he might not have grown up to fill chest freezers with Cub Scout parts. – Anthony Bourdain

[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'a', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_a').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_a img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'e', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_e').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_e img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'i', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_i').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_i img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'o', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_o').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_o img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'u', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_u').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_u img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'y', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_y').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_y img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

[equitiesstocks]

Liquor Stores Quotes

Official Website: Liquor Stores Quotes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();

• Because people see violence on the movie screen, they’re not going to go out and hold up a liquor store and kill somebody. It really doesn’t correlate. – Dean Koontz • Being a parent is a life sentence. You see, that’s why normal people should not have children because if you raise a kid with only love and support, I guarantee that kid will be in rehab by the time he is 16. Why? Because you never introduced him to Mr. Back-of-Your-Hand. You know why I only broke into a liquor store once? ‘Cause my father introduced me to Mr. Back-of-His-Hand and its wiley sidekick, Mr. Foot-in-My-Ass. – Christopher Titus • Boy, a drive-through liquor store. God bless America! A place where you can drive through and buy whiskey, beer… just the thing for that drunk driver who’s constantly on the go. Cant stop now! I’ve got places to go, people to hit! – Drew Carey • But really, what else are you going to talk about in line at the liquor store? Childhood trauma seems like the natural choice, since it’s the reason why most of us are in line there to begin with. – Jenny Lawson

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'Liquor', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '68', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_liquor').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_liquor img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); ); • Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker. – Ogden Nash • Even a band of angels can turn ugly and start looting if enough angels are unemployed and hanging around the Pearly Gates convinced that all the succubi own all the liquor stores in Heaven. – P. J. O’Rourke • History is the heavy traffic that prevents us from crossing the road. We’re not especially interested in what it consists of. We wait, more or less patiently, for it to pause, so that we can get to the liquor store or the laundromat or the burger bar. – Mal Peet • I buy water at the liquor store across the street from where I live. So I’m walking into the door, and standing, loitering, outside the door is a man. And I walk by him to go in, and he says, “I want pussy!” Now, I don’t want to seem conceited or anything, but he was talking about me! – Sarah Silverman • I feel a certain amount of freedom just cruising to the liquor store to get water or whatever. It just feels good. It makes me feel young getting on the bike and – again, not going crazy, I do bunny-hops and I’ll hit some curbs and stuff – but just feeling like a kid again. – Matt Skiba • I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought huge quantities. I could feel them wondering why I wasn’t dead yet and it made me uncomfortable. They probably weren’t thinking any such thing, but then a man gets paranoid when he has 300 hangovers a year. – Charles Bukowski • I prefer liquor store robbers with hungry kids to companies that locate offshore to avoid U.S. taxes. – Warren Buffett • I went downtown as a lawyer and then I worked in a liquor store at night, as I had done all through law school. And so when I got to the point where I could give up the night job, I joined the political club. – David Dinkins • I’ve never argued against any technology being used when you have an imminent threat, an active crime going on. If someone comes out of a liquor store with a weapon and fifty dollars in cash, I don’t care if a drone kills him or a policeman kills him. – Rand Paul • Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain, With grammar, and nonsense, and learning, Good liquor, I stoutly maintain, Gives genius a better discerning. – Oliver Goldsmith • Life, as the signs in the liquor stores say, is too short to drink bad wine. And summer is too short to read bad books. – David Frum • Marijuana is not much more difficult to obtain than beer. The reason for this is that a liquor store selling beer to a minor stands to lose its liquor license. Marijuana salesmen don’t have expensive overheads, and so are not easily punished. – William F. Buckley, Jr. • My wife says, and I agree with her, that what would be really great for Maine would be to legalize dope completely and set up dope stores the way that there are state-run liquor stores. You could get your Acapulco gold or your whatever it happened to be – your Augusta gold or your Bangor gold. And people would come from all the other states to buy it, and there could be a state tax on it. Then everybody in Maine could have a Cadillac. – Stephen King • Not a Harvard-type education, just a not-sticking-up-a-liquor-store-type education. – Chris Rock • One side of the street is a Church; across the road is a liquor store. Both of ’em keepin us poor. – Chuck D • Outside the youth center, between the liquor store and the police station, a little dogwood tree is losing its mind; overflowing with blossomfoam, like a sudsy mug of beer; like a bride ripping off her clothes, dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds, so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene. It’s been doing that all week: making beauty, and throwing it away, and making more. – Tony Hoagland • Should alcoholics go to liquor stores? – Ally Carter • Sometimes they were together so often that it felt as though they really were a couple; sometimes weeks and months would go by before they saw each other. But even as alcoholics are drawn to the state liquor store after a stint on the wagon, they always came back to each other. – Steig Larsson • The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies. – Rush Limbaugh • There, gleaming in the glow, was that ten-horsepower rotary engine under a seat. A key glistening in the ignition. I imagine the top speed for that old mower was five miles per hour. It might have taken an hour and a half or more for me to get to the liquor store, but get there I did. – George Jones • These growth hormones, where can I get a bunch of them? Is there some way that, with electricity, you could stimulate your own growth hormones? Plug yourself in for five minutes, there’d be a little jolt, but you’d get used to it. It wouldn’t be bad at all; in fact, you’d get to enjoy it, probably. Then away you’d go, and youth wouldn’t be wasted on the young anymore. You’d be 25, with a 95-year-old mind. Granddad would start breaking into liquor stores and staying out late. Hope we have it soon! – David Lynch • We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families who eat together regularly are statistically less likely to stick up liquor stores, blow up meth labs, give birth to crack babies, commit suicide, or make donkey porn. If Little Timmy had just had more meatloaf, he might not have grown up to fill chest freezers with Cub Scout parts. – Anthony Bourdain

[clickbank-storefront-bestselling]

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'a', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_a').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_a img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'e', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_e').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_e img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'i', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_i').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_i img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'o', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_o').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_o img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'u', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_u').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_u img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

jQuery(document).ready(function($) var data = action: 'polyxgo_products_search', type: 'Product', keywords: 'y', orderby: 'rand', order: 'DESC', template: '1', limit: '4', columns: '4', viewall:'Shop All', ; jQuery.post(spyr_params.ajaxurl,data, function(response) var obj = jQuery.parseJSON(response); jQuery('#thelovesof_y').html(obj); jQuery('#thelovesof_y img.swiper-lazy:not(.swiper-lazy-loaded)' ).each(function () var img = jQuery(this); img.attr("src",img.data('src')); img.addClass( 'swiper-lazy-loaded' ); img.removeAttr('data-src'); ); ); );

[nofomoartworld]

Art F City: We Went to Protests: Scenes of Inauguration Resistance in Three Cities

WASHINGTON/Whitney Kimball

MEXICO CITY, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON—Over inauguration weekend, three members of the AFC fam found themselves in different cities, united by pissed-off-edness at Trump and the rise of the Right-wing. On inauguration day, Whitney Kimball navigated the surreal belly of the beast: Washington, DC. Meanwhile in Mexico, D.F. Michael Anthony Farley joined in a #J20 solidarity strike, protest, and march from the U.S. Embassy. The next day, Corinna Kirsch was among the hundreds of thousands participating in the New York City chapter of the Women’s March on Washington.

Whitney: DC on inauguration day was a weird labyrinth of barricades populated by me and untold thousands of zombie people with stupid red hats trying to find a gap into the National Mall and failed. Everything blew.

The city was barricaded off in chunks, so that you’d walk 10 blocks and then hit a bunch of soldiers and traffic police who’d make you turn around. (Same with Cleveland at the RNC last summer, where lots of us fully expected a bomb to go off). It’s an effective crowd control method because it makes it really hard for large groups of people to coordinate, but it also seems like it could go horribly wrong in an evacuation scenario.

WASHINGTON: Line for the parade? Or escape from DC? No one knows. /Whitney Kimball.

Anyway I spent the hour before the inauguration with wandering bands of people who also didn’t seem to realize that you needed a ticket to get within five miles of the Capitol Building. At the very last minute, a kind soul gave up his ticket, and I sprinted through the security checkpoints just in time to catch the speech on a jumbotron that I could just barely see over the crest of the hill. Even then a TSA agent blocked off all incomers from getting any closer, so for me, Trump’s “This is your celebration” line was a fabulously ironic closing note for the whole campaign. (Readers, if anybody has experience navigating previous inaugurations, please comment!)

So, it was a bust. BTW judging by the lines coming out of there, Trump’s claim to a million and a half attendees– about double the population of my hometown of Boston– seemed crazy. If it tells you anything, around lunchtime I was able to get in and out of a Pret-a-Manger bathroom within 15 minutes. By comparison my mom went to the Boston women’s march, had to go to the bathroom, and couldn’t even escape the square. I’ll add the caveat that the attendance numbers are a huge dispute at the moment, so he can’t sue us for libel.

In any case, this was a made-for-TV event.

WASHINGTON: one of the peaceful protests everyone ignored/Whitney Kimball

Also the “riots” were totally overblown. From what I witnessed over the course of a few hours in the afternoon, the number of media people nearly matched the number of anarchists mulling around and occasionally knocking over trash cans. The now-famous limo fire was the climax of a long, drawn out vandalism which was the main event throughout the afternoon. Eventually the boredom escalated into brick throwing and pepper spray, but the nearby tank stayed parked. All of this annoyingly overshadowed a much larger, entirely peaceful protest down the hill. The sanest conversation I had in the riot area was with a Trump supporter in his twenties whose mother had suffered under the Castro regime in Cuba and was annoyed with protesters’ comparisons to fascism. Other Trump supporters gave protesters credit for exercising their First Amendment rights.

And then there were the renegade guerilla window-smashers. A group whom DC local Kelly Rice described as “these like black ninjas”– who looked nothing like the regular protesters in rainbow-themed homemade protest apparel– allegedly ran through the streets with baseball bats and smashed storefronts like McDonald’s and Bank of America, but also non-symbolic spaces like the locally-owned breakfast place. “Who smashes the Atrium?” Rice wondered.

All in all, I dearly wish I’d had that day back. I’m hoping yours was better?

Michael: To be perfectly honest, if I had been in the United States I would’ve totally been one of the fire-setting, window-smashing kids in black. That’s part of why I am in Mexico instead. But I do kinda want a tattoo of that limousine in flames with the anarchy sign…

Whitney: Noooo! Those guys make protesters look bad. I hate McDonald’s, but a small business operator runs that franchise. And seriously, why smash a local breakfast place?

Also the kids sitting on the limo refused to offer any coherent message other than “it’s a bench now” or “it’s an insurance claim.” I’m down with limo-smashing, but for a greater good.

Michael: Eh, I’m becoming much less of a pacifist (in regard to private property) in my bitter old age. No one gave a fuck about Baltimore, especially cops killing Black kids, until they burned a stupid CVS.

Whitney: I agree that pacifism isn’t working, but I think the common enemy are the superrich, not other working class people. After spending a bunch of time with white supremacist groups over the past few months for my master’s project, I’m concluding that most people are generally okay with each other after they spend time together. We’re all getting screwed, but it’s not by the local CVS owner or the McDonald’s guy or the limo driver, it’s the corporate overlords.

But yeah, artistically, the burning limo is an A+. In life, I feel sorry for Muhammad Ashraf of Nationwide Chauffeured Services. Who knows, maybe he deserved it, but I still think a Fox News van or something would have been a better target.

Michael: CVS isn’t locally-owned at all.

Whitney: Oh shit you’re right. Ok, fuck CVS!!

MEXICO CITY: Dancing anti-Trump Socialists in Centro/Michael Anthony Farley

Michael: But we digress. Overall, things were more orderly (but still passionate!) here. Mexico City had several anti-inaugural protests on J20, most of which were centered around the American Embassy and the nearby Ángel de la Independencia monument. It’s hard to get a sense of crowd size, what with all the comings-and-goings, but I’d estimate at least 1,000 people were in the streets at any given time. A handful of American flags got burned, some protesters built a fake wall in front of the Embassy’s terrifying-future-looking security barriers, and a lesbian couple were dressed as a KKK Nazi and “Latino concentration camp” prisoner. But the mood was weirdly much more convivial, compared to Trump protests I’ve attended in the U.S., which can feel like funeral marches. After assembling in front of the Embassy, we marched about 2 ⅕ miles to the city’s historic center, where everyone from goth kids to abuelitas would lean out of balconies or storefronts and cheer.

Corinna: Sadly, I may have missed out on all that fire; I went to the Women’s March on New York City this past Saturday. It sounds like Mexico City and D.C. were the equivalent of a wet-tongue make out, while New York was one big hugging sesh.

NEW YORK/Corinna Kirsch

Here in Manhattan we had grandmothers; tykes with pink hats and cat ears; people  with their boyfriends, girlfriends, partners; very well-designed protest signs; and a guy who prepared for the march by carrying around a full box of pizza. New Yorkers know how to turn protest into a well-mannered march. I’m sure it was different for other protesters in New York, but being out on Saturday, for me, had, on one hand, the effect of lounging out in Prospect Park on a Saturday—if we were all crowded like sardines to fit into city-block-size containers, of course. The Women’s March on New York City was the family-friendly event of the weekend.

All types of New Yorkers came out in huge numbers—approximately 400,000—to express their support for progressive causes. Yes, all types of New Yorkers challenged the direction our country is taking. Yes, all types of New Yorkers cheerfully sang “Dump Trump!” in the streets, without fear. Huzzah! New Yorkers, we are the many, the proud, and a bastion for social good.

New Yorkers, keep marching, not just this once, but all the time. Here we have protesting, normalized. I’m looking forward to showing up in the streets every week if need be.

Michael: Be careful what you wish for, as far as normalization goes. At one point, while marching down Paseo de la Reforma (a major office/government skyscraper district) I ducked into a luxury mall to pee, and even though you could still hear people chanting from the mall and see countless people through the windows, no one batted a second glance in that direction. Protests are so common in this neighborhood they’re like noting the weather. I guess that’s a good thing, though. I’d love to see America’s Left turn into such a well-oiled disobedience machine. And on the street, of course, all bystanders were super supportive. 

NEW YORK: A shower of flowers, gifted to protesters awaiting the march./Corinna Kirsch

Corinna: One anecdote on the lovefest that was Manhattan this Saturday revolves around this guy. We’re at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 40-something, well above the overflow for the march start. Expecting a march, we were given a standing-room only situation. Unsure of how many blocks we had to go before being given the go-ahead to walk, with the march officials invisible, somewhere off in the distance, we moved two blocks within an hour—max. As we’re standing with the hundreds, maybe thousands of other sardines on this block, comes out this Tom Cruise in Risky Business bro, showering the protesters with his own type of support: pink flowers. We could have been in an opera, showered with single flowers, but during the performance, not after.

Great, New Yorkers who weren’t protesting support the protesters. But…would this same, flower-giving gesture have taken place during a #blacklivesmatter march? My magic eight-ball says “Doubtful.”

Michael: By that you mean, Burning-Man/Berlin-Love-Parade-Kooky-Acts-of-Kindness aren’t showered on BLM protesters? Totally true observation. But can you imagine the Leftist-think-piece-machine infighting if they were?

Corinna: Ah, good point. Whatever contention that might provoke, I wish the “caring-yet-silly” aura of the marches were mentioned more frequently.

MEXICO CITY/Michael Anthony Farley

Michael: One nice thing about the protests in Mexico: the sense of Mexicans and US Citizens being in this together. Mexico is none too happy with its own president, Enrique Peña Nieto, who recently privatized the nation’s gas supply to corporations. This, combined with Trump’s anti-Mexico rhetoric and economic policies has led to a crazy spike in prices here, as the value of the peso has slipped. It’s funny, because Peña (a neoliberal who’s seemingly pro-globalization) and Trump hate each other, but it was great to see Americans and Mexicans marching together to say “we understand, we both have shitty presidents.”

Whitney: Lol. Were there any popular slogans or pussy hats? How do Mexico City residents feel they’ll be personally affected by the Trump administration?

Also, have you been meeting a lot of ex-pats down there?

Michael: One of the bi-national protests’ slogan was “Tu generación construyó el muro, nuestra generación lo destruirá.” Your generation built the wall, our generation will destroy it.

MEXICO CITY: Mexican and American protesters in a solidarity bloc outside the US Embassy/Michael Anthony Farley

But there are so many slogans here (which rhyme better, obviously)! One of the things I love most about this city is its active Leftist political culture. There are multiple songs about general strikes in Spanish! People here protest so much they have reusable protest flags, not flimsy cardboard signs destined for the landfill.

I totally forgot that I saw this one pussy hat until I made the above GIF. I didn’t make it to the women’s march the next day, otherwise I am sure I would’ve seen more! Plenty of feminist-socialist flags at the J20 demonstrations though!

Corinna: I’m so interested in what a reusable protest flag looks like. I’m wondering if people here in the states are getting more and more used to protesting, based on the number of people I saw using cardboard signs. If you never protest, you might be more willing to spend some money on making an entirely new sign out of new materials. Maybe it has to do with recycling. Or people having plenty of Amazon Prime boxes lying around to make signs.

You don’t need a sign to be effective. As I arrived to the march, an elderly woman, who, like my own grandmother, shuffles slowly when she walks with her neck twisted toward the ground, kept up a chorus of “Dump Trump” throughout the crowd. I want to be her when I’m older. She’s my hero.

Michael: There were so many good older lady role models in our protest too! It was so inspiring to see older people march for miles holding banners about climate change and reproductive rights, next to transwomen demanding better rights for migrants, next to students with banners in solidarity with workers. Here, there seems to be a lot less of the weird, ineffectual Leftist balkanization over identity politics and specific issues than in the US. 

Mexico City/Michael Anthony Farley

But speaking of flags, my reusable “FUERA TRUMP” protest flag cost me less than the USD equivalent of $.75 thanks to Trump’s own vitriol towards Mexico, which is putting the Peso’s value in a tailspin. In answer to your question, Whitney, The majority of Mexicans are already feeling the effects of his economic isolationist policies via inflation at home. People are also resentful (or resigned) to the fact that it’s become prohibitively expensive/complicated (and likely to get much, much worse) to visit friends or family in the United States, largely thanks to our stupid visa system. I’m always embarrassed when I forget about this and invite people to visit me back in the States, especially considering the ease and warm welcome with which we can come here.

I’m actually a little disappointed about how relatively few Americans turned out for the march. Don’t get me wrong—there was a sizable contingent marching behind a “US-MX Solidarity” banner, but that crowd’s numbers were also inflated by Mexican, Canadian, and Japanese friends. Over 700,000 American citizens live in Mexico City—more than most U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., Boston, and Baltimore. When you compare the number of Americans who protested here to the numbers in those cities it’s a little disheartening. Just a few days after Trump was elected in November, thousands of people took to the streets in Baltimore, for example.

That might be because a lot of immigrants to Mexico City (myself included) come from countries with politics we’d like to escape. And escapism is so, so tempting. And to be fair, I also know a lot of non-Mexican citizens are terrified of being deported as a result of protesting, since there’s an ambiguous law about foreign agents interfering with politics, which can lead to expulsion. None of us want to get banned from Mexico, because we love it, which is a big part of why we’re so anti-wall to begin with! Legal troubles here are scary, but it’s a chance myself and dozens of other foreigners were willing to take.

from Art F City http://ift.tt/2ksL8gq via IFTTT

[sagehaleyofficial]

HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (1.15-1.21.20):

NEW MUSIC:

·         Vic Fuentes of Pierce the Veil teased new music in a number of Instagram stories, where the singer showed how he uses software to layer vocals. The frontman ended the videos by saying he can’t wait until we hear the song.

·         Four Year Strong took to social media to announce they will be releasing their new album, Brain Pain, on February 28 via Pure Noise Records. The band also released two new songs, “Talking Myself in Circles” and the title track “Brain Pain.”

·         Blink-182’s Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly participated in an interview at the Beats 1 studio, where they announced to host Zane Lowe the title of MGK’s upcoming pop-punk album, Tickets to My Downfall. The album will also feature Escape the Fate’s Kevin Gruft.

·         Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams teased more from her Petals for Armor project, posting another black box with the caption “Nothing cuts like a mother.” The Instagram page also posted screenshots from multiple movies including Bird Box and Kidnap.

·         Green Day dropped their newest single off their upcoming album Father of All…, titled “Oh Yeah!”. The accompanying music video pokes fun at modern interactions due to the influence of technology.

·         Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade announced that he will be releasing a solo record in 2020, a five-song EP titled My Rock and Roll Heart. The EP is scheduled to drop on Valentine’s Day and will feature a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “A Praise Chorus.”

·         Anti-Flag released a live, in-studio, full-length album playthrough of their newest record, 20/20 Vision. The multi-cam video gives us a look at what everyone is doing to create such a killer album.

·         Grayscale dropped a live music video for “Tommy’s Song,” a tribute to lead singer Collin Walsh’s late cousin, and are raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The band revealed that they have raised close to $2,500 in donations.

·         Creeper dropped the second single off their upcoming album titled “Annabelle,” which premiered on BBC Radio 1. Soon after, the band dropped a second tweet linking fans to the official lyric video.

·         Halsey announced that she is releasing an extremely limited version of her new album Manic. The album is now available with its alternate album art and will be signed by the singer, but under her birth name Ashley.

·         Australian act Trophy Eyes and WWE star Seth Rollins joined forces for the band’s new music video for the song “Figure Eight.” The music video, or “lyric visual” as they’re calling it, features Rollins lip-syncing to the song as he prepares to fight.

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

·         Jeffree Star recently spoke out to fans regarding the cancellation of his European makeup masterclass tour, due in part to his breakup from longtime boyfriend Nathan Schwandt. Star went on to discuss the complications in his life and that it was more than just the breakup.

·         Angels and Airwaves postponed their remaining shows for this month as frontman Tom DeLonge has fallen ill. The band took to social media to tell fans that DeLonge “has come down with a nasty upper respiratory infection.”

·         Citizen announced a new tour with support coming from Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Fury, Snarls and Rosie Tucker. The 19-date tour will begin in Detroit on March 20 and finish off its rounds in Indianapolis on April 24.

·         Scary Kids Scaring Kids kicked off their reunion run with Secrets and Push Over, the latter of which features Kurt Travis and Thomas Erak (The Fall of Troy). The band hit the stage for the first time since disbanding following a final tour in 2010.

·         Sum 41 canceled the second night of their Paris stop for the No Personal Space tour after an explosive device was detonated outside of the venue’s door. After playing Zénith Paris Friday, the band were set to play a sold-out show at the Les Étoiles Saturday.

·         My Chemical Romance unveiled details for their much-teased UK show, taking to YouTube to share a video titled “An Offering…” on their channel before adding the same to social media. The band revealed they will be playing in Milton Keynes at Stadium MK on June 20.

OTHER NEWS:

·         Panic! at the Disco’s “High Hopes” has officially held the number one spot on Billboard‘s Hot Rock Songs Chart for 52 straight weeks. The song first hit number one on the chart in November 2018.

·         Another defendant in the ongoing Juice WRLD case filed for an extension to February 4. BMG Rights Management requested on January 13 that they have until the new date to respond to the initial complaint filed by Yellowcard.

·         My Chemical Romance’s Frank Iero announced that he will be making an appearance in a new movie to premiere at SXSW called Drunk Bus. Iero announced the name of the film through an Instagram post.

·         Woes announced their breakup on social media, stating that they are prioritizing their own well-being, but will finish out their journey with a tour in the UK. The group dropped their first and only full-length, Awful Things, last year on June 28.

·         Fall Out Boy was the topic of heavy debate in Comedy Central’s new satire video. In the video, which includes former Smosh co-founder Anthony Padilla, we see the panelists engaged in hot debate about whether or not the band’s music is considered emo.

·         Panic! at the Disco frontman, Brendon Urie, opened Notes for Notes, a new music studio aimed to help young people create music, at the Boys and Girls Club in Henderson, Nevada. The studio was also made possible by a $500,000 donation from State Farm.

·         Post Malone announced he would be making his film debut on TV screens everywhere, starring with Mark Wahlberg in a new Netflix action movie Spenser Confidential. The film was first announced in 2018 and originally titled Wonderland.

·         Former Black Veil Brides bassist Ashley Purdy revealed in a new interview that he didn’t choose to depart from the band back in November. In an interview with Sonic Perspectives, he said “Technically, I didn’t leave; I’m just not in the band anymore.”

·         Funko unleashed plans for their newest Pop! vinyl figures including ones for bands like Slipknot, Weezer, Ghost and more, plus movies like The Craft and Creepshow. The company has many more figures they will be revealing at the 2020 London Toy Fair.

___

Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley,” only at @sagehaleyofficial!

[circle111e-blog]

'Sports has changed attitudes': Obama welcomes Chicago Cubs to White House

The president is a White Sox fan however he marked the Cubs World Series triumph with joy, observing occasionally delicate unity at his final White House function

Barack Obama has twice stood before a jubilant crowd and declared: They said this day would not come.

The first was following a caucus victory that will lead him to become Americas first black president in January 2008, in Iowa.

The second was on Monday when, at his last official White House gathering, he welcomed the Chicago Cubs baseball team, victor of the World Series for the very first time in 108 years.

The comparison was less slight than first appeared. Obama noted that he's hosted more than 50 winning teams during his eight years in office from baseball, basketball, American football and soccer.

He's consistently seemed to relish the break in the heavy weights of managing foreign policy and the market. They've generally been activities in appeal and soft power jovial affairs, as well as a tacit acknowledgement that more people see the Super Bowl than any presidential discussion.

In a period when democratic standards are under incredible pressure, sport stays complete in the societal fabric.

Obama talked in the East Room, that was packaged with numerous men and women, many wearing tops Cubs baseball caps and jackets.

When theres other things going on, it's worth remembering, he explained, because occasionally folks wonder why have you been spending time? that throughout our history sports has had this power to bring us together even when the countrys broken up.

Traditions and perspectives have altered in methods appear subtle but got us think about ourselves and who we were. This is a party as well as a game however there's a direct line between Jackie Robinson and me standing here.

Robinson broke the colour barrier in 1947 by becoming the very first black player in Major League Baseball, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Chicago Cubs win first World Series title since 1908

Together with the Cubs players and staff behind him, the president continued: I was within my home town of Chicago on Tuesday for my farewell address and I mentioned, Sometimes its not enough simply to alter laws, youve gotta shift hearts, and sports has a way occasionally of altering hearts in ways that politics or company doesnt.

Its simply an issue of us having the ability relax and to escape in the problems of our days, but occasionally in addition, it talks to something better

When you see this band of people of distinct colors and different foundations coming from distinct communities and neighbourhoods all throughout the united states and after that playing as one team and playing the best manner and observing each other and being joyous in that, that tells us a little something about what America is and what America can be.

It was so fitting to celebrate the Cubs in the White House a day subsequent to the anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jrs arrival, he explained.

By defeating the Cleveland Indians the Cubs won their very first World Series title. Within hours, the team was requested by Obama whenever they wished to see before his term finished. Cheers of Lets Go Cubbies! broke out when the team walked in.

Only four days before he packs his bags and moves from the White House to make way Obama lighthearted and even seemed at ease. There were quips in regards to the audacity of hope and yes, we can as he went into stand-up comedian mode.

While commending Cubs general manager Theo Epstein satirical turned in the expense of the Democratic National Committee.

Theo, as you understand, his task would be to quench droughts. Eighty six years in Boston when the Red Sox won the World Series in Chicago in 2004 108, he takes the reins of an organisation thats roaming in the wilds, they are delivered by him . Ive talked about being DNC chair to him.

There was applause and laughter.

But hes determined to stick to baseball.

The crowd comprised Obamas former chief of staff, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, and ex-leader strategist David Axelrod, who had been wearing a Make Chicago Great Again t shirt under his suit coat, and Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, a Trump assistant that will become his deputy secretary of business.

It was, needless to say, inclined that a team should be involved by Obamas good-bye . Less handily, the president supports the competing Chicago White Sox. His wife Michelle is a lifelong Cub.

A signed W flag is accepted by Obama a White Sox fan in the Cubs. Photo: Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images

Obama said the first lady hadn't come to just one occasion observing a tournament team in the White House. She told them the Cubs winning meant to her and shook hands using the players.

She recalls coming home from school, Obama said, and her dad will be watching the Cubs game as well as the bond as well as the family, the significance that the Cubs had for her in relation to joining together with her daddy, and why it meant so much to her.

I nearly choked up listening to it and it talked, I believe, to how folks feel relating to this organisation and its its more than simply sports, and generation after generation.

Obama additionally noticed that the last time the Cubs won the World Series, Teddy Roosevelt was president. Roosevelts portrait gazed down from the East Room wall.

Obama was offered a midnight forgiveness because of his allegiance to the White Sox by Epstein and welcomed him. First baseman Anthony Rizzo gave two 44 jerseys to the president name to them.

He was also given a 44 by the Cubs as well as a W flag signed by the team. Epstein said he expected when it's made in Chicago, the flag would fly in the Obama Presidential Library.

Allow me to say first of all, Obama said adopting his internal Cub: Greatest swag Ive gotten as president.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jan/16/obama-chicago-cubs-white-house-visit

The post 'Sports has changed attitudes': Obama welcomes Chicago Cubs to White House appeared first on Soccer Elite Group.

[circle111g-blog]

'Sports has changed attitudes': Obama welcomes Chicago Cubs to White House

The president is a White Sox fan however he marked the Cubs World Series triumph with joy, observing occasionally delicate unity at his final White House function

Barack Obama has twice stood before a jubilant crowd and declared: They said this day would not come.

The first was following a caucus victory that will lead him to become Americas first black president in January 2008, in Iowa.

The second was on Monday when, at his last official White House gathering, he welcomed the Chicago Cubs baseball team, victor of the World Series for the very first time in 108 years.

The comparison was less slight than first appeared. Obama noted that he's hosted more than 50 winning teams during his eight years in office from baseball, basketball, American football and soccer.

He's consistently seemed to relish the break in the heavy weights of managing foreign policy and the market. They've generally been activities in appeal and soft power jovial affairs, as well as a tacit acknowledgement that more people see the Super Bowl than any presidential discussion.

In a period when democratic standards are under incredible pressure, sport stays complete in the societal fabric.

Obama talked in the East Room, that was packaged with numerous men and women, many wearing tops Cubs baseball caps and jackets.

When theres other things going on, it's worth remembering, he explained, because occasionally folks wonder why have you been spending time? that throughout our history sports has had this power to bring us together even when the countrys broken up.

Traditions and perspectives have altered in methods appear subtle but got us think about ourselves and who we were. This is a party as well as a game however there's a direct line between Jackie Robinson and me standing here.

Robinson broke the colour barrier in 1947 by becoming the very first black player in Major League Baseball, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Chicago Cubs win first World Series title since 1908

Together with the Cubs players and staff behind him, the president continued: I was within my home town of Chicago on Tuesday for my farewell address and I mentioned, Sometimes its not enough simply to alter laws, youve gotta shift hearts, and sports has a way occasionally of altering hearts in ways that politics or company doesnt.

Its simply an issue of us having the ability relax and to escape in the problems of our days, but occasionally in addition, it talks to something better

When you see this band of people of distinct colors and different foundations coming from distinct communities and neighbourhoods all throughout the united states and after that playing as one team and playing the best manner and observing each other and being joyous in that, that tells us a little something about what America is and what America can be.

It was so fitting to celebrate the Cubs in the White House a day subsequent to the anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jrs arrival, he explained.

By defeating the Cleveland Indians the Cubs won their very first World Series title. Within hours, the team was requested by Obama whenever they wished to see before his term finished. Cheers of Lets Go Cubbies! broke out when the team walked in.

Only four days before he packs his bags and moves from the White House to make way Obama lighthearted and even seemed at ease. There were quips in regards to the audacity of hope and yes, we can as he went into stand-up comedian mode.

While commending Cubs general manager Theo Epstein satirical turned in the expense of the Democratic National Committee.

Theo, as you understand, his task would be to quench droughts. Eighty six years in Boston when the Red Sox won the World Series in Chicago in 2004 108, he takes the reins of an organisation thats roaming in the wilds, they are delivered by him . Ive talked about being DNC chair to him.

There was applause and laughter.

But hes determined to stick to baseball.

The crowd comprised Obamas former chief of staff, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, and ex-leader strategist David Axelrod, who had been wearing a Make Chicago Great Again t shirt under his suit coat, and Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, a Trump assistant that will become his deputy secretary of business.

It was, needless to say, inclined that a team should be involved by Obamas good-bye . Less handily, the president supports the competing Chicago White Sox. His wife Michelle is a lifelong Cub.

A signed W flag is accepted by Obama a White Sox fan in the Cubs. Photo: Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images

Obama said the first lady hadn't come to just one occasion observing a tournament team in the White House. She told them the Cubs winning meant to her and shook hands using the players.

She recalls coming home from school, Obama said, and her dad will be watching the Cubs game as well as the bond as well as the family, the significance that the Cubs had for her in relation to joining together with her daddy, and why it meant so much to her.

I nearly choked up listening to it and it talked, I believe, to how folks feel relating to this organisation and its its more than simply sports, and generation after generation.

Obama additionally noticed that the last time the Cubs won the World Series, Teddy Roosevelt was president. Roosevelts portrait gazed down from the East Room wall.

Obama was offered a midnight forgiveness because of his allegiance to the White Sox by Epstein and welcomed him. First baseman Anthony Rizzo gave two 44 jerseys to the president name to them.

He was also given a 44 by the Cubs as well as a W flag signed by the team. Epstein said he expected when it's made in Chicago, the flag would fly in the Obama Presidential Library.

Allow me to say first of all, Obama said adopting his internal Cub: Greatest swag Ive gotten as president.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jan/16/obama-chicago-cubs-white-house-visit

The post 'Sports has changed attitudes': Obama welcomes Chicago Cubs to White House appeared first on Soccer Elite Group.