#if they go on tour again next year i might get tickets for multiple dates tbh. who knows how much longer theyll be together as a band

[phagodyke]

my 2 most recent lastfm weekly summaries (for 1st/2nd weeks of july)..... i think i have a Problem

[dwsavideos]

I question this all the time. I’ve been wanting to share my thoughts about it, so I might as well do it now. Prepare for a long ride.

In my opinion, there are FOUR kinds of shows on Broadway nowadays:

The limited runs

The stunt cast

The revivals

The “regular” Broadway shows (I didn’t know what to name this last category sorry lmao)

Shows with limited runs are expected to close at a certain date and tickets sell REALLY WELL and more often than not, producers decide to extend the run for a bit because, well- tickets sell really well. Parade and Camelot are both perfect examples. Both great, popular shows with successful runs- but the runs were limited to begin with, which is why the closing may seem so premature- but it was planned that way.

The stunt cast shows (or sometimes called ‘star’ casting) are just shows that cast a celebrity or more well known Broadway actors to boost ticket sales. Some of these actors are great (stars), others are… meh (stunt). Think Jordan Fisher, Hugh Jackman, Brendan Urie, maybe even Josh Groban (Even though I’d see Sweeney Todd no matter who’s in it)… Also think Cameron Dallas. Seriously, who’s idea was that? Whether it’s stunt or star, it’s all just a ploy to sell more tickets. Chicago does it every two seconds.

The revivals. Shows everyone loves to death. Shows everyone wants to see. Classic Broadway at its finest. A lot of revivals tend to also be limited runs (which I hate). Those have no problem selling tickets. Again, Parade did this. So did Into the Woods, and also Deaf West Spring Awakening back in 2015, and Merrily We Roll Along will do it once it opens this fall.

Now we get to the “regular” new Broadway shows. We get the enigma that is “Making it on Broadway”. Brand new shows that we get to see a sneak peak of at BroadwayCon or Broadway in Bryant Park. These are the shows that could go one of two ways. It can be an overnight sensation and last 10 years on Broadway- or it can unfortunately slip through the cracks and close after a few weeks or months. The mystery is: It doesn’t even matter if the show is good or bad or the best thing anyone has ever seen. Some shows just slip through those cracks and either don’t sell well or maybe isn’t as popular as other shows (due to other shows using stunt casting maybe), or maybe the running cost is too high. There are even some shows that are Tony Nominated or Tony Winners that close too soon. To be honest, I believe sometimes it’s chalked up to luck. Some examples of shows that had the better route: Hamilton (duh), Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen… Recently MJ, Moulin Rouge, Hadestown. Shows that slipped through the cracks despite popularity or achievements: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Recently Almost Famous, Life of Pie, New York, New York. Some of these shows get Touring runs. Some aren’t so lucky and are designated as flops.

There’s also a fifth category I could add. That would be Disney shows. Disney Theatrical Productions always wants to have at least two shows running on Broadway at once. They are familiar, good for any age, and always sell well. Disney is always making sure they have multiple shows on stage and in the works at all times.

Bottom line is: I do believe that some shows just get lucky and last on Broadway while other shows with possibly the same amount of talent, interesting storylines, great music, great design, and great characters don’t- and boy it’s harder now than it ever has been. Audiences are picky. Audiences are tough. Audiences move on so quickly, wanting the next Hamilton or next Wicked. Audiences give up and move on when a show isn’t as good as Hamilton or Wicked, whereas I could see certain “average” shows 1200 times and never get tired. Also limited runs are ruining Broadway in my opinion- there’s just too many of them. I’m fine with two or three but I feel like every other damn show is a limited run. Parade, Camelot, Good Night Oscar, Grey House, Merrily We Roll Along, Gutenberg, Titanique, The Shark is Broken, and many others are strictly limited engagements!!That’s more than enough! One day every show will be limited and that’s just not fair. I don’t know. Ticket prices have never been higher, and all I hear about is record breaking grosses. I don’t get it. It��s impossible for all 41 shows to last forever, I know that- but there are too many shows that close too abruptly and it doesn’t sit well with me.

Bro why are a bunch of smaller Broadway shows closing while others are celebrating their 10+ year anniversary??? New York, New York gave one week of notice for their closing, Good Night Oscar and Grey House are both closing before August and Camelot and Parade aren't even making it through august. Why is this happening???

[suddenly-i-kin-oikawa]

Y/n Haikyuu Chronicles

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Childhood Friends AU ♥

Kids (3-10)~

You’ve lived next to each other for as long as you two can remember

Although he’s about 3 months older, you’ve always been close

You’re the one who got him into dinosaurs, btw. He didn’t want to watch Jurassic Park with you, but he’s always been a bit weak for you, lmao.

He had to physically pull you off of Yamaguchi’s bully’s and to this day you are proud as hell of it. 

When you guys have a sleep over, he always says he hates cuddling and goes to sleep with his back to you, but always ends up waking up wrapped around you anyway

For like a year and a half you were taller than him, but then this asshole got his growth spurt

He’s so soft, omg, he always remembers your favorite snacks so he can get you them

He saves you spots next to him

Holds your hand so “You don’t get lost like the idiot you are”

(Super easy to fluster at this age btw, especially when he’s called cute)

Tweens (11-13)~

This is when you guys first started getting teased for being friends

You offered to only hang out with him after school because you knew he hated the attention

He rejected that idea and called you an idiot

Not too long after that is when he started snipping at everyone, to your great amusement

(”Aw, look, it’s Kishi and n/n, are you guys going on a date?”) (”Oh, look, it’s the kid that said he could date anyone he wanted then started crying when he got rejected.”) (”Oh my gosh, Kishi no.”)

Eventually everyone just left you two alone, though it didn’t stop some kids for forming a betting pool about your relationship

This mf sprouted like a god damned tree, you are unable to count just how many times he’s rested his arm on your head or looked down at you smirking. 

You fix that though with a good elbow to his side when he gets cocky, the bastard. 

Whatever, enough about his growth. You got taller as well, just nowhere near him. Your more feminine aspects starting coming in as well, which got you some attention from boys before Kishi scared them off.

This time is also when you two started volleyball. You as the boy’s manager and sometimes practicing with the girls and Tsukishima bragging to you about his big brother who played for Karasuno High.

You remembered your friend mentioning that he’s never been to one of his brothers’ games before, so you decided to get two tickets so you could surprise him!

That was the first time Kishi’s ever ignored you for that long.

It was the last day of school when he showed up at your house with your favorite snacks, drinks, your favorite (of his) dino plush, and a playlist.

You called it your Kishi Care Kit, he called you a nuisance

He spent the summer making it up to you

Teens(14-18)~

He did not want you to become manager of the team, at all. That’s probably the closest he’s ever come to begging

You still did it though, lmao

In your defense, you maybe kinda was still scared he’d leave you like he did in middle school again. 

Anyway! This was also a good way of making new friends! Once you, Kishi, and Yama clicked, you never really bothered the make other friends.

This might also be your potential abandonment issues talking, but we’re not gonna go into that

However, no matter how many Kishi said you could do what you wanted, he found himself getting possessive.

Walking up to you and yanking you away from whoever was talking to you

Standing ominously behind you until the other person left

Verbally ripping apart the others person, you name it

Him being your childhood best friend, you might have ignored for a couple months but eventually you got tired of his hot and cold act and you two clashed

While you two were going back and forth, he said something he shouldn’t have and hurt you. You knew sometimes he was blunt, and borderline mean, but never to you. It hit harder then you thought it would.

You left before he could say anymore. He hurt you in middle school, and he did it again a year later. You should have left after the first time to save yourself the heart ache. 

Throughout the entirety of your guys lives, you’ve always been the one to go to him after a fight. Not that you were wrong all the time, but you know your best friend. He probably one of the worse people to ever fight with because he doesn’t apologize. 

Even after he ignored you for months on end and gave you those gifts, the words sorry never left his mouth.

You’ve always gone back to him, because he knew you would understand his short comings when it came the that flaw of his.

You’re not sure if you want to understand anymore

Almost three months later and countless awkward practices, he knocked on your window a little past 3 in the morning

You let him in, and you two are sitting across from each other. He’s staring at you while you hug Rex (the plush he gave you) and look anywhere but him.

15 minutes are silence goes by before he says anything.

“I’m so sorry, n/n.”

You hadn’t heard your nickname since before 7th grade

He apologized to you for multiples things

What happened in middle school, acting like he didn’t care, ruining your chances at making friends multiple times, what he said to you during that fight. It all comes rushing out and all you can do is stare at him because he’s rambling and his voice his cracking and are those tears?

You don’t bother trying to stop yourselves from hugging him.

Once he’s calms, you ask him why

Why did you leave me? 

Why did you ignore me?

Why did you hurt me?

He explained everything, not leaving a single detail out. And then it was quiet again.

“I love you.”

“You do?”

“How could I not?”

Time-skip~

You two dated throughout high school, collage, and are still going strong

Of course, you’ve had your ups and downs, but you pulled through.

Your both busy with your respective careers, or the beginnings of one, but you always make time for each other.

You always sleep in his arms at the end of the day, you book tours  at his museum specifically asking for him, and make it to as many of his games as you can. He also makes sure to wake you up with breakfast every morning with a kiss, eat lunch with you when your breaks sink up, and give you gifts 

Just to remind you

It was when he blocked his rival scoring the winning point when he told you to look under your seat at the end of the game

You, confused, did so, embarrassed he was doing this on live television

Then you saw it.

And you had never said yes so fast.

@alto-march-of-death​ .... Im back 👉👈 WITH A GIFT I hope it’s not too bad, I wanted to surprise you so I couldn’t really ask for you opinion. I have been working on this for A WHILE and I’m so glad it’s done

[themusicplayedherlife]

To Love is the Greatest Gift

1. The Return

pairing: obi wan kenobi x f!reader (past!din djarn x f!reader) characters: f!reader, anakin amidala-skywalker, padmé amidala-skywalker, mentiones of din djarin, obi wan kenobi, others word count: 2.6k+ warnings: angst, fluff, mentions of rent: the musical (death, second chances) uh... I think that’s it? summary: au!it’s never been the right timing for you and obi wan kenobi; maybe this time will be different. a/n: i started working on this story so long ago it’s ridiculous, but I suddenly had a surge of motivation to continue this story after some tragic family news. this was also very much inspired by @martlands and their amazing obi wan stories, made me want to write my own and here it is

all || next

“You broke up?”

One would think that the immediate reaction to someone asking if you broke up with your significant other would be to cry or begin to ask them what could have possibly gone wrong. But that’s not the reaction you give. 

The reaction you give is just a shrug and a strong pop, as you spoon more gelato onto the little spoon his twins love collecting. “Yep.”

“After only three weeks of dating?” Anakin doesn’t know why he’s surprised, but he is. This is probably the shortest living relationship you’ve ever had. “Why?”

“Why not?” you answer easily, nonchalantly and you know it frustrates him. “It wasn’t working out, so we decided to call it quits.”

Not even a month ago, you had been genuinely excited about finally getting out there and meeting someone new, and even more excited when you were telling him all about this person you met while out with some old friends. You had said, word for word, “he might be the perfect contender!”

Where did all that excitement go?

You sigh, finally looking up at him and away from your white chocolate gelato that's just to die for. “Ani, it’s fine. It just didn’t work out. It happens.”

He grimaces. “What happened between you and Din—“

You bristle at the mention of your ex, narrowing your eyes and his widen in defense. You know what Anakin and Padmé think of him and it’s not entirely pleasant (particularly from Anakin’s part). It’s completely unfair. Din is lovely, sure a little socially awkward, but lovely nonetheless. “Has nothing to do with why Gar and I ended things.”

“But—“

“Nothing,” you reiterate with a bit more force and he sighs, lifting his hands in defeat while holding his own cup of gelato.

“Okay. Okay, I’m sorry.” And then, like a light switching, he turns playful. “Was it his name that turned you off—Gar?”

You resist the urge to groan and roll your eyes. “Oh maker, you are annoying!”

You huff as you make the trek back to the trolley that’ll take you both up to the observatory. The rest of your conversation is forgotten as he navigates it towards continuing to tease you and the latest exhibit you had helped set up.

The Coruscant Observatory is one of the most popular attractions in the city aside from the Exotic Animal Sanctuary (where most zoologist work to help rehabilitate wild animals before reintroducing them back into the wild, only housing the ones that have been assessed to not be able to function in the wild on their own—which are unfortunately many).

Your place of work is known for its large, ground telescope; its monthly constellation exhibits; the multiple planetarium theater rooms that house lectures, activities, star projections, etc.; and its Astronomer Q&A program where visitors can ask astronomers questions and even get a tour of the space station.

However, most of your days are spent in your office, planning for the next exhibit or actually executing them with your team; meanwhile, Anakin spends them in tech, sometimes maintaining the telescope, other times helping with IT issues, but mostly making sure the theater rooms worked perfectly for their 4D immersion.

(You like to joke that out of the two of you, he has it easiest; sometimes he’ll run by your office to get to another part of the building while you’re doing something and you’ll yell out, “slacker” and he’ll respond with, “you just work too much”.)

“Are Padmé and the twins stopping by today?”

“Not today, maybe tomorrow,” he says as you both step out of the trolley along with a few tourists. “I think today they decided to stay for some school thing.”

“Shouldn’t you know what that school thing is?” you chide him out of jest.

He scowls, there’s hardly any heat in it and it makes you grin. “It’s a music performance that the CN Theater is putting on.”

“Ah, and we all know how much musicals bores you.”

“I just don’t understand them,” he murmurs defensively as you climb the few steps leading to the entrance. The two of you smiling and greeting Rex at his security post and bypassing the ticket gate with your IDs.

“You mean you don’t have any taste,” you tease.

“It’s weird! I mean, most of them are all about tragedies and betrayals. What happened to the good ol’ romance and happy endings?”

“Not all of them are tragedies, Casanova.”

The main rotunda lobby is full of people milling about, looking at maps or the foucault pendulum in the middle of the room. Low chatter fills the room, shoes clicking and clacking against the marble flooring.

“Name one.”

Spotting the trash can and recycle bin, Anakin holds his hand out for your disposable cup and spoon and throws them away in their proper bin.

“Rent.” There are probably better examples, but you had been listening to the original cast album the night before and have all the songs still stuck in your head.

“Don’t two characters die?”

“Angel and Mimi.” You nod. “But Mimi is brought back to life by Angel, and is given a second chance at life.”

“She may have been brought back to life, but that doesn’t take away from the fact she died.”

“I’m not arguing with you on that, I’m just saying the ending was hopeful—not necessarily a happy ending, but it left you thinking—maybe things can get better.”

“And that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m looking for—“

“What you and Padmé have?” you ask him as you both reach the door of your office.

He pauses, mouth opening and closing before finally rubbing the back of his head sheepishly and saying, “Yeah.”

You smile, genuine and happy for your childhood friend. Who would’ve thought that years ago when you introduced them, they’d be here years later—married and with twins. You and Anakin sure as hell didn’t. For most of your childhood, you both believed you’d live out your life on Tatooine, hang with the same friends you’ve known since your pre-kinder days and eventually get married to each other—much to the dismay of your parents—because of benefits or whatever, until your parents decided they wanted to send you off to a private school in one of the major cities, derailing your and Anakin’s plan (for the better, if you’re being honest).

“You’re still coming over for dinner, right?”

“Yeah,” you answer, unlocking your office door with your key. “I have a meeting that might go over the expected time, but I should be able to make it on time.”

“Just let us know,” he says, rapping his knuckles against the door frame. “But you better be there! We have some planning to do!”

You roll your eyes and wave him away, promising he and his family will definitely see you at five. With a hearty chuckle he salutes you and leaves the door slightly ajar, just like you usually do. It’s your “you can come in to ask me questions, but knock first, please” visual telling.

With a soft exhale, you drop yourself into your creaking office chair, eyes landing on the first picture on your right—a younger you, only 18, fresh out of your uniform smiling wildly with a large bouquet of flowers that you can still distinctly remember the smell of.

“I am in love!” Padmé exclaimed, squealing in absolute delight at the flowers put in your hand.

Blue eyes crinkled with amusement, staring down at you. “Are you?” His voice was low, teasing and almost smug. He had obviously heard the gasp that escaped your lips when he presented you the colorful bouquet created with your favorite flowers that his father grew in their little garden.

“Irrevocably,” you answered, not able to hide your smile as you gently held it against your chest and smiled up at him. “They’re beautiful, Obi. Thank you.”

Obi Wan’s arm is wrapped around your shoulder, caught in the action of a booming laughter. He was always laughing in pictures. There isn’t a single picture you have of him that he isn't smiling.

Your finger gently trails over his smiling face. Maker, you miss him.

Is he still traveling? Or has he finally settled down again? Will he show up and spring some unexpected news on you again? Stars, you hope not. Shit didn’t go as planned last time and it probably wouldn’t again.

Your hand falls limply and you swivel in your seat, looking out the large glass window overlooking the majority of the city and sigh softly—an exhale of wary hope and sadness.

A bird soars by your window, it’s wings flapping effortlessly, diving before flying higher and away.

He’s not coming back. You know this. Coruscant just isn’t the same anymore. Not when he feels this city has taken everything from him.

One more year visiting Gui Gon without him.

The meeting runs longer than it usually would, just like you had expected. Checking the time, you let out a curse and quickly throw your belongings into your car.

Without wasting time, as soon as you switch on your engine, you place your phone on the dock and say, “Hey C-3PO, call Padmé.”

“Calling Padmé,” your phone’s AI answers through the speakers of your car.

“Are you outside?” Is how she greets you. There are loud noises in the background, children squabbling about something or another, and Anakin’s weary voice trying to rally them. 

You snort, pulling out of the undergroundparking lot. “Not yet, barely got out of my meeting and am on my way.”

“Please hurry, the twins really want to see you and are dying from hunger,” she says, amusement in her voice and not at all trying to hurry you. “They might start eating Anakin soon.”

“Hey, don’t bite that!” He yells from a distance.

“Hurry, please!” you hear over the phone—Luke. “I miss you,” he says, closer now. Which you immediately reply saying you miss him too, almost cutting off the next voice.

“And I’m hungry!” Leia’s voice follows his, practically yelling into the phone.

You laugh fondly, just imagining the childish glee on their faces at your scandalized gasps and your exaggerated “me too” answers.

“Leia, no yelling,” Padmé scolds her, gentle and kind. “Softer, please.”

“Sorry,” she says. “I’m hungry,” she repeats, softer, almost a whisper.

“Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be there,” you promise. “If not, you have my permission to start eating your dad.”

Leia and Luke break into a fit of laughter, yelling something away from the phone to Anakin, who once again lets out a loud, “Hey!”

Padmé chuckles, moving away from the voices of the children tackling their father and their play fighting. “Take your time, we’re not in any hurry to start eating. The kids had a hearty lunch and a snack after school.”

“What about you and Anakin?”

“We’re fine, don’t worry. Just get here safely and we’ll see you soon.”

You end the call with one last reassurance from her and let out a loud sigh when your car comes to a stop behind a long line of glaring red lights—traffic. You hate traffic.

You might be surrounded by blinding lights and different models of vehicles, but it leaves you alone with your thoughts, the low hum of your engine and music from your stereo drowned out by the chattering in your head. 

It’s never just one thing that you think about. It can go from one thing to another, to all of them trying to climb over eachother and be the most present: your friends; your family; the dog next door; Din and Baby; cinnamon apple cookies; the beach house in Naboo; sneaking out of the prep dormitories at 2am with Padmé keeping an eye out and Obi Wan holding his arms out for you; rose gardens and peach tea; freckles on blushing skin; drunken singing in a small living room; 21st birthdays crying in a bathroom stall; that stupid movie quote about choosing life; death; but sometimes (most occurring) it’s Obi Wan that weaves into every thought.

He’s a constant plague in your mind, has been since the first time he left Coruscant in search of himself. 

Sometimes they’re pleasant thoughts, memories kept in a nostalgic trunk that you occasionally like to sift through. Other times, they’re not so pleasant; those are the ones you constantly struggle with, try to push into the recesses of your mind and keep them under lock and key. But for some stupid, strange reason, your mind only ever remembers the bad, even when there are better things to dwell on.

“I just—I just don’t understand why you have to leave—Obi. Obi!” you practically yelled, watching him move around his room, grabbing and throwing things he pulled out into his duffel bag. “Listen to me!” 

He didn’t stop, not until you reached for his duffel bag and plucked it out from his hands. He stared at you, his duffel bag carelessly thrown to the floor with his clothes spilling out. 

Your breathing was labored, a sick feeling swimming in your stomach, words stuck in your throat now that he wasn’t hiding his beautiful blue eyes from you—his devastatingly heartbroken eyes. “I have to,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “I need to leave. This house—this city, it's suffocating me. I can’t—I can’t stay here anymore.”

“Obi… Obi, please.” You can’t leave me. You can’t! Please! Please, Obi.

“I need to do this for me, darling. I’m sorry.”

You should’ve fought harder that night, should’ve convinced him to stay, but instead you helped him pack again with tears obstructing your view and sobs escaping your lips. Maybe if you had, you wouldn’t have lost him.

No, your breath stutters as you lean back into your car seat, there was nothing you could’ve done. Either times. He had made up his mind long before that night.

A car honks their horn to your left and you jump, eyes focusing once more on the red lights of the car in front of you. You wipe at your face harshly and straighten your spine. 

That was years ago, little one. Shake it off. 

Sighing softly, you look up at the street name and make a turn onto the Skywalker residence street, your shoulders relaxing when their two story home comes into view.  

Shake it off.

Parking isn't easy to find in their neighborhood, not when it’s so close to the observatory and some of the most visited parks in the area, but you manage to find one just two cars away from their house. 

Gathering your things, you lock the door behind you and quickly make your way down the sidewalk, phone in your hand and typing out a message that you’re here.

It’s while you’re hitting send that you don’t notice the body in front of you, staring up at the house with an almost wary expression on his face, or how his eyes widen when they see you. It’s not until you collide into his body, soft with a fleece cardigan, that you notice him. Embarrassment begins to boil in your blood as you quickly apologize to him, berating yourself for not being more aware of your surroundings.

“Kriff, I’m so sorry—“ you start, but the apology catches in your throat when you look up.

“Hello, there.” Blue eyes, so soft and kind, like the ones you once used to dream of stare back at you—so unlike the pair of eyes you saw years ago. “It’s been a long time, darling.”

You can’t shake him off.

next

[jakeperalta]

Also I feel like since there hasn't been concerts, everyone will want to go and try to get tickets which could be limiting if it sells out...I mean assuming she tours when it's completely safe, which might not be for another whole year..idk. it's possible she could even have a new album by that time too, so maybe once concerts come back she will just spend a lot of time touring for a full year so there would be more dates hopefully, but I dont know if the four dates in the US was cuz she didnt wanna tour as much or just cuz it was like a festival? I get people being upset, but it's not Taylor's fault and concerts will be back eventually and whatever she'll do now will be better than planned. It was just way too early for me to decide to go based on the circumstances..usually the kinda concerts I go to, i buy tickets one or two days in advance or the night of the show..its much cheaper that way too, but I'll try to get tickets however I can next time. I think the festival was unique and that's why people were excited too, and I have always wanted to go to one, but that's something I could live without as long as I get to see her. People were saying well maybe she will do a longer festival next time, each day focuses on an album but I would just want a guarantee to see her this time, compared to the festival style concert.

yeah i think it’s definitely going to be super popular when she does play shows again! i think lover having so few dates was a combination of a festival being a limited event by nature and the fact she didn’t want to commit to a long tour due to andrea’s health - obviously we don’t know what the situation is/will be with that, but i do imagine that she’s keen to get back to touring after so long out of it and once it is safe she’ll be doing a lot more than originally planned. i’m definitely curious what she meant by a festival (especially since i think it was only scheduled to be an evening show which is the same as a regular tour date concert?) so i hope she brings elements of that forward into whatever she does next and it would work well if she’s incorporating multiple albums/eras into one event. i’d prefer more of a regular tour/something with more dates though because then i’ll hopefully be able to see her, whenever that eventually is possible!

[jxst-saying]

What about working for the boys and the fans ship her with Luke and they say they are just best friends but end up realizing they love each other in soft rn :(

A/N: This had me fucked up. Also, too in–depth to just do in a one part little drabble, so I wrote it in multiple parts! If you want the next part, just go ahead and request it here! 

(Part Two is now available: here!) (And so is Part Three: right here!) (And so if Part Four: right here!) 

[+masterlist]

@mukeclifford: @Luke5SOS and @y/t/n are SO cute!!!!! they’re totally dating there’s no other explanation that’s it that’s the tweet

@wackycalum: I don’t have a problem with @Luke5SOS and @y/t/n being an item, but lying about it is fucking messed up. Just be honest to your fans. Don’t lie. We’ll find out eventually.

@rAiNbOwAsH: how cliché is it that the social media manager is messing around with @Luke5SOS what a way to keep her job

@bitchluke: honestly people that are hating on @y/t/n for absolutely no reason are just jealous bitches she’s a professional doing her job let her be even if she and @Luke5SOS are dating that’s their business (but i do think they’re fucking cutE)

Y/N. Social media manager to well–known band 5 Seconds of Summer. Currently rumored to be dating Luke Hemmings, aforementioned band’s front–man. Actually, let’s make a correction to that statement: Always rumored to be dating Luke Hemmings, front–man. It probably (read: most definitely) had something (read: everything) to do with the fact that the two of you were always together and always ended up having your picture taken. Together.

Maybe everyone else saw something the two of you couldn’t and didn’t.

There was just something about the way the two of you––clicked. It had been that way since the second you got the job. Somehow, you and Luke always just gravitated toward each other. It was like magnets. You were the north pole; he was the south. In any crowd, you were always the first face that Luke searched for; the first hand he reached for; the first voice he sought out amongst thousands of screaming fans. It all started with just one photo from two years ago. All of you were at the airport. Hundreds of people were scattered around with their suitcases and carry–ons and airplane tickets. Calum, Michael, and Ashton were all in the security line getting patted down by TSA at JFK. They were headed to Europe; you were staying behind in the city for a while. Luke, however, was standing in front of you right before the security checkpoint line with his suitcase at his side and his duffle bag on the ground. Some fan must have seen the two of you and taken the snapshot before uploading it. That was the only thing that made sense. It was probably the look in his eyes that they saw: the one that spoke of a myriad of unsaid words and confessions and admissions of truth, bottled–up emotions, fear, and heartbreak. That one.

You, in your complete naïveté and blindness when it came to the entire situation, chalked it up to just Luke not wanting to leave a close friend behind. Europe was always a special place for the two of you. Midnights in Paris; early mornings in Rome; evenings in London; afternoons in Berlin. There was always something so incredibly romantic about it all––traveling in the late night to another country. Sometimes, it felt like the two of you were running away from it all like some modern–day Romeo and Juliet. But then the light of day would spill through the windows of the airplane and the rough landing of touch down would shake the two of you from whatever reverie you both daydreamed about whenever you had the chance. (Not that either of you would ever dare admit that.)

So, that was that.

You could easily explain that photo. Luke wasn’t too keen on leaving his good friend and social media manager behind in a different country. You had the same look in your eyes for nearly the same reason. And because you weren’t so trusting of four boys having unlimited access to their own social media accounts with absolutely no repercussions whatsoever. That was a gut–wrenching thought, in and of itself. And that was all.

But that photo then went viral and––well––the rumors came shortly after that and stuck. More rumors meant more photos meant a vicious cycle that neither of you could escape from.

And maybe that was why you were, once again, staying behind in NYC while the four boys were on an airplane to Europe. More specifically, that was why you were sitting in your boss’s office with your legs crossed and your hands fidgeting nervously in your lap. You knew what this was about; it wasn’t that hard to put two and two together. With new music coming out, the last thing the band––and the executives––needed was the rumors about you and Luke taking center stage instead of the upcoming single. You understood that; really, you did. But that definitely did not mean that you were any keener on sitting in the principal’s office ready for whatever detention they were going to hand out to you.

“Y/N, you have been doing an amazing job as the band’s social media manager. Really, you have.”

“Thank you,” you mumbled.

“That being said, we do need to adjust our course. I am sure that you are aware of the rumors going around about you and Luke Hemmings. All the photos and tweets and mentions. Your Twitter mention activity has increased by 67% as of late. That’s remarkably convenient for the band. Their mentions have increased nearly 85% since the rumors started up again. But, right now, with the single about to be released, it isn’t so convenient. Actually, it’s not convenient at all.”

“Yes, I’m sorry about that. I didn’t realize that––”

Your boss interrupted you with that fake smile on her face. “We’re going to need something from you, Y/N. What we’re going to need,” she stood up and walked around to the opposite side, leaning against the desk with her ankles crossed in front of her. This was the part of being called to the principal’s office that you definitely didn’t like. “What we’re going to need from you is less involvement. Less involvement will mean less photos and less photos will mean less rumors, and all of that put together will mean that news about the upcoming single will be front–page news and not meaningless and contrived photos of you and our front–man.”

Less involvement? How would that even be possible as the social media manager? Her job was to be the definition of involved. If the executives were wanting less involvement, she wouldn’t be able to do her job. She wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“But I’m the social media manger,” you said. “How am I supposed to be less involved?”

She smiled. It was fake, the kind that flight attendants gave you when they were two seconds from taking you off the plane. “Ah, yes. That is another part of the equation. We’re going to be giving you promotion. You’ll be based out of LA. So, pack your bags! You’re headed to the West Coast!”

“A promotion? To what?”

“You’ll get all the information when you get there. The company will pay for your AirB&B until you find a suitable residence. Your plane ticket and conformation e–mail have already been booked and sent to you on company expense. It’s a direct flight from JFK to LAX, so don’t worry about that. And we’ll also take care of your apartment here. Furniture will be sent to you as soon as you find a place to live, and we’ll pay off the rest of your lease.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re getting promoted, Y/N. That’s a big deal. We help out our big fish here, you know.”

“But I’m not a big fish. I’m just a social media manager for 5 Seconds of Summer.” You still weren’t all that sure what was going on. All of this wreaked of some sort of convenient cover–up. With you out of the picture, there were no rumors about the two of you together leaving all the spotlight for the new single and upcoming album and later tour. It was all picture–perfect in the eyes of the executives. Even you could see that.

“Not anymore, you’re not. This’ll be good for you, Y/N. Trust me. Maybe one day you’ll be sitting in this office. You never know!”

“So, basically, you’re firing me from my job and giving me a desk job on the opposite end of the country just because of some stupid rumors.”

“Doesn’t matter whether they have any evidence behind them. Rumors spread because they’re just that––rumors. All people need to think that something is true is their own belief in the rumor. And you just being around Luke gives them just the evidence they need to run wild with it all. Don’t think of this like a punishment, Y/N. Think of it like … the next step in your PR career. It’ll do you some good. Now, if you don’t mind––”

You understood her unsaid sentiments. Get out of my office. Pack your bags. Go to L.A.

So, you did just that.

You walked the twenty–seven blocks back to your apartment, packed your tweed weekender bag and your pink rolling suitcase, printed out your ticket, and stood in the threshold to the apartment that you had lived in for three past three years. (Although, saying that you lived in that apartment might be a stretch; it was more of a home base that you just ghosted through from time to time.) But even with that, it was your home. It was the place that you and Luke had ordered late–night Chinese takeout (pan–fried pork dumplings, lemon chicken, Mongolian beef, Vietnamese doughnuts). And the place that you and Michael and Ashton had a three–a.m. water balloon fight in the living room, knocking over and breaking your flower vase mid–fight. (You won.) And the place that you and Calum had Ghost Adventures marathons until the sun would filter through the blinds on the right side of the living room. Most importantly, it was the place that you had come to view as your home whatever that meant at the end of the day. So, standing in the door was maybe more than a little heartbreaking. It was only 731 square feet, but they were yours. And now? Well, now, you were being banished out of the kingdom and sent to exile.

Perhaps that was a little dramatic. But, for you, it felt like the truth.

You shut the door behind you and left the apartment building that you were all–too–familiar with and caught a cab to JFK.

“Leaving the city or just a vacation?” The friendly cab–driver asked as he pulled into the street.

You sniffled and stared out the window, catching your last view of the Empire State Building as you did so. The sunlight glinted off the tall metal building in an annoyingly tragic and romantic sort of way. Memories of the time that you and Luke climbed all the staircases to the very top of that building flashed through your mind like a supercut. Heavy breath, burning legs, racing heartbeats, and your hand in his. It was up to the jury to decide whether the racing heartbeat was because of the flights of stairs or the hot hand she was holding onto. (Her bet was on the stairs.)  “Leaving.”

Who even knew if you would ever be allowed to return?

“That’s such a shame. Well, either way, I’m sure the universe has something amazing for you in store. I just know it.”

But without this city, without your home, without all those memories that you were speeding past left and right, you weren’t so sure.

+

REQUEST PART TWO! 

[idiosinkrasies]

Absolutely Smitten

"Why'd you make me come to this? I thought you loved me?" I complained to my friend, Chris, who had burst into my apartment and forced me to get dressed to come to a "concert" with his boyfriend. I had told him no, but he was insistent.

"I do, and that's why I wasn't going to let you be alone on a Saturday night." 

"But you know how much I hate being the third wheel." He rolled his eyes at that.

"You're not being the third wheel, you're just hanging out with your only friends."

"Hey I have my theatre friends." I point out.

"Ok, your only close friends." 

I let out a humph and we continue to walk from James's car to the venue the band was playing. It was smaller than most places but it was big enough to hold over 1500 people at a sold out show. And the show had sold out. The band was called Ex-Mormons and consisted of Nabulungi Hatimbi as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist, Arnold Cunningham as the drummer, Kevin Price as the bassist and backup vocals, and Kevin's brother, Jack Price, on the keyboard.

Now, Connor had heard nothing of them, but Chris was obsessed with them, so he got the tickets the moment they came out (He tried to get backstage passes but they weren't available) and now he was practically running, hand-in-hand with James to the venue and pulling Connor along by his sleeve.

When they got there, the place already had a decent amount of people in it, so the trio was closer to the front, but not right up front.

"I can't believe I'm actually gonna see Ex-Mormons live!" Chris said, while bouncing up and down.

"I know you're excited babe," James laughed at his boyfriends childish demeanor "but we have to wait another 25 minutes til they're on."

Chris frowned but was patient enough to wait for the rest of the crowd to fill in. After about 20 minutes the place was filled and the band was about to enter. When they did it was like a sensory overload to Connor and he didn't really remember it afterwards.

Far into the concert Connor got separated from Chris and James by people moving around and pushing him and soon he found himself at the very front of the venue and his eyes landed on the bassist, Kevin, he remembered from what Chris had told him. He was entranced by his focused face and precise hands playing each note perfectly. His brown hair flopping in front of his eyes of the same color.

Then the brunet looked up as he stopped playing and met Connor's eyes. For a few moments it seems like they're the only two people in the universe. Then the man smirked at Connor and his face flourished into a bright red color as the band moved onto the next song and Kevin went back to playing his bass.

For the rest of the night Connor couldn't get Kevin out of his head, but he was sure that he'd never get to see him again.

*3rd POV still but like with kevin after the show*

Kevin walked off the stage and immediately face-planted into the couch and groaned.

"What's up with you?" Jack asked, flicking his brothers head.

"I'm in love." Kevin said looking up at his band mates.

"Ok that's got to be an exaggeration, how were you not in love before the show and in love after?" Naba pointed out his bs.

"Ok ok, I saw this really cute guy in the audience and well he's my one true love."

"I knew I saw you staring at someone or something at one point. What does he look like." Arnold poked his friends face, until Kevin swatted his hand away.

"Perfect." Kevin said thinking back to the mystery man.

"Elaborate." Naba said, plainly.

"He has red hair and lots of freckles on his pale skin and blue eyes and, from what I could see, a perfect body." He wasn't going to mention what he wanted to do to that body. (I'm sorry but that sounds slightly murderer-ish kevin)

"Man, he seems like a catch," Kevin nodded at Jacks comment "too bad you'll never see him again." Naba hit his arm to shut him up and let their friend/brother have his dream. Kevin just groaned and shoved his face back into the pillow he was holding and let out a muffled sound. Arnold moved to comfort him.

"It's ok, best friend, there's still a chance you'll see him again,and if not then there's more people for you to fall in love with at firs sight." He said while patting Kevin's back. Kevin just groaned in response.

*back to connors POV we'll you know what i mean*

Connor had just finished preforming a play he was in at a local theater and was in his dressing room. As he was changing he let his mind drift and it drifted back to the bassist who had played a few nights prior. He shook the thoughts of Kevin from his head, saying that he'll never see him again and he probably didn't even like him.

After changing he said his goodbyes to his cast mates and off he went. When he was walking to the door he spotted someone outside the door waiting for something or someone. As Connor moved closer he realized that it was the bassist, Kevin, standing and looking around, trying to spot someone.

Connor walked out the doors and his eyes met the brunets as Kevin turned. Connor saw him smile and walk over to him.

"I saw you in the play, you were really good." He told Connor. "I think I also saw you at one of my concerts, what a coincidence."

"Yeah, we did make eye contact, but I thought that I wouldn't get a chance to see you again." Connor said, pushing some hair out of his eyes as he was suddenly aware of what he must look like.

"Well here I am," Connor giggled and Kevin thought he might have a heart attack "You're Connor, right? It was on the cast list."

"Yeah, that's me, Kevin?"

"Yep!"

"Well it was very nice meeting you, Kevin, but I have to get going-" Connor was interrupted.

"Wait, I wanted to ask you, even though we kind of just met, do you wanna go out for dinner tonight? It's my last day here before we all head off to another show." Kevin said. Connor was stunned. Did this handsome man, who he had been crushing on slightly, just ask him out. He felt his head begin to nod.

"Yeah, sure, that sounds great." He said, sounding shocked because he honestly still was.

"Great, here's my number, text me went you can and we can make a plan." Kevin said handing Connor a paper with a phone number on it before leaning down and kissing Connor on the cheek. "Later!" He called as he made his way to his car. Connor stood there for a moment, processing what just happened. When he did his face went red and he looked at the number in his hand.

Good seeing you again xo

xxx-xxx-xxxx

-Kevin P.

*time skip*

"And how long have you been dating the bassist for Ex-Mormons?" The host asked me on the talk show I was on. It has been years since Kevin and I met and started dating and both of us have gotten more recognition. I've been on Broadway as a supporting role and I've been in multiple big movies as both supporting characters and mains. Ex-Mormons has grown in fan base and has be placed on top charts all around the world.

"It's been about 7 years I'd say." I replied and the audience cheered.

"Wow, you two must really like each other to be able to tolerate each other that long." The host joked, we all laughed.

"Yeah well, I'd hope so."

"Well, Connor, we have a bit of a surprise here for you tonight. Everyone, please welcome, Kevin Price from Ex-Mormons!" A spot light came on over Kevin. I gasped because I hadn't seen him in a few months due to him touring and me filming. He had a ukulele  and was sitting on a stool. He began to play a song. 

He knows this feeling all to well

He feels his heart begin to swell

Handsome stranger,

You've made his insides turn to jelly

He wants to dance around the room

Kiss you until your lips turn blue

But handsome you've made him wonder

Is he pretty?

But it's too late

He believes in fate

He's absolutely smitten

He'll never let you go

As Kevin sang, Connor realized how much the song reminded him of how he and his boyfriend first met. Kevin stood up and walked over to where Connor sat and pulled him to stand before pulling him to the stool and sitting him down. Connor just stared up at the man singing in awe of his voice and the words flooding his senses.

That boy just there yes he's the one

With cupid's arrow in his bum

Handsome stranger you have made him happy

The first in a long time!

Did you just whisper in his ear

Words he only dreamed to hear?

Pretty fella, look at how he's smiling

I think he likes you!

The more he sang, the more Connor smiled, remembering how kevin smiled at him at his concert.

But it's too late

You believe in fate

You're absolutely smitten

You'll never let her go

But it's too late

I believe in fate!

I'm absolutely smitten,

I'll never let you go

I'll never let you go

I'll never let you go

He ended the song and the room erupted in applause. When everyone calmed down Kevin stood in front of Connor.

"Connor, I've know you for 7 years of my life and those 7 years have been the best," He started, looking deep into his lovers eyes "we saw each other in the best of time and helped each other out of the worst." Connor thought back to telling both of their famalies about their relationship and how badly that went, luckily they both each other and their siblings. Connor was overcome by a wave of happiness as Kevin continued talking, remembering just how much he loves the other man.

"When I first saw you in the crowd of that concert I said I was in love with you. Now, at the time, it was a bit of an exaggeration but now i can happily say that it's not. I believe that we were meant to be together, we met at my concert and then again at your show, so it must have been fate. Which is why, Connor McKinley," he got down on one knee and pulled out a black velvet box, Connor's hand shot to his mouth "would you do me the honor of spending the rest of my life you, will you marry me?" He finally got out, opening the box to reveal a beautiful silver ring with Connor's rose quartz in the middle.

Tears of joy were coming out of both men's eyes as Connor nodded frantically repeatedly saying the word "yes". Kevin stood up and hugged Connor and the moved to kiss him as the room cheered for the happy couple. The two pulled away and Kevin slipped the ring onto the redheads ring finger and pulled him in for another kiss, this time Connors left hand came up to rest on Kevin's face, letting him feel the cool ring on his finger.

The wedding was beautiful and everyone was happy. Kevin and Connor adopted a little girl and they continued to prosper in their careers, allowing them to live wealthily with their small, but close and loving family, loving every minute of the rest of their lives.

[probablylisteningtoledzeppelin]

41 Years Ago: The Tragic Loss That Changed Led Zeppelin Forever by Jeff Giles Led Zeppelin appeared to lead something of a charmed existence during the early part of their career, enjoying blockbuster success with fans in spite of negative reviews from critics and quickly earning a spot near the top of the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon. But by the mid-’70s, they seemed to be suffering from a curse, as multiple setbacks kept them from capitalizing on the momentum they’d built – and on July 26, 1977, when singer Robert Plant suddenly lost his five-year-old son Karac to a stomach virus, it nearly split the band completely. The Plant family’s terrible tragedy came during what was supposed to be a triumphant American tour for Zeppelin. Two years earlier, the band had been forced off the road for an extended spell when Plant and his wife were involved in a serious car accident while visiting the Greek island of Rhodes. But even if the time off helped Plant recuperate from his injuries, it did nothing to prevent a series of disasters that dogged the tour, starting with Plant picking up a case of laryngitis that forced the group to push its first date back from February to April. Ticket sales were still strong, but the postponement had a ripple effect. As guitarist Jimmy Page later pointed out, the band’s equipment had already been shipped overseas, complicating any efforts to rehearse. “We didn’t have any instruments for a month,” he once lamented. “All the equipment was shipped over there five days before we were due to go. I didn’t play a guitar for a month. I was terrified at the prospect of the first few shows.” Once they were finally able to get out in front of fans, the problems continued to pile up. An April 1977 stop in Cincinnati was marred by violence when a group of ticketless fans tried to force their way into Riverfront Coliseum, and a “mini-riot” broke out after their June concert in Tampa ended up being rained out partway through the set. Things got even uglier the following month, when manager Peter Grant led a group – including drummer John Bonham – into the savage beating of a Bill Graham employee following their July 23 performance in Oakland, Calif. “There was an extraordinary amount of tension at the start of that tour,” a band employee later recalled. “It just got off to a negative start. It was definitely much darker than any Zeppelin tour ever before that time … The kind of people they had around them had deepened into some really criminal types. … They still had their moments of greatness (but) some of the shows were grinding and not very inspired.” After making their way out of Oakland, the band members made their separate ways to the next stop on the itinerary, a planned appearance in New Orleans. Shortly after arriving in the city, Plant received the devastating news, half a world away and helpless to join his son during his confusing final moments. “The first phone call said his son was sick,” said tour manager Richard Cole, describing a fateful pair of calls from Plant’s wife. “And the second phone call, unfortunately, Karac had died in that time.” “Karac was the apple of Robert’s eye; they idolized one another,” said Plant’s father in an Associated Press report announcing the immediate cancellation of the tour, which had been scheduled to run into August. Searching for answers about the sudden illness, Plant retreated home, taking comfort from his wife Maureen and daughter Carmen while Zeppelin went on hold. As Page later put it, “We were all mates. We had to give the man some space.” That didn’t mean Plant shut out his bandmates, however. “After the death of my son Karac in 1977, I received a lot of support from [Bonham], and I went through the mill because the media turned on the whole thing and made it even worse,” Plant told Barney Hoskyns. “I had to look after my family and at that time, as we regrouped, I applied to take a job at a Rudolph Steiner training college in Sussex. I wanted to just get out of it – to go away and forget it.” In a separate talk with Rolling Stone, Plant said “I lost my boy. I didn’t want to be in Led Zeppelin. I wanted to be with my family.” He also later claimed to have quit all of his chemical habits cold turkey. “I stopped taking everything on the same day,” Plant added. “The most important thing to me is my family and when I got off my face, I found it difficult to be all things to the people that meant a lot to me.” Plant was quite serious, at least for a time, about pursuing a new career in education, too. Admitting that “it’s not something that we, as a family, have been able to get over yet,” he told GQ in 2011 that “our family had always been close to the Rudolf Steiner Waldorf education in the West Midlands and I just liked the way it all worked. … I just thought there was something far more honest and wholesome about just digging in and putting the ego away in the closet. Because no matter what we say, entertainers are usually quite insecure, wobbly characters underneath – and maybe that bit of glory or that bit of expression or whatever it is compensates in some area. But I thought I should be rid of it. Yeah, I thought it was not a bad idea. Sometimes, I still feel like that.” In 2013, Plant remembered that “during the absolute darkest times of my life when I lost my boy and my family was in disarray, it was Bonzo who came to me. The other guys were [from] the South [of England] and didn’t have the same type of social etiquette that we have up here in the North that could actually bridge that uncomfortable chasm with all the sensitivities required … to console.” Zeppelin biographer Mick Wall took Plant’s comments a step further, claiming that the distance Robert Plant describes was even more profound — and that when Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and Grant declined to appear at Karac’s funeral, it created a rift that never truly healed. “Until then, Robert was still in thrall to Jimmy and what he had created with Zeppelin. After that incident, Jimmy no longer held the same mystique for Robert,” Wall claimed in 2011. “It was also the beginning of Robert having much more power over what the band did or didn’t do next. He truly no longer cared and therefore was ready to walk at any point if they didn’t fit in with him. And that’s the way it remains to this day.” But if Bonham stayed closest to Plant’s side during the months following Karac’s death, it was ultimately Page who talked him out of retiring from music. “I was thinking about leaving the group, but Jimmy Page kept me from doing it,” Plant said in an interview at the time. “He said without me, the band’s nothing. He wanted me to take a break until I felt ready for playing again. I realized that we are more than business partners. We are real friends. We have enough money to live a life without troubles, but nobody knows how long our fans can wait. They might forget us if we don’t play anymore. I don’t want this to happen to the band. Our friends kept calling us every day. They helped us through this.” To Zeppelin fans’ everlasting regret, the road ahead for Zeppelin wouldn’t last much longer; although they soldiered ahead for 1979′s In Through the Out Door, Bonham’s sudden death on Sept. 25, 1980 ended the band as a creative unit once and for all. And although it’s impossible to know what they might have accomplished together if he hadn’t passed away, the group’s final days found them in an artistic flux, struggling to move forward while coming to grips with what they’d been through. “In Through the Out Door wasn’t the greatest thing in the world, but at least we kept trying to vary what we were doing, for our own integrity’s sake. Of all the records, it’s interesting but a bit sanitized because we hadn’t been in the clamor and chaos for a long time,” Plant pointed out in 1990. “In ’77, when I lost my boy, I didn’t really want to go swinging around. ‘Hey hey mama, say the way you move’ didn’t really have a great deal of import anymore.”

[tappersia]

Iran Travel ExperienceBy Manon Tazelaar

In 2018, I started my solo backpacking trip back to the middle east, I had fallen in love with the region years before. However, I had never been to a very special and truly unique country of that region yet, Iran. I have met numerous people who had visited Iran and had completely fallen in love with the country. Statements such as, “Iran is my absolute favourite country!” was something I literally kept hearing continuously. What was so special about this country that everyone kept pouring out all their love for it to me?

I have never been the one to base my decisions upon news headlines, but you can’t deny the fact that Iran doesn’t have that great of an image in the Western world, this creates a lot of confusion around the country. You will notice that misled perspective from the first moment you will tell the people around you about your upcoming travel plans. Common questions will definitely be, “But is Iran safe?”, “Is Iran not in war now?”, “Do you have to wear a burka?” “Are you not scared that someone is going to kidnap you?”.

When it comes to making a decision regarding a new travel destination, my all-time number one rule is to never factor in anyone’s opinion who has not been to the country themselves. With that said, the decision was super easy! The people who had not visited Iran said NO and the people who had been there said, HELL YES!

Travelling to Iran Solo?

Travelling solo has always been my favourite way of travelling, the flexibility and absolute freedom of just you and your backpack is something truly priceless. However, if solo travel is not your cup of tea, not to worry, Iran is home to many great tour guides and tour companies who would love to help you organize a stress-free trip to Iran.

The most common question I get is if Iran is safe for a solo female traveller. I can honestly say that from all my solo travels, Iran is a country in which I never had to worry for a second about a single thing: a place to sleep? Food? Any kind of other trouble? absolutely nothing. I never felt unsafe in any kind of way during any time of day in Iran.

I don’t like to generalize but in this case, I will make an exception: Iranians are the absolute most hospitable, generous and friendliestpeople I have ever come across. As a matter of fact, whenever someone would figure out that I was travelling alone they always felt this great sense of responsibility for me and therefore, always tried everything in their power to make sure I was okay. Travelling here made me feel like a true princess and has shown a beautiful and hopeful side of humanity, where people are so genuinely kind and helpful towards each other.

Needless to say, as in every country you have to use your common sense and intuition when it comes to safety as a female travelling alone, the same thing goes for Iran.

How do I get an Iranian Tourist Visa?

There are different ways through which you can obtain your visa for Iran, either you apply for a Visa on Arrival (VOA) or you can do it beforehand at an Iranian embassy in any country.

I went for the Visa on Arrival which was quite easy to obtain if you omit the 4-hour waiting time at the immigration office. I have heard many people who had used the service of travel agencies who will do all the visa application hassle for you and therefore save you a lot of time, both before your trip and at the airport in Iran.

Prices for a tourist visa vary depending on the country of residence, my Visa on Arrival – being a Dutch citizen – cost me €50,- in 2018.

Planning your Trip to Iran

When it comes to planning your trip to Iran, there are many ways to do so. Personally, I am a lover of unplanned travels and especially when it comes to Iran, it is almost a must! You should expect invitations on every street corner, everyone would love to invite you over for a tea, lunch or just a simple chat. Iranians are widely-known for their amazing hospitality. It is highly recommended to leave some room in your itinerary for these friendly invitations to happen.

Additionally, if you think the Iranian hospitality cannot take on any higher levels, then surely venture out to surrounding villages. The kindness of the people there is as if they are coming from another planet, it is something I have not experienced before.

Iran has a lot to offer, stretching from stunning divers landscapes, countless UNESCO World Heritage sites dating back to all different dynasties, culturally rich and home to the most amazing widely-known poets such as Rumi, Ferdowsi and Hafez. Mentioning all the above, a trip to this part of the world might need some researching and some slight planning if you don’t want to miss some of the best parts of the country.

For history lovers Iran is a special treat, although the history of Ancient Persia and everything leading up to the shaping of today’s Iran will need some proper comprehensive reading, it is still highly recommended to do so. With the 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which Iran has to offer, you don’t want to miss out on the full context of this beautiful country’s history.

Having that said, a traditional 2-week travel route is the following: Tehran – Kashan – Isfahan – Shiraz – Yazd. However, Iran is huge and has multiple diverse ethnic groups and cultures which will change with the kilometers passing, so definitely research and plan your trip according to your interests.

What to Wear in Iran

I loved spending some mornings sitting on a bench and looking at all the diversity on the street. The sights will vary from women wearing a black chador (a traditional Iranian conservative dress) and right next to them seeing young ladies pushing the limits with a headscarf covering just a tad bit of hair, dressed in colourful and rather tight clothes. It is an interesting contrast which can fill my day easily by just looking at daily life passing by in front of my eyes.

Regarding the dress code, it is important to bear in mind that Iran is an Islamic country with its rules and traditional values. Due to this, there is a specific dress code that everyone has to live up to when travelling to Iran. The dress code includes a headscarf and wearing rather loose clothing that covers the body. However, it is not as strict for tourist as you might think, loosely draping a scarf around your hair is what most of the girls around here do. You will notice quite soon how this stereotype of Iranian women is far from the truth. In fact, fashion, makeup, and overall outer appearance are actually very important among all Iranians.

Ultimately, every female traveller I encountered during my trip told me that they weren’t bothered by the dress code at all. They actually quite liked to dress so differently than what they are used to, for some weeks.

Additionally, for men, it is quite easy as the only things you should not wear are shorts and tank tops, almost everything else is completely fine.

It is always best to have a quick look at what the locals are wearing and just mimic that. Whenever you are travelling somewhere new, you don’t want to dress in a way that draws unnecessary attention to you.

Transportation in Iran

I have to admit, from all the countries I have visited, the long-distance buses in Iran are the absolute best! What can I possibly say? A separate chair, which you can turn into a bed (with more than enough space for you to not bother the person behind you), free lunchboxes, unlimited supply of free water bottles and all for an extremely low price.

With all pleasure, I have taken multiple bus rides in Iran with a duration from 19 hours up to even 25 hours and I loved every part of it. The comfort and the stunning changing scenery all whilst snacking on some Qottab (my favourite Iranian snack) has turned into a new hobby for me.

Additionally, the metros in Iran are great with its overall luxurious feel and most importantly, It is easy to navigate through due to all the metro stops being displayed in English. You can buy a cheap metro card and top it up in the station and off you go.

You can also go for buses in big cities, which are cheap and easy as well. Keep in mind that all public transportation is segregated in Iran. There is a section for women and a section for men, but this is very easy to figure out.

What about Hitchhiking in Iran?

Hitchhiking is something quite uncommon in Iran. In fact, many Iranians have no clue about the act of hitchhiking at all. This can make the hitchhiking experience either a fun adventure or difficult and confusing, depending on the type of traveller you are. I have hitchhiked twice in Iran, it was such an interesting experience compared to the other countries where I have hitchhiked. Almost every car stopped, but mostly just to ask us if we needed money for a taxi, or if they could bring us to the bus terminal and buy us a bus ticket. When we tried to explain it, most of them didn’t really understand it at all. For me, that is the best part! Be prepared to make lots of new friends on the road, again.

TIP: On any occasion but especially during your hitchhiking adventures, withhold yourself from making the thumbs-up signal which in Iran has the same meaning as sticking up your middle finger. Although the younger generation understands the different meaning this signal has, it is still better to try and avoid it.

Iran is the only country where no one tries to screw you over

One last thing that happily surprised me a lot during my travels in Iran, is the fact that no one ever tried to screw me over. Whereas other countries, it is almost impossible to pay the local price for anything. Iran is one of the very few countries where they won’t ever do so – except for taxis but that is an unwritten rule, I guess.

Something that might make Iran’s financial world a bit tricky is the fact that Iran has two currencies, one which is the spoken one called Toman and one which is the official currency which is called Rial (IRR). It took me some time to get the hang of it but here is an easy way to remember; each Toman is equal to Ten Rials (1 Toman = 10 Rials). That means by dropping one zero from Rial you have it’s Toman equivalent.

Another thing to bear in mind is that due to economic sanctions, it is impossible to withdraw any money – meaning, other currencies – during your stay in Iran. This means you have to bring all the money you need for your whole trip in cash. Luckily, there are some trustworthy travel agencies who offer specific tourist cards which you can top up before and during your stay in Iran. These travel cards are usable like a normal bank card you can withdraw Iranian Rials and you can pay with the card everywhere.

Get yourself familiar with “Ta’arof”

To keep yourself out of uncomfortable situations, get yourself familiar with the Iranian politeness game called Ta’arof. Ta’arof is a form of over politeness, offering everything the other might desire. This politeness is fully embedded in the culture. In most cases, the person offering something major is most likely already expecting the other person to refuse. However, doing this with people who are not familiar with it could lead to awkward situations.

Here are a couple of examples which could be Ta’arof:

If a taxi driver is telling you after your ride that you do not have to pay “You are my guest, welcome to Iran” this is surely Ta’arof. Even if for any strange reason it is not, please, keep insisting to pay. Do not leave the car without paying. This goes for any kind of place that sells something, 99% of the time this is Ta’arof. Especially keeping in mind the current economic situation, it would feel a bit wrong for a traveller to accept things like this for free.

If you are going out for food with your new Iranian friends and the moment arrives to pay, be ready with your money and make it a game to give it to the cashier sooner than your friends. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to let you pay. If you lost the game of paying the fastest, then at least invite them for ice cream or coffee and repay the hospitality. (Unless your new Iranian friends and you have established a relationship where you know no one is Ta’arofing, which will make life much easier)

If the above, is just as confusing to you as it was to me, then follow this safe rule; always refuse kindly for at least 4 or 5 times, if they still insist it is probably sincere. Have a good look at the body language and facial expression, that will give away a lot already. Most importantly, just have fun with it!

Conclusion

Iran was a country I just planned to travel through for a bit but ended up spending more than 7 months in. I will, from now on, and probably forever, join the group with the statement; “Iran is my absolute favourite country!”.

[allthekpopimagines]

Got7 Scenario - Nothing On You by B.O.B and Bruno Mars

A/N: Girrrrllll, I know this song and I love it. I love the lyrics and they’re perfect for Got7, my faithful but SO disrespectful boys. I’m going to write girlfriend/girl because of the song lyrics. Anything else I would use they unless requested.

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“Beautiful girls, all over the world I could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby, nothing on you baby. They might say hi and I might say hey but you shouldn’t worry about what they say ‘cause they got nothing on you baby, nothing on you baby.”

Mark: (A/N: What a rude bias wrecker! How is he so God like?! Tell me!!) You stood with Mark at the security entrance. This is as far as you could go in the airport. You began to fumble with your fingers. Mark stood behind you back hugging you so he wouldn’t have to leave you so soon. The boys had already gone forward but Jaebum was waiting for Mark because he needed to make sure all of the members got on the plane. You began to cry, 8 months without your boyfriend. Your anxiety had gotten the best of you when you called your friend who was going to spend some time with you while Mark was away so you didn’t feel super lonely the whole time. Mark let go of the hug and he came around to where he could see your face and he held your face in his hands, “Hey, it’s just 8 months. It’ll go by super quickly.” You just nodded avoiding his gaze. He got concerned and he made you look at him, “Don’t worry baby. I love you and I know that you’re scared but I’ll be thinking about the whole time. Because you’re my baby and nobody else’s and I’m your baby and nobody else’s okay?” You nodded and kissed him before Jaebum called him over and said that they needed to leave. Before Mark left he kissed your forehead and said, “You’re perfect and I love you and I’m all yours okay?” You nodded and just like that he was gone. 

“Nothing on you babe, nothing on you. I know you feel where I’m coming from regardless of the things in my past that I’ve done, most of it was really for the hell of the fun. On the carousel so around I spun, with no directions just tryna get some, tryna chase skirts living in the summer sun, this is how I’ve lost more than I had ever won and honestly I ended up with none.” 

Jaebum: (A/N: why does this sound like it’s just a sad line. This is gonna break my heart. My poor baby!) You and Jaebum were in a heated argument now and you just couldn’t keep this up. Jaebum had continuously tried to flirt with multiple girls in front of your face and you just couldn’t believe him. You have told him many times to stop and he would say he would but then he would turn around and do it again. You yelled at him, “Jaebum I don’t see how I’m not good enough for you! Why do you keep doing this?!” He just sighs angrily and shrugs, “Fun?” He says more as a question than an answer. You’re shocked by his answer and you say, “So this is fun for you? To flirt with so many other girls when you have a girlfriend right here?” He realizes his mistake and he says, “Wait, no babe. That’s not what I meant.” You shook your head and said, “I don’t need to hear anything more. You can go have fun now since you’re now single.” He shakes his head and he says, “But I love you.” You shake your head and you send him a sympathetic smile, “No you don’t. You love the thought of being in a relationship. You don’t actually love me.” With those last words you left Jaebum in the house alone. You would only be back one more time and that was to collect all of your stuff. 

“There’s so much nonsense it’s on my conscience. I’m thinking baby that I should get it out and I don’t wanna sound redundant but I was wondering if there was something that you wanna know but never mind that we should let it go ‘cause we don’t wanna be a tv episode and all the bad thoughts just let them go.” 

Jackson: You just kept thinking of all the things Jackson hadn’t told you yet. Given, you had only been dating for 3 months and you didn’t expect him to just tell you everything on the first date. Speaking of date, you were getting ready to go on a date with him tonight. He said he got done with work early tonight and you were super excited. It was now 6:30 pm and you were putting your shoes on and there was a knock. You opened the door after putting both your shoes on and there he was in a nice suit. You smiled and said, “Hi babe.” He would smile and say, “Hello. Now, shall we?” He asks as he holds out his elbow. You made sure you had everything you needed and you nodded taking his elbow and going out to dinner with him. Once you got there you couldn’t help but wonder about the things you don’t know about him. Jackson knew there was something on your mind. He put down his menu and he asked, “Babe, are you okay?” It snapped you out of your spaced out mind. You asked, “Wait, what?” He chuckled and said, “I know there’s something on your mind. What is it?” You sighed and you decided to tell him, “There’s not a whole lot that I know about you.” He smiled and he leaned forward, “Well, what’d you wanna know?” With that you had a full night of questions and answers. 

“Hands down, there will never be another one, I been around and I never seen another one. Look at your style they ain’t really got nothing on, and you out and you ain’t got nothing on. Baby you the whole package plus you pay your taxes and you keep it real while them other stay plastic you’re my Wonder Woman call me Mr.Fantastic stop...now think about it.” 

Jinyoung: You were getting dressed in the hotel room and once you were dressed you went out to the patio of your hotel room. You smiled at the view and you were super happy. You sighed a much needed one and you looked down at the ring that occupied your ring finger on your left hand. You fiddled with it a little but every time you looked at it, it just made you so much more happy. He really was everything to you. Next thing you know you feel hands wrap around your waist and you smile as Jinyoung kisses your shoulder once. You hum and he says, “How’re you this morning?” You smile and say, “Well, I feel a major reassurance on whether you like me or not.” He chuckled and nodded and held your hands, “Now you do.” With that you kissed him and he turned you around so he could look into your eyes and tell you every little thing he loved about his new wife.

“I’ve been to London, I’ve been to Paris even went out there to Tokyo. Back home down in Georgia to New Orleans, but you always steal the show and just like that girl you got my froze like a Nintendo 64. If you never knew well now, you know.” 

Youngjae: You were laying on the couch and you were trying to rest and you were finally beginning to fall asleep when your phone rang. You groaned and answered the phone, “What?!” Your best friend was a bit taken back, “Um, okay. Glad to hear from you too.” You sighed and sat up, “Sorry. I was just about to fall asleep and I’ve been trying to for the past half hour.” She apologized and you instantly remembered she called you, “So what did you need me for?” With that she said, “Oh yeah! Turn the TV on and turn it to channel 38.” You were confused but put it on there anyways. There you saw your boyfriend and his 6 other band members doing an interview. You were very confused but you decided to start it from the beginning so you could be caught up. Half way through you heard the interviewer, “So you wrote the song ‘Let Me’. Was there any person behind this or was it for Aghase?” You smiled and you turned it up as everyone looked at Youngjae. Youngjae then began to explain how it was made for his girlfriend and she was more than just an Aghase in his eyes.” You smiled and you just kept saying, “You’re my big dork Youngjae.”

“Everywhere I go I’m always hearing your name and no matter where I’m at, girl you make me wanna sing. Whether a bus or a plane or a car or a train, no other girl’s on my brain and you the one to blame.”

Bambam: You were getting a call and you could hear it. You woke up and you answered the phone not noticing who was calling, “hello?” You asked in your ‘I’m half asleep so talk slowly’ voice. The other line was your boyfriend of 2 years now, “Baby! How are you?” You groaned and said, “Bammie, I was asleep. Did you forget about time differences?” He chuckled a bit and said, “Yeah. Sorry babe. I just couldn’t get you out of my head. I was just thinking about you and I just kept wondering, ‘Did she eat?’ or ‘Is she getting enough sleep?’ and my brain would sometimes wonder, ‘Does she even still love you?’ and it just freaked me out.” You would sigh at the love your boyfriend showed you. You didn’t worry much about it though, you knew Jaebum would take care of him but that left him to worry about you while he was on tour. You smiled and said, “Yes Bammie. Yes to all of those questions. You’re too kind baby.” He would chuckle nervously and say, “Thank you.” With that he let you go back to bed after exchanging “I love you’s” and telling each other good night before you finally drifted off back to bed.

“Beautiful girls, all over the world I could be chasing but my time would be wasted they got nothing on you baby, nothing on you baby. They might say hi and I might say hey but you shouldn’t worry about what they say ‘cause they got nothing on you baby, nothing on you baby.”

Yugyeom: Your boyfriend’s group, Got7, was having a meet and greet at your hometown and you were super excited. You helped Yugyeom practice on his language skills so you could help him out with speaking the native language and hopefully communicate with the audience more. After the concert was over you were one of the people that purchased a ticket to go meet the boys as they actually signed stuff. You were smiling the whole time and watching the boys. Once you got up to the table you noticed the girl next to you was being very flirtatious with the boys as she went down the table and part of you wanted to strangle her and the other part of you just rolled your eyes at her. You couldn’t believe her attitude. But regardless you decided to have fun and greet the boys once again. They all said hello and they asked how you were doing and if you were eating right and getting enough sleep and you just couldn’t wait to get to your boyfriend. Once it was time to see your boyfriend you glared at the back of the girl that had previously flirted with your boyfriend before you. He made you look at him, “Baby, don’t worry. What have I told you?” You blushed and said, “You’re mine and only mine.” He smiled and nodded, “That’s right. Don’t you forget it okay?” You nodded and you got to see Yugyeom for a little while and it helped you with the reassurance you needed for the rest of their tour. 

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A/N: So it’s currently 11:45 pm where I live and fatigue just hit me like a train when I started to write BamBams reaction. But don’t worry. I finished it but I did cry when I wrote JB’s. I’m sorry it’s sad but the lyrics only reminded me of sad things. Nothing in those lyrics screamed awww cute to me. They just all sounded sad but don’t worry this won’t be the last time this happens I can guarantee that. Well, with that, I’m so happy you requested and I’m super excited and I hope you enjoy this one too love! <3�� -Admin M 

[orbemnews]

Itchy to Perform Again, Musicians Eye Return to Touring Like many musicians, J Mascis, the leader of the stalwart alt-rock band Dinosaur Jr., has struggled through a year without touring. “I’ve never been home this long since, like, high school,” Mascis said in a phone interview from his home in western Massachusetts. “To have no idea when or if you can do anything again, just sitting around,” he added, trailing off. “My mental health has definitely suffered.” But a few weeks ago, Dinosaur Jr. took a step toward normalcy by announcing an extensive fall tour, with a handful of warm-up dates booked for as early as May. “We’re not naïve; we know we might have to reschedule,” Mascis said. “But just to have something on the books somehow makes things a bit more hopeful.” After a grueling year, blocked from what is often their most vital income stream, musicians are impatient to get back on the road, and fans are eager to experience live music again. While large-scale shows at arenas and stadiums may not come back full-throttle until 2022, promoters and talent agents, encouraged by the speed of vaccinations, have begun laying the groundwork for what may be a surprisingly busy summer and fall of concerts at clubs, theaters and outdoor spaces. For now, there may be just a trickle of events. Starting Friday, New York State will allow entertainment venues to reopen at 33 percent of their regular capacity, up to 100 people for indoor spaces. Throughout the country, rules from local governments have kept many clubs and theaters closed, or allowed them to operate at reduced capacities — which for many of those places does not allow enough business to cover the basic costs of operating and of paying artists and employees, said Audrey Fix Schaefer of the 9:30 Club in Washington. “The only thing worse than being totally shuttered is being partially reopened,” said Fix Schaefer, who is also the communications director for the National Independent Venue Association. But many artists are said to be planning tour announcements soon, and hungry venue owners — buoyed by the prospect of $10 billion in federal relief through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant fund, which they can apply for starting April 8 — are eager for the business. The relative handful of clubs and theaters set to reopen in the spring are doing so with altered seating plans, temperature checks and adjusted financial deals with performers. A recent rock concert in Spain, with extensive Covid-19 protections, drew 5,000 fans. These events are being watched closely by the concert industry, which went into 2020 anticipating its biggest year ever but ended up losing nearly $10 billion in box office revenue, according to data collected by Pollstar, a trade publication. City Winery, a restaurant and concert venue on Pier 57, on the West Side of Manhattan, is reopening Saturday with a performance by the singer-songwriter Rhett Miller; it has been gradually filling out a calendar of socially distanced shows, confirming some just days ago. (Rufus Wainwright, Steve Earle, Patti Smith and Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields are among those on the calendar.) Tables have been arranged to allow space between parties, and patrons, who must wear masks when not seated, will get their temperatures checked upon entry. “Even if it’s for 100 people, it takes on such a significance to be putting on a show,” said Michael Dorf, the venue’s founder. “It feels like a sacred job, putting on culture.” Miller, a regular performer at the dozen City Winery spots around the country, said that he had struggled with the forced grounding from Covid-19, though he also noted the silver lining of spending more time with his family. The idea of playing live again, he said, both excites and terrifies him. “I’ve been dreaming about it night after night, climbing up on a stage in front of people,” Miller said. “The dreams are fraught and weird. Half the time I’m trying to sing through a mask, or I’m in trouble for not wearing a mask.” Major tours, which typically require months of planning and the hiring of a large crew of workers, have largely punted to next year or even 2023. That should make the next couple of years an extraordinary time for live music, with dozens of superstar acts planning to reschedule postponed tours and make up for lost time. But it may also be a test of touring infrastructure and of fans’ willingness to buy tickets to multiple high-profile shows. “The amount of stadium activity in 2022 is something I’ve never experienced,” said Jay Marciano, the chairman of AEG Presents, one of the industry’s biggest promoters and venue operators. “Over a dozen major artists are actively holding real estate for next year.” The fate of summer festivals, an important bellwether, is still uncertain. Some, like the Newport jazz and folk festivals, in Rhode Island, are planning to go on this year, with reduced capacities. Bonnaroo, in rural Tennessee, is planned for September, with Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, Foo Fighters and others; Summerfest in Milwaukee, a major urban concert series, is also planned for September. But whether Lollapalooza in Chicago will go forward is unclear. In New York, a smattering of clubs are also planning shows, like Bowery Electric and the Bitter End. But the majority are holding out for when they can reopen at full capacity, or close to it, many proprietors said. The industry has been placing its bets on summer or fall for that. Still, many artists and promoters report watching every news blip about infection spikes and virus variants with trepidation. The British electronic duo Jungle has announced a fall tour at large clubs like Brooklyn Steel in New York and the Anthem in Washington. Sam Denniston, the group’s manager, said that all signs have pointed toward that being feasible, as millions more people get vaccinated and more venues fully reopen. Yet uncertainty about the pandemic means that anything could happen. “It’s kind of like penguins sitting on the edge of a cliff, and they push one in to see if there’s a killer whale in the water,” Denniston said. “I kind of feel like we’re that first penguin. But someone’s got to take the risk.” While stadium-sized artists are counting on the pandemic coming under control and the full revival of a mothballed industry by the time they hit the road, for many others below the superstar level, a year without shows has simply been long enough. “I don’t know if I can wait another six months to a year,” Miller said, “to do my job again.” Source link Orbem News #eye #Itchy #musicians #perform #return #Touring

[lordendsavior]

Ruth Capps’ reputation as one of the most hardcore One Direction fans precedes her. In the days before I see her in her pajamas under west London's Hammersmith flyover, I’m told by at least three people that she’s an “angel.” At just 19, she has as many tickets to see Harry Styles through 2018 as years she’s been alive. On Twitter, she posts earnest messages of support for her idol to her 110,000 followers. Offline, she projects a calm rationality that belies the reason she’s become so well-known within the fandom to begin with. Five days before the first UK date of Styles’ solo tour, Ruth is one of nearly 50 girls camped outside the Hammersmith Apollo in sleeping bags and foil blankets. When the Daily Mail stops by to interview them, Ruth diplomatically volunteers to be a representative.

“I’ll make us not look crazy,” Ruth assures the crowd of skeptical girls surrounding her. The reporter kneels down upon the sidewalk and pulls a notebook from her bag as Ruth holds court atop the pallet of £6 Primark duvets, and does her best to explain the situation as plainly as possible. “What’s going on here?” the reporter asks, assuming a “fun mum” tone with the girls in an attempt to get them to open up.

“We’re camping out here to see Harry Styles,” Ruth says, unperturbed by the fact that there are five days until he’ll take the stage. Her honesty with the reporter is a rarity among the camp. The truth is that the girls are waiting for the 23-year-old pop star, but if you ask them why, you’ll get a different answer. One fan tells a passerby they’re waiting for Mary Berry. Jacob Sartorius. A hot dog eating competition. All of which provide a simpler explanation than the reality, which is: it is Wednesday, and they already have tickets to the show on Sunday, but they’re sleeping on the street to perhaps – if they’re lucky – be noticed by Harry himself.

This is “camping culture,” an act of stan devotion in (often uncomfortable) pursuit of the rarest and most valuable fandom currency: proximity and access. For many fans on the street, this will be a one-time thing, an anomalous event only made possible by the grace of its novelty. But for some, camping is merely part of “following” an artist on tour. When the house lights rise in the Apollo on Monday, some will pack up their sleeping bags and head to Manchester. Then Glasgow. Then Stockholm. They will spend several hundreds, even thousands of pounds to see the same show over and over again. But what happens when these fans attempt to take the show into their own hands? What happens after – if, when, finally – Harry notices them?

London, Night One

Grace has spent five days camped outside of the Apollo, but four hours before the show, you wouldn’t be able to tell. In groups of two, Grace and her friends pose for photos in front of the bright red marquee. Last night, they cuddled on the pavement in sweatpants; now they’re made up in florals, high-waisted flares, berets. The temperature is 13°C, and Grace wears a crop top. Now 19, Grace became a fan in 2011, when she found solace in One Direction after moving from the US to Italy. “I wasn’t happy in high school, so I kind of invested in myself fully,” she tells me. What is it about Harry in particular that makes him stand out? “He’s just very accepting. He believes you should be whoever you want to be, and everybody’s going to love you.”

It’s this message of acceptance that makes Harry’s shows both empowering and entertaining. For £35, you can buy merchandise that reads, “Treat People With Kindness.” In the crowd throughout his set, hundreds of mini Pride flags – passed out by fans in the queue for free before the show – wave up at Harry as he sings. And when a larger flag makes its way onto the stage, he holds it up and dances, urging the crowd “to be whoever you want to be”.

“It’s not that I don’t have people in real life telling me that, but it’s different when someone you aspire to be like says it,” Grace explains. As anything might, these messages of support feel more significant when delivered from a stage, and echoed back by a crowd who agrees. From Harry's mouth in a room filled with admirers, such messages feel not only powerful, but genuine.

London, Night Two

Harry Styles, notoriously, doesn’t say much. While parasocial celebrity-fan relationships thrive on Twitter, his tweets read as if randomly generated by an extremely grateful bot. His live show is similar: each night, his between-song banter is near-verbatim to the previous, a carousel on which phrases like “I’m Harry, and I’m from England,” and “My job for the next hour is to entertain you,” spin round evening after evening. To see one show is to see them all. But for those in the front row, following Harry on tour feels like the only way to access the person beneath the persona.

“Because he’s so inaccessible online, it means more in person,” Grace says, “We’ve learned to work around that. If you’re first or second row, he’ll interact with you in some way. That’s your accessibility.”

Yesterday, fans attempted to use this access to bring Harry’s attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Hoping for an acknowledgement similar to his support for the LGBTQ+ community they brought Black Lives Matter signs which – whether intentionally or not – he didn't pull up on stage to wave as well. By the second night Harry’s lack of attention toward these placards has become a big point of contention among fans; the fact he didn’t respond to the signs the previous night felt, to some fans, off brand from his accepting persona. And yet, once again, his eyes passed over the raised signs as if they read a message in a different language and, for Harry, they might as well have. Aside from a small hat-tip to “all the different kinds of messages in the crowd”, the evening passes without note.

After the show, one fan roasts him online with a photoshopped image of a hand that reads like a cheat sheet of his onstage script: “You all look ____ this evening,” it says, alluding to the slight variation in adjective each night. After a parenthetical reminder for Harry to smile, it urges, as if he were in danger of stating the directive instead of acting, “Don’t say out loud!” But Harry doesn’t need the reminder. He doesn’t, after all, say much of anything anyway. He dances his dance, recites his script, then the lights go off.

Manchester, Night Three

Four hours before doors open, Ruth applies makeup in a hotel room she’s rented to store her things, which is littered with tour merchandise, hair straighteners, and phone chargers. When I ask about the second show in London, she confesses that she left the show early in order to join the Manchester queue. “We had to miss Harry in order to see Harry,” she explains. “I was in the back, having a great time, but I would sacrifice three songs to be able to see him closer for the whole set.”

For fans who follow their fave, going to multiple shows permits this type of comparative economics. But tonight, Ruth is worried more about Harry himself. After 16 nights of the same set, she’s concerned that he’s bored. Each night, Harry performs his new single “Kiwi” twice. Initially repeated at the request of fans on the American leg of the tour, the song’s encore has now become somewhat of a gimmick, as Styles and the band stop and restart the song depending upon the crowd’s level of energy. Tonight, however, Ruth is hoping for a change. “Instead of chanting ‘Kiwi’ again like normal, we’re gonna chant ‘Girl Crush,’ and see if he wants to mix it up a bit. As much as I love seeing it, he must be bored doing the same thing.” Ruth admits that that probably won’t happen. “But I think it’d be nice for him to know that people are interested in change,” she shrugs.

That evening, Harry sings “Kiwi” twice, as usual, and gives the same speech that he gave in London, that he’ll give in Amsterdam and Milan. His job, tonight and in perpetuity, is to entertain us; ours is to be whoever we want to be in this room, and the next, and the next. Injecting variety into this process feels a bit like a Sisyphean task, but the struggle is enough to keep fans coming back each night anyway. One must imagine Harry Styles fans happy. And they are. It helps, in the end, that the show is an entertaining one.

Amsterdam, Night Four

Dani, 21, is showing off her new trousers. After sleeping on the sidewalk, she realised she had nothing fun to wear, and stopped by H&M. Their floral print, she says, reminded her of Harry’s own predilection for flowers and patterns. Though One Direction “weren’t big back then” in her home country of Bulgaria, she’s been a fan since 2010 . Tonight is her fourth and final show, and she compares her three previous ones casually. Night one in London was great, but Harry seemed better the second night – happier, and “less stressed.” Manchester was her favorite because “he was more himself.”

Like many fans, Dani knows Harry’s performance by heart. But she finds the show’s sameness exciting: “He’s so predictable, I love it. I end up talking over him. But you never know what’s going to happen. All you know is, ‘I’m seeing Harry tonight.’ What if he ends up doing something nobody expects?”

Before the show, I’m given a “Black Lives Matter” sign which I hold from my spot in the second row. When Harry sees it, he nearly flinches, either in shock or out of discomfort. Though I expect this, the reaction stings as much as it empowers. Because for a moment, I understand why Ruth, Dani, and Grace sleep on the street – to look at Harry and have him look back is intoxicating. All continues as usual, but Harry Styles and I now share a secret. Few people notice that the show, for a second, teeters on his silence, his adherence to a script that most don’t even realise exists.

Milan, Night Five

Grace has decided against queuing.

“It’s not about the show count. It’s about seeing and being with him. Obviously I’m there for the music, but it’s the same every time. I’m supporting him.”

For Grace, this means holding Harry accountable for what he does and does not say. And though they try to intervene, fans do understand the repetition. When I catch up with Ruth, it’s with the same kind of diplomacy that made them look less crazy back in London that she says, “Concerts are for people to go once, they aren’t meant to go to 500 times.”

In a few hours, the curtain will fall on the European tour without an unscripted word uttered about black lives, the controversy his silence has stirred up amongst fans, or anything else of significant consequence. Instead Harry will wave a Pride flag, silently. Grace will cry when he speaks Italian. For now though she’s visibly frustrated, longing for something that, seemingly, all his travelling fans are waiting for: the moment Harry goes rogue and deviates from the script.

“It’d be nice if he said something you didn’t think he was going to say,” she says, and it sounds a bit like his refrain in “From the Dining Table.” Why don’t you ever say what you wanna say? Styles is the one asking, but fans want an answer.

From Pride flags, to treating people with kindness, a good portion of Harry Styles’ popularity with fans lies in his populism. On stage, he is the embodiment of the will of the fans, the vessel who waves the flag they throw, and in him they find all things from acceptance, to fashion inspiration. But for many fans, his comfortable silence is, to quote the man himself, “so overrated.” For those who see themselves in Harry, urging him to use his platform to speak about issues that matter is as integral to the fan experience as camping and queueing and loving the product itself. The European tour may end tonight, but they will be back in the spring, and in the summer.

“Use your voice, Harry,” Grace sighs. She pauses, then adds, whether in defense of herself or of him: “I’m still here though.”

[octannibal-blake]

"We're in this haunted house tour and this smol stranger started holding my hand. I was going to complain but she's pretty, looks scared and holding hands doesn't hurt right?"

not to pick favorites, but this honestly might be my favorite one. thanks for this, nonny! 

also, side bar, ya girl is supposed to have internet back by Wednesday!! Thanks everyone for keeping me entertained during these desprate times. I love you all, I really do!

the set up

“You owe me.”

“Shut up, they’re coming.”

“They?”

It’s not like Bellamy tries to be the kind of guy that keepstrack of his favors. He usually does them because he enjoys being a good friendand honestly, it isn’t a big deal. He doesn’t want people to think they can’tcome to him when they need something. But this is a special case. A very specialcase and he is definitely marking this down as a favor that requires repayment.

Haunted Houses are cool, in theory. Paying some money to seescary stuff because adrenaline is fun and there is nothing quite like getting arush after facing your fears. Except he doesn’t find them scary. Haunted housesare corny, with poor costumes and stupid scare tactics. Everyone he’s ever beentoo has had the same setup – one Michael Meyers character, at least one clown(and he suspects that this year, that number will go up thanks to It), and someguy chasing you around with a chainsaw. Predictable and cheesy and not worthhis money. And yet Miller insists that this is different.

“It’s a corn maze,” he had pitched the idea yesterday, “It’llbe way cooler.”

“No.”

“Dude,” he’s never heard Miller plead before but it’s prettysatisfying to see his friend practically on his knees, begging, “Monty isbringing some of his friends and I don’t want him to think I don’t have any.”

“You all met in an online gaming match,” Bellamy pointedout, “He probably already knows that.”

“Please?”

And that’s how he ended up here, outside of a Haunted Mazedoing his best friend a favor. He’s not sure what making a corn field into ahaunted house is supposed to add. Maybe some weird creepy element because it’soutside in the middle of nowhere. He’s mostly bitter because his cell isn’tpicking up service and he had been in the process of setting up a hook up viaTinder (look, he’s a very busy Grad student and doesn’t have time to hit barsto do things the normal way).

He watches as two people approach, one he recognizes asMiller’s new…boyfriend? Date? He isn’t entirely sure, though he supposes thatif they had made things official, Miller wouldn’t have asked him to tag along.He’s never seen his friend this nervous before. When he talks about Monty, hischeeks get all red and he starts to stutter. It’s actually pretty cute especiallysince Miller tries to be all broody and sarcastic all the time. Really, he’sjust as soft as the rest of them.

The second person he doesn’t recognize. She’s a petiteblonde, almost a head shorter than him with long golden curls and a scarfcurrently wrapped around her neck like she might freeze to death without it. It’sat least fifty degrees – definitely jacket weather but the scarf seems a bitexcessive.

“Hey,” Monty greets as they approach and Bellamy cant’s helpbut grin when Miller leans in to give him a kiss. He really wants to documentthis moment, he’s never seen Miller smitten before, but doesn’t want to givethe wrong impression to Monty.

“Monty, this is Bellamy,” Miller extends an arm towards him,“My asshole roommate.”

“And best friend in the whole world,” Bellamy adds, offeringhis hand. Monty shakes it enthusiastically.

“Nice to meet you,” he smiles and then turns to hiscompanion, “This is Clarke. My roommate.”

Miller laughs, “Wait, roommate? Don’t you live in the dorms?”

Clarke pulls the scarf down from her mouth, and he can’thelp but think of how dramatic it seems to be, “They thought I was guy whenthey placed me. Apparently, they don’t understand the concept of gender neutralnames.”

Bellamy smiles at that.

“Nice to meet you,” Miller says politely and Bellamy nods inagreement, “We ready to head in?”

Clarke’s eyes narrow in confusion, “Wait, where are theothers.”

If he had blinked, he would have missed it. Miller and Montyexchange a quick look, though, unreadable. Vaguely suspicious.

“Jasper couldn’t make it and Raven had to work,” Monty saysquickly. He tries to lock eyes with her but didn’t seem to notice like he did.She just shrugs and begins walking towards the entrance. He tries to fall intostep with her to give Miller a small amount of privacy.

“You realize it’s fall and not the dead of winter, right?”he starts as they stand in line. She looks up at him and her eyes catch thelight. They’re an intense shade of blue. Pretty, even.

“I was cold,” she says defensively, though she begins tounwind the thick scarf from her neck. She unzips the jacket she’s wearing aswell, revealing a blue v-neck underneath. He doesn’t mean to look down, but it’s very hard not to notice. She has agreat chest.

“Wow, we just met,” she says and he looks up quickly,clearing his throat in embarrassment. She laughs at his discomfort, “It’s fine.They do look nice tonight.”

“Uh, yeah,” he replies stupidly. He decides that he likesher. She’s blunt and doesn’t seem fazed by his apparently lack of manners.

“So, what are you going to school for?” he changes thesubject. It’s a safe subject and he manages to keep his eyes firmly away fromher chest. Fucking dick.

The line moves fairly quickly and it doesn’t take long forthem to reach the entrance. They hand over their tickets and move in, theirgroup consisting of just the four of them. He sneaks a glance back at hisfriend, who has a smile glued to his face and seems to be completely unaware ofhis surroundings. Maybe this is worth it.

“Wait,” Clarke says as the doors close behind them and themaze stretches out before them, “Is this everyone we go with?”

He detects a hint of fear in her voice and when his eyesconnects with her, he sees it plain as day.

“You nervous?” he grins at her.

“No,” her voice comes out a bit high pitch, indicating thatshe’s definitely nervous, “Just…maybe they should go first?”

He looks back at the couple behind them and shakes his head,“Nah, the people at the end of the line always die first.”

“Gee, thanks,” she mumbles and pulls her arms around herself.They walk forward and the maze is strangely quiet, as expected. He’s positivethat someone will jump out at them in the next ten seconds. When they turn thefirst corner, he’s right. Michael Meyers greets them at the edge and holds uphis butcher knife.

He scoffs, “Predicatable.”

He doesn’t really move, just holds up the knife and staresthem down. Clarke doesn’t seem too affected by it, though the guy decides toget uncomfortably close to her face when she passes by and it causes her tomove a little closer to him so their arms are brushing together. No big deal. It’sfine.

But then, not long after that comes the first thing to jumpout at them. They’re walking and suddenly the corn russles and something hopsout right in front of them. Clarke screeches and moves back, knocking intoMiller and nearly causing him to fall over. Clearly, he hadn’t been ready.

“Fuck,” she huffs when the thing disappears back into thecorn.

Miller pushes her gently off him with a laugh, “You good?”

“I fucking hate haunted houses,” she says finally, “I knownone of it’s real but when people jump out at me I kind of want to run away,kind of want to punch them in the face.”

“You should punch the next one in the face,” Bellamy addsquickly, “It would definitely be worth my money.”

She seems to relax slights after that, giving him a warmsmile and continuing forward. The next scene the stumble across isn’t thatscary, just a clearing filled with the children of the corn, which is sort ofdisturbing in its own way, but not scary. It’s when they here a laugh come frombehind him that he feels hand slide into his and grip it, hard.

He almost lets out a surprised grunt, but when she begins tocling to his arm and he sees the sheer terror in her eyes, he decides to let itslide. He squeezes her hand in reassurance. The comfort doesn’t last long as aclown (again, predicatable) begins to chase them down the row. Clarke grips hishand even tighter and drags him along with her as she practically sprints away.By the end of the row, she’s out of breath, but makes no effort to let go.

“Afraid of clowns?” he asks smugly. She sticks her tongueout at him in response. It’s cute, he decides. There isn’t much light in themaze, though they’ve come to the next part which happens to be a janky barn they’resupposed to enter (chainsaw guy is next, for sure). But in the faint light, hetries to get a good look at her. She’s the same age as Monty, making her onlyslightly younger than him. She’s definitely attractive, with her sharp eyes andlong hair. Great chest, too. But there’s also something spunky about her – he cantell in the way she cusses like a sailor and rooms with a guy out of spitetowards a school. She says things like “gender neutral names” and has strangeself-awareness of her own attractiveness.

“We going in, or what?” Miller hisses from behind him and hehadn’t even realized they’d been standing there that long. He pushes the dooropen and they enter. It’s full of clanking weapons and there’s a long tablesitting in the middle. They hear a scream and Clarke is once again glued to hisarm. He can feel her nails digging into his jacket and he shakes his head.

The barn is full of multiple stages, one guy pretending tomaim another person, fake blood spewing everywhere and awful screaming. Thereare four different jump scares, people sticking their head out of holes orjumping in front of them with fake intestines falling out of their stomach.When they reach the otherside of the barn, he hears the rumbling of a chainsaw.It revs from behind them and of course, they’re running again. He follows themand they come to a fork in the maze. They take the left and Clarke is onceagain dragging him along. He lets it happen – he’d hate for her to get stuck byherself.

The chainsaw fades into the background and the mazestretches before them in eerie silence.

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes quickly, “I’m sure you didn’tcome just to have your arm pulled out of socket by me.”

“You are surprisingly strong,” he admits. She is. Hisfingers might actually be bruised by the end of it. Totally worth it, though.He is never opposed to having a beautiful girl hang all over him. Wait,beautiful? He doesn’t call people beautiful. Attractive, yes. Hot, even.Beautiful? Shit.

“Where did Monty and Miller go?” she glances behind them andsure enough, his friend is nowhere to be found.

“They probably went right,” he concludes. The fork in themaze is probably meant to separate groups. Make things a little scarier.

“I guess we’ll see them at the end,” she says and theycontinue forward. He offers his hand and she hesitates briefly and he thinksmaybe he’s overstepping his boundaries, but she takes it with a small smile.

“Monty really likes your friend,” she tells him, and heassumes she’s trying to make small talk to silence the paranoia. Something isbound to jump out at them. Better to be distracted and scared rather thanprepared for it and still scared.

“Miller likes him too,” Bellamy smiles, “I’ve never seen himact like that with anyone. Hell, not even me.”

“You all used to date?”

Shit. Maybe not the best thing to tell Monty’s friend. Shemight think he’s jealous or something.

“Oh, uh…” he thinks on it for a moment, “Yeah. Briefly. Wayback in early college. Like Freshman year and I wouldn’t really even call itdating.”

“What would you call it?”

“Shit, I don’t know. Friends with benefits? Figuring out ifI was into guys. Or girls. Or whatever. Which, it’s both. I did learn that.”

She nods thoughtfully, “Yeah, me too.”

Well, fuck. Just when he thinks she can’t get anymoreattractive. The moment doesn’t last long. It’s rudly interrupted by somejackass wearing knock-off Freddy Kruger gloves. The long claws wrap aroundClarke’s arm (somewhere along the years of his avoidance in these things,touching people became allowed, which, what the fuck?). She yelps but ratherthan run or wrap herself around his arm, she rears back and smack the costumedemployee across the face. She wasn’t fucking kidding, holy shit.

“What the fuck?” the guy yells as he stumbles back. Shepulls both hands to her mouth in shock. He can’t hold in his laughter andnearly doubles over.

“I’m so sorry!” she apologizes, “I didn’t know you all couldtouch us. I wasn’t expecting…I…shit I’m sorry!”

“There’s a sign that says it out front!” Freddy Krugerargues back, “Jesus.”

Bellamy does his best to sober up and grabs Clarke’s freehand to pull her away, “The mask probably broke the contact. You’ll be fine.Make the signs bigger.”

In her defense, he hadn’t read the sign either. He pulls heraway and can’t seem to stop laughing about it. She shoves his chest playfully.

“It’s not funny!” she hisses, though he can tell she’s doingher best not to laugh either.

“That was a nice hit,” he compliments, “You really put yourwhole body into it.”

“I took a self-defense class last semester,” she finallycracks a smile, “The beauty of being close to graduation. Easy, bullshitclasses.”

It’s honestly hard to focus on anything else at this point.The people chasing them don’t really have the same effect, and even Clarkeseems unfazed by it all. They reach the end about ten minutes after theincident and double back around to the front to meet up with Monty and Miller.They aren’t there so he assumes they haven’t come out yet.

“Thanks for letting me hang all over you,” she leans backagainst the railing that seperates the parking lot from the line, “I hope Ididn’t hurt you.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” he says, “Maybe check in withFreddy tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe I did that,” she says incredulously, “Itold Monty this was a bad idea but he insisted.”

Bellamy watches her for a moment, admires the curve of herlip and the mischievous look in her eye, like she could wreak havoc at anymoment while simultaneously saving the world. He has a suspicion that maybethis was purposeful. That maybe Monty and Miller knew what they were doing whenthey asked them to come here. Bellamy hates haunted houses and thinks they’relame. Clarke is terrified of them. And yet they’re the only two to show up. Hethinks about the way Miller greeted Monty with a kiss, something he would dowith someone he was dating and comfortable dating at that.  That motherfucker set him up.

He wonders for a moment if Clarke figured it out, but itseems like she honestly thinks her other friends just didn’t show up and Montyreally wanted her to come for moral support. He can’t say he’s really that madabout it anymore. She’s funny. She’s cute. She punches Freddy Kruger’s in theface. Mark him down as gone because this girl, well, he can tell she’ssomething special.

“Where the hell are they?” Clarke asks, bringing him fromhis realization. His phone buzzes at the same time.

Miller: I’m taking Monty to a late dinner. Can you giveClarke a ride home?

Miller: I’d ask if that’s weird, but you all were makinggoogly eyes at each other the whole night.

Miller: Also, you’re fucking welcome. I don’t owe youANYTHING

Bellamy chuckles and slips his phone back into his pocket, “Well,our friends ditched us for a more private date. I can take you home if youwant?”

He hopes it’s not weird for her. After all they’repractically strangers.

“Or you could take me to dinner?” she offers, and her eyesare full of that same mischievous sparkle, “I mean, if you’re going to check me out the least you can do is buy me food.”

Yeah, he’s a fucking goner.

“I’d love to.”

[javionxander25]

Now You See Gemma Chan

Moving between blockbusters and indie hits, Gemma Chan has kept one foot in stardom and one in anonymity. But this year, she's going famous full time.

BY ,ALICE WIGNALL 06/01/2021

When is a celebrity not a celebrity? When you’re Gemma Chan, of course – or so says Gemma Chan. ‘I don’t think of myself like that at all,’ she says. ‘My life is fairly low-key.’ What, because you don’t drive a gold Cadillac? She laughs. ‘I don’t live in a mansion, I don’t have an assistant,’ she says. ‘All that kind of stuff.’ Beauty Truths With Gemma Chan by Elle UK Previous VideoPlayNext VideoUnmute Current Time 0:39 / Duration 6:34 Loaded: 25.84% Fullscreen CLICK TO UNMUTE I remain unconvinced, and mount my counterargument, ticking off the evidence on my fingers: one, a starring role in an enormous movie franchise (Sersi in Eternals, part of the world-conquering juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, due for release in late 2020 but Covid-delayed until late 2021); two, a new contract with L’Oréal Paris as an international spokesperson; and, three, another recently announced UK ambassador role with Unicef. Guaranteed blockbuster, cosmetics contract, high-profile charity patron: this is the star-making Big Three; the trifecta of global fame. Come on, I say. This year, your face is going to be everywhere. ‘Er, yeah,’ she says, looking genuinely quite alarmed. MARCIN KEMPSKI Chan's path to this point has been one of steady progress, rather than precipitous acceleration, which is maybe why she finds it hard to contemplate the quantum leap her career is about to take. At 38, and with more than a decade and a half of experience behind her, she’s done it all: BBC bit parts (including Doctor Who and Sherlock) and a breakout TV role in Channel 4’s Humans; high-brow theatre and big-budget films (in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and, indeed, a previous Marvel movie, as the sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. The two characters are unrelated but, as she points out, ‘I was painted blue for that whole job, so it’s not like I’m very recognisable’), but nothing on a scale likely to upend her life. The closest she’s come to that so far is her performance as Astrid in 2018’s surprise smash hit Crazy Rich Asians, which made $238.5m against a budget of $30m and became the top-earning romantic comedy of the Noughties. ‘[Because] Crazy Rich Asians did so well internationally, I definitely felt a shift at that time,’ Chan says. ‘Like, on the Captain Marvel press tour, not being able to walk through [Singapore] airport. Then again, things have settled and the slight craziness of that time has gone away. I do feel like I can – touch wood – go about my life normally now.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI The biggest impact, she says, was professional: ‘Before Crazy Rich Asians, I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films. There [is] a very select group of actors in that pool and I wouldn’t even get an audition, I wasn’t in that conversation. Whereas now... I’m being talked about for certain things and then you may meet the director, or you at least get to have your shot. So that feels a bit different.’ Her most recent project is certainly the kind of job you can imagine being fought over in casting rooms around the world: hey, how would you like to get on a luxury cruise liner with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and a killer cast including, oh, I don’t know, Meryl Streep and make an intelligent comedy drama about betrayal, responsibility and enduring love? Who wouldn’t? But Chan was the one who was picked for Let Them All Talk, which was filmed on board the Queen Mary 2 as it crossed the Atlantic from New York to Southampton. It tells the story of a lionised novelist, played by Streep on magisterial form, en route to collect a prestigious writing award in England, accompanied by two old friends and her nephew. Chan is her recently promoted literary agent, who has also bought a ticket for the crossing, in the hope that she can clandestinely find out what her secretive client’s much-anticipated next book is about. I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films ‘Obviously I jumped at the chance,’ says Chan. ‘It was a dream project.’ Though not a stress-free one: ‘A lot of the dialogue was improvised,’ says Chan. ‘There’s a scene, a lunch in New York with Meryl, which was actually the first scene that I shot. So I arrived on set and the restaurant was full of 200 extras; you could hear a pin drop. I went in and sat down, then Meryl came in and sat down, and we just had to improvise a scene. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a clenched bum! I was petrified. There I am, with possibly the greatest actress of all time, and... “Action!”’ There is an alternate timeline, of course, in which Chan genuinely isn’t famous. If she’d followed the path that her early years suggested, her current life would be, if not stress-free, less likely to include head-to-heads with multi-time Oscar winners. MARCIN KEMPSKI Raised in Kent to Chinese parents, she attended an academically selective school before studying law at Oxford. She also played violin to a high standard and swam competitively at a national level. All in all, the perfect image of a relentless high-achiever, bound for success in a stable career – until she took a post-graduation gap year swerve into acting, at first with evening classes, then a full-time course. Even now – when the gamble has decisively paid off – she sounds tentative when discussing her original ambitions to act. She did some am-dram at school, ‘but never thought, I could do this for a job.’ Embarking on her acting studies, the idea of a career was there, but ‘at the back of my mind’. That might be because this period of Chan’s life was fraught: her parents were alarmed that she declined a training contract with a prestigious London law firm, and thought she was making a mistake. Perhaps she still finds it hard to unequivocally state that the path she chose is not one they initially approved of. ‘The key for both of them and therefore for myself, and my sister, was the importance of education,’ she says. ‘It allowed my father to have a completely different life to his father, mother and some of his brothers and sisters. Both of my parents are immigrants who came from very humble backgrounds,’ she adds. ‘They definitely instilled in me a work ethic from a young age and a sense of, “The world doesn’t owe you a living, you have to make your own way.” At one point in my dad’s childhood, he was homeless. My amah, his mum, raised six kids on her own. They had absolutely nothing, they lived in a shack on a hillside in Hong Kong. I’m one generation away from that.’ You can sense the shadow of the lawyer she could have been when she talks, and almost hear the weighing up of pros and cons she has done to determine what steps to take. Of L’Oréal Paris, she says: ‘I have been a little bit cautious when it comes to brand partnerships and things like that. I wanted to wait till it felt like it was right. [I chose] L’Oréal because the brand stands for uplifting women and empowerment and they have a strong philanthropic side to what they do, such as their partnership with The Prince’s Trust.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI She talks about carefully considering joining the Marvel universe, knowing it could mean giving over a share of the next 10 years of her life (‘You’re not signing up for one film, because they have additional films and spin-offs and they cover themselves’). She chooses her words with utmost caution when talking about Eternals: ‘Marvel is pretty strict about these kinds of things and I’ve got an non-disclosure agreement like that,’ she says, miming a massive wodge of a legal document. She insists that alongside this diligence there’s a flip side to her personality: ‘I have a slightly rebellious nature. I wasn’t always the best behaved and, yeah, I do work hard but I’m also quite chaotic. Hopefully I’ve found a bit of balance but when I was younger I was like, “I’ll leave it as late as I can, then I’ll pull an all-nighter.” That’s kind of the person I was.’ It’s impossible to tell if this ‘rebellious’ streak would register on most people’s radars, or if it was only noticeable in the context of her own – or her family’s – high standards. I suspect you’d have to know her very well to find out, and she’s far too protective of her private life to make peeking through the veil a possibility. Despite – or perhaps because of – two long-term relationships with high-profile men (she dated comedian Jack Whitehall from 2011 to 2017, and has been in a relationship with actor Dominic Cooper since 2018), she doesn’t discuss her personal life. It’s not exactly a state secret – she makes mention of ‘my partner’ when talking about what she did in the first lockdown (volunteering pretty much full-time for her friend Lulu Dillon’s charity, Cook 19, delivering meals to London hospitals) and Cooper makes the odd appearance on her Instagram account – but she’s certainly not going to give rolling updates on her romantic life. Anything I share could become a story on a slow news day ‘Over 10 years, you learn the importance of privacy, what you choose to share and what you don’t. When you start out, you don’t even know what is important to keep for yourself – I didn’t anyway – whereas now I think there are certain things that I absolutely know, “That’s mine and it’s private.” For me, my comfort level is to have a clear distinction between what is for me and what I’m happy to talk about.’ I ask if she’s had any bad experiences with the press. ‘Nothing too horrendous, but some experiences of not having my wits about me. I’m aware now that anything I say could become a clickbait headline – well, on a slow news day.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI (As if to prove her point, in the week that we talk, Jack Whitehall makes headlines in multiple news outlets in the UK – and, indeed, around the world – for making an off-hand comment in an episode of his Netflix show that he ‘could have got married’ to Chan, but he ‘f*cked up my chance of that’. And, given that this was midway through a global pandemic, it wasn’t even a particularly slow news day.) What she's happy to share on her social media – in fact, what makes up the bulk of her feeds – are her thoughts on a range of social and political subjects, from domestic abuse campaigns, to equal access to education, to Black Lives Matter, to protesting against anti-Asian racism. Which doesn’t always go down well: ‘Every time you say anything political, if it’s in the most uncontroversial way, you’ll be criticised for it; you need to be prepared for that. Every time I post something [like that], I lose followers, so it’s probably not the best business sense...’. But she’s not going to stop: ‘I want to highlight things that are important to me but without preaching. I’m still working it out, how to be an advocate in the most effective way.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI I ask if she feels hopeful about the future, given the myriad challenges she mentions. She pauses. ‘I’ve definitely struggled and felt hopeless,’ she says. ‘I think most of us have realised how powerless we are in terms of the day-to- day governing of our [country]. There no longer seems to be any accountability; there’s a lack of shame. Things that a minister or an advisor would have resigned for 10 years ago, now there are no repercussions. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially when people’s lives are at stake. But, I do have hope – mainly because of the next generation. They’re more politically aware than I was, more involved. Often in the media the most boorish voices seem to monopolise headlines, but actually there are decent people who want to make things better for their fellow humans. There are more of them than youmight think. During the pandemic, obviously it was a terrible time, but there were things that sprung up on a local community level of people trying to help each other. That was encouraging.’ Every time you say anything political, you’ll be criticised for it And, of course, last year Black Lives Matter protests pushed questions about race and identity to the forefront as never before. How does Chan feel about her own role in increasing representation as a British Asian? ‘I get moments where I think, I wish we didn’t have to talk about race anymore. In the same way I wish we didn’t have to talk about why it’s unusual to have a female lead. Why is it still the exception? Why is it still so unusual to have half of the human race being centred in these stories? It seems ridiculous to still be flagging that as a talking point.’ She talks about a structure that actor Riz Ahmed has described: on tier one, a minority actor will play stereotypical, reductive roles. On tier two, your race is still prominent, but the character is nuanced and well-rounded. ‘And the holy grail is tier three, where you’re just viewed as a human. But, while we’re still working towards that goal of much more equal representation, it’s going to be something that we have to be more consciously aware of, and it is going to be part of the conversation.’ It’s a classic Gemma Chan answer. I can feel the burn of her frustration, and I see how she’s thought through her best approach. She’s got a goal, and she knows how to get there. MARCIN KEMPSKI As for her own goals – well, there’s a packed schedule ahead: when we talk, she’s about to join Florence Pugh and Chris Pine for director Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling. Then, when the pandemic allows, there are the delayed back-to-back shoots for Crazy Rich Asians 2 and 3, not to mention the release of Eternals. She’s also set up a production company, which is working on a range of projects focusing on ‘women whose stories haven’t been given their due, who are these unsung heroes of history’. She loves producing (‘You get a bit more control’), so much so that one day it might be all she does. ‘There may be a point where I want to take a step back from the acting side and, if the producing is established by then, that would be great.’ Hmm, I think. The thing about being globally famous is that once you are, it’s kind of hard to stop. But if anyone can manage blockbusters one month, normal life the next, it’s someone with a big brain, a ton of experience and her eye on the prize. Someone a bit like Gemma Chan. So, when is a celebrity not a celebrity? We might be about to find out. Gemma is an international spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris and the face of Revitalift Filler Day Cream. ELLE's February 2021 issue hits newsstands on January 7 2021.

Luxury Designer Clothing, Handbags . Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. In need of more inspiration, thoughtful journalism and at-home beauty tips? Subscribe to ELLE's print magazine today! SUBSCRIBE HERE

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Now You See Gemma Chan

Moving between blockbusters and indie hits, Gemma Chan has kept one foot in stardom and one in anonymity. But this year, she's going famous full time.

BY ,ALICE WIGNALL 06/01/2021

When is a celebrity not a celebrity? When you’re Gemma Chan, of course – or so says Gemma Chan. ‘I don’t think of myself like that at all,’ she says. ‘My life is fairly low-key.’ What, because you don’t drive a gold Cadillac? She laughs. ‘I don’t live in a mansion, I don’t have an assistant,’ she says. ‘All that kind of stuff.’ Beauty Truths With Gemma Chan by Elle UK Previous VideoPlayNext VideoUnmute Current Time 0:39 / Duration 6:34 Loaded: 25.84% Fullscreen CLICK TO UNMUTE I remain unconvinced, and mount my counterargument, ticking off the evidence on my fingers: one, a starring role in an enormous movie franchise (Sersi in Eternals, part of the world-conquering juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, due for release in late 2020 but Covid-delayed until late 2021); two, a new contract with L’Oréal Paris as an international spokesperson; and, three, another recently announced UK ambassador role with Unicef. Guaranteed blockbuster, cosmetics contract, high-profile charity patron: this is the star-making Big Three; the trifecta of global fame. Come on, I say. This year, your face is going to be everywhere. ‘Er, yeah,’ she says, looking genuinely quite alarmed. MARCIN KEMPSKI Chan's path to this point has been one of steady progress, rather than precipitous acceleration, which is maybe why she finds it hard to contemplate the quantum leap her career is about to take. At 38, and with more than a decade and a half of experience behind her, she’s done it all: BBC bit parts (including Doctor Who and Sherlock) and a breakout TV role in Channel 4’s Humans; high-brow theatre and big-budget films (in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and, indeed, a previous Marvel movie, as the sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. The two characters are unrelated but, as she points out, ‘I was painted blue for that whole job, so it’s not like I’m very recognisable’), but nothing on a scale likely to upend her life. The closest she’s come to that so far is her performance as Astrid in 2018’s surprise smash hit Crazy Rich Asians, which made $238.5m against a budget of $30m and became the top-earning romantic comedy of the Noughties. ‘[Because] Crazy Rich Asians did so well internationally, I definitely felt a shift at that time,’ Chan says. ‘Like, on the Captain Marvel press tour, not being able to walk through [Singapore] airport. Then again, things have settled and the slight craziness of that time has gone away. I do feel like I can – touch wood – go about my life normally now.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI The biggest impact, she says, was professional: ‘Before Crazy Rich Asians, I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films. There [is] a very select group of actors in that pool and I wouldn’t even get an audition, I wasn’t in that conversation. Whereas now... I’m being talked about for certain things and then you may meet the director, or you at least get to have your shot. So that feels a bit different.’ Her most recent project is certainly the kind of job you can imagine being fought over in casting rooms around the world: hey, how would you like to get on a luxury cruise liner with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and a killer cast including, oh, I don’t know, Meryl Streep and make an intelligent comedy drama about betrayal, responsibility and enduring love? Who wouldn’t? But Chan was the one who was picked for Let Them All Talk, which was filmed on board the Queen Mary 2 as it crossed the Atlantic from New York to Southampton. It tells the story of a lionised novelist, played by Streep on magisterial form, en route to collect a prestigious writing award in England, accompanied by two old friends and her nephew. Chan is her recently promoted literary agent, who has also bought a ticket for the crossing, in the hope that she can clandestinely find out what her secretive client’s much-anticipated next book is about. I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films ‘Obviously I jumped at the chance,’ says Chan. ‘It was a dream project.’ Though not a stress-free one: ‘A lot of the dialogue was improvised,’ says Chan. ‘There’s a scene, a lunch in New York with Meryl, which was actually the first scene that I shot. So I arrived on set and the restaurant was full of 200 extras; you could hear a pin drop. I went in and sat down, then Meryl came in and sat down, and we just had to improvise a scene. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a clenched bum! I was petrified. There I am, with possibly the greatest actress of all time, and... “Action!”’ There is an alternate timeline, of course, in which Chan genuinely isn’t famous. If she’d followed the path that her early years suggested, her current life would be, if not stress-free, less likely to include head-to-heads with multi-time Oscar winners. MARCIN KEMPSKI Raised in Kent to Chinese parents, she attended an academically selective school before studying law at Oxford. She also played violin to a high standard and swam competitively at a national level. All in all, the perfect image of a relentless high-achiever, bound for success in a stable career – until she took a post-graduation gap year swerve into acting, at first with evening classes, then a full-time course. Even now – when the gamble has decisively paid off – she sounds tentative when discussing her original ambitions to act. She did some am-dram at school, ‘but never thought, I could do this for a job.’ Embarking on her acting studies, the idea of a career was there, but ‘at the back of my mind’. That might be because this period of Chan’s life was fraught: her parents were alarmed that she declined a training contract with a prestigious London law firm, and thought she was making a mistake. Perhaps she still finds it hard to unequivocally state that the path she chose is not one they initially approved of. ‘The key for both of them and therefore for myself, and my sister, was the importance of education,’ she says. ‘It allowed my father to have a completely different life to his father, mother and some of his brothers and sisters. Both of my parents are immigrants who came from very humble backgrounds,’ she adds. ‘They definitely instilled in me a work ethic from a young age and a sense of, “The world doesn’t owe you a living, you have to make your own way.” At one point in my dad’s childhood, he was homeless. My amah, his mum, raised six kids on her own. They had absolutely nothing, they lived in a shack on a hillside in Hong Kong. I’m one generation away from that.’ You can sense the shadow of the lawyer she could have been when she talks, and almost hear the weighing up of pros and cons she has done to determine what steps to take. Of L’Oréal Paris, she says: ‘I have been a little bit cautious when it comes to brand partnerships and things like that. I wanted to wait till it felt like it was right. [I chose] L’Oréal because the brand stands for uplifting women and empowerment and they have a strong philanthropic side to what they do, such as their partnership with The Prince’s Trust.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI She talks about carefully considering joining the Marvel universe, knowing it could mean giving over a share of the next 10 years of her life (‘You’re not signing up for one film, because they have additional films and spin-offs and they cover themselves’). She chooses her words with utmost caution when talking about Eternals: ‘Marvel is pretty strict about these kinds of things and I’ve got an non-disclosure agreement like that,’ she says, miming a massive wodge of a legal document. She insists that alongside this diligence there’s a flip side to her personality: ‘I have a slightly rebellious nature. I wasn’t always the best behaved and, yeah, I do work hard but I’m also quite chaotic. Hopefully I’ve found a bit of balance but when I was younger I was like, “I’ll leave it as late as I can, then I’ll pull an all-nighter.” That’s kind of the person I was.’ It’s impossible to tell if this ‘rebellious’ streak would register on most people’s radars, or if it was only noticeable in the context of her own – or her family’s – high standards. I suspect you’d have to know her very well to find out, and she’s far too protective of her private life to make peeking through the veil a possibility. Despite – or perhaps because of – two long-term relationships with high-profile men (she dated comedian Jack Whitehall from 2011 to 2017, and has been in a relationship with actor Dominic Cooper since 2018), she doesn’t discuss her personal life. It’s not exactly a state secret – she makes mention of ‘my partner’ when talking about what she did in the first lockdown (volunteering pretty much full-time for her friend Lulu Dillon’s charity, Cook 19, delivering meals to London hospitals) and Cooper makes the odd appearance on her Instagram account – but she’s certainly not going to give rolling updates on her romantic life. Anything I share could become a story on a slow news day ‘Over 10 years, you learn the importance of privacy, what you choose to share and what you don’t. When you start out, you don’t even know what is important to keep for yourself – I didn’t anyway – whereas now I think there are certain things that I absolutely know, “That’s mine and it’s private.” For me, my comfort level is to have a clear distinction between what is for me and what I’m happy to talk about.’ I ask if she’s had any bad experiences with the press. ‘Nothing too horrendous, but some experiences of not having my wits about me. I’m aware now that anything I say could become a clickbait headline – well, on a slow news day.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI (As if to prove her point, in the week that we talk, Jack Whitehall makes headlines in multiple news outlets in the UK – and, indeed, around the world – for making an off-hand comment in an episode of his Netflix show that he ‘could have got married’ to Chan, but he ‘f*cked up my chance of that’. And, given that this was midway through a global pandemic, it wasn’t even a particularly slow news day.) What she's happy to share on her social media – in fact, what makes up the bulk of her feeds – are her thoughts on a range of social and political subjects, from domestic abuse campaigns, to equal access to education, to Black Lives Matter, to protesting against anti-Asian racism. Which doesn’t always go down well: ‘Every time you say anything political, if it’s in the most uncontroversial way, you’ll be criticised for it; you need to be prepared for that. Every time I post something [like that], I lose followers, so it’s probably not the best business sense...’. But she’s not going to stop: ‘I want to highlight things that are important to me but without preaching. I’m still working it out, how to be an advocate in the most effective way.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI I ask if she feels hopeful about the future, given the myriad challenges she mentions. She pauses. ‘I’ve definitely struggled and felt hopeless,’ she says. ‘I think most of us have realised how powerless we are in terms of the day-to- day governing of our [country]. There no longer seems to be any accountability; there’s a lack of shame. Things that a minister or an advisor would have resigned for 10 years ago, now there are no repercussions. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially when people’s lives are at stake. But, I do have hope – mainly because of the next generation. They’re more politically aware than I was, more involved. Often in the media the most boorish voices seem to monopolise headlines, but actually there are decent people who want to make things better for their fellow humans. There are more of them than youmight think. During the pandemic, obviously it was a terrible time, but there were things that sprung up on a local community level of people trying to help each other. That was encouraging.’ Every time you say anything political, you’ll be criticised for it And, of course, last year Black Lives Matter protests pushed questions about race and identity to the forefront as never before. How does Chan feel about her own role in increasing representation as a British Asian? ‘I get moments where I think, I wish we didn’t have to talk about race anymore. In the same way I wish we didn’t have to talk about why it’s unusual to have a female lead. Why is it still the exception? Why is it still so unusual to have half of the human race being centred in these stories? It seems ridiculous to still be flagging that as a talking point.’ She talks about a structure that actor Riz Ahmed has described: on tier one, a minority actor will play stereotypical, reductive roles. On tier two, your race is still prominent, but the character is nuanced and well-rounded. ‘And the holy grail is tier three, where you’re just viewed as a human. But, while we’re still working towards that goal of much more equal representation, it’s going to be something that we have to be more consciously aware of, and it is going to be part of the conversation.’ It’s a classic Gemma Chan answer. I can feel the burn of her frustration, and I see how she’s thought through her best approach. She’s got a goal, and she knows how to get there. MARCIN KEMPSKI As for her own goals – well, there’s a packed schedule ahead: when we talk, she’s about to join Florence Pugh and Chris Pine for director Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling. Then, when the pandemic allows, there are the delayed back-to-back shoots for Crazy Rich Asians 2 and 3, not to mention the release of Eternals. She’s also set up a production company, which is working on a range of projects focusing on ‘women whose stories haven’t been given their due, who are these unsung heroes of history’. She loves producing (‘You get a bit more control’), so much so that one day it might be all she does. ‘There may be a point where I want to take a step back from the acting side and, if the producing is established by then, that would be great.’ Hmm, I think. The thing about being globally famous is that once you are, it’s kind of hard to stop. But if anyone can manage blockbusters one month, normal life the next, it’s someone with a big brain, a ton of experience and her eye on the prize. Someone a bit like Gemma Chan. So, when is a celebrity not a celebrity? We might be about to find out. Gemma is an international spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris and the face of Revitalift Filler Day Cream. ELLE's February 2021 issue hits newsstands on January 7 2021.

Luxury Designer Clothing, Handbags . Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. In need of more inspiration, thoughtful journalism and at-home beauty tips? Subscribe to ELLE's print magazine today! SUBSCRIBE HERE

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Now You See Gemma Chan

Moving between blockbusters and indie hits, Gemma Chan has kept one foot in stardom and one in anonymity. But this year, she's going famous full time.

BY ,ALICE WIGNALL 06/01/2021

When is a celebrity not a celebrity? When you’re Gemma Chan, of course – or so says Gemma Chan. ‘I don’t think of myself like that at all,’ she says. ‘My life is fairly low-key.’ What, because you don’t drive a gold Cadillac? She laughs. ‘I don’t live in a mansion, I don’t have an assistant,’ she says. ‘All that kind of stuff.’ Beauty Truths With Gemma Chan by Elle UK Previous VideoPlayNext VideoUnmute Current Time 0:39 / Duration 6:34 Loaded: 25.84% Fullscreen CLICK TO UNMUTE I remain unconvinced, and mount my counterargument, ticking off the evidence on my fingers: one, a starring role in an enormous movie franchise (Sersi in Eternals, part of the world-conquering juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, due for release in late 2020 but Covid-delayed until late 2021); two, a new contract with L’Oréal Paris as an international spokesperson; and, three, another recently announced UK ambassador role with Unicef. Guaranteed blockbuster, cosmetics contract, high-profile charity patron: this is the star-making Big Three; the trifecta of global fame. Come on, I say. This year, your face is going to be everywhere. ‘Er, yeah,’ she says, looking genuinely quite alarmed. MARCIN KEMPSKI Chan's path to this point has been one of steady progress, rather than precipitous acceleration, which is maybe why she finds it hard to contemplate the quantum leap her career is about to take. At 38, and with more than a decade and a half of experience behind her, she’s done it all: BBC bit parts (including Doctor Who and Sherlock) and a breakout TV role in Channel 4’s Humans; high-brow theatre and big-budget films (in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and, indeed, a previous Marvel movie, as the sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel. The two characters are unrelated but, as she points out, ‘I was painted blue for that whole job, so it’s not like I’m very recognisable’), but nothing on a scale likely to upend her life. The closest she’s come to that so far is her performance as Astrid in 2018’s surprise smash hit Crazy Rich Asians, which made $238.5m against a budget of $30m and became the top-earning romantic comedy of the Noughties. ‘[Because] Crazy Rich Asians did so well internationally, I definitely felt a shift at that time,’ Chan says. ‘Like, on the Captain Marvel press tour, not being able to walk through [Singapore] airport. Then again, things have settled and the slight craziness of that time has gone away. I do feel like I can – touch wood – go about my life normally now.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI The biggest impact, she says, was professional: ‘Before Crazy Rich Asians, I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films. There [is] a very select group of actors in that pool and I wouldn’t even get an audition, I wasn’t in that conversation. Whereas now... I’m being talked about for certain things and then you may meet the director, or you at least get to have your shot. So that feels a bit different.’ Her most recent project is certainly the kind of job you can imagine being fought over in casting rooms around the world: hey, how would you like to get on a luxury cruise liner with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and a killer cast including, oh, I don’t know, Meryl Streep and make an intelligent comedy drama about betrayal, responsibility and enduring love? Who wouldn’t? But Chan was the one who was picked for Let Them All Talk, which was filmed on board the Queen Mary 2 as it crossed the Atlantic from New York to Southampton. It tells the story of a lionised novelist, played by Streep on magisterial form, en route to collect a prestigious writing award in England, accompanied by two old friends and her nephew. Chan is her recently promoted literary agent, who has also bought a ticket for the crossing, in the hope that she can clandestinely find out what her secretive client’s much-anticipated next book is about. I wasn’t being considered for lead roles in feature films ‘Obviously I jumped at the chance,’ says Chan. ‘It was a dream project.’ Though not a stress-free one: ‘A lot of the dialogue was improvised,’ says Chan. ‘There’s a scene, a lunch in New York with Meryl, which was actually the first scene that I shot. So I arrived on set and the restaurant was full of 200 extras; you could hear a pin drop. I went in and sat down, then Meryl came in and sat down, and we just had to improvise a scene. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a clenched bum! I was petrified. There I am, with possibly the greatest actress of all time, and... “Action!”’ There is an alternate timeline, of course, in which Chan genuinely isn’t famous. If she’d followed the path that her early years suggested, her current life would be, if not stress-free, less likely to include head-to-heads with multi-time Oscar winners. MARCIN KEMPSKI Raised in Kent to Chinese parents, she attended an academically selective school before studying law at Oxford. She also played violin to a high standard and swam competitively at a national level. All in all, the perfect image of a relentless high-achiever, bound for success in a stable career – until she took a post-graduation gap year swerve into acting, at first with evening classes, then a full-time course. Even now – when the gamble has decisively paid off – she sounds tentative when discussing her original ambitions to act. She did some am-dram at school, ‘but never thought, I could do this for a job.’ Embarking on her acting studies, the idea of a career was there, but ‘at the back of my mind’. That might be because this period of Chan’s life was fraught: her parents were alarmed that she declined a training contract with a prestigious London law firm, and thought she was making a mistake. Perhaps she still finds it hard to unequivocally state that the path she chose is not one they initially approved of. ‘The key for both of them and therefore for myself, and my sister, was the importance of education,’ she says. ‘It allowed my father to have a completely different life to his father, mother and some of his brothers and sisters. Both of my parents are immigrants who came from very humble backgrounds,’ she adds. ‘They definitely instilled in me a work ethic from a young age and a sense of, “The world doesn’t owe you a living, you have to make your own way.” At one point in my dad’s childhood, he was homeless. My amah, his mum, raised six kids on her own. They had absolutely nothing, they lived in a shack on a hillside in Hong Kong. I’m one generation away from that.’ You can sense the shadow of the lawyer she could have been when she talks, and almost hear the weighing up of pros and cons she has done to determine what steps to take. Of L’Oréal Paris, she says: ‘I have been a little bit cautious when it comes to brand partnerships and things like that. I wanted to wait till it felt like it was right. [I chose] L’Oréal because the brand stands for uplifting women and empowerment and they have a strong philanthropic side to what they do, such as their partnership with The Prince’s Trust.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI She talks about carefully considering joining the Marvel universe, knowing it could mean giving over a share of the next 10 years of her life (‘You’re not signing up for one film, because they have additional films and spin-offs and they cover themselves’). She chooses her words with utmost caution when talking about Eternals: ‘Marvel is pretty strict about these kinds of things and I’ve got an non-disclosure agreement like that,’ she says, miming a massive wodge of a legal document. She insists that alongside this diligence there’s a flip side to her personality: ‘I have a slightly rebellious nature. I wasn’t always the best behaved and, yeah, I do work hard but I’m also quite chaotic. Hopefully I’ve found a bit of balance but when I was younger I was like, “I’ll leave it as late as I can, then I’ll pull an all-nighter.” That’s kind of the person I was.’ It’s impossible to tell if this ‘rebellious’ streak would register on most people’s radars, or if it was only noticeable in the context of her own – or her family’s – high standards. I suspect you’d have to know her very well to find out, and she’s far too protective of her private life to make peeking through the veil a possibility. Despite – or perhaps because of – two long-term relationships with high-profile men (she dated comedian Jack Whitehall from 2011 to 2017, and has been in a relationship with actor Dominic Cooper since 2018), she doesn’t discuss her personal life. It’s not exactly a state secret – she makes mention of ‘my partner’ when talking about what she did in the first lockdown (volunteering pretty much full-time for her friend Lulu Dillon’s charity, Cook 19, delivering meals to London hospitals) and Cooper makes the odd appearance on her Instagram account – but she’s certainly not going to give rolling updates on her romantic life. Anything I share could become a story on a slow news day ‘Over 10 years, you learn the importance of privacy, what you choose to share and what you don’t. When you start out, you don’t even know what is important to keep for yourself – I didn’t anyway – whereas now I think there are certain things that I absolutely know, “That’s mine and it’s private.” For me, my comfort level is to have a clear distinction between what is for me and what I’m happy to talk about.’ I ask if she’s had any bad experiences with the press. ‘Nothing too horrendous, but some experiences of not having my wits about me. I’m aware now that anything I say could become a clickbait headline – well, on a slow news day.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI (As if to prove her point, in the week that we talk, Jack Whitehall makes headlines in multiple news outlets in the UK – and, indeed, around the world – for making an off-hand comment in an episode of his Netflix show that he ‘could have got married’ to Chan, but he ‘f*cked up my chance of that’. And, given that this was midway through a global pandemic, it wasn’t even a particularly slow news day.) What she's happy to share on her social media – in fact, what makes up the bulk of her feeds – are her thoughts on a range of social and political subjects, from domestic abuse campaigns, to equal access to education, to Black Lives Matter, to protesting against anti-Asian racism. Which doesn’t always go down well: ‘Every time you say anything political, if it’s in the most uncontroversial way, you’ll be criticised for it; you need to be prepared for that. Every time I post something [like that], I lose followers, so it’s probably not the best business sense...’. But she’s not going to stop: ‘I want to highlight things that are important to me but without preaching. I’m still working it out, how to be an advocate in the most effective way.’ MARCIN KEMPSKI I ask if she feels hopeful about the future, given the myriad challenges she mentions. She pauses. ‘I’ve definitely struggled and felt hopeless,’ she says. ‘I think most of us have realised how powerless we are in terms of the day-to- day governing of our [country]. There no longer seems to be any accountability; there’s a lack of shame. Things that a minister or an advisor would have resigned for 10 years ago, now there are no repercussions. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially when people’s lives are at stake. But, I do have hope – mainly because of the next generation. They’re more politically aware than I was, more involved. Often in the media the most boorish voices seem to monopolise headlines, but actually there are decent people who want to make things better for their fellow humans. There are more of them than youmight think. During the pandemic, obviously it was a terrible time, but there were things that sprung up on a local community level of people trying to help each other. That was encouraging.’ Every time you say anything political, you’ll be criticised for it And, of course, last year Black Lives Matter protests pushed questions about race and identity to the forefront as never before. How does Chan feel about her own role in increasing representation as a British Asian? ‘I get moments where I think, I wish we didn’t have to talk about race anymore. In the same way I wish we didn’t have to talk about why it’s unusual to have a female lead. Why is it still the exception? Why is it still so unusual to have half of the human race being centred in these stories? It seems ridiculous to still be flagging that as a talking point.’ She talks about a structure that actor Riz Ahmed has described: on tier one, a minority actor will play stereotypical, reductive roles. On tier two, your race is still prominent, but the character is nuanced and well-rounded. ‘And the holy grail is tier three, where you’re just viewed as a human. But, while we’re still working towards that goal of much more equal representation, it’s going to be something that we have to be more consciously aware of, and it is going to be part of the conversation.’ It’s a classic Gemma Chan answer. I can feel the burn of her frustration, and I see how she’s thought through her best approach. She’s got a goal, and she knows how to get there. MARCIN KEMPSKI As for her own goals – well, there’s a packed schedule ahead: when we talk, she’s about to join Florence Pugh and Chris Pine for director Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling. Then, when the pandemic allows, there are the delayed back-to-back shoots for Crazy Rich Asians 2 and 3, not to mention the release of Eternals. She’s also set up a production company, which is working on a range of projects focusing on ‘women whose stories haven’t been given their due, who are these unsung heroes of history’. She loves producing (‘You get a bit more control’), so much so that one day it might be all she does. ‘There may be a point where I want to take a step back from the acting side and, if the producing is established by then, that would be great.’ Hmm, I think. The thing about being globally famous is that once you are, it’s kind of hard to stop. But if anyone can manage blockbusters one month, normal life the next, it’s someone with a big brain, a ton of experience and her eye on the prize. Someone a bit like Gemma Chan. So, when is a celebrity not a celebrity? We might be about to find out. Gemma is an international spokesperson for L’Oréal Paris and the face of Revitalift Filler Day Cream. ELLE's February 2021 issue hits newsstands on January 7 2021.

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