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ahonice · 1 year

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lucky

part two

luke hughes x fem reader

word count: 5.2k

warnings: cursing, mentions of alcohol, quinn & jack being rude to reader, angst & fluff

note: somethings might not match up to what truly happened, in games/school year and incorrect depictions of characters, this is a work of fiction. hope you guys enjoy, leave feedback, have a great day, love y’all babes <3

+++

you met luke during freshman orientation at the university of michigan, instantly hitting it off with him. he was your first friend in college, you hung out daily, went out to eat once a week on what he would call “date nights”, so understandably you quickly began catching feelings for luke.

you truly lucked out, luke had told you two months after you first met that he liked you and shortly after you began dating. your relationship was great, luke was the perfect boyfriend and you liked to think that you were the perfect girlfriend. you hadn’t planned to meet his family so soon, but with homecoming and parents weekend coming up it was going to be hard to avoid. you were nervous, luke was also nervous because he would also be meeting your family.

friday came around and you sat outside with luke waiting for your families to arrive at the restaurant he had picked out for a joint family dinner, deciding it was easier to have everyone meet everyone all at once to hopefully avoid any awkwardness.

“luke, i know you said that your family will love me, but i’m still extremely nervous. if i need a moment at dinner, please just give me that.” you told him, he reached over and squeezed your hand in response. a car came pulling into the parking lot, luke’s head immediately perked up and a smile grew on his face.

“my parents and brothers are here.” he stood, pulling you with him. he noticed the shaky breath you let out. “baby don’t worry, they are going to love you. and in the worst case scenario that my parents aren’t the most fond of you, at least my brothers will like you, that is for sure.”

+++

ellen and jim loved you, they spoke to you all night. getting to know you, getting to know your family, and even went as far as to invite you over to their lake house this summer. you hadn’t had much time to talk to quinn and jack though, you had greeted them and introduced yourself but they never made an attempt at a conversation with you. although it did hurt a little, you decided to not make it a big deal, they’re probably tired and weren’t in the mood for the dinner party.

once ten o’clock rolled around our parents decided it was time for them to head back to their hotels, you hugged ellen and jim goodbye and waved to quinn and jack with a smile on your face, only to be ignored by your boyfriend’s big brothers. your smile fell, but you quickly picked it back up to say goodbye to your parents and siblings.

“see babe, i told you they would love you.” luke said, bringing you into a hug once both families were in their cars. “i can tell my mom really, really likes you. she never invites people over to the lake house unless she has known them for a while.” you blushed at his words.

“well my parents really liked you too, my dad gave me a thumbs up like three times tonight.” luke laughed at what you had deemed as approval from your father. “hey, a thumbs up from a grumpy middle aged man is a big deal, and you got three of them.”

+++

as time went on you and luke’s relationship only grew stronger. it was now winter break and you were making the three hour drive to luke’s family's house to have your gift exchange with luke, as well as the rest of his family because you had gotten gifts for all of them. you had made the boys a tie and a matching pocket square, and you made ellen a few hand towels embroidered with their last name and flowers, as well as a matching apron. luke had told you multiple times that it wasn’t necessary for you to make them gifts, but you insisted.

arriving at the hughes house you grabbed the gifts out of your backseat and made your way to the house. before you were able to ring the doorbell the front door swung open, quinn and jack looked at you and ignored your greetings. they just walked around you and towards what you assumed was one of their cars. ellen saw you before the door shut and quickly got up to greet me.

“hi sweetie, it is great to see you. come on in, i’ll yell for luke.” she said helping you with some of the gifts and setting them down by the tree. “this many gifts for luke? he is spoiled.” she joked, causing a blush to rise to your cheeks.

“oh well, i actually brought gifts for all of you.” ellen smiled and brought me into a hug.

“luke is very lucky to have you.”

+++

quinn and jack didn’t come back home that night, leaving luke to insist that they could just open their gifts on their own time because luke very badly wanted to see what you had gotten him.

jim loved his gifts, promising to wear the matching set at his next formal event. ellen loved her gifts as well, immediately replacing the hand towels in the kitchen with the ones you had made. she also thanked you profusely for the apron, shocked you had remembered her complaints about the one she had before.

“these are amazing y/n, you really have a gift.” jim told you before they left to give you and luke some privacy for your gift exchange.

“thank you mr.hughes.”

“call me jim dear.” he informed you, ellen quickly jumping in to say that she wasn’t mrs.hughes either.

+++

jim had kept his promise, and made luke send a photo of him wearing the tie and pocket square you had made him.

from: luke <3

*image*

my dad is wearing your gift tonight, he has already gotten compliments and questions on where he got them.

from: luke <3

he keeps joking that he is gonna need some of your business cards, maybe you should start selling these.

to: luke <3

i’m very happy he likes his gift, and maybe…

to: luke <3

did your brothers open their gifts? did they like them?

from: luke <3

they’re still sitting in the living room sorry babe, they probably just forgot about them. i’ll remind them later tonight.

+++

the next time you saw the hughes family was during the big ten championship. you had gone to support luke, sitting with his family and wearing the michigan hockey pullover you had, you didn’t expect anyone to notice the personalization you had added to it.

“y/n that jacket is amazing, did you make it?’ ellen asked you, gently touching the sleeves and seeing the “LH43” embroidered on the wrists. “boys look at this.” ellen got her older sons’ attention, pointing towards what you were wearing. they muttered a sarcastic “yeah it’s cool” and “looks great” never taking their eyes off their phones, you tried not to look too upset.

“i got the jacket from the thrift store, but i added the details on the sleeves.” you told ellen, and now jim who had come back from the concession stand.

“luke told me you liked pretzels, so here.” he said, handing you your favorite snack as you thanked him.

+++

the boys won the game, making them the conference champions. you continued to sit in the stands, watching the celebration and trophy ceremony, while the hughes family made their way towards the locker rooms to congratulate luke and the rest of the team. you had your phone out taking pictures and videos of the team, posting a few to your instagram. you and luke weren’t a secret, but you weren’t public, you only ever posted images to your private instagram account with about thirty followers, all those who you trusted.

you weren’t aware that luke’s brothers had come back, per their mother’s orders, to bring you back to the locker rooms. they saw you posting a few photos, captioning it “my baby is a conference champ baby” with a couple emojis that you and luke always sent to each other. scoffing jack quickly got your attention, “when you’re done using luke for attention my family is waiting for you.” and then he turned around, quinn quickly following after. your face fell, tears began welling in your eyes. you always had the idea that luke’s brothers weren’t your biggest fans, but that just confirmed it. they thought you were using luke, for what? you didn’t know. you took a moment to collect yourself, checking your reflection in your phone's camera and taking a couple deep breaths before getting up and trying to find the locker rooms, quinn and jack had failed to inform you where they actually were, but you eventually made your way there.

by the time you got there luke was already out, hugging his family and celebrating with them. the sadness that had taken over your mood immediately disappeared when luke saw you. he came up running to you, engulfing you in a big hug, picking you up off the ground and spinning you around causing you both to laugh. when luke set you down you noticed ellen filming you two, but luke got your attention again by giving you a kiss. you patted his cheeks lightly, breaking the kiss, so ellen could take a proper photo of the two of you. after a few more moments luke retreated back to the locker room to celebrate with the team, ellen sent you the photos and videos she took of you two and you sent some photos you had taken of luke during the game, as well as the video you took of ellen and jim celebrating the win. you said your goodbyes to the hughes, telling them that you hoped you would see them soon and that you were heading back to your dorm room. ellen stopped you, inviting you out to the dinner they were having with luke once he was all clear to leave the arena, but you turned them down, politely saying they should have a nice family dinner just them, but you appreciated the offer. you began walking out again, but you weren’t completely out of earshot, being able to hear quinn say “family dinners are for family only, not temporaries.” which brought back those tears you pushed down just fifteen minutes earlier, this time you allowed them to fall from your eyes as you stepped into your car.

+++

you didn’t see the hughes again until summer break came around, you would be spending a week at their lake house and you couldn’t be more excited. after a five hour drive you arrived, sending luke a text that you made it before getting your luggage out of the trunk. it had been almost two months since you last saw luke, after you had finished off the school year you immediately left for florida where you spent a month staying with your cousins in your families beach house and then after that you were in mexico with some friends, it was a relaxing, yet stressful, summer for you so far and you could only hope that your time at the lake house would be relaxing and relaxing only.

once you had settled into the guest room, much to luke’s dismay his parents wouldn't let us room together, and changed into a swimsuit you met luke in the backyard where he was gonna take you out on the boat.

“where are your brothers?” you hadn’t seen them yet, and you hoped you wouldn't.

“they’re on vacation right now, they will be back in three days though. why?” luke asked, starting the boat's engine once you both were situated.

“just wondering, i hadn’t seen them yet.” you were grateful that you could at least get three days without worrying about what they would say next. you hoped that the relief wasn’t apparent in your voice when you explained your question to your boyfriend, the last thing you needed was luke finding out about what had been going on.

+++

your first day at the lake house was amazing, the boat ride went great and it was beautiful outside, you swear you took over one hundred photos of just the views during your trip around the lake. jim and ellen arrived back at the house before dinner, you helped ellen out with dinner, updating her on everything that had gone on in your life since you last saw her.

“wow lots of vacationing on your part, have you been having fun?” she asked while walking into the kitchen in the apron you made her, you smiled before answering.

“it has been a lot of fun, i can never complain about being able to break out my swimsuit collection.” you joked, ellen laughed at your answer before telling you that luke could never complain either.

“we’ve been teasing him all summer, he is constantly stalking your social media to see any new pictures or videos of you.” you blushed at her words, knowing that the only thing you’ve been wearing in your posts lately have been swimsuits.

+++

once everyone had retreated to their own rooms for the night, and luke successfully snuck into yours, you began watching a movie with him. it was silent, the only noise being made was coming from the television, you would've thought luke was asleep if it wasn’t for him tracing patterns on the exposed skin on your back.

“are you getting along with my brothers?” luke’s question took you by surprise, but you should’ve seen it coming. it was pretty obvious that you never spoke to them, never made an attempt to become close with them like you had his parents, and now you’re becoming aware that the relief you felt knowing that quinn and jack wouldn’t be in town for a couple days was noticed by luke.

“yeah, we aren’t close or anything, but there isn’t any bad blood.” it was a half truth, you definitely weren't close with them considering that you had spoken to them a handful of times and each time went worse than the one before. you were sure they hated you, and while you didn’t hate them you did resent them for it, because who were they to judge you and your relationship without even attempting to get to know you.

luke just nodded, he could sense in your voice and the way you had shifted away from him that you didn’t want to talk to him about it.

“luke, i’m getting tired, you should probably head back to your room so your parents dont find out we’re hanging out in each other's rooms.” while luke understood that you had an actual reason for asking him to leave, he couldn’t help but feel that his question about your relationship with his brothers ultimately caused you to kick him out of your room.

+++

the next two days were amazing, you surprised luke with matching swimsuits you made for the both of you, both your initials embroidered with a heart were on his trunks and your bikini. ellen loved them, taking pictures of them on you two as well as just them before you had put them on, zooming in on the embroidery specifically in one picture before posting the set of images on her instagram.

“babe you seriously have a gift, i’m letting all my friends know that if they need gifts for their girlfriends to come to you. i’ll upcharge them, don’t worry.” luke said, after fully examining your craftsmanship. you laughed and asked if he would make you share your profits.

“of course i would, don’t tell my mom this but i’m only with you for the money.” he joked and you let out a fake laugh. you know he meant no harm, he had no clue the conversations his brothers had been having behind his back, the ones where they accuse you of using him for his fame or future wealth as an NHL player.

“let’s get outside, i wanna tan.” you changed the subject, pulling luke’s arm to follow you.

“yeah let’s get outside–” luke pulled you against him, your back to his chest, “i wanna watch you tan.” you giggled before pushing him away from you and telling him to not get any ideas.

+++

the next morning you woke up to the sounds of luke and his brothers messing around with each other, you smiled at luke’s loud laughter. you noticed that you had slept in much later than you usually did, but you didn’t mind. you got dressed into a swimsuit and put shorts on to cover your lower half, leaving the top of your one piece exposed and quickly did some makeup and tied your hair into a messy bun before walking downstairs. you weren’t aware of the plans for today but you did know the boys were probably getting antsy waiting for you.

you entered the living room, gaining quinn’s attention first, the only brother who’s back wasn’t turned towards her. he nodded his head in your direction, making the two younger hughes face you. luke quickly came up to wrap his arms around you, but the joy on his face from seeing you wasn’t enough to distract you from the distaste of his brothers’.

“i’m thinking today we four go onto the boat, i can teach you how to wakesurf. it’ll be a lot of fun, and you need the lessons. jack’s old teammates and friends are gonna be here in a couple days and they all love wakesurfing.” luke continued to ramble on about god knows what as he led you out towards the docks, his brothers having volunteered to grab the booze. you kept your eyes on him the whole time, you loved when he would talk about something and you could see the excitement and passion on his face. ellen saw the two of you, smiling at how enamored you looked. she took a quick photo of it and pointed the two of you out to quinn and jack who had just gotten back from packing the cooler.

“aren’t they adorable?” ellen gushed, happy to see her youngest son in such a healthy and happy relationship.

“yeah, they’re something.” quinn said, before quickly pulling the cooler back outside, leaving jack in the kitchen with his mom.

“they are pretty cute.” jack smiled. he began thinking that maybe you weren’t what he and quinn had assumed you were a couple weeks ago, after seeing how much you had meant to luke first hand.

+++

your day spent on the boat with the three hughes sons was an eventful one. you never actually went wake surfing, just settling to watching the boys do it and getting an understanding of it if you ever did want to learn. when luke’s turn was up jack took over the duty of running the boat and quinn took a spot next to me. you smiled at him, hoping that this would be a good chance to actually get to know quinn as this would be the first time the two of you had actually talked ever.

“my mom showed me those photos of you and luke, in the matching swimsuits. they’re cute.” you smiled at the compliment, but that was quickly wiped from your face by his next statement. “i know what you’re doing by the way.” you looked up at quinn confused, because you weren’t doing anything. “i know that you’re using luke. that you're gonna stay with him until you’ve been together long enough to trap him. with marriage or a baby or something else, and then you’re gonna use him for his fame and his wealth.” your jaw dropped at quinn’s harsh accusations. you didn’t know what soap opera he had been watching lately but it was obviously clouding his judgment. you swallowed the lump in your throat and blinked the tears out of your eyes after quinn walked away. but you didn’t let yourself dwell on the rudeness of your boyfriend’s brother's words, your lovely boyfriend was now in front of you and provided a great distraction from what just happened.

+++

you spent some time swimming in the water when quinn stop the boat to eat lunch, luke joined you and brought his phone out, even though you told him multiple times that he was gonna drop it and to just leave it on the boat, and began taking pictures of you, and you and him together, you took a couple of just him as well.

“you should post those.” luke told you once you both were on the boat and looking through the photos that were taken.

“i always do.” you looked at him confused, you posted on your private account multiple times a day, it was your photo dump page.

“no i mean your main, i think these are really nice photos.” he smiled at you, blushing. you knew there was more to it though so you gave him a look. “-and maybe if you posted pictures with me and they knew you had a boyfriend all those guys wouldn’t be hitting on you in your comments and dms.” you smiled at his confession, he was jealous and wanted others to know that you were his, as well as him being yours.

“that is adorable luke, you’re possessive over me awww” the blush on his cheeks only spread and grew a deeper hue. you looked up to see jack smiling at you, the shock on your face came and went quickly before you gave jack a smile back before turning your attention back to your boyfriend who was now clinging onto you. you quickly snapped a selfie of you two, you smiling and luke looking at you with his chin resting on your shoulder.

“here i’ll post that to my story, and then i will post a huge collage of photos from this week when i leave.” luke agreed to your compromise. moments later you heard the sound of would i lie to you by charles & eddie, that was your guys’ song and it was attached to your story post. you smiled as you heard the fifteen second clip of the song play over and over again.

“jeez luke how many times are you gonna view her story.” jack chirped from the other side of the boat, causing you to laugh and luke to groan into your shoulder. you looked up to see jack smiling, but quinn was looking at you guys with an annoyed look on his face, he rolled his eyes when you made eye contact with him, doing quite some damage to your good mood as that reminded you of the conversation you had with him earlier, luke could sense the shift in your energy.

“you okay?” he whispered in your ear. you nodded, blaming it on being tired suddenly.

+++

once you were back on dry land you went inside to shower and change, shortly after doing that you entered the kitchen and asked if ellen needed any help with dinner.

“do you think you could go into the basement and find my garlic mincer? i think i forgot to unpack it.” you quickly nodded and made your way to the lowest level of the house.

once down there you turned on the light and began searching through boxes labeled “kitchen”. after finding what you were looking for you turned to go back to the kitchen when two boxes caught your eye. two boxes addressed for quinn and jack, wrapped in your families christmas wrapping paper. they never opened their gifts. you began to tear up, that was the final nail in the coffin that you needed to know that what you were feeling wasn’t an overreaction, they hated you. you quickly grabbed the boxes and hurried up the steps, placing the item you had gone into the basement for down onto the island in the kitchen before telling ellen, who’s back was towards you so she didn’t see your distraught state, that you were going to head upstairs because your mom was calling.

once in your room you shut and locked the door and let the tears that had been welling up fall. the sound of your bedroom door shutting and locking was enough to catch the attention of luke, but once he was at the door to your room and about to knock he heard your sobs. panic immediately rushed through him and he reached above the door frame to find where the key had been sitting. once he got the door unlocked he knocked as he was making his way into the door, his heart breaking at the sight.

you were curled up on the floor crying while holding onto two boxes, luke timidly stepped towards you.

“baby what’s wrong?” he asked, crouching down to your level.

you didn’t answer at first, you just shoved the two wrapped up boxes that were now covered in dust onto his lap. luke was confused for a second before he realized what he was holding.

“they never opened them.” you said sadly, your tone making luke even more upset. “your brothers hate me luke, and i don’t know why. i don’t know what i did to them.” you began crying even harder, wrapping your arms around luke’s shoulder, he shifted and pulled you fully into his lap.

“what do you mean they hate you? they don’t hate you.” he said, attempting to comfort you but it didn’t work.

“they accused me of using you luke.” you finally told your boyfriend. the weight was now lifted off of your chest, until it quickly wasn’t. you didn’t want to tell luke for a reason and this was it.

luke pushed you off of him and stood up, immediately making his was towards the hallway.

“luke stop, please, it’s not a big deal.” you tried to calm the situation, you didn’t want to be the cause of a fight between the brothers.

“it is a big deal y/n. i cannot let them say that shit about you, i will not allow it.” he stated before taking a deep breath. “what else have they said to you?”

“luke–”

“i’m serious y/n, what else have they been saying or doing? i know there is more to it.”

you sighed before explaining everything to him. how quinn and jack have always dismissed your greetings, how they refused to talk to you, and how you would catch them glaring at you on multiple occasions. luke was visibly upset, his knuckles were turning white and his face was getting red. but despite his angry state he could still tell there was more to it, even if he hoped that was it.

“y/n.” just him saying your name was enough to make you cry some more and tell him the rest of the story. about when quinn said you were a temporary, the other name callings, and the one that happened just a few hours earlier.

“quinn accused me of planning on baby trapping you, or forcing you to marry you so i could have access to your wealth and fame.” and that was it. it was enough to make luke jump up and basically run out of your room, you were hot on his trail. luke ignored his mother’s calls to see what was wrong, as did you, you needed to stop luke before something bad happened.

luke picked up his pace once he was on the docks, effectively making you lose the lead you almost had on him. he ran up and punched quinn in the face and then jack as well. you gasped and halted your movements as luke began yelling.

“you fucking assholes, you never once try to get to know my girlfriend, never even do so much as acknowledge her, and you have the audacity to accuse her of using me, of planning on trapping me in our relationship, calling her names, dismissing her attempts to get to know you, throwing the gifts she spent hours making you two into a trash bag and hiding them in the basement.”

tears had begun rolling down your face, somehow harder than before. ellen placed a hand on your back, to let you know she was there before she pulled you into a hug. whispering that she had no idea that this was going on and that she was so sorry.

jack was quick to defend himself, saying that quinn was the one doing most of the name calling and accusations, which was true but he still participated in it.

“i’m just looking out for you luke. we don’t know this girl or her intentions with you.” quinn said, defending himself as he slowly walked towards his youngest brother.

luke scoffed, “you would know her if you spoke to her, she has given you plenty of chances to get to know her and to find out what her intentions were.” he paused to look over at you, he began tearing up at the sight of you crying in his mom’s arms. “do you think i’m stupid? if i thought a girl was using me i wouldn’t be with her, y/n is good for me, and i don’t care what you guys think of her. she is the love of my life, nothing you guys do or say will change that.”

the revelation causes you to stand up straight and unwrap yourself from ellen’s arms. luke just said he loved you, that you were the love of his life. more tears began falling but these weren’t sad tears, they were happy tears.

luke gave his brothers one more disappointed look before turning around and walking towards you. once he was close enough you wrapped him in a hug, he began crying and apologizing for his brother's behavior.

ellen spoke up after a while, “why don’t you two go for a drive, get some dinner in town. i’ll talk to the boys.” luke quickly nodded and let go of you, grabbing your hand and pulling you inside so he could grab his keys.

+++

you spent a lot of time parked at the public beach. you ate your burgers, watched the sunset, talked about what you were feeling about what had happened earlier and what had happened during the time that Luke was unaware of what was going on, as well as taking a cute photo of the two of you, cried out and faces red and puffy, and laying in the trunk of his car cuddled up.

“i’m sorry i never noticed what was going on.” luke broke the minutes of silence you were having.

“it’s not your fault luke.” you said, shifting so you were able to look at him. “i’m sorry i didn’t tell you sooner.”

luke just shook his head at your apology, he soon closed the distance between you two and kissed you.

“i love you luke.”

“i love you too y/n. i’m lucky to have met you.”

“oh i’m definitely the lucky one.”

+++

note: THERE IS A PART TWO YAY ok so i really like this one, i hate picking out names for fics though and lucky was the only thing that somewhat made sense because i used the word so many times...anyways hope y’all enjoyed this because i actually like this and that is a rare thing for me.

#luke hughes #luke hughes imagine #luke hughes x reader #nhl imagine #new jersey devils #ahonice writes #umich hockey

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romanceyourdemons · 2 months

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fatal attraction (1987) certainly deserves its reputation as one of the most iconic neo-noirs and erotic thrillers of the 80s. the acting is both naturalistic and intense, the sets and costumes are beautifully done, and the cross-cutting editing ratchets the tension up to fever pitch with a skillful hand. however, the element of the film that fascinates me most is how deliberately it juxtaposes “safe” danger, the veneer or aesthetic of the exotic and dangerous, with the “real” danger of the 1980s cultural mind—that is, the disrupting of white suburban family life. the beginning of the film shows the protagonist indulging in all manner of big-city pleasures that pastiche the aesthetic of the foreign, the exotic, and the abnormal to provide an illusion of danger, whilst still purpose-made to protect and entertain him. from the japanese restaurant with its samurai self-help book, to the samba nightclub, to madama butterfly and its quintessential orientalism, these “safe” dangers parallel alex forrest’s role at this point: of the 1980s big-city masculine woman, tough and independent and shoulder-padded, offering an exotic and dangerous—but not truly dangerous—weekend of fun. but alex’s black plunge-neck gowns and fitted skirtsuits do not last forever. as she grows more dangerous, so too does she grow more feminine, in both costuming and behavior; it is her imminent motherhood, her obsession with entering into family life, that takes her danger from “safe” to “real.” the film has very little sympathy for her. she expresses her legitimate grievances in no uncertain terms, but her exaggerated obsessiveness from the starting gun transforms her from a full character into a mere force of threat. this force of threat slowly spirals inward from the safety of new york danger to the suburbs, where any disruption is considered truly terrifying; in the end, the climactic horror of the film is a stranger-danger kidnapping and a home invasion, rather than anything that might have happened in a seedy nightclub or a bar. it is a wealthy white person’s privilege, the film argues, to act as a tourist to danger in the city; but for this danger to follow him home is a grotesque violation of contrast. as a representative of its genre and era, as well as a piece of high-voltage thriller film, fatal attraction (1987) functions beautifully, and i would certainly recommend it

#fatal attraction #ryddles

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wineworshipped · 5 months

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🦊 June Elliot 🦊

NAME june elliot AGE 19-34, usually early 20s ORIENTATION homosexual, homoromantic PRONOUNS she/her NATIONALITY japanese-american SPECIES kitsune (can be adjusted as needed) PROFESSION a supernatural social worker bringing order where it’s needed STATUS single MYERS-BRIGGS enfp-a FACE sakura heffron, hayley kiyoko

A Young Immortal

It's a story practically as old as time: two young people meet, and fall in love, and fall apart, and the only proof beyond photos and word and memory that they were ever together gets dropped into the lap of some social workers, only to fall--hard, and repeatedly--through the cracks of the American foster system. Nobody wants a hyper kid, it turns out.

But being unwanted and feeling unloved and bouncing from house to house to house, family to family to family, school to school to school, it really fucks a kid up. Messes with their heads. She's still one of the lucky ones, June Smith, given a last name her mother never bothered to pen onto her birth certificate, but she's angry. And she has every right to be.

Fourteen years old and a troublemaker by the time she lands in her final home, June is sour. June is mean. June is wrathful, angry, troublesome, a real problem child. She skips class or she fails it. She's talks back to teachers, slips behind the bleachers, gets in fights with other kids. It's not pretty.

But she hasn't ended up in just anybody's home. He's a Thai-American, a chef, owns his own restaurants - owns a few of them, actually. Turned a profit on his own hard work. Former foster kid, too. He teaches her how to straighten up her act. He teaches her how to cook, to trust, to love, to laugh. The angry June gives way like a blistering summer day into to a June not of less passion or less feeling, but a June who enjoys the breezes and the seaside and doesn't melt the world in her wrath anymore. A mellow June. He doesn't adopt her, but she changes her last name to his anyway. It's nothing personal. Too many kids pass through his door: he can't adopt them all. But he and June click - not father and daughter, but cool uncle and eager niece, falling comfortably into step like that.

At 16 June learned her first secret, got her first job: she and her uncle worked as "supernatural social workers," helping things that weren't human find their footing in the human world, nonviolent things, good things. June learned peace and patience, just like her uncle--and two years later, June learned another thing. June learned she was kitsune, spent a year at home mastering her powers, and moved confidently out into the world thereafter. She gets a job. She gets a grip. She gets a life and a second chance to live it.

June still visits home sometimes, still works weekends as a supernatural social worker. She spends the rest of her time in the gym letting her energy out, or at music events, concerts, bars, clubs. She's young and in love with her life. She's carefree, has a high school degree and stars in her eyes. She's going to move and shake the world: just you wait.

Kitsune Lore & June

Kitsune lore essentially divides kitsune two ways: by alignment (zenko for good/benevolent foxes and yako for bad/malignant foxes) or by element - of which there are 13. These are tenets I more or less follow. Zenko and yakko are reserved for internal separations: all supernatural species know at least vaguely of these two elements and divide the kitsune between them, but they are not inherent qualities. Kitsune know, however - almost instinctively! - the deeper divisions among their species, which are based on element. Although mortals tend to classify them into 13 subcultures, there are really only five: earth, water, fire, wind/air, and void, all of which come out of traditional Japanese elemental thinking.

Although initially thought to be kasai (fire kitsune). June found out in short order that she is truly kaze, or wind. As well as granting her the ability to shift into wind, ranging anywhere from a light breeze to a hard, tornado-like gust, being kaze has also made June exceedingly light of foot and well-balanced, even for a kitsune. Kaze is all about expansion–air in the lungs, free of form, free-moving. It means June is quick to adapt and always curious, forever expanding her mind and soul in her own carefree way. June tends to prefer the freedom of running as wind to the sensation of being incorporeal as shadow, just as she tends to favor her human form over her fox.

Rather than being born foxes who later attain human forms, kitsune are spirits - and only that. The spirit of the kitsune is quick and clever, exemplified on the living plane as a fox; when it first breeches the living plane, the kitsune spirit will merge with any young spirit of the right temperament. When kitsune were more common, it was assumed they were solely Japanese due to some genetic predisposition: their dying out did directly correlate with the intermarriage of many Japanese bloodlines with international families. Now, however, it is assumed that the weakest point between the spirit and living worlds resides in Japan, and the loss of the kitsune species was due to some unrelated event in the other world. Neither theory has been confirmed or denied.

At any rate, newborn kitsune spirits could meld with any living creatures, but most commonly found hosts in both foxes and humans. Over time, the species came to recognize both forms as their living homes, and so grant the ability to shift between the two at the earning of the first tail.

Most tails are earned at 100-year intervals: however, the first tail can be granted at any point between the first and the hundredth year. The nature of the kitsune lies dormant, unrecognized and unrecognizable, until the earning of the first tail: after that point, both biological and spiritual changes force the spirit host to become kitsune. (It was always there, just not always noticeable or predictable.)

Kitsune are ultimately mortal: though naturally long-lived and immune to most worldly diseases, due to their otherwordly origins, kitsune can be injured, incapacitated, and even killed in very mortal fashions. They can live only into perpetuity on earning their hundredth tail and ascending onto a plane not unlike godhood, at which point much of their dealing on the living plane comes to an end. It is assumed they can live forever then - but it’s yet to have been proven, since no kitsune has returned to an approachable plane to make this clear.

As a single-tailed kitsune, June still has a lot to learn. Her hold on her powers is strong for one so young, but her powers themselves are relatively easy to foil. She cannot attain more powers–more elemental shifts, spiritual attacks, etc.–until she has come closer to earning her second tail.

#; young immortal (june elliot)#; a new religion (blog mythos)

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hvnyz · 1 year

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if you’re hearing LAKE EFFECT KID by FALL OUT BOY playing, you have to know SANTIAGO ESPINOZA (HE/HIM;CIS MAN) is near by! the 38 year old POWER HITTER FOR THE ROCKIES has been in denver for, like,TEN YEARS. they’re known to be quite INDULGENT, but being BENEVOLENT seems to balance that out. or maybe it’s the fact that they resemble CARLOS MIRANDA. personally, i’d love to know more about them seeing as how they’ve got those WARM SUNKISSED SKIN, THE CRACK OF A BASEBALL BAT, FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOWS AND LED ZEPPELIN ON A RECORD PLAYER vibes. and maybe i’ll get my chance if i hang out around the LAKERIDGE DISTRICT long enough

pinterest ||connections and wanted connections

BASICS

FULL NAME: Santiago Emmanuel Espinoza NICKNAME(S): Santi, Tiago AGE: 38 DATE OF BIRTH: May 4th 1985 PLACE OF BIRTH: Syracuse, New York CURRENT LOCATION:. Lakeridge District ETHNICITY: Nicaraguan GENDER: Cis Man PRONOUNS: he/him SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Bisexual RELIGION: raised christian, not as strictly, but still practicing. OCCUPATION: Power hitter for the Colorado Rockies FACECLAIM: Carlos Miranda

PHYSICAL TRAITS

HEIGHT: 6'0 WEIGHT: 187 pounds HAIR COLOR: Brown EYE COLOR: brown PIERCINGS: no piercings TATTOOS: just this one on his hand SCARS|MARKS: one small scar on the left side of his head, just near his hairline, and another healed gash on his right knee. SIGNATURE SCENT: Jazz Club by Replica

PHOBIAS AND DISEASES

MENTAL ILLNESSES: n/a PHYSICAL ILLNESSES: N/a PHOBIAS: n/a

RELATIONSHIPS

MOTHER: Alma Espinoza (nee Rivas) FATHER: Cesar Espinoza SIBLINGS: none, he is an only child. RELATIONSHIPS: tba PETS: a bulldog named bear

PERSONALITY

ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus MORAL ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good FAVORITE FOODS: his grandmother's vaho, picos, a hot dog from the guy at the stadium FAVORITE COLOR: burnt orange LIKES: laying on the beach on a warm day, the smell of onions and garlic cooking, a cold citrus radler after a game, morning runs with bear. DISLIKES: sweet tea, horror films HOBBIES: beach volleyball, boxing, board games.

HEADCANONS

Santiago loves history and will watch the history channel or read history books in his free time. Gets his best sleep on airplanes. truly believes a late-night run with his favorite playlist will cure any negative emotion he has. calls his abuela every Sunday after she gets home from church, he hasn't missed a day since he moved out at 18. She was one of his biggest cheerleaders growing up, and he always confides in her. She is his safe space. Santi is a nice guy generally, but has a bit of an ego, years of being told you were a star will do that to you.

BIOGRAPHY

tw death

PAST

Santiago Emmanuel Espinoza is the first, and only child of Alma and Caesar Espinoza. Born in May of 1985 in Syracuse, New York, Santi came from fairly "normal" beginnings. His mother worked nights as a nurse, and his father during the day as a mechanic.

On the weekends in the summer, Santi and his father would go to Yankees games. Sitting in those seats, watching the game play out, sometimes well after sunset with a hot dog and a soda, those are some of Santi's fondest memories.

The obvious course was little league, when he wasn't watching a game, he was playing one, running around with his peers getting dirty and having a good time. What else was there to a perfect summer? Santi can still remember the taste of the vanilla soft serve ice cream after a long game.

When Santi's coach realize that there was a talent in him, more talent than was expexted out of his seven year old body, they suggested extra training. 'He could be something', he remembers his coach saying to his father, and Santi will never forget the look on his father's face. The pride he held that day, it was a rush.

Santi threw himself into it, baseball consumed him, even from such a young age, he knew that if he did well, if he lived beyond his potential, then he could make his family proud, and in turn, makke himself proud.

He played baseball through out middle school, and high school, and eventually, it got him into college, Vanderbilt University offering him a full ride to play for them. His mother cried the day he was offered his scholarship. His father hugged him for the first time in a while.

Tennesse was a big change compared to Syracuse, and initially, Santiago didn't adjust well. He felt like a small fish in a big pond. All of those boys on the team were recruited for a reason. It wasn't like high school where he was a standout player. He would vent his troubles to his abuela every Sunday morning over a cup of coffee during their weekly phone calls.

Eventually, things got better. Santi was able to prove himself to be worthy of his spot, and his teammates soon became some of his closest friends. His studies were fine, he kept his grades up enough to be able to play ball, the only class he was really enthusiastic about was history, his grades stayed consistently good for that one.

Santi's rise to fame wasn't effortless, no matter what anyone tells you. He worked hard, but from the outside, he looked like his scholarship, and then, his getting into the major leagues, was handed to him. He figured by then he had proved himself, but in the midst of him getting asked to play for the Chicago White Sox, he lost a few friends who thought they deserved it more.

Santi was young, and fresh faced when he began to play for the Sox, and although being the new kid was humbling, the notariety that came when he was able to prove how good he was got to his head just a little bit. People were showing up to games just to see him. People flocked to him at bars for dates or nights together. It all felt good, he felt like he was on top of the world.

| TW DEATH | It would all come crashing down when he had to take a year off because his father died in a car crash. Santi went back home, and he helped his mother, and his abuela, rebuild their lives with out their husband and son. He reconnected with his roots, and promised them both that he'd continue to make them, and his father proud. |END OF TW|

He was welcomed back to the team with open arms, but he wasn't sure he was fully in it. He wasn't sure he could go back. It wasn't until his first game, everyone cheering his name, the city skyline lit up ahead of him, that he knew he made the right choice in coming back.

PRESENT

Santi has been a power hitter and a star player for the Colorado Rockies for the last ten years. He loves the game, and his life, but he isn't sure how much longer he wants to play. Retirement is looking like it's somewhere near on the horizon. But who will he be when he's not playing? What will he do? All of these questions have been weighing on him since before the season even started.

Santi lives in the Lakeridge District with his bulldog named Bear.

#(with a pace and a fury defiant | santiago)#chq;intro

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dizzymuses · 1 year

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🌦 « han so hee. cis woman. she/her. 30. » was that NARI SHIN walking through the doors of amorelux ? i heard they just moved in to apartment 502 from OTTAWA and work as a/an tattoo artist. they seem daring & adaptable but don’t get on their bad side ! they can be evasive & callous which makes sense since they’re a SAGITTARIUS. you know they’re home when you see a flash of nimble fingers detangling unbrushed hair, books carelessly scattered but never in a bookshelf, a permanently ignored notification for unread messages, memories hung up in frames.

hello, my loves !! i’m daisy, she/her, 25 and from the CET timezones which is sort of sucky most of the time when it comes to rp rip. i just started a full time intership so i’m a little bit busy these days but i should be around in the evenings and weekends for the most part. anyway, finally i can introduce u to my daughter nari, who is a brand new baby and still very much a work in progress but i hope you’ll love her nonetheless ! i would be delighted to plot w y’alls undoubtedly v sexc muses so if you’d like to do this pls react to this w a like !

basics.

name: shin nari.

nicknames: idk u could make smth up ig.

gender: cis woman

pronouns: she/her.

age: 30.

date of birth: december 17th 1991.

place of birth: busan, sk.

hometown: ottawa, canada.

nationality: canadian

ethnicity: korean.

education: high school degree.

occupation: tattoo artist, studio owner.

orientation: bisexual, biromantic.

about. (tw: depression mention)

nari was born the second of what should end up being three shin siblings, in busan. they were what you might call the perfect family, her dad being a pediatric surgeon and her mom a nurse working at the same hospital as he did. they were also a very traditional family, so while nari’s mother would often take care of them and things around the house, her father would usually come home late. he would walk up to her mother’s seat on the table, put his arms around her and kiss her on the cheek before sitting down and asking everybody about their days. in nari’s memory he’d always looked like he was carrying the world on his shoulders, endlessly tired but also truly heroic. her mother would always tell them that dad couldn’t be around much because he was saving other children’s lives and how he was making sure other mom’s wouldn’t have to miss their babies. so truly, how could nari view him as anything but that: a perfect hero.

she often asked him for stories of his work, listening with wide eyes as he’d speak on the different children and their issues. he was good at explaining things, even as a six year old she could understand just about everything. most of all she understood one thing, it’s important to help others, especially those weaker than yourself. and just like that, she became obsessed with taking care of others. while her older sister was technically two years her senior, it would still be nari kicking the boy who had pulled one of her braids hard enough to make her cry. she’d also take care of her little brother, trying to help him with his homework and reading stories to him every night. in many ways she tried her best to be a hero to others, just how she knew her father was.

of course things would have to take a turn for the worse at some point though and for nari that turn came when she was twelve. after scoring a perfect a on one of her maths tests, she was so proud, she wanted to show her father straight away and so she left the bus at the clinic, knowing her father was currently working. however, wandering around the department, she couldn’t find him anywhere and the nurses didn’t know where he went either. disappointed, she was just about to leave, when she saw her father through the creak of an almost fully closed door. walking closer, she took a careful look inside, unsure about the noises escaping the room. when she saw the half-dressed woman with her arms around her dad’s broad shoulders, they suddenly looked a whole lot less like the dependable shoulders of a hero. stepping back, she almost couldn’t believe what she had seen.

not knowing what to do, certain she’d destroy her entire family’s lives if she spoke about this big secret, nari didn’t say anything. she didn’t say anything for another three months, though her mother was wondering why nari suddenly didn’t seem as eager to spend time with her father anymore. but who would want to spend time with someone like him, why had she ever wanted to be like that man. it took those three months until her mother found out herself. a scenario that looking back had always been likely, considering they worked at the same hospita. nari’s mother found out and nari found out when only days later her mother told her and her siblings that they were going to spend some time at their grandparent’s without dad. her grandparents that had moved to canada a long time ago, therefore being little more than strangers to her and her siblings. there were tears in her mother’s eyes, she clearly didn’t want to tell her children about their father’s ill behavior but nari knew and she knew her mom knew now as well.

things were not the same afterwards, not only was their entire family uprooted and relocated into another country, their family wasn’t the same either. their move to canada meant her mother started working in her grandparent’s little korean restaurant, which soon became somewhat of a homebase to nari herself, who would spend most of her afternoon’s there doing homework and drawing endless little doodles into her notes. maybe it was a silent show of support, considering the fact that due to her mother’s relucatance to tell the children, her siblings still didn’t know why they had moved without their dad. with every month that passed, every indicator that their stay was going to be a permanent one, her siblings grew more and more upset with their mother. while nari didn’t understand why her mother would choose to protect her father like this, she kept her mouth shut. she figured her grandparents would have to know about this, figured three adults should be able to make a sensible decision about this.

however, as the years passed, nothing about this solution seemed to work out well. they were struggling. the restaurant clearly wasn’t able to really support the lives of six people but her mother had fallen into depression, making it hard for her to take on any other job. they were making ends meet but very barely and neither nari nor her siblings were used to it. tensions were building at an almost daily level, with her siblings, especially her older sister, raining down their frustrations onto her mother while nari would fight her tooth and nails to defend her. her mother might not be perfect, these days it often felt like she wasn’t even really truly there, but the fault for all their misery clearly was her father’s and his alone. one day, the fighting got so bad she just yelled it out. yelled out that their father was a rotten bastard who had cheated on their mother. silence followed her words and only as she looked up she saw her mother had walked into the kitchen, looking at nari in disbelieve. apparently she still hadn’t put it together. hadn’t known nari was aware of what had happened all along.

following all this, none of them ever got as close again as they had been before. her elder sister resented nari and her mother for not telling them earlier, her mother was a ghost of who she had once been and nari? she distanced herself a lot from her family, realizing the weight this entire situation had put on her ever since she had seen the awful scene. the only one she was still genuinely close to was her younger brother, whom she shared her anger about her father with. now in the second half of her teens, she mostly spent her time with friends from school, hanging around in skater parks or breaking into public pools at night. quickly she realized she liked those things that made her heart beat faster and her mind forget about just about anything else. on the other hand, she spent even more of her time drawing, having long since realized it was the only thing she truly wanted to do. she was doing pretty good at school and maybe, just maybe if her life had been different she could have gone on to become an art student.

instead, fresh out of college she started as an apprentice at a tattoo parlor. this plan had arisen after, in a drunken bout of horrible ideas, nari had once tattooed a couple of her friends and it had come out halfway decent considering her drunken state and the bad equipment. she had liked this, leaving her art on somebody else’s body. one of her friends also had a cousin, who had a friend, who was a tattoo artist and so she started her apprenticeship at the parlor that friend worked at. not too long after she got her license, finally getting to fully move out and get her own apartment. while she felt a bit bad about leaving her struggling mother behind, she knew in the end there was nothing more she could do for her. if her mom was to become better, she’d have to want that herself. not long after she moved out, her younger brother basically moved into her place. it was about the time that he graduated high school, which nari heavily supported him in. she knew he had an interest in studying and so she pushed him to try his best and even ended up paying most of his tuition out of her pocket.

meanwhile, over the years, nari became better and better at what she was doing at her job. she had a decent following on social media as well, admiring her work and soon people would travel across the country to get tattooed by her. alongside that came more artistic freedom, as she started denying certain design requests and instead introducing more of her own ideas to clients. at 28 she had saved enough money to open up her first own parlor, which was a hit right from the start, considering the reputation she had build for herself. by now, she was a household name in the scene, known mostly for her creative designs and shading abilities. now she only tattooed her own designs onto other people’s bodies, taking rough suggestions but mostly demanding her artistic freedom. as an artist, this felt like her final step towards freedom after years and years of tattooing butterflies and inspirational quotes. she could finally do her own thing, finally truly be an artist in her own right. only just now, nari moved to seattle to open her second parlor, this time in the us. she doesn’t quite know why she went here to take care of this herself, but on the other hand she had never been one to turn down an adventure.

tl;dr (bc lord knows this turned out way too long)

nari was born in south korea, she is the middle child of three. her family seemed all perfect and what not until nari caught her dad cheating, followed by her mother finding out as well not too soon after. not wanting to tell her children but determined to leave her husband behind, nari’s mother moved them to their grandparents in canada. after that her mom became somewhat depressed and they were struggling financially as well. her sibling were very mad at their mom, while nari tried to be by her side. one day she tells the others and they all further distance themselves from one another, aside from nari and her little brother. after school nari took on an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist (bc she once drunkenly tattoed her friends and it wasn’t half bad) and now she is a worldwide known name in the field. she is opening her second parlor in seattle now, which is why she moved here.

this got way too long and now i just wanna go sleep but like i’ll try to proof read etc as well as write some wc and whatnot tomorrow or so. ill also put out a plotting call then but u can react to this as well. mwuah !! <3 i hope it is a halfway decent read hskjdf

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peas093zzz · 1 year

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Letters to the Lover Unknown...

A story of two poets (Zola & Jermaine) who meet through a poets pen pal program . They are matched up and write poems to one another, they eventually get to know each other through letters and decide to write a poetry book together about love since most of their poems are about the trials of their love lives. They eventually meet and fall in love.

Zola

Set the Mood:

“New Apartment-Ari Lennox”

“Starting Now-Brandy”

“Self Care-Savannah Christine”

The big move...

I have spent most of my life in San Myshuno, being a true city girl at my core. I’ll miss the hustle bustle of the city but I need a change of pace. Windenburg was really 3rd on my list of places to move but Newcrest was still devoloping and San Sequoia was too family oriented for me. I still wanted to experience a good night life while also having the option to live in suburbia quietness. It’s also not too far of a drive, 4hrs was not too bad and a 1hr flight was something I could stomach.

My older brother Sailen (Say-Len) was helping me with the drive and moving into my new place. I got lucky with the place I found. When I was scouting one weekend. I happened to look in the classifieds and saw a 1/1 available with some stipulations. I later called and spoke with an older widow named Peggy, she said the rent would be lower if I did grocery shopping for her weekly and came by to help with her garden. She lived in Henford-O-Bradley which was a 20min drive from my new home. She seemed sweet and like she could use some company. I love my elders. Hearing their stories from youth until present day is my favorite pastime. They have so much wisdom and beautiful life lessons. It also gave me something to do while exploring and hopefully meeting new people.

S:“Ayeee man turn this lovey dovey shit off! Put on something else, bout to fall asleep at the wheel”

Z:“Nobody wants to listen to Rod wave crybaby ass!”

S:“N**ga I’m driving so I get the Aux anyway!”

Rolls eyes and switches the playlist, he so aggy man.

S:“30 more mins and you’ll be starting your new life! how you feeling bug?!”

Z:*Sigh* “I’m excited but a little nervous. My head is all over the place to be honest. Everything is secured but I’m just worried about making friends. I have not even met my new co workers yet! Idk I know I’m overthinking it but I just want to this to be a good decision ya know?

S:“Do you ever really know if something is good or not? Tbh it could be a bad one or it could be the best decision of your life, the only way to know is to try. To experience it. You don’t want to get old and regret not going for it and any where you go you’ll meet someone who'll like your weird ass lol.”

Z:“Shut up! I really can’t stand you sometimes but you’re right”

S:“And don’t worry about friends I’m going out tonight I’ll bring you back some “friends”

Z:“You better not bring no strange hussies to my new apartment lol”

My brother and I could not be more different but he truly is my bestie. I was sad to be leaving him and the family back at home. But I wasn’t happy and they knew it too. My brother was my number one supporter for this move, probably because it gives him an excuse to come to party and have a place to crash at afterwards. He is quite the explorer but cool with never leaving home fr. He’s kinda a mommas boy lol and my mother and I ehhh.

S: "We here bug!"

We finally arrived to my new place, I could not wait to fill this place with furniture but mostly new memories and fun times. Time to blast Ari Lennox “new apartment”

#sims 4 #the sims 4 #thesims4cc #black sims #urban sims #black simmer #Blacksimsstories #urdanstories

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thepropertylovers · 1 year

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“Almost All of My Friends Have a Mom and a Dad”

On the way to the dentist a few weeks ago, our middle son, seemingly out of nowhere, said the above statement.

Talking to the kids about the fact that they have two dads instead of a mom and a dad, or just a mom or just a dad, has become a frequent occurrence in the last couple of months. They’re getting older and starting to understand and become aware of more things, especially because of being in school and sports. We held off for a long time talking to them about the fact that they’re being raised by two men, only because we were focused on other things and our sexual orientation was the last thing on our minds, but it’s getting to the point where there’s no escaping it.

And I love it.

I love it because kids are so damn understanding. They are innately accepting, and never once question if having gay dads is right or wrong. They do, however, from time to time, ask why no one else in their class has two dads.

We always tell them that all families look different in so many ways. Some families have just one mom (and that’s the part when I remind them how my siblings and I were raised by my mom only), some have just a dad, some have two moms, some just have grandparents or aunts and uncles. We stress that it doesn’t matter how a family comes together, only that it’s filled with love.

And they get it.

They fully understand it. Why is it that children understand something as simple as love but we as adults have a hard time comprehending it?

When we tell them this, they usually just shrug, smile, and say okay. There’s no longing for a different type of family or a wish of a different kind of parent. I think that’s because they realize nothing is missing from the family we’ve created. They’re not getting any kind of short end of the stick. They know how loved, appreciated, and safe they are and that’s enough for them.

Lately when they bring up the fact that they have two dads, it’s always casually and more of a letting-you-know type of thing, never in a complaining or sad way. I think they’re just finally getting older and getting to the age where they’re starting to notice things that make them different from other kids, like we all did at that time in our lives. Allan doesn’t like his two front teeth. Riah likes his hair a very specific way. They’re seeing themselves as other people see them, which I wish we could make stop, but we’re all human and go through the same feelings and phases of life, don’t we? Noticing your family looks different than your friends at school is just a part of growing up. For me, growing up, it was how everyone’s dad was there for them except mine and how we always had so much less money than all my friends.

Different does not equal bad, it is just another part of your story. They don’t question our love for them, and they don’t question the structure or discipline we give them or their bedtime or the weekend activities we plan or the routine we have created for our family, and that’s because they know we’re a family and they know what to expect from us. It’s like breathing.

I’m excited to see them grow and navigate life and handle certain situations, because I know there will come a time when someone does say something mean and hurtful to them about the fact that they have two dads. All we can do until then is prepare them for the worst but always hope for the best. I know some of their friends have already asked if they have two dads and our kids always just say yup, and their friends just say oh, okay, and move on. That gives me hope.

What we want our kids to know is that kind of family you were raised in doesn’t truly matter when it’s all said and done. What matters is the love, safety and comfort they feel from it. And with that, our family is doing just fine.

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foxespsu · 1 year

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01 / BASICS

Full Name: Kai Dominic Reynolds

Nicknames: N/A. Kai used to be his nickname, before he transitioned and kept it as his first name instead.

Birthday: February 3rd, 2004

Gender: Trans man (he/him)

Orientation: Queer

Astrological Sign: Aquarius Sun; Scorpio Moon

Spoken Languages: English

Birthplace: Oakland, CA

Relationship Status: Single

02 / PHYSICAL TRAITS

Hair Color/Style: Black, curls.

Eye Color: Brown

Face Claim: Lukas Alexander

Height: 5′6

Tattoos: N/A, for now.

Piercings: Septum piercing with a hoop, two holes in each ear, an industrial piercing.

Unique Attributes: Scarring from a rejected eyebrow piercing. He’s only been on T for around six months, and his voice cracks far more than he’d like.

03 / PERSONALITY TRAITS/TYPES

Positive Traits: Creative, intelligent, energetic, independent, sensitive.

Negative Traits: Condescending, detached, temperamental, impulsive, indecisive.

Hobbies/Interests: Exy, skateboarding, punk shows

Major/Minor: Undeclared

Insecurities: With the empty space his sister left behind, it feels like he has to be more for his family—larger than life, as if doubling the energy it takes him to exist will distract anyone from the reality of their grief. It’s an impossible task, something no one’s asked of him, but it still feels like he’s always falling short. Exy feels the same, these days. When he played with Katie, they were future champions. By himself, it feels like he’s only still playing because his parents pulled enough strings to find him a contract on the Foxes. Reminders of who he used to be, when he was half of a whole, when he was talented and hopeful, can make him spiteful.

MBTI Type: ENFP; “The Campaigner”. They are lively, curious, and open-minded. They stand out from the crowd and seek genuine connection. Their tendency towards introspection can leave them lonely, restless, and disorganized.

Enneagram Type: Type 4, “the Individualist”. At their best, they are creative, transformative, and self aware. At their worst, they are morbid, impractical, and prone to blaming others for their unhappiness.

Moral Alignment: Chaotic good

Temperament: Melancholic.

04 / FAMILY & HOME

Immediate Family:

Katie Reynolds (sister), deceased at 17

Angela Reynolds (mother), 49

Daniel Reynolds (father), 52

How do they feel about their family?:

Every plan for Kai’s future involved Katie, too. They built their dreams together that way. The two of them were going to play on the same Class I team, the same pro team, and retire somewhere close enough to see each other every weekend. Without her, Kai doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do—whether he should follow the same blueprint without her, create something new, or, hell, give up entirely. He wants to want Exy and thus the Foxes, but it’s hard. Mostly, he wants Katie back.

He does know how impossible this has been for his parents. He’s seen their exhausted faces. Their awkward attempts to check in on him. The way they fight when they think he’s asleep, and the way they avoid each other for days and privately grieve. They still love him though, and they still love Exy. He saw the mirrored hopeful expressions on their faces when they told him about David Wymack. What they need, he thinks, is for Kai to be okay. So maybe it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t know if he truly wants to play for the Foxes. He knows he wants to make things easier for his parents if he can—so when they asked him if he wanted to attend Palmetto State in the fall, he smiled, and said of course.

How does their family feel about them?:

When the twins were together, they were easy to raise. Maybe the twins were rebellious at times, but their parents were more amused by it than anything else. And maybe they were more permissive than they should’ve been—but at the end of the day, even if their children came home late, they came home safe. That was what mattered. Until, one day, Katie didn’t. Where the two of them together were simple, just one twin was complicated. Especially when he changed his name shortly after her death, asked them to take him to see specialists, withdrew from his parents entirely when they asked too many questions about how he was doing. Well meaning but unprepared for any of this, it was a relief for Kai’s parents when he seemed to settle into old routines. If he still wanted Exy, they wanted it for him—despite the distance, they look forward to seeing him on the court, following in their footsteps and the dream he used to share with his sister.

Pets: None.

Where do they live?: With his parents, in Oakland.

Description of their home: For all his ripped jeans and patches, Kai’s family home is more than comfortable. After his parents retired from Exy, his mother went on to publish a well-loved autobiography about her time on the court, while his father went into business. Between savings from their first careers and the steady income from their respective paths now, they’re able to afford a three bedroom home within the Montclair neighborhood of Oakland—no small feat, in a neighborhood considered affluent even before the cost of living in the Bay Area steadily rose around them.

Description of their bedroom: For both his dorm and his bedroom at home, Kai seeks to turn the space into something that is truly his own. He hangs up record covers from his favorite bands, posters and art, old photos of himself and his friends, and, of course, mounts his skateboard on the wall. His skateboard, laptop, water bottle, and any other surfaces he can justify he covers in stickers, similar to this.

05 / THIS OR THAT

Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert.

Optimist or pessimist? Pessimist.

Leader or Follower? Leader

Confident or Self-Conscious? Self-conscious

Cautious or Careless? Careless

Passionate or Apathetic? Apathetic

Book Smarts or Street Smarts? Street smarts

Compliments or Insults? Compliments

06 / FAVORITES

Favorite Color: Black

Favorite Clothing Style/Outfit: Leather or denim jackets, patches and pins, beanies, ripped jeans, messy nail polish, silver jewelry, too many layers

Favorite Bands/Songs/Type of Music: Punk music, especially bands local to his hometown. He has a bit of a superiority complex about it.

Favorite Movies: Documentaries and anything science fiction.

Favorite Books: Memoirs, science fiction, speculative fiction, and although he isn’t proud of it, LGBTQ romance books.

Favorite Foods/Drinks: He loves to eat out, especially in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. At home, his parents are the sort to keep at least one subscription to a community supported agriculture box going year round, whether it’s seasonal produce in the spring or fresh meats in the winter. He talks a big game around alcohol, but most of his teen rebellion died out with Katie—and thus, most of his drinking in the past year has been a parent sanctioned glass of wine at family events.

Favorite Sports/Sports Teams: Kai used to follow Exy teams more religiously, especially when he and Katie could cram onto a couch with their friends, snacks, and a running tally for their fantasy leagues. Since her death, he hasn’t paid much attention. If asked, he’ll cite the teams his parents played for as his favorites.

Favorite Time of Day: Night

Favorite Weather/Season: Summer

Favorite Animal: Possums, raccoons, and other nocturnal weirdos.

#about: kai #inspo: kai

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hanniicore · 1 year

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Something Spectacular

When was the last time you felt brave?

I wonder how someone could be so brave. I'm wondering how they manage to live their lives despite having serious issues and big problems. How could they be so brave?

BOOK REVIEW: Something Spectacular by April Avery

Isabelle Dizon, A straight business course student, a prudent lady, and a responsible daughter. But she felt something lacking. She frequently felt she was conforming to her parents' expectations of who she should be, and she began to wonder if that was truly what she desired. She's about to graduate Magna Cum Laude, until she realizes that the course she chose doesn't seem to be going anywhere—because the truth is, it's not the kind of life she wants to lead.

Until she met a group of people from a chronically underfunded, nearly dissolved university organization as her uncertainty and longing continued, The Arcadian. Six university students who taught her the value of friendship, the courage that comes with following her dreams, the importance of living in the moment, and how to live according to her will. They helped her change herself and discover who she is while creating Something Spectacular.

Six University students also known as "The Arcadian" are; Pia Marie Mendoza, the Editor in Chief; Charlie Alvarez, the Associate Editor; Andrea Samson, a correspondent; Stephen Dela Cruz, layout artist; Lawrence Mariano, photojournalist; and lastly, Gavin Nicholo Delos Reyes, the official graphic artist of The Arcadian.

Isabelle's decision to join Arcadian was not easy; her parents were vehemently opposed. But she took the risk. Isabelle is a very family oriented daughter. That's why I loved how her character develop over the months and years she and Arcadian were together. Even though he is rich, he is smart and knows how to get along with them. Until she met Gavin Nicholo.

Gavin thought her to be BRAVE and everything will be alright, and to be BRAVE enough to show her true self and true passion. Gavin thought her to speak up for herself, break the rules necessary, to make herself prioritize for once.

It's okay to let people in, expose your deepest fears and greatest hopes, and leave the place you caged yourself in to find where you belong.

Arcadians are all happy, until Gavin left without saying goodbye to his friends, especially to Isabelle. Arcadian looked everywhere just to find Gavin. Until they found a medicine called Procarbazine.

It is a chemotherapy medicine used for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain cancers.

On Saturday morning, a day after Isabelle found out about the medication, They found Gavin's father, who told them that Gavin dropped out of school because he needed to be in a hospital because he was suffering from a brain tumor.

"Babes." CHAPTER 32. That hurt me as a reader because that one word had a big impact on Isabelle. Isabelle became independent but dependent on Gavin Nicholo. How could Isabelle tell him that she hated him for making her that way? That she is breaking seeing him like that. On a hospital bed taking medication and has cancer.

Even though Gavin is in a wheelchair, he still gave them the warmest smile. Arcadian is the reason why Gavin is fighting. Isabelle is the reason why Gavin is scared of dying.

The Arcadian always visiting Gavin every weekend.

They went to the hospitals rooftop. Shouting their dreams while watching the stars. Until Gavin said..

"Good night" , "See you next weekend?"

yet, he died at 12:30 AM.

A few hours after shouting their dreams. A few hours after he said he had a great day and he wanted to rest.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a reader, I really find this story great. To be honest, this story made me cry for a week. And even though it's been almost years since I read it. it still hurts me.

It has a lot of life lessons. It encouraged me to always be brave. To always take risks and be yourself. That it's okay to be scared. That it's okay to feel, to cry, to range, and to mourn for emotions that have been hidden or dreams that are fading. We may be misfits, society's outcasts, but there's always a place where we belong with people who will understand.

People assume they have a lot of time. We often take things for granted because they will always be there. Life is short, and the universe is so vast. We are significant and insignificant at the same time.

Something Spectacular is about finding your true self in the midst of the noise of others telling you who you should be.

Anything could be an adventure..

See you next weekend..

#hanniicore

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issyromero · 2 years

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✦ ALEXA DEMIE, FEMALE, SHE/HER ✦ ISABELA ROMERO the TWENTY-SEVEN year old has been in Hidehill for TWO YEARS and was a ONE NIGHT STAND to Ronnie Nilsson. Whispers on the streets are that the POP STAR who lives in HARLOW ESTATES. She is said to be TRUSTWORTHY and SNAPPY but I guess we’ll find out for ourselves. { DANI, 26, GMT, SHE/HER. }

BASICS

Full Name: Isabela Jade Romero

Nickname: Is, Issy, Bella

Age: 27

DOB: 5th November 1995

Parents: Adriana Romero (née Garcia) & Gabriel Romero

Hair colour: black

Eye colour: brown

Piercings: ears

Tattoos: none

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Occupation: Singer in Rhythmix (On Hiatus)

Positive Traits: Friendly, Trustworthy, Thoughtful, Patient

Negative Traits: Snappy, Clumsy, Foolish, Sensitive

LINKS

Discography

Playlist

Connections

BIOGRAPHY

Isabela was born and raised in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. She was an only child to Adriana and Gabriel, though her parents wanted more they knew financially they couldn’t support anymore children other than Issy.

She grew up in a large, close-nit family and was always very close with her cousins. She would often spend weekend sleeping at her grandparents house with all of her cousins and would often go on trips to zoo’s and parks.

Issy discovered her love for singing after her Grandad bought her and her cousins a karaoke machine at Christmas for when they visited on the weekends. They realised she had a natural talent and though they couldn’t afford to put her into lessons they decided to buy her a karaoke machine for at home too and her parents have tones of home made videos of her singing her little heart out.

her grandad passed and she was absolutely devastated by this, she felt like she lost her best friend and for months she barely left her home. She wrote songs which even to this day she can’t read back.

A year after his passing she auditoned for the xfactor. Her mum encouraged her and it the best thing that ever happened to her. From there the girl group Rhythmix was formed and she found the sisters she always wanted.

She gained this lifestyle she never thought she could have, she was able to give her parents and grandma a life they truly deserved and its all she could have ever asked for.

Rhythmix consisted of 4 girls and went on to release 6 studio albums and achieve 5 number one singles.

Eventually one of the girls left due to differences and Issy, Zay and Liv went on to continue as a trio before announcing their hiatus.

They moved to hidehill two years ago after signing to a new record label in nashville with the remaining band members and bought a house with olivia and zaylee in harlow estates.

#hidehillintro

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the5thscent · 3 months

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Scent-sational Choices: Why Perfume Sampler Sets Are a Must-Try

Stepping into the world of fragrances can be a delightful yet daunting experience. With thousands of perfumes on the market, each promising to capture the essence of a mood, memory, or moment, finding your signature scent might feel overwhelming. This is where perfume sampler sets come to the rescue, offering an exciting, practical, and budget-friendly way to explore a variety of scents without committing to a full bottle. Here’s why these little vials of wonder are a must-try.

1. Explore a World of Fragrances

Perfume sampler sets are your ticket to a fragrant adventure. These sets typically include a curated selection of mini-sized perfumes, allowing you to experience a diverse range of scents from floral to woody, fresh to oriental. It's like having a personal fragrance library at your fingertips, ready to transport you to different olfactory landscapes with just a spritz.

2. Find Your Signature Scent

Finding a perfume that truly resonates with you is a deeply personal journey. Sampler sets let you try multiple fragrances over time, helping you discover which notes you are naturally drawn to. Do you love the fresh burst of citrus? Or perhaps the warm embrace of vanilla? By experimenting with different scents, you’ll gain insights into your preferences and eventually find that one perfume that feels like a second skin.

3. Perfect for On-the-Go

Miniature perfume bottles are incredibly convenient for travel, fitting perfectly into your handbag or carry-on luggage. Whether you're heading to work, going on a weekend getaway, or flying across the globe, a sampler set ensures you always have a variety of scents at your disposal. No more worrying about TSA liquid restrictions or risking a full-size bottle breaking in your suitcase.

4. An Affordable Luxury

Perfume, especially high-quality, designer fragrances, can be quite an investment. Sampler sets offer an affordable way to experience luxury perfumes without the hefty price tag. For a fraction of the cost of a full-size bottle, you get to indulge in multiple high-end scents, making it a budget-friendly option for fragrance enthusiasts.

5. Ideal for Gifting

Choosing a perfume as a gift can be tricky, given how personal scent preferences are. Perfume sampler sets solve this dilemma beautifully. They make thoughtful and elegant gifts that allow the recipient to explore and choose their favorite fragrance. Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, or just because, a sampler set is a versatile and considerate present.

6. Reduce Waste

We’ve all been there – buying a full-size bottle of perfume only to realize it’s not quite right after a few uses. Perfume sampler sets minimize this risk, allowing you to thoroughly test a fragrance before committing to a larger bottle. This not only saves money but also reduces waste, making it an eco-friendlier choice.

7. Keep Up with Trends

The fragrance world is ever-evolving, with new scents and trends emerging regularly. Perfume sampler sets are a fantastic way to stay updated with the latest releases. You can experiment with the newest launches from your favorite brands and discover trending notes and blends without overhauling your entire fragrance collection.

8. Create Your Own Scent Wardrobe

Just like fashion, having a scent wardrobe for different occasions and moods can be incredibly satisfying. With a variety of perfumes at your disposal, you can choose a fresh, invigorating scent for the daytime, a sophisticated, alluring fragrance for the evening, and perhaps a comforting, warm aroma for those cozy nights in. Sampler sets enable you to curate a collection that matches every facet of your lifestyle.

9. Learn About Fragrance Families

Perfume sampler sets often come with detailed descriptions of each scent, including the notes and fragrance family it belongs to. This is a fantastic way to educate yourself about the different components that make up a perfume. Understanding the building blocks of your favorite fragrances can deepen your appreciation and enhance your scent selection skills.

10. The Joy of Discovery

Above all, perfume sampler sets are fun. They bring a sense of excitement and discovery, as you never know when you’ll stumble upon your next favorite fragrance. Each vial holds the potential for a new love affair, a new identity, or a new mood, waiting to be unlocked with a simple spritz.

In conclusion, perfume sampler sets are more than just a collection of tiny bottles. They are gateways to olfactory exploration, personal expression, and joyful discovery. So, why not treat yourself to a scent-sational journey and dive into the world of perfume sampler sets? You might just find your next signature scent waiting for you.

#best fragrance perfumes #best perfume in uk #online perfume store

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yukitokujpnblog · 5 months

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A story about a large Japanese corporate "salaryman" who got a "basic income" when he quit his job to do what he truly loves(3)

I was carefree before I left the company, but after I quit, the reality of being unemployed suddenly hit me. My annual income had been over 12 million yen(80,000USD), reduced to zero. Moreover, there was no prospect of funding my next challenge.

As the Japanese saying goes, "poverty dulls the spirit," and material scarcity leads to mental malfunction. Although I had enough savings to live for the foreseeable future, the mere fact that we have no regular income makes us hopelessly anxious. When I saw how I was shocked beyond expectation that my salary was not coming in every month, I could see how stability-oriented I was.

Even if I start a business, it will only generate income if there is a prospect. Even if I change jobs as hard as possible and find a job, the conditions will probably be worse than my previous job. Moreover, I may not do what I wanted even by risking own position. If that is the case, why did I quit that company?

I began to blame myself, thinking that I had made a foolish decision , even though I decided to quit. I lost my appetite and started having trouble sleeping.

As I spent sleepless days, I realized that I had been able to live a stable life because I had a foundation. Because of my income, I was able to buy what I wanted every day, go out to eat frequently, and travel abroad. When the income is gone, I can no longer take any action.

This means that my life depends on my environment. My health, my family's happiness, and other factors are usually invisible, but these factors contribute a lot to my internal happiness.

In the face of such a harsh reality, I was powerless to do anything about my ability to get out of my clogs. I felt ashamed of myself for being so arrogant.

I also realized how admirable my parents were for working until retirement, even though they probably went through many hardships, and my friends who make living as freelancers without belonging to a company. I had mistakenly thought that joining a large company had raised my level, but I was still me. I realized that I was being kept alive by something.

However, after a round of languishing, I thought, "I lost a lot, but I gained a lot, too. First, I now have more time and space in my mind. Before, even on weekends, I could not stop thinking about work, and I had never been able to relax genuinely.

Second, now I can devote my time to blogging and cultural activities without worrying. I challenge myself to the fullest in the things I like to do. Because of this, people around me have told me that my personality has become more open-minded since I left the company.

Above all, by taking time to reflect on myself, I have come to look at things dispassionately and realize that I had been obsessing over things more than necessary and neglecting things that should have been priceless to me. I could have these thoughts because, after all, I left the company.

In the end, the question in the previous article, "Do you take what you love or take a stable job?" is straightforward, and it may be that you can still have something hard either way and also that you can gain something either way.

However, I am sorry to ruin the atmosphere in which I talked about good things. But, I wouldn't say I liked it.

I didn't want to work a job I wouldn't say I liked while saying, "Well, that's just the way life is," or to struggle with my daily meals while saying, "I'm chasing my dream".

Moreover, in my case, rather than pursuing my dream, I was doing something that I was convinced would be important for Japan and the world, so I thought, "If I could just focus on my activities, my performance would improve tremendously. I could do more for others." I thought to myself.

A reference point is the so-called "athlete hiring system". Major companies in Japan are hiring sports athletes. When athletes the company supports are successful in Japan and the world, it gives the Japanese people dreams and serves as publicity for the company. It is a very excellent system.

On the other hand, I also wondered why this employment is limited to sports. There are different types of jobs besides sports that can give dreams and hope to the world. Some people work hard behind the scenes doing important social contribution activities that no one else does.

Of course, there are reasons why more media exposure is more beneficial to the sponsoring company, but it is all about what the company perceives. Some companies may consider something other than media exposure an attraction.

If so, there may be a company that understands the purpose and intent of my activities and would be supportive.

About six months before I left the company, I came up with the idea of this hiring system and discussed it with several management acquaintances. They all described it as an "interesting mechanism," but none would hire me. When I asked them why, they said the benefits were the bottleneck.

They said, "You are doing a good job, but not good enough for my company to pay for it.

This was a frustrating but valid statement, and I failed to convey the value of my efforts. That's all there is to it.

I decided to stop playing the lottery and work diligently, and made up my mind, "It's time for me to start looking for a new job," and that's when I met Mr.A.

#culture #basic income #nomad #tourism

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pearllemon-classics · 6 months

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Rev Up Your Engines: Top 10 Classic Car Races in the UK and Europe You Have to Witness

Attention, all lovers of vintage automobiles! Prepare yourselves for an unprecedented thrill of classic car racing as we embark on a journey through the top 10 unmissable races in the UK and Europe. From the legendary tracks of Silverstone to Monaco’s time-honoured streets, these pulse-racing events are sure to keep you gripped with excitement. So, fasten your seatbelts and accompany us as we delve into the electrifying realm of classic car racing and uncover why these races are an absolute treat for every car enthusiast out there!

1. Goodwood Revival (West Sussex, England)

The Goodwood Revival offers a unique opportunity to journey back to the heyday of motorsport. This event, which takes place annually at the historic Goodwood Circuit, is a remarkable fusion of vintage vehicles and period attire, creating an experience that is truly memorable. The event showcases an impressive array of classic cars competing in close proximity, serving as a nostalgic tribute to our rich automotive history.

2. Le Mans Classic (Le Mans, France)

The Le Mans Classic, a biennial event, offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the renowned Circuit de la Sarthe in a unique light. This event honours the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race and features vintage cars that roar around the track both day and night. The spectacle it presents is truly exhilarating and one that should not be overlooked.

3. Monaco Historic Grand Prix (Monaco)

Immerse yourself in the elegance and allure of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, an event where vintage automobiles grace the streets of Monte Carlo, showcasing a thrilling exhibition of velocity and accuracy. Set against the magnificent scenery of the French Riviera, this occasion is a sensory delight and a significant event on the classic car racing schedule.

4. Silverstone Classic (Northamptonshire, England)

Engage with numerous like-minded individuals at the Silverstone Classic, recognised globally as the largest festival dedicated to classic motor racing. With more than 1,000 vehicles participating in a multitude of races, coupled with live music and family-oriented activities, this event caters to a wide range of interests. It is an essential experience for classic car enthusiasts across all age groups.

5. Spa Six Hours (Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium)

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of motorsport at the Spa Six Hours, a weekend event filled with classic car racing set against the stunning backdrop of the Ardennes forest. From pre-war classics to contemporary supercars, the event offers races that pay tribute to the brilliance of automotive engineering.

6. Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix (Nürburg, Germany)

The Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix offers an opportunity to witness racing on one of the globe’s most renowned circuits. The Nürburgring, with its intricate bends and curves, presents a distinctive and thrilling experience for both drivers and spectators. This makes it an essential event for those passionate about classic car racing.

7. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Classic (Barcelona, Spain)

Experience the allure of traditional motor racing set against the breathtaking scenery of Barcelona at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Classic. This event showcases a wide array of races, ranging from vintage Formula 1 vehicles to historic touring cars, presenting a varied and thrilling programme that is certain to captivate attendees.

8. Donington Historic Festival (Leicestershire, England)

Honour the legacy of motorsport at the Donington Historic Festival, a three-day spectacle of vintage car racing hosted at the renowned Donington Park Circuit. The event features races across various eras and categories, providing an exhilarating experience for enthusiasts of all age groups.

9. Coppa Intereuropa (Monza, Italy)

The Coppa Intereuropa, an annual event at the renowned Autodromo Nazionale Monza, presents an opportunity to engage in racing on one of the globe’s most emblematic circuits. Characterised by its swift straights and demanding chicanes, Monza provides a genuine examination of driving proficiency while offering a captivating display for those watching.

10. Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or (Dijon, France)

Embark on a nostalgic journey to the illustrious era of motorsport at the annual Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or, hosted at the historic Dijon-Prenois Circuit. This event, set against a scenic backdrop and featuring exhilarating races, offers an evocative trip into history that is bound to captivate classic car aficionados.

As we wrap up our exciting journey through the top 10 classic car races in the UK and Europe, it’s crystal clear that the exhilaration of classic car racing is truly limitless! Whether you’re rooting for your beloved drivers at the Goodwood Revival or soaking up the historic charm of Monaco’s streets, these races promise a memorable experience that will leave an indelible mark. Plus, with fantastic companies like Pearl Lemon Classics crafting bespoke experiential tours for enthusiasts craving immersive explorations into the splendour of classic cars and iconic racing events, there are infinite possibilities! So why wait? Ignite your love for vintage motoring and start plotting your next classic car escapade today!

#luxury cars #vintage cars #car show #cars #classic cars

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denimbex1986 · 8 months

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'Out Brit filmmaker Andrew Haigh has crafted an exquisite, melancholic, lyrical meditation on love, death, family and memory, anchored by a truly arresting performance by Andrew Scott. "All of Us Strangers," loosely and queerly adapted by Haigh from the Japanese novel "Strangers" by Taichi Yamada, centers on Adam (Andrew Scott, in a rich, nuanced performance deserving awards attention), a frustrated screenwriter who lives in a virtually empty high-rise, outside London. The only other apparent tenant is a mysterious boozy younger man named Harry ( Paul Mescal, crazy-sexy), who hits on Adam and the two eventually hook up. Meanwhile Adam reconnects with his long dead parents (Jamie Bell & Claire Foy, both flawless) who are, once again, living in his childhood home in the suburbs. Oh, and both are the same age as when they perished in an auto accident when Adam was 12, meaning they're both significantly younger than their son. But this is no gimmicky supernatural thriller, although it can be viewed as a ghost story of sorts. Haigh has more ambitious aspirations that delve into identity, desire, grief, regret, abandonment, fear, loneliness and forgiveness. Not too heady!

And the film is told through the autobio-Haigh-lens which is unapologetically queer.

Haigh is no stranger to telling gay stories, both obvious and peripheral. In 2009 he made his first feature, "Greek Pete," which followed a London rent boy around for a year. His breakout hit, "Weekend," released in 2011, chronicled a 48-hour gay romance and is already considered an LGBTQ classic. The film starred Tom Cullen and Chris New.

"45 Years" followed in 2015, dissecting a marriage in crisis. Charlotte Rampling received her first Oscar nomination for her role opposite Tom Courtenay.

The quietly bold HBO series, "Looking" premiered in 2014. The cast included Jonathan Groff, Murray J. Bartlett, Frankie J. Alvarez and Russell Tovey. "Looking" presented an authentic peek at a gaggle of gay friends in modern-day San Francisco. The show only lasted 2 seasons but was given a movie-length wrap episode in 2016.

The highly underrated indie, "Lean on Pete," (2017) took a current but, also, prescient look at the ethical and moral divide in the U.S. Haigh also kept the enigmatic lead character's sexual orientation cryptic. And as played by the gifted Charlie Plummer, that ambiguity had a decidedly queer lean.

"The North Water," a 2021 miniseries based on the novel by Ian McGuire and created by Haigh, had its share of homoerotic scenes between leads Colin Farrell and Jack O'Connell.

"All of Us Strangers" is Haigh's most personal queer exploration. It's also his most haunting, mesmerizing and best film to date.

EDGE had the pleasure of a zoom chat with Haigh.

EDGE: Andrew, the relatability to so much of this film for me was so deep and almost profound. I've spoken to quite a few people queer and not queer, who feel the same. So, through specificity you've achieved universality.

Andrew Haigh: That's very nice. That's always kind of what your goal is. Nobody wants to see a story that is just about something very specific--that has nothing else to say. That doesn't work. You have to always ground it in something universal bubbling underneath. That's what I was trying to do. It's so nice that it does work for people and works for different types of people. That's important. I didn't want to make it just for one group of people, so I'm really pleased about that.

EDGE: Can you speak about taking the Yamada novel and making it your own?

Andrew Haigh: Yeah, so the central idea is the same. I love that central idea of meeting your parents again, it felt like it unlocked something in me, and it unlock this idea about being able to talk about your past and what the past has done to you and how it can be hard to leave it behind. I don't just mean in terms of grief. I mean, in terms of how we felt when we were young and childhood experience...

This idea that we are so formulated by the first 10, 15 years of our lives and we can never really escape that. I see that in everybody. I see in people who are 70... your childhood has defined you who you are as an adult. It's almost impossible to escape it. And so that felt like such an opportunity to be able to tell that story within this strange sort of ghost story, metaphysical love story, whatever you want to see this as.

EDGE: You're reminding me, Jane Fonda said when she was writing her autobiography that she needed to go back to examine in order to move forward. I feel like the older we get, the more we seem to look back.

Andrew Haigh: I'm 50 now and I feel like the last 10 years, I've really felt it. I think when you're young, you don't look back, obviously, there's nothing to look back on. But as you get older, you're like, Okay, I've got however many years I've got left, I need to go back, I need to recalibrate, I need to have a reunion with my own path, so I can understand why I am the way I am. So, it makes total sense to me. But you have to stare it in the face. And you have to throw yourself into it in order to find some kind of way to move forward. I think that's why the film does resonate because I feel like we all want that. And the idea that we could actually have a world in which you could physically meet your past, again, is quite powerful.

EDGE: This is like a 1980s question, but we keep boomeranging, don't we? Did you get any pushback wanting to tell a queer specific and Andrew Haigh-specific story?

Andrew Haigh: I'm Yeah, that's interesting because that's two different things, isn't it? I like that. When the producers came to me with the book, the minute I said I want to do this, but I have to make it queer, they were like, of course great, do it and make the story you want to make. And Searchlight and Film4 were the same--they were l excited by the idea that I had made it specifically queer. There was no pushback... And then specific for me, is again, something different. And I feel like luckily, I've been making films now for long enough that people understand what that film will be. And they wanted to support that. So, it felt good.

EDGE: How did you decide on the structure and tone of the film?

Andrew Haigh: That was probably the biggest struggle. I did a lot of versions of the script... to fill in the structure, which there is a sort of logic but then I throw myself away from the logic. There's lots of things that I'm trying to do at the same time. And in many ways, I wanted just to plot it emotionally. If all this is a manifestation of Adam's need, what does that mean for the plot?... What does that make the tone of the film feel? And especially when you're dealing with something that could be seen as ghosts, there's so much weird logic that gets put onto those stories. Can they eat? What happens to them when he's not there? Is he really in the house?... At one point during the writing, I was like, I've got to free myself from the eternal, endless questions that you can ask yourself about the plot, and just make it be a film about feeling and texture and emotion and let that drive it.

EDGE: Speaking to that, I was fascinated by the quiet moments, the details, the lingering close ups, I've seen a few films lately, where there was all that minutia, and I was just fucking bored. Here, I was never not mesmerized.

Andrew Haigh: That's nice, because it's so true, there's no point, putting the camera on someone's face if they're not giving you something that is interesting. It just doesn't work. It's pointless... like someone standing by the window, looking out to show that they're lonely only works if something's happening or you're feeling something. For me, it is about that fine tuning and calibrating in the edit, so you're not bored and you're giving the audience something new each time or something surprising or there's something underneath what you're giving... I feel like I've always been trying to find that in everything I do. It's finding that space for the character just to exist and for you to lean in and listen more and concentrate more. I feel like if you can do that you're enveloping the audience into the story and into the world. And if you do it right then it can work.

EDGE: And, of course, your cast assemblage helps because you get such authentic and deeply affecting performances from your actors, whether it's Tom and Chris, or Charlotte and Tom or Charlie Plummer. And Andrew, Paul, Claire and Jamie here. Can you tell me a little bit about your selection process?

Andrew Haigh: The selection process is always the thing that I spent so long thinking about it. If you get that wrong, it's not going to work. And it's all about trying to find people that make sense together. That's how I how I do it. And also trying to find the right kind of people, not just as actors, but as basic human beings. I spend a lot of time reading interviews that actors might have given, watching clips of them when they're being interviewed. And then I have to sit down with them and talk to them before I go forward. I want to know what it is that they care about in terms of the material. I want to know if they're going to be open enough as collaborators to share their own experience, and me share my experience, of life and relationships and family and all that kind of thing. Then if you can get that, I think you just develop a trust. And they know I'm not going to screw them over... I love that process. I love working with actors. I love letting them be what they want to be as much as what I want them to be. That's the trick, you've got to just let it come out of them and don't try and force it into some preconceived notion of what you need that performance to be.

EDGE: I've never heard another director say that he's watched interviews (as part of the casting process). You can get so much from somebody from that.

Andrew Haigh: So much. And, also, you can see what they're showing and what they're hiding. I think I'm relatively perceptive about people and it's what they're not showing that is the most interesting thing to me. You can see a certain vulnerability in people when they're doing interviews... I also think that what an actor chooses to do with their career says so much about the person they are. Like Charlotte in "45 Years" Her choices have been so fascinating in her career that I'm like, well, you're an interesting person. There were choices that you (made). It's so important. The work that someone does defines them in so many ways. So, you have to take that on board when you're trying to make a casting choice.

EDGE: And the chemistry between Andrew and Paul were off the charts, but Claire and Jamie, too. Did you make them all shag before? I'm joking.

Andrew Haigh: (laughs) Yes, it was a really awkward session. We were in a bad hotel, and we were like, come on, this is what we got to do. We've got to really force ourselves through this. (laughs)

EDGE: Have you ever been in a situation where the chemistry wasn't working? Not necessarily on this film? And what did you do?

Andrew Haigh: ...I've been really lucky. I do think the reason that chemistry sometimes doesn't work is that you just set it up wrong. And you don't nurture the right environment on set. That is so important. If you can nurture that environment so they don't spend time locked away in their own trailers not talking to each other, that you create an environment where people are getting to know each other. I think so much of my job on set is to understand what people need.... it can be quite exhausting. You're like a therapist, basically, for the whole of the shoot...But I think that's what you need to do as a director to make sure that everybody is comfortable enough to give the best performances.

EDGE: There's so much conversation about actors playing queer roles versus the best actor for the job. I'm curious where you land. And how did it relate to the casting of Andrew Scott?

Andrew Haigh: I did want someone that was that was queer to play Andrew's character, because there's so much nuance I'm trying to pick out genuine feeling that I needed that character to have. And I think any of us who are a certain age who grew up at a certain time, it's in our body. It's baked into our DNA. How we felt the fear, the terror, the worry--all that stuff. And I didn't want to have a straight actor playing that role. Because I'd have to then try to explain all that. You know what it's like, you sit down with a gay person, there's so much shared experience you don't even need to talk about...you go into a room full of queer people you're like, I can breathe a little bit easier. Most of the time, it depends if who you're in a room with, but most of the time...

But then outside of that, there's lots of choices that go into who you cast for the role. I understand the arguments about why it can only be a queer person playing a queer role, but I really do think it depends on the role. Look, I'm gay, I wrote it. The producer Graham was gay. You don't need everybody to be gay. You just need enough people who know what they're talking about to be part of that project.

EDGE: I wanted to talk about internalized homophobia because it's there in the film. It comes from the people who shape us, doesn't it? Parents, relatives, friends...

Andrew Haigh: ...So many of us have dealt with internalized homophobia for so long in our lives. We've grown up with it. Every day you were going to school and having to deal with it, having so much shame. Sometimes you can hear a younger generation sort of think, 'Oh, you guys are just full of self-loathing, you're fully shame, get over it! And you're like, hold on, we weren't born with self-loathing or shame, it was put upon us by the world we lived in. So, you can't condemn us for having those issues that were put upon us... It doesn't just go away when it's embedded in you growing up. And it is from our family. It's from everybody, the TV, the news... I think it's a life journey for a lot of queer people to shed that internalized homophobia. And for me, personally, it's been a journey. And the film is another step in that journey to shed that. It's a very complicated thing.

There's a line in the film when (Claire Foy) asks if Adam's lonely, and that it's a very lonely life. And he's like, If I am lonely, it's not because I'm gay. And he's right. But also, being gay in the world has made him lonely. So, it's not being gay that makes you lonely, it's being gay within the world that can make you lonely.

EDGE: "Lean on Pete." I adore that film. I really appreciated that you never felt the necessity to force a sexual orientation on Charlie. There was no obligatory girlfriend or hookup scene, I'm assuming that was deliberate.

Andrew Haigh: Absolutely. And it's so weird to me--in the original novel, there's no sense that that kid is queer--but there's something to me when I thought about Charlie that he felt like a queer kid. So, in some strange way, it felt like it was a story, as well, about a kid trying to find his way in the world and being torn between this freedom--this desire for freedom--but also a craving for stability. I feel like sometimes as queer people we're told we've got to just go and find our new family... well, no, sometimes we want the stability of our actual family. I felt like that spoke to America, as I see it, and even in a bigger way about this conflict between stability and freedom. America was born on this search for freedom, the individual, but that cannot be great for everybody... We don't all need to be let free in the world to fend for ourselves.

EDGE: There's a lot of anxiety and stress involved in filmmaking. You seem like a really well put together person, how do you deal with it and not go insane?

Andrew Haigh: It's a funny thing because I feel like I'm actually quite an anxious person. And I feel like during the process, there were so many times when the anxiety of making it is almost overwhelming. Why am I doing this? Why am I putting myself through this? And that's writing, shooting, is all different anxieties, editing, the fear that that project is now going to be in the world, and how is it going to be taken? Filmmakers. It's an exposing art form. Even if it's nothing to do with you, you're exposing something about yourself. I don't care what anyone says, you care about the reaction, you care how people take it. So, it can be a stressful thing. I mean, you can just ask my poor partner who has to deal with my stress and anxiety constantly at the end of each day. But there was something that still makes me want to do it. I can't imagine I would want to do it forever... I know some filmmakers keep working into their 70s and 80s. I can't imagine that will be me. I feel like there will be a time when it's like, you know what, that's enough now, I've done what I can do, and I need to have a quieter existence.'

#Andrew Haigh #Andrew Scott #Paul Mescal #All of Us Strangers #Greek Pete #Weekend #45 Years #Looking #Lean On Pete #The North Water #Jamie Bell #Claire Foy

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