#jocelyn somerset

[endlessly-cursed]

fankids appreciation week: family dynamics - the somerset family (920-present)

featuring: odalric the red, denegifu of scotland, juliana of york, akelda the tragic, cuthfelda of ireland, hilda the smith, agatha of kent ( @that-scouse-wizard ) vincent somerset, alexandra somerset, lenore somerset, jocelyn somerset, morwenna somerset, gia somerset ( @gaygryffindorgal ) lawrence somerset, philip somerset, elizabeth somerset, gia somerset ii, ruby somerset ; diana somerset & beatrice somerset ( @camillejeaneshphm ) felicity, constance & meredith somerset

[fischerfrey]

fankids appreciation, day six; football team

okay i lied, i did have time to make this! feast your eyes on little primlings❤

vincent somerset, alexandra somerset, lenore somerset, jocelyn somerset, morwenna somerset, and gia somerset

custody with @endlessly-cursed

event by @endlessly-cursed

[sczttie]

             araminta  scotlyn  “  scottie  ”  somerset  cavendish  .  vinte  e  um  anos  .  temperance  .  relações  internacionais  .  justa  &  tradicional  .  obstinada  &  carente  .  grêmio  estudantil  &  tênis  .

ah, a união dos somerset e dos cavendish… poderia passar horas falando disso. a fusão de duas famílias riquíssimas da grã-bretanha que deu origem a pequena araminta scotlyn, fruto de um amor, resultado de uma política de salvação. afinal, fique só entre nós: reza a lenda que os somerset estavam indo a falência até que jocelyn somerset chamou a atenção dos pais de william cavendish iv (isso mesmo, o quarto william cavendish). sorte a deles que jocelyn era bonita o suficiente de atrair os olhos dos cavendish, ou só restaria pó nas contas bancárias dos somerset. salvos pelo gongo, não?

talvez seja por esse motivo que jocelyn criou araminta para ser submissa a tudo e a todos. estava a mercê dos cavendish e tratou de que sua filha fosse igual. se pensavam em x, araminta pensaria em x também. afinal, não existem outras letras no alfabeto se assim disserem os familiares. e quem iria querer ir contra os cavendish? ninguém em sã consciência.

a mudança para zurique veio junto com uma decisão precipitada de william: tomou posse de uma parte dos investimentos da família e decidiu abrir um escritório da cavendish insurance corp. em zurique, centro bancário e financeiro internacional. scottie tinha cerca de dez anos. o aprendizado de uma nova língua foi atrasado, até porque inseriram a filha em um colégio bilíngue e utilizava o inglês mais do que os idiomas oficiais do país, e somente no ensino médio que se tornou fluente em alemão e francês.

passando ao que importa: a faculdade. apesar de ter se inscrito em inúmeras, grande parte no reino unido para honrar as vontades do pai e da família paterna, scottie não conseguiria ficar longe deles. morar sozinha, viver sozinha… isso não batia com araminta scotlyn e sua personalidade. por isso, quando a carta de aceitação da universidade leon dreyfus veio com um alívio automático: não precisaria se mudar, nem deixar os pais. contudo, foi algumas semanas depois que algo horrível aconteceu: o avô paterno, hanlim cavendish faleceu e o pai teria que assumir todos os negócios da família, portanto, voltariam a inglaterra. já matriculada na suíça, perto das aulas começarem, não tinha muito o que fazer. o choque de realidade foi grande e scottie ficou baqueada por alguns dias até se tocar de que realmente teria que viver sozinha, somente consigo e seus pensamentos. coisa que nunca aconteceu antes.

quando descobriu da arcanus, logo se encantou e quis tentar entrar. mas o presidente não pensou a mesma coisa quando conheceu a doce scottie. alegando que a inglesa não tinha os pré-requisitos necessários para fazer parte da fraternidade, araminta foi a loucura quando descobriu que, além de tudo, a decisão tinha ficado entre ela e alina frazer, com quem já vinha disputando notas por estarem no mesmo curso! era muito azar.

nunca tinha se considerado alguém competitivo até conhecer a figura de alina. as duas bonitas, inteligentes, carismáticas, no mesmo curso e… lutando pelas mesmas vagas. era quase como se o universo quisesse mostrar a todo custo à scottie que alina era melhor que ela, porque era ela sempre a escolhida por todos. ofuscada, se chateou e decidiu tomar para si as dores da indignação como uma forma de vingança ao sistema.

no semestre seguinte, quando abriram novas vagas para a arcanus, lá estava scottie cavendish, tentando mais uma vez. ficou um pouco surpresa, para não dizer nada, quando a aceitação chegou em seus ouvidos. um gostinho de vitória.

quando a festa de final de ano chegou, scottie queria somente uma coisa: beber e esquecer os problemas. afinal, alina havia sumido, por deus! apesar de não tê-la por perto ser uma alívio para sua competitividade, o fato que ela havia sumido era uma pedra no seu sapato, pois a fraternidade estava uma bagunça, tinha de confessar. a ideia de roubar o cofre era péssima! scottie podia ser tudo, mas não era delinquente!

quando retornou ao campus, no semestre seguinte, a conta bancária da fraternidade estava… estável? como assim? a notícia do roubo chocou a ela. tinham deixado a ideia para lá depois de beberem mais um pouco, não? quem foi o filho da mãe que tramou isso?! nenhum crime era justificável, pelo amor de deus!

quando atenderam a porta e a polícia informou que alina havia sido assassinada, o chão de scottie estremeceu. podia não gostar da menina (não gostar nada, vale mencionar), mas havia perdido sua competidora e… de todos os defeitos, scottie tinha sentimentos e qualquer assassinato mexia com seu coração, até o de alina. quando alguns alunos fizeram um memorial para a menina no campus, scottie levou flores e ajeitou as outras que já estavam lá.

quando killian contou o que havia feito, a primeira reação foi gritar com ele. “que merda é essa que você ‘tá falando? pirou?” do que conhecia dele, aquilo não fazia sentido algum!!! quer dizer, pensando bem, ele ficou do lado errado da história do roubo… isso insinuava que ele já não ligava muito pras leis, pensou scottie, mas nem conseguiu terminar esse raciocínio porque pedras eram lançadas contra eles. estavam em perigo e aquilo ficou bem claro. merda.

[architectnews]

Five "undervalued" women architects Part W is creating Wikipedia pages for

Women's architecture collective Part W is one of several organisations working to increase the number of female architects listed on Wikipedia. On International Women's Day, Sarah Ackland has picked five significant women that she believes should have pages on the site.

The current and historic gender imbalance of those working in architecture is well documented and is reflected on Wikipedia, where many significant women architects do not have listings.

"It's important that Wikipedia include significant women"

According to Ackland, only 17 per cent of all biographies on Wikipedia are about women and this makes it is harder for the general public to find information about female architects.

"Wikipedia is the first place many members of the public, students, journalists and designers look to access generalist knowledge on many topics," Ackland told Dezeen.

"You can't be what you can't see – and so it's important that Wikipedia include significant women, as well as men, so as to offer role models, information and learning about the work of female architects."

According to Ackland, many significant women architects are not represented on Wikipedia

One of the issues facing those creating entries is that Wikipedia requires digital or archival citations to justify inclusion. Due in part to the way that "women's work" has traditionally been recorded and attributed, these are often not available.

"Women's histories tend to lack an archive or are collected in diaries and in less 'academic' or 'egotistical' manners. Often women's work was credited to men before the Sex Disqualification Act of 1919," Ackland explained.

"Women's work is less visible and less readily available on the Internet and therefore women's contributions to history are easier to question, doubt or scrub out from history. By having women's work more present online, future students and architects can diversify and decolonise their references and subjects of study."

"Wikipedia is rife with systemic bias"

Ackland also believes that systemic bias by predominately male editors of Wikipedia is another reason that entries about women are questioned or deleted.

"Despina Stratigakos explains in her book Where are the Women Architects? that women contributors routinely find that Wikipedia editors question the significance of women's pages and subsequently they are removed," explained Ackland.

"Wikipedia is rife with systemic bias, in the UK only 13.6 per cent of wiki editors self-identified as female."

"Racial diversity is unrecorded but widely acknowledged as well," she continued. "The stereotype of a Wikipedia editor is a 30-year-old white man. This brings issues of unconscious bias into the equation, with the work of black architects and designers from minority groups too often being unrecorded."

Wikipedia pages for women architects are "starkly thin"

Ackland picked five architects after finding out that several women on Part W's alternative list of RIBA Royal Gold Medal winners did not have Wikipedia pages.

"Using the crowdsourced alternative list as a reference point, there remain nine women with no Wikipedia presence; Sheela Maini Søgaard, a partner of BIG architects, the still practising Jane Darbyshire, the much-celebrated Marie-José van Hee, Liz Goldfinger, a furniture designer who is often overshadowed by her father Erno Goldfinger, as well as Jean Conder, Jocelyn Adburgham, Nora Geddes, Lady Mary Lovelace and the eccentric feminists Jane and Mary Parminter," she said.

According to Ackland the bias towards female architects on Wikipedia also extends to the length and depth of entries, which in many cases are "starkly thin in comparison to those of their male counterparts".

"Entries for well-known male architects are extensively referenced and filled with associated imagery," said Ackland.

"While entries for female architects and female architects of colour such as Norma Merrick Sklarek, Beverly Loraine Greene, Yasmeen Lari, Elizabeth Carter Brooks and Sharon Egretta Sutton are woefully thin by comparison," she continued. "This is not a result of any of these women having done less work – rather, a case of their work being undervalued."

Below are five women architects that Ackland is in the process of creating or expanding Wikipedia pages for.

Liz Goldfinger

"Liz Goldfinger was responsible for iconic furniture designs during the 1960s and was trained at Central Saint Martins," said Ackland.

"She is well known for her pieces such as the 'Liz Box', a laminated birch plywood low table/storage box which can be seen at 2 Willow Road, her father’s 1939 modernist house design in Hampstead. Many of her designs were 'postable' or 'flat pack,' however, she innovated a design for pieces to slot together, negating the need for screws or Allen keys."

Jean Conder (formerly Macarthur)

"With a complicated, largely undocumented and unclear history, Jean was married to two architects, one who designed Churchill Gardens in Pimlico," said Ackland.

"Jean worked around the 1950-60s and is noted as a plantswoman, counsellor, gilder and restorer, with clear talent in many areas. Jean reportedly worked alongside both; however, she was never formally credited for her work and was actually removed from an article including her name."

Nora Geddes

"A 20th-century landscape designer, Nora attended her father's botany course when she was just 14 years old before moving to the Edinburgh School of art for drawing lessons," said Ackland.

"She worked extensively on the Royal Zoological Society Scotland Garden alongside work at Chessel's Court, Johnstone Terrace and the Westport."

Mary Lovelace

"Mary Lovelace forged her way through architectural education before women were even accepted to study at many institutions," said Ackland.

"She was a committee member of the Chelsea Society, which was founded in 1927 to protect our build environment. She was an acclaimed artist and activist who trained with an architecture firm to hone her skills to work on estates in Ockham Park, Surrey and Ashley Combe in Somerset."

Elizabeth Carter Brooks

"A proclaimed architect, activist and teacher, Elizabeth's mother had been a former slave," said Ackland.

"Elizabeth defied the limitations of her time and was passionate to create equality for all. She initially worked with the National Association of Coloured Women's Clubs working passionately to help other African Americans achieve personal success and campaigned tirelessly to preserve black heritage buildings in the US," she continued.

"Despite her important contribution she only has a short Wikipedia entry."

The post Five "undervalued" women architects Part W is creating Wikipedia pages for appeared first on Dezeen.

[trinity-blood-translations]

ROM 6 - Chapter 1 Part II (english translation)

Translator: Roven, Editing: Lamy Link for Part I

Trinity Blood (by Sunao Yoshida) ROM 6 Chapter 1 Part II

  —The situation is intolerable.

  Of the forty men and women who had gathered that afternoon at the Diogenes club, it was a mature but strong man who spoke first.

  His name was Charles Somerset. Among the famous Twenty-six Dukes of the Albion's aristocracy, he occupied the fifth place as heir of the Duchy of Beaufort, which possessed extensive territories in the Northwest of England. The former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army tapped his finger on the table and casted a sharp glance toward the attendees.

  —As if it were not enough trouble that Rome had discovered the existence of the ghetto, it turns out that we have not annihilated the monsters? But what the hell has the expedition of extermination done!?

  —According to the reports that have come to us, the blocking system made the ghetto completely inaccessible from the outside. —answered Albert Hobb Duke of Newcastle without changing his poker face.

  The ducal house of Newcastle, which had possessions in the Northeast of Scotland, occupied only nineteenth place in the list of dukes, but Hobb was a Supreme Court judge, in addition, he was a member of the House of Lords and Lord Chancellor, so that in the Palace he was just below the royal family and the archbishop of Canterbury. Pointing towards the three-dimensional map of Londinium which has been projected by laser on the table, he added:

  —To reach the ghetto we must necessarily go through this point. Right now we don’t know how to open the wall of isolation. In fact, we don't know how thick it is or what material it is made of ... We are not even in the situation to dream of exterminating them.

  —And if we blow it? —asked Lord Tennyson, a famous poet, member of the Royal Council, turning to the Deputy Minister of Interior Boswell.

  Pouring a spoonful of jam of roses into his cambric tea with honey and milk, he said in an affected voice:

  —If we're going to flood the tunnels anyway, we can directly use the most violent methods, don't you think, Mr. Deputy Minister?

  —The corps of engineers has tried.

  Boswell shrugged, stroking his beard well. His intelligence and good judgment had made him win the queen's confidence, but unfortunately his lineage didn't place him among the Twenty-six Dukes. He was probably intimidated by the representatives of those twenty-six families, only four hundred people, who owned twenty-five percent of the land and seventy percent of the wealth of the kingdom. With a hesitant tone, he explained:

  —It is not yet clear what material it is made of, but we have discovered that the wall can withstand a detonation of fifty kilos of TNT without suffering a scratch. And it's not just explosives. Neither the chemicals nor electricity have had any effect. We have been trying to investigate what happened on the other side of the wall with sound waves, but that didn't work either... The ghetto is literally isolated from the world.

  —Well, well. This is getting more complicated.

  Upon hearing the explanations of Boswell, Jonathan Montagu Douglas Scott folded his arms. That old Scottish man with the endless name was the holder of the charge of The Royal Seal Guardian and as the Duke of Buccleuch he occupied the twelfth spot. He was the oldest of all the aristocrats present in the room. Rubbing the long beard, he let out a tired sigh.

  —The plan was to exterminate all the monsters before the night fell and thus to mislead the Pope and the media... What has been of that? We have managed to rescue the Pope and the Lady Saint by the hairs, but now the vampires have locked themselves in the ghetto. There is no doubt that The Vatican has realized that we were aware of the presence of the monsters. Even ordinary citizens had begun to show signs of uneasiness, now that they know they have been living all these years with those beasts underfoot.

  The old man spoke with his eyes fixed on a figure that had been silent all the time with the arms folded. The look of the aristocrat traversed like a needle to the orange-haired cavalry officer.

  —All this is because of the failure of last night's operations...Oh, by the way, were not you the one who designed the plan of attack, Viscountess of Carsley Colonel Spencer? What do you think about this?

  —Excuse me, grandfather, talking about this now leads to nothing.

  Who answered in that way to the venerable old man who had guided the policies of the kingdom for half a century was not the young officer. For defending Bloody Mary, the beaded woman had raised her voice. Extending her arms as if to cover her friend the Duchess of Erin Jane Judith Jocelyn threw the Duke of Buccleuch a look full of sarcasm.

  —I don’t know if you remember that it was exactly all of us here who gave the approval to the plan of attack presented by the colonel. Isn't it a bit dishonest to throw all the blame on her now?

  —But it was she who carried it out. Don't you think that if she had been a little more skilful on the ground would the results have been different? — intervened Harvey Campbell of the ducal house of Argyll, thirteenth of the list.

  That great Welsh landowner, who also controlled several newspapers and radio stations, had once made a proposal for a marriage to the Duchess of Erin, but she had rejected him. It was not uncommon to think that the poisonous tone of his voice had something to do with resentment that kept him for it.

  —For the moment, we are controlling the information that comes to the light, but it is already known that the public have very keen ear. It even seems that there are people who are already packing everything they have to flee of Londinium... It wouldn't be strange that we'll get scenes of panic. With what face are we going to go and tell this to Her Majesty?

  —I beg your pardon for having caused these problems. This was all my fault. — answered a deep voice to the ironic attack of Duke of Argyll.

  The young officer had risen to her feet. After nodding briefly to the duchess of Erin to reassure her, she faced the looks that crossed her.

  —I accept my responsibility for not being able to exterminate the monsters as promised. However, I want to remember that I already had repeatedly requested permission to eliminate the ghetto. We should have dealt with the problem before it came to this... But was it not this same council that rejected my requests? The ghetto was the hen of golden eggs. Eighty percent of the technology and the goods it produced ended up becoming patents of your companies. That's why you protected the monsters from my proposals. The current situation is the result. Have you thought of who has responsibility for all that?

  —Measure your words, Colonel. Anyone would say that you want to avoid your guilt by throwing it at us —said the duke Of Buccleuch again, with the classic malicious smile of the aristocrats of Albion. —I will not deny that our companies used technology invented in the ghetto. But do not forget that everything was part of a plan approved by Her Majesty for the development of the kingdom.

  —The Duke of Buccleuch is quite right. In addition, we had always thought that if there are only one or two hundred vampires, we would be able to get rid of them easily in any moment —said, picking up the thread, the Duke of Argyll, still with more poison, looking aggressively at the officer. —Who could have thought that the army would perform so poorly? Colonel, wouldn't have been better to attack with all of our power last night, counting on that there would be some casualties? If you had ordered to open the gates before, we could have drowned the monsters and now we wouldn't see each other in these difficulties... Am I wrong?

  Mary replied expressionless to the questions of the aristocrat, although under the control of her voice, it was possible to guess the hidden presence of a storm of wrath.

  —It was not an attack power problem. Pursuing the operations after the insulation system was activated would have been extremely dangerous. I do not think my decision to order the withdrawal was wrong.

  —I think you're too soft, Colonel...

  Exhaling the smoke of the cigar, the Duke of Argyll replied in a tone that showed only one-tenth of the seriousness he would have by talking about the illness of a pet. Taking out a new cigar from a silver box, he added nonchalantly:

  —To end a big problem you have to accept a small problem... I doubt that we can congratulate you on having endangered the security of the kingdom in exchange for saving the lives of a few dozen soldiers. Such calculations are the key of politics.

  —Politics? — repeated Mary in a monotone voice without changing her expression. —Are you referring to the deaths of my men two years ago?

  —Two years ago... Ah! Percy's rebellion. Indeed, they were necessary victims.

  The aristocrat put a finger on his forehead as if to awaken the memories from the past. While lighting the next cigar, which probably cost more than what a current worker earned in a month, he explained:

  —When we summoned the rebel army leader to Londinium with the pretext of opening negotiations, it was the key to catch him unaware. If we wouldn't have sent you and your men to accompany him unarmed, the rebel and his minions would never have agreed to come to the capital... What a pity that because of that they put that motto of Bloody Mary.

  —A pity? —murmured the colonel at the same time as a cold light ignited her glance.

  The woman dropped her muscular hand to the waist, where the saber was hanging. For a moment she seemed ready to draw the weapon, but then she ran her fingers into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and brought it to the face.

  —The dead men were <<necessary victims>> and for you my motto looks like <<a pity>>... I don’t have words, Duke of Argyll. As a member of the kingdom's army, I can’t contain the tears of emotion...

  —A ..., although part of the plan last night didn’t go well, at least the rescue of the Pope and the Lady Saint was a success. I think that the colonel did a great job. —said Boswell in order to distend between the official and the aristocrats who crossed him with a glance.

  Without a doubt, trying to relax the atmosphere, the man of the queen awkwardly changed the subject:

  —Anyway, there will be time to discuss who has the responsibility for what. Now there are more urgent problems ... The case of Sister Esther, for example. How should we present it to the media? Is this the time to make public that she is the daughter of the deceased prince?

  —Obviously, we must wait a little longer.  —replied the duke of Newcastle taking a thick wad of documents which were on the table.

  The papers contained all the information related to the person they were talking about. Since last night, the Ministry of the Royal House, the Stary House, the Information Department and the rest of the twenty-eight organisms had been working tirelessly to submit those reports. Starting with the results of the DNA analysis from the previous night contained all kinds of data about the new candidate to the throne, who seemed to be at the same time the most legitimate.

  —After taking a look at this, it seems to me that we need some time to draft an appropriate official report. The paparazzo is in custody and the Vatican has agreed to say nothing. I don't see the need to hurry things up. Why not wait to the final report of the Ministry of the Royal House?

  —In addition it is still necessary to know what intentions has Esther Blanchett herself..., I mean, Princess Esther.  —said Sir Bruce Churchill.

  The young heir of the ducal house of Marlborough, who had just graduated from college, looked around for approval of those present.

  —It is not impossible to think that she might decide to give up her succession to the Crown, considering that she has been living completely away from the affairs of the court... Although the report may be completed before, wouldn't be better to wait to know her intentions first and then decide if it is convenient to make public her status as a princess? If we are not careful, that can bring much greater problems.

  —The Duke of Marlborough is right. A figure that will combine holiness with the royal blood would be too powerful for the popular imagination.

  —If she renounces the succession there will not be only general panic ...

In the worst case, we may encounter a rebellion. The fact that she had to come to appear right now ...

  —On the contrary, it may be the coup de fortune that we need right in the midst of these misfortunes. Her presence can make the people and the Vatican forget the rest of the problems ...

  Twenty-five of the dukes began to argue among themselves, exchanging views on the benefits and hazards that were waiting for Albion and their own houses, looking together for the way they should go. Only one person, the first among those aristocrats, turned towards the friend who was sitting next to her with a disinterest face.

  —Speaking of the subject, what are we going to do with that brat, Mary? —asked the Duchess of Erin without attempting to hide a huge yawn. — I have heard that last night they took her out of the ghetto to the hospital...Do you know where is she and what is she doing now?

  —She's at Windsor Palace right now, keeping her away from the media.

  The palace to which the officer referred was about thirty kilometers west of Londinium. The colonel did not changed the expression, but from her gaze had disappeared the cold glow that it had when she faced with the aristocrats. Mary responded to the question of her friend with the usual distant tone:

  —The medical reports do not mention any signs of violence or vampire bites. I have heard that she locked herself in the chapel and is not leaving the place... That wouldn't be a problem, of course, if it were not because she refuses to eat or drink anything.

  —Well, well. To be the granddaughter of Queen Brigitte is a very delicate thing... But, in the chapel? Ah!, for the priest... —said Jane, putting the finger on her lips as if thinking something then she nodded at once:

— How unfortunate. Did he die, right? But… so what? Did they have an intimate relationship? If she is so sad that she doesn't want to eat, it can only be because of that, right?

—I don’t know. But it’s certain they were very close to each other.

— What a pity...but it’s surprising. I thought that Esther is more persistent. Whining like this and yourself away just because one lover has died - I'm a little bit disappointed.

—You'd better not apply your standards, Calamity Jane. She seems much more normal. Not everyone is as hard as you.

  —Well, talking about tough people, is there anyone tougher than Bloody Mary? And the queen, if she weren't so fierce she couldn't do all those shenanigans in which she's always stuck... Now that I think of it, that brat is not suited to sit on the throne.

  Without changing her pose, Jane rolled her eyes mischievously. Walking the gaze towards the nobles around her, she added:

  —The aristocracy, the media, the Vatican, the Germanic kingdom..., those are really nests of monsters. Compared to them, the ghetto is a child's play. That girl will be eaten alive if they put her on the throne. It seems too difficult for her.

  —You may be right —nodded the colonel, watching the aristocrats as if they were very far from there.

  The discussion on the table had passed from Esther's case to the suspicions concerning the Germanic Kingdom. After being rescued, the Pope had declared to have been the victim of an assassination attempt next to the river. The terrorist was still missing, but the investigation had determined that the weapon used was the same equipped by the special forces of the Germanic Army.

Boswell was arguing with the dukes about if that was enough reason to ask responsibilities to the German ambassador. The Duke of Newcastle denied with his head at the cries of the dukes of Argyll and Beaufort, two known hawks, driven by the Duke of Norfolk, traditional foe of Newcastle.

  —And the palace..., that is indeed a pandemonium —commented Mary, taking out a cigarette, while watching the lively discussions of the men around her. — It is no place for a modest person. Esther herself must know... Jane, the only one capable of occupying that throne is you.

  —I don’t know. I think it suits me more to be an evil witch that manipulates an innocent queen to her liking. I get chills just thinking in having to live a decent life facing the people.

  The expression of the duchess showed the sincere disgust of someone <<Of free spirit>>, as she was popularly known.

  Ever since the suspicion that the Germanic Kingdom had tried to assassinate the Pope had appeared the most suitable candidate for the throne seemed to be her, but the problem was that neither the aristocrats nor the Vatican had her in very high esteem. In her domains of Erin she demonstrated that she had good leadership skills, but for many inhabitants of Albion was << the queen of the neighboring country >>.  It was not difficult to ascend the throne, but once there many problems could be anticipated. She knew it very well, as the look she gave her friend.

  —Mary, the perfect person for the throne is you. Who cares that you are an illegitimate daughter? No one has worked more than you for the good of the country. While this band of geezer man was here scratching their belly, you were the only one on the battlefield, dirtying your hands. That someone as sacrificially as you had been put the motto of Bloody Mary... no matter if a Saint or a real princess…. I'll give all my support to you before anyone else. It must be you to become queen.

  —Thank you, Jane...

  The officer calmly returned the look to her friend who was serious like just a very few times. Mary had a glimmer of sorrow in her eyes. Or was just an effect of the table shine?

  —But you know very well that I have my hands stained with blood. The blood of my enemies and that of my own men.  Do you believe that they will let the crown get stained by these hands? I will never be able to sit in the Throne of the Roses...

  —Excuse me! —A male voice accompanied by door knock interrupted the conversation of the two friends. Before a sea of ​​accusing looks, a club bellboy hurried into the room. While giving a paper to Boswell, he whispered something in his ear that made the deputy minister's face immediately tense.

  —A Palace statement has just arrived...

  After telling the bellboy to leave the room, Boswell began to read the paper in an inexpressive voice:

—<<Today at eighteen-fifty, the state of his Majesty has suddenly worsened. Meeting in palace immediately.>>

  —Well, at last it seems like what we've all been waiting for is here — Jane said to her friend, standing in the middle of the uproar that broke out in the room. — Let's go to the Palace, then. Maybe this will be the last time you see your grandmother alive, Mary. You better prepare for the worst.

  —I know. I'll come soon... You can go directly, Jane. I will pass by Windsor to pick up Esther. It would be a shame if she did not know her grandmother before she abandons us.

  —Of course, it would be best that she accompany you... Since you are sisters, it is natural that you go together.

  —Sisters? We?

  A certain color of surprise appeared on Mary's face, as if she had just realized. Before she could say anything else, the Duchess of Erin had already turned, like the rest of the aristocrats, and left the room, dodging the groups of friends who whispered to each other...

  The colonel remained alone in the room, with no other company than the smoke...

  —Sisters... It's true. I didn’t think of that...

  Mary smiled as she extinguished the cigarette in an ashtray as if surprised by her own confusion. She realized that almost more than it looked like a scrutiny, it seemed more like stupidity. But that was the truth. Esther Blanchett was her half-sister. Her social position, the environment in which they had been raised, their possessions...

Apparently they could not be more distinct, but still ...

  ���Will you allow me a moment, Colonel?[1]

  A deep voice interrupted the colonel’s thoughts.

  Where had he come from? In the dimness of the room, nobody else was to see. The club's employees had also disappeared. Nevertheless, Mary didn’t seem surprised and responded as if she had her subordinate in front of her:

  —Ah, Sergeant Ironside... Is lance corporal Cunningham with you? I have heard he has been wounded him in the underground.

  —Well, a scratch on the hand, but it's nothing, —said a hoarse voice, distinct from the first, in a tone of pain. —It has been negligence by me... But the operation has gone on without problems.

  —Good, that's the most important thing... I just wanted to ask you something. Sergeant Jack Ironside lance corporal Todd Cunningham.... Do you know what I mean? The case of Sister Esther...

  Looking at the crushed cigarette in the ashtray, in Mary’s eyes appeared a sharp light. With no other company than the shadows, she said with an abrupt voice:

  —Did I tell you to put your hand on her? My orders were: <<Simulate an assassination attempt of the Pope and the Lady Saint at the hands of Germanicus>>. I do not remember saying anything about actually murdering her.

  —Yes, you are right. We received no other order —answered the voice with certainty, without losing his polite tone. —It was self-initiative that we thought to eliminate Princess Esther in the ghetto. We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of her and pretend it had been an accident.

  —Idiots! — The scream vibrated in the room like an ice whip while Bloody Mary hit the table violently.  —Who gave you permission to ignore my orders!? Is that you don’t you understand!? For this I could send you to the court-martial! I can prosecute you for high betrayal!

  — Court-martial? If Her Excellency orders it, we will accept any punishment.

  The first voice had been silent, as if frightened, but it was the hoarse voice that took over, with a brusque tone, though sad at the same time.

  —But let me remind you that we are already dead. I don’t know if a court-martial will prosecute some dead...

  —Hmmm ...!

On hearing the word dead, the colonel’s anger softened a bit. Still frowning she tried to control her voice.

  —Well, I'll think about how to deal with that later. But why? Why did you think about eliminating Esther Blanchett?

  — Obviously, to protect your right to the throne.

  — My right ...? What do you mean?

— Nothing more and nothing less than that. Esther Blanchett is the daughter of Princess Victoria and, as such, is the legal heir to the throne. But that doesn’t means that we have to let that brat out of God knows where ahead of you. That is what led us to act on our own.

  — I appreciate your concern. But have you thought that I still have two powerful enemies left? — Mary went on, not yet showing a hint of emotion at the fidelity of her men. —The Germanic King and the Duchess of Erin... As long as they are alive, I can use Esther against them. However, once she is dead she is no more than a corpse that serves no purpose.

  —Now I understand your plan, Your Excellency… Forgive our lack of insight, —answered, the voice of the invisible man, filled with admiration. — Understood. We will not get our hands on her from now. But let me just say one thing, Colonel. If Esther comes to the throne ahead of you, we will take the initiative independently. For us, that throne can’t be occupied by anyone but you.

  —Jack is right, Colonel! It’s not only us to think that way! All who have fought under your command support us!

  The voices of the men resounded full of decision, respectful but without hesitation.

  —That aristocratic shit does nothing but fatten by our work! They wander around the city wobbling like pigs! While they spend their free time without care, we have gotten our hands dirtied with dust and blood on the battlefield. Only you can occupy the throne of this country!

  —You have sacrificed your dignity and your honor for the country! We will not allow anyone else to wear the crown! The two of us and the rest of the Legion will fight against whoever it’s necessary! Even your sister!

  — You bastard …

  Mary listened to the passionate words of her subordinates with expression of pain. After staring for some time in the shade which the chandeliers casted, she let out a sigh.

  —I’m sorry... —she murmured with pale lips and a lost glance. —I’m really sorry. I do not deserve those words. Exactly me who I’m the one to blame for your death. I thank you sincerely.

  —But what do you say, Colonel?! The culprits for the fate of the 44th regiment during the Percy rebellion were the aristocrats who swaggered here a while ago! The colonel was a Victim of his intrigues, like all of us!

  —But if I hadn’t trusted them... If I hadn’t agreed to their plan to summon Percy to Londinium for the negotiations... It was all because of my inexperience.

   —The past is past, Colonel. It doesn’t make sense that you torment yourself for it now... Let us dedicate our energies to think about the future —the voice replied in a warm tone, making Mary return to the present. —What will be our next move? They will probably announce the right to the throne of sister Esther..., well, of princess Esther... this one night. In that case, it seems certain that she will receive the crown. Wouldn’t that be a problem for our project? Our agents have already started to move in the provinces. If we don’t get your Excellency to ascend the throne soon then all of our plans will be affected.

   —It’s clear that Esther is the legitimate heir…

  Hearing the word crown a flash lightened in the eyes of the colonel and the shadow of pain disappeared from her face. Getting firm like a soldier who had sighted the enemy, she added harshly:

   —But that doesn’t mean she's going to sit on the throne. The one who will decide it won’t be neither the lords nor the aristocrats but her own sister... Lady Esther herself. On her interests depends the development of the process.

 No one doubted that in the race to the throne, Esther had all the advantage. To begin with, she was the Saint of István. If in her heroic image of a vampire slaughter was added the fact that she was the princess who was supposed to be dead a long time ago, it was certain that the people would support her with passion. And then, the aristocrats would hasten to support her candidacy with the intention of manipulating her to their liking.

 But what if she didn’t want the crown? The right of succession was literally a right and not an obligation. No one could force a person to ascend the throne against her will. Would that girl really want to become queen? <<If she didn’t want the crown...>> Then, the race for the throne starts from scratch. Putting another cigarette on her lips Mary silently calculated the possibilities of her rivals.

            Jane didn’t have the support of the aristocracy of the kingdom and she herself didn’t seem very interested in the throne. On the other hand Ludwig of Germanicus was in the worst possible situation thanks to the rumors about a murder attempt on the Pope which was prepared by Mary.  She started to ignore the fact that she is just an illegitimate child, especially after having obtained such a powerful weapon of blackmail against the Vatican.

  The night before, Mary had seen with her own eyes how the Pope protected a vampire. In addition, the director of the Inquisition had turned its weapons against Albion's army and had caused the operation to fail. What would be the Vatican if that came to light? Petros was still unconscious in the hospital, but they had a recording of everything he had done, and Sister Paula had already been informed. The offices of Cardinal Medici in Rome were assuredly upset as ever. By no later than the same night they would send her a telegram.

            Nevertheless, Mary's position didn’t stop having weak points. The actions of her mother - the viscountess of Carsley eighteen years ago - was her Achilles' heel. The colonel had to act with much care during those months to hide the truth what was known about the White case. She destroyed the secret documents kept in the archives of the palace and had to monitor the surviving eyewitnesses closely. Mary had infuriated like never before when her men had begun to murder the witnesses, but in the end they had been able to simulate that it was a series of crimes perpetrated by a psychopath. Things were going perfectly…, until the appearance of Esther had put everything upside down. Boswell and his friend Wordsworth seemed more and more interested in reopening the investigation of the case. If they smelled what they had been doing with the evidence and witnesses, she wouldn’t only lose her possibilities of accessing the throne, but would be in serious trouble.

Before something like that might happen, she had to seize the crown and close the case definitely.  <<Everything depends on her intentions...>>

 Wherever she looked the key was always the attitude of Esther. If she managed to make Esther renounce the crown publicly the way to the throne would be free of obstacles for the colonel. Once she was a queen she could implement her other plans. The dreams she had kept in her heart for more than ten years and would change the Kingdom of Albion...

  —By the way, Ironside, Cunningham, what have you come for?— the colonel asked, suddenly, to a void. —I had asked you to wait until a new order. What are you doing here?

  —The truth is that a problem has arisen and we thought that it would be better if you knew right away... This morning, Dr. Wordsworth has sent a request to the Office of Military Affairs. He has requested the archives of the bionic soldiers who have received type K bodily improvements in the last fifty years..., that is, our archives.

  —What!? —Mary was about to light her cigarette, but she stopped and asked with serious eyes:

  —Is it certain, Sergeant?

  —Several sources have confirmed it. As things stand, that the doctor discovers our identity is only a matter of time ... In the worst scenario, the thread could stretch to you, Colonel.

  —Oh, Dr. Wordsworth… —Mary sighed a little paler. The colonel was thinking for a moment and finally lit a new cigarette and puffed out a cloud of smoke, saying:

  —Maybe a brain like yours could have served me well. What a pity. The only option we have is to eliminate the problem.

  —Understood. Let us take care of it. Our comrades in the air force are already on the march. In an hour we will inform you of the result.

  —Very well, I count on you. I have to go somewhere.

  —Where, Colonel?

  —Windsor. Before going to the palace, I'll pick up Esther… my sister.

  The colonel seemed to hesitate before uttering the last word of the sentence. After putting out the cigarette in the ashtray, she moved with regular steps.

  —I'll take the opportunity to ask her about her intentions concerning the throne. If she doesn’t wish to use her right of succession, the dukes have decided not to make public her true identity. Before talking to them, I want to help her to decide. Depending on how things are going there may be changes in our plans. Be prepared to receive instructions at any time.

  —Okay... I just want to know one thing, Your Excellence.

  —What is it, Sergeant?

  —If your sister decides to accept the crown... Then...?

  —Considering how she is, I don’t think we have to worry —Mary said, with her hand on the knob.

  The colonel hesitated for a moment before going on. It was something strange for her who always seemed ready to respond to anything instantly. Finally she said:

  —If such a thing would happen, I will have to make a decision according to the circumstances. In any case, I'm sure I'll need you.

 Mary did not specify what that <<decision>> and those <<circumstances>> meant. After verifying that her interlocutors had disappeared, she opened the doors wide.

  —My sister... —Bloody Mary repeated as she put on her coat which was brought by one of the club's servant.

She still couldn’t quite believe it, but that young redhead was her sister. For her who had always remained in the shadows who had lost her mother when she was so young and had hardly seen her grandmother was perhaps her closest relative even if they shared only the father.

Thinking like that, she could only hope that the circumstances didn’t force to take any action against her younger sister. The colonel looked up at the spider on the ceiling, as if she wanted to go to heaven. Of course she wasn’t very confident that anyone would hear the prayers of a person so little favored by fate.

(End of Part II)

[1] The speaking of Jack and Todd is marked in the Japanese original not as direct speech but something similar. It should be connected to the fact that they are dead or not present in person.

[somersetparanormal]

Somerset Myths & Legends- Dragons

Dinder & Wells Dinder Worm - The legend of the Dragon of Dinder goes back for centuries, and is documented on illuminated transcript which is now preserved in Eton College Library Records. The legend goes that a terrible Dragon was terrorising both livestock and villagers. The then Bishop Jocelyn was called upon to save the people of Dinder. He rode out with his men at arms, but at the last furlong commanded them to remain at a distance while he rode on and single-handedly beheaded the beast. The legend of the Dragon of Dinder lives on. Every 50 years since then a celebration of the slaying of the Dragon has been held. The legend says that should this tradition be forgotten and the slaying not re-enacted by a left-handed man of the cloth the Dragon may return. There is a Mosaic depicting the story made by the children of nearby Wells and Dinder set in stone on the perimeter walk of the Bishop's Palace. Nearby hamlet, Worminster and the hill Worminster Sleight are likely named after this legend and the Old English word for a dragon, "worm". Source- Wikipedia

[clotheschronicles]

Jan 15th (tfp) 2877 by boxthoughts featuring a leather shoulder bag ❤ liked on Polyvore

Sibling sweater, 2595 MAD / Somerset by Alice Temperley wool cape, 1235 MAD / M.i.h Jeans red pants, 1635 MAD / Miu Miu platform sandals, 6880 MAD / Rebecca Minkoff leather shoulder bag, 1445 MAD / Plaid scarve / Jocelyn pink hat, 1175 MAD

[rockislandadultreads]

Popular Romance Novels

Now available to read on Overdrive via the Libby app

Beautiful Storm, Lightning Strikes Series, Book 1 by Barbara Freethy

When her father's plane mysteriously disappeared in the middle of an electrical storm, Alicia Monroe became obsessed with lightning. Now a news photographer in Miami, Alicia covers local stories by day and chases storms at night. In a flash of lightning, she sees what appears to be a murder, but when she gets to the scene, there is no body, only a military tag belonging to Liliana Valdez, a woman who has been missing for two months.

While the police use the tag to jump-start their stalled investigation, Alicia sets off on her own to find the missing woman. Her search takes her into the heart of Miami's Cuban-American community, where she meets the attractive but brooding Michael Cordero, who has his own demons to vanquish.

Soon Alicia and Michael are not just trying to save Liliana's life but also their own, as someone will do anything to protect a dark secret...

The Trouble with Dukes, Windham Brides Series, Book 1 by Grace Burrowes

THEY CALL HIM THE DUKE OF MURDER...

The gossips whisper that the new Duke of Murdoch is a brute, a murderer, and even worse—a Scot. They say he should never be trusted alone with a woman. But Megan Windham sees in Hamish something different, someone different.

No one was fiercer at war than Hamish MacHugh, though now the soldier faces a whole new battlefield: a London Season. To make his sisters happy, he'll take on any challenge—even letting their friend Miss Windham teach him to waltz. Megan isn't the least bit intimidated by his dark reputation, but Hamish senses that she's fighting battles of her own. For her, he'll become the warrior once more, and for her, he might just lose his heart.

When All the Girls Have Gone, Cutler, Sutter & Salinas Series, Book 1 by Jayne Ann Krentz

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant, and reckless, Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn's closest friends—women in a Seattle-based online investment club—for answers. But what they find is chilling...

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn's past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie's life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she's trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud. Then, just as she's finding her feet—not to mention a possible new romance—the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family's farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away—until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie's future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life.

Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts

What was she doing here? Hyattown had changed very little in the years Vanessa Sexton had been away. In some ways her high school sweetheart, Brady Tucker, hadn't changed much either--he was still lean, athletic, rugged...But the once reckless boy had become a solid, dependable man. He'd stood her up on the most important night of her life; could she ever trust him again?

So Vanessa had finally come home, Brady thought. She could still turn him inside out with one of her sultry looks. He couldn't believe she hadn't forgiven him for that night twelve years ago--but he'd had his reasons for not showing up. He'd let her leave town then--but he wasn't going to let her get away this time...

Fairytale by Danielle Steel

Camille Lammenais has grown up in the beauty of the Napa Valley, surrounded by acres of her family's vineyards. Her parents, Christophe and Joy, still deeply in love after two decades of marriage, have built a renowned winery and château modeled after Christophe's ancient family estate in his native Bordeaux. Camille has had a perfect childhood, safe in her parents' love. After graduating from Stanford, she returns to help manage Château Joy, her lifetime goal. But their fairytale ends suddenly with her mother's death from cancer. 

Six months after losing his wife, the devastated Christophe is easy prey for a mysterious, charming Frenchwoman visiting the valley. The Countess de Pantin is the essence of Parisian seductiveness and sophistication. Within weeks they are a clandestine couple, making love like teenagers, glowing with their secret. Camille, still grieving for her mother, is shocked by the news that her father intends to remarry. Then she begins to see past the alluring looks, designer clothes, and elegant manners of the countess, while her innocent father is trapped in her web.

When tragedy strikes again, Camille is at her stepmother's mercy, and that of the two evil stepbrothers who appear. Camille needs to fight—first for her legacy, and then for her very life. But as she grapples with the plots being carried out against her, the countess's elderly, kind, clever mother becomes her only ally, and a childhood friend emerges as a prince worthy of any fairytale.

[fitono]

Best Fitness Articles — October 22, 2017

We scan the net, but if you’d like to submit your article for consideration, please do so via The PTDC Article Submission Form.

The Top Article of the Week

Stuff That Works But People Think Dosen’t But It Does: Supmaximal Training Edition — Tony Gentilcore

There are many different ways to achieve success when it comes to reaching your unique goals in the gym.

In this weeks article of the week, Tony sheds light on the hidden benefits of supmaximal training and explains why quality reps at some what of a strenuous weight trumps trying to hit a personal best every time you walk into the gym.

General Health

How To Build Your Resilience Skills — Jocelyn Peto

Five Drills to Improve Your Overhead Squat Fast! — Zach Long

The Favorite Core Exercise of Top Strength Coaches — Mitch Gill

Strength Training

Stuff That Works But People Think Dosen’t But It Does: Supmaximal Training Edition — Tony Gentilcore

My Indicators  — Jim Wendler, Elite FTS

Lift More And Perform Better Using Mental Intention  — Adam McCubbin, Breaking Muscle

Fat Loss

Don’t be a Classist Foodie — Peter Baker

Tip: 3 Big Meals vs. 6 Small Meals — Christian Thibaudeau, T-Nation

Nutrigenomics: What Can Your DNA Really Tell You About Your Nutrition and Training Needs? — Brad Dieter, Science Driven Nutrition

  Career

Imposter Syndrome and the Fitness Industry — Dean Somerset

A Surprising Lesson Learned While Building An Online Fitness Community — Todd Bumgardner, Pete Dupuis

Mind Your Mental Momentum — Michael McCastle, Breaking Muscle

The post Best Fitness Articles — October 22, 2017 appeared first on The PTDC.

Best Fitness Articles — October 22, 2017 published first on http://ift.tt/2uph7iM

[endlessly-cursed]

fankids appreciation week 23: football teams

the aldens: edward, audrey, owen, livia, theresa, flora @cursed-herbalist

the somersets: vincent, alexandra, lenore, jocelyn, morwenna, gia @gaygryffindorgal

[fischerfrey]

aesthetic trade; edward of alderly x jocelyn somerset

for @endlessly-cursed

[jjstenhouse]

Never realised how many dragons are associated with Somerset until I started to research them this week. This one's at the Bishop's Palace in Wells. They say Bishop Jocelyn (13th century) killed a dragon that was keeping locals away from the seven sacred well pools by the cathedral and palace. #dragons #legend #Somerset #wells (at Bishop's Palace & Gardens)

[fischerfrey]

family lines; the alderlies (so far...)

tobias menzies and rebecca ferguson as duke thomas of alderly and princess louise of hesse and by rhine

harrison osterfield and gijs blom as prince henry of alderly and elian goldcrest

teresa palmer and jj feild as duchess cora and duke henry of alderly

patrick gibson, sophie nélisse, and astrid s as edward, grace, and kerina of alderly

alexia giordano and patrick gibson as duchess jocelyn and duke edward of alderly

(time jump across a few generations)

elizabeth mitchell and dominic west as duchess isabella alderly and prince stefanos of greece and denmark

nicholas galitzine and hannah van der westhuysen as prince quentin ‘quincey’ and princess olympia of alderly

 nicholas galitzine and nathan bouts as quincey alderly and dawn harvelle

elian and dawn belong to @potionboy3​

cora, grace, and kerina belong to @camillejeaneshphm​​

jocelyn belongs to @endlessly-cursed​

[endlessly-cursed]

The Somerset Family Masterpost

THE FIRST SOMERSETS (920-TBD)

Ældestan of Mercia

Ælfgifu of Sussex

Odalric the Red

Denegifu of Bristol

Juliana of York

Akelda the Tragic

Loras Somerset

Sierra Somerset

Morgan Somerset

Thena Somerset

Jöelle Somerset

Enyra MacAplin

RENNAISANCE & BAROQUE SOMERSETS (1430-1820)

Lord Matteo Somerset

Sancia D'Este

Ipolytta Howard

Elizabeth Somerset

Guildford Somerset

Juliana Somerset

Maria Elisabeth Somerset

George Somerset

Genoveva Palacios

THE ELDER SOMERSETS (1830-1968) 

Olympia Somerset

Vincent Gray

Victoria Somerset

Alina Mikelova

Alexandra Somerset

Lenore Somerset

Jocelyn Somerset

Gia Somerset

Gia Somerset II

Ruby Somerset

THE MODERN SOMERSETS (1970-????) 

Charles Somerset

Millicent Abbott

Tatiana Somerset

Meghan Somerset

Ismene Fazilet

THE LAST SOMERSETS (2030-2055)

Felicity Somerset

Constance Somerset

Meredith Somerset

You can find other Somerset profiles in @gaygryffindorgal​ @camillejeaneshphm​ ‘s profiles! And, of course, Primrose, Vincent, Lawrence and Diana have their profiles in my main masterpost. 

[endlessly-cursed]

@gaygryffindorgal @camillejeaneshphm got these two on the brain ✨😩

[endlessly-cursed]

hp battle edits; alexandra vs jocelyn

The second of the three battles, the audio is a bit iffy but you get what's going on. Lmk who do you think should've won! Next up is Prim vs Semele & Isabelle.