#native stepson

[jt1674]

[lazycats-stuff]

Could you write a batfam story where the reader, who's in an established marriage with Bruce Wayne, accidentally triggers Jason? Perhaps the Wayne family has kept Bruce and Jason's past hardships a secret from the reader, thinking it wasn't important to discuss. However, a misunderstanding between the reader and Jason causes Jason to run away after being triggered of his pass. The rest of the family understands that it was a misunderstanding and tells the reader that Jason will come back and not to worry. They explain Jason's troubled pass with Bruce. However, the reader is consumed by so much guilt and sets out to find Jason. Literally the reader goes and searches Gotham top to bottom IN THE MIDDLE OF A HURRICANE! 😭The reader ends up locating Jason in a warehouse, where Jason’s freezing and the rain is pouring right through. More happens but I want the story to like end where the reader and Jason are crying together in the pouring rain and Jason realizes that he now has a loving dad that would do anything to ensure his and his brothers safety. And like the reader brings Jason back to the manor and everyone else is thinking to themselves like damn, (y/n) really is the best thing to happen to this family, literally the damn glue. Or something… like if (y/n) wasn’t there to save Jason he could have been dead… again.

I am sorry this is so long… i just couldn’t stop thinking of this story dynamic 😊

Oh, my jay bird... Of course I can do it... My poor bird. Also, 2k followers? Why thank you. Also, taking some time off to focus on college because I have some shit coming up. To say lightly.

Summary: The family didn't tell (Y/N) about Jason's trauma. And that causes problems and some broken hearts.

Warnings: Mentions of Jason's past, but nothing graphic, (Y/N) is done with emotional constipation from everyone, but he still loves them a lot, also hurricane.

(Y/N) has been in the family for a few years now. Married with the patriarch of the family, Bruce Wayne, was the best decision he has ever made. Bruce, while known to the public as a playboy at the time, abandoned that mindset, all for (Y/N). Boys accepted (Y/N), once they saw that (Y/N) wasn't marrying Bruce for money. (Y/N) will be marrying him for love.

Were there a few hiccups with Bruce being Batman and all the nightly patrols? Yes. However, (Y/N) and Bruce worked through it. And more importantly, (Y/N) essentially adopted all of the boys as his own. He saw them as his own sons rather than looking at them as their stepsons. And besides, saying that they are his sons brings (Y/N) an indescribable amount of happiness. And besides, living with 4 boys is always fun.

(Y/N) knew about their trauma, but what no one told him was the trauma that Jason went through. He had a vague idea, but never knew exactly. He didn't feel qualified to prod around in anyone's head, anyone's mind, but he made sure to let them all know that if they need to talk about something, get something off of their chest, he is the person they can come to talk to.

And it has happened a few times. Sometimes they would come after a nightmare, squeezing between (Y/N) and Bruce, looking for comfort. Now, everyone was unsure as to what to call him. Batdad or mother hen... That one remains to be determined soon enough by the boys.

It was a tough day for everyone in the household and everyone was ready to straight up murder each other. (Y/N) had an awful day at work, Bruce had a bad day as a CEO and as Batman, well, the Batman part was only the night before, but has moved onto the day. The other boys had difficult days at school and at patrol. Jason had a big problem with his nightmares and flashbacks. Not to mention, Gotham was expecting a hurricane to come over and just sweep over it. It shouldn't be bad and there shouldn't be any damage besides any heavy rain.

Gotham natives are used to rains, whether they be small drizzles or storms. However, Bruce worried about it and made sure to get enough supplies, just in case. Safe to say, everyone was on absolute edge. Closed into the same house, despite it being a manor and absolutely huge, tension could be cut with a knife.

And then, Jason and (Y/N) started fighting. It started off as bickering, but then it turned into a fight where hurtful things were said towards each other. Jason, mentally pushed to the limit by the nightmares and flashbacks has had enough and went to his car. He drove off and (Y/N) was fuming still.

But...

When the anger went away, (Y/N) was mortified. Completely and utterly mortified. He essentially crushed whatever relationship he had with Jason. Words hurt more than any punches and any kicks. No matter what Jason went through, (Y/N) was sure that Jason was hurting like hell now.

(Y/N) couldn't stop pacing in the living room, wondering what is happening to Jason at this very moment. A hurricane is going to pass through soon enough, Jason went to God knows where and (Y/N)'s own heart was breaking apart.

" (Y/N), love, you need to calm down. Jason will be fine. He just needs space. "

" Space?! In the middle of a hurricane?! " (Y/N) now yelled, upset beyond belief. He has upset his son and he was telling him to calm down? He might kick Bruce out of their bed.

Bruce then talked about all the trauma that Jason went through, before he adopted him, after he adopted him at the hands of Joker. (Y/N) was now absolutely mortified.

" Father is right. Jason needs some time to cool off. " Damian said in passing, making (Y/N) throw his hands up in the air.

" Is anyone in this damn house emotionally available?! "

Tim shrugged from the sofa and (Y/N) took a deep breath. Bruce watched intently and he could see what (Y/N) was thinking.

" Do not tell me you are going out there. " Bruce said as (Y/N) put his jacket and shoes on.

Dick and Damian paused to watch the entire thing unfold. Tim looked up from his tablet.

" I am. Jason is my son and I'm going to get him back. Tim, track Jason's phone and send me the location. " (Y/N) said, ignoring Bruce. Bruce rubbed his forehead. (Y/N) is a stubborn bastard when he wants to be. And does Bruce love him for it? Yes. Is it annoying sometimes? Yes.

" There is a hurricane! " Tim yelled after (Y/N) as he stormed out.

" (Y/N)! " Bruce yelled after his husband, but it was too late. (Y/N) was already out the door.

" He's nuts, " Damian said underneath his breath.

" And I married him, " Bruce added.

Jason has started to regret the fact that he has decided to even come out here. Sure, (Y/N) and him got into a fight, nasty things were said, but it would be better if he has just stormed up to his room and slammed his door shut. That would have been a better option than this. This damp warehouse, where there was leaking rain wherever you looked...

Jason was shivering, teeth chattering. Cold probably seeped right to his bones. Hypothermia was also on its way too, Jason had no doubt about it. He leaned back against the wall, curling into himself as much as he could and allowed himself to think about what happened with (Y/N), his dad in a way.

They were all on edge from the hurricane, supplies, wifi and all that stuff was needed just in case. Bruce made sure to make the manor proof of any natural disasters. Gotham wouldn't be hit that badly, so there was no need for evacuation, but there was advice to be cautious about it. Everyone was on edge as it is from being cooped up together too much, since Bruce didn't want them to stray too far, just in case.

And Jason being in a foul mood from his nightmares already, he didn't like this one bit. He wanted to be alone, but no. Common areas are a must according to Bruce. So the fight happened and both of them said really hurtful things to each other. And Jason felt guilty. He knew that emotions took over them both, but still... (Y/N) was always trying to be good to them all.

It was wrong.

Jason looked up at the door when he heard a slam. It could be wind. Or maybe someone trying to find shelter?

What Jason didn't expect was (Y/N), wet to the bone, looking around frantically. When his eyes fell on Jason, he sighed in relief.

" Oh Jay, I've been looking for you everywhere! Are you okay?! " (Y/N) ran up to Jason, quickly kneeling down to check to see if he had any injuries. Jason was touched... To have a genuine parent, a loving parent, alongside Bruce, but Bruce is a bit emotionally constipated so (Y/N) is essentially everything that the boys need.

" Bruce told me what you've been through... And now I know why you ran, what made you so upset. It was a combination of everything plus the hurricane. "

Jason nodded and (Y/N) hugged him tightly. Jason hugged him back just as tightly, if not more.

And the two broke down in tears, holding onto each other tightly.

Bruce was pacing in the living room, worried about (Y/N) and Jason. He should have gone after Jason too. He shouldn't have been so stupid. He should have chased Jason down the moment he left the mansion. But no, he's too emotionally constipated to deal with this. Great. Absolutely great.

He flipped his head around when he heard the front door open and then close and then two sets of footsteps. Jason and (Y/N) stepped into the living room, both soaked to the bone.

" Bruce, " (Y/N) said calmly and Bruce had a feeling he would be kicked out of the bedroom.

" (Y/N)... Are you two okay? " Bruce asked softly and (Y/N) nodded, smiling at Jason.

" We are B. Jay, go down to the Batcave. Take a warm shower and get changed into warm clothes. I'm sure the others are there too." (Y/N) softly nudged Jason to get going.

Jason took the hint and went to the Batcave. Once he was gone, Bruce turned to (Y/N).

" I'm sorry. I truly am. I should have gone after him, but I was- "

" Stupid? Yeah. Clearly. But I'm willing to forgive. I assume that the cots are ready? "

" Yup. I prepared you warm clothes, some earplugs so that you can't be awaken by the bats. And also a mask so that you won't be awoken by the lights of the cave. You know, reflectors, Batcomputer... Come on. " Bruce gently lead his cold and wet husband to the Batcave. " A warm shower is in order too. "

(Y/N) rolled his eyes, knowing that he will be forced into a warm shower, warm and dry clothes and an intense cuddling session, where Bruce won't let go, out of fear and love... How did he even marry into this crazy family?

[velvet4510]

What The Sequel(s) to X-Men: Days of Future Past Should Have Looked Like

I haven’t even seen X-Men: Apocalypse or X-Men: Dark Phoenix start to finish but thanks to this app i know practically the entire plots of both films and i’m just so utterly appalled by them. Not just with the way they mess up the timeline (Jean & Scott as teenagers and Warren as a young adult in 1983?? Excuse me?? No way Logan’s time shenanigans altered people’s birth dates, what??) But also with the way they just butcher every character arc - Charles being selfish? Erik settling down with a human instead of continuing to fight for his cause and make up for his 10 years of inactivity? Giving Erik an OC daughter JUST to kill her 2 seconds later rather than focus on his fatherhood story with Peter? Erik and Ororo siding with Apocalypse to destroy the whole world? Hank turning on Charles when he alone stood by Charles post-beach divorce all those years? Raven being ungrateful to Charles for creating a better world for mutants? Trying to convince us that Charles was somehow in love with Moira and Erik was somehow in love with Raven? The X-Men throwing Charles out of his own house?? WHAT IS THIS?????

Frankly I don’t get why the writers tried (and failed) to give us more Jean and Scott and Ororo when we got plenty of them in the other movies and we know thanks to the end of X-Men: Days of Future Past that Charles will still eventually recruit them. Jean and Scott’s very presence at the end of that film shows that the sight of Logan’s memories of Jean’s original fate prompted Charles to NOT repeat his other self’s mistakes and instead use a better approach to help Jean that enabled her to keep the Phoenix under control and not hurt Scott. That’s all we need to know about them in the new timeline. We don’t need to see Charles messing up yet again when it comes to Jean when that ruins a huge layer of the meaning and impact of DOFP’s ending.

James McAvoy himself pointed out how unnecessary it felt to recycle characters from the original trilogy when the X-Men in the comics are full of plenty of other characters that could’ve been introduced in a DOFP sequel instead. He’s absolutely right.

But here’s what I really think: if any sequels to DOFP just HAD to be made, they shouldn’t have tried to stuff in even more characters. If they HAD to include another old character we’d seen before, it should’ve been Kurt Wagner and Kurt Wagner only. Why? Because he’s Raven & Azazel’s son. And this would only add to the parenthood theme already present through Erik & Peter, and Charles & his students; add a new dimension to Raven as a character as we explore how she feels about being a mother, and what happened that caused her to be separated from her child; and add a new dimension to Hank as we explore how he feels about potentially being a parental figure to Kurt as a result of following his heart toward Raven.

The sequel(s) should’ve focused on developing the relationships that actually had been established/hinted at, and those that would naturally branch as a result:

Erik & Peter as father and son

Raven & Kurt as mother and son

Charles’ parental relationship with his young students

Charles & Erik getting back together

Hank & Raven getting back together

Hank dealing with being Kurt’s possible stepfather

Charles & Raven reconciling as siblings once again

Charles & Peter as stepfather and stepson

Charles & Kurt as uncle and nephew

Alex seeing all of this and being reminded of his bad relationship with his own parents that led him to get locked up before Charles and Erik found him, emphasizing Charles’ place in his life as his true “father,” and foreshadowing Scott by revealing he’s not in touch with his family (meaning he doesn’t know he has a much-younger brother)

Erik bonding with Kurt and making Kurt comfortable through being the only other native German speaker in the group

Erik & Hank dealing with their rocky post-DOFP relationship; Hank giving Erik a proper calling out for sending Charles into such a depression for a decade and for trying to kill Raven

Erik bonding with Charles’ other students and slowly realizing there is a place for him at the school

(Logan may or may not work as a character in such a sequel. But whether he has a big or small role, it must be acknowledged that Raven, not Stryker, saved him from the Potomac at the end of DOFP. So now he is on a different path, and is NOT Weapon X. Either he’s still at the mansion or went his own way with the open possibility of returning; I think the latter makes more sense since he’s such a loner and considering he wouldn’t remember the events of DOFP, he’d be pretty overwhelmed. Plus his explained absence would allow space for the film(s) to focus more on the other characters.)

Regardless, any villain(s) of those hypothetical sequels should’ve been the kind of antagonist(s) whose threat inevitably brought those aforementioned characters together and, in the process, fleshed out those relationships.

Also, no stupid 10-year time jumps between every movie. Keep it to 5-7 years after DOFP, at the most.

Think of the emotional impact that would bring:

Charles & Raven dealing with the fact that she chose not to come to him for help when she became pregnant

Hank & Raven discussing Raven’s history with Azazel and both of them admitting they went to great lengths to try to get over each other but nothing worked

Raven exploring motherhood and her feelings about either having abandoned Kurt as a baby or accidentally losing him, and Hank supporting her in this

Erik exploring his newfound fatherhood, and Charles supporting him in this

Peter’s feelings toward his dad for being absent from his life for so long and also for being a terrorist

Kurt’s feelings toward his mom for being absent for so long, and possibly for intentionally leaving him

Peter & Kurt becoming besties and bonding over being super-fast travelers who have spent too many years not knowing one or both parents

Hank wishing things had been different with Raven and that Kurt could’ve been his son and thinking about stepping into a stepfather role for Kurt

Erik & Peter perhaps getting stranded/separated from the rest of the group and forced to bond while trying to find their way back

Erik saving Peter’s life in battle, cementing their new bond

Hank fully embracing his Beast form (mutant and proud) in battle while protecting Raven and Kurt

Raven, Hank & Kurt as a badass blue family

Erik finally deflecting a bullet successfully to save Charles

Charles & Erik fighting side by side once again and realizing they’re better together than apart

Erik & Hank managing to find some common ground as they both have been unexpectedly thrown into fatherhood (see, no need for female fridging!)

Erik coming up with Quicksilver as Peter’s superhero name, at least getting the chance to name his son in this way

Basically the whole group becoming a big family

Perhaps closing with a flash forward a few years: Erik & Raven are now teachers at the school; young Scott arrives at the school and meets Alex for the first time; Charles & Erik hear about young Jean and head out to meet her; Hank & Raven manage to discover Logan’s location and head out to bring him back to the mansion - tying into the finale of DOFP

Those are just a few things that could’ve, and should’ve, been prioritized in a sequel to DOFP.

[hiddensideoflife]

Hidden Secrets of Venus in Virgo

If you read about this placement, many will say if you have Venus in Virgo, it means you do not love yourself because you will tend to be too analytical and critical of others, so the conclusion is that this is a projection of the flaws you fail to see within your own self. On many levels, self-awareness and self-reflection reveals our flaws once the soul is ready to pierce the veil of “maya” and illusion. Considering that all is Self, this makes sense. On a spiritual level, that will be great insight for soul growth for the native. On the material front, even though the criticism might be a reflection of their own flaws, what Venus in Virgo is seeing in others might be true. As a matter of fact, this placement of Venus is likely not to miss anything in their relationships or the material in terms of the details!

Venus in Pisces (where Venus is exalted) – the exact opposite of this position- has flaws as well. This energy just may not be interested in observing them and learning about them. This does not mean that the native with this placement has a lot of self-love. As a matter of fact, while Venus in Virgo can be critical of Venusian themes, Piscean energy is easy-going, so if there is a problem or a conflict, in a less evolved soul, it means this person may be inclined to avoid it. Mercury, Virgo’s lord will not allow Venus in Virgo to be so easy-going. Mercury wants you to notice what you are seeing.

This placement of Venus in Virgo is very common in some souls who are here to start the journey to spiritual awakening. It is also common in people with extremely dynamic minds who have intellectual or even healing abilities that are out of this world. They have a way of merging the material and the spiritual that takes us to a level that is beyond where we are in consciousness.

Because of this dual awareness, Venus in Virgo’s desire for what is REAL is often more apparent the closer Venus gets to its degree of debilitation which is 27 degrees. These people may struggle with beautifying themselves and their belongings because, welp, Mercury has taken over their Venusian desire. One must be careful. The closer to the degree of debilitation, it might make a person more susceptible to loss due to the spouse or partners or even people cheating them or taking advantage. Aspects of benefics in the natal chart would lessen the likelihood of this happening.

Perfection is one goal that Venus in Virgo may be seeking, but another less discussed point is that the person, due to the Mercurial nature of Virgo, realizes the dichotomies between what is said and done by humans. Mercury represents duality and gives Venus in Virgo the ability to see that what is ideal and easy going about the material for Venus in Pisces is not real. This makes these people the best critics! But this is why Venus is not so happy in Virgo. Venus gets found out by Jupiter’s stepson, Mercury! (If you know the story about the gurus Venus and Jupiter this will make sense!) When Venus is in the Pisces energy, a less evolved native may not care about the truth. It is too busy enjoying the bliss of the dream provided by Venus. So, while astrologers are writing about you needing someone perfect that does not exist, Venus in Virgo, we know you are likely getting shady prospects for love who may not be who the world thinks they are when the doors are closed. Or you may get business partners who cheat you or who do not have your best interest at heart. There is a blessing to this position, but that aspect of it definitely might come across as a curse.

You may also be a person that is looking to reach for higher philosophical or spiritual ideals and ways of being, and yet the person who is fully entrenched in the illusion of the material world or who is not an intellectual is likely the one coming to your doorstep for a relationship. Venus in Virgo might also bring you a gaslighting, spendthrift. So, what does Venus in Virgo do?

One thing is for certain: Mercury wants your attention. Mercury is a messenger of your soul or the Sun. It’s always quite close in orbit to the Sun for this reason. This placement may not feel like a blessing, but it is likely that you’ve had your share of blissful fun in relationships in your past lives. So, you will either have to work doubly hard in relationships to have them along with your life’s mission, or you can focus fully on what the Universe wants you to convey to the world and stay single.

Here are some ways to see in your chart what your soul is here to convey:

1) Look at Mercury’s house placement. (This is important as this is Virgo’s lord). You will likely be a genius in the dynamics of that house.

2) Look at Ketu’s placement in your chart. You may eventually analyze the themes of this placement a lot and your insights over time will likely help others and will be important for soul growth. Where Ketu sits represents our past life place experience, but also our early home life. We can get an idea of our past life lessons that we can draw upon based on what we experienced at home and in the beginning of our lives.

3) Look at the degree of Virgo and see what Lunar Mansion (Nakshatra) it is placed in. The Lord of this Lunar Mansion will also be a key to understanding what the gods want you to convey.

Here is an example:

Virgo at 1 degree is Uttara Phalguni, pada (section) 2

The Lunar Mansion Lord is the Sun

This person should look where the Sun, Mercury and Ketu are sitting. These three planets, alone, with the Lunar Mansion speak volumes about intelligence, organizational skills and dealing with contracts. This person might be an advisor, teacher, professor or lawyer.

Some people are here to enjoy Venus, while others are here to critique, analyze and elevate matters related to Venus, so that they can uplift, enlighten and take the world to a whole new level. So, Venus in Virgo, though you may still be trapped in the mindset of your past lives where you were able to enjoy relationships blindly, just know, you have a mission from the gods, and we need your intellect this time around. If you can deal with the reality of having relationships (i.e. a partner or even a love life) and you feel lead to go down that path, do you! Hopefully, this post gives you some hope about the beauty of your existence and how desperately the Universe needs your gifts and abilities.

Namaste…

[shefanispeculator]

For the second time in less than a year, patrons at Blake Shelton's Ole Red Tishomingo witnessed the concert debut of one of his teenage stepsons.

Zuma Rossdale, 15 — the middle of three sons Shelton's wife, pop icon Gwen Stefani, shares with her ex-husband, rocker Gavin Rossdale — played his first public performance Monday, July 29 at Ole Red Tishomingo.

Zuma, who will turn 16 on Aug. 21, covered two songs by up-and-coming Oklahoma country music superstar Zach Bryan during the short acoustic set at his stepfather's hometown restaurant, bar and venue.

"I had no idea that he was going to come out ... and sing until Blake started talking," said concertgoer Jamie McGaugh, a devoted Shelton fan from Coalgate. 

"He did mention Kingston, and he said Kingston's influence was Gwen, but Zuma's influence was him — and he was all proud about that."

Zuma Rossdale follows brother Kingston in making his debut at Ole Red Tishomingo

An Ada native, Shelton, 48, made Tishomingo his adopted hometown several years ago, and he opened the first location in his Ole Red bar and restaurant chain there in 2017. The eight-time Grammy nominee is known to occasionally perform at his Johnston County hot spot.

Shelton and Stefani, 54, started dating in 2015 after they met when they were both working as coaches on the hit NBC series "The Voice." The couple live on the sprawling Ten Point Ranch near Tishomingo, where they wed on July 3, 2021.

Last August, Kingston, then 17, played his first public set inside The Doghouse music hall at Ole Red Tishomingo, performing a series of original alternative-rock songs. An encouraging Oklahoma audience of about 400 music lovers witnessed his debut, including McGaugh, and her mother, Lanell Eclair, also of Coalgate.

Which Zach Bryan songs did Zuma Rossdale play at his debut concert in Oklahoma?

For his debut at Ole Red, Zuma performed a more low-key and down-home show. At about 3 p.m. Monday, Shelton posted on X that he was planning to stop by Ole Red Tishomingo at about 5 p.m. that same day.

"I’m coming by to grab some food and thought I’d hop up and play 3 or 4 songs," he posted on the social media site.

McGaugh barely had time to drive from her Atoka workplace back to Coalgate, collect her mom and her daughter, Mazie McGaugh, and get over to Tishomingo. With the short notice, she said Shelton took the stage in the Ole Red restaurant, rather than the Doghouse music hall, for about 100 fans, mostly locals.

"We made pretty good time. It did dawn on me the other day ... 'He wasn't popped up at Tish in a while; I'd better be on alert because he may be gonna do that, because he does it once or twice a year.' You never know about him. But I never dreamed about it being on a Monday night," she said.

"I was shocked when he walked out. I was taken aback ... because I was like, 'Wait, he never has on a cowboy hat."

Along with the white hat, Shelton took the Ole Red stage in a blue plaid shirt, blue jeans and boots, to perform "Playboys of the Southwestern World," a fan-favorite song he dedicated to his youngest stepson, Apollo. Stefani and Apollo watched the show at a table alongside the pop star's sister-in-law, niece and nephews. Both the boys wore cowboy, hats, too, McGaugh said.

Shelton played "Pour Me a Drink," his new duet with Post Malone, solo before introducing Zuma. The teen took the stage dressed in a pale striped button-down shirt, blue jeans, brown boots and a black cowboy hat and carrying an acoustic guitar.

"This is Zuma, everybody," Shelton said, as the crowd cheered appreciatively.

"How y'all doing?" the teen drawled as he settled on a tall stool.

"Get the microphone where they can hear it," Shelton coached, adjusting the microphones for Zuma.

Strumming his guitar, Zuma sang solo on two popular songs by Bryan: "Oklahoma Smokeshow" and "Revival."

Everybody was excited. I think everybody was very open with Kingston. But this was more of the vibe that's over there, the country music. It seemed like everybody knew everything, and it was very shocking how good his voice was. I had no idea. He was very good," McGaugh said.

After earning rousing applause for his two-song set, Zuma yielded the stage back to Shelton, who closed the half-hour acoustic show with his signature song, "Ol' Red."

A Shelton super-fan. McGaugh said she's thrilled that she's now seen both Kingston and Zuma give their first public performances.

"I think those kids love it over here ... and everybody over here loves Gwen and her boys. They really do. I haven't ran into one person that said that they didn't like them, or that they weren't nice," she said

[tdciago]

Fargo: This Useless Hand!

This post will contain some spoilers for events beyond episode 5.3.

Apparently episode 5.9 of Fargo will be titled The Useless Hand. I puzzled over the meaning of this, but have found a possible source. It's the poem Tiresias by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Part of it goes: "This useless hand! I felt one warm tear fall upon it. Gone! He will achieve his greatness. But for me, I would that I were gather’d to my rest, And mingled with the famous kings of old On whom about their ocean-islets flash The faces of the Gods—the wise man’s word..."

Tiresias was a blind seer from Greek mythology. He played a part in several stories, including that of Oedipus. He also famously lived as both a man and a woman. He was given the gift of prophecy as compensation for his loss of sight, often serving as the source of uncomfortable truths for Greek heroes. Sam Spruell calls Ole Munch a truth-sayer, noting that "Fargo has a history of truth-sayers that sit slightly outside of the story, that become kind of woven into the story..." He also says that Munch is “the kind of truth-sayer who reminds characters who are the spine of the story, what the world really is and how it really works and if they are suffering delusions and what their behavior means.” https://www.tvinsider.com/1112309/fargo-season-5-ole-munch-explained-sam-spruell/ I suspect that Munch is a Tiresias figure in season 5. We have seen the subject of gender non-conformity play out in several ways. Scotty Lyon, for example, is a girl who displays many stereotypically male personality traits. We also know from previews that Munch and Dot will begin to mimic each other's appearance, with Dot donning a long coat like Munch's, and Munch wearing not only a kilt, but also a plaid coat with a fur collar, much like the one that Dot has worn in the first three episodes. There will also be an IRS agent investigating Lorraine, whose name is Chip Boygan, which sounds like Sheboygan, a city in Wisconsin that has an interesting urban legend about its name. The story goes that a Native American chief had many sons, and wanted a daughter. When his wife delivered the newest child, the chief was informed, "She boy again." There will also be a male character with the unusual first name of Vivian this season. And it's definitely worth noting, given all of the Wizard of Oz references, that the character of Princess Ozma was kidnapped as a baby and transformed into a boy named Tip by a witch named Mombi. Eventually, Glinda discovered Ozma's whereabouts and forced Mombi to turn her back into a girl. During Ozma's life as a boy, she created the character of Jack Pumpkinhead, who was the inspiration for Jack Skellington. We know from interviews that Noah Hawley sees Gator Tillman as a Jack Skellington figure. And Jack Pumpkinhead considered Ozma his mother. Put these stories side-by-side and you get a potentially very interesting picture of the relationship between Nadine/Dot and her stepson, Gator. We know that Gator will, at some point, be blindfolded and that Oedipus blinded himself after discovering the truth about himself. Will Ole Munch be Tiresias to Gator's Oedipus? It was also said that Tiresias lived either seven or nine generations, which may explain the fact that Munch is over 500 years old. I highly recommend reading the Wikipedia page about Tiresias and all of the events of his fascinating l̶i̶f̶e̶ lives. It even involves snakes, and Gator has been compared to the snake in the Garden. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiresias Here is Tennyson's full poem: https://www.telelib.com/authors/T/TennysonAlfred/verse/tiresias/tiresias.html

[horizon-verizon]

https://www.tumblr.com/biwitchenergyz/749681633275297792/one-thing-i-find-interesting-about-team-black-vs?source=share

Aemond killed Luke knowing that it would provoke a war if he did so. Blood and cheese are just the consequences of his actions...

Let's reframe it: it's the karmic and narrative consequences of Aemond's actions (as well as Alicent and Otto's). Why? Because the killing of Jaehaerys was not only a political blow to the greens bc Jaehaerys was Aegon's de facto heir (as Lucerys provided the link to the Velaryons as heir to the Driftmark seat), it was also the beginning of the entire green line's demise that was caused by the child-harming ambition of both Alicent and Aemond. Alicent, bc she plotted against a 10 year old for years. And this war--that she, Otto, and Aemond all trigger--will claim the lives of literally thousands of children' in the riverlands, in Tumbleton, in Bitterbridge, and KL.

It is rumored that Aegon, in the bk, allowed his bastard kids to live in abject poverty and even fight each other to a gambling audience. Even if untrue, the narrative of the Dance--espe through Mysaria as hamliet points out HERE--explores the effects of an adult's total authority, when coupled with children raised as inheritors of their legacies and fortunes and resources to reinforce a family's power-- on that child's life's trajectory (beginning, middle, end).

Children are and become conduits or negligent devices of the adults around them to the point of it being exploitative and they become exposed to danger in various ways in the Dance narrative. Parents and grandparents, etc., all have a particular authority over their kids' lives that carries the definitive moments of a person's well-being, and in the sociopolitical context of feudalism and traditional patriarchy, it can get easily twisted up in bids for political domination or control, bc again, to ensure your family's power and your own claim(s) you need children to inherit your name and carry all that which is attached to it; the vassals, the oaths of loyalty, the accrued resources and wealth, land, serfs or peasants tied to the land, etc. It's the next stage of the silent commentary on "innocence (of fault)", protection from "adult business", and the "purity" we/these characters forget to credit to children (Alicent not thinking Rhaenyra's sons were worth mourning or being angry over bc they were supposedly bastards; Mysaria perhaps deciding to destroy the greens and blacks trough their kids, alicent trying to make Jaehaera kill Rhaenyra's Aegon just to get back at her beyond the grave and revenge for her own Aegon's death; Jaehaerys I and Saera, etc.), esp considering how Rhaenyra loses her mother at 7; Viserys makes her his heir at 8ish or 9; and again, Alicent sets herself against her from the age of 10. Which, coupled with how Jaehaera was also female, is why Jaehaera had to die for this story to make sense.

*EDIT (9/28/24)*

You may think of it like this. The bible's Pharaoh lost his eldest male child when for years he's used the slave labor of many children or killed Hebrew children AND refused to let the enslaved go when Moses demanded it, and so the last attack on the native Egyptian populace with the killing of the firstborn sons occurred. Plus, again, it has to be Jaehaera bc she is Aegon's only girl and was his only heir presumptive atp.

*END OF EDIT*

Yes, there's the obvious personal revenge element of Daemon seeing his stepson/Rhaenyra's son be murdered and saying "you kill my/our son, I take one of yours". But to ignore how it parallels and foreshadows the deaths of so many kids--including Maelor's and eventually Jaehaera's--when it all could have been prevented by the greens' just accepting Rhaenyra' s rule is pretty asinine. This is what we like to call "layers" people.

[disneydarlin]

Phineas & Ferb: Ferb Fletcher —Aesthetic

Ferbs "Ferb" Fletcher's Character & Personality

Ferbs is a British child of the Fletcher family who's currently living in America. He's the son of Lawrence and the stepson of Linda Flynn-Fletcher. Being a native of England, Ferb speaks with an English accent. He's one of three children along with his stepsiblings. Ferb is quite an intelligent boy who rarely speaks. Instead, he expresses himself through his actions. Ferb doesn't show much facial expression and only occasionally smiles or frowns. Ferb is also much calmer than his brother. The only time he shows exasperation is when no one listens to him when he says he didn't build something. Despite this, Ferb has wry wit and isn't afraid to speak his mind when it suits him. He's quite focused, but he was once distracted by a pretty girl. Although he's young, Ferb occasionally demonstrates the mind of a young adult. However, this doesn't stop him from enjoying more juvenile activities. In addition, Ferb enjoys participating in unusual, and or, downright eccentric activities. He has a huge appetite and will avert to a primal mindset when he hasn't eaten. Ferb's favorite food is haggis. Beyond being persistent in making summer great, he can play chess quite well, is an excellent soccer player and is a video game champion.

[civilizationmysteriesoftheworld]

5 Pharaoh Secrets You’ve Never Heard Of!

Ancient Egypt has long fascinated us with its mighty pyramids and powerful pharaohs. But behind the grandeur lie hidden secrets that few know about. If you’re ready to uncover the lesser-known truths of Egypt’s forgotten rulers, read on and prepare to be amazed!

•Pharaohs Weren’t Always Egyptian

Many assume that all of Egypt’s pharaohs were native Egyptians. However, during the 25th dynasty, known as the Nubian Dynasty, Egypt was ruled by kings from the Kingdom of Kush, modern-day Sudan. These pharaohs weren’t only foreign but also played a crucial role in restoring Egypt’s temples and traditions after years of decline. Despite their non-Egyptian origins, they reigned for nearly 100 years, marking a significant era in Egypt’s history.

Want to see more intriguing facts about Egypt’s rulers? Check out my video here.

•The ‘Cursed’ Female Pharaoh

Meet Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs to have ever ruled Egypt. She was a successful ruler, but after her death, attempts were made to erase her from history. Statues were destroyed, and her name was scratched off monuments, almost causing her to vanish forever. It is believed her stepson, Thutmose III, tried to erase her memory to solidify his rule. However, her story survived the sands of time and remains a fascinating part of Egypt’s legacy.

•The Mystery of Akhenaten’s Appearance

Pharaoh Akhenaten is known for his unusual appearance—an elongated face, wide hips, and a potbelly. Some suggest he had a genetic disorder, while others believe his look was intentional, perhaps to symbolize a divine form. Akhenaten’s unique appearance continues to fuel speculation, even leading some to wonder if there was an extraterrestrial connection!

If you love uncovering the strange and mysterious in Egypt’s history, watch my latest video for more insights

•The Hidden Rooms of the Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Giza still holds secrets, even after thousands of years. In 2017, scientists discovered a massive void above the Grand Gallery using modern scanning technology. No one knows exactly what lies inside this space, but some theories suggest it could be an undiscovered burial chamber. The mystery continues, proving that even the most well-known monuments still have surprises in store

•Pharaohs and Their Obsession with Curses

Pharaohs were notorious for protecting their tombs with ominous curses, warning any potential tomb robbers of death or misfortune. The curse of King Tutankhamun is the most famous, with several members of the expedition that found his tomb dying under mysterious circumstances. However, modern science suggests these “curses” might have had a more practical explanation—trapped bacteria and molds inside the sealed tombs could have caused deadly infections for anyone who disturbed them.

Fascinated by these untold pharaoh secrets? Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more hidden gems from ancient history. Every week, I uncover the mysteries of the past, one secret at a time!

[scotianostra]

On December 3rd 1894 Robert Louis Stevenson died in Samoa aged just 44.

Born in Edinburgh, Stevenson began writing as a teenager, a passion that eclipsed any desire to become part of the family profession of lighthouse engineering, or the law career he chose and studied but never practised.

Despite frail health due to tuberculosis, Stevenson, who enjoyed a bohemian lifestyle, travelled abroad often, and many of his books were produced during those journeys. He married American Fanny Vandegrift in 1880 and they lived, broke, in California before sailing to Scotland.

Stevenson split his time between Switzerland and Scotland - on medical advice for his ongoing problems with tuberculosis - and during this time began work on his famous novel, Treasure Island, as well as many other published works.

In 1887, by then living in the south of England where he wrote Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it became clear Stevenson’s health could not cope with the climate. He left for New York’s Adirondack Mountains with his wife, mother and stepson where he continued to write and found editors and publishers were willing to offer lucrative contracts.

The following year, Stevenson chartered a yacht for a holiday on the seas from which he would never return and which would result in the publication of in-depth insights about the South Seas.

After visiting a number of islands for extended stays, where Stevenson found a great interest in immersing himself in the local lifestyle, they reached Samoa in 1889 for a six-week stay. After a stint in Sydney, he returned to Samoa and set up life in the Vailima house in what is today the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.

Stevenson became a popular and well-respected member of the community and continued to write, the climate suiting his health, he took the native name Tusitala ("Teller of Tales"), and he quickly became involved in local politics. Convinced that the European officials appointed to rule the Samoans were incompetent, he wrote A Footnote to History: Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa - an account of the grappling between colonial powers for control of the island. The book was so incendiary that it resulted in the recall of two officials from the island, and Stevenson feared for a while that it would result in his own deportation.

On the evening of December 3rd, 1894, Stevenson died very suddenly. He had defied his weak lungs for over 40 years, but in the end it was a brain haemorrhage which killed him. The final words of his unfinished novel were strangely appropriate:

'It had seemed unprovoked, a wilful convulsion of brute nature …'

The first pic is of Nantoki, FannyStevenson, Natakauti and RLS a picture called Island Characters. Even in this warm climate, however, Stevenson continued to suffer with his health, and throughout adulthood did much of his writing from his sickbed. In the second pic he is seen composing music on his flageolet. next is a vintage postcard of Stevenson’s grave and a more up to date pic of the tomb. Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial in Portsmouth Square, San Francisco, and finally Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial. St. Giles Cathedral Edinburgh.

I’ll end this post with the verse Home is the sailor, fourteen years earlier, when he was very ill in California, Stevenson had composed his own epitaph, it is on the plaque on his tomb;

Under the wide and starry sky,

Dig the grave and let me lie.

Glad did I live and gladly die,

And I laid me down with a will.

This be the verse you grave for me:

Here he lies where he longed to be;

Home is the sailor, home from sea,

And the hunter home from the hill.

[baileyspears01]

Picnic Date- Guapoduo One Shot

A/N: I tried to include as much of Roier and Cellbit's native languages but I don't speak either one fluently so they're are bound to be mistakes. Hope you enjoy!!

It had been a long time since Roier and Cellbit had time to themselves. With Cellbit solving all the enigmas on the island and Roier building Bobby's City they barely saw each other. They missed each other like hell and if it were up to Roier he would steal every second of his husband's attention. So that's why he showed up to Cellbit's office in the favela with a picnic basket in his hand. "Celbo!!!" He sung as he took the elevator down to his husband's office where Cellbit's heard hung down knee deep in evidence he had collected from his latest enigma. "Guapito!!!! O que estão a fazer aqui!" Cellbit looked up from his work to look at his lover who smiled at him with his soft brown eyes. "Nos vamos salir tu oficina y comer comida en nuestra lugar favorito." Roier walked toward him and held out his hand and Cellbit couldn't say no. He knew he had neglected his lover and he wanted to make it up to him.

The couple left the favela and Cellbit let Roier guide him across many lands. Sure they could teleport but what's the fun in that. He had no idea when Roier was taking him but he didn't care as long he was with him. "Esta aquí." Roier said as he came to a stop and Cellit smiled when he saw their destination. Base Guapita, where their relationship really began and where the best memories were made. "Gracias, Guapito, Eu precisava disto." Cellbit leaned in and gave Roier a passion kiss and Roier smiled into the kiss raking his hands through Cellbit's long hair. "No necesitas darme las gracias, te extraño, wey." Roier said as they made their way up the ladder and into Base Guapita. Roier guided him to the area where him and Richas paired together once and set the picnic blanket out for them to sit on. Both of them ate sandwiches and drank freshly squeezed lemonade in bottles that Roier had made with the help of Richas. They didn't need to do outrageous things to enjoy each other's company. They strive on love and quality time.

When their lunch was finished, Cellbit helped Roier pack up the picnic basket and both of them layed on the blanket. "Eu te amo, Roier." Cellbit stroked his lover's hand and Roier squeezed back. "Yo también te amo." Roier said and both jumped when their communicators buzzed.

Chat:

Badboyhalo: Richas is coming to you guys, Cellbit and Roier.</p>

Roier and Cellbit smiled as the waystone went off and Richas came running towards them, hitting them with his fists. "RICHAS!! FILHO!!!!!" Cellbit cried out and they hit each other playfully causing Roier to smile. He loved his family more than anything, he just wished Bobby was here to witness it. He missed his little son more than anything and not a day went by that he didn't think of him. He snapped out of his head when he help a sharp hit and he looked down at his stepson who help a bottle of coffee in his hand and smiled. "Gracias, Richas." He said taking the coffee and all three of them gulped their coffees down. "BOM DIA!" They exclaimed as they spun around and did their tradition that Roier was included in when he married Cellbit. "Bueno! Vamos por o castelo, Estou muito cansado" Cellbit picked up his warpstone and they all warped away leaving the picnic blanket there.

When they made it to the castle, the couple said goodnight to Richas, who wanted to go see Tio Bad and headed inside. "Gracias por hoje, Guapito." Cellbit ran his hands through his husband's hair as they layed in bed with Cellbit's arms wrapped around Roier's waist. "De nada, necesitamos hacerlo más a menudo." Roier smiled and leaned into kiss his husband who accepted and both of them said their goodnight's falling asleep in each other's arms.

[nightsidewrestling]

D.U.D.E Bios: Pelageya Winter / Geia Lucifarian (2021)

The Gold-Digging Goddess Geia Lucifarian

Same pic as Geia hasn't changed much.

The third of the seven sins, Geia uses her husband's wealth to fuel her greed, however her greed is mostly based on the American media she has observed through the years to fine tune her own American Dream. Geia knows all too well just how to get others to succumb to their greed, turning them into money and power hungry phantoms of their former selves.

"Just think of the money you'd get.

Name

Full Legal Name: Pelageya Naida Winter (Née Volkov)

First Name: Pelageya

Meaning: Russian form of 'Pelagia' which itselfis the feminine form of 'Pelagius'. 'Pelagius' is the Latinized form of Greek 'Pelagios', derived from 'Pelagos' meaning 'The sea'

Pronunciation: pi-lu-GEH-ya

Origin: Russian

Middle Name: Naida

Meaning: Possibly derive from Greek 'Naias', a type of water nymph in Greek

Pronunciation: NAY-da

Origin: Russian

Surname: Winter (Née Volkov)

Meaning: From Old English 'Winter' or Old High German 'Wintar' meaning 'Winter' (Volkov: Patronymic derived from Russian 'Volk' meaning 'Wolf')

Pronunciation: WIN-tar (vul-KOF)

Origin: English, German, Swedish (Russian)

Alias: The Gold-Digging Goddess, Geia Lucifarian

Reason: Pelageya has often been called a 'gold-digger' and Damien chose her to represent Greed and gave her a new name when she joined the 'family'

Nicknames: Geia

Titles: Miss, Mrs, Ma'am

Characteristics

Age: 34

Gender: Female. She/Her Pronouns

Race: Human

Nationality: Russian

Ethnicity: White

Birth Date: Match 18th 1987

Symbols: Frogs, The Colour Yellow

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Religion: Russian Orthodox

Native Language: Russian

Spoken Languages: Russian, English, Spanish

Relationship Status: Married

Astrological Sign: Pisces

Theme Song: 'Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)' - Pet Shop Boys (2007-2011), 'American Wasted' - New Medicine (2011-)

Voice Actor: Lena Katina

Geographical Characteristics

Birthplace: Bolgar, Spassky District, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia

Current Location: Unknown

Hometown: Spokane, Washington, USA

Appearance

Height: 5'5" / 165 cm

Weight: 145 lbs / 65 kg

Eye Colour: Brown

Hair Colour: Brown

Hair Dye: Half Bleached Blonde

Body Hair: N/A

Facial Hair: N/A

Tattoos: (As of Jan 2021) 7

Piercings: Ear Lobes (Both)

Scars: None

Health and Fitness

Allergies: None

Alcoholic, Smoker, Drug User: Clean

Illnesses/Disorders: None

Medications: None

Any Specific Diet: None

Relationships

Allies: (As of Jan 2021) Damien Lucifarian, Vi Lucifarian, Billie Lucifarian, Honey Lucifarian, Eli Lucifarian, Sara Lucifarian, Yeray Marino, Flo Marino, Bano Marino, Judi Marino, Rino Marino, Nat Marino, Mac Marino, Ros Marino, Zac Marino, 'Monster' Mike, Sakurako, Ash Thunder

Enemies: (As of Jan 2021) Kirby Kingston, Eddie Kingston

Friends: Viola Nye, Bienvenida Marino, Honey Di Napoli, Elinor Herbert, Saraid Grady-Sullivan, Gardenia Lum, Genesis Winter

Colleagues: The AEW locker room/ Too many to list

Rivals: Alex Reynolds, Penta Oscuro, MJF, Scorpio Sky, Brandi Rhodes

Closest Confidant: Zinnia Turner

Mentor: Rudolf Volkov

Significant Other: Byron Winter (54, Husband)

Previous Partners: None of Note

Parents: Rudolf Volkov (54, Father), Diana Volkov (55, Mother, Née Shvets)

Parents-In-Law: Rudyard Winter (74, Father-In-Law), Doris Winter (75, Mother-In-Law, Née Triggs)

Siblings: Ardalion Volkov (31, Brother), Matrona Marino (28, Sister, Née Volkov), Yaroslav Volkov (25, Brother), Klavdia Volkov (22, Sister), Wassily Volkov (19, Brother), Oxana Volkov (16, Sister)

Siblings-In-Law: Too Many To List

Nieces & Nephews: Too Many To List

Children: Nathan Winter (34, Stepson), Zinnia Turner (31, Stepdaughter, Née Winter), Laurence Winter (28, Stepson), Xanthia Winter (25, Stepdaughter), Joseph Winter (22, Stepson), Venetia Winter (19, Stepdaughter), Isaiah Winter (16, Stepson), Uliana Winter (13, Daughter), Emil Winter (10, Son)

Children-In-Law: Genesis Winter (35, Nathan's Wife, Née Rivers), Patrick Turner (32, Zinnia's Husband)

Grandkids: Quincy Winter (14, Step-Grandson), Hadley Winter (11, Step-Granddaughter), Bethany Turner (11, Step-Granddaughter)

Great Grandkids: None

Wrestling

Billed From: The Underworld

Trainer: C.R.C Wrestling School, Damien Lucifarian

Managers: Damien Lucifarian

Wrestlers Managed: None

Debut: 2007

Debut Match: Pelageya Golden VS Olwen Rhydderch. Geia won by pinfall

Retired: N/A

Retirement Match: N/A

Wrestling Style: Showman

Stables: The Lucifarians (2010-)

Teams: Post

Regular Moves: Diving Crossbody, Spinning Heel Kick, Springboard Dropkick, Springboard Plancha, Onehanded Bulldog, Missile Dropkick, Gold-Digger (Inverted Spinning Elbow Strike), Diamond Ring (Running Enzuigiri), Pin by Standing on Opponent

Finishers: Money Maker (Full Nelson Facebuster), Inheritance (Running Double-Knee Facebreaker)

Refers To Fans As: The Possessive, The Possessive Ones, The Greedy, The Greedy Ones

Extras

Backstory: Pelageya Winter (Née Volkov) aka Geia. Geia has often been called Greedy for wanting more than what she has, but when you're raised in a poor, freezing part of Russia why wouldn't you want more? So she got herself more, a rich American husband who may or may not be a sketchy politician, plenty of stepchildren, two kids of her own and starting in the 2010s, a fledgling career in wrestling as Damien's 'Greed'

Trivia: Nothing of Note

[yourlocalnicknackkinnie]

Garten of BanBan Human + Worker!AU (Daycare Employees + Info of the daycare)

Part 1

The daycare section is basically used for parents who wanted to drop off their kids while they go out for a while. The day care could also be used for a place to pick up the kids from kindergarten. Unlike the kindergarten, it has less academic programmes.

The daycare of the facility is also Kingdom/Medieval themed. It was set up by the Head employee of that section aka Queen Bouncelia.

Queen Bouncelia (Bambra Watson)

Aboriginal (Native Australian) + British

Female (She/Her)

35

5'9

Bisexual

Lead caretaker

Has a crush on Miguel (Sheriff Toadster)

Has kids (The Naughty ones)

Single mom

She's a very calm and soft spoken person and is good with kids. But she tends struggles with disciplining kids at times.

She finds corny jokes funny at times but doesn't really laugh since she is quite insecure about her laugh at times.

Bittergiggle (Bonnie Gangjeon)

Korean + White (Unspecified but contains French)

Non Binary (He/They)

28

6'1 (Without heels)

Pansexual

assistant caretaker + Child entertainer

Dating Nathan (NabNab)

He's a very ambiverted individual. Extraverted at times, introverted at times. Most of the time he is shown to be happy and hides his emotional feelings and keeps it to himself at times.

He is also known to pull little harmless pranks or tricks on his fellow employee friends

NabNab (Nathan/Nathaniel Uthman)

Adam Uthman's Stepson

Bandit's (BanBan) Younger stepbrother

Filipino

Questioning (He/It)

28 but a few months older than Bonnie (Bittergiggle)

5'10

Aroace

Naptime caretaker assistant

Dating Bonnie (Bittergiggle)

Natalie's (Nabnaleena) Ex

NabNab acts a little mean but when you get closer to him he's a pretty good guy (Honestly he's like Zooble from The Amazing digital circus).

Nabnaleena (Natalie Diaz Fernandez)

Filipino + French

Female (She/they)

26

5'6

Polysexual

Naptime caretaker

Dating Selina/Seline (Slow Seline)

Nathan's Ex

Unlike Nathan, She's much less meaner and more sociable than him. She can be nice and easy to get along but she can be brutally honest.

She's like the responsible older sister like figure of the employees (Mascots)

[finishinglinepress]

FLP POETRY BOOK OF THE DAY: householes by Natalie Parker-Lawrence

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/householes-by-natalie-parker-lawrence/

Natalie Parker-Lawrence, teacher, writer, and editor, received her MA in Linguistics (Dialect and Literacy) from the University of Memphis and her MFA in Creative Writing (Creative Nonfiction/Playwriting) from the University of New Orleans. Now a Training Instructor/Research Assistant for the Caregiver Center at the Lt. Col. Weathers VA Medical Center in Memphis, she was an instructor in the Communication department at the University of Memphis for eight years and taught AP English Literature, AP World History, Theatre, and French in Memphis-area high schools for forty years. Parker-Lawrence’s essays/poems/fiction have appeared in Slice of Life Magazine, The Barefoot Review, Stone Highway Review, The Literary Bohemian, Knee-Jerk Magazine, Prime Number Magazine, Tata Nacho, Orion Magazine, Wildflower Magazine, Memphis Magazine, Persephone Magazine, Edible Memphis, Southern Indiana Review, Unlikely Stories, Alimentum, The Ecotone Exchange, The Palimpsest Journal, The Commercial Appeal, World History Bulletin, and The Pinch. Her nine plays have been produced in Tennessee, Illinois, New York, and Florida. She lives in midtown Memphis with her husband and two shelter dogs, Koba and Yashimaru, but welcomes visits from her daughter, five stepsons (three active US military), and their families. #poetry #haiku #hybrid #caregivers

PRAISE FOR householes by Natalie Parker-Lawrence

“Try picking drops of the ocean with tweezers. Try expressing your grief, rage, fear, love within the tiny, out-of-breath, syllable-stingy form of haiku. Natalie Parker-Lawrence’s poems, concocted from the rushing, halting words of women caregivers of veterans, honor the essence. An image, a sound, a memory, a nightmare: capture it: in so few words.”

–Margaret Edson, author of Wit and winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

“Natalie Parker-Lawrence’s book of hybrid haiku, householes, strikes a delightful balance between delicacy and power. The poet also walks the tightrope between the personal and the universal, and she does so in such a way that the reader follows anxiously along, breathless and captivated. At turns gentle, at times brutal, but always poignant, Parker-Lawrence has the gift of the simple line that says much. I hope this book portends the start of a long career of verse.”

–Corey Mesler, author of Cock-a-Hoop, and Take the Longing from my Tongue

“In short, impactful verse, Natalie Parker-Lawrence, shares the poignant and often gritty stories of Veteran Caregivers from around the country. The traditional haiku form evokes feelings about the natural world using a structure of stanzas and syllables. As if by necessity, Parker-Lawrence departs from the traditional haiku to share first-hand, vivid and heart-breaking accounts of those who’ve survived war and those entangled in its aftermath. Their explosive, shattering and gut-wrenching experiences refuse to be confined by poetic tradition and structure. No one touched by war remains whole. This collection has transformative power, taking us from despair to hope, if only in the knowledge that we are not alone.”

–Virginia Bryan is a retired attorney, arts advocate and free-lance writer. Her work appears in Distinctly Montana, Montana Magazine, Native Peoples and Yellowstone Valley Woman.

“householes stitches the weightless Haiku to the gravity of all that proceeds war with thread borrowed from the women yoked in the collateral damage of the military-industrial complex.”

–C. (Christine) W. Lockhart, PhD: LT, USCG (retired), Disabled Veteran & Caregiver, author of Blanket of Stars: Thru-Hiking the Camino de Santiago and Walking with Buddha: Pilgrimage on the Shikoku 88-Temple Trail

“In householes, Natalie Parker-Lawrence, uses the hybrid haiku form, inspired by the haiku poems Richard Wright produced in the last year of his life, and characterized by rhythmic economy, precision, and surprise. The poems are conversational, snatches of things the women said about their disturbing experiences, selected, arranged, and performed with a spring or turn at the end. The result is the poems linger with authentic power and speak of lives worth knowing.”

–Marcia Aldrich, author of Companion to an Unknown Story

“These poems are portals into the lives and harsh realities (the pills and whiskey and broken bodies) faced by female caregivers. The voices are raw and intimate, and made all the more real by flashes of startling tenderness. In this stunning debut collection, Natalie Parker-Lawrence’s miracle is her ability to conjure entire worlds with a handful of words.”

–Sonja Livingston, author of Ghostbread and The Virgin of Prince Street

“Deeply moving… often tender, painful, sometimes sassy and occasionally funny. Always raw and wise and honest. Some of it felt vaguely familiar. Much of it evoked sorrow and compassion for the lives represented to highlight the deeper challenges, emotions, of the Caregiver/Veteran experience. In many ways it felt very different from my own experiences. Ours, it appears, was a kinder, gentler journey. His PTSD manifested itself in quieter, more subtle ways. As did his dementia. There were definitely moments, increasing as he moved closer to crossing over, when he’d wake confused…still in a dream state…awaiting deployment orders from a Sergeant or some higher up. Often he’d see a young boy running thru a room (his younger self? I could only speculate). Because, the experiences captured felt, for the most part, darker, more painful than what I experienced with dad (with a couple of exceptions …ie, Ringo? … I wondered if the Vet had been a musician… loved that they’d called each other “Brother”)

–Chris Ciccarello, daughter and Caregiver of WWII Veteran

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry #read #poetrybook #poems

[earth-93]

BRIGADE FILES: PROFESSOR X (Part 1)

Stars & Stripes Hotline [Version 1.03]

C: \login\Buddy_Holly

Directory of C: \BrigadeFiles\Xmen 09/21/2006 8:28 AM Total Files Listed: 16 File(s)  202, 005 bytes

C:\Users\mini\BrigadeFiles\Xmen

Directory of C:\BrigadeFiles\X-Men\XAVIER_CHARLES.txt

[file data =

Main Alias/Moniker: Professor X 

Legal Name: Dr. Charles Francis Xavier

Other Aliases: Professor, Prof, Dr. X, Chuck, Charlie, Wheels, Cue-ball

Date of Birth: January 12th, 1956 Age: 50)

Status: Alive

Species: Mutant 

Sex: Male

Gender: Cisgender

Height/Weight:  6' (1.83 m) [In Wheelchair: 3'4'' / 1.35 m]  / 173 lbs (78.5 kg) [With Wheelchair: 340 lbs / 154.2 kg]

Hair/Eye Color: Bald (Formerly Brown / Blue)

Timeline (1956 -1965): The Professor was the only child of a scientist and philanthropist. Brian Xavier fled his native Brazil, growing weary of the country's instability after World War II, and found easy sanctuary in the US by becoming a contracted scientist. He was initially set up in New York, where he first met Sharon Greymalkin. The Greymalkins were a wealthy and prestigious family until 1939, when Namor's attack on Manhattan left Sharon the sole survivor. She resolved to devote her inherited fortune to philanthropy, but the trauma over the loss of her family left her increasingly unstable and reclusive over the years, made worse when her daughter—the Professor's twin sister—perished in utero. 

Some of the Professor's earliest memories were of the desert, when the whole family was briefly moved out to the Southwest as Brian participated in a top-secret government project. The Professor's father was a virtual stranger to him growing up, so much so that he said he felt next to nothing when Brian died in a freak lab accident when he was nine. His mother, on the other hand, was a different story. The Professor has ruminated that the earliest manifestations of his mutant power were unconscious attempts to console Sharon, though the sheer emotional distress Sharon was wracked with often overwhelmed the Professor. This unconscious application of his powers was intermittent across his adolescence. He couldn't make sense of it, so he never confided in it to anyone. In turn, people would regard the Professor as being incredibly smart and perceptive or too nosy or intrusive, depending on the situation. 

Timeline (1965 - 1971): Less than a year after Brian's death, Sharon remarried.  The Professor's stepfather, Kurt Marko, came to prefer his meek, intelligent stepson over his own rowdy and rambunctious child, a preference that led to bullying and eventually outright abuse from the Professor's stepbrother, Cain. The first use of the Professor's powers in a hostile manner happened when he lashed out against Cain, sending a psychic shockwave that gave Cain an aneurysm. Cain miraculously recovered with no complications, and though he nor anyone back then had any proof of it, both Cain and the Professor had some sense of an understanding as to what happened. The abuse ceased after the incident, but Cain never hesitated to let the Professor know what a freak he was in Cain’s eyes. 

The Professor became more curious than ever of his “mind quirks,” and poured himself into whatever reading he could get his hands on. This led to his late father’s library and personal journals, where the Professor first learned that part of both Brian and Kurt’s contracted research was in studying mutant genes on behalf of the US government. The research was apparently done as part of a larger contingencies towards planning contingencies towards “the mutant problem,” which greatly disturbed the Professor at the time. When he was fifteen, Sharon finally succumbed to her substance abuse and Kurt, overwhelmed at the prospect of tending to two teenage boys by himself, cajoled the Professor to expedite his high school education and begin college early. 

Timeline (1971 - 1985): The Professor poured himself into his studies to avoid his familial anguish, as well as just keeping his powers in check. In three years, he had earned degrees in psychology, anthropology and psychiatry, and by twenty-five he earned his PhD in genetics. This tireless work effort came at a cost, both emotionally as well as physically. He grew cold, reclusive and detached, and grew thin and lost his hair prematurely before he turned thirty. He eventually took up a teaching position at Oxford, where he had resigned himself to the field of psychology, assisting people intangibly through his powers while never publicly outing himself as a mutant. 

That all changed when Dr. MacTaggert—or Moira Kinross, as she was at the time—came into the Professor’s life. A passionate genetics major specializing in mutant theory, Moira’s zeal radically changed the Professor's life and perspective, the degree to which only one other person can lay claim to. It was Moira who first convinced the Professor that better understanding mutants were a matter of civil rights, and the Professor was so enamored with Moira that they became as romantically intimate as they were intellectually. Moira evidently spoke often of she and the Professor getting married, and leading the charge together in mutant research and advocacy, but the Professor remained hesitant to expose himself in such a way. Not just as a mutant, but being so intimately involved with someone who was still his student and protégé at the time. 

Eventually, the Professor and Moira became intimately involved, during which time Moira would often speak of them getting married and leading the charge in research and advocacy. The latter fear came to pass once Joe MacTaggert, an admirer of Moira, uncovered their affair and blackmailed the Professor into leaving Oxford. The Professor complied, so filled with shame at the time he did not interact with Moira or confess the circumstances behind his sudden departure. He did, however, make sure to hold onto her lofty ambitions, going on an unofficial sabbatical traveling the world, seeking out and studying his fellow mutants. This is what brought the Professor to Cairo, where he detected the presence of another telepath and, assuming the best of intentions, wandered into the territory of crime boss Amahl Farouk. Saving the life of a man put in Farouk’s crosshairs, the Professor soon found himself locked in an intense psychic battle that he barely survived from. When he regained consciousness days later, he found himself in a small hospital in Tel Aviv. There, he met the man whose life he saved—and, in turn, saved the Professor’s. 

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Given boss man Blake Shelton's superstar status, it's hardly a surprise that his chain of Ole Red entertainment venues primarily showcases country music acts.  

But the Oklahoma native made an exception Friday night at his Ole Red Tishomingo for a special guest artist making his debut: Kingston Rossdale, his oldest stepson. 

"I'm actually honored to be the first one to introduce this guy to the stage for the very first time. ... First and foremost, this guy is an artist. He's the real deal, and you guys are gonna be able to say that you were there at his very first ever public performance," Shelton said at the Aug. 11 concert.

"This dude is rock. I don't just mean he rocks; his music is rock. I think we've got some rock fans out here, probably."  

The eldest of son of pop icon Gwen Stefani and rocker Gavin Rossdale, Kingston, 17, played a series of original songs Friday night inside The Doghouse music hall at Ole Red Tishomingo. An encouraging Oklahoma audience of about 400 music lovers witnessed his debut, said concertgoer Jamie McGaugh, a devoted Shelton fan from Coalgate.