#nicki && fleet

[whollyjoly]

for some reason i can't explain i know saint peter won't call my name

nothing that lives, lives forever - an immortal soldier!alton more au

(1.1k of snippets from my old guard(ish) au where alton more is old, too old, and has been living and fighting far longer than anyone should. full description/other thoughts at the bottom. tw: blood, violence, mentions of death)

Alton clicked the lighter closed, running a thumb over the silver case. The night was warm, sticky in a way that he never could get used to. He sucked in a breath from the cheap cigarette, letting his head fall back against the rough side of the barracks.

It was quiet. Typically, there would be no end to the commotion coming from the small building, one of many that littered Camp Toccoa. The wall of sound was ever-present, no matter if it was shouting or laughing or snoring. But whatever the cause, there was always noise. 

No matter if it was a blanket of noise he knew well, unchanging except for the language and the scenery. Soldiers are soldiers, and some things are a constant. It could almost be comforting, if it didn’t also mean that the need for soldiers was a constant as well.

However, tonight was a Saturday, and it was one of the few weekends that Sobel had allowed Easy the use of their weekend passes. Almost every man in the company had jumped at the chance to get off base, to travel home if they could and spend time with loved ones. The ones with farther-flung hometowns had spirited off to Atlanta, happy to spend their time drinking and dancing and fucking instead of slogging through another run, three miles up, three miles down.

Normally, Alton would have joined them in their carousing - it was easier to pass the time with the effortless camaraderie built during a training camp than bored and alone. 

But today had been a bad day. The sound of swords and the shift of sand beneath his feet followed him out of his nightmares, the humid summer of Georgia morphing itself into the baking, dry heat of the desert. 

His shouts must have been real, because when a hand came to shake him out of his dream, the first face he saw was not that of a grouchy NCO, but of a blood-caked Saracen, eyes alight with righteous fury. 

Alton didn’t think. He had grabbed the knife from under his pillow, an old thing that had been sharpened more times than he could begin to count, and was on the man in less than a breath, pressing the blade into the side of his neck. The familiar thrum of blood beat against his fingertips, the grit of sand scratched his gums. He knew what he had to do, had done it a thousand times, a thousand thousand times, what was a little more bloodshed spilled across his feet-

Alton had blinked, and came to himself in a rush.

Instead of an unnamed Saracen, the ashen face of Johnny Martin stared up at him, eyes wide behind the knife.

Alton drew back his hand, retreating almost as quick as he had lunged earlier. He mumbled a quick curse and apology as he stepped out of arm’s reach from the man. It wasn’t until Martin’s eyes widened even farther that Alton realized his tongue was slipping out Arabic of all things.

Usually, Alton was better about remembering himself, who he was almost as important as where he was. But for whatever reason, his demons had decided to catch up with him that night.

After a quick smile and some quip about the Krauts in his dreams, he managed to wave an only-slightly-mollified Martin off. The shorter man apparently hadn’t forgotten it though, if his watchful eyes during chow that morning were anything to go by.

Alton was just glad that no one else was awake to see it, at least. That was the last thing he needed.

And so, instead of joining in on a weekend of broads and booze, Alton found himself waving away the invitation by an eager Smokey and bemused Alley. When the horde made their way out of the barracks, fantasizing in bawdy terms about their planned misadventures, he felt like he could breathe easy.

Fucking finally.

~~

Alton took another drag from the cigarette. He watched the smoke curl, up and up until it faded into nothing amongst the darkening sky.

The lighter was a welcome weight in his hand, grounding him to this time, this life.

The design was worn by now, details barely visible after a half century of worrying. It still managed to amaze him, sometimes, what people could do with the smallest of canvases. Alton didn’t feel the same wonder however, wasn’t as mesmerized by the beauty man could create as he once was.

But in the quiet moments, he could still appreciate the time some French craftsman took to transform a hunk of metal into a small token carried around by a dead man.

Luz had spied the lighter one weekend, and laughed at him for using something so old-fashioned. Alton just shrugged, not caring to admit that he was still getting used to having a light at his fingertips. It wasn’t all that long ago when he was still lighting a pipe with a flintlock pistol, and not so long before that when he would carry around a flint and steel.

Time was passing all the more quickly these days, technologies changing and advancing, and everyone was obsessed with needing things to be quicker, cheaper, simpler. Alton scoffed. He could hardly find it in him to care.

He glanced down at the lighter in his hand, shifting it back and forth in a practiced motion and watched as the light skittered across the sides. 

It had shown flowers, once. A veritable garden of carnations, daffodils, and lilies of the valley, with leaves spilling across the front panel onto the back. They represent good fortune, he was told. Good fortune, luck, and hope. 

When the merchant described it to him, eyes ablaze with a passion known only to those with wares to sell, Alton didn’t try to hide the snort that escaped his throat. 

Fortune and Luck had abandoned him long ago, and hadn’t returned since waking up in a battlefield abandoned by all but the dead, sword in his chest and blood in his mouth. 

And what the fuck was Alton supposed to do with hope?

It was the quote on the back that had caught his eye, all those years ago in a street market in Reims. The beveled edges had faded with time, the familiar letters Alton traced were more memory by now than any physical mark. Une vie honorable est une vie éternelle.

An honorable life is an eternal life.

Alton couldn’t help but stare at the message, both then and now. He hated that goddamn word. Immortal. Unending. Eternal. 

They were such flowery words, used by people who craved what they couldn’t have, what they shouldn’t. The romanticized idea of the everlasting, the fountain of youth, the gift of life! Alton was sick of it.

This wasn’t life. He was a fucking dead man walking. And he sure as hell didn’t do anything honorable to deserve it.

months ago, while thinking about the absolute insanity of the almost...cavalier? attitude we see alton more have over the course of the series, an idea hit my brain: what if there was a reason nothing seemed to phase him - not panzers, not being a breath away from a car wreck, not bastogne, not speirs? what if this wasn't his first war? that thought spiraled me into a minor insanity that is this: my immortal soldier!alton more au, loosely inspired by the movie the old guard (2020). the idea is that, once upon a time, there was a soldier in a land many centuries ago. one day, he died in battle. and then, he woke up. and then he died. and then he woke up. over, and over. drawn to countless battles, conflicts, and wars, each one etching itself into the core of his soul. a never-ending cycle...until one sweltering summer, where he found himself at a training camp at the foot of a mountain. anyways. at some point, i plan on writing this as a full story, but that is admittedly a long ways away. however, in celebration of alton more's birthday today, i wanted to post my favorite scene that i've written for this au! it's set sometime at the beginning of the story, in the early days of camp toccoa. mostly, it's just a character study of this version of alton more. hope you enjoyed! and of course - happy birthday alton more!

(song insp.)

taglist: @sweetxvanixlla @coco-bean-1218 @bucky32557038ww2 @georgieluz @samwinchesterslostshoe @xxluckystrike @next-autopsy @ronald-speirs @land-sh @ronsparky @panzershrike-pretz @theredrenard @kyellin

[nickitxrres]

closed starter for @fleetsummers

location: kitchens

Nicki had been sitting outside of the clinic for a few hours now. There was too much talking inside and she caught whiff of something that made her want to heave the contents of her stomach. All she had to protect her from the winds was the blanket she borrowed and at first, she thought she’d be fine. She’d acclimate to the temperature eventually. However the longer she sat the colder she felt and the thought of going back into the clinic was not ideal. Not that there really was anything in there that could warm her up more. No, she needed something. Perhaps some warm soup from the kitchens. Or tea. Anything hot at this point. Good thing the community center wasn’t far from the clinic.

It took her a bit but she wandered into the kitchen. She had a mission - find something warm, find a chair and sit down to slowly sip it down. Slow was the keyword. This was probably the slowest she was going to be for a while. She could already hear Ike’s chiding words about moving too fast and aggravating her ribs more than they already were. Her hand pressed against the door and she swung it open, stumbling to a stop when she saw Fleet. “Mi estrellita,” she said, forcing a smile on her face as she took another step. “Please be my absolute hero and say that there is some soup or something warm in here that I can have.”

[jakehawk]

Name 3-5 people in Redwood who you find personally attractive.

"In no particular order: Nicki, Renee, Mayra, Fleet, Zack."

[darkmovies]

Scream of the Wolf (2023) Date de sortie : 13/06/2023 Réalisateur : Dominic Brunt Scénario : Joel Ferrari, Pete Wild Avec : James Fleet, John Henshaw, Nicky Evans

[cultfaction]

Wolf Manor trailer and poster revealed!

Wolf Manor trailer and poster revealed!

[moviesandmania]

WOLF MANOR (2022) Reviews of comedy werewolf movie - new artwork, trailer, release news

WOLF MANOR (2022) Reviews of comedy werewolf movie – new artwork, trailer, release news

Wolf Manor is a 2022 British comedy horror film about a film crew that encounters a bloodthirsty werewolf while making a vampire flick. Directed by Dominic Brunt (Evie; Attack of the Adult Babies; Bait; Before Dawn) from a screenplay co-written by Joel Ferrari (Pandora) and executive producer Pete Wild. Produced by Joanne Mitchell. The Mitchell-Brunt Films/Wild Edric Media co-production stars…

[hunnysnoops]

South Park Music HCs

What music I think the South Park characters would listen to.

Stan ✰ Kyle ✰ Kenny ✰ Cartman ✰ Wendy ✰ Bebe ✰ Heidi ✰ Tweek ✰ Craig ✰ Butters

With Spotify links!

Stan Marsh

Artists:

Radio Head

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Crywank

She Wants Revenge

System Of a Down

Slipknot

The Front Bottoms

Favourite Songs:

Atoma- Dark Tranquillity

Smokey Eyes- Lincoln

F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X- The Fall of Troy

Mr Grieves- Pixies

Misc:

Generally angsty

Gets embarrassed of his taste when he’s put on aux

He probably likes 90s dad rock

Whenever Stan listens to ‘System of a Down’ Cartman calls him ‘Syndrome of a Down’

Likes The Front Bottoms purely because he relates

Kyle Broflovski

Artists:

Dan Mangan

The Cure

Echo & the Bunnyman

Blur

Weezer

Billy Idol

Favourite Songs:

I Love You- Fontaines D.C.

Troubled Mind- Dan Mangan

The Killing Moon- Echo & the Bunnymen

Jumping Someone Else’s Train- The Cure

Candy- Paolo Nutini

Misc:

Cartman calls him a virgin for listening to Weezer

If he’s playing his music around you, he’ll sneak glances at you to see if you like it

Definitely has a poster for The Cure in his bedroom

Refuses to use Bluetooth headphones

Kenny McCormick

Artists:

Eminem

Outkast

Ini Kamoze

Car Seat Headrest

Cypress Hill

Limp Bizkit

Green Day

Favourite Songs:

Hits from the Bong- Cypress Hill

Sexy Drug- Falling in Reverse

Deadlines (Hostile)- Car Seat Headrest

Take A Look Around- Limp Bizkit

Misc:

Watches clips of Woodstock 99 on YouTube

Plays his music so loud that it spills through his headphones and gets weird looks for it

Listens to Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter with his little sister

Eric Cartman

Kanye West

T-Pain

Lady Gaga (we all saw this coming)

Rihanna

Black Eyed Peas

Oliver Tree

Pitbull

Favourite Songs:

Church- T-Pain, Teddy Verseti

Meet Me Halfway- Black Eyed Peas

I Can’t Stop- Will Smith

Bury Me Alive- Oliver Tree

Happiness is a Butterfly- Lana Del Rey

Misc:

Strikes me as the type of guy who doesn’t really listen to music

Unironically likes Oliver Tree (His music and him as a person)

Rips on everyone for their music but won’t tell them who he listens to

Lip syncs to Wiz Khalifa while flexing in the mirror

Listens to T-Pain and Will Smith to make him feel tough

Prefers podcasts

Wendy Testaburger

Artists:

The Shins

Gwen Stefani

Hozier

Grizzly Bear

Nelly Furtado

Olivia Rodrigo

Elliot Smith

Favourite Songs:

Swan Upon Leda- Hozier

Lacy- Olivia Rodrigo

Stand By Me- Ben E.King

Vienna- Billy Joel

Pocketful of Sunshine- Natasha Bedingfield

Misc:

Thunder makes her think of stan so she skips it

Relates to Vienna and probably got a small tattoo for it after she graduated

Probably has an eclectic taste and loves 2010s pop

Lets everyone else play their music while she’s driving and never complains

Stares at her ceiling and listens to Elliot Smith when she’s sad

Gets ready listening to y2k pop songs

Bebe Stevens

Artists:

Jungle

Wild Belle

Dominic Fike

Kesha

Avril Lavigne

Justin Bieber (baby era)

MGMT

Favourite Songs:

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now- Joy Crookes

Back On 74- Jungle

Memory Box- Peter Cat Recording Co.

Keep You- Wild Belle

Beauty And A Beat- Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj

Ur So Gay- Katy Perry

Misc:

Hates sad music, she’ll force herself to listen to USHER during a breakdown

Picky about her music, if someone plays a song she doesn’t like she’ll definitely skip it or complain until someone else does

Mentioned she liked Justin Bieber and then got in an argument with Cartman because of it

Never lets Clyde near the speaker

Screams Ur So Gay at the top of her lungs when it comes on

Heidi Turner

Artists:

Jack Johnson

Syd Matters

Daughter

Fleet Foxes

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Noah Kahan

Of Monsters and Men

Favourite Songs:

Open Season- High Highs

To All of You- Syd Matters

Two Weeks- Grizzly Bear

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing- Jack Johnson

Sisyphus- Andrew Bird

Blue Ridge Mountains- Fleet Foxes

Misc:

Loves going for walks while she listens to music

Sends you songs that remind her of you

Listens to every song you send her and tells you what she likes about it

Hums when she has her headphones in without realising

Her and all of her friends love Noah Kahan

Tweek Tweak

Artists:

Billie Holiday

Billie Marten

Johann Sebastian Bach

Claude Debussy

Ludwig van Beethoven

Foals

Connie Francis

Favourite Songs:

Who’s Sorry Now- Connie Francis

Cello Suite No. 1 in G Minor- Johann Sebastian Bach

Méditation from Thaïs- Jules Massenet

Bad Apple- Billie Marten

The Lark Ascending- Ralph Vaughan Williams

Misc:

I actually think he would hater Hyper-Pop

Prefers slow/classical/instrumental songs

Listens to a lot of white noise, really specific ones like ‘Heavy Rain in Autumn Fairy Forest 9 hours’

Musical prodigy, plays piano and cello

Craig Tucker

Artists:

Nirvana

Hole

No Doubt

Foo Fighters

Pulp

Arcade Fire

Jeff Buckley

Favourite Songs:

Common People- Pulp

Malmo- Mook

Forget Her- Jeff Buckley

The Pretender-Foo Fighters

Dumb- Nirvana

Misc:

Made one playlist in eighth grade and never listens to anything else

Thinks Courtney Love killed Kurt Cobain

Hates TikTok music, like genuinely.

Somewhat of a gatekeeper

Butters Stotch

Artists:

She & Him

Blonde

Kate Bush

Dolly Parton

Regina Spector

The La’s

The Mama’s and the Papa’s

Favourite Songs:

You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine- Lou Rawls

In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry

Hey, Lucky Lady- Dolly Parton

The Tide is High- Blondie

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here- She & Him

Don’t Let The Good Life Pass You By- Cass Elliot

Clay Pigeons- Michael Cera

Misc:

Songs absentmindedly all the time, annoys the hell out of everyone

Quotes the songs he listens to

Developed choreography in middle school and still remembers it

Asks people if they’ve heard a super popular song that’s all over the radio and social media out of genuine curiosity

Anyways, that’s all I got for now. Re log or comment what you think they’d listen to bc I’m genuinely curious, thanks for reading!

Also it literally took hours to add all of those Spotify links so I hope you got something out of this! they wouldn’t let me add more than 100 :/

[cbrownjc]

I'm curious on why do you think Daniel would hate Armand when he recovers his memory... I thought he would resent him or be ashamed of being in love with the guy who tortured him not too long ago (He could maybe even prescribe himself as having Stockholm Syndrome).

I also can't wait to see all the relationships in Dubai in S3, the angst omg

Hi!

So I don't think Daniel is going to recover all of his memories before the start of Season 3. I think he's just going to remember one more thing by the end of the season via one memory, which will reveal that he and Armand -- at some unknown point -- had sex and said "I love you" to each other.

And that is all Daniel is going to remember of his and Armand's relationship -- that they had sex at some point in time and there was an "I love you" exchange (likely during it) and that's it.

And that little bit Daniel remembers is in no way going to tell the whole story of everything. And that is going to be the key as to how and why he'll react the way I think he will.

Because there is no way, IMO, that Daniel would be happy to learn he and Armand were involved with each other like that with only that little bit of info about it all. Especially not after how Daniel has been reacting to just the whole Rashid deception.

Because after learning that Armand might have very well screwed with his mind not just for days, but for who knows how long? And doing so to hide that something like that happened? I think Daniel is going to view it all as Armand lying to him in a HUGE way. No matter what Armand's excuse for it might be.

And now also given the fact that Daniel knows Armand has messed with Louis' mind in the same way too, I don't think that is going to help Armand in any case he might plead about why he did it in Daniel's eyes either. I really do think Daniel going to see it -- at first -- as nothing but manipulation on Armand's part at first. And, as Eric himself said, Daniel doesn't like being bullied.

Now, I'm not saying that Daniel will only see it that way from here on out. But if Season 2 ends with a reveal that they had sex and said "I love you" to each other in the past at some unknown point (and I still think that reveal will be coming in episode 2x08), the first half of Season 3 is going to have Daniel super angry about that, along with some shame too as well of course, I'm sure. Especially because he's not going to have the full context of it all.

But it'll probably take until the middle of Season 3 before Daniel is even willing to hear Armand fully out about it I bet.

And honestly, I think Armand is going to have to deal with a lot of anger coming at him during the first half of Season 3, and not just from Daniel. I fully expect Lestat to be there and, since we know we're getting Lestat's backstory in Season 3 then, if you know that story from The Vampire Lestat, Armand doesn't exactly cover himself in glory during the events there either. Heck, Louis already alluded to the hands thing with Nicki in this very episode.

So yeah, Daniel won't be the only one angry at Armand for a time at the start of Season 3 IMO, but I do think he will be. And what Daniel will very likely hear wrt Lestat's backstory isn't going to help things in that regard either I bet, coupled with the fact that his memory of their time together as lovers will only be remembering one fleeting moment and that's all.

Daniel won't yet have his full memory of everything regarding him and Armand together going into Season 3; not for a (long) while IMO. And so missing a lot of context is going to inform Daniel's first and immediate reaction to learning it, IMO.

[styrof04m]

How do u think Agatha felt everyday when she would look at Nicky and see Rio’s brown eyes and brown hair and toothy smile staring back at her. Agatha who struggles so intensely with vulnerability looking at her little boy everyday and seeing the love of her life reflected in every movement. Watching Nicky as others flock to him whether because of his mischief or because of the sense of wonder he instills with his songs. The same way the coven was so immediately entranced by rio and also repelled. Watching him craft a song so beautiful and innocent and yet so intricately tied to the death of so many. What do u think she felt when every day she watched as people were lulled into a trap of her creation by nothing but his small face and easy words. How many times do u think Rio and Agatha did that same dance before. How do u think she felt day and night surrounded by the greenest trees and the prettiest flowers and the strongest rivers and in the center of it all Nicky. Nicky who is so full of life and yet can’t survive without being surrounded by Death in every sense of the word. How he acquiesces to Agatha so easily despite not understanding why they have to kill witches. Because his mama is asking him to and that’s enough for him just like it always was for Rio. How everyday she looks at him and remembers that he’s going to die, that’s he’s going to leave her soon, always too soon. How she can never have anything more but fleeting moments with the ones that she loves.

And when he dies, the one time Agatha heeds his wishes of tomorrow, encapsulating so fully the cycle of life and death he is once again everything Agatha is not but instead everything Rio is. And just like his mother he’s unable to escape his fate. His true calling which was never with her just like Rio’s duties. How despite how fully they love her and she loves them it’s still not enough.

And after, every time she uses her siphon powers on the fake road sandwiched between Nicky’s song and Rio’s final embrace who do u think she thinks of first. Who do u think hurts more to think about. Who do u think she feels more guilt over. Because while she very loudly blames Rio it’s ultimately a facade in which to hide her own feelings. The guilt of falling in love in the first place, the shame of not being enough, the grief over the way she can never have what she truly wants. How she will never have Nicky again but Rio will never leave her side. How she refuses Rio so intensely and yet Nicky is with Rio always.

And how do u think she feels now, whenever she looks at Rio and all she sees is Nicky’s brown eyes and brown hair and toothy smile staring back at her.

[nickitxrres]

Kissing Booth!!

where Nicki stops by for a hug and gets a therapy session as well @fleetsummers

Nicki Torres

"Okay, I couldn't stay away," she said as she walked in and found Fleet. "Necesito un abrazo de mi estrellita."

fleet summers

"Ohh!" Fleet popped up from behind the booth, scuttling out to hug Nicki before she even reached anywhere near the stool. "Si claro, mi morena. But you know you didn't need to wait for a booth for that." He kept his arms around her, guiding her towards the seat. "How goes the recovery?"

Nicki Torres

"I know I didn't but I felt an overwhelming urge to get one right this second." She hugged him back and kept her arm around him as he guided her inside. "Alright. Still a little sore and stiff but I'm taking it easy, as promised. No unnecessary trips or reckless acts of stupidity. What about you? How are you?"

fleet summers

He helped get her situated and stayed standing next to Nicki's stool, both arms looped around her. "It's okay," Fleet said, after a moment. "I'm not gonna scold you about whatever it is people scold you about. Not that they're wrong--" he smiled, bumping her nose with his own, "--they do it out of love, but they've got that covered. You and me can just noodle along our own stuff."

Nicki Torres

Nicki laughed softly as she held onto him. Her fingers were tracing up and down his spine. "Well, I appreciate that. I will gladly noodle along with you." She hummed a little bit. "You didn't answer my question, silly."

fleet summers

"I'm doing all right. People are ... upset about various things, a lot. Not at me, I mean in general about their own things, but in a gross kind of way that's comforting?" Fleet huffed a little breath, half-exasperated with himself, half-relieved. "It makes me feel less like I'm trying to get attention when I'm upset."

Nicki Torres

Nicki nodded along as she reached out with her foot to try and grab the other chair and bring it closer so he could sit with her. "Well, I'm glad. I know things have been pretty bleak lately. But this whole thing....it's nice." She had motioned to the booth around them but it was more than just that. "It's about time something good happened around town. Was this whole thing your idea? It has your flair written all over it."

fleet summers

Fleet gave a shushing hiss when Nicki tried to hook the other chair, moving it himself and then sitting down. "Flair? That's a very flattering way to put it." He laughed, giving a slight shrug. "Guilty as charged. I know you're not supposed to say, but since I'm one of the organizing Leprechauns, after all--" Fleet elbowed her slightly, "--how are you feeling about your recipient?"

Nicki Torres

Nicki couldn't help but laugh at the sound he made when he shushed her. She wasn't sure if he was trying to stop her because she was straining to pull the chair around or for some other reason. She figured it was the latter. Upon his question she laughed and shrugged. "It's gonna be....amusing, let's put it that way. I was kinda hoping for someone else but it's gonna be fun and a little challenging. What about you? You got anyone good?"

fleet summers

"Whoa whoa whoa, you can't just say you were hoping for somebody else and not tell me who!" Fleet gave Nicki's knee the lightest of slaps. "I'm trying to keep you from over-exerting yourself and here you want to make me twist myself into conniptions guessing at who you would've preferred to get. Tell me all about it and--" Fleet put on a light, lilting Irish accent, "--sure I'll see what magic I can do, slainte."

Nicki Torres

"Oh, no," she laughed and shook her head, "that's cheating! I can't get special favors because I have an in with one of the glorious little leprechauns on the leprechaun committee! And besides, I'm curious to see who has him and what they get for him. And before you ask, no, it's not Ares. I actually have something special for him already just because. But no, it's probably better I keep who I have so that I can have time to come up with something for other, nameless person."

fleet summers

"I wouldn't have guessed Ares! Give me some credit for having more drama than sense." Fleet pouted extravagantly when Nicki declined to say who she'd hoped to get, tapping his bottom lip for a moment and then guessing, "David? Isaac? Orion? Lucien? Oh, there's no point, you know everyone so the possibilities are endless. Sigh." He wriggled on his stool, saying, "I don't know mine that well but I'm pleased! Doing something nice for them won't be any trouble at all."

Nicki Torres

Nicki gave Fleet a cute, adoring look as she cupped his face in her hand. "God, your little pout is so hard to say no to. You're killing me, mi estrellita." None of the names he guessed were correct, although David's name popped up and she laughed. "Wait, David got roped into this? Now that's hilarious. Who put his name in? Was it Mayra? Or Val? I bet it was Mayra." Fleet seemed so excited for his prospect and considering it was someone he didn't know well, she had money it was on one of the new arrivals. "Please don't tell me you got Mike." Because of course that was her first thought.

fleet summers

"It wasn't Mayra, I can tell you that much." Fleet snickered, shaking his head as he offered a tiny bit more information: "It was mostly us Leprechauns who tossed in the unlikeliest of participants. We all have faces that are hard to say no to." Fleet gave her his biggest, most winsome eyes, but he huffed derisively when Nicki asked if Mike was his recipient. "Not on your life," he said, a curl of disgust to his lip. "I would cut my own brake line if he was in the path of my car. Theoretically." The thought of Mike made his face tighten in anger for a moment, at the thought of what that man had put Zack through, but Fleet set that aside. 

Nicki Torres

"You three are amazing. Oh, I can't wait to find out who has David and Zack and who they have. It's gonna be amazing!" She saw his pout and groaned a little bit. God, he was gonna rip it out of her, wasn't he? Probably. And Fleet would be the most successful person to do that, too. Maybe she should tell him. "Oh good. I hope whoever has him gives him a steaming pile of dog shit. Preferably from Rex." Nicki knew this was supposed to be good will but Mike was a different story. "You really want to know who I was hoping for, don't you?"

fleet summers

The praise did help to turn the anger biting at the edges of Fleet's mood back sweet again, and he flushed a bit under it, reaching to clasp Nicki's hand before dancing his fingers up her forearm, tracing little wheedling circles against her skin. "I really do wanna know," he said. "Believe me -- it can only make the situation better if I know about it. I wasn't kidding about having a some of that shamrock magic in me. Or is it rainbow magic? Either one works."

Nicki Torres

Nicki laughed and groaned a little as he really, and I mean really laid on the charm for her. It was no wonder he had won the heart of one Zack Astor. "Okay, okay, but don't overexert yourself by switching things around for me, okay? I know you three put in a lot of hard work to organize this whole thing, sooooo....." She scrunched the side of her face a bit as she tried to gauge his reaction. "I was hoping for Zack."

fleet summers

That did take Fleet aback a little, and it probably showed in the immediate tilt of his head, the pucker between his eyebrows. "Zack," he said. "But why? I mean, you already talked to him and it didn't go well. I don't know that an artificially-created situation where you were randomly slated to do something nice for him would improve things any, Nicki."

Nicki Torres

"Yeah, I know. Which is why it's probably best I didn't." She had a feeling that was going to be his reaction. "Because I'm bad at apologies? Or talking anything out, really. And I feel bad, y'know? I've been an ass and you were right and I've been doing some reflecting and....well...." she shrugged, "I think in the rehab game it's called amends or something. I thought it could be a good way to do that."

fleet summers

Fleet pursed his mouth up to one side as Nicki explained, nodding when she reached the end of her train of thought. "I see what you're saying," he said, "but I don't think that's the most effective way to make amends, not with Zack. He's pretty big on people making their own choices, of their own volition, with their own words. Authenticity goes a long, long way with him -- even authenticity that's not necessarily pretty." He drooped a little bit, sighing for real and not in the actual word now. "I wish I hadn't pushed. I made things worse."

Nicki Torres

Nicki breathed out a long, heavy breath through her nose and her shoulders slumped a little. But she nodded. "You didn't make anything worse. That's all on me, okay? You were trying to help out tu amor and I fumbled. So please, don't blame yourself, okay? I'll just....." her voice trailed off as she tried to think of what to say and she ended up shaking her head, "....I don't know. Figure something out. Maybe write something out and just read it. That could work....?"

fleet summers

"I don't know either. But it's okay if you take some time to figure it out, Nicki. I'm..." Fleet held on to her arm more consciously, as if he thought Nicki might skitter off at his next turn of conversation. "Don't take this the wrong way but -- for somebody who makes a lot of show about being devil-may-care about everyone's opinions, you're actually pretty bothered when people are upset with you, huh?"

Nicki Torres

See, Nicki felt like she didn't have time but she was gonna take Fleet's word on that. He knew Zack a bit better than her, after all. She was about ready to change the subject when she noticed how Fleet was grabbing her arm and if that wasn't a red flag enough, his preface sure as hell was. Uh oh. At first she thought about scoffing and adamantly denying that was the case but this was Fleet and damn if he wasn't observant as hell. She blew out the air from her lungs and made a face. "Yeah....but only people I care about. I don't like letting them down."

fleet summers

"Okay." Fleet switched to patting her arm instead, since Nicki had taken that well, all things considered. "It's fine to feel that way. I feel that way. Probably most people in town do." He ducked his head, smiling, to catch Nicki's eye. "It's not just you. It's nothing to be ashamed of, being like the rest of us."

Nicki Torres

Her face felt a little flushed. Whether it was embarrassment or shame or awkwardness that a little wall she had put up had  been breached, she wasn't quite sure. And his little pat she was sure was well meant but she felt a little vulnerable. Her eyes caught his face as he moved into her line of sight. Was she really that transparent? "I'm used to being closed off and calloused," she explained as she sat back up in her chair, "not seen, if that makes sense."

fleet summers

Fleet was quiet for a minute, letting that sit between them as he thought about it. "Do you want to stay that way?" he asked, once he'd felt it out. "Closed off, calloused, without anybody seeing who you really are. You're in Redwood now, with people who care about you. Even the ones who don't love you care about you, as a person, as part of our little group of survivors." Fleet stroked down to Nicki's hand, her long fingers, each one of them in turn. "What's the worst that could happen, if people who care about you see you for who you are?"

Nicki Torres

Nicki breathed out heavily. She was conflicted on how to answer that, honestly. "I wish the answer was that simple, mi estrellita," she sighed as she ran her free hand down her face. "Sometimes I think it's better to stay that way because there's never a guarantee that I'm coming back from a raid. The less people see the real me, the less they have to miss in case I don't come back. Dying is the easy part. Living is hard." Nicki offered a half smile at Fleet, wondering if the musical genius would catch the little reference she threw in there. "I love people. I love caring about people and I love being loved in return, but with everything out there....loss is easier when you aren't too invested."

fleet summers

Fleet returned the little twitch of a smile, saying, "I hope you're not telling me you've got fantasies of being a martyr, Nicki. Though you'd look great in one of those powdered periwigs and a frockcoat." There was something nagging him about what Nicki was saying, and it wasn't wholly the sentiment in itself -- though Fleet wasn't excited about that, either. He ran through her statement in his head again, then picked out a word: "It's about the raids? The raiding, that's what makes you think this way?" The thought was distressing and Fleet pressed a little more, asking, "Does Ares feel that way, too? Do Orion and Cat and Isaac?"

Nicki Torres

Nicki laughed softly. Truly. Genuinely. There was no hollowness or dullness in the song. "Wouldn't I, though? I could see it now, Saint Nicki - patron saint of sex. That is non-negotiable." A potential guide away from dismal, depressing talk but it didn't stick. "I mean, it's not just the raids, but they're the biggest risk. I love raiding. I love the thrill of it, but contrary to everyone's opinions, I'm very well aware that I'm not immortal. I'm happy to go raiding. Even better knowing I'm doing something to help everyone here in Redwood. We're taking the risks so no one else has to. It's a dangerous job and someone has to do it. Why not an adrenaline junkie with a need for speed?" There was more to it than that, obviously, but that was the general gist of it. "Well, I don't know about Cat. I'm still feeling her out. But the rest of us? We know there's a chance we're not coming back every time we go out there. But...honestly, no, I think I might be the only one with this sentiment. I've kind of always had that train of thought, even in the before times. I really only had one person I was super close with back when the world had billions of people and I'm lucky that she's here.....Mayra, in case you were wondering."

fleet summers

Fleet laughed along -- with a touch of incredulousness at Nicki's audacious remark, naming herself the saint of sex to the person who'd cheated on his boyfriend with her. It wasn't something Fleet would've said, but he didn't dwell on it; Nicki existed primarily in Nickiworld, a state of peculiar innocence that was impermeable to other people's complexities until they became impossible to ignore. See: Zack. 

She explained about the raiders and their dynamic, and Fleet honestly didn't know enough about how they worked to say otherwise, so he nodded and accepted the way Nicki described it. He did laugh again when she clarified that she was besties with Mayra, saying, "Oh, I know. I've been in town more than three minutes." Fleet nudged against her. "That's good, though, that's amazing. That the both of you ended up together and able to be there for each other when you need that kind of super duper close unquestioning friendship. I'm glad for you." That did bring up a new thought, though, and Fleet said, "Nicki, I know you love people, and you love caring about people, you've got a huge heart, anyone can see that. But I'm curious. How do you show you care about people?" He lifted a finger and stipulated, "--and your answer can't be about sex, or about jumping in front of a bullet, or killing for them. No declarations of dying or killing and no--" Fleet took a breath, "--fucking. Tell me what else." He drew his fingertips feather-light against the pretty curve of her cheek. "Tell me how you see it."

Nicki Torres

Nicki absorbed his nudge, letting it roll through her and keeping herself balanced in her chair. Things were feeling lighter, that was for sure. Which was good! Nicki had come into the booth looking for a hug and some friendly gossip with one of her favorite people. This definitely wasn't what she was planning on, even if this was maybe more therapeutic than she thought it would be. Although, for a minute, she did freeze for just a minute. The answer to his question was simple - at least, at first. Until he put in his restrictions and her mind went blank. How on Earth was she going to answer that? Her lower lip pushed out into a pout as she fumbled through her memories and thoughts to try and come up with an answer to his question. "I......I don't know," she muttered, her shoulders rising and falling in a shrug as she tried to think of something. "I guess....I like doing nice things for people? Like those clothes I found for you at the Ranch or the crystals I brought back for Mayra....oh, and the knife I asked Alden to make for Ares....which, don't tell Ares that. I want it to be a surprise." His touch tickled her skin but even that didn't really help her think. Seriously, how did she not have a good, solid answer that didn't sound pathetic to this?!

fleet summers

Nicki's list got a pleased sound out of Fleet, and he hopped upright a bit to say, "Oh! Orion brought back my bag of shirts! It was still all tied up neatly the way I'd left it, and he said that made him think that it was something treasured and worth retrieving. Which is completely right, of course. He's so neat." Which would sound like faint praise were it about anybody else, but Orion was ... neat. 

Fleet could see that Nicki was troubled, though, and he didn't really want to press her past the point of this stimulating any further contemplation on her part -- god knew, all of the things they'd been talking about would be overwhelming for anybody -- so instead he pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks, then cupped her face in his hands. "Don't approach Zack just yet," Fleet said, firmly. "Think on it. Think about what he might be feeling. And the answer is more complicated than 'angry with Nicki'. If you can't figure out anything aside from that, then leave it where it lies." He tapped a thumb against her chin. "Ares is gonna lose his mind that you commissioned something from Alden for him. That's so thoughtful of you."

Nicki Torres

"He did?!" She asked, both excited and relieved that Orion had brought those back for him. If they brought back that, she wondered what else they brought back. "That reminds me, I wonder if they found that day calendar thing we were working on. I know the whole point of why we were making it is long gone, but I thought it would still be something nice to finish and give to Ares in case he's laid up a bit longer and I'm needed back out there, helping out and everything." Probably not. She didn't remember where she had left it and it was possible it was destroyed or lost forever. Maybe she could find another day calendar and start all over again.

Nicki's eyes followed Fleet as he stood and she scrunched her face in a bit of shock and confusion as he kissed her cheeks. Not because of the soft affection because that was pretty on par for Fleet and she even felt a slight heat in her cheeks from it. Which she was sure he felt when he held her face in his hands. She then realized what he was doing - giving her advice. Really solid, sound, needed advice because this whole thing with Zack was - well, she had no idea how to navigate it at all and as easy as it would be to just walk away and suffer the consequences of her actions, she did want to try and make things right. Especially to the man who had now saved her life twice. "Alright, I'll stand down." She had no idea how she was going to figure out the complexity of Zack Astor without getting verbal hints from the man himself but she could figure it out, right? If she could replace a carburetor in Persephone, she could totally do this. She smiled and laughed a little as she caught Fleet's hands and held them. "I'm hoping he likes it. It's not exactly his dream knife but I think it's pretty close. I can't wait to give it to him, honestly."

fleet summers

"No, I think that calendar's probably good and gone, unfortunately. But that's okay." Fleet spun a lock of Nicki's hair around his finger and then let it go, to sproing into a curl. "You've got a million more nice things to say to Ares in your head to make up for it." 

A wash of relief went through Fleet when Nicki promised she wouldn't push things with Zack and he resisted saying anything further on the subject -- which was hard, because his instinct was to help and to talk it out and to offer more and more ways to look at the situation, but his instinct had only made it more sticky. His instinct had caused the whole problem, in fact. The remorse was present but Fleet was already working on making his own amends to his boyfriend, so he wasn't dwelling on it. "Thank you," Fleet said, before Nicki caught his hands in her own and he smiled brightly at her excitement about her present for Ares. "I'm glad you two are doing well," he said, earnestly. "I love you both so much. I know whatever goes on with you raiders stays with you raiders, so it's good you have each other."

Nicki Torres

Nicki's lower lip pouted out. "Damn, I had some really good messages written down that I was rather proud of." It had also been just fun to write down the dirty little messages and imagining Ares' face when he read some of them. But, unfortunately, that was life. She would just have to show him what she was writing down in person. That, she was sure, would be something Ares would look forward to.

Things really were good between Ares and her. Nicki loved it. Honestly she never thought she could feel this way about anyone but fuck, was she glad she was absolutely wrong. "We love you too," she said before bringing both of his hands up and kissing the backs of each one. "And we both are lucky to have you to brighten our days when we're here in town." Honest to God's truth. She gave his hands a squeeze and stood up, albeit slowly and stiffly. She had probably sat a bit too long in that chair. "I probably shouldn't hog you too much longer. I'm sure you're gonna have a line of people wanting your attention. One more hug and/or kiss for he road?"

fleet summers

"Mmmm, maybe. Val and Beth are more to some people's tastes." Fleet laughed, though, no malice in the comment, adding, "--one of us is sure to appeal to somebody if the other two don't!" Nicki was moving a little stiffly but mostly all right as she stood, so Fleet didn't move to help her, just watching until he was certain she was doing okay. "You take care. And good luck with your Pot of Gold task." He gave her both a hug and a kiss, to the middle of her lips, pressed close-mouthed and sweet the way children did it. 

Nicki Torres

Nicki hummed happily and hugged him back before accepting the little kiss from him. "You take care too, mi estrellita. And don't be a stranger." She gave him a wink before kissing his cheek and heading towards the library to check on Ares.

[mieeaahhh]

All for the game’s characters as songs from my playlist EXCEPT its songs they LOOK like instead of what vibes they give off (if you don’t understand you are doomed a loser for the rest of your life)

Neil Josten

All I Need by Radiohead

West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys

The Great Big Gig In The Sky by Pink Floyd

Andrew Minyard

I Wanna Be Your Dog by Mephisto Walz

Dark Entries by Bauhaus

Headup by Deftones

Aaron Minyard

Everlong by Foo Fighters

Dumb by Nirvana

Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

Kevin Day

Carmen by Lana Del Rey

My Girlfriends Girlfriend by Type O’ Negative

My Lady of Mercy by The Last Dinner Party

Nicky Hemmick

Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

That Means A lot by The Beatles

There From New York, New York by Frank Sinatra

Renee Walker

Once Upon A Dream by Lana Del Rey

Breathing by Kate Bush

Mirror by The Last Dinner Party

Allison Reynolds

Chase The Stars by Solene, Minthaze, Saimsoul

Literal Legand by Ayesha Erotica

Christian Woman by Type O’ Negative

Dan Wilds

Champagne Coast by Blood Orange

Rapture by Blondie

Royals by Lorde

Matt Boyd

Me And Your Mama by Childish Gambino

Bullet With Butterfly Wings by The Smashing Pumpkins

Master of None by Beach House

Seth Gordan

Got Well Soon by Breton

Destroyed By Hippie Powers by Car Seat Headrest

Bodys by Car Seat Headrest

Katelyn Mackenzie

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

Heart Of Glass by Blondie

Valerie by TV Girl

[darkmovies]

Wolf Manor (2022) Date de sortie : 09/01/2023 Réalisateur : Dominic Brunt Scénario : Joel Ferrari, Pete Wild Avec : James Fleet, John Henshaw, Nicky Evans

[jrooc]

✨Tag Game Wednesday ✨

Oh hi. Fancy seeing you, here! Today we're talking music 🎶 So put on a playlist and play along.

Name: Jess

What is the most listened to artist in your music app of choice this month?

Spotify is telling me it's Chappell Roan - colour me unsurprised.

What song do you know all the lyrics to?

Let me back in - Rilo Kiley

What song do you pretend to know all the lyrics to and sing along to even though you don't?

Every other song. Red Wine Supernova. Def Bohemian Rhapsody.

If you were to be crowned Queen/King/Royalty of listening to a band or artist, who would that be? (Shoutout Misobot)

Jenny Lewis or Rilo Kiley probably. Or Bon Iver.

What band/artist surprises you the most on your frequently listened to artists? Nicki Minaj

Favourite line from a song (or one you have been thinking about lately?

What I found was a gamble You threw yourself in with me Made a cross and you lit a candle

Guilty pleasure band or song?

Cause of CG I actually like a couple Taylor Swift songs (she's not my usual taste! Don't come for me 😂)

Okay let's talk fandom music:

Fave band or song you've discovered from a Fan Fic?

Greta Van Fleet!

Fave Fanfic Playlist?

CG or Teenage Dirtbag

Fave Gallavich song?

Basic Instinct - The Acid OR It's Thunder or Lightning by We Were Promised Jetpacks

Do you listen to music recommended by the writer or an included playlist? 10000% every time.

What song do you think is Gallavich coded?

Latch - Sam Smith (for fluff) ooh or I need a forest fire - Bon Iver/James Blake for angst

What’s a bop you want to share with your mutuals today? 

Tags below the fold

Tagging or just send a hug to: @heymacy @deedala @mybrainismelted @blue-disco-lights @michellemisfit

@energievie @darlingian @ardent-fox @astaraels @spookygingerr

@gallapiech @roryonic @lee-ow @look-i-love-u @deathclassic

@transmickey @stocious @creepkinginc @ian-galagher @sgtmickeyslaughter

@mickeysgaymom @heymrspatel @whatthebodygraspsnot @francesrose3 @crestfallercanyon

@doshiart @rayrayor @ms-moonlight-inn @krysmiss @callivich

@suzy-queued @too-schoolforcool @guinguin1984 @gallawitchxx @palepinkgoat

[ripempezardexerox]

Dices Merzbow, yo digo Justin Beiber

Dices Boredoms, yo digo Katy Perry

Dices Gerogerigegege, yo digo Skrillex

Dices Coil, yo digo Lady Gaga

Dices Throbbing Gristle, yo digo Black Eyed Peas

Dices Whitehouse, yo digo Taylor Swift

Dices Nurse With Wound, yo digo Bruno Mars

Dices Einstürzende Neubauten, yo digo Maroon 5

Dices Brainbombs, yo digo Drake

Dices Egor Letov, yo digo One Direction

Dices Death in June, yo digo LMFAO

Dices Current 93, yo digo Beyonce

Dices La Monte Young, yo digo Carly Rae Jepsen

Dices Moondog, yo digo Kelly Clarkson

Dices Lou Harrison, yo digo Coldplay

Dices Henry Cowell, yo digo PSY

Dices Luigi Russolo, yo digo Imagine Dragons

Dices Popol Vuh, yo digo Lana Del Ray

Dices Fishmans, yo digo Ellie Goulding

Dices Jean Jacques Perrey, yo digo P!nk

Dices Les Rallizes Dénudés, yo digo Owl City

Dices Rainbow Caroliner, yo digo Carrie Underwood

Dices Taj Mahal Travellers, yo digo Christina Aguilera

Dices Fushitsusha, yo digo Ariana Grande

Dices Peter Brötzmann, yo digo Rihanna

Dices John Cage, yo digo Jennifer Lopez

Dices Scott Walker, yo digo Ed Sheeran

Dices Unwound, yo digo Mumford & Sons

Dices Dead, yo digo Tyga

Dices Frank Zappa, yo digo Shakira

Dices Morton Feldman, yo digo Macklemore

Dices Captain Beefheart, yo digo Big Time Rush

Dices Pharoah Sanders, yo digo Akon

Dices Albert Ayler, yo digo Foster the People

Dices Ornette Coleman, yo digo The Weeknd

Dices Alice Coltrane, yo digo Panic! at the Disco

Dices Arnold Schoenberg, yo digo Florida Georgia Line

Dices Pierre Boulez, yo digo Big Sean

Dices György Ligeti, yo digo Gym Class Heroes

Dices Karlheinz Stockhausen, yo digo Miley Cyrus

Dices Nang Nang, yo digo The Lumineers

Dices Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, yo digo Jay-Z

Dices Nara Leão, yo digoCharlie Puth

Dices Basic Channel, yo digo Mac Miller

Dices Raymond Scott, yo digo Twenty One Pilots

Dices Delia Derbyshire, yo digo Harry Styles

Dices Daphne Oram, yo digo Charli XCX

Dices Noah Howard, yo digoBTS

Dices Terry Riley, yo digo Iggy Azalea

Dices Peter Sotos, yo digo John Legend

Dices Lula Côrtes e Zé Ramalho, yo digo OneRepublic

Dices Boyd Rice, yo digo Migos

Dices Mahmoud Ahmed, yo digo Logic

Dices Henry Flynt, yo digo Bastille

Dices Kazumoto Endo, yo digo Five Seconds of Summer

Dices David Tudor, yo digo Pentatonix

Dices Aporea, yo digo The Chainsmokers

Dices Half Japanese, yo digo Fall Out Boy

Dices Mega Banton, yo digo David Guetta

Dices Secret Chiefs 3, yo digo Greta Van Fleet

Dices Keiji Haino, yo digo Alicia Keys

Dices Ramleh, yo digo Kanye West

Dices Otomo Yoshihide, yo digo T-Pain

Dices John Zorn, yo digo Lizzo

Dices Joe Meek, yo digo WALK THE MOON

Dices Robbie Basho, yo digo Cardi B

Dices Phil Spector, yo digo EXO

Dices Faxed Head, yo digo Solange

Dices Harry Partch, yo digo Lil Nas X

Dices Wesley Willis, yo digo Disclosure

Dices Fred Frith, yo digo Sam Smith

Dices The Residents, yo digo Michael Buble

Dices Sun Ra, yo digo Paramore

Dices Sun City Girls, yo digo Linkin Park

Dices Hans Krüsi, yo digo Florence + The Machine

Dices Royal Trux, yo digo Rascal Flatts

Dices Jandek, yo digo Eminem

Dices Yat-Kha, yo digo Chance the Rapper

Dices Loren Mazzacane Connors, yo digo Mariah Carey

Dices Pärson Sound, yo digo Snoop Dogg

Dices The Dead C, yo digo Adele

Dices Comus, yo digo Shawn Mendes

Dices Cromagnon, yo digo Chris Brown

Dices Eliane Radigue, yo digo Camilla Cabello

Dices Arthur Doyle, yo digo Halsey

Dices Shizuka, yo digo The 1975

Dices The Red Krayola, yo digo Billie Eilish

Dices Henry Cow, yo digo A$AP Rocky

Dices Magma, yo digo Dua Lipa

Dices Opus Avantra, yo digo Kendrick Lamar

Dices Pan.Thy.Monium., yo digo Nicki Minaj

Dices Murmuüre, yo digo Madonna

Dices Ksiezyc, yo digo Britney Spears

Dices Gong, yo digo Post Malone

Dices Cukor Bila Smert', yo digo Jonas Brothers

Dices cLOUDDEAD, yo opino que te calles

Dices Muslimgauze, ¡¡ YO GRITO POP!!

Dices Kaoru Abe, y te parto la madre

El 92% de la juventud está escuchando Avant Garde Noise. Si eres parte de ese 8% que aun escucha música de verdad, comparte este post a tus contactos de facebook.

¡¡¡¡ No dejes que el espíritu del POP muera !!!!

[the-last-tsar]

"Dynastic alliances were thus as much in the mind of the future King Edward VII as they were in that of the Kaiser, although Wilhelm's matchmaking ambitions had been part of a grandiose plan for the creation of a powerful new Zollverein - a continental alliance of Germany, Russia and France. Steering Alix of Hesse in the direction of Nicholas of Russia had been one way of shoring this up. Perhaps, in the wilder reaches of his vivid imagination, Wilhelm nursed visions of being another Frederick the Great, the Prussian monarch who had been instrumental in brokering the marriage of his German relative Sophie van Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg, and with it her rise on the Russian throne as Catherine the Great. The new Tsaritsa Alexandra would, however, never demonstrate any of Catherine's breadth of vision and energy as Empress. If anything, she inherited the prosaic, domestic Victorian values of her mother Alice - of example, duty, morality and a sense of service. But in one thing at least Alexandra would later demonstrate an instinct that she shared with her cousin Wilhelm: an entrenched belief in absolutist autocratic power. Wilhelm's mother, the Dowager Empress Victoria, had certainly hoped that her niece Alexandra's succession to the Russian throne in November 1894, on the sudden death of Alexander III, might foster improved relations between Russia and Germany. In the years up to 1908 Nicholas and Wilhelm made frequent visits to each other for army manoeuvres, reviews of the fleet or simply to enjoy the shooting at their respective hunting lodges in Prussia and the Russian imperial game reserves in Poland. They had even gone yachting together - the Romanovs on the imperial yacht, the Standart, the Kaiser on the Hohenzollern - at Kiel and around the Finnish skerries. But far too often the prickly, meddlesome Kaiser had succeeded in upsetting those around him. Despite this, in his letters to Nicky, Willy repeatedly assured him of his love and devotion; after all they shared the same fundamental belief in their divine right as sovereigns. "We, Christian Kings and Emperors have one holy duty imposed on us by Heaven,” he told Nicky. ‘"That is to uphold the principle “von Gottes gnaden" [by the grace of God].”

The race to save the Romanovs | Helen Rappaport

[bayoubodycount]

Title: Red Sky Morning

Rating: E

Word Count: 38.5k

Chapter 4/11

Characters: Louis de Pointe du Lac, Lestat de Lioncourt, Daniel Molloy, Jonah Macon, Bricktop Williams, Claudia, Madeleine Eparvier, Pandora, Gabrielle de Lioncourt, Daciana, Pierre Roget, Marius de Romanus,  Armand, Sybelle, Benji, Santiago, Eglee, Celeste, Sam, Damek, Rashid, Charlie, Jesse Reeves, Merrick Mayfair 

Ships: Loustat, past Louis/Jonah, past Nicky/Lestat, Nicky/Augustin, Best Friends Louis & Daniel, Louis & Armand, past Marius/Armand, Daniel/Armand, past Claudia/Charlie, Claudeleine, Gabrielle/Pandora, Merrick/Jesse Reeves, Rashid/Damek, Santiago/Celeste/Eglee

Warnings: canon typical violence, homophobic threats & vandalism

Summary: Shrimper Louis is dredging in the bayou dough one evening, when hearing a distress call from a nearby vessel. He drops everything to assist the newest captain in the rinky dink Ragin’ Cajuns fleet, Lestat de Lioncourt. Sparks fly, but it's White Shrimp season in the Gulf states and time, like the shrimp, is gold. Bets have been made and friendly competition is high, to see who brings in the most shrimp by season's end. But lately the body count is rising almost as fast as their fishing quotas and the bayou is steeped in suspicion, ever leery of giving up her secrets. If the fleet can figure out who or what is behind the murders then no matter who wins the season, Louis and Lestat might just find the best catch of all.

**Deadliest Catch/Ragin' Cajuns AU**