#night court nation hopefully i can make more posts soon

[bawnjourno]

uhhhhh life updates from daley bawnjourno:

first week at new job and it’s literally all videos and quizzes i’m bored out of my skull but i also know i should be enjoying the time before i get trained on taking phone calls so like??? i do plenty of cubicle eavesdropping and hear people get yelled at sometimes

how do yall work 40 hour weeks i’m so tired all the time. i have started bringing larger cold brews to work and saving the last few swallows for my 2pm break

i love sparkstember but have had almost no energy to share stuff but it’ll be thrown in the queue later sorry 🥴

gonna try to go to the local japanese festival on saturday

i am still watching nbc’s night court and that’s all i plan to do with my weekend

[toru-oikawas-milkbread]

5 Minutes | Taichi Kawanishi

Pairing: Taichi Kawanishi x f!reader

Prompt/summary: Parties had never been your favorite, but you couldn’t say that you hated your friends parties. In fact, they were always pretty fun and you often times spent the night with her after everyone left. This particular weekend, you caught wind that a classmate of yours at the college you attended was going to be there. His name was Taichi and you had never been too close to the boy, but when you get shoved into a tight spaced closet with the boy for 7 minutes, it goes better than you could have ever hoped for

Edit: So I had to come back and switch a few things up because I never realized before (sleep deprivation got ahold of me I suppose) but his name is not Kawanishi Taichi like I stupidly had before 😐 and I knew that, but apparently I was stupid, so I changed it so the name is accurate!

Word count: 3.4K

Warnings/contents: Half-smut: Oral, clit stimulation, fingering, mentions of future sex, groping, jerking Taichi off. Mild language, light flirting, fluff, 18+

Notes: In this part, you and Taichi are both around 22 years old! The masterlist for the 5 minutes series in in the name if you would like to go and check out the other characters that I’ll be posting! I hope that you enjoy this chapter and I’ll be back with something else, hopefully, soon

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Minute 5

You got shoved into a closet 2 minutes ago, bumping into the chest of a mutual you knew from school. His name was Taichi, a sort of lethargic seeming man who you had always been interested in, though talking to him wasn’t the easiest of tasks to accomplish. Despite having a class together, the man was almost impossible to catch and the times that you did manage to catch him, it would be time to separate and go your own ways too soon before you could really get to know him.

At first you’d thought this time in the closet might be good for you two— to give you a chance to talk, though there was something about being pushed up against the man because the space was so small and on the other side of the closet there was boxes that left no room for him to move back against that had made you clam up. Never once had you been so close to a boy, especially a boy that you didn’t know, and it was almost embarrassing.

“So, you like sports?” He suddenly asked after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence after your previous conversation had ended on a rather sour note and you’d been forced to lean closer to him when a coat touched your arm and scared you. Your leg had somehow ended up between his and it was truthfully embarrassing to be shoved so close to him without a friendship or connection at all shared between the two of you.

“Sometimes. I don’t really watch sports for fun, but I think going to the volleyball matches our school has is enjoyable. I like going to nationals especially and seeing all the talented teams.” You said, though Taichi only gave a soft hum in agreement and silenced himself. “Do you enjoy playing volleyball?” You asked.

“I guess.” He said, and you thought that was going to be the end of it before he spoke again and saved you from more awkward silence. “It gets tiring. Sometimes I think I’m not living up to the coaches expectations, but I don’t want to run half way across the court for a ball I don’t have a chance of saving.” He said simply and you could feel him shrug as he spoke.

“I suppose I can understand. Shiratorizawa seems like a play hard or go home sort of team.” You said, earning yet another half-hearted hum from the man in front of you. It was silent for a few seconds before he suddenly asked you a question.

“So what are we supposed to do in here anyways?” He asked. “I’ve never played this game before. It’s boring.”

“Well, the whole thing is that you’re supposed to make out or something.” You said, not thinking he would even want to do that in the first place as you looked down. The only light in the room was from the light beneath the door, illuminating your feet but doing little to help up towards your faces. You could barely make out the outline of the man in front of you even as your eyes adjusted to the light.

“Oh. So we’re supposed to be kissing?”

“Ideally, yes.”

“Do you want to?”

“Oh— well, uh— we don’t have to, no. We can not and just say we did if you’d like.”

“What? I swear I brushed my teeth.” He joked, a soft chuckle coming from the man a second after. You’d never heard him laugh before, though he had a cute sort of chuckle and you’d wondered what he might sound like if he were to really be enjoying himself. You hesitated for a second before replying.

“Do you want to?”

“Sure, you’re pretty cute.” Your cheeks warmed as the man shifted his weight onto his other leg in front of you and slightly leaned down. “Can I kiss you?” You were quiet, thinking for just a second before you nodded and pressed a hand to his chest.

“Sure.”

Minute 4

Taichi’s lips were soft and warm as they pressed against your own. After you’d touched his chest, he brought a hand down and held onto your waist just as he pressed his lips to yours. The kiss was short and sweet, though when he pulled away from you, he stayed close enough that you could feel his hot breath hitting your lips— and he had told the truth, his breath smelt minty like he’d just brushed his teeth before he came here. Despite other people smelling like alcohol, he didn’t.

You wondered if he might pull back and he was done kissing you, wondering if you had not been appealing to kiss or had let him down, but before your thoughts could run too wild, Taichi brought his hand up and held onto your face as he leaned back in and kissed you again. Your eyebrows raised in shock as he put more pressure against your lips than before, but you were quick to kiss him back, pushing yourself up on your toes to put more pressure into the kiss on your end as you fiddled with his shirt.

Taichi’s hand that rested on your hips slid down to your ass, pulling you closer by giving it a gentle grasp and earning a shocked sound from you into the kiss. When you didn’t scold him or pull back, Taichi slid his fingers down into your back pocket and kept you close, his chilled hand making a shiver run down your spine even as he touched you over your clothes.

It took all but him touching your ass before you could feel a hardness in his jeans. It was obvious because of the way that your thigh was pressed between his legs as you kissed the man. You didn’t think too much about it, too lost in the kiss that was making you feel lightheaded. Despite how dull the boy had seemed to you in the past, he was putting a lot into this kiss. You weren’t sure if you were merely imagining things, but you swore that there was a certain chemistry to this kiss that others didn’t have.

While his hand rested on your ass, you decided to make a bold move and reach down with your free hand, cupping it around the erection that was in his jeans and giving it a soft squeeze while his tongue felt around your mouth. A quiet moan came from him as he kissed you, giving your ass a soft squeeze the best that he could while his hand was shoved into your pocket.

The man gave another light sound when you groped at his erection again, swirling your tongue around his own and giving into the urge to continue kissing the man in this small closet. It had felt a bit wrong, but you couldn’t help yourself. While you had never thought of him in this kind of way, you had to admit that Taichi was cute and that you could have developed a small crush on the man if you had seen any sort of personality in him, but he had always seemed too dull for you before tonight.

Taichi slid his free hand along your side and groped at your chest while you held your hand on his erection absentmindedly and focused on kissing him back. With a soft hum into the kiss, Taichi suddenly pulled back away from you and slid one of his hands off your ass, though the other stayed close to hold onto you. At first you thought he was pulling away again, though you weren’t left with too much time to think when he nudged your chin up and leaned down.

His lips pressed to your neck, kissing along your skin and making the man have to lean down uncomfortably in the tight space. Almost awkwardly, you wrapped an arm around his shoulder, shifting against the man as your hand slid away from the erection in his jeans a little bit. A soft kiss was pressed to your jaw before the man spoke to you again.

“Don’t be so tense,” he said, reaching down and pressing your hand back to the tent in his jeans. “Just relax,” he said in a surprisingly relaxing sort of way. The tone in his voice had changed from a rather bored and unimpressed tone after being locked in this closet with you to a lighter, more airy sort of tone that made you wonder if he didn’t regret being in here or if he merely wanted his dick touched. “Relax and just touch me.” He said before pressing his lips back to yours for another heated kiss.

Minute 3

You gave in, with the mans chilled hand on top of your own, you gave his erection another squeeze, though his hand moved yours a bit a second later while he was kissing you and unbuttoned his jeans. The familiar, quiet sound of jeans unzipping caught your attention as Taichi brought your hand back to his pants, only to feel his boxers rather than the material of the stiff jeans. You couldn’t complain, grasping at his erection and earning a soft hum from the man into the kiss as you grabbed at it.

In return to your fingers pushing their way into his boxers, Taichi reached down with his free hand that wasn’t pressed beside your head against the wall to hold himself up, undoing the button and bringing the zipper of your own jeans down. Anxious about being touched by this boy that you weren’t fully acquainted to let alone in a relationship with, you gave a shaky sort of sound against his mouth as his fingers moved in to start rubbing your clit.

Taichi pulled back, his forehead resting against yours as the two of you softly panted.

“Is this okay?” He asked, his fingers rubbing a small circle against your clit over the underwear that you had on, making you shift against the man as you tried to help him by jerking off his dick inside of his boxers. “Do you want me to stop?” He asked, but you were quick to shake your head, though keeping your eyes closed since you couldn’t see the man anyways.

“Please, don’t stop, Kawanishi.” He pressed a soft kiss to your lips before pulling back again and getting a better angle to rub at your clit.

“You can call me Taichi,” he said, though he was quick to follow up, “Or whatever you want, if you want to call me Kawanishi that’s fine.” He told you, though he was a bit surprised when a soft mumble of his first name passed by your lips. “You’re getting kinda wet,” he teased you, sliding his fingers further into your pants and rubbing along your pussy over your underwear. “Does this feel good?”

“Mhm,” you hummed quickly with a nod, your eyebrows furrowing upwards as the man licked his lips and stayed close to you, listening to your soft moans beneath your breath as your hand lagged a bit on his shaft. With your hand moving away from his shoulder, you grasped onto Taichi’s bicep, squirming against his touch. He leaned back in, pressing his lips to yours for another sweet kiss.

The man in front of you trusted only his legs, reaching away from the wall and grabbing onto your hand to help move it faster on his shaft. A soft moan came from beneath the mans breath as you instinctually peeked down between his legs. It was too dark to see anything, but how fast he was helping your hand move had taken you by surprise. In the mean time, Taichi slid your panties aside and rubbed his middle finger against your entrance, smirking a bit as he felt how wet you were.

“That’s pretty hot,” he said, just barely pushing his finger inside of you. “You’re so tight,” he mumbled, a soft moan leaving him afterwards as your hand moved against his shaft beneath his own. Taichi thought for a second before he stopped moving your hands, bringing yours back and quickly fixing his jeans. “Stay right here,” he said quietly as he gently pushed you back against the wall since you had leaned so close to him.

Frowning in confusion, you watched as the man got down on his knees, but you weren’t left confused for too long as you realized what he was doing. Your cheeks seemed to flush warmer as he slid your pants and underwear down a little bit more before leaning in and quickly enclosing his mouth around your clit. You couldn’t help yourself as you gasped quietly and reached down, your fingers tangling in his soft hair as the man sucked on your clit.

His fingers reached up, teasing your entrance as you bit your lip to keep quiet as another moan wanted to come from you. Taichi’s tongue licking at your clit while he was sucking on it had felt better than you originally thought it was going to. After months of being single and having no desire to have sex with a random man after not even going all the way and having sex with your ex yet, you had forgotten how it felt to have someone’s tongue between your legs. It had only happened once, though you couldn’t complain about the feeling.

Minute 2

His middle finger pushed inside of your entrance, making you give a soft sound as he curled it inside of you and started to pump it at a steady pace while he sucked and licked on your clit. Your knees felt weak as the man touched you, leaving you desperate and chewing on your lip to stay quiet. Soft moans and pants were the only sound that he could focus on even as he made quiet sounds while sucking on your clit. Taichi wrapped his free arm around your legs, keeping you close and relishing in how soft your skin was.

Your fingers gave his hair a light tug, earning a soft hum from the man against your clit. Easily, Taichi slid another finger inside of your pussy, giving a soft chuckle when you moaned quietly and tightened your hand in his hair.

“You’re so fucking tight,” he mumbled as your pussy clenched against his fingers. “Mmm, so wet.” He mumbled as he buried his face back between your legs. Your toes curled as the unmistakable feeling of an orgasm was building up in your stomach, though you felt pretty pathetic for that. He’d hardly been touching you for even a minute let alone only a few seconds with his fingers this deep inside of you and you were feeling like you could come undone already.

But that wasn’t your fault, his fingers were deeper than anyone else’s had ever been inside of you, certainly deeper than your own could ever even hope to make it. A soft, desperate moan left you as the man sucked on your clit harder than before. He could feel you getting wetter around his fingers, knowing that orgasm was coming soon and smirking a bit against your pussy.

“Are you gonna cum?” He asked in a teasing manner as he pulled back a bit from you and continued to rub deep inside of you. “You can if you want to, we’re not the only one’s who’ve made this place smell like someone had sex in here,” he said, and he wasn’t wrong. There was a distinct scent of sex in the air that had lingered on long before the two of you were even here, but the thought of someone finding out that you had so easily fallen into the mans touch made you feel even more pathetic than cumming so soon had made you feel.

“I don’t want to,” you said, earning a soft hum from Taichi as he gave a couple more pumps with his fingers before sliding them out of you.

“Okay.” He said, licking his fingers off before helping you fix your jeans and standing back up. “We could always… go to my apartment.” He suggested quietly, something that made you think. Did you want to be seen leaving the party with Kawanishi? Who cares, you had walked here anyways because it was only a measly block away from where you lived. Fiddling with your fingers, you gave a soft nod.

“We could.” Taichi leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to your lips that ended seemingly as soon as it had began and he left you leaning into him with puckered lips.

“So… after the door opens, since it’s already about 10 o’clock, do you want to come home with me?” He asked quietly. “I can bring you home afterwards or you can stay in my room. I’ll sleep on the sofa, you can shower in the morning and I’ll make breakfast.” He offered, reaching down and gently pulling you closer by the hip. “Or we could go on a breakfast date and get food somewhere,” he said, leaning back in and pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

“A breakfast date?” You asked, cheeks warming yet again as the man stayed close to you, his forehead pressed to yours and his thumb gently rubbing your hip.

“A breakfast date.” He said simply. “I can be a gentleman,” he said, making you give a little laugh beneath your breath that made him give a small smile that you missed because it was so dark in the closet.

“I’m sure you can.”

Minute 1

Before Taichi had even had the time to reply to your question, the sound of the lock clicking caught both of your attention. You both looked over as the door opened, though you instantly regretted it when it was so bright. You squinted hard, hearing your friend snickering at you as she opened the door.

“Come on out, love birds. We have our next group ready.” She said, stepping aside as you walked out of the tight closet with the man and blinked hard as your eyes slowly adjusted to the light. “Did ya have fun?” Your friend asked with a knowing smirk, shoving the other two kids into the closet and locking the door. “Alright, 7 minutes starts now!” She called through the door before looking back at you. “Smells interesting in there, huh?”

“That was not from me,” you grumbled, making your friend laugh as she handed you and Taichi back the phones she’d swiped before shoving you into the closet.

“So you didn’t have fun?” She asked, laughing when you gave an annoyed roll of your eyes. “I knew you’d have fun in there together.” She said, crossing her arms and smirking proudly. “I didn’t pair you guys up for no reason.”

“You so did this on purpose,” you accused your friend who only grinned.

“Yep.” With a sigh, you shook your head and stole a glance at Taichi who looked at you at the same time.

“Well… thanks, I guess.” You said, looking back at your friend who looked sort of shocked that you were thanking her. “This has been a pretty fun party, but I gotta go. I’m tired and it’s almost…” You trailed off, clicking your phone on and checking the time. “It’s almost 10:30 at night and I have… nothing to do tomorrow, but that isn’t the point,” you said, shoving your phone down into your pocket.

“Are you gonna be okay walking home?” She asked, knowing that nighttime had always bothered you and that you hated leaving the house after dark. In fact, she was planning on offering to let you spend the night or even driving you home after the party ended, but you gave a soft nod of your head.

“Yeah, uh… Kawanishi is gonna take me home.” You said, watching as your friends small and concerned look quickly grew into a little smirk. “Shut up— I’m serious.” You said pointedly. “Not a word.” She mimicked zipping her lips up and tossing away a key, though she still snickered as you turned your back to her. “Zip it…” You shot her a pointed look as you started to head for the door with Taichi following.

“This was a nice party, thank you for inviting me.” He said, making your friend smile as she walked beside him.

“Of course. Make sure (y/n) gets home safe— whenever it is that you get her home anyways.” She sent the boy a wink, and despite you seeming annoyed by her knowledge of exactly what the two of you were going to be doing, Taichi sent her a little wink back as a smirk crept onto his face.

“I’ll take very good care of her.”

“Would you two stop acting like that when I’m right here.”

[bakugohoex]

“you’re cute when you don’t talk”

pairing: atsumu miya x female reader

cw: fluff, slight spoilers

word count: 2000+

a/n: hi guys, i’ve been reading some mangas and i’m currently reading bj alex and i swear the amount of conflicting feelings i have is unreal, as usual requests are open and questions for me are open just to get to know me

summary: in which you come and see a msby black jackal game and you catch atsumu's eyes on you, at there post match dinner you find out what atsumu really wants from you

↞ back to haikyu!! masterlist

The stadiums cool breeze, the smell of fresh food and drinks, the sound of spikes hitting the floor. And you, yes you, had caught the eyes of a man who happened to be on centre court, setting for the division one MSBY Black Jackal.

A few days prior, you had met up with your childhood friend Bokuto, his hair lacked the spikes either he was lazy, or he had just gone to the gym. “Please come to the game y/n.”

He had been trying to persuade you for the past 30 minutes and with your finger against the rim of your drink cup, you had been shaking your head.

“But why y/n, you always came to the Fukurodani game.”

“Yeah because you would plead with me back in high school as well.”

“Y/n you were always our favourite second year back in my last year, you know how much Akaashi and I loved you and your support.” He pouted with his hair drooping even more, his eyes pleading and how could you say no to that.

“Okay.” You mutter.

That’s how you were seated on the MSBY teams side, you knew a lot about volleyball becoming manager in your last year when it was just you and Akaashi left, but you’d always attended training camps and games to support your favourite team.

To say you were bored was a lie, the game had started Bokuto’s face beaming as he saw you, you eyed everybody, you saw Hinata as he waved frantically, Sakusa who had played against Fukurodani. A blonde-haired boy was next, and his gaze turned to you, he watched his teammates wave at you and his eyesight remained on your form.

He wasn’t naturally blonde you could tell; it was fading and lighter with a bit of toner his hair would look even better. As you continued to watch the game, their fans shouting for not just the team but their setter, he basked in the glory, his sets were perfect the way his body moved to position the ball perfectly. He was amazing as good as Akaashi or even Kageyama, you watched the rest of the team, cheering when they got a point.

You would notice Atsumu’s gaze would fall to you as he served as if he was doing it for you, but you didn’t even know him so why he stared a little longer than what was socially acceptable to stare at someone. It wasn’t like you stared at people for too long especially not at the Sangwoo look alike but the way you admired his ever move would be classes as concerning.

The game was quickly won by Bokuto’s team and he messaged you to meet him outside the changing rooms, probably to hang out afterwards. Maybe even his team would join the two of you, hopefully the blonde would join.

“Y/n, my biggest supporter.” Bokuto hugged you as you hugged back smiling at the tall boy who was crushing you.

“Y/n.” Hinata shouted as he ran and jumped on Bokuto’s back to hug you with him.

You laugh as the two let go of you, “you two were amazing as always.”

Sakusa walked out, he did a double take before recognising you, “you were Fukurodani’s manager weren’t you?”

“I was and you were in the top three aces which Bokuto hates me saying.” You mock the owl haired boy as Sakusa gave a smile, he wore his mask as he saw people start to come up to them.

You finally saw the blond boy come out, water dripping from his forehead probably from a shower, his t-shirt rolled up to his shoulders. He put his hand through his head as he comes up to you and Bokuto. “Care to introduce me Bokkun.”

“Atsumu Miya meet Y/n Y/l/n, she was my best friend back in high school and team manger when I left, I invited her to the game and after party.” Bokuto turns to you, “This is our setter he used to play for Inarizaki High.”

“Nice to meet you.” You put your hand our for him to shake but he moves past your hand to come closer to your body.

“We should get to know each other more.” How did he have so much confidence in front of his team mates? He had to speak if he hadn’t he would’ve been perfect.

“I don’t think you’d be able to handle me.” You mutter back, Bokuto smirking at your comment, you walked past Atsumu as Bokuto wrapped his arm around your shoulder.

“It’s just the four of us for the celebrations, Atsumu you have enough room for all five of us right.” The face of disgust Sakusa had at being in a car with four other people made you laugh. It looked like he wanted to kill himself at the close contact.

“Yeah, Y/n can take the passenger seat.” You raised an eyebrow as Bokuto went to Hinata, they were both so energetic. “You never know what can happen in the front.”

His low whisper made you instantly know he was a cocky bitch, “Hurry up you two.” Hinata says.

You all go to his car, you let Sakusa sit at the front, whilst Bokuto and Hinata were talking to some people who had stopped them. You waited against the car glad to have walked to the venue, a group of girls who you had seen sitting behind you at the game were walking up towards the boys, you had heard them be utterly confused by the game and just admiring the players. You couldn’t deny and say you weren’t doing the same, but you had basic knowledge at least of it all.

“Hi Atsumu, could we get a photo with you?” They smile at the boy who smirked back.

“Of course, Y/n be a good girl and take the photo for us.” Your ears turned red as he said the words good girl, why was he doing this to you? He barely knew you and now he was trying to make you flustered.

You walk up to them, “of course, I wouldn’t want your fans to be even more disappointed in meeting you.” 

He sucked in a breath as he quickly made them take the photo, making them leave. “Let’s go guys.” 

You had been cramped between the broad-shouldered duo, their energy being extreme even after playing a five-set match.

“You’ll love the food here Y/n.” Hinata smiles as you all talk about your training camp and nationals days, you loved catching up, Hinata telling you about what occurred in his last year when you had graduated and Bokuto spoke about his volleyball beginnings. Hinata had gone to Brazil and even met the amazing Oikawa that Kageyama would always vent about.

Finally arriving, you all pile out, Sakusa getting a table as we all sit down, Sakusa on the end to not be next to anybody and his mask remained on, you had been made to sit next to Atsumu his gaze never leaving your fingers, lips and neck.

“Why have you been staring all day?” You finally question after ordering the food.

“Wh..What?” He almost stutters but regains his position as he sips at his water turning his eyesight to yours. 

“You’ve been staring for a while, even in the car you’d look at you rear view mirror, I did see y’know.” You say drinking some of the water, you grabbed the closest glass as your throat felt dry.

“Bokuto showed us a picture of you a while back, and he told us you were coming, how can I not look at someone as pretty as you.” His mouth moved closer to your ear as your breath hitches, “and also you just drank my water.”

You let go of the glass putting it back on his side as he moved his head away from your mouth lessening back as he grinned. “Bokuto showed a what of me?”

“A picture, it was months ago he wanted to show us people from Fukurodani, we saw your setter Akaashi as well.”

“Oh lord, it wasn’t one from when I was 17 right?”

“What you didn’t like the thigh highs?” He laughs grabbing the same glass, he brought his lips to the rim of where your mouth had been brushing it against his lips.

“Oh god.” You put your hands on your head, he had to show the one photo of you from when you weren’t even an adult.

“It was fine, you looked pretty, why do you think I was happy Bokuto told us you were coming?”

“You were happy, I don’t understand though you never met me or knew me?” You question as the food gets brought out, you were lucky in that the other three boys were talking among themselves.

Atsumu scratches the back of his head as he thinks over what he should even say, “Ugh well truthfully…”

“Go on.” You start to eat as he tries to find the words.

“I met you at Nationals, we had just lost against Karasuno, you were running around I think Fukurodani had a game, you saw me c…cry” He almost doesn’t want to speak it, “and you comforted me, you never told me your name, but I doubt you recognised me, but I never forgot the pretty girl who helped me, I was vulnerable, and you comforted me and didn’t laugh. You probably don’t remember me I didn’t try to find you I just hoped i’d some how meet you and as soon as I saw that photo from Bokuto I knew we would meet again.”

You were lost for words, you remembered, you remembered running around trying to fill up water bottles and everything before Fukurodani’s game. You had run past a small side section, it was empty, but you heard a sob. Walking through the section you met the boy, his hair was more yellowy orange than the light blonde that he had now, his 17-year-old self was vulnerable, you hadn’t spoke only hugged him. You knew how hard it was to lose in anything and to bring comfort to the boy was something you wanted to do. He hadn’t spoke just cried into your shoulder, you didn’t mind and when you finally saw the time, you gave a smile cupping his cheek, hugging him one last time before running back.

“I remember, you had lost to Karasuno.” You spoke softly, “look at you now one of the top teams in Japan.”

He didn’t look at you concentrating on your food, you both stopped speaking not knowing what to say as awkwardness set, as the night continued you speaking more to Bokuto, Hinata and Sakusa, not meeting Atsumu’s gaze.

You all finished up, the frigid air hitting your exposed arms, the sky filled with white stars a contrast right in your eyes, Sakusa was the first to leave, then Bokuto and Hinata both going together and finally it was just you and Atsumu left.

“I guess I’ll see you around.” Atsumu was about to walk away but you grab his arm.

“I…I…” You couldn’t speak you were cold and just wanted to feel some warmth, he saw you bring your arms to your body, pulling you into his chest, he was the one bringing warmth this time. Your head rested against his chest. It was a new comfort that you hadn’t felt in years, “you’re cute when you don’t talk.”

He smirks his arms wrapped around you even tighter, “you can say I’m attractive without the backhanded comment.”

“Oh, shut up, pass me a pen.” He goes through his pockets finding one as you look up, “I’d put it in your phone but let’s see if you can keep this.”

You take the pen writing your number across the back of his hand, your other hand rested underneath his palm, he felt warmth. He smiled softly before you let go of his hand, “you going to drop me off home then.”

“Come on.” He takes your hand, the long-awaited familiar feeling he felt when he was at his lowest, and even then he was at his happiest, he was reliving your comfort that he knew would never go away.

i’d really appreciate if you guys could leave a like, reblog or comment, thanks x

if you guys want to be a part of a tag list, just reply to any post and i’ll add you xx

@samusimp @alaina-rose13 @crispychannie​

[dcbbw]

Six Sentence Sunday January 3, 2021

I haven’t posted a Six Sentence Sunday in forever! Fortunately, for the first Sunday of 2021, I have managed to get words and thoughts out of my head and onto paper (or screen).

Everything is under the cut (and it’s a little bit of a lot)

The Life We Lived, Chapter 3:

His wife nodded and reached over into his plate to grab his fish sandwich. She wasn’t a fan of the seafood, but it was deep fried, and the bread was loaded with mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, and jalapenos. It looked delicious.

She was on her third bite when her husband returned. His eyes widened in disbelief at seeing both of Riley’s hands gripping half his sub sandwich, mayonnaise dripping from her lips. Without a word, he sat down, pulled her beef lo mein in front of him. and began eating it.

“What did Thomas want? Is the job offer at the firm still open?” Riley licked her lips before taking another hearty bite.

Liam twirled flavorful noodles around the tines of his fork before spearing tender pieces of beef. His expression was thoughtful when he looked at his wife. “He offered me a case, but it isn’t immigration. It’s criminal. Murder.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “You’re not a criminal attorney.”

“I know enough to be a public defender,” Liam argued. “And it’s pretty open and shut. Apparently, the accused is admitting guilt; they just want to not get the death penalty or life with no chance of parole.”

Riley snatched her beef lo mein away from Liam; she shoveled a huge forkful in her mouth. “How much?” she asked suspiciously.

Liam’s eyes held hers. “One million even.”

Riley choked on her food. “What the FUCK?? When do you start?”

Liam chuckled softly before leaning over and kissing Riley with the slightest hint of tongue. “Not so fast, there. That’s a lot of money from a person admitting they’re guilty of murder, of all things. Which makes me think there’s more here than meets the eye.”

Riley nodded slowly. “So, you’re gonna think about it?” she asked hopefully.

Untitled #WackyDrabble #76:

The King stood at his study’s window, his dark eyes peering up at an even darker sky. He held a glass of scotch in one hand; he absent-mindedly shook it, causing amber liquid to swirl gently. In his other hand, he held a black velvet ring box. His eyes left the starry sky to look down at the box.

Inside was a symbol of his devotion, loyalty, and commitment. That he would slide onto his fiancée’s finger tomorrow morning.

He would have a wife. Cordonia would have a Queen.

Except Cordonia was an exacting mistress, not easily appeased. Demands for an heir would soon follow, then a spare would be required.

This wasn’t supposed to be my life.

With a sigh, Liam tucked the jewelry box into his suit jacket pocket before closing the curtains; he turned away from the window and sank into the chocolate leather of his oversized chair. His eyes roamed over his desk: personal photographs, stacks of paperwork divided by progress and priority, a Bible of the Orthodox Church.

He lifted his head at a knock on the door; hope and eagerness flooded his body as he called for his visitor to enter. It fled as quickly as it came when he saw who his visitor was.

White Sock Fuckery (SGL Ask):

The October evening was damp and chilly. Streetlamps glowed pale yellow against the night. The heavy rain that had drenched the nation’s capital from sunrise to sunset had finally eased into a light mist. The few leaves left on the trees lining Rhode Island Avenue at Logan Circle were bent and downward facing with the weight of moisture.

A figure slid from the vehicle double parked in the street, a large bag filled with purchases clutched in one hand. They didn’t turn around to watch the vehicle drive away; they were too busy searching for keys. With an audible gasp of relief, fingers pulled out a keyring and the person entered the building.

In the lobby of the apartment complex, the person headed directly up the stairs to Unit #2. The hall was quiet, the lighting dim. More keys were inserted into locks, and the person was inside. They leaned against the closed front door, exhaling a sigh as they inhaled patchouli and the faint smell of cigarette smoke. Their eyes traveled quickly over the darkened rooms.

Unopened wine bottles on the kitchen counter, remote control tossed carelessly on the sofa, a pile of laundry tossed atop the stacked washer/dryer.

Still clutching the bag, the person traveled the short hallway that led to the bedroom. Flipping a switch filled the somewhat spacious area with bright light. Tossing the bag on the bed, the person went to the chest of drawers placed in the exact center between two of the room’s four windows. A quick glance at their watch informed them they had 15 minutes before their ride returned.

Pulling the top drawer open, the person’s eyes widened in a hybrid of horror, disbelief, and humor.

What the actual fuck?

Dress Up (SGL x Riley B Kinktober ask)

“You know I wouldn’t do anything you’re not ready for,” he assured her. “But I think we’re both ready for something. Let’s call it a tension breaker.”

“Tension breaker?” Riley arched a brow as her arms circled his neck.

��It has to be done,” Liam affirmed as his lips pulled hers into a deep kiss.

When they parted a full minute later, Liam whispered in her ear. “I want to touch your body, Riley B.”

Riley looked at him with eyes dark with desire and clouded with wariness. “No sex!”

“I know,” Liam nodded.

“You think I’m silly. And I probably am, but …”

Liam shook his head. “No. You’ve been hurt. I’m fine with going slowly. I just need you to remember I’m not those other guys. I’m not gonna dump you in Target or pop in for 15 minutes of your time every six months like Bootycall Keith.”

Riley kissed him softly on the cheek. “Thank you. I just … I wanna get it right this time.”

“Me too.” His fingers raked through her hair.

“And it’s Keith the Bootycall. Like Chance the Rapper.”

Liam rolled his eyes as he shrugged out of his shirt; he didn’t see why he had to get that scrub’s name right.

Sunday Bruch, Chapter 10

Olivia ate a hearty forkful of her roasted quail and root vegetable casserole. “Hamid wanted to join us, but I thought it best that this luncheon be girls only.”

Riley looked at her confused. “Why? I’d love to meet the man who took you away from Court.”

Olivia set her fork down; she leaned across the table so she and Riley were practically nose to nose. “First, no one took me away from Court. I am still very much a member; I just choose not to socialize with you heathens. Second, you’re pregnant with no idea who the father is. You don’t want this to become an international scandal! You do realize Hamid has his own kingdom to oversee? And he can be a Chatty Cathy with an especially … juicy tidbit.”

Riley nodded as Olivia pulled away. A pale hand swept across her crimson locks before the Duchess of Lythikos brought a wine glass to her lips.

“So, what are you going to do?”

Riley shrugged as she scooped venison, rice, and gravy. “Honestly, I don’t know. I want to stay with Maxwell. Thinking all the men have brown hair; all of us except Maxwell have brown eyes. Maybe Max is the dad by default?”

Olivia blinked. This woman cannot be this fucking stupid! She lightly cleared her throat.

“How were you ever Queen?” Olivia huffed. “You do know none of these men look alike, right? As much as I love a good drama, the smart thing … the responsible thing to do is to have a DNA test done. Then sit down and have a talk with Maxwell and the child’s father.”

“NO!” Riley exclaimed, bits of food flying from her mouth. “I can’t do that! That’s just … out of the question!”

“You should have thought of that before having a threesome with Drake Walker and Rashad Domvallier.”

“It was just something to do,” Riley muttered.

“Now it’s become someone to raise.” Olivia sliced into a savory yam. “THIS is why I no longer come around. You people are a circle jerk of messy sex and share relationships. I have found keeping your circle small helps keep your hole tight.”

Untitled Laxwell:

In the kitchen, he found his lover sitting in the dark at the  dining table. The flipping of the light switch revealed a decanter of scotch sat beside him, and a glass of the liquor was in front of him. His blue eyes lifted long enough to take in his boyfriend’s slightly disheveled countenance.

“Rain wake you up?’ he asked as he took a swallow of his drink.

Liam shook his head, frowning slightly. Maxwell wasn’t a drinker; he wanted to be, but the most the younger Beaumont could handle was a glass of wine. Two, at most. Anything more or something stronger went to his head immediately. And Maxwell tended to be a belligerent drunk, his ire fueled by jealousy.

Liam sat down cautiously across from his boyfriend.

“What are you doing up? And drinking?”

Maxwell shrugged while tugging at his wrinkled tee shirt. “Thinking.”

“About what?”

Maxwell said nothing as he picked up his glass to drink more scotch.

“How many glasses have you had?” Liam asked suspiciously.

“This is my second.”

“So, what are you thinking about that has you up in the middle of the night, drinking scotch?”

Liam settled back in his chair, outstretching his arm so his hand covered Maxwell’s .A slight smile quickly flickered across the young Lord’s lips. When he raised his face to look at Liam, his expression was blank but his eyes sad.

“My mother.” It was simply said, but Liam knew the pain that lay behind the two words.

Untitled JGL one-shot:

One night, soon after Liam Rys started, I found myself staying late to help out the accounting team. Quarterly reports were coming up which meant every broker needed their monthly numbers. Of course, a good broker keeps their own numbers, but with Barthelemy as Managing Director, there are no good brokers.

Just a bunch of good old boy club members who like to smoke cigars, drink liquor, and grope tits.

And then there are the rest of us.

I run the numbers for my team and go to drop Liam’s reports off at his desk; when I reach his cubicle, I stop short. It’s after 8 pm, and he is hunched over his desk. His cheeks are flushed, he’s  gnawed his lower lip raw, and wears a scowl of vexation on his face.

“What are you still doing here?” I ask as I lay the reports in his inbox.

His dark eyes glance up at me before falling back down to the computer screen. “I have to put together a portfolio for a new client by tomorrow morning. Came straight from the Managing Director.”

“And it has you looking like that?”

“He has very specific stocks he wants to invest in, but none of them are going to give the client the yield the MD insists upon.”

I roll my eyes and hold out my hand to see the mock portfolio. With a sigh, Liam passes it to me before leaning back in his chair. He rubs his eyes, and glances at the clock. He pulls open a desk drawer and grabs an apple.

I look around for a place to sit in the small cubicle, but there isn’t any. Liam’s bicycle takes up all the available space. Instead, I kick off my heels and rest against the cloth-covered partition as I quickly review the documents.

“They’re playing you,” I state flatly as I pass the papers back.

Liam looks at me,  confusion and an underlying hardness in his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“What they’re asking of you is impossible. All the stocks are duds, poor performers. They set you up to fail. Or go crazy, whichever one comes first.”

 Not tagging folks; if you see it and want to play, feel free to do so!

[mymelodyheart]

Forget Me Not Chapter 13 ~Girls Gone Bad~

Claire's footsteps echoed off the hallway that led to the hotel's kitchen, high heels clicking along the tiled floor. Running late for the staff meeting she had scheduled for the service and kitchen personnel, she didn't bother hurrying as she couldn't care less. With her hands full with catering contracts for special events and the preparation for the grand re-opening, she had been in a foul mood for the last few days. Her temper was amplified even more that morning when she dropped her contact lenses on the floor, sending her into fits of frustration when she couldn't find them, leaving her with no choice but to wear her glasses instead. Seeing her reflection earlier in the bathroom mirror, made her wince. Her black-rimmed specs reminded her of high school. Definitely not good memories to bring up considering the state of her frayed nerves.

Over the last few days, she went through varying degrees of annoyance initially stemming from two police officers paying her a visit.

"Miss Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp?"

"Umm, hello. Yes, that's me. What can I do for you, officer?"

"We would like to question you on behalf of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau about the crowdfunding site you set up for a French national by the name of Annalise de Marillac. There has been..."

"I beg your pardon? Fraud Bureau? Did I do something illegal?"

"Miss Beauchamp, there's been a complaint against your person by an anonymous tip-off at the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre. You are being accused of false representation to commit fraud. Can we please come in?"

As it turned out, her good intention to raise money for Annalise via a crowdsourcing website had garnered a lot of attention and raised a lot of money. Unfortunately, it had also led to some prankster calling the police and reporting her scheme as fraudulent. The matter was momentarily resolved when Jamie and Willie intervened and brought down Annalise for questioning. The French girl was in tears explaining to the officers of her condition and the kindness shown by the Fraser family and Claire, and eventually, presenting them proof with her diagnosis papers.

When Annalise had been excused after she complained of tiredness and headache, the police officers, obviously still not satisfied, remained to delve further as to why someone would accuse Claire of fraud. That's when everything imploded when Willie, hesitant and nervous at first, told the officers of the death threats that were in her Facebook inbox and how he came to know about it. Oh, how mad she was and madder, even more, when she found out Jamie knew about it, the means and ways Willie had log into her Facebook to play detective as if it wasn't bad enough he had screenshot her private messages.

After the police officers left, satisfied that no fraudulent act was committed, more revelations came forth from Jamie and Willie, only because she had been seething with anger and looking at them like they were a couple of red flags to a bull. As if they were two wee lads caught with their hands in the cookie jar, they compunctiously admitted to everything. They told her of their suspicions and suspects, their plan to get the family's lawyer, Ned Gowan involved, and their initial intention to keep her in the dark for her protection. Willie even explained his plan to take Annalise to the doctor himself the following morning, and discreetly stop by Ned Gowan's office to have her medical papers and story investigated for their validity.

Not that their concern was lost on her and that she felt a bit hypocritical for not telling Jamie about the messages she had been receiving for the last few months. She had her reasons. Bloody good ones too!

She'd always loved Jamie's compassionate side, but deep down, she had a sneaking suspicion that his infatuation with her was based on his need to rescue an underdog. Wasn't that was she had been throughout her childhood? Wasn't that why he had been in a relationship with Annalise? She was totally convinced the French girl reminded him of her, a victim of the injustices of life and its unfairness. By resolving to prove she wasn't anyone's rescue mission, Claire was courting the eventuality Jamie will realise she didn't need saving anymore. The fear of him loving her under false judgement was greater than Jamie losing interest when he realised she didn't need rescuing.

In her travels, during the past six years, Claire had come into her own, pushing herself to face her fears and insecurities by tempting fate with her adrenaline laced adventures. Bungee jumping, white-water rafting, rock climbing, ziplining and  hopefully , soon sky diving. The taunts and bullying she had endured in school had given her nightmares and self-doubts. But as she grew older, she wanted to rise above all the negativity and prove to herself she was more than her vulnerabilities and flaws, hoping, if her real parents could see her, they would be proud. Her travels had liberated her in a lot of ways, and she wasn't about to fall back into the victim status or be made to feel like one, now that she was back in Lallybroch, surrounded by memories of incessant bullying from her schooldays.

Feeling humiliated and for the sake of self-preservation, she had left Lallybroch with Geillis in Brian's spare car, needing space and time to gather her thoughts. She needed to if she didn't want her self-esteem knocked down a peg or more again. Maybe Annalise's coming into their lives would be an eye-opener, and despite the jealousy that seared her guts, her anger refused to blame the whole situation on the French girl, whether she was genuinely sick or not. There's a truth in the saying, the truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.

On the night she left Lallybroch without Jamie, he had nevertheless followed them to her and Geillis' rented house and stayed the night and the nights after that in the spare bedroom, when she wouldn't let him into hers. Secretly she had been pleased he didn't stay in Lallybroch knowing that his bedroom would have been next to Annalise.

Unfortunately, on days like today, when a storm of cloud was riding low above her head and following her everywhere she went, missing Jamie in or out of her bed didn't improve her disposition. Ever since her first sexual encounter with him, she felt she had become needier, constantly having this ache within her that only their lovemaking can ease. Now she was walking around feeling horny, which made her even more cranky as her pride wouldn't allow her to reconcile with Jamie just yet. She needed to be in the right frame of mind, and the mounting work at the hotel wasn't helping at all. Maybe when Ned Gowan had presented them his secret investigation report, could the matter be put to rest. 

Think about it later. When you're done with work.  Claire took a deep, fortifying breath, the same one she took before a bungee jump. Clutching a stack of papers, on the one hand, she wrapped her other hand around the doorknob and let herself into the staffs' canteen where the service and kitchen personnel were waiting.

"Beauchamp! Ye're late!" Chef Murtagh roared. A dour-looking middle-aged man with dark facial hair and in a crisp kitchen uniform glowered at her as she entered the room.

She heard two metal chairs scrape against the floor, and in her periphery, saw Jamie and Willie stand, about to pounce to her defence. Giving them the laser death glance, they both sat back down. She was quite sure Murtagh gave them the same treatment but she thought hers were probably more effective. What the hell did they think? I was going to howl and cry?   

Her position as an F&B manager was not a given, and she knew Brian gave her that post because he had every confidence in her to fulfil her role. Despite the family's financial health, there had been no freebies in the Fraser household. Laziness or entitled attitudes had not been tolerated.

"Haud yer wheesht! " Claire snapped, shushing Murtagh in her best mimick of Scot's dialect, making the rest of the meeting's attendee giggle, if not quietly, a tad nervously, as she walked in purposely.  Seriously? God, that felt good, though.  "So what are you going to do about it, Murtagh? Scream me into disappearing? Thanks to you, all the paperwork in F and B office are in shambles. You probably scared the bejesus out of my predecessors with your screaming and your lousy temper." She slammed the stacks of paper on the table beside her.

It was true, Murtagh's demeanour can be quite intimidating, but she knew him well enough after having spent her teenage years helping around the hotel. And the fact that he was the Frasers' siblings' godfather helped. But Brian and Ellen couldn't entirely begrudge him for scaring a lot of their young managerial recruits, as he was the best of the best when it came to culinary art. He had brought prestige and name to Fraser Manor Inn's kitchen, including three Michelin stars, placing their wee village on the map.

Murtagh was still glowering at her, but she saw a spark of amusement flash in his eyes. Maybe she'd imagine it. "Just stating the obvious," he barked.  Definitely, his bark is worse than his bite.

"Well, state less of it," she retorted, resulting in some of the service staff to gasp. "This is my meeting in case you needed reminding." Glancing at the back of the room, she noticed Brian's and Ellen's presence, observing the whole scene with a smirk on their faces. They were obviously glad she didn't back down on Murtagh. Probably relieved too as they've had three F&B managers quit on them during the last two years. "Moving along..." 

She handed photocopied sheets of papers to the staff in the front row to pass along as she briefed them with the menu for the re-opening as well as new dishes for the a la carte. Knowing Murtagh would protest with her latest additions, Claire cut to the chase. "I've made a few changes to the a la carte menu. It's part of keeping up the with the times."

Murtagh ripped off his chef's hat from his head. "Hang on a minute. Ye cannot make changes without consulting me. People come from far and wide to taste my food."

Claire sighed but didn't retreat. "With all due respect, I am not challenging your ability to produce a culinary masterpiece, but we cannot serve the same dishes as we did for the last ten years. There are a lot of new and upcoming talented chefs in Scotland who have bolder and brighter ideas." Not wanting to disregard Murtagh's talent, she continued. "You are a great cook, Murtagh and you can bring out the best in your young team. They have ideas too, and I want to see them. Food enthusiasts have more discerning taste these days and are on the lookout for something different and exciting. I intend to maintain the vision of what you have created here, but we need to modernise if we want to be ahead of the game. We've modernised the kitchen and the restaurant, now it's time we do the same for our dishes."

Almost everyone in the room nodded in agreement except for the Head Chef, but she knew Murtagh will come around once his temper had subsided. Hopefully, soon as Claire didn't want to have to fight him on a daily basis. He may be stubborn, but she knew already he would take the changes she made as a challenge and recreate the dishes she had suggested with his own twist and magic. Without any more interruptions, the meeting concluded an hour and a half later, much to her relief. And to her surprise, her earlier annoyance seemed to have dissipated, feeling the weight lifting off her shoulders.

"Ye did well, Sassenach." She didn't notice Jamie had come up from behind as she gathered her things. "I'm so proud of ye."

She turned around to see him standing so close, the hair at her neck moved with his warm breath. "Jamie, I'm ..."

"Ssshh, I'm so sorry for everything, Claire. I missed us so much. Can we start again?" Her eyes closed involuntarily when he stroked her cheeks. "I'd like to spend some time with ye later after work. I ken we're living under the same roof, but we might as well be living apart every time ye disappear into yer bedroom every night."

Seeing the longing overwhelming his beautiful face, she felt her bones melt, and she swayed closer.  Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, I love him so much.  She was tired of pushing him away. "I'd love that, Jamie."

Relief showing in his eyes, his thumb came up to trace the bottom of her lip. "Good," he whispered, his gaze dipping to her mouth. "I dinna ken what time I'll be finished. I'm making a few trial desserts for ye to taste tomorrow. Maybe, I'll bring it home tonight instead and feed ye. Ye can give me yer verdict then."

"I can't wait." She wanted to say so much, but his closeness was distracting her a lot, making the words she was formulating in her head become jumbled. Mouth inches apart, they were breathing into each other's space. "I-I'll, see you later then."

"Aye." He moved quickly, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth and letting it go with a pop. "Go now before I carry ye out of here." He pushed her gently away and slapped her bottom, chuckling softly.

Her face blushing profusely, she quickly left the room, before she too got carried away.  We have time tonight.

..........

Later on the evening, Jamie texted Claire he would be home later than expected. Without it being mentioned, Claire knew he would be stopping by Lallybroch after work to check on Annalise. 

Sighing, she joined Geillis who was perched on the kitchen bar stool. She had Latin jazz playing in the background, as she opened a bottle of Tequila she had brought back from a holiday in Mexico a year ago. 

Claire nodded when Geillis offered her a shot. They had been both busy that day helping the service staff at the hotel prepare the banquet hall for the grand re-opening gala dinner. Knowing Jamie won't be home for another two hours or more, she needed to get out of the house. The last few nights, when she was not at work, had been spent cooped up in her room.

Ever since she found out about the death threats, Jamie and Willie had asked her, more like prohibited, not to go to the pub or anywhere at night on her own. Even if she was to be accompanied by Geillis and it was only down the road from their residence, they insisted it wasn't wise. They begged until she agreed to do as she was told, at least until Ned Gowan came up with something concrete from his investigation or one of the brothers was there to accompany her.

Geillis had been an angel,  bless her,  and had stayed with her most nights, either watching TV or playing board games. But with the Grand Re-Opening, two nights away, Claire badly wanted to unwind and let her hair loose, but not within the confines of her four walls.

A few shots later, tipsy and giggling, they decided to get dressed and walk down the pub, after scribbling a note for Jamie. To hell with it if Jamie got mad.  She needed this, and the pub was just down the road. We live in a small village, what could possibly happen?

Feeling slightly tiddly, the low voices and the music in the pub relaxed her as soon as they walked in, making her worries and problems seem a little less serious. The alcohol thrummed in her blood, loosening muscles she didn't even realise were taut and strained. And not a moment too soon, they were joined by a new staff from the hotel working alongside Geillis in the Front Office, a French girl called Louise de la Tour.  Nice lass,  Geillis had said earlier.

" Oh mon Dieu , I want so badly to get laid. It's been a long while," the French girl muttered as she sipped her cocktail from a straw.

Claire's eyes widened. "How long?"

"Let's just say I buy batteries in bulk. I was hoping some strapping Highlander will sweep me off my feet. Romantic, non?"

Geillis patted Louise's hand. "Och, dinna fash lass, before ye know it, them lads be after ye. Ye're new around here so there will be quite a few interests."

"Sometimes, self-pleasure requires imagination." Claire sampled her whisky, Jamie's naked upper torso flashing through her mind. She frowned. "Creativity is key."

"Are ye serious? Ye have a gorgeous man at yer disposal if ye wanted some action. Christ, Claire, don't make Jamie wait too long." Geillis waved hello at the two lads from the hotel's kitchen that just walked in, Rupert and Angus.

"I don't intend to." Claire winked at her friend.

"Ah self-pleasure, now we're talking. What creative ideas do you have in mind, Claire?" Louise asked curiosity etched on her beautiful face.

Claire shrugged, attempting casual. "I call it the Facetime boogie. You know, I orgasmed while we watched each other...mmm."

Louise spat her drink across the table. " Merde!  Masturbate you m-mean on Facetime? I would rather go to my grave with my hymen intact, merci beaucoup.  For me, it's my dildo or real sex."

Geillis picked up a napkin and dried herself off. "Weel, I'd only do it on Facetime with someone I know, not with some random stranger in the internet.."

"Can we talk about something else? Two of the girls that used to pick on me from school just walked in." Claire puffed out a breath, blowing a stray curl out of her face. It was Laoghaire MacKenzie and Geneva Dunsany from her class in high school, her worst nightmare while growing up. They were standing by the bar, their gazes sweeping through the pub while at the same time hugging and kissing people they knew in greeting.  Oh God, they haven't changed.

Louise quirked an eyebrow waiting for an explanation, confusion spreading on her face.

"What Claire is trying to say is ...bitches alert." Geillis nodded her head towards the bar. From the way, the two girls were looking at Claire, gave her a fairly good idea who they were.

Louise pursed her lips. "Aaah, I understand," She gave Claire a sympathetic squeeze on a hand, before giving her a warning look." Bordel de merde, they're coming!" she announced as she saw the subjects of their conversation making their way to their table.

Geillis simply smiled while Claire mentally braced herself.

"Ooh lookie, lookie, who do we have here? Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp. The Sassenach is back. I'm surprised the Frasers took you back into their folds," the blonde hair lass called Laoghaire mocked, her perfectly over made-up face breaking into a sneer. "And here I thought, ye were gone for good."

"Hello, Laoghaire," Claire smiled before taking a swig from her whisky. "Please do me a favour and pick on someone with the same level of IQ as you. It's a shame really, you're such a pretty girl. It's bloody too bad, your personality and intelligence can't be photoshopped."

Covering their mouths, Louise and Geillis hiccupped and giggled, as they watched the verbal battle unfold.

"Ye hoor !" Laoghaire hissed, bringing her face down to the table, so none of the other customers in the bar could hear. "Ye think ye're clever, aye? So brave now that ye have yer hoor  pals with ye."

Claire was unfazed despite her tipsy state as she stared back at Laoghaire, unwilling to back down.

Her friend Geneva pulled her back. "That's enough, Laoghaire." And then she turned to her. "Hi, Claire. Congratulations. I heard you're the new F&B manager at the Manor." There was a hint of snide in her remark. "Oh, and you bagged one of the Fraser lads. I'm surprised really as you never had luck with the boys back in high school. What happened? The Frasers took pity on you?"

"Va te faire enculer!"  Louise cursed in French under her breath, bracing herself to attack Geneva, but Geillis pulled her back.

Claire inwardly winced as Geneva's words stung at her side. "No, I never had luck with the boys in high school, Geneva. I suppose it's rather a good thing that I didn't run about draping myself over them. So I guess no one can really accuse me of being promiscuous and sluttish as opposed to those who had better luck than me."

Geneva's eyes turned to daggers. 

"Listen, girls," Geillis intervened in an unusually calm voice. Turning to Laoghaire and Geneva, she resumed. "I dinna ken who ye are but if ye have a problem here, write the problem on a piece of paper, fold it, and shove it up yer shite holes, aye? I know that everyone is allowed to act stupid once in a while, but ye're really abusing that privilege."

Geneva laughed. "Hey, Ginger, this has nothing to do with you. So stay out of it." She faced Claire before walking away. "See you around, Claire and mind to give my regards to Jamie."

"See you both around," Claire replied, trying her hardest to keep a straight face. "Wishing your evening to be as pleasant as you are."

Instead of replying, Laoghaire and Geneva rewarded them with a one-finger salute as they walked away and headed to the bar.

"Christ what a couple of imbeciles. I can't believe there are still people like them. Ye would think bullies would outgrow their meanness," Geillis fumed, her eyes almost bulging out with disdain.

"Never mind girls. We're here to have fun,  oui?  Let's forget about them." Louise waved the waitress for another round of drinks. "This round is on me." She looked over Claire's shoulder toward the bar area, nearer to the front end. "And tonight might be my lucky night. There is a table full of beautiful men over there you would not believe."

Geillis waved her hand. "Christ, no men, please. Girls' night tonight!"

Mischief rolled out across Claire's face, forgetting Jamie might be looking for her. "You're both right. We're here to have fun and just us girls. Once the hotel is officially open, God knows when we'll have another evening like this."

"We need to do something crazy,  oui?"

Claire hiccupped. "Karaoke?" Behind Louise, she watched as two bar staff hooking up microphones and unrolling the projection screen. Some customers were already writing down their song choices.

"Oh no! I can't sing!" Louise complained.

"Christ, Claire! Is that the best idea ye can come up with?"

"Jesus, why is nobody enthralled with my karaoke idea? Where's the fun girls?"

Geillis gulped down her drink when Claire gave her a pleading look. "Oh, fuck! Fine! One song! I dinna think ye would include me."

Claire didn't waste time dragging Geillis at the rear end of the bar. "C'mon, let's sing that song from the Pussycat Dolls ...you know the one. "

Relieved she wasn't being hauled to the stage, Louise sat back and whistled through her fingers.  "Allez, allez, Claire et Geillis!!"  she cheered from her seat.

Teetering towards the makeshift stage, Claire and Geillis handed their request to the staff handling the sound equipment.

They were surprised when they were ushered first. "Ye're up ladies," the DJ announced with a wink, handing them both a microphone each.

Geillis face went white. "Oh, fuck!" she said out the side of her mouth. "Here goes nothing. I thought we'd have time for one more drink before we did this."

"Just shut up and sing. Oh, God, I'm so drunk."

Their song selection popped up on the screen, accompanied by whistles from the audience. With strong lights glaring in front of them, Claire couldn't make out the faces in the pub, but she could hear Laoghaire and Geneva somewhere chanting the rap song,  Who Let the Dogs Out.  Ignoring the taunts, Claire and Geillis launched into the song that started with the lines,  Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?

..........

After work and seeing to Annalise in Lallybroch, Jamie headed to the pub. He had wanted to go to Claire immediately, but the boys from the kitchen, including Willie and Murtagh, badgered him to come for at least one drink. Since his sister's fiance, Ian Murray would be there too, he reluctantly agreed.  Alright, one drink!

Of all days to be coerced to go to for a drink, it had to be on the day he could finally spend time with Claire. The pub was quite busy for the middle of the week, teeming mostly with staffs from the hotel.

"Hey, Jamie lad, why ye so quiet?" Rupert, one of the kitchen cooks asked.

Angus, also a kitchen staff, raised his pint to his lips. "Claire's not talking to him, that's why."

Everyone on their table laughed, accompanied by a few back slaps.

Murtagh raised an eyebrow. "I thought I saw ye both snogging after the meeting?"

Jamie just nodded with a half-smile. He didn't want to talk about Claire in front of the lads, especially because she had been the topic of most conversation ever since she came back from Switzerland. Her return had piqued a lot of interest in the village, mostly from single men, and Jamie didn't like it one bit.

Looking inquisitive, Ian tipped his beer bottle in Jamie's direction. "In all the years I've known ye, these last few days is the first time I've seen ye mope so much over a girl. If she's back to talking to ye again, what are ye doing here?"

Jamie could barely hear Ian over the singing that had started at the back of the pub.  Christ, Karaoke night!  He just remembered. "Aye, I'll be off soon. Claire is waiting for me."

"I'm heading home too," Willie joined in, downing the last of his pint. "Need to get up early for the meat delivery tomorrow."

As if on cue, Jamie shot to his feet. "Right lads, sorry to make this short. Another night perhaps once the hotel is running." He dug into his pocket to retrieve some pound notes, frowning as he realised almost every man in the bar had started cheering and whistling. He had been thinking so much about Claire, it had escaped his notice that most male customers were stood on their feet, facing the rear end of the bar. "What the fuck is going on?"

Following his brother, Jamie went to see what the commotion was all about. 

Sassenach!

Claire, along with Geillis, stood on the makeshift stage under the bright spotlights singing into the microphones. She was wearing a white body-hugging turtleneck dress that went down just above her knees paired with knee-high black boots. Thanks to the spotlight, her black bra and panties were visible through the material even though it was a winter dress. And beside her, Geillis was gyrating to the song, as she sang the refrain  Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?  with a sultry look in her eyes.

Fists clenching, Jamie pushed aside the standing customers that blocked his path and approached the stage, with Willie in tow behind him.

"Sassenach!"

[popculturebuffet]

Analysis of X: Maurader’s #1 “I’m on a Boat”

Ahoy Muties! I’m Jacob Mattingly and in moving to Tumblr and print, this is my first text review. As for this segment, welcome to Analysis of X, where I cover the dawn of x and onward as it happens. I will get to X-Men #1 as I wasn’t sure wether to review it late or not soon enough, but for now I felt it best to start with Dawn of X’s first non-hickman stab at greatness, Gerry Duggan and Matteo Lolli’s pirate themed Mauraders. Come aboard after the break. 

So Mauraders begins a few months back, with our book’s headliner Kitty Pryde, and her future teammates, close friend and surrogate mom Storm and ex-boyfriend and her best buddy, my faviorite X-Man and organizer for orgies on Krakoa: Nightcrawler, ready to head to Krakoa. For those two of you who didn’t read house of x or couldn’t afford it and powers, understandable the current status quo is simple: Mutantkind has formed it’s own nation on their former enemy Krakoa, the island that walks like a man but currently dosen’t because several people would fall off, and have planted gates globally so mutants can come to their new eden, finally done with all the racist genocidal bullshit mankind has put them through. Kitty tries to come along  But welll....

Instead of letting her in for some reason Krakoa instead says come on and SLAM and your not welcome to the JAM. Kitty takes it well. 

We get our character page, which is apparently NOT limited to Hickman’s work, but I find it a nice touch, and unlike the avengers books from other writers under his tenure not doing the same thing, unify’s things a bit. I also like this opening mystery a ton. Is it her powers? Or is it something else? And how will Doug Ramsey aka Cypher, her former best friend who had a crush on her in the mutant equivalent in high school and Krakoa’s translator factor into this. I hope he does because most Kitty Pryde centric stories kinda forgot he existed entirely, as did New Mutants and All-New X-Factor on the Doug side. Seriously it bugs me as they were incredibly close yet because him being single might get in the way of her and other ships the writers had planned, this was just ignored and hopefully with Doug being a bigger player Duggan won’t ignore him this time, and given how strong this book is I expect this to come up. 

Moving Right along after the intro page, with the wonderful welcome of ahoy muties and a cast page, showing this isn’t exclusive to Hickman’s book and something I like we get a captain’s log of sorts, with the reveal that, with no way to portal there, Kitty just stole a boat, said i’m the captain now (Because you can’t escape that refrence and why would you) and then .. muses a bit about how left behind she feels as seen above. And it’s an intresting dilema: without the portals, how can she ever REALLY feel at home on Krakoa when she’d basically be trapped there, alone amongst everyone else.. and not for the first time. 

Longtime fans or those who’ve binged Claremont’s run will recall this little scene: after taking the bullet for Rouge during Mutant Massacre Kitty was left basically a ghost. No tangeblity, no way to interact, just trapped in a world she could see. While it DID get better from here it was only marginally: she could speak, she could talk.. but for the early part of her days with Excalibur, basically the british X-Men and something i’ll save more for next week, her powers of phasing through objects had reversed. She had to concentrate to stay SOLID and it was hell for her. It eventually righted itself, somehow I haven’t read far enough into Excalibur to know, but it had to leave some scars. The fact it happened AGAIN after that time she made a bullet meant to destroy earth intangiable and was only saved about a year or so later in story, or month given the weird timescale for marvel but moving on, by Magneto.. and left like this AGAIN until right before Schism. So to me, wether intentional or not, and it feels intentional, Kitty’s been isolated and trapped, alone amongst those around her before.. and she probably dosen’t want that again but worse. So she sails to Krakoa unsure with logan’s grocery list in tow. Which gloriously, we get to see. 

And this also explains where the hell the beer used in the big party at the end of HOX and POX came from, though it’s equally likely Logan had magneto steal a beer truck for them and then spent a full day with him carting it all through the gate. But before this gloriousneess Kitty arrives and tries going through the other way. 

So before Kitty, or Kate as she prefers to be known now, gets down to a rousing round of killing a child, Bobby shows up. Kitty assures him her problem is be handled by top men, which your saved from the indiana jones refrence because I can’t find a picture for that, logan goes diving for booze.

Because let’s face it Logan without enough Booze to murder Bojack Horseman just isn’t Logan. Bobby heads into a gate to find out why it has no traffic, while Kitty.. gets a phone call from her good old buddy Emma Frost, white queen. As a refresher the two went from sniping at each other constantly to mutaual respect with still a good deal of pot shots during Joss Whedon’s run on the book. That has not really changed. For those of you just joining us Emma was, and now is again, the white queen of a hellfire club and the first evil mutant kitty ever met, so naturally, shit’s complicated. But the important takeaway is that Emma trusts kitty. And has a job opprotunity for her. Those who read HOX and POX probably know that the ruling council of krakoa has an open chair.. and Emma wants her to .  See these days Emma’s old running buddies in the hellfire club, which she’s now in charge of, are the Hellfire Trading company, a vital economic partner and thus were naturally courted by Xavier as a vital part of Krakoa and shipping the life giving plants Krakoa gives worldwide. Where Kitty Kitty Bang Bang comes in is that not everyone is happy about Krakoa or welcoming of their gates: HOX and POX outright showed some countries refused to partner with them, and even some that have agreed to soverignty have taken to some drastic measures to keep mutants from leaving. 

Yeah, and it makes sense. The Marvel universe was prejudiced against mutants on a GOOD day, and now they’ve outright declared superiority, strong armed their way into acceptance, and want to take all of the rest away to their eden. While they had every right to after multiple, and i’m not exagerating, attempted and two sucessful GENOCIDES, of course they have to play hard ball to get this and of course extremist anti-mutant groups wouldn’t stand for it. But it works because it makes sense: the portals are a big target and several assholes aren’t going to let mutantkind escape their service, or alive, without a fight. So that’s the mission Emma is offering: a seat at the table as Red Queen of Hellfire and a misson saving muties, getting drunk and fightin round the world. And she also, cleverly, juxtoposes her being a pirate with what pirates in the past did: the pirates and traders of old were slavers. Kitty and her crew would be liberators, saving mutants from Humankind, bringing the live saving drugs in even to countries who refused and the mutants out. Speaking of mutants who are out let’s check on Iceman. But first lockheed with a crab. 

Awww. So bobby heads to mother russia.. and finds a nice warm reception. 

Yeah naturally this dosen’t go well. Russia is , unsuprisingly, being a dick about the whole thing and it turns out the asshole’s armor can temporarily depower mutants, so bobby books it back and tells kitty.. who’s Mr. Lahey levels of plastered and gets Storm to tag along on her boat, with Storm likely doing so Kitty dosen’t start declaring that she is the liquor or something. 

We cut to china where a woman is claiming her husband disappeared.. but Bishop shows up looking into it, and claiming he never showed up. She refuses to talk to him and Bishop calls it a night, but like the audience can tell something’s not right, and given he’s on the cover but doesn't join the team this issue, we’ll likely find out soon enough. Meanwhile ON A BOAT. The future Mauraders are filled in that the people surrounding the portal aren’t with the goverment but an extremist group, and find they have a stowaway aboard. 

Yup it’s everyone’s faviorite aussie aronist Pyro, back from the dead after years of being dead, a quick ressurection that reset his character development, and then disappearing and being replaced by one of the very few intresting parts of X-Men gold. I wasn’t even aware he’d been ressurected which shows just how much they gave a shit. Duggan wisely gives him amnesia and reveals the tragic truth of how he came back. 

Yup, true to Xavier’s new regime being one part hope and compassion and another part cold detached dickery, which really isn’t that far from the old regime he’s just open about the last part now, Pyro was only brought back first so the “Important mutants” would be sure to be safe. Even with his actions post ressurection, going back to petty crimin.. even though his death, despite never having read the issue, is still a great moment in X-History. Pyro, having failed several desperate attempts to cheat death at the hands of the Legacy Virus, uses his last moments to save someone who fears and hates him: Senator Kelly.. and in the process until the man’s own death changed the man from Mutantkind’s greatest enemy to a great supporter. And after that great selfless sacrifice... all Xavier and Magneto think of him is a lab rat, an unimportant mutant to use first to make sure their plan works. A throwaway slab of mutant meat. Understandably he was about to slide right back into crime but is instead drafted by storm and likely thinks “Eh, what else am I gonna do. “ So with our roster complete for now, our heroes dive into battle with kitty suggesting they swarm the power suit asshole so she can take him out and it works, but leaves her with just herself, pyro and lockheed to fight back.. and we get one of the best marvel fight scenes in recent history as a result. I’m only showing what’s necessary, but I can’t resisit a few choice shots

The fight as you can see is fast paced, fun, and uses kitty’s powers in creative ways we haven’t seen in some time. It’s been a LONG time since her powers weren’t boiled down to “I can’t be hurt” and “I can disrupt tech by phasing through it” and it is GLORIOUS, with Lolli’s art utterly shining and promising more tasty action and creative fights to come. Also i’d be remiss if I left this out

KItty using lockheed to give pyro a boost and blow away the Calvary. Our heroes win the day, save the grateful mutants the group had been holding from the gulag, and send them home, with all three deciding to stick with her: Pyro because it’s fun and because as established he’s pissed at Xavier and Mags for using him as a lab animal, and Iceman  out of loyalty. With that Kitty has one of the mutants presence pull out her phone and gives one hell of a series, and team, tagline...

The issue closes out with a nice little scene where Kitty asks storm to join her. And while storm, understandably given the last mutant group of maurders caused aforementioned massacre, not crazy about the name, she affirms her loyalty to her old friend’s new cause.. and to her in this beautiful line of dialogue. 

And with that, Kate takes Emma up on her offer and we get a great group shot to close us out. 

Well okay not entirely. Like in powers of x we get some plot revant gossip from bar sinsiter. Mostly just foreshadowing for the future.. that emma may of asked someone before storm, a clan of racists in hoods, and some “red tides” at hellfire bay. nothing to dig into much.  Final Thoughts: An excellent start that I hope keeps going like this. Marauders is one of my faviorite kinds of comics: a quirky team, loads of laughs and great likeable characters. Pyro is an easy faviorite and the book took Kitty from creators pet for Benids and Guggenhiem into new territory while building on what Claremont, Ellis and Whedon started. It’s also a welcome breath of fresh air after the more plot based house and powers to have more character focused stories and reactions to Krakoa and see the world build as we see how the globe is taking the Mutants new status. An excellent addition to what hickman has built. If you liked this follow me for more as i’ll be reviewing X-Men #1 sometime soon, Excalibur #1 next week, and more fun stuff and if there’s something you’d like me to review you can slip me a fiver to commission me for it. Until we meet again my fair muties. 

[aswithasunbeam]

An Elusive Peace, Chapter 2

Chapter 1 | [Read on AO3]

Rating: Teen and Up

Summary: For Hamilton and Eliza, peace was supposed to mark the end to their separation and the beginning of domestic bliss. But Hamilton’s ambition and the challenges facing the new nation quickly interfere. Happily ever after may not be as easy to attain as they once hoped.

A Hamliza romance

[Chapter Warning: Major Character Death]

September 1782

Hamilton frowned down at the second volume of Blackstone, his lips moving silently as he tried to commit the definition of estoppel by deed to memory. Although the committee reviewing his examination in July had given him very complimentary feedback, he still thought he could have improved on some of his answers to the property questions. He wanted to understand every nuance before being admitted to argue cases before the court in October.

Through the closed door to his cramped office, he heard Eliza speaking to one of the two servant girls they’d hired to help care for the little cottage they were renting. He’d badly wanted a place to call his own as soon as Philip was born. As warm and welcoming as the Schuyler family had been in opening their home, he felt like a failure as a provider the longer they stayed at the Pastures. With his combined income from the army and the position as Receiver of Continental Taxes, and with a good bargain from Mr. Van Rensselaer, who happened to be one of Eliza’s relatives, by last June he finally had enough to rent the little cottage. In the end, he had to admit, it had been something of a waste of resources, as Eliza still favored spending time with her family at the Pastures, and they slept there more nights than not. Even so, he didn’t regret the independence his own home provided.

“Honey?” Eliza’s voice floated through the door, accompanied by a swift knock.

“Yes, darling?”

Eliza opened the door and peeked her head inside the office. “Are you still working?”

He gave the open book in front of him a significant glance, then looked back at her with a raised eyebrow. She knew very well that he was, but that never seemed to stop her from interrupting. Not that he really minded. He smiled fondly and asked, “Is there something you want, my dearest?”

“Philip just went down for his nap, and it’s a beautiful day outside. I thought you might accompany me on a walk,” she suggested.

“What sort of walk?” he asked warily.

She gave him a knowing smirk even as she asked, “What do you mean?”

He’d learned from experience that his wife’s idea of an easy ramble often included leaping fences and clambering up steep, treacherous hillsides. “Your idea of a walk often feels more like one of Von Steuben’s training drills. Only with less profanity.” 

She laughed. “From me, maybe.”

He stuck his tongue out at her. She responded in kind.

“We’ll just go around the gardens and out towards the river. Nothing too strenuous, I promise.” When he glanced down at his book again, she pressed, “Please? A little time away from your desk will do you good.”

He sighed, utterly unable to resist her. Snapping the book shut, he rose from his desk and took her outstretched hand in his. She leaned in for a quick kiss before leading him out of the dark office into the front room.

The parlor wasn’t particularly well furnished, but Eliza had done wonders with the little they had, he noted, not for the first time, as they passed through. She’d sewn new covers for the cushions on the chairs, new curtains with a lighter fabric to let more sunlight in through their front window, and crafted an elaborate frame for the miniature portrait he’d gifted her for the wedding, which she’d mounted on the wall above their fireplace. Their sofa and chairs were arranged close together to encourage intimate conversation when friends or relations visited.

“Will I need a coat?” he asked. The summer heat had begun to fade in the past week or so, yielding to a refreshing fall chill, though more so in the mornings and evenings.

Eliza shook her head as she fastened her bonnet. “I don’t think so. It’s very mild. And if you feel chilled, I’ll happily keep you warm.”

He grinned at her and donned his hat from the rack before pulling open the front door. Two birds were chirping merrily back and forth from the tree outside the door as they set off down the stone path, forking left to head back towards the garden. The leaves had just begun to turn, with shocks and red and yellow dotting the green treescape along the North River. Eliza’s hand curled around his again as they plodded along down the path.

“Have you thought about whether we should keep the cottage when I go to Philadelphia?” he asked. He’d be leaving in less than six weeks, and he’d have to make arrangements with Mr. Van Rensselaer if Eliza wanted to move back to the Pastures permanently in his absence.

Her gaze flickered over to the guest quarters which they’d let out to the widowed Mrs. Sims. “Would giving it up mean forcing Mrs. Sims to leave as well?”

He shook his head. “I could make arrangements for her to remain, even we cut our lease short.”

She bit her lip and glanced sidelong at him, hesitating. She didn’t want to disappoint him, he sensed, but she didn’t want to stay, either. He squeezed her hand.

“All I want is for you to be happy, my angel.”

A small smile curved the corners of her lips. “I just think I’d be lonely here without you.”

“Well, I would never want that,” he assured her, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’ll write to Mr. Van Rensselaer and let him know we’ll be leaving.”

She nodded, and leaned closer, so that their shoulders bumped as they walked. They lapsed into a comfortable quiet as they made their way towards the river. White fluffy clouds drifted through the blue sky above them. The sun felt wonderfully warm in the cool breeze, shining down on them like a warm embrace. He smiled as he turned his face up towards it and sighed contentedly.

The war was officially winding down, with no more active combat predicted. Before he left for Philadelphia, he would be a fully qualified attorney. One year of government service to do his bit to help the new nation onto her feet, and then he’d be done. Hopefully by that time, the British would have evacuated New York, and he and Eliza could move to the city where he could start his practice in earnest. After five long years of fighting, he could finally enjoy the fruits of peace with his little family.

**

“Hold your son,” Eliza directed, plopping Pip into his lap later that night. “He refuses to fall asleep, and I’d like to take a bath at some point tonight.”

He closed the book he’d been reading and placed it beside him on the sofa to focus his attention on his son. Pip’s eyelids looked heavy, but he was also wearing an expression of stubborn determination. “Mama’s so unreasonable, wanting time to herself to bath,” he cooed at the baby.

“I can still hear you,” Eliza interjected.

He wrinkled his face into a silly expression, which made Pip smile. Two of his bottom teeth had just recently cut through his gums, the little white spots visible in his open mouth grin. The new teeth were likely the reason for him being ornery the past few weeks. Repositioning the baby onto his knee, he bounced his leg lightly. Pip bounced his weight along with the motion as he always did, enjoying the ride.

Eliza’s heels clacked lightly on the wooden floor as she made her way back towards him, approaching from behind. A stack of mail landed on the side table, and he felt her press a kiss to the crown of his head. He tipped his head back against the sofa to look up at her.

“You need to go through that. Your letters are starting to pile up,” she ordered.

“Yes, dear,” he agreed. She patted at his cheek gently, and stretched forward to tickle Pip lightly before she set off for her bath.

After several minutes of bouncing, Pip’s head began to droop. Hamilton cuddled the boy against him, easing the bouncing to a stop as he slowly rubbed Pip’s back. Pip snuggled against his chest, rubbing his forehead against his father’s collarbone. Hamilton’s eyes closed, a powerful wave of affection for his little child washing over him.

“Shh,” he soothed, when Pip’s head popped back up as he rose from the sofa. He rubbed Pip’s back again and gently rocked his weight side to side to lull the boy back to sleep. Humming the lullaby he remembered his mother singing to him, he continued rocking until Pip had dozed off. The baby’s mouth had fallen open as he slept, and drool leaked out the corner of his lip onto Hamilton’s white shirt. His little fist clenched around the material of the shirt when Hamilton bent to lower his son into the nearby cradle.

When Pip had been successfully transferred into his cradle, Hamilton relaxed back on the sofa, keeping his foot on the rocker so he could continue the gentle motion until Pip was more deeply asleep. Sighing, he turned his attention to the stack of mail beside him. Most were official business having to do with his post as tax collector, he noted as he thumbed through the pile: one from Robert Benson and another from Robert Morris. Towards the bottom of the stack, however, he noticed an envelope with a South Carolina address. Someone must be forwarding him a letter from Jack, he thought with a smile, tearing into that letter first.

He’d been waiting for a response to his last letter, where he’d reported that he was taking Jack’s advice and going to Congress. Of course, Jack had hoped he’d use that office as a stepping stone to be named Minister plenipotentiary for peace. “I hope it is too late,” he’d written. “We have great reason to flatter ourselves peace on our own terms is upon the carpet.” And with peace so clearly on the horizon, he’d ended with a plea of his own to his dearest friend. “Quit your sword my friend, put on the toga, come to Congress. We know each others sentiments, our views are the same: we have fought side by side to make America free, let us hand in hand struggle to make her happy.”*

When he finished tearing the seal and unfolded the letter, he frowned. No enclosed letter from Jack had tumbled out. His eyes fell onto the looping script. Words and phrases leapt out at him, fragments without context. Regret to inform. Combahee River. A credit to the nation. Hero.

His hands were shaking.

He didn’t understand. He kept reading, over and over, trying to make sense of the words. The fighting was over, he wanted to argue. They were daily expecting news of a peace agreement. Jack was going to join him in Congress. Jack was going to help him decide what to do to ensure the future prosperity of the nation. 

The inked words remained unchanged.

He was trembling all over.

It didn’t make sense.

It didn’t make sense.

“Sweetheart?” He smelled Eliza’s rose soap as she sat beside him, her weight causing the sofa cushion to shift. One of her hands traced over his  shoulder. “Is everything all right?”

He swallowed. Words tumbled from his mouth in a confused jumble. “I don’t…Jack, he…there was…I don’t…I don’t understand.”

Eliza’s hand rested over his to steady it, and he heard her inhale sharply as she read the letter.

He shook his head stubbornly. “No. No. The war’s over.”

“Honey,” she whispered.

“It’s over,” he insisted. He looked over to see her face crumpled with sympathetic grief. Tears welled in his eyes, making everything around him blurry. “Why?”

“I don’t know.”

A sob tore out of his chest, painful in its intensity. The letter fluttered to the floor as he clutched his hands into fists against the overwhelming agony as the realization finally sank in.

Jack was gone.

“Why?” he repeated brokenly.

Eliza guided him to her, so that his head rested against her shoulder. He clutched onto her. Tears soaked into the delicate material of her dressing gown. She rubbed his back and rocked him gently.

“It’s not fair,” he heard himself moaning, over and over.

“I know, sweetheart,” Eliza repeated back to him, patient and perfect as she held him through the pain. “I know it’s not.”

No amount of comforting could ease this heartbreak. He cried himself sick, and when Eliza managed to get him to bed, he turned his face into his pillow and cried even more. His dearest friend, his closest companion, had been stolen away. And for no reason he could comprehend.  

This wasn’t right. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to Jack.

The war was supposed to be over.

But what sort of peace was this?

*Alexander Hamilton to John Laurens, 15 August 1782

[townienews]

The Townie Crier - Tuesday May 1, 2018

**notice no "It's Gonna Be May" cutesy Timberlake meme here** (mostly because It's Already May! And that meme doesn't exist)

pic.twitter.com/8FPEJMTqmf

— Boston Bobby (@TheBostonBobby) May 1, 2018

Welcome to The Crier for May 1, 2018. Yeah, we settled on a name for this daily ding dong post. @daelderstatesmn suggested that title and gets himself a shirt, and you get this highly digestable dose of daily Boston sports goodness. Links, tweets and videos aplenty. So let's briefly remember a Monday night that exhausted our thumbs and eyes equally...for more better than more worse. Or however that goes.

Let’s goooooooo

A post shared by Celtics GreenRunsDeep (@greenrunsdeep) on Apr 28, 2018 at 7:38pm PDT

And buoyed by that vintage double troll job playoff shirt that all in attendanc eat The Gahden 2.0 received, the hot shooting Celtics dispatched the Sixers (on a 20-1 streak rolling into Monday) in Game 1 of the ECSF, 117-101. Well, the shirt helped. So did great shooting from 3, team heart and hustle (the signature of this undermanned but never to be underestimated Celtics team), and some kickass individual efforts. Like The Buffet (my new name for Horford). Fahk that Average Al or Ordinary Al nonsense. That's old fake news, which is the worst kind. Al's getting it doen all over, from every inch of the court. He's The Buffet because he provides everything you need, and when you need it you can always go back for more. He's one of many making Ainge look like a friggin genius of late. And he'll tell you what you can do with your "Al is average and I can't draft" takes...

Danny Ainge status: still a competitor. pic.twitter.com/TcOWQL0OqQ

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 1, 2018

No, but seriously, Horford has been great. It's like one of those high school rom-coms where there's no attraction until the kids get in detention of are stranded in some absurd situation together, and then suddenly love blooms. COnvenient how that works.

Al Horford has been a monster in these playoffs. An absolute force on both ends. Hopefully we've heard the last of the "overpaid Al" stuff. #Celtics

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) May 1, 2018

Oh...and if you're feeling THE BUFFET as much as we are, might I suggest a new Horford jersey or such? (**shameless merch plug**)

Umm...back to Ainge being a boss at his job? I think again, if not especially with Fultz on display miserably in the Garden, he came out smelling like fresh beer and roses when Tatum went off. Again. This kid's all-around everything is absurd. AND HE CAN'T LEGALLY DRINK.

"He's a rookie!" #CUsRise 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/t8bwFeHQMn

— '03 Kliff Kingsbury (@fearthe_beard11) May 1, 2018

Granted, the likes of Tatum and Horford were enabled offensively by Philadelphia's famous "Phantom Zone" defense.

Nice defense pic.twitter.com/rhxmDFMVpc

— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) May 1, 2018

But nothing - not fatigue, Philly's hot streak, an invisible defense - nothing was holding Terry Rozier back. This friggin guy...

The Boston sports fan heart is pretty full these days. But Terry Rozier is fighting hard to find himself a place in there.

— Fitzy (@FitzyGFY) May 1, 2018

Calling him SAVAGE for his pregame and in-game antics would be correct, but also an understatement. He's a savage, alright. And a beast. And the easiest guy to like and rally around. A savage rally beast. Filling in for Kyrie and dropping 29 in Game One against the Sixers? Draining threes left and right. And setting the emotional tone for the team and the night upon arrival...

Drew Bledsoe knows who Terry Rozier is! (Via @espn) pic.twitter.com/NoNI2pT76b

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 1, 2018

And now we've got this unexpected random magical bromance between Rozier and Drew Bledsoe? Couldn't ever have seen that coming, but that's the magic of playoffs in Boston. Can never be enough love for Drew by me. That he's become the symbol or icon, rally monkey of the Celtics playoff run thanks to an accidental troll job? (Guinness vice) BRILLIANT! Everyone needs to wear their Bledsoe jersey to work this week. So they can reach their peak Rozier level. Game 2 Thursday night, already can't friggin wait! And that genius Brad Stevens has deployed a stellar lineup to counter what should be quite acharge from the Sixers...

The Celtics have announced their Game 2 lineup: -PG: T. Rozier -SG: T. Rozier -SF: T. Rozier -PF: J. Tatum -C: A. Horford Bench -Terry Rozier -T. Rozier -Rozier -PG #12 -The guy in the Drew Bledsoe jersey -The guy Ainge wouldn’t trade for 100 first round picks

— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) May 1, 2018

Oh - and Sports Radio and Hot Take Nation who will give the Celtics no credit and say that Philly played no D ("Philly used the New England D plan from SB 52" - you'll hear that shit)...you guys can tuck it and suck it!

via GIPHY

Meanwhile, in other Boston professional sports persons team playoff action...the Bruins lost to the Lightning 4-2. Gonna be honest (Monday was National Honesty Day)...I didn't really watch much. Beex were up 1-0. Woprst case (which played out) they go home split. So nice work, head help high, fellas. I thought the C's need my attention Monday (I don't parent mutliple children well). I read something about a bad call, Marchand getting hosed, Cassidy, who's a feisty sonofabitch in a Men's Wearhouse suit, wasn't happy. Good! A happy hockey cocach is an ineffective one (or so I heard...or not...I don't know hockey). They'll come back, chip on shoulder, tied in best of 5 with home ice in their pocket. Wednesday night, maybe the Bruins should all come to work wearing Drew Bledsoe jerseys??? Because this QB rally showing for a different hockey team didn't make me feel any better...

I really didn’t need to follow a Bruins loss by immediately seeing Jimmy G pump up the Sharks. God damn, plunge the dagger

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 1, 2018

And on the same night he was named to the NFL Network Top 100!

He has yet to lose a game as a starter 👀@49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (@JimmyG_10) is #90 on the countdown!#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/SPwl3KIbtL

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 1, 2018

When Tom Brady did an appearance with Jim Gray and said he didn't feel apreciated by the Pats (**cough** Belichick)

Tom Brady was asked today at the Milken Institute Global Conference if he feels appreciated by the Patriots. His response: "I plead the 5th..." pic.twitter.com/8Tl6k5emj9

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) May 1, 2018

Come on, Sports! Can't I just enjoy this Celtics win and the Pats draft, and the night, and maybe a whole week without any Pats related off-field disharmony or disturbance or disfunction or other dis- words? Not now...nope. Not. I can't...spent too much time wondering WTF with TFB and the NEP this offseason after the February 4th flying nutpunch. All set, check please! I'll pass. Too busy feeling good about what's coming this week, this fall...we'll just leave at it Tom being a sass, keeping the Pats atop page views for a while, taking attention away from the other teams who don't need the scrutiny? AWW MAN! Tom, you magnanimous SOB! Or maybe it was to get you in the news to elevate Best Buddies ride awareness? No press is bad press, right? Just ask Michelle Wolf! **NEXT MORNING UPDATE-AGE** There are plenty of sound bites of Brady paying due respect to Belichick and saying he knows BB is best for him, tough to play for, and that they make each other their best. Which is what we've all always known. Again, they don't need to quilt together or share recipes or watch "This Is Us"., Just win football! Enough Fake Foxboro News! Alright, enough of that for now. We'll let it slide until someone tells me I should give aflying summer sausage. OH...and the Sox won, beat the bumbling Royals, 10-6. E-Rod sucked himself off early, but fear not - healty Xandah to the rescue.

Heads up we got a piss missile on the Pike expect delays seek alternate route pic.twitter.com/HoKIUe6hOs

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) May 1, 2018

2 wins in a row? HOT STREAK AHOY! use caution when handling these Sawx! KC coming to town might be the perfect remedy to flush last week away like a carton of old chineser food you know will smell the garbage barrle up too much. Alright, so there we go - C'ss and Sawx win! Bruins lose! Brady wants the love. Now let's all carry on and booze. Hapy Tueday, ya humps. More soon - make sure you catch the Draft webcast, and all-new slew of NFL FAN THERAPY coming all week long. GFY!

[easyfoodnetwork]

As Restaurants Reopen, Many Are Struggling to Find Employees

Shutterstock

Worries about the pandemic, slow business, and fewer jobs for servers are all creating obstacles to rehiring

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced one Miami restaurant to shut its doors in mid-March, its management laid off 47 of their 55 employees. Expecting the worst, they were surprised to realize at the end of May that they were doing so much business through takeout and delivery that they were on track to meet their original sales predictions. And yet more business didn’t translate to more staff: The 200-seat restaurant still employed fewer than half the workers it had before the pandemic.

While the city of Miami has allowed restaurants to operate their dining rooms at half capacity since May 27, this particular spot is remaining closed for dine-in service until its owners can offer their customers a more “on-brand” dining experience — meaning fun and easygoing — rather than a modified, cautious night out. As such, there is no work available for bartenders and servers.

The restaurant’s general manager, who asked that both her name and that of the restaurant remain anonymous because of the sensitivity surrounding hiring practices, says she’s able to offer these still-unemployed workers little more than daily check-ins and free food. She knows that other, fully reopened restaurants might end up offering them the jobs she cannot. “I found a lot of loyalty in the team we were able to build here,” she says. “Hopefully, we get them back.”

After the pandemic shut down dine-in service around the country in March, some 6 million restaurant industry workers lost their jobs. But as reopening gets underway, those 6 million people are not necessarily returning to work. Instead, many restaurants are facing significant obstacles to both rehiring existing workers and searching for new ones.

Many small, independent spots don’t yet have enough work to bring back their employees, particularly those in front-of-house positions. And restaurants that thrived doing only takeout and delivery — often chains with more than one location — are now increasing their staff, only to find that workers aren’t returning for a variety of reasons. Some are staying away because of health concerns or caretaking responsibilities; others are reluctant to resume minimum-wage, now possibly unsafe jobs that don’t pay as well as the combined income provided by their state unemployment benefits and the federal government’s weekly $600 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance check. Because of the extra federal assistance, two-thirds of eligible workers are making more than they did before the pandemic, according to a paper by economists at the University of Chicago.

Meanwhile, some restaurants are stuck in a catch-22 created by the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. PPP loans turn into grants if they cover payroll or other specific expenses, but in order to have the loan forgiven, restaurants must rehire their employees, and many don’t have work for rehired employees to do.

Underlying the complex calculations around rehiring is demand, or lack thereof. “Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal,” says Andrew Stettner, an economist at the Century Foundation. But fears that recovery will be stymied by employees who choose to remain out of work are unfounded, he adds: “The pace of recovery will absolutely be driven by the level of demand, not unemployment benefits.”

The level of demand directly correlates with the pace of recovery at Xperience Restaurant Group (XRG), which operates a national chain of Mexican restaurants under nine brands, including El Torito, Las Brisas, and Chevys Fresh Mex. After the pandemic hit, XRG furloughed 80 percent of its employees. Those who remained helped its restaurants pivot quickly to takeout and delivery. As a result, the group’s takeout business more than doubled compared to last April, and it soon found itself trying to rehire a number of its employees. Between April 20 and June 1, the XRG career site posted more than 500 jobs; some were new positions, and some were vacancies left by former employees.

“We have already brought the bulk of those [furloughed] team members back, even at units that haven’t yet been cleared to reopen for dine-in business,” says Rosie Davenport, XRG’s vice president of marketing. But other employees have chosen not to return because of concerns about their health, she adds.

“Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal.”

In Chicago, Michael Schultz, who runs the Fairgrounds Coffee chain and the hospitality group Infuse, says he has been “getting a lot of applicants, very talented people who typically otherwise wouldn’t be available.” As iconic restaurant groups have shuttered, he explains, “people who’ve planted their roots with them for successful careers — now they’re looking.” Although a few of his company’s employees told him they were making more money out of work, Schultz felt his applicant pool was big enough that he did not worry about replacing them. He is now hiring for 17 positions at Fairgrounds locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, including team leads, prep cooks, and certified baristas.

Down in Nashville, Mary Pillow Thompson, the founder of the local restaurant hiring platform Foh&boh, has seen a similar movement. “There will be a lot of shifting around,” she says. “People saying, ‘Well, Jimmy wasn’t that great anyway, I’m happy to try to get someone better.’ And on the other side, candidates saying, ‘I’m going to try to get the job I always wanted instead of going back to my old place.’” Thompson has also noticed former truck drivers and construction workers signing up on her platform to look for jobs. “Before this, the people we were getting were industry professionals,” she says.

Unlike XRG and Fairgrounds, many American restaurants, especially smaller ones, did not enjoy a surprise business boom during the pandemic. And so as their states and cities reopen, their goal is simply to bring back enough former employees to support the level of business they’re able to do. But even that is not a straightforward process, given that they often lack human resources departments that can spearhead substantial hiring efforts.

At the Kansas City restaurant Fox and Pearl, chef Vaughn Good and his partner Kristine Hull had to furlough three-quarters of their 50 employees in March. Although the 130-seat bistro, which had previously made $10,000 a night, pivoted to selling groceries, family-style meals, and alcohol for pickup, “we were not busy,” says Good; sales sank to $1,000 a day. Good and Hull applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to cover payroll when business picked up.

Things began to turn around after May 11, when Missouri restaurants were allowed to reopen their dining rooms under new safety regulations; on a recent Saturday, Fox and Pearl did 70 covers. That was enough for Good to rehire all the kitchen staff who wanted to return. But for Hull, who runs the front of house, scheduling servers has been harder than bringing back cooks, in part because of health concerns around interacting with diners.

“I didn’t want to force people,” she says. So far, enough servers have asked for the shifts Hull has needed to fill, even as the restaurant has expanded to half capacity per Kansas City guidelines and sales have followed suit, rising to 50 percent of the restaurant’s typical pre-pandemic revenues. The next phase, which Hull hopes will go into effect on July 5, would allow her to bring back everyone who wants to return, but she knows she may have to look for new hires. “Some of my staff has decided during the quarantine period to do other things,” Hull explains. “We have a couple that graduated college and are now pursuing careers, and some that have decided to shift their focus. I think that the slow reopening has allowed folks to make the decisions that work best for them both physically and financially.”

Even restaurant owners who appear busy say that they would rather make do with a smaller crew until they have a clearer idea of what the future holds. Since reopening under Florida state guidelines on May 13, Cafe Boulud Palm Beach, which is located in the Brazilian Court Hotel, has seen business in its main dining room jump back to the same level as it was this time last year. The restaurant seats about 120, and half of the tables are outside. General manager Lucian Vasile Puscasu has brought back about half of his 102 front- and back-of-house employees, a mix of part-time and full-time workers. That’s partly because the once-busy events business remains closed, and partly because summer is the off-season in Palm Beach. But it’s also because some employees did not want to come back.

“They declined to return for various reasons,” Puscasu says, “from finding better opportunities to not feeling comfortable about the possibility of exposing themselves or finding the unemployment benefit a better fit for now.” He expects to see more potential workers applying in the fall, after the pandemic unemployment benefits run out in July and the season starts up again.

For her part, Fox and Pearl’s Hull says she noticed a shift in conversation on the restaurant’s Slack (or chat room) channel at the beginning of June: Those who had felt unsure about returning to work last month seemed more eager for shifts in June. “A lot of people who were waiting through May are now saying they are ready if we need them,” Hull says.

Of course, legal frameworks also play a significant role in how people are brought back to work. If a restaurant doesn’t want to hire everyone back, they have to have “legitimate, non-discriminatory (and documented) reasons for why some folks were made offers and others weren’t,” hospitality attorney Jasmine Moy says over email. “For those that reject an offer to return to work, if the employer wants to include that person in their PPP headcount, they have to notify the state that such person was made and rejected an offer of employment, which will put the staff member in violation of the unemployment insurance requirements.”

Rejecting employment reflects the larger issue that many workers face as restaurants reopen: that of the calculus of staying home without pay versus returning to work and potentially risking their health. All the restaurants operators mentioned in this article say they are following regional safety guidelines to keep their employees healthy, including generous spacing between tables, rigorous cleaning practices, and the requirement that all employees and customers alike wear a mask. In addition, Fox and Pearl, Cafe Boulud, Fairgrounds, and the Miami restaurant are all providing masks to their employees. But regardless of the measures they’re taking, these operators also realize they can’t guarantee their employees won’t get sick if they return to work, which is why many say they understand the hesitation to take on shifts.

It remains to be seen whether post-COVID-19 restaurants will offer workers, especially servers, bartenders, and hosts, enough incentive to encourage loyalty to the industry. If front-of-house hospitality employees can’t find worthwhile work — meaning the opportunity to interact with customers and earn sufficient wages from both salary and tips, all while staying as safe as possible — there will likely be a reckoning.

“People have reprioritized their lives a lot,” says the Miami general manager who’s waiting to reopen until she has a better sense of the city’s new dining climate. “Right now we feel like a fulfillment center: You put the food in the bag and send it out the door.” If that continues to be the case, she adds, “then you have to find meaning in that new model. We’re in it because you provide a meaningful experience to your guests, and we have to see how we’ll do that going forward.”

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3eBA1df https://ift.tt/3eCPNVq

Shutterstock

Worries about the pandemic, slow business, and fewer jobs for servers are all creating obstacles to rehiring

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced one Miami restaurant to shut its doors in mid-March, its management laid off 47 of their 55 employees. Expecting the worst, they were surprised to realize at the end of May that they were doing so much business through takeout and delivery that they were on track to meet their original sales predictions. And yet more business didn’t translate to more staff: The 200-seat restaurant still employed fewer than half the workers it had before the pandemic.

While the city of Miami has allowed restaurants to operate their dining rooms at half capacity since May 27, this particular spot is remaining closed for dine-in service until its owners can offer their customers a more “on-brand” dining experience — meaning fun and easygoing — rather than a modified, cautious night out. As such, there is no work available for bartenders and servers.

The restaurant’s general manager, who asked that both her name and that of the restaurant remain anonymous because of the sensitivity surrounding hiring practices, says she’s able to offer these still-unemployed workers little more than daily check-ins and free food. She knows that other, fully reopened restaurants might end up offering them the jobs she cannot. “I found a lot of loyalty in the team we were able to build here,” she says. “Hopefully, we get them back.”

After the pandemic shut down dine-in service around the country in March, some 6 million restaurant industry workers lost their jobs. But as reopening gets underway, those 6 million people are not necessarily returning to work. Instead, many restaurants are facing significant obstacles to both rehiring existing workers and searching for new ones.

Many small, independent spots don’t yet have enough work to bring back their employees, particularly those in front-of-house positions. And restaurants that thrived doing only takeout and delivery — often chains with more than one location — are now increasing their staff, only to find that workers aren’t returning for a variety of reasons. Some are staying away because of health concerns or caretaking responsibilities; others are reluctant to resume minimum-wage, now possibly unsafe jobs that don’t pay as well as the combined income provided by their state unemployment benefits and the federal government’s weekly $600 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance check. Because of the extra federal assistance, two-thirds of eligible workers are making more than they did before the pandemic, according to a paper by economists at the University of Chicago.

Meanwhile, some restaurants are stuck in a catch-22 created by the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. PPP loans turn into grants if they cover payroll or other specific expenses, but in order to have the loan forgiven, restaurants must rehire their employees, and many don’t have work for rehired employees to do.

Underlying the complex calculations around rehiring is demand, or lack thereof. “Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal,” says Andrew Stettner, an economist at the Century Foundation. But fears that recovery will be stymied by employees who choose to remain out of work are unfounded, he adds: “The pace of recovery will absolutely be driven by the level of demand, not unemployment benefits.”

The level of demand directly correlates with the pace of recovery at Xperience Restaurant Group (XRG), which operates a national chain of Mexican restaurants under nine brands, including El Torito, Las Brisas, and Chevys Fresh Mex. After the pandemic hit, XRG furloughed 80 percent of its employees. Those who remained helped its restaurants pivot quickly to takeout and delivery. As a result, the group’s takeout business more than doubled compared to last April, and it soon found itself trying to rehire a number of its employees. Between April 20 and June 1, the XRG career site posted more than 500 jobs; some were new positions, and some were vacancies left by former employees.

“We have already brought the bulk of those [furloughed] team members back, even at units that haven’t yet been cleared to reopen for dine-in business,” says Rosie Davenport, XRG’s vice president of marketing. But other employees have chosen not to return because of concerns about their health, she adds.

“Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal.”

In Chicago, Michael Schultz, who runs the Fairgrounds Coffee chain and the hospitality group Infuse, says he has been “getting a lot of applicants, very talented people who typically otherwise wouldn’t be available.” As iconic restaurant groups have shuttered, he explains, “people who’ve planted their roots with them for successful careers — now they’re looking.” Although a few of his company’s employees told him they were making more money out of work, Schultz felt his applicant pool was big enough that he did not worry about replacing them. He is now hiring for 17 positions at Fairgrounds locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, including team leads, prep cooks, and certified baristas.

Down in Nashville, Mary Pillow Thompson, the founder of the local restaurant hiring platform Foh&boh, has seen a similar movement. “There will be a lot of shifting around,” she says. “People saying, ‘Well, Jimmy wasn’t that great anyway, I’m happy to try to get someone better.’ And on the other side, candidates saying, ‘I’m going to try to get the job I always wanted instead of going back to my old place.’” Thompson has also noticed former truck drivers and construction workers signing up on her platform to look for jobs. “Before this, the people we were getting were industry professionals,” she says.

Unlike XRG and Fairgrounds, many American restaurants, especially smaller ones, did not enjoy a surprise business boom during the pandemic. And so as their states and cities reopen, their goal is simply to bring back enough former employees to support the level of business they’re able to do. But even that is not a straightforward process, given that they often lack human resources departments that can spearhead substantial hiring efforts.

At the Kansas City restaurant Fox and Pearl, chef Vaughn Good and his partner Kristine Hull had to furlough three-quarters of their 50 employees in March. Although the 130-seat bistro, which had previously made $10,000 a night, pivoted to selling groceries, family-style meals, and alcohol for pickup, “we were not busy,” says Good; sales sank to $1,000 a day. Good and Hull applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to cover payroll when business picked up.

Things began to turn around after May 11, when Missouri restaurants were allowed to reopen their dining rooms under new safety regulations; on a recent Saturday, Fox and Pearl did 70 covers. That was enough for Good to rehire all the kitchen staff who wanted to return. But for Hull, who runs the front of house, scheduling servers has been harder than bringing back cooks, in part because of health concerns around interacting with diners.

“I didn’t want to force people,” she says. So far, enough servers have asked for the shifts Hull has needed to fill, even as the restaurant has expanded to half capacity per Kansas City guidelines and sales have followed suit, rising to 50 percent of the restaurant’s typical pre-pandemic revenues. The next phase, which Hull hopes will go into effect on July 5, would allow her to bring back everyone who wants to return, but she knows she may have to look for new hires. “Some of my staff has decided during the quarantine period to do other things,” Hull explains. “We have a couple that graduated college and are now pursuing careers, and some that have decided to shift their focus. I think that the slow reopening has allowed folks to make the decisions that work best for them both physically and financially.”

Even restaurant owners who appear busy say that they would rather make do with a smaller crew until they have a clearer idea of what the future holds. Since reopening under Florida state guidelines on May 13, Cafe Boulud Palm Beach, which is located in the Brazilian Court Hotel, has seen business in its main dining room jump back to the same level as it was this time last year. The restaurant seats about 120, and half of the tables are outside. General manager Lucian Vasile Puscasu has brought back about half of his 102 front- and back-of-house employees, a mix of part-time and full-time workers. That’s partly because the once-busy events business remains closed, and partly because summer is the off-season in Palm Beach. But it’s also because some employees did not want to come back.

“They declined to return for various reasons,” Puscasu says, “from finding better opportunities to not feeling comfortable about the possibility of exposing themselves or finding the unemployment benefit a better fit for now.” He expects to see more potential workers applying in the fall, after the pandemic unemployment benefits run out in July and the season starts up again.

For her part, Fox and Pearl’s Hull says she noticed a shift in conversation on the restaurant’s Slack (or chat room) channel at the beginning of June: Those who had felt unsure about returning to work last month seemed more eager for shifts in June. “A lot of people who were waiting through May are now saying they are ready if we need them,” Hull says.

Of course, legal frameworks also play a significant role in how people are brought back to work. If a restaurant doesn’t want to hire everyone back, they have to have “legitimate, non-discriminatory (and documented) reasons for why some folks were made offers and others weren’t,” hospitality attorney Jasmine Moy says over email. “For those that reject an offer to return to work, if the employer wants to include that person in their PPP headcount, they have to notify the state that such person was made and rejected an offer of employment, which will put the staff member in violation of the unemployment insurance requirements.”

Rejecting employment reflects the larger issue that many workers face as restaurants reopen: that of the calculus of staying home without pay versus returning to work and potentially risking their health. All the restaurants operators mentioned in this article say they are following regional safety guidelines to keep their employees healthy, including generous spacing between tables, rigorous cleaning practices, and the requirement that all employees and customers alike wear a mask. In addition, Fox and Pearl, Cafe Boulud, Fairgrounds, and the Miami restaurant are all providing masks to their employees. But regardless of the measures they’re taking, these operators also realize they can’t guarantee their employees won’t get sick if they return to work, which is why many say they understand the hesitation to take on shifts.

It remains to be seen whether post-COVID-19 restaurants will offer workers, especially servers, bartenders, and hosts, enough incentive to encourage loyalty to the industry. If front-of-house hospitality employees can’t find worthwhile work — meaning the opportunity to interact with customers and earn sufficient wages from both salary and tips, all while staying as safe as possible — there will likely be a reckoning.

“People have reprioritized their lives a lot,” says the Miami general manager who’s waiting to reopen until she has a better sense of the city’s new dining climate. “Right now we feel like a fulfillment center: You put the food in the bag and send it out the door.” If that continues to be the case, she adds, “then you have to find meaning in that new model. We’re in it because you provide a meaningful experience to your guests, and we have to see how we’ll do that going forward.”

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3eBA1df via Blogger https://ift.tt/2Abyo7k

[polotanker6-blog]

3 Takeaways: Otto-matic Porter is showing off new tricks with the Bulls

3 Takeaways: Otto-matic Porter is showing off new tricks with the Bulls originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com

Otto-matic Porter is showing off new tricks in Chicago

Otto Porter Jr. came to the Bulls in a trade for Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker, and his reputation among coming to the Bulls was that of a great 3-and-D wing who perhaps didn't shot enough.

That certainly doesn't look like it will be a problem during his Bulls tenure.

Porter has been great as a Bull, and much more aggressive than any point in his Wizards career. This season with Washington, he was getting up 10.8 field goal attempts per game. Over 4 games with Chicago, Porter's shots per game are up to 14.5.

On a night where Kris Dunn was out, the Bulls did more ball-handling by committee than usual and it played a small role in OPJ getting off to a torrid start in this game. He finished the first half with 21 points on 8/9 shooting from the field, and this included going 3/3 from the 3-point line.

The normally catch-and-shot-heavy Porter has scored a variety of ways with the Bulls. His shot profile under Jim Boylen has included a lot more off the dribble, post-up and pick-and-roll scoring opportunities.

But while Porter's shooting is obviously his main strength, his ability to play competent team defense is just as important. He has been one of the best SFs in the league over the past few seasons if you are looking at just the advanced numbers, and he has kept that up in Chicago as well.

In 2018-19 Porter had a (-.0.7) plus minus rating in 41 games with Washington, but his plus minus rating is a (+5.3) so far in his Bulls career. Porter has helped the Bulls tremendously on both sides of the ball, and Boylen no doubt loves having a player who doesn't need much tutoring AND can actually assist him in explaining defensive concepts to the younger players.

Boylen has lots of praise for Mr. Otto-matic in his postgame presser. When asked if he has talked much to Porter about his role, Boylen admitted that he didn't want to take too much credit for anything Porter has been doing as of late, and simply stated how much the Bulls believe in him and would look to him for offense.

"I have talked to him about being aggressive.....about how we're gonna run stuff for him."

Boylen mentioned how he spoke with Wizards coach Scott Brooks about the positives of the players involved in the Portis-Parker-Porter trade, and how Brooks mentioned the conversations he had with Porter about shooting more on offense. It is safe to say that Boylen would likely agree that whatever Brooks said in those talks definitely helped.

Porter had only been shooting about 10 times a night all season, and then in the month of January he took 12.6 field goal attempts per game. And now in February, Porter is taking 13 shots per game. He rising level of aggression on offense is shown in those figures.

Boylen mentioned a conversation that he had earlier on Wednesday with Bulls special advisor Doug Collins, who Boylen said told him, "[Otto Porter,] He's a basketball player, you can put him out there and he's gonna make some stuff happen."

Boylen added, "We need the guy and obviously we love the way he is playing."

Let the young Bulls run....

Coming into Wednesday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Bulls ranked 20th in the league with 11.5 fastbreak points per game. In Wednesday night's game, the Bulls racked up 11 fastbreak points in the first quarter alone.

Head coach Jim Boylen talked a bit postgame about how well the team had appeared to be gelling since he addition of Otto Porter,  stating, "Our flow has been good."

Chicago would only tack on 6 more fastbreak points throughout the game to finish with 17, but those 17 fastbreak points represent a mark that would be 6th in the league if maintained over a full season. Fans and critics alike have been asking to see the Bulls get out in transition more with young talent like Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn capable of producing in a fast offense.

Story continues

Over the last five games, the Bulls have ranked 16th in the league with 14.2 PPG in transition.

But it isn't all about the fastbreak points. The Bulls are a team short of players who can score one-on-one, with LaVine obviously standing out as the supreme shot-creator of the group. So, to enable the rest of the group to generate great shots, it behooves the Bulls to attack early in the shot clock.

It is easier to catch a set defense off-guard when you make quick decisions, and the Bulls executed this perfectly in the first period, racking up 14 assist on 15 made field goals. They have looked like a completely different team following the now infamous Porter-Portis-Parker swap. Hopefully, we will get to see more of the high-flying Bulls soon. Post All-Star break, Chicago will matchup will three straight top-10 defenses in the Magic, Celtics and Bucks, so generating easy buckets in transition will be a must.

Nothin' but love for Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah was in Chicago on Wednesday for the third time as an opposing player and it was a joyous occasion. Noah was largely ineffective in the game, only producing 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 20 minutes of action. But Noah was one of the few Grizzlies who finished the game with a positive plus minus rating (+8) and also contributed two nice blocks in his stint on the floor. But the most important part of the night was the love showered on Noah from Bulls faithful, who gave Jo a standing ovation when he checked into the game.

During Noah's time with the Bulls we (mostly) laughed, (sometimes) cried, but Bulls Nation was always appreciative of the fact that Noah--the Bulls No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft--gave it his all everytime he stepped foot on the court.

Only Father Time knows how much longer Noah can play NBA basketball, but we for one, are certainly happy that the awesome and eccentric Noah--who has a lifelong spot in the hearts of Bulls fans everywhere--will get to end things on his own note.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/3-takeaways-otto-matic-porter-060603509.html?src=rss

[dnowit41]

GOATs on GOATs: LeBron and MJ in their own words through the years

Stop us if you've heard this before: Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Six championships. Count 'em. OK, stop us if you've also heard this: LeBron James is the GOAT. The King is simply bigger and stronger, and he has done it longer.

The two never faced off in an NBA game. Jordan played his last game for the Washington Wizards on April 16, 2003 -- two months before the Cleveland Cavaliers made James the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. But their paths have been linked for as long as we can remember -- and will cross again soon. James is set to serve as a captain for this weekend's 2019 NBA All-Star Game, being staged in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Jordan serves as the owner of the Hornets. Shortly after, James, now in his 16th season, likely will pass Jordan for fourth on the league's all-time scoring list. So who is the real GOAT? The debate rages on. On your television. In the comments section. In your Twitter replies.

But it doesn't matter what we say. Here are Jordan and James, in their own words, talking about each other over the past 17 years.

2001: The first meeting

LeBron James was a young high school star who had yet to make his big impression on the national stage when he first met Michael Jordan, who was preparing for a comeback with the Wizards. James spoke about that first meeting this past December as he prepared to play the Jordan-owned Hornets in Charlotte.

LeBron: First time meeting Jordan was 'godly'

LeBron James reminisces about the first time he met Michael Jordan in 2001.

"It was godly. I've said that over and over before, but it was like meeting God for the first time. That's what I felt like as a 16-year-old kid when I met MJ. -- LeBron James Dec. 15, 2018 (Source: Multiple, pregame media availability)

2002: LeBron hits the scene

Just a year later, James himself was getting compared to deities, being dubbed "The Chosen One" on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" as a junior in high school.

"He's very talented. But he's young, and there's a lot of things he doesn't know." -- Michael Jordan Jan. 18, 2002 (Source: Associated Press)

"If you have a chance to talk to him, you listen. More people listen to him than listen to the president of the United States."

-- LeBron James Nov. 5, 2002 (Source: Newhouse News Services)

2003: Jordan exits, James enters

"Is he capable? Yes. He has the skills that most 18-year-olds do not have. Now, if you equate that to playing in the league, I think he would be an average player in our league right now with the potential to be a better player. To say that he can step in at the same level as a Tracy McGrady or a Kobe Bryant would be unfair to LeBron James." -- Michael Jordan Feb. 4, 2003 (Source: MSG Network)

"Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever and ... if anybody in the world can criticize somebody, it can be Michael Jordan. There's no way I'm going to get mad at Michael Jordan criticizing me. There's no way. Michael Jordan is like a dad. If Michael Jordan is going to tell anybody to do something -- the players, the media, the coaches -- you should do it. Simple as that." -- LeBron James April 16, 2003 (Source: Associated Press)

"I'm not going to be able to do it the way Jordan did, I can tell you that. I think I can produce enough, contribute enough, on and off the court, to lift the city of Cleveland." -- LeBron James June 27, 2003 (Source: New York Post)

A changing of the guard was taking place, whether Jordan wanted to acknowledge it or not. Jordan played his final game as a member of the Wizards on April 16, 2003. Two months later, James was selected No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers, a team Jordan famously tormented during his NBA career. The next generation had arrived.

Before his first game as a professional at Chicago's United Center -- The House That MJ Built -- James tried to downplay the comparisons.

"I'm not trying to be Jordan. I'm not trying to compare myself to Jordan or Magic [Johnson] or [Larry] Bird. A lot of people are, but I'm not. They have their own legacies. I'm trying to build my own. I know Michael, but I don't communicate with him. I'm just trying to be me." -- LeBron James Dec. 19, 2003 (Source: Chicago Sun Times)

2004-2006: James on the rise

Though James downplayed the Jordan comparison, he was forced to face it again in 2004, when he made his Team USA debut -- wearing the same No. 9 that Jordan had worn with the Dream Team.

"It didn't matter what I said, I knew you guys would make that connection anyway. That was the greatest basketball team of all time." -- LeBron James Aug. 13, 2004 (Source: The Record -- of Bergen County, New Jersey)

"I think he's doing fine on his own. Obviously, you guys are comparing him with me. They did it with me when I came up with [Julius Erving] and Oscar [Robertson]. But I think the thing about LeBron and what makes him hopefully survive is that he does what's best for LeBron, not what people expect him to do, who think he should be Michael Jordan." -- Michael Jordan Feb. 10, 2005 (Source: New York Daily News)

"I've seen classic games of Jordan versus the Pistons and the Bulls versus the Pistons. To become the best, you've got to beat the best. It might not happen the first year or the second year or third year, but you just got to keep working at it and, hopefully, you'll get over that hump. [Jordan] was able to overcome adversity and overcome the beast. He became the beast." -- LeBron James May 9, 2006 (Source: The Globe and Mail, Canada)

Those classic Pistons-Bulls clashes -- four series from 1988 to 1991 -- saw Detroit's rough-and-tumble "Jordan Rules" blitz and bruise the Bulls star with a defensive scheme now outlawed. The Pistons overcame Chicago until Jordan got over the hump in 1991. Before Game 2 of the 2006 Eastern Conference semis during James' first postseason, James considered the obstacle of the modern Bad Boys, a Pistons championship group that would make six straight conference finals from 2003 to 2008. James, it turned out, was a year away.

2007: LeBron makes 'The Leap'

On This Date: LeBron scores Cavs' final 25 points.

On May 31, 2007, LeBron James scored 48 points as Cleveland beat Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, James put on a Jordanesque show, scoring the Cavaliers' final 25 points to lift them to a double-overtime win. Two days later, Cleveland reached its first NBA Finals by eliminating the Pistons, the same team Jordan had gotten past to reach his first Finals in 1991. Though James and the Cavs would end up being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals, Jordan was complimentary of James' accomplishments ... to an extent.

"What just transpired was something I felt was needed for the league, was needed for Cleveland, was needed for LeBron. Making 'The Leap' is where you do it every single night. It's expected of you, and you do it. ... Not one game, not two games. It's consistent. Every defense comes in and they focus on you and you still impact the game. I think he's shown signs of that." -- Michael Jordan June 4, 2007 (Source: Chicago Tribune)

"Anytime you get praise from the guy who basically laid down all the stones for you to get here -- I grew up idolizing his game and how he played the game of basketball -- it was definitely great to hear." -- LeBron James June 4, 2007 (Source: Associated Press)

2008-2009: LeBron strikes out on his own

"I'm a totally different player than Michael Jordan. As far as the next Jordan, there is no such thing. There's one Michael Jordan and only one, and no one compares with him." -- LeBron James March 6, 2008 (Source: Chicago Tribune)

On this date: LeBron sinks Magic with dramatic buzzer-beater.

LeBron James nails a 3-pointer over Hedo Turkoglu as time expires to give the Cavaliers a 96-95 win over the Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference finals.

"That guy is not in the league anymore. The other 23 is on the good side now." -- LeBron James May 22, 2009 (Source: Associated Press)

Of course, Jordan had been retired for six years, but the memories of his dominance hadn't faded, especially in Cleveland. That's why when James hit what he called the biggest shot of his career to that point, a buzzer-beating 3 over Hedo Turkoglu to beat the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern finals, the hometown hero said it was out of his "Michael Jordan bag of tricks." But the Cavs would go on to lose the series in six games.

2009-2010: The Decision and the aftermath

"He's made his mark in Cleveland. I know New York fans would love to have him, but you need a lot more components than just one player. He's done a heck of a job in Cleveland, and they deserve to have him there." -- Michael Jordan June 13, 2009 (Source: New York Daily News)

"In a fantasy world, there are a lot of guys in the NBA you would love to see who could you be on the same team and see how you match up with the rest of the NBA. Not just myself, everybody in the league has visualized playing with somebody, even guys who are not in the league anymore. I visualized playing alongside Michael Jordan when I was a kid. Everyone has that vision." -- LeBron James Nov. 12, 2009 (Source: Toronto Star Newspapers)

"It's time. He's the best basketball player we've ever seen. Mike does it on the court and off the court. If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan.You see guys flying through the air, you think about Michael Jordan. You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan. You see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame. He can't get the logo, and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23.Nobody. If I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it." -- LeBron James Nov. 12, 2009 (Source: TNT)

Be like Mike: LeBron wants to own an NBA team

LeBron James has modeled his career after Michael Jordan's. Will he own a team like MJ does in the future?

Five names ready to dominate the next 10 All-Star games

With LeBron in MJ's house for this weekend's All-Star Game, here are five 25-and-under stars with the talent and star power to take the throne in a post-LeBron NBA.

Is LeBron overtaking MJ as the greatest player of all time?

LeBron's dominance at age 33 is forcing a reconsideration on the question of who is the greatest basketball player ever.

In retrospect, James' comments before and after that Nov. 12 game in Miami -- a game Jordan watched from a courtside seat -- should've been a sign. James talked about teaming up with "a lot of guys" (perhaps his good friend Dwyane Wade, for example), then said Jordan's 23 should be retired leaguewide -- like it already was in Miami, though Jordan never played for the Heat. James wore No. 6 during his time in Miami.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team.' But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys." -- Michael Jordan July 18, 2010 (Source: NBC)

In an interview that aired 10 days after "The Decision," Jordan made it clear where he stood on James teaming up with Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. It was in line with many of James' critics who believed the NBA's best should be playing against one another.

2011: LeBron's Finals failure

Scottie Pippen, Jordan's co-star for six titles, had said that James could, someday, be better than Jordan. At 26 years old, James already had developed into one of the best all-around players in NBA history.

"I'm gracious. Humbled by Scottie's comments, especially with him being a teammate of his and seeing Michael on a day-to-day basis. But as far as me, I'm not going to sit here and say I'm better than Jordan. I'm not better than Jordan." -- LeBron James May 28, 2011 (Source: Associated Press)

Ten days after these comments, James would have perhaps the worst game of his career: a deer-in-the-headlights, eight-point stinker in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Heat would lose to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.

2012-2013: Count the rings?

"Jordan was my superhero growing up. He was the guy I feel helped me get to where I am today. As a competitor, who would not want to go against the best? That's like asking [Tom] Brady would he want to go against [Joe] Montana in the fourth quarter." -- LeBron James Dec. 6, 2012 (Source: Sports Illustrated)

James might have won his first title in 2012, but he still had a long way to go in Jordan's eyes. When asked which player he would choose if he was starting a team from scratch, James or Kobe Bryant, Jordan sided with the Lakers star, who already had a fistful of rings -- though still one less than Jordan himself.

"If you had to pick between the two, that would be a tough choice, but five beats one every time I look at it. And not that [James] won't get five. He may get more than that, but five is bigger than one." -- Michael Jordan Feb. 15, 2013 (Source: NBA TV)

"At the end of the day, rings don't always define someone's career. If that's the case, then I'd sit up here and say I'd take [Bill] Russell over Jordan. But I wouldn't take Russell over Jordan. Russell has 11 rings, Jordan has six. Or I'd take Robert Horry over Kobe. I wouldn't do that. ... You look at a guy like Jud Buechler, who has multiple rings. Charles Barkley doesn't have one ring. He's not better than Charles Barkley. Patrick Ewing is one of the greatest of all time. Reggie Miller is one of the greatest of all time. Sometimes, it's the situation you're in. Timing, as well. I don't play the game and try to define who I am over what guys say or how they feel about me." -- LeBron James Feb. 16, 2013 (Source: New York Post)

2013-2015: The debate heats up

"If I have to guard him, I'm gonna push him left so nine times out of 10 he's gonna shoot a jump shot. If he goes right, he's going to the hole and I can't stop him. So I ain't letting him go right." -- Michael Jordan Feb. 22, 2013 (Source: ESPN's Wright Thompson)

Like the ring-counting argument, James didn't side with Jordan here, either, calling Jordan's theory "wrong." Two weeks after Jordan's comments were published, James beat the Magic with a buzzer-beating layup off a drive to his left. James then did the same to Paul George two months later to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Was Jordan on his mind? We'll never know.

"I watch Jordan more than anybody; for sure, MJ wasn't perfect. MJ had bad games. He had turnovers. He had games where he felt like he should have been better. But I think the greatest thing about MJ was that he never was afraid to fail. And I think that's why he succeeded so much, because he was never afraid of what anybody ever said about him. Never afraid to miss a game-winning shot, never afraid to turn the ball over. Never afraid. That's one of my biggest obstacles. I'm afraid of failure. I want to succeed so bad that I become afraid of failing." -- LeBron James Oct. 19, 2013 (Source: ESPN)

Though James and Jordan never met on the court as opponents, they've been in the same building plenty of times, including during the 2014 playoffs, when James' Heat swept the Jordan-owned Charlotte Bobcats in the first round. During Game 3, Jordan had a courtside view for a vintage James breakaway dunk, one that seemed to follow James shooting a look at Jordan.

"No, no. Don't start that. Absolutely not, man. Absolutely not. I was able to read [Josh] McRoberts, get a steal and push the lead back up. I absolutely didn't look at MJ, for sure." -- LeBron James April 26, 2014 (Source: The Charlotte Observer)

"Why you guys ask me this question? You know this is an ESPN question. You know it's gonna be all over ESPN. If I was in my prime, could I beat LeBron in a one-on-one game? No question!" -- Michael Jordan Aug. 10, 2015 (Source: Bay Area HQ via MJ Flight School Camp)

Jordan was holding court with attendees at his Flight School camp when the question came up -- though it's unlikely it was the first time he was asked about it. We'll never know the results of a hypothetical matchup, but we can at least check out the tale of the tape:

2016: Chasing ghosts

"My motivation is this ghost I'm chasing. The ghost played in Chicago. ... I think it's cool to put myself in position to be one of those great players, but if I can ever put myself in position to be the greatest player, that would be something extraordinary." -- LeBron James Aug. 2, 2016 (Source: Sports Illustrated)

One day before his 32nd birthday, James was asked by a reporter if he studied a 32-year-old Jordan, whose game had evolved from all fire and fury at the rim to more fadeaways and jab steps. Jordan, as the reporter pointed out, last averaged over 30.0 points per game in his age-32 season. James didn't bite.

"No, I haven't [studied Jordan], because our games are so different. He was much more of a scorer. At that point, he did a lot of post work, but our games are just different. His body is different, my body is different than his. You recognize the dominance that someone had at that age, but there's no similarities in our game, at all." -- LeBron James Dec. 29, 2016 (Source: Cavs.com)

2017-2018: Mutual respect

"I think I fell in love with the game because of Mike, just seeing what he was able to accomplish. When you're growing up and you're seeing Michael Jordan, it's almost like a god. So, I didn't ever believe I could be Mike. I started to focus on myself, on other players and other people around my neighborhood, because I never thought that you could get to a point where Mike was. I shot fadeaways before I should have. I wore a leg sleeve on my leg and folded it down so you saw the red part. I wore black-and-red shoes with white socks. I wore short shorts so you could see my undershorts underneath. I didn't go bald like Mike, but I'm getting there. Other than that, I did everything Mike did. I even wore a wristband on my forearm. I didn't do the hoop earring, either. That was Mike. But I did everything Mike did, man. I wanted to be Mike, so for my name to come up in any discussion with Michael Jordan or Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] ... it's a wow factor." -- LeBron James May 26, 2017 (Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer)

"I support LeBron James. He's doing an amazing job for his community." -- Michael Jordan Aug. 4, 2018 (Source: NBC News)

After the beef between James and President Donald Trump -- Trump tweeted that CNN anchor Don Lemon "made LeBron look smart, which isn't easy to do. I like Mike!" -- Jordan backed James, who has been a loud and frequent critic of the president. While Jordan mostly stayed quiet on political issues during his playing career, his level of involvement has increased in recent years.

"MJ made the game global. He made the game global. He made people all over the world want to watch the game of basketball because of his marketability, because of the way he played the game of basketball, because of who he was. He kind of transcended that era." -- LeBron James Dec. 15, 2018 (Source: ESPN)

2018: The last word?

LeBron feels he's the GOAT after Cavs' 2016 title win.

In the latest episode of "More Than An Athlete," LeBron James says his historic 2016 NBA Finals win made him the greatest player ever. Go to ESPN+ and subscribe now to view full episodes.

"That one right there made me the greatest player of all time. That's what I felt. I was super, super ecstatic to win one for Cleveland because of the 52-year drought. ... The first wave of emotion was when everyone saw me crying, like, that was all for 52 years of everything in sports that's gone on in Cleveland. And then after I stopped, I was like -- that one right there made you the greatest player of all time." -- LeBron James

-Anthony Olivieri

[joementa]

Week Of May 8, 2017

This week was the fourth (and final) night of Emo Fest 2K17.  Just typing that makes me want to cry (do you understand the irony, there?). Four Ryan Adams/DRA shows in 11 days, and I wish there had been more.  My final show was at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, outside of DC. I had never been to that venue before, and I will most definitely be going back again.  It’s a very beautiful venue, and very well run.  The staff is extremely friendly.  After a while, I realized why – it has connections to 9:30 Club, one of the best venues anywhere.  They run/manage a few venues in the DC area, and if you go to a lot shows like I do, you will see that there is a noticeable difference between 9:30-run clubs and non-9:30 run clubs.

Now, for the show. This was the best of my 4 nights of Emo Fest 2K17 that I saw.  DRA’s energy was incredible.  He was in a great mood the entire night.  He was very social with the crowd, significantly more so than the prior 3 nights I saw him the week before.  He also played a few songs that hadn’t been played at my shows, including “This House Is Not For Sale” and “Prisoner” solo acoustic on the 12 string.  “Wonderwall” was incredible – the pavilion was packed and everyone was singing along to it.  That was fun, because even though he played it solo, it felt like a community while everyone was singing together to such a classic song.  I was really rocking all night, and the crowd was really into it too.  I hope DRA keeps going with the band – the current format works really well.  It’s a ROCK show.  A lot of the older songs are transformed into totally new versions because of the band and the heavy use of electric guitars.  I really hope there are some more DRA tour dates that are announced for later this year.  I will definitely be there!    

By the way, one the same day of Emo Fest 2K17 Night 4, I received the Prisoner: End Of World edition in the mail.  I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, but I can’t wait to do so. DRA cut some 60 (yes, SIXTY) songs from Prisoner, and the Prisoner: End Of World edition includes 17 of those songs as the B-sides to each official Prisoner song, spread out across six 7” singles.  I’ll never complain about more music.

One more thing.  Like I said, the crowd was really on fire, and DRA was feeling it from the crowd too.  That shouldn’t be surprising when you consider where the show was.  DC always gets a great crowd.  I have been to a bunch of shows in DC, in a wide variety of venues, including large stadiums (DMB at Nationals Park), arenas (Bruce at Verizon Center), nightclub (9:30), theatres (DRA solo acoustic at the Lincoln Theatre), small bars/clubs (Ex Hex at Black Cat), and amphitheaters, and the crowd has always been fantastic, and the venues have been just as great as well.  I’ll always love going to DC for a show because you know you’re going to get a great show and be part of a crowd that gives back to the performer (and vice versa), and it will be at a great venue.  Make sure you get down to DC for a show soon!  You won’t regret.  I have a few DC shows already scheduled for this year, and I’m looking at adding some more. Hopefully I will see you there!      

Here is a list of some of the music I’ve been listening to the past week.  Format: musician – album title, or musician – “song title” (album title).

The Afghan Whigs – In Spades

The Shins – “Heartworms” (Heartworms)

Mark Lanegan Band – Gargoyle

Dave Hause – Bury Me In Philly

The Menzingers - After The Party

Lady Gaga – “The Cure”

Iron & Wine – Archives Series Volume 3

Chris Stapleton – From A Room, Volume 1

Karen Elson – Double Roses

Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/08

Donny Hathaway – Live

The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt

The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound

Marvin Gaye – Every Great Motown Hit Of Marvin Gaye

Joni Mitchell – Court & Spark

Rise Against – “Paper Wings” (Siren Song Of The Counterculture)

NRBQ – High Noon: A 50-Year Retrospective

Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon

Bruce Springsteen – “Save My Love” b/w “Because The Night”

Blood Orange – “Dinner” b/w “Bad Girls”

Prince – Dirty Mind

Prince – Prince

Prince - Batman

There are a bunch of great tours that were just announced (and in some cases, new albums as well).

-          Against Me! is one of my favorite bands.  Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to see them since they released their most recent album Shape Shift With Me last year. That will thankfully change  in the fall.  Hopefully I will be able to get to multiple shows on this tour.  They always put on a great show!  The tour dates are right here.

-          I love listening to Social Distortion during the summer, and what’s better than music in the summer?  How about LIVE music in the summer!  I’ll definitely be seeing them this summer.  Here are the tour dates.

-          Rise Against is a great band, and they always include topical lyrics.  That’s very-much needed given what’s been going on recently. Their new album, Wolves, comes out on June 9th, which I will definitely be checking out.  Like most bands that release a new album, they are also touring to support it. Here are the tour dates, and here is the pre-order info for their new album.

-          I admittedly am not very familiar with Halsey’s music, but I have heard great things about her live show, which means I will have to check out her music some more. She’s got a new album coming, a tour to support, AND you get a bonus 7” if you pre-order her new album on vinyl from an independent record store.  

-          The National are one of my most favorite bands ever.  I’ve been listening to them for about 9 years now, and they never let me down. To me, they’re like a band like Radiohead.  Every time they announce a new album, I think “okay….this will finally be the one that’s bad.”  And guess what?  It never happens.  About a week ago, I was talking to one of my best friends about how badly we need a new National album.  And this week, they announced just that!  Sleep Well Beast comes out on September 8, followed by a massive tour at some really cool (and small!) venues.  I will definitely be getting to at least one show.

Hopefully everyone is getting their summer concert schedule locked down and finalized.  I’m already starting to get booked for shows after the summer!  Some things you can just count on: DC will get a great show; The National will release a great album; and the concerts will keep on getting announced.

[judefan813-blog]

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Australia – Audience

Despite its comparatively small inhabitants unfold over, in some instances, hundreds of miles, and handful  of main cities, the market is remarkably robust and growing, with numerous exhibits at stadium degree, touring festivals and some very aggressive promoters.  Christopher Barrett stories

It isn’t be the simplest or least expensive nation to succeed in from Europe or the USA, and as soon as there it may be necessary to travel hundreds of miles between cities and throughout multiple time zones.

Nevertheless, for many who take the time and have an viewers there, it’s is a rustic with a robust financial system and a population with a seemingly unquenchable thirst for reside music.

The newest Ticket Attendance and Income report, revealed in October last yr by business physique Reside Efficiency Australia (LPA), paints an image of a market in exceptional shape.

Modern music ticket sales revenue in 2017 was up 87.7 per cent year-on-year to A$826.1 million (US$568), in response to the LPA, with attendance up 49.6 per cent over the same time-frame, to eight.5m.

It was the sector’s first yr of progress in income since 2013 and the very best revenue and attendance recorded for modern music since LPA began producing the report back in 2004.

Australia is a massively competitive market with quite a bit to play for and one which has seen vital consolidation this yr amongst a few of its foremost promoters.

In March, Frontier Touring founder Michael Gudinski and Chugg Entertainment boss Michael Chugg reunited to type a three way partnership some 40 years after they co-founded Frontier Touring (see Audience challenge 230). That they had cut up in 1999.

Only a month later the market noticed additional consolidation when AEG bought a 50 per cent stake in Frontier Touring. The AEG-Frontier venture cements a relationship that goes back 12 years, throughout which era Frontier promoted AEG tours in Australia and New Zealand.

Included within the deal is main venue operator AEG Ogden, which owns and operates Qudos Bank Area (cap. 21,389) in Sydney, Brisbane Leisure Centre (14,500), Perth Area (15,000), Newcastle Entertainment Centre (7,500) and the 9,000-capacity ICC Sydney Theatre.

The mixture of Frontier, Chugg, AEG Presents and globally formidable promoter AEG Presents is a big rival to Reside Nation Australia.

AEG Presents chief operating officer and CEO/chairman Jay Marciano, based mostly in Los Angeles, says that following the Frontier acquisition the corporate plans to develop a touring network of mid-sized venues across Australia (see Audience situation 231).

“There are not enough small clubs and theatres in Australia for international artistes to be able to have the 10 or more shows that make it affordable to make the journey there,” he says.

AEG Ogden group director Tim Worton says the Frontier and AEG Presents deal shall be good for the market.

“We expect there will be the potential for even more AEG product to come to Australia as a result of the joint venture, so that is a positive,” he says.

Worton also expects AEG Ogden to profit from the merging of multinational venue management corporations AEG Amenities and SMG to type ASM International.

“SMG does not have any venues in our market, but we will benefit from the resources of this expanded network of venues,” he says.

Worton describes the native market as being “extremely buoyant” with AEG’s venues having fun with very robust ticket gross sales for exhibits by acts together with Phil Collins, Keith City, Pink Scorching Chili Peppers, Pink and Hugh Jackman.

Nevertheless, he factors out that there are difficulties, not least the very fact the Australian dollar has fallen in value to its lowest degree in around a decade.

“Promoters face the challenge of rising artiste fees and show production costs in addition to a weaker Australian dollar and that puts pressure on ticket prices, it can push them to a level that endangers the ticket sales needed to make the tours stack up,” he says.

Report returns

Stay Nation Entertainment entered the Australian market when it acquired Michael Coppel Presents (MCP) in 2012, which on the time was the nation’s second largest promoter. Coppel is chairman of Reside Nation Australia (LNA).

Coppel says that is shaping up to be a report yr for LNA when it comes to the number of live shows and tickets bought.

In the spring LNA promoted Pink Scorching Chili Peppers’ first headline exhibits in Australia for 12 years, selling-out 12 arenas and open-air venues ranging in capacity from 12,00Zero to 35,00Zero. Around 176,657 tickets have been bought at costs ranging from A$101 to A$165 (US$70-115).

Among its different major excursions is Metallica, who will play eight stadium exhibits to a mixed audience of greater than 300,00Zero, with ticket prices from A$127 to A$250 (US$88-174).

U2 may even play eight stadium exhibits and a combined audience of 380,000.

“The market is two-paced; major headliners are doing great business but lesser names can struggle due to the high volume of competing tours and high ticket prices,” says Coppel.

At Reside Nation Leisure-owned Ticketmaster Australia a serious focus this yr has been shifting away from paperless tickets to a mobile-only service.

The Discussion board Melbourne (2,00Zero) turned the first venue in Australia to completely adopt the know-how and Ticketmaster has introduced paperless ticketing for all basic admission tickets for U2 exhibits.

“Fans want an easier and more secure ticketing system which fits seamlessly into their lives,” says Ticketmaster Australia & NZ MD Maria O’Connor,. “Not only will digital tickets simplify the entire ticketing process, it will also increase security, decrease fraud and unlock unprecedented value from customer relationships.”

The company just lately partnered with the new North Queensland Stadium (25,000) as its official ticketing agent. Opening in 2020, Elton John will carry out there in February.

“Live entertainment across Australia and New Zealand has never been stronger,” says O’Connor. “We’re seeing new venues being built around the country and further expansion into regional areas to cope with demand and further enhance the live experience.”

Michaels reunited

Michael Gudinski founded the Mushroom Group in 1972 and seven years later launched Frontier Touring as part of the group. Among the many acts it has worked with are Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift. Forthcoming exhibits embrace The Chemical Brothers and Shawn Mendes.

Frontier Touring’s three way partnership with Chugg Entertainment means the 2 operations now co-promote all Chugg tours, whereas Frontier has also joined Chugg and Potts Leisure as a companion in country music pageant CMC Rocks (24,00Zero).

Gudinski says it’s great to be working with Chugg once more and factors out it is rather much a partnership not an acquisition.

“It is not the band getting back together, Chugg is not part of Frontier, but Frontier is right behind him,” he says.

The veteran promoter says the cope with AEG does not imply the top of Frontier as an unbiased company.

“We are adding staff, going strong, and hopefully AEG will deliver more tours. We are thinking of the future,” he says.

Michael Chugg founded Chugg Leisure in 2000, touring acts corresponding to Coldplay, Radiohead, The Who and Florence + The Machine.

Chugg promotes around 600 exhibits per yr and its key tours this yr embrace Australian and New Zealand exhibits with Elton John, with 460,00Zero tickets bought for 31 exhibits, with prices ranging from A$139 to A$339 (US$97-237).

The company is finding environment friendly methods to market exhibits by way of digital platforms but Chugg factors out that traditional media stays vitally necessary. For its largest excursions the company makes use of radio, TV and outside promoting and has been recognized to supply particular TV and radio programming.

“When we sell-out we continue to promote the tours as it makes people aware of the act and their success,” he says. “Nothing frustrates our team more than seeing social media posts like ‘Oh dear, I’m a huge fan of … but I didn’t know they were here in Oz’.”

Chugg says ticket gross sales for his firm’s exhibits are usually robust however he doesn’t like other promoters decreasing prices for exhibits that aren’t selling nicely.

“We feel it must be really frustrating for fans when they pay full price and end up next to someone who paid as little as 25 per cent of the real ticket price,” he says.

Consolidating energy

Another veteran Australian concert promoter is Paul Dainty, who started organising exhibits in the early 1970s, working with David Bowie, U2, Michael Jackson and Miley Cyrus along the best way.

TEG Dainty was shaped in 2016 when TEG, which owns the country’s largest ticket agency Ticketek, acquired Dainty Group Worldwide, which had been owned and operated independently by Dainty. In a mean yr the company promotes round 200 live shows.

He says the Australian market could be very robust and his company had an “amazing” start to the yr with Phil Collins’s Not Lifeless But: Reside! tour.

“We sold-out 11 shows in stadiums and arenas across Australia and New Zealand,” he says. “On one night we had Phil at AAMI Park [30,000] in Melbourne and Slash at Margaret Court Arena [7,500] literally across the road at the same time.”

One other firm spotlight was Eminem’s The Rapture 2019 tour in February, with five sold-out exhibits throughout Australia and New Zealand collectively attracting 304,Zero16 followers.

“We set new concert attendance records at the MCG Melbourne, with 80,708,” says Dainty.

TEG Dainty just lately introduced a 10-show stadium tour by Queen + Adam Lambert and can also be working on 28-date area tour by Hugh Jackman.

Noble ventures

Founder and director of Byron Bay’s Bluesfest (25,00Zero) Peter Noble is among the last remaining really unbiased established promoters.

Ticket costs for the annual five-day Bluesfest, held in April, ranged from A$160 to A$700 (US$112-490). Headliners included Jack Johnson, Tash Sultana, David Gray and Iggy Pop.

Grey and Iggy Pop have been among those to enterprise further afield during April with exhibits in Sydney and Melbourne, beneath the BluesFest Touring banner, but Noble additionally works on tours throughout the year.

“Iggy Pop was the biggest tour so far this, with 9,199 tickets sold and prices starting at A$89[$62)”saysNoble[$62)”saysNoble[)”saysNoble[)”saysNoble

With greater than 40-years expertise in the business, Noble says now is a superb time to be within the enterprise regardless of the stiff competitors.

“It is a healthy business and a very exciting time, we are out there touring artistes at all levels from small clubs through to arenas,” he says. “We don’t want to end-up with two monopolies running the industry.”

Unbiased strengths

Also based mostly in Byron Bay, One World Entertainment (OWE) promotes throughout the region and runs touring pageant Beneath The Southern Stars.

Headlined by Hoodoo Gurus, it completed a six-city run in January, enjoying to round 5,000 individuals per night time. OWE also lately promoted a tour by Boyzone and is working on tours by Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers.

“The live market is as strong as it’s ever been for the right act placed in the right venue,” says OWE CEO Andrew McManus. “It all comes down to awareness of your product and the local market.”

Prime of the listing of his considerations, nevertheless, is the “user pays” scheme launched by New South Wales police that permits it to add additional safety to festivals at the cost of the occasion organiser.

McManus says, “It is crippling. Police can determine how many cops they insist on having at an event while charging anything north of A$124.00 [US] per hour for them, and this is on top of the security guards we are obligated to have,” he says. “Something has to give otherwise more and more festivals and outdoor concerts will be unable to proceed.”

James Brown, Alice Cooper, Willie Nelson and The Stranglers are among artistes to have been promoted by Lennard Promotions over the previous three many years. Among the artistes the company is selling are Billy Ocean, 10cc and Suzi Quatro.

“Due to a glut of international and local tours the market is saturated and discretionary spending is tight,” says Lennard Promotions founder Aldo Lennard. “The challenge is to ascertain the right ticket prices as fans can only attend a certain number of concerts per year, and as ticket prices rise due to escalating costs and Australian dollar devaluation, the task will continue to be difficult.”

Together with his rivals collaborating extra strongly than ever, Lennard says he’s also open to joint ventures.

Paying the proper worth

The Van Egmond Group (VEG) has worked with acts corresponding to Michael Jackson, AC/DC and Prince because it launched greater than 40 years ago.

MD Garry Van Egmond says the corporate is making a buoyant market, however he would additionally wish to see less ticket discounting.

On the again of widespread consolidation among his rivals, Egmond thinks it’s constructive improvement.

“We have seen a lot of strong partnerships take place with the independents in Australia, both with international players and local players, and we want to be part of it.”

Like Chugg and Egmond, Destroy All Strains (DAL) common manager of touring Chris O’Brien is worried at the prevalence of discounted tickets.

“It affects people’s buying patterns,” he says. “We have found a good percentage of them are waiting until the back end to see if they can get a cheaper ticket. We have spent a huge amount of energy training our ticket buyers that this will never happen with our tours.”

Regardless of the challenges, O’Brien says the corporate’s first quarter was the strongest up to now. In a mean yr it works on 40 tours, but this yr it’s on track to promote 60.

Aside excursions by rock, metallic and various acts reminiscent of Combichrist and The Damned, DAL organises the Good Things pageant, which takes place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with a day by day capacity of 25,000.

Headliners this yr embrace The Offspring, All Time Low and Bullet For My Valentine.

O’Brien says it’s irritating that some artists do not prioritise Australia of their touring plans.

“A lot of artistes leave Australia late in their plans,” he says. “They get to a certain degree in the US or Europe after which anticipate the identical from their first go to to Australia.

“Trying to convince people that their artistes can have a long-term future in Australia can be a challenge.”

Constructing the longer term

After greater than nine years as CEO of the two,896-capacity Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Neil Croker launched live performance consultancy The Status Presents (TPP) in early 2017.

He says he has found it robust to seek out obtainable venues and shopper confidence could possibly be better.

“The market is always strong for the right product but it is generally patchy with consumer confidence low for most of this year, largely due to declining property values and the election period,” he says.

Among TPP’s current tasks was a nine-show tour of Quick Love – A Tribute To George Michael, which sold-out most of the venues, with capacities up to 2,00Zero and a mean ticket worth of A$69 (US$47).

“Following our first successful presentation of Fast Love, we have developed a co-promoting relationship with the show’s producers Entertainers UK that will see us tour more of their shows,” says Croker.

Melbourne and Olympic Parks (M&OP) manages public areas, parks and sporting amenities, in addition to the Rod Laver Area (16,000), Hisense Area (10,00Zero), Margaret Courtroom Area (7,500) and AAMI Park (30,050).

When the Rod Lever Area opened on the banks of the Yarra River in 1988 it was the first in Australia to have a retractable roof. Thirty years later the venue is conming to the top of a four-year, multi-million-dollar, redevelopment programme.

Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM) is a posh of theatres and concert halls within the central Melbourne suburb of Southbank that is to profit from a A$200m (US$137) local government funded overhaul.

Amongst its amenities is the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and a 12,500-capacity amphitheatre. ACM additionally houses the Hamer Hall (2,464) and State Theatre (2,0850).

Nearly all of live shows at ACM take place on the Bowl, which has this yr hosted acts including Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Kylie Minogue and Tash Sultana.

“The [redevelopment] project will transform the area around the Arts Centre, creating new and renewed open public space, including an elevated pedestrian park and outdoor performance and event spaces,” says ACM director presenter providers Glen Hirst.

There isn’t a doubt the market remains constructive and dynamic, with intense competition between promoters on the prime finish, but what seems to be an increase in last-minute ticket discounting suggests some pricing may need readjusting.

The post Australia – Audience appeared first on Black Dot Mobile.

[iinsatiablezus]

Australia – Audience

Despite its comparatively small inhabitants unfold over, in some instances, hundreds of miles, and handful  of main cities, the market is remarkably robust and growing, with numerous exhibits at stadium degree, touring festivals and some very aggressive promoters.  Christopher Barrett stories

It isn’t be the simplest or least expensive nation to succeed in from Europe or the USA, and as soon as there it may be necessary to travel hundreds of miles between cities and throughout multiple time zones.

Nevertheless, for many who take the time and have an viewers there, it’s is a rustic with a robust financial system and a population with a seemingly unquenchable thirst for reside music.

The newest Ticket Attendance and Income report, revealed in October last yr by business physique Reside Efficiency Australia (LPA), paints an image of a market in exceptional shape.

Modern music ticket sales revenue in 2017 was up 87.7 per cent year-on-year to A$826.1 million (US$568), in response to the LPA, with attendance up 49.6 per cent over the same time-frame, to eight.5m.

It was the sector’s first yr of progress in income since 2013 and the very best revenue and attendance recorded for modern music since LPA began producing the report back in 2004.

Australia is a massively competitive market with quite a bit to play for and one which has seen vital consolidation this yr amongst a few of its foremost promoters.

In March, Frontier Touring founder Michael Gudinski and Chugg Entertainment boss Michael Chugg reunited to type a three way partnership some 40 years after they co-founded Frontier Touring (see Audience challenge 230). That they had cut up in 1999.

Only a month later the market noticed additional consolidation when AEG bought a 50 per cent stake in Frontier Touring. The AEG-Frontier venture cements a relationship that goes back 12 years, throughout which era Frontier promoted AEG tours in Australia and New Zealand.

Included within the deal is main venue operator AEG Ogden, which owns and operates Qudos Bank Area (cap. 21,389) in Sydney, Brisbane Leisure Centre (14,500), Perth Area (15,000), Newcastle Entertainment Centre (7,500) and the 9,000-capacity ICC Sydney Theatre.

The mixture of Frontier, Chugg, AEG Presents and globally formidable promoter AEG Presents is a big rival to Reside Nation Australia.

AEG Presents chief operating officer and CEO/chairman Jay Marciano, based mostly in Los Angeles, says that following the Frontier acquisition the corporate plans to develop a touring network of mid-sized venues across Australia (see Audience situation 231).

“There are not enough small clubs and theatres in Australia for international artistes to be able to have the 10 or more shows that make it affordable to make the journey there,” he says.

AEG Ogden group director Tim Worton says the Frontier and AEG Presents deal shall be good for the market.

“We expect there will be the potential for even more AEG product to come to Australia as a result of the joint venture, so that is a positive,” he says.

Worton also expects AEG Ogden to profit from the merging of multinational venue management corporations AEG Amenities and SMG to type ASM International.

“SMG does not have any venues in our market, but we will benefit from the resources of this expanded network of venues,” he says.

Worton describes the native market as being “extremely buoyant” with AEG’s venues having fun with very robust ticket gross sales for exhibits by acts together with Phil Collins, Keith City, Pink Scorching Chili Peppers, Pink and Hugh Jackman.

Nevertheless, he factors out that there are difficulties, not least the very fact the Australian dollar has fallen in value to its lowest degree in around a decade.

“Promoters face the challenge of rising artiste fees and show production costs in addition to a weaker Australian dollar and that puts pressure on ticket prices, it can push them to a level that endangers the ticket sales needed to make the tours stack up,” he says.

Report returns

Stay Nation Entertainment entered the Australian market when it acquired Michael Coppel Presents (MCP) in 2012, which on the time was the nation’s second largest promoter. Coppel is chairman of Reside Nation Australia (LNA).

Coppel says that is shaping up to be a report yr for LNA when it comes to the number of live shows and tickets bought.

In the spring LNA promoted Pink Scorching Chili Peppers’ first headline exhibits in Australia for 12 years, selling-out 12 arenas and open-air venues ranging in capacity from 12,00Zero to 35,00Zero. Around 176,657 tickets have been bought at costs ranging from A$101 to A$165 (US$70-115).

Among its different major excursions is Metallica, who will play eight stadium exhibits to a mixed audience of greater than 300,00Zero, with ticket prices from A$127 to A$250 (US$88-174).

U2 may even play eight stadium exhibits and a combined audience of 380,000.

“The market is two-paced; major headliners are doing great business but lesser names can struggle due to the high volume of competing tours and high ticket prices,” says Coppel.

At Reside Nation Leisure-owned Ticketmaster Australia a serious focus this yr has been shifting away from paperless tickets to a mobile-only service.

The Discussion board Melbourne (2,00Zero) turned the first venue in Australia to completely adopt the know-how and Ticketmaster has introduced paperless ticketing for all basic admission tickets for U2 exhibits.

“Fans want an easier and more secure ticketing system which fits seamlessly into their lives,” says Ticketmaster Australia & NZ MD Maria O’Connor,. “Not only will digital tickets simplify the entire ticketing process, it will also increase security, decrease fraud and unlock unprecedented value from customer relationships.”

The company just lately partnered with the new North Queensland Stadium (25,000) as its official ticketing agent. Opening in 2020, Elton John will carry out there in February.

“Live entertainment across Australia and New Zealand has never been stronger,” says O’Connor. “We’re seeing new venues being built around the country and further expansion into regional areas to cope with demand and further enhance the live experience.”

Michaels reunited

Michael Gudinski founded the Mushroom Group in 1972 and seven years later launched Frontier Touring as part of the group. Among the many acts it has worked with are Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift. Forthcoming exhibits embrace The Chemical Brothers and Shawn Mendes.

Frontier Touring’s three way partnership with Chugg Entertainment means the 2 operations now co-promote all Chugg tours, whereas Frontier has also joined Chugg and Potts Leisure as a companion in country music pageant CMC Rocks (24,00Zero).

Gudinski says it’s great to be working with Chugg once more and factors out it is rather much a partnership not an acquisition.

“It is not the band getting back together, Chugg is not part of Frontier, but Frontier is right behind him,” he says.

The veteran promoter says the cope with AEG does not imply the top of Frontier as an unbiased company.

“We are adding staff, going strong, and hopefully AEG will deliver more tours. We are thinking of the future,” he says.

Michael Chugg founded Chugg Leisure in 2000, touring acts corresponding to Coldplay, Radiohead, The Who and Florence + The Machine.

Chugg promotes around 600 exhibits per yr and its key tours this yr embrace Australian and New Zealand exhibits with Elton John, with 460,00Zero tickets bought for 31 exhibits, with prices ranging from A$139 to A$339 (US$97-237).

The company is finding environment friendly methods to market exhibits by way of digital platforms but Chugg factors out that traditional media stays vitally necessary. For its largest excursions the company makes use of radio, TV and outside promoting and has been recognized to supply particular TV and radio programming.

“When we sell-out we continue to promote the tours as it makes people aware of the act and their success,” he says. “Nothing frustrates our team more than seeing social media posts like ‘Oh dear, I’m a huge fan of … but I didn’t know they were here in Oz’.”

Chugg says ticket gross sales for his firm’s exhibits are usually robust however he doesn’t like other promoters decreasing prices for exhibits that aren’t selling nicely.

“We feel it must be really frustrating for fans when they pay full price and end up next to someone who paid as little as 25 per cent of the real ticket price,” he says.

Consolidating energy

Another veteran Australian concert promoter is Paul Dainty, who started organising exhibits in the early 1970s, working with David Bowie, U2, Michael Jackson and Miley Cyrus along the best way.

TEG Dainty was shaped in 2016 when TEG, which owns the country’s largest ticket agency Ticketek, acquired Dainty Group Worldwide, which had been owned and operated independently by Dainty. In a mean yr the company promotes round 200 live shows.

He says the Australian market could be very robust and his company had an “amazing” start to the yr with Phil Collins’s Not Lifeless But: Reside! tour.

“We sold-out 11 shows in stadiums and arenas across Australia and New Zealand,” he says. “On one night we had Phil at AAMI Park [30,000] in Melbourne and Slash at Margaret Court Arena [7,500] literally across the road at the same time.”

One other firm spotlight was Eminem’s The Rapture 2019 tour in February, with five sold-out exhibits throughout Australia and New Zealand collectively attracting 304,Zero16 followers.

“We set new concert attendance records at the MCG Melbourne, with 80,708,” says Dainty.

TEG Dainty just lately introduced a 10-show stadium tour by Queen + Adam Lambert and can also be working on 28-date area tour by Hugh Jackman.

Noble ventures

Founder and director of Byron Bay’s Bluesfest (25,00Zero) Peter Noble is among the last remaining really unbiased established promoters.

Ticket costs for the annual five-day Bluesfest, held in April, ranged from A$160 to A$700 (US$112-490). Headliners included Jack Johnson, Tash Sultana, David Gray and Iggy Pop.

Grey and Iggy Pop have been among those to enterprise further afield during April with exhibits in Sydney and Melbourne, beneath the BluesFest Touring banner, but Noble additionally works on tours throughout the year.

“Iggy Pop was the biggest tour so far this, with 9,199 tickets sold and prices starting at A$89[$62)”saysNoble[$62)”saysNoble[)”saysNoble[)”saysNoble

With greater than 40-years expertise in the business, Noble says now is a superb time to be within the enterprise regardless of the stiff competitors.

“It is a healthy business and a very exciting time, we are out there touring artistes at all levels from small clubs through to arenas,” he says. “We don’t want to end-up with two monopolies running the industry.”

Unbiased strengths

Also based mostly in Byron Bay, One World Entertainment (OWE) promotes throughout the region and runs touring pageant Beneath The Southern Stars.

Headlined by Hoodoo Gurus, it completed a six-city run in January, enjoying to round 5,000 individuals per night time. OWE also lately promoted a tour by Boyzone and is working on tours by Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers.

“The live market is as strong as it’s ever been for the right act placed in the right venue,” says OWE CEO Andrew McManus. “It all comes down to awareness of your product and the local market.”

Prime of the listing of his considerations, nevertheless, is the “user pays” scheme launched by New South Wales police that permits it to add additional safety to festivals at the cost of the occasion organiser.

McManus says, “It is crippling. Police can determine how many cops they insist on having at an event while charging anything north of A$124.00 [US] per hour for them, and this is on top of the security guards we are obligated to have,” he says. “Something has to give otherwise more and more festivals and outdoor concerts will be unable to proceed.”

James Brown, Alice Cooper, Willie Nelson and The Stranglers are among artistes to have been promoted by Lennard Promotions over the previous three many years. Among the artistes the company is selling are Billy Ocean, 10cc and Suzi Quatro.

“Due to a glut of international and local tours the market is saturated and discretionary spending is tight,” says Lennard Promotions founder Aldo Lennard. “The challenge is to ascertain the right ticket prices as fans can only attend a certain number of concerts per year, and as ticket prices rise due to escalating costs and Australian dollar devaluation, the task will continue to be difficult.”

Together with his rivals collaborating extra strongly than ever, Lennard says he’s also open to joint ventures.

Paying the proper worth

The Van Egmond Group (VEG) has worked with acts corresponding to Michael Jackson, AC/DC and Prince because it launched greater than 40 years ago.

MD Garry Van Egmond says the corporate is making a buoyant market, however he would additionally wish to see less ticket discounting.

On the again of widespread consolidation among his rivals, Egmond thinks it’s constructive improvement.

“We have seen a lot of strong partnerships take place with the independents in Australia, both with international players and local players, and we want to be part of it.”

Like Chugg and Egmond, Destroy All Strains (DAL) common manager of touring Chris O’Brien is worried at the prevalence of discounted tickets.

“It affects people’s buying patterns,” he says. “We have found a good percentage of them are waiting until the back end to see if they can get a cheaper ticket. We have spent a huge amount of energy training our ticket buyers that this will never happen with our tours.”

Regardless of the challenges, O’Brien says the corporate’s first quarter was the strongest up to now. In a mean yr it works on 40 tours, but this yr it’s on track to promote 60.

Aside excursions by rock, metallic and various acts reminiscent of Combichrist and The Damned, DAL organises the Good Things pageant, which takes place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with a day by day capacity of 25,000.

Headliners this yr embrace The Offspring, All Time Low and Bullet For My Valentine.

O’Brien says it’s irritating that some artists do not prioritise Australia of their touring plans.

“A lot of artistes leave Australia late in their plans,” he says. “They get to a certain degree in the US or Europe after which anticipate the identical from their first go to to Australia.

“Trying to convince people that their artistes can have a long-term future in Australia can be a challenge.”

Constructing the longer term

After greater than nine years as CEO of the two,896-capacity Palais Theatre in Melbourne, Neil Croker launched live performance consultancy The Status Presents (TPP) in early 2017.

He says he has found it robust to seek out obtainable venues and shopper confidence could possibly be better.

“The market is always strong for the right product but it is generally patchy with consumer confidence low for most of this year, largely due to declining property values and the election period,” he says.

Among TPP’s current tasks was a nine-show tour of Quick Love – A Tribute To George Michael, which sold-out most of the venues, with capacities up to 2,00Zero and a mean ticket worth of A$69 (US$47).

“Following our first successful presentation of Fast Love, we have developed a co-promoting relationship with the show’s producers Entertainers UK that will see us tour more of their shows,” says Croker.

Melbourne and Olympic Parks (M&OP) manages public areas, parks and sporting amenities, in addition to the Rod Laver Area (16,000), Hisense Area (10,00Zero), Margaret Courtroom Area (7,500) and AAMI Park (30,050).

When the Rod Lever Area opened on the banks of the Yarra River in 1988 it was the first in Australia to have a retractable roof. Thirty years later the venue is conming to the top of a four-year, multi-million-dollar, redevelopment programme.

Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM) is a posh of theatres and concert halls within the central Melbourne suburb of Southbank that is to profit from a A$200m (US$137) local government funded overhaul.

Amongst its amenities is the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and a 12,500-capacity amphitheatre. ACM additionally houses the Hamer Hall (2,464) and State Theatre (2,0850).

Nearly all of live shows at ACM take place on the Bowl, which has this yr hosted acts including Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons, Kylie Minogue and Tash Sultana.

“The [redevelopment] project will transform the area around the Arts Centre, creating new and renewed open public space, including an elevated pedestrian park and outdoor performance and event spaces,” says ACM director presenter providers Glen Hirst.

There isn’t a doubt the market remains constructive and dynamic, with intense competition between promoters on the prime finish, but what seems to be an increase in last-minute ticket discounting suggests some pricing may need readjusting.

The post Australia – Audience appeared first on Black Dot Mobile.

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Shutterstock Worries about the pandemic, slow business, and fewer jobs for servers are all creating obstacles to rehiring When the COVID-19 pandemic forced one Miami restaurant to shut its doors in mid-March, its management laid off 47 of their 55 employees. Expecting the worst, they were surprised to realize at the end of May that they were doing so much business through takeout and delivery that they were on track to meet their original sales predictions. And yet more business didn’t translate to more staff: The 200-seat restaurant still employed fewer than half the workers it had before the pandemic. While the city of Miami has allowed restaurants to operate their dining rooms at half capacity since May 27, this particular spot is remaining closed for dine-in service until its owners can offer their customers a more “on-brand” dining experience — meaning fun and easygoing — rather than a modified, cautious night out. As such, there is no work available for bartenders and servers. The restaurant’s general manager, who asked that both her name and that of the restaurant remain anonymous because of the sensitivity surrounding hiring practices, says she’s able to offer these still-unemployed workers little more than daily check-ins and free food. She knows that other, fully reopened restaurants might end up offering them the jobs she cannot. “I found a lot of loyalty in the team we were able to build here,” she says. “Hopefully, we get them back.” After the pandemic shut down dine-in service around the country in March, some 6 million restaurant industry workers lost their jobs. But as reopening gets underway, those 6 million people are not necessarily returning to work. Instead, many restaurants are facing significant obstacles to both rehiring existing workers and searching for new ones. Many small, independent spots don’t yet have enough work to bring back their employees, particularly those in front-of-house positions. And restaurants that thrived doing only takeout and delivery — often chains with more than one location — are now increasing their staff, only to find that workers aren’t returning for a variety of reasons. Some are staying away because of health concerns or caretaking responsibilities; others are reluctant to resume minimum-wage, now possibly unsafe jobs that don’t pay as well as the combined income provided by their state unemployment benefits and the federal government’s weekly $600 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance check. Because of the extra federal assistance, two-thirds of eligible workers are making more than they did before the pandemic, according to a paper by economists at the University of Chicago. Meanwhile, some restaurants are stuck in a catch-22 created by the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. PPP loans turn into grants if they cover payroll or other specific expenses, but in order to have the loan forgiven, restaurants must rehire their employees, and many don’t have work for rehired employees to do. Underlying the complex calculations around rehiring is demand, or lack thereof. “Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal,” says Andrew Stettner, an economist at the Century Foundation. But fears that recovery will be stymied by employees who choose to remain out of work are unfounded, he adds: “The pace of recovery will absolutely be driven by the level of demand, not unemployment benefits.” The level of demand directly correlates with the pace of recovery at Xperience Restaurant Group (XRG), which operates a national chain of Mexican restaurants under nine brands, including El Torito, Las Brisas, and Chevys Fresh Mex. After the pandemic hit, XRG furloughed 80 percent of its employees. Those who remained helped its restaurants pivot quickly to takeout and delivery. As a result, the group’s takeout business more than doubled compared to last April, and it soon found itself trying to rehire a number of its employees. Between April 20 and June 1, the XRG career site posted more than 500 jobs; some were new positions, and some were vacancies left by former employees. “We have already brought the bulk of those [furloughed] team members back, even at units that haven’t yet been cleared to reopen for dine-in business,” says Rosie Davenport, XRG’s vice president of marketing. But other employees have chosen not to return because of concerns about their health, she adds. “Restaurant employment will rebound slowly because demand will be far lower than normal, likely at 40 percent of normal.” In Chicago, Michael Schultz, who runs the Fairgrounds Coffee chain and the hospitality group Infuse, says he has been “getting a lot of applicants, very talented people who typically otherwise wouldn’t be available.” As iconic restaurant groups have shuttered, he explains, “people who’ve planted their roots with them for successful careers — now they’re looking.” Although a few of his company’s employees told him they were making more money out of work, Schultz felt his applicant pool was big enough that he did not worry about replacing them. He is now hiring for 17 positions at Fairgrounds locations in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, including team leads, prep cooks, and certified baristas. Down in Nashville, Mary Pillow Thompson, the founder of the local restaurant hiring platform Foh&boh, has seen a similar movement. “There will be a lot of shifting around,” she says. “People saying, ‘Well, Jimmy wasn’t that great anyway, I’m happy to try to get someone better.’ And on the other side, candidates saying, ‘I’m going to try to get the job I always wanted instead of going back to my old place.’” Thompson has also noticed former truck drivers and construction workers signing up on her platform to look for jobs. “Before this, the people we were getting were industry professionals,” she says. Unlike XRG and Fairgrounds, many American restaurants, especially smaller ones, did not enjoy a surprise business boom during the pandemic. And so as their states and cities reopen, their goal is simply to bring back enough former employees to support the level of business they’re able to do. But even that is not a straightforward process, given that they often lack human resources departments that can spearhead substantial hiring efforts. At the Kansas City restaurant Fox and Pearl, chef Vaughn Good and his partner Kristine Hull had to furlough three-quarters of their 50 employees in March. Although the 130-seat bistro, which had previously made $10,000 a night, pivoted to selling groceries, family-style meals, and alcohol for pickup, “we were not busy,” says Good; sales sank to $1,000 a day. Good and Hull applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan to cover payroll when business picked up. Things began to turn around after May 11, when Missouri restaurants were allowed to reopen their dining rooms under new safety regulations; on a recent Saturday, Fox and Pearl did 70 covers. That was enough for Good to rehire all the kitchen staff who wanted to return. But for Hull, who runs the front of house, scheduling servers has been harder than bringing back cooks, in part because of health concerns around interacting with diners. “I didn’t want to force people,” she says. So far, enough servers have asked for the shifts Hull has needed to fill, even as the restaurant has expanded to half capacity per Kansas City guidelines and sales have followed suit, rising to 50 percent of the restaurant’s typical pre-pandemic revenues. The next phase, which Hull hopes will go into effect on July 5, would allow her to bring back everyone who wants to return, but she knows she may have to look for new hires. “Some of my staff has decided during the quarantine period to do other things,” Hull explains. “We have a couple that graduated college and are now pursuing careers, and some that have decided to shift their focus. I think that the slow reopening has allowed folks to make the decisions that work best for them both physically and financially.” Even restaurant owners who appear busy say that they would rather make do with a smaller crew until they have a clearer idea of what the future holds. Since reopening under Florida state guidelines on May 13, Cafe Boulud Palm Beach, which is located in the Brazilian Court Hotel, has seen business in its main dining room jump back to the same level as it was this time last year. The restaurant seats about 120, and half of the tables are outside. General manager Lucian Vasile Puscasu has brought back about half of his 102 front- and back-of-house employees, a mix of part-time and full-time workers. That’s partly because the once-busy events business remains closed, and partly because summer is the off-season in Palm Beach. But it’s also because some employees did not want to come back. “They declined to return for various reasons,” Puscasu says, “from finding better opportunities to not feeling comfortable about the possibility of exposing themselves or finding the unemployment benefit a better fit for now.” He expects to see more potential workers applying in the fall, after the pandemic unemployment benefits run out in July and the season starts up again. For her part, Fox and Pearl’s Hull says she noticed a shift in conversation on the restaurant’s Slack (or chat room) channel at the beginning of June: Those who had felt unsure about returning to work last month seemed more eager for shifts in June. “A lot of people who were waiting through May are now saying they are ready if we need them,” Hull says. Of course, legal frameworks also play a significant role in how people are brought back to work. If a restaurant doesn’t want to hire everyone back, they have to have “legitimate, non-discriminatory (and documented) reasons for why some folks were made offers and others weren’t,” hospitality attorney Jasmine Moy says over email. “For those that reject an offer to return to work, if the employer wants to include that person in their PPP headcount, they have to notify the state that such person was made and rejected an offer of employment, which will put the staff member in violation of the unemployment insurance requirements.” Rejecting employment reflects the larger issue that many workers face as restaurants reopen: that of the calculus of staying home without pay versus returning to work and potentially risking their health. All the restaurants operators mentioned in this article say they are following regional safety guidelines to keep their employees healthy, including generous spacing between tables, rigorous cleaning practices, and the requirement that all employees and customers alike wear a mask. In addition, Fox and Pearl, Cafe Boulud, Fairgrounds, and the Miami restaurant are all providing masks to their employees. But regardless of the measures they’re taking, these operators also realize they can’t guarantee their employees won’t get sick if they return to work, which is why many say they understand the hesitation to take on shifts. It remains to be seen whether post-COVID-19 restaurants will offer workers, especially servers, bartenders, and hosts, enough incentive to encourage loyalty to the industry. If front-of-house hospitality employees can’t find worthwhile work — meaning the opportunity to interact with customers and earn sufficient wages from both salary and tips, all while staying as safe as possible — there will likely be a reckoning. “People have reprioritized their lives a lot,” says the Miami general manager who’s waiting to reopen until she has a better sense of the city’s new dining climate. “Right now we feel like a fulfillment center: You put the food in the bag and send it out the door.” If that continues to be the case, she adds, “then you have to find meaning in that new model. We’re in it because you provide a meaningful experience to your guests, and we have to see how we’ll do that going forward.” from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3eBA1df

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