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horizon-verizon · 8 months ago

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Here's the thing: the account of Daemon's time with Nettles at Maidenpool is told to us by people who, again as I explained above, were not always in the room with them nor were actually even alive. So we're BOTH going off of their perception...which I get into below.

Daemon Bathing Nettles

You: "why would daemon need to “teach nettles how to bathe herself?” she’s a 16-18yo girl, not a baby. i’m going to take a wild and crazy guess that despite not being highborn nettles has had the experience of taking a freaking bath."

From "Rhaenyra Triumphant", what you are referring to in terms of the bathing:

I already mentioned above this, but it was ignored:

how many times the servant(s) actually saw Daemon bathe Nettles and be naked while doing it?

if Daemon were teaching Nettles to bathe herself properly once or twice and that was all, then when the servants/a servant came in witnessed him bathing Nettles – is it not feasible to think that they would talk, gossip, and/or exaggerate?

was Daemon even naked, then, when he would bathe Nettles?

I'll add, this may be the most relevant question: how...involved was this bathing? Did he go to crevices or just wash her hair when she bathed, and people exaggerated?

And did Norren witness the bathing himself, or did he say what the maidservants tell him?

No where here does it say he saw them bathe together! And why would the maester of the house be close enough to Daemon or Nettles'' rooms to see them bathe together? Sounds more like the maidservants relaying this observation to Norren, which I already mentioned could be them telling tall tales or mistaking.

And for context/repeat:

I actually address their relationship several times under my "daemon and nettles" tag, [if you want to be quick about it, here is a master post against this ship by darklina] but why not add another post to it and give an "update"?

Let's pretend that he was bathing her. Medieval bathing was often communal (because no indoor plumbing and conserving water/space), especially between people who were close or family and/poor. There's a theory around that says Nettles was Daemon's bio bastard daughter & he found out somehow, thus the preferential treatment. I think it's very plausible, as Rhaenyra's oldest boys ALL have brown hair and eyes yet all were able to bond with dragons. Show AND the original story

(and yes, I think they all had "non typical" Targ features in the original history/story as well, because that certainly make s for a better story/tension as it challenges or outright refutes a lot of notions about the fandom AND Westerosi beliefs about things like this that involve a lot of sexism & classism, as well as give Rhaenyra more of a dif sort of challenge, but I digress).

Like I mentioned info of my last reblogs of the post you invited me to read in another person's posts' comments:

Orig!Alysanne Targaryen's hair & eye color were not Targaryen-typical, being blond and blue respectively. We have Orig!Alyssa, with her having one green eye to her other purple eye, and "dirty blonde" hair. For these two women, we have yet to see proof that they didn't have the features I described in the HotD universe the writers constructed, so for now they have those features in the show as well. Orig!Rhaenys had dark hair. In later Targaryen families (& it's very doubtful that they will make biracial & Black or PoC main Targs in later period Targ stories if they adapt them), we have Baelor Breakspear & Rhaegar's Rhaenys. The first had dark hair and eyes, while the later had dark hair. Then there is Aegor Rivers and Shiera Seastar, Shiera had a blue and a green eye, while her mother (Serenei of Lys) very likely had the full-blown silver-gold hair & purple eyes of Targs (or had at least one typical Valyrian feature) because she was from Lys. Of course, Aegon IV was typically Targ-looking. Aegor had dark hair & purple eyes. The bastards I mentioned are all bastards not because it was materially proven that they were biologically not Naerys' (Aegon IV's only legal spouse), but because people observed that Naerys did not carry them respectively but that other women did. So, we see that regardless of who was the Targ parent (mom/dad), the undoubted parentage of various Targ children--trueborn or not--produced children with all sorts of looks. IF we stick to how real genetics work & try to apply it to ASoIaF and HotD, take also the cases of interracial marriages sometimes producing children that look like they are of a completely different ancestry or ethnicity than from one parent. Genetics can be wild.

And, these are two people who would be anxiously waiting for any sign of Aemond in their mission to kill him, getting to know each other to pass time or settle down. They would have thought it bets to stick around each other in case they needed to move fast. Plus, how do we really know that they slept in the same bed if bedrooms were adjoined? Even then, again, while it may be weird for us and for the pepole-in-Maidenpool who suspect men like Daemon to make moves on a 17 year old, I don't think it's too farfetched to think these are enough incentives for the two to share a bed. I really don't think Dameon would have ever believed Rhaenyra would care about the rumors about him & Nettles and we already know how much he doesn't give a damn what people say of him...but he didn't account for how Rhaenyra's paranoia would rise with her grief, so it ended the way it did for them.

THEREFORE, IF Daemon bathes with his daughter or sits out while he bathes her, it's a bio daughter or a girl he happened to feel was very much like his own or a girl he'd take on as a surrogate. Out of these 3 options, it's so much likelier that she was his bio daughter, bc Daemon was a guy who valued blood-family above all else, say what we will of him. This is just part of his characterization.

I know what you're going to rebut: Why would others around them think that this was sexual or suspicious?

Because:

like many of us in the fandom AND Westeros and for a long time, it was believed that Nettles couldn't possibly be descended directly from a Targ or any Valyrian-descent bc of her looks. Daemon was a slut, it's entirely plausible and probably that Nettles was his actual daughter

again, Daemon was not only a slut, he was rumored/proven(?) to sleep with teen sex workers who apparently had Valyrian-close-enough looks and that stark imagery PLUS how the other element of his infamy came from how people were frightened about he little he really cared to obey social mores of noble "decorum" = makes people more ready to beleive that he'd cheat on Rhaenyra with a teen girl

Yet if those people were really thinking with their brains and not just quick to wag tongues, they'd notice that by their own logic, Daemon would never go for the brown skinned, brown-eyed, dark-eyed girl over a "typical"/close-enough looking Valyrian.

Plus, of all the years Rhaenyra & Daemon spent together on Dragonstone before Rhaenyra's usurped (10 years in the orig story; 6 yrs in the show)...we hear absolutely NOTHING form NOWHERE that Daemon had side pieces, affairs, one night stands, etc. Not even a hint or a rumor that the greens definitely would have used against Rhaenyra.

In other words, no matter how much you may think that the prejudice against Daemon that's built here is warranted...not really it isn't. Having a prejudice against a person is not dependent on whether or not they themselves are evil or amoral, but how people have interpreted what they have seen based on what they have been taught/told/interacted with the subject (as in the person interpreted, Daemon here). This is a big theme in not only Fire & Blood, but also in ASoIaF -- ✨perception✨. I believe I mention how when it comes to Rhaenyra, even if her kids are Harwin's and not Laenor's and this is the truth--whether the book or the show--Alicent & the greens' and every person who accused a women at court of infidelity's main reason or motive for doing so is not to be an upstanding citizen but because they have something to gain from it. Even if that woman was so performatively saintly with no one having proof of infidelity, as long as you control perception of her, you can get people to doubt her. Similar phenomenon. They did not care about her character or morality so much as getting their way into power, even with them being genuinely religious and whatnot. (You can read Eleanor Herman's books Sex with the Queen and Sex with Kings to learn more about this, esp the first. Just skip all the Diana parts unless you want to learn how people twisted Diana and any "bad acting" noble women in patriarchal British media.)

An example I can pull up is what Queen Isabella & King Ferdinand did when they expelled all the Jewish people from Spain; they were genuinely faithful to the Catholic faith but their aim was predominantly that they had a purely Christian pool of subjects who were also Christian as they were, or "unity of faith". It was a socio-poltical idea making rounds in Europe and the monarchy obviously wanted to be a part of that standard while also getting political domination through conformist sameness in "unity" of religion. Thsi is not a case of perception control in the sense that they were propagandizing and lying (to the public) to avoid public censure or an uprising--bc again, they were very faithful people--but as they had Jewish councillors even after the Expulsion, it's very clear that they enacted the expulsion for political reasons. So, yeah, more like bad faith, hypocritical politics.

Castles' Warmth & Closeness

You: "hey have heating systems in a castle. they have accesses to warm clothes. they are not out in nature. come on…"

AND

"everyone knew that daemon and nettles slept together. in the same bed. every night. how big can this bed possibly be?"

Not always, depended on the castle & its owner's wealth for modifications.

Some medieval castles (not Tudor homes or the grander late med palaces that had less defensive walls, thus more room to have rooms) had tapestries and either had very few fireplaces or only a fireplace in the most busy rooms for heating their castles. Castles were still often damp, making whatever cold there was (which as we know of England at least, of which Westeros is based off of) worse. I doubt that they were always super warm or always easy to keep warmth in. At the same time, GRRM has never described Maidenpool's interiors and how warm or cool it is; when Daemon and Nettles were there, it was some months before Winter...who knows you may be right about Maidenpool not necessarily being that cold. So on this point, we'll keep it open.

But even then, I already addressed why they might be bathing together. Assurance of preparedness, but also, non sexual intimacy for assuredness. Yes, Daemon would like some as well with people he's comfortable with, again, he's a "family" dude. The guy's still human. If we argue him being evil, evil people don't just lose or never gain all-any desire for emotional or physical comfort.

You: "lord mooton knew that daemon would protect nettles if they tried to send assassins to their room."

This comes from "Rhaenyra Triumphant":

My answer to this is...yes, and? Again, the daughter plausibility. Wouldn't a father protect his daughter if he saw her that way?

Repeating Myself, A Trend?

You: "Take the Groom of the Stool for instance - nettles is not daemon’s servant. why would he randomly get naked in front of her and go to take bathes with her? oh right, he needed to teach her how to take a bath. (because that’s not classist at all :)"

I already explained. Accept it or don't but bring textual stuff with your ideas. Also, I really ALREADY expolained why Gyldayn's thought on why this relationship existed was a sexist & classist one...bc the reasons for their being together are inherently classist. I mention below how weird & hypocritical it is to ship a 17 yr old with a 50 yr old and then condemn Daemon for maybe sleeping with a teen girl with a smaller age gap. they are also not servant-master, not really. While Addam and Alyn of Hull "serve" Rhaenyra as her subjects, if we argue that they "serve" her and they are thus "servants", then you'd have to say that Daemon is Rhaenyra's servant like how Dyana from HotD is servant to the Targs....which isn't true. Plus, both Addam and Alyn were legitimized into being noble, and nobles are not servants. Nettles was not legitimized or claimed or acknowledged by anyone, but she likely wasn't going around making food or dusting rooms for the family either...she was a dragonseed and a warrior.

Daemon and his Partners

You: "Mysaria, Laena, and Rhaneyra - all women that daemon did have sexual relationships with. daemon had a public affair with mysaria when he was married to rhaenyra. the only time when daemon wasn’t said to be cheating was during his marriage to laena ;)

honestly, there is a lot of evidence to support dettles. i think they are canon and grrm very much intended for the readers to interpret their relationship as romantic. but making a post claiming that daemon was only bathing with nettles to “teach her how to bathe” is grasping at straws and kind of classist. you didn’t present any evidence to support your claim that dettles isn’t real."

As I already mentioned above, no the evidence is not as it may seem. And no, "everybody" doesn't agree. This is a fandom and we are all different sorts of people with different methods of interpretation, knowledge at any given moment, at different aptitudes of comprehension, and at different levels of English literacy. Nobody agrees unanimously.

As for the Mysaria bit, if they were having an affair...why? Even with Rhaenyra slowly being distrustful, Mysaria has been out of Daemon's sight for years on end and he never searched for her after he sent her away with their unborn child...they never met again vis-avis until he took back KL with Rhaenyra.

Fact of the matter is that Mysaria could have been just as easily angry w/Daemon for not paying her the attention or care that she wanted from the man who was about to be the father of her only child...and from hamliet's ideas about Mysaria's motives, I tend to believe that Mysaria was less about Daemon and more about bringing every noble's children down because she was not allowed her own family. Now, I wonder why you have never seemed to think of this? Or entertain such a notion? Because Daemon's was a slut in his youth? Okay, do you have present-day material proving he slept with someone else during his marriage to Rhaenyra BEFORE Nettles' appearance? Since there isn't that material, there is room to accept the notion he was faithful.

Laena & Rhaenyra were his wives & they birthed his surviving children...yes, he had sex with them. Never doubted that? But again, imma have to disagree with you on the belief that Daemon cheated on Rhaenyra. And we may have to agree to disagree on that, bc I already said why above.

Didn't know "dettles" was a thing, always heard it more as just their names and an "x" b/t them. Once more (and I don't even know if you are a "dettles" shipper or if you condemn Daemyra or any tb relationship, this is for all the shippers of this ship), as I said in other posts under my "daemon and nettles" tag at my blog, [but if you want to be quick about it, here is a master post against this ship by darklina], why in the world would so against Daemyra based on Rhaenyra being a teen...but then go around and ship a 17 yr old with a 50 yr old man? A 33 yr age diff, too? Esp when Daemon was 16ish older than Rhaenyra? Sounds hypocritical and shows a different reason then the verbalized for why people ship this ship.

Finally, if anything I wrote out in the post you already reblogged above that the notion that Daemon definitely slept with Nettles (bc you use Gyldayn's, the lord of Maidenpool, & the others' classist-sexist notions and assessment of Daemon's character) is both racist and classist , but again, you can read other posts under my "daemon and nettles" tag.

I think that it is very strange that you ask for evidence of such and such...when I gave my reasons already & text-based material evidence along with historical knowledge to support such ideas that I presented. And you actually yourself, haven't brought text-based evidence or mapped out your thoughts in this very reblog? You're just denying and saying "this is a FACT, EVERYONE KNOWS IT". Slow the roll. I'm already, in real time, currently answering all your rebuttals.

I believe this is you being put off by my constant ask of you to present evidence of Rhaenyra failing to get the lords to not try to get her to kill her brothers in that post I already referred to HERE.

You: "and i’m sorry, but the only person who seemed to have a problem with nettles is rhaenyra, not the people in maindenpool."

And why did those people (all men in that meeting in differing positions of power over others) have no problem with Daemon or Nettles? Because these people are sexists, and I'll tell you why this matters. They do not pay any mind to a cheating man because it's taken as a natural inclination and privilege of men. therefore, no woman, not even a Queen, could ever be exempt from such a fate if her husband so chooses. Also, I already referenced prejudice. These men, while loyal to Rhaenyra, also likely would still feel that it is...unseemly or "not right" for a woman to lead a man or outrank and outpower her own husband...we know what happened to Androw Farman. So for them, this seeming lack of faithfulness *could* have been the effect of them being satisifed witht he "normalcy" of the gender dynamics they feel men like them are entitled to seeing in their social order.

Why in the world would/should Rhaenyra be "fine" with the scenario of Daemon being with Nettles? Would you? Can you say 100% that you would be fine with your husband cheating on you with a 17 year old girl? why shouldn't she be "possessive" & entitled to him? I mean, assuming that you even are a woman. Idk your gender. And yes, it matters here.

Say what you will, these are the speculations & why I have come to them as I have. Again, you can search for more reasons under the "daemon and nettles" tag at my blog, but if you want to be quick about it, here is a master post against this ship by darklina.

It's up to you, after all, whether to believe it of these characters or stick to the idea that he slept with Nettles 🤷🏽‍♂️. It may be hard for you to believe...can't help much with that, you will take information as you want. And we simply don't have enough information that is clear enough to some people about this. That's kind of part for the fun that is Fire and Blood, esp the Dance portion. Remember the perception bit I explained? Fire and Blood offers up much for speculation, even when it means that some theories are stronger than others.

If you wish to believe Daemon slept with nettles and choose to ignore how Fire and Blood's Dance account is itself an opportunity to how narratives or built/changed/written by an audience with purpose and thus has much room for actual bias (not just lying, that's not what bias means), I'd rather not get into it in this reblog bc I can feel it getting too long.

Nettles’ Characterization and Gyldayn’s Writing

Some Quotes with Nettle’s Characterization Before Going to Maidenpool

In the end, the brown dragon was brought to heel by the cunning and persistence of a “small brown girl” of six-and-ten, who delivered him a freshly slaughtered sheep every morning, until Sheepstealer learned to accept and expect her. Munkun sets down the name of this unlikely dragonrider as Nettles. Mushroom tells us the girl was a bastard of uncertain birth called Netty, born to a dockside whore. By any name, she was black-haired, brown-eyed, brown-skinned, skinny, foul-mouthed, fearless…and the first and last rider of the dragon Sheepstealer.

(Fire and Blood; The Red Dragon and the Gold)

Mushroom [who was actually at Dragonstone at the time] tells us there were two men on Dragonstone that night who drank to the slaughter in a smoky tavern beneath the castle: the dragonriders Hugh the Hammer and Ulf the White, who had flown Vermithor and Silverwing into battle and lived to boast of it. “We are knights now, truly,” Hard Hugh declared. And Ulf laughed and said, “Fie on that. We should be lords.”

The girl Nettles did not share their celebrations. She had flown with the others, fought as bravely, burned and killed as they had, but her face was black with smoke and streaked with tears when she returned to Dragonstone. And Addam Velaryon, lately Addam of Hull, sought out the Sea Snake after the battle; what they spoke to each other even Mushroom does not say.

(Fire and Blood; The Red Dragon and the Gold)

Some Quotes with Nettle’s Characterization at Maidenpool

Prince Daemon himself would take Caraxes to the Trident, together with the girl Nettles and Sheepstealer, to find Prince Aemond and Vhagar and put an end to them. Ulf White and Hard Hugh Hammer would fly to Tumbleton, some fifty leagues southwest of King’s Landing, the last leal stronghold between Lord Hightower and the city, to assist in the defense of the town and castle and destroy Prince Daeron and Tessarion.

(Fire and Blood; “Rhaenyra Triumphant”)

Why? Because she is a dragonrider and fought bravely at the Battle in the Gullet, where Jacaerys died.

Mushroom [who was not at Maidenpool] would have us believe it was not. By the dwarf’s account, Daemon Targaryen had come to love the small brown bastard girl, and had taken her into his bed.

How much credence can we give the fool’s testimony? Nettles was no more than ten-and-seven, Prince Daemon nine-and-forty, yet the power young maidens exert over older men is well-known.

(Fire and Blood; Rhaenyra Triumphant)

And yet…

The girl Nettles was young, beyond a doubt (though perhaps not as young as those the prince had debauched in his youth), but it seems doubtful that she was a true maiden. Growing up homeless, motherless, and penniless on the streets of Spicetown and Hull, she would most likely have surrendered her innocence not long after her first flowering (if not before), in return for half a groat or a crust of bread. And the sheep she fed to Sheepstealer to bind him to her…how would she have come by those, if not by lifting her skirts for some shepherd? Nor could Netty truly be called pretty. “A skinny brown girl on a skinny brown dragon,” writes Munkun in his True Telling (though he never saw her). Septon Eustace says her teeth were crooked, her nose scarred where it had once been slit for thieving. Hardly a likely paramour for a prince, one would think.

(Fire and Blood; Rhaenyra Triumphant)

And right after, Gyldayn still asserts DaemonxNettles:

None of this constitutes proof that Daemon Targaryen had carnal knowledge of the bastard girl, but in light of what followed we must surely judge that more likely than most of Mushroom’s tales.

(Fire and Blood; Rhaenyra Triumphant)

And the Maester Norren, the miadservants saying Daemon bathed and bathed with Nettles, lord of Maidenpool, his guard captain, his champion Florian Greysteel, and his brother who were all actually at Maidenpool to see Daemon and Nettles together?

We, the readers, can have an understanding that these people and the entire castle knew that Daemon and Nettles had a close relationship and interacted more intimately than they would expect a famous lord and some random peasant girl with culturally-considered-unattractive features to interact.

Immediately, we have to suspect these people because of what I just said: “interacted more intimately than they would expect a famous lord and some random peasant girl”.

These people would not have liked or that Daemon would act out of his class character by even paying close, friendly, platonic attention to her. And they would already see Daemon as one whose past with seeking virgin sex workers proves that he looked to Nettles for sex and sexual intimacy. Or they could have been so surprised at his and Nettles’ “audacity” that they then find it easier to believe that Daemon would have sex with Nettles.

(Besides him liking and sticking with Mysaria, Laena, and Rhaneyra for an extended time with no mention of having extramarital sex with his marriages with the last two…and all of whom who would not have been virgins for different reasons).

Example: If Gyldayn/Norren don’t tell us or consider:

how many times the servant(s) actually saw Daemon bathe Nettles and be naked while doing it?

Was Daemon even naked, then, when he would bathe Nettles?

How big was the tub they bathed in? How big was the bed? (the-king-andthe-lionheart )

How frequently does he actually bathe Nettles when only once or twice would get her to understand so she does it herself? Is this the case of a tall tale? Castles and the work servants do are monotonous and hard– what better topic of conversation and fun than a sex-perverse prince possibly sexing up a lowborn, brown-skinned girl?

Why not consider what @the-king-andthe-lionheart says?: “They may have been sharing a bed because one or both of them weren’t secure in their safety which is completely logical during a war. It’s not that hard of a leap to think they would be targeted at their most vulnerable, as powerful dragonriders, in a situation where they weren’t close to their dragons, as in, in their rooms, resting.”

“These two are away from everyone else they know and they are in a drafty stone castle. What is the weather like? Is it cold? Castles were very cold. In days without heaters, it was common to sleep in the same bed as others to remain warm and just for companionship. We even see this in ASOIAF. The Tyrells are honestly probably the most historically accurate family in real life medieval and Renaissance times that are portrayed in the books. Margaery has a lot of ladies-in-waiting and she shares her bed every night with them. […] Nettles and Daemon are alone. They don’t have their own households with them or any other companions.” (the-king-andthe-lionheart)

“In medieval and Renaissance times you were constantly around other people, which means, you are usually in the presence of other people routinely when even going to the bathroom and bathing. Take the Groom of the Stool for instance” (the-king-andthe-lionheart)

Even Gyldayn gets into an investigation for how Daemon couldn’t have had an affair with Nettles…but he rests his argument on how he believes that she wasn’t “unattractive” because: her looks, how he believed she couldn’t possibly be a virgin (being a low classed girl who had to fend for herself) AND how Daemon refused to allow her to be executed despite Nettles (by Gyldayn’s own implication) not mattering.

In other words, Gyldayn is thinking like a classist and a misogynist and his bias is putting more into a situation than needs be. And these sort of readings really do not tend to reveal real truths but a heavily biased interpretation of events.

Consider this post/reblog by @poorshadowspaintedqueens detailing how credible medieval historians like Gyldayn wrote.

#daemon and nettles #daemon targaryen #nettles #daemon and nettles shipping #nettles' characterization #daemon's characterization #fire and blood characters #fandom discussion #fandom debate #fire and blood

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churchsplayground · 3 years ago

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Have I ever posted orig. Knight here? Idk! But here he is, he's a lil funny lookin' but we still love them. He's made to take hits and protect his siblings not look good.

This is going to be his ref for now.

More random info is below to keep this post short

Original knight is just the boys before all the trauma he was a symby designed by the Life Foundation for their Anti-symbiote project.

He's such a sweetheart and I need to draw some more of him.

He, unfortunately, is no longer around and the closest to being him is Ruse who has all his memories.

As you can see his body is made of 4 different textures:

Soft Flesh: This is normal soft squishy symbiote 'flesh' that doesn't do much protecting. Flexible since its just normal symby 'skin', unlike the other bits on his body he can actually feel these areas.

Soft Armor: This is one of the types of armor on his body, this being the softest. It a hard but very flexible allowing for movement but providing protection. They're easy to break but can be quickly replaced if they do. Also can slightly feel, everything else is a big meh.

Hard Armor: The standard armor on his body, these are hard plates that can take a lot of hits before cracking and falling off. They take a few minutes to fully replace, They're not flexible at all (the only place they can be is flexible is on joints, like his wrists/ankles for movement reasons).

Heavy Plates: These are very hard to replace if they break, Knight is only able to replace them once or twice (depending on which, it can take way too long). They take a lot of energy to create and are difficult to reabsorb (at a fast rate) so he usually just drops them instead. They are the least likely to break if they do crack the cracks are filled with hard armor. If one falls off in the heat of the moment it'll be replaced with hard armor instead.

Orig. Knight also has a sword and shield.

The sword is called striker (knave later) and the shield defender.

He rarely uses the sword since he was instructed by the life foundation not to, and the fact it brings back a lot of bad memories for him.

Anyway yeah! I think I might post some old art of him soon.

#knight org

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cinnamonrusts · 4 years ago

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heart’s true destiny -- 1

[axel x reader - orig. posted on my ao3]

✧.* ✧.* ✧.* ✧.* ✧.*

The night sky always was your favorite. You would sit on at your windowsill and watch as the smoke from the chimneys of homes around you wafted up to the stars. Radiant Garden slept peacefully as you were kept awake by the sounds of yelling that screeched from below your floorboards. It was a nightly routine for your parents, they would bark at each other over something trivial before they would quiet down for the night. You tried your best to ignore it but it was getting harder and harder to, tonight was no exception. So, you decided you had enough, your chest huffed a sigh and you pushed the window upward with a single motion.

You sought solace in friends, but one friend brought you a sort of comfort that you couldn't exactly explain. It was a fellow schoolmate with red hair that matched his fiery personality. He was a tall and lanky boy, his raging locks stuck out in spikes from his head and his emerald like eyes shined from his light skin. This schoolmate turned friend was named Lea. You didn't know much about him at first, but he was universally liked by everyone on the school and was notorious for having quite the loud mouth. Attached to his hip was his indigo haired friend, Isa, who's personality could be comparable to your own. Soon, the two them would become your dearest pals.

You met when Lea's frisbee collided with the back of your head.

Your legs dangled over the edge of the park table that you were sat on. The back of your shoes kicked the wooden bench and your attention was buried to the book that was in your lap. Suddenly, a hard item smacked you in the back of the head, the book tumbled from your lap as you stood up in frustration. At your feet was what looked like a frisbee decorated with a flame that had a menacing looking expression. "Who threw this?!" you yelled as you bent over to pick it up. "Oh, man!" you heard a voice and the shake of the chain-linked fence that was behind you. It was that red headed guy from school. He stuck a foot in a link and hoisted himself up and over it, then landed on his feet before he approached you. "I'm sorry!" he took the disk from your hand and smiled sheepishly with an awkward head rub.

"It's alright," you forgave him and your [e/c] orbs connected with his emerald ones. A silence hovered in the air above as the two of you searched for words to say but nothing seemed to come to light. "Hey, you're, [Y/N]." he finally spoke. "Yeah, and you're ---," you struggled to remember his name, "Lea! Got it memorized?" he finished. "Sure," you answered. "You okay, though?" he asked as he pushed himself onto his toes to try to see the back of your head. You rubbed the spot where it smacked you and nodded, "Yeah, you just got a heck of a throw." Lea felt awkward again and rubbed his head once more, "Sorry, again, heh." A quiet laugh giggled in your throat, "Well, when I'm finished studying. You'll have to let me beat you."

Lea grinned, "Who wants to study, when you could just be having fun!" The teen had seen his fair share of F's on his tests. You insisted that you needed to finish what you were doing to his disappointment. "Well, [Y/N]. I'll be waiting for you!" you nodded with a smile. He held his palm up in the air, "Friends?" you raised yours to meet his high-five, "Friends."

You leaped from your bedroom window and landed on the cobblestone street below. Your feet carried you to the same location that you went when you needed an escape from the "family" that you lived with. It wasn't far, just about a few streets away and up over a stone wall.

Once you reached the barrier, you pulled yourself up, sat on top, and peered down to the window of the home that was below. When you jumped down and approached the glass, you could see Lea inside who was fast asleep; his limbs were sprawled across his bed and his mouth was wide open as he snored. You knocked quietly on the glass to wake him up but his snoring was so loud that he couldn't hear it. So, you tried again but a little louder this time. The sound of glass rattled loudly through the empty alley behind you but if you did it any louder, it would most certainly wake his parents up. "Leaaaa..." you whispered with another knock but he simply rolled onto his side, still asleep. Your last option was to just open the window and slither inside. It was unlocked and you slowly pushed it up but when you tried to slip in - you tumbled down onto his carpeted floor.

Slowly you peeled the covers back and slid inside his bed beside him. Your hand rested on the back of his bicep which startled him awake, when he called out you hushed him quietly. "[Y/N]?!" he asked in a whisper. He had his back turned toward you and his feet kicked around until they met yours, "Hush, yes it's me." Once he heard your voice he calmed down, "What're you doing here?" his whisper was now lower than before and he flipped on his other side to face you. Your first response was a shrug but eventually you gave in, "I just needed some fresh air." you didn't need to go on anymore, Lea already knew about all your issues at home. He let you know that his home was also yours, and that he would always be there for his friends. Lea was silent for a moment as he studied your face in the dark, "I'm sorry." as he frowned, his hand took the blanket that was bundled at his waist and pulled it over the two of you. Your cheeks warmed at his tenderness and you hoped that the darkness would hide the pink in your cheeks -- you could only imagine what he would say if he could see it.

Your heart beat quickened when you could feel Lea's heat on your skin but your a blooming warmth blossomed in the pit of your stomach. This sensation trickled upward to your increased beating heart. You liked him, you really, really did. It wasn't just a, "oh - he's my friend", no, it was more of a, "I think I love him".

Lea's foot tapped yours as your blossomed feelings made you grow quiet. "D-Do you want to get some sea salt ice cream tomorrow after school? Maybe go to the fountain park after?" you asked impulsively. The feeling of his skin on yours and your realization triggered you to ask him on a date. Sea Salt Ice Cream was a normal part of your diet but it was your trio that would indulge in the cold delicacy, but this time you wanted it to just but you and Lea. "I'll tell Is-," you cut him off with a finger to your lips, "Just me and you." your finger remained on your lips and you could feel your palms grow clammy. His expression was hard to read for a moment before he smiled, "It's a date." After an unknown amount of time, the two of you drifted off to sleep...

"Lea! You're going to be late!" the sound of his mother's voice yelled from behind his bedroom door. The knocks woke you up with a jolt, you quickly shook him awake and he nearly flipped off the side of his bed. "Hang on, mom!" he yelled back which gave you time to scatter to the window. "I'll see you at school," you whispered before going out the window.

Later on at school...

"Are you two finally going on a date?" a tall, slender brunette asked as she walked beside you in sync on the way to math class. "Do you really think it's considered a date, Aerith?" She nodded quickly, "Of course! It's just going to be the two of you, alone...tonight," she paused as the two of you reached the doorway into the classroom, "Speaking of which, look who's over there." she pointed toward Lea and Isa who were further down the hall, they were leaned on the wall and seemed to be invested in whatever they were talking about. A blush surfaced to your cheeks as you made eye contact with your date, he smiled and waved when he noticed you; Isa turned around and gave you a nod in acknowledgment.

Once you disappeared into the classroom, Isa turned his attention back to Lea. "So, are we finally going to break in tonight?" Lea grinned and hit his chest with the side of his fist, "For sure!" His attention drifted off as he imagined all the cool things that the mysterious castle just outside of the city held, but then he remembered your date. "Oh, man!" he ran his fingers through his hair, "I got a thing with [Y/N] tonight!" Isa scoffed as he folded his arms, "You two are dating?" Lea shook his head, "No! It's just -- going out for ice cream." he insisted with a shake in his voice. The indigo haired boy shook his head, "Date or not, we've been planning this for weeks, Lea. You can't dump me now."

Lea groaned and rolled his head around, "Fine!" he didn't want to pass up on this chance, "I will help you break in but only for 30 minutes and then I'm out!" he shoved his hands in his pockets and then took off toward his class, but before going to far, he turned around, "I have to meet [Y/N]."

Later on in the day the two boys met in the center of town to discuss their plans of breaking into the castle. They wouldn't let the black haired ponytail man get them again...

But as the boys prepped, you got ready for your night with Lea. You brushed your hair in the mirror and happy thoughts danced through your mind as you imagined the events that would unfold. Would the two of you kiss? Would he maybe ask you to be his girlfriend? All the possibilities! Once you finished your hair, you pulled a sundress over your body and slipped on a pair of shoes. You gave yourself a once over in the mirror and practiced kissing faces to make sure you were prepared for anything. Anything!

Your feet carried you toward your destination, you nearly skipped to Scrooge McDuck's shop where he sold the sweet treat. A white duckling greeted you when you arrived, "Two, please!" When he handed you the blue treats, he asked, "No Lea and Isa?" Your head shook as you batted your lashes, "I'll be meeting Lea over by the fountains in a bit!" a smile spread as you grew more and more excited. You took a seat at a fountain when you arrived, your feet kicked in the air as you looked around to try and spot a mane of red hair. Time began to pass --- and the 30 minutes that Lea insisted he would be inside the castle for had gone and passed.

The once frozen treat turned into a sticky puddle beneath your shoes and traces of the blue coloring stained the skin on your right hand. Your ice cream was eaten about 15 minutes into your waiting and you tried to save Lea's but when too much time went by, you tossed it onto the ground. The sun was now just barely over the horizon and the town clocks chimed their nightly tunes, it was too late to stay out now. You started to walk home and your head hung in sadness as you felt betrayed. Lea ditched you. Maybe he really didn't like you or was off with Isa in that stupid castle instead... Your heart hurt and you were confused.

Days turned into weeks and no one in Radiant Garden had heard nor seen the two teenage boys. You asked their families if they had gone off somewhere but they had no answers because they themselves were unsure. The two closest people in your life literally disappeared into thin air without a sign -- what happened to them?

During this time, a depression shrouded over you -- your body felt like a vessel for a weak soul. Your heart hurt and felt smaller as each day passed without Lea and Isa. "Are you okay?" Aerith's voice called out over the rush of the many fountains. "Hmm?" you turned your head to her, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." your response was not reassuring and your slight shoulder shrug was not either. You knew that Aerith would go through her list of questions that she seemed to have drafted since the two teens disappeared, she asked because she cared but you weren't in the mood to give your recycled answers. "I'm going to go home," you said as you bent over to pick up your bookbag. "Be careful, [Y/N]! I'll see you tomorrow!" she waved goodbye and you assured her that you would see her then. Aerith's kindness made you feel better for the time being and that warm feeling carried with you until an overwhelming sensation of being watched overshadowed it.

You stopped walking and raised your line of sight to meet the top of the roof of a home in front of you. Your eyes squinted as you made out what looked like a cloaked person standing next to the large chimney; their hood was pulled up to disguise their face and they were draped in completely in black. They must had noticed you saw them because not long after you stopped walking, they turned around and jumped off the opposite side. "A -- person?" you asked, confused.

"How long are you going to keep watching her like a creep?" an identically dressed person asked the one who had been watching you from the roof. "I'm not a creep! And anyway, what does it matter to you?" your stalker snapped. The other cloaked person shook their head and placed a hand on their hip, "Well, the boss isn't going to be happy to hear that you're spending time stalking and not working."

Your stalker snapped again, "We're off the clock, idiot." they rounded the wall of the building they previously were standing on. With their back pressed against the stone, they peeked around the corner to see if you were still looking for them. A sigh of relief blew from between their lips when they saw you were now gone. "Just hurry up and get it over with, I wanna go home." the other cloaked person groaned before walking away through a dark portal they summoned with a swipe of a hand. "I'm just not ready yet..." your stalker whispered as they stared at where you not long before.

The thought of someone watching you was on your mind the rest of the way home. Who was it? Why were they watching you? How long were they watching you? It made you feel uneasy and once you got to your room, you went to the window and looked outside - hoping to maybe catch another glimpse of them. This fear of a stalker added to your troublesome list of anxieties. You were sad and angry that Lea left, but now you were scared about whoever it was that was watching you.

So many unanswered questions. With little hope of any solutions.

#kingdom hearts imagines #kingdom hearts imagine #kingdom hearts #axel x reader #lea x reader #axel imagines #lea imagines #axel kingdom hearts #lea kingdom hearts #axel #lea

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noredinktech · 4 years ago

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A QA Interview We Never Used

About five years ago I was working on a QA interview process and got the following suggestion: “You’ve just arrived at the airport and have two hours before your flight to Hawaii. Make a list of everything that could go wrong between now and when the flight lands.”

No information about how to assess the candidate’s response was provided, and I had another concern. I remembered growing up in Maine and taking a vacation once a year: we’d rent a house on a lake for a week and drive to it in the family car. For my parents, this type of vacation was a huge luxury, something the generation before had never been able to do; I doubt flying to Hawaii, or anywhere else, ever really entered their minds. At the age of 23, I had flown a total of three times in my life, and always between New England and Arizona.

All this is to say that I was worried about cultural bias in the interview, a worry I admit I wouldn’t had thought of if it had simply been presented as, say, a road trip. But it seemed that frequent flyers, who could readily access detailed images of airport parking lots, terminals, and the planes themselves, would have a distinct advantage that was unrelated to the testing skills I wanted to measure, so I didn’t include it in my set of interviews.

But there was something else I liked about the interview. It got at what it’s like to be a tester. Looking for risk and points of failure. Questioning assumptions. Viewing every transition from moment to moment or state to state (house, car, pre-security, post-security, boarding, flying, deplaning…) with skepticism, wondering where things might come apart and replaying them over and over, looking for faults. And as one of those people who often reflexively lists things that might go wrong in regular life for no reason and when no one asked, perhaps I felt this interview honored a behavior that annoys others. So a few years later, on a flight to San Francisco, I made my own version, which I then promptly forgot about. A few years after that, the QA team was redesigning parts of our interview process, and I remembered it and shared it with my colleagues.

Testing mindset interview

Introduction

In this interview, you’ll be presented with a scenario and asked to offer reasons for how the information presented in the scenario could be possible. To avoid a list of very similar reasons, we ask that you stretch your imagination and try to consider as many different categories of reasons as possible. What does categories mean?

Dividing anything into categories can be arbitrary, of course. To give you an idea of how we’ve divided things into categories, consider the example scenario below (we don’t want to spoil answers by discussing the real scenario yet). The example scenario is similar to the one we’ll present as the real interview question.

Example Scenario

Suppose you were asked to make a list of every danger you might face while hiking through a forest. To start, you might say, I could get attacked by a wolf, or trampled by a deer, or struck from above by a hawk. While these experiences are undoubtedly vastly different, they all involve an animal attacking you, and we’d say they fit into a single category. You might also suggest, for example, that you could be attacked by an empty suit of armor; while somewhat more poetic, this still falls, in our opinion, under the category of “something attacks me”, and doesn’t require a new category to hold it. If you mentioned accidentally ingesting a poisonous mushroom, though, we wouldn’t try to argue that the mushroom belongs in the same class as the other attacking entities — this is a new category, perhaps something along the lines of “ingesting dangerous things”.

For this exercise, try to keep our rough ideas of categories in mind. We’ll ask you to provide examples for a specific situation, and we’ll be looking for how many different categories your examples cover. While it doesn’t hurt you to list many things from the same category, it doesn’t help, either. We encourage you to write down everything that comes to mind, but focus on trying to think of new ideas that aren’t closely related to what you’ve already written.

The Real Scenario

You enter an empty cabin. The entrance is to a kitchen, where a table holds three identical bowls of porridge. On the stovetop, a much larger pot of porridge sits over a low heat. As you brazenly devour the porridge, you notice that the contents of the bowls are not identical after all — the porridge in the first bowl is scalding hot, while the porridge in the second bowl is freezing cold, and the porridge in the third bowl is a pleasant temperature, somewhere between the two extremes of the other bowls.

What are some possible reasons that the porridges were not all the same temperature?

I liked my scenario because I felt it didn’t require too much knowledge from any particular domain. Deep knowledge of cooking, heating and cooling, or fairy tales wouldn’t, I guessed, confer much advantage. It also offered a certain level of whimsy that I felt would serve as an appropriate warning for anyone who might have to work with me.

But a concern remained. It was one of my two concerns from five years ago: how to assess the candidate’s response? Was there a fair and objective way to do it? I intended to go through the candidate’s list (“someone added ice to one bowl and hot water to another”, “something is wrong with my nerve endings”) and check off every distinct category they’d identified (“interference from outside actor”, “error in measurement”), but even if I created a near-perfect list of categories (I felt close), could I really communicate what size of categories I had created to the candidate without giving away answers? (Probably not). When I actually practiced the interview with a colleague, things deteriorated further, as many of her answers fell into a gray area as to whether or not they should count for a particular category.

Time ticks on, cooling our porridge and bringing deadlines rushing to meet us. I kept thinking about the problem, but an epiphany never came. With no solution to problem of a fair scoring system, I scrapped the interview and wrote this blog post instead.

Do you give (or have you taken) any kind of QA interview like this? Let me know on one of the social platforms below.

Alexander Roy QA Analyst | NoRedInk

LinkedIn | Github | Twitter

Thanks to Kristine Horn for her help while I was still trying to salvage the interview, and to Michael Glass and Charlie Koster for reviewing this blog post.

#qa #interviewing #engineering

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chouhatsumimi · 5 years ago

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@soxrox12 sent me an ask related to my post celebrating 3,000 followers! : “Congrats on 3k followers, your blog is absolutely amazing!! Could you recommend a Kanji based on my studyblr, @hannahsox-studies?“

I would love to recommend you a kanji! In fact, I got a little bit carried away, and am going to recommend you several unusual kanji!

Ok, here come six different kanji, only one or possibly two of which you might ever actually come across:

I was really excited to see that you’re homeschooled and self-studying Japanese, and around the same age I was when I started studying! So I tried looking for words that would reflect that excitement, and couldn’t quite find the perfect one. But I did find this one, which I don’t recall seeing before:

唆 - kunyomi: soso.ru, sosonoka.su onyomi: sa meaning: tempt, seduce, instigate, promote

My first though was of the give name 俊輔 (Shunsuke), although that kanji is a little different- it means “sagacious, genius, excellence”, which would have also been a good choice.

It seems like most of the words that use 唆 fit pretty well with the English word ‘instigate’.

示唆　shisa　“suggestion; hint; implication“

示唆的　shisateki　“suggestive; pregnant (e.g. pregnant pause)”

教唆　kyousa　“1. instigation 2. incitement Law, etc. term“

教唆煽動　kyousa-sendou　“instigation and abetment” (the third kanji means ‘fan’, so like ‘fanning the flames of wrongdoing’ or something)

and the verbs

唆す　sosonokasu　“to instigate; to tempt; to entice; to incite“ and

唆る　sosoru　“to excite; to incite; to stimulate; to arouse; to tempt; to stir up”

(not quite sure what the difference is, but I feel like that’s for a different post)

see also: 悪事を唆す　akuji wo sosonokasu　“to entice a person to do something wrong” Anyway, that didn’t quite cover what I wanted it to from looking at your blog. I wanted a kanji with the fire radical 火 in it, so I found a whole bunch of interesting ones that aren’t used very much, just for fun!

炙　kun: abu.ru on: sha, seki meaning: roast, broil, toast, cauterize

炙る　aburu　“1. to warm (e.g. one's hands over a fire); to dry　2. to toast; to grill; to broil; to roast; to scorch”

This one you might actually see, especially at a restaurant or sushi place that serves fish.

See the bottom row- lightly cooked salmon (Photo from here)

The kanji is also used in one more way:

炙り出す　aburidasu　“1. to bring into the open; to reveal; to uncover (e.g. evidence); to bring to light”　although you might just see it as あぶり出す

see also: 炙り出し　aburidashi　“invisible writing revealed by applying heat; writing done in invisible ink”

炬　kun: (none) on: ko, kyo　meaning: torch, signal fire

炬燵　kotatsu　“kotatsu; table over an electric heater (orig. a charcoal brazier in a floor well) with a hanging quilt that retains heat”

As you’ll see in the image below, ‘kotatsu’ is almost always written in hiragana.

Photo from Rakuten (click link for more pictures of kotatsus)

What they don’t tell you about kotatsu is that old-style homes in Japan often have a depression in the floor that you put the kotatsu over, so you can let your legs hang down when you sit at them! *They also don’t tell you that your apartment might have a trapdoor that could be used as a vegetable cellar and/or co-opted into a kotatsu area...

See also: こたつむり　“someone who curls up under a kotatsu all winter; kotatsu bug; kotatsu snail“ A play off the word for snail, ‘katatsumuri’ !!

萩　kun: hagi　on: shuu　meaning: bush clover

萩　hagi　1. bush clover; Japanese clover (any flowering plant of genus Lespedeza)　2. dark red exterior with blue interior (color combination worn in autumn) 　　(That second definition might also be getting its own post)

I might be a little biased because 萩 (Hagi) is also the name of a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, where my host sister from my exchange later went to get her nursing degree. The city is also famous for pottery.

お萩　ohagi　rice ball coated with sweetened red beans, soybean flour or sesame　　https://www.thespruceeats.com/ohagi-botamochi-2031326

鍬　kun: kuwa, suki　on: shou, shuu　meaning: hoe with long blade at acute angle

鍬　kuwa　hoe (tool)

That’s cool, but more importantly...

鍬形虫 / クワガタ(虫)　kuwagata(mushi)　stag beetle

similar to a 甲虫/カブトムシ　kabutomushi　rhinoceros beetle, but arguably the kuwagata is more common.

Kuwagata on the left, kabutomushi on the right. Photo from here.

Ok, finally time for the last kanji with 火 in it! Last but not least!

鞦　kun: furan.ni , shirigai　on: shuu　meaning: swing

(This is just altogether a very strange kanji! But the radicals mean ‘leather’, ‘two-branch tree’, and ‘fire’, so I can kind of see where they got it from.)

鞦　shirigai　crupper　(I had no idea what a crupper is; apparently it’s “a leather strap fastened to the saddle of a harness and looping under the tail of a horse to prevent the harness from slipping forward”)

鞦韆　buranko　swing; trapeze　Like the kind on playgrounds. I will GUARANTEE you that you will never see this word in kanji, it’s always ブランコ. The word ‘buranko’ probably comes from ぶらぶら burabura, which means “dangling heavily; swaying to and fro; swinging“. Take the ‘bura’, add on a ‘ko’ meaning ‘small thing that does the thing’, and voila, you get a word for swing! (Btw, the second kanji appears to mean ‘swing’ as well, but doesn’t show up in any other words on jisho.org) Well, that got very long, but these were really interesting kanji to investigate! I hoped you enjoyed and/or learned something, and I wish you the best with your Japanese studies!

If you’d like a personalized kanji post, check out my follower spree here!

#this was a million years ago I'm sorry for taking so long!#hannahsox-studies #3000 follower spree #kanji #long post #investigate #hagi #culture #kuwagata #buranko #sushi

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chanoyu-to-wa · 4 years ago

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Nampō Roku, Book 5 (9): the Round Tray¹, with a Display of the Chaire, Dai, [and] Chawan.

9) Maru-bon ・ chaire ・ dai ・ chawan kazari [丸盆・茶入・臺・茶碗飾]².

[The writing reads: (from the right) shita jo-jō (下如常)³; kono kazari maru-bon (h)e chaire to chashaku to narabe kazaru-koto mo ari (此飾丸盆ヘ茶入ト茶杓ト並ベカザルコトモアリ)⁴, cha tate-yō betsu-gi nashi (茶立ヤウ別義ナシ)⁵, hadaka-temmoku mo kaku no gotoki kazaru nari (ハダカ天目モ如此カザルナリ)⁶, chawan okurare-shi-shu nado aru toki no hiraki ni mo yoshi (茶碗贈ラレシ衆ナドアル時ノヒラキニモヨシ)⁷.]

[The writing reads: maru-bon no uchi kaku no gotoki mo (丸盆ノ内如此モ).]

_________________________

◎ In Shibayama Fugen’s commentary, the second sketch (in which the maru-bon with just the chaire and chashaku displayed on it) is shown below the daisu. This version is shown below.

Since this can be confusing (the second sketch actually is supposed to substitute for the depiction of the maru-bon that is shown above the daisu) -- particularly with respect to the kane (the sketch, as it is oriented*, seems to show the chaire associated with the kane to the left of the central kane†), I decided to separate the second sketch completely from the first.

In this installment we will look at two very different arrangements, the second of which gave rise to another possible variation. This whole idea surely must be difficult -- perhaps even disconcerting, or annoying -- for the modern practitioner of chanoyu, who has been trained to expect not only standardization, but even for his school to specify the exact type of utensils that should be used for any given temae‡. But what has to be understood very clearly -- by the reader of Book Five of the Nampō Roku -- is that each of these different variants was originally championed by one early chajin (and his circle), and they came to be collected together only when Jōō bought the original utensils to add to his collection (together with which he was also made aware of the way they were used -- probably by observing this in practice, since the usual way to sell things in that period was to use them to serve tea first, and then intimate to the guest the host’s desire of selling them). So it was not really a case of deciding which of these procedures the host might use on any given occasion (this is a completely modern way of looking at things), but understanding that, in the early days, people usually owned only one of each of the necessary things, and that those things represented the best that they could acquire** -- whether high-quality karamono tea utensils, or local objects (originally made for some other purpose) that were pressed into serving for this new purpose. Very few were able to assemble a collection that resembled what they were used to using back on the continent††, and most chajin were forced to use an amalgam of imported and local objects when serving tea, and doing so according to their own lights, highlighting or downplaying the role of each piece, as was felt best. Thus:

◦ in one case the originator of one of the temae that are under discussion here owned a respectable temmoku and chaire, and arranged them on his naka maru-bon, in a humble attempt at recreating the gokushin-temae;

◦ in another, he may have owned a chaire (albeit, not one of the highest rank) that still had previously been treasured by a respected master of an earlier generation, who had provided it with a special chashaku (so that the chashaku was considered at least the equal of the chaire, if not actually its superior);

◦ and, in a third case, the person owned not only a respectable chaire and a special chashaku, but also a temmoku of which he was proud (even if the bowl was not quite of a rank equal to the other thigns), and wished to display all of them on his daisu, yet making a concession to their differences, created the third arrangement that is described by Shibayama Fugen.

Thus, three different temae arose out of the same original idea of the naka maru-bon. This is how the different temae arose, and this is how the practice of chanoyu evolved from something resembling the usage described in the first daisu arrangement, to the complex temae landscape that we see today.

While the original naka maru-bon measured 1-shaku 2-sun 3-bu in diameter (approximately 37.3 cm), a tray 1-shaku 2-sun (36.4) in diameter could (and was historically) used in the same way -- since the additional 3-bu had no impact on either the diameter of the foot (1-shaku 2-sun) or the rim (also 1-shaku 2-sun) of the tray (the band was found in the middle of the sides, which were perpendicular to the floor)‡‡. ___________ *The sketch was probably added later.

†Though it could also be interpreted to show how the chaire and chashaku are arranged on the tray during the temae -- though, again, since it is located in front of the furo, this would make things even stranger.

‡For example, a mage-mono mizusashi must be used for bon-date [盆立, 盆點], or when serving tea in a dai-temmoku; or a black Raku chawan must be used for koicha and a red Raku chawan when serving usucha. None of these rules predates the modern menjō-based system of tea training (and, indeed, usually lack anything resembling historical precedent, at least in so far as the Jōō-Rikyū period is concerned).

**The first generation of chajin who arrived in Japan from Korea, did so under extreme duress -- often throwing themselves into a boat and pushing off from shore as the Ming army began to advance on their settlement. These people arrived in Japan literally with nothing but the clothes on their backs. So that soon, what few imported utensils were available, were all bought up, and they had to improvise and innovate if they wished to continue to practice chanoyu in their new land. Thus, a majority of these chajin considered themselves lucky if they had one utensil of which they could be proud -- and, if so, they created their temae to highlight it. This situation continued until the end of the fifteenth century, at which time the first generation had begun to die off. So from the end of the fifteenth century, to the second or third decade of the sixteenth, we see a sort of consolidation, where the objects that had been treasured by the earlier generation were accumulating in fewer and fewer hands, which finally allowed someone like Jōō to arise and amass his extraordinary collection of sixty meibutsu utensils (along with many, many others that were not accorded said title).

††Even though it appears that the idea of wabi had already come into existence during the first half of the fifteenth century.

‡‡That said, if the tray has a rim that flares or curves outward from the foot -- as is commonly seen in trays made for chanoyu today -- the reader must understand that, in such a case, the tray has to be positioned relative to the rim, rather than the foot (as is described in these posts) -- since the original naka maru-bon had perpendicular sides.

¹Round tray.

Maru-bon [丸盆]. This arrangement employs the naka maru-bon [中丸盆], as in the previous several cases. The naka maru-bon appears to have been the most popular tray to use among the machi-shū chajin of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries -- and these several arrangements (in this post, the preceding ones, and the next) show how it was used at a time when the daisu was the usual way to serve tea.

²Maru-bon ・ chaire ・ dai ・ chawan kazari [丸盆・茶入・臺・茶碗飾].

“Maru-bon, [on which are displayed] the chaire, the dai*, and the chawan.”

While specific mention of a temmoku-chawan is made in the kaki-ire [書入], it would also be possible to use another sort of bowl -- albeit provided with an appropriate chawan-dai* -- for this arrangement. ___________ *While certain schools customarily place other sorts of chawan (such as a Raku-chawan) on top of a temmoku-dai for this kind of temae in the present day, in Jōō’s and Rikyū’s period a special Korean chawan-dai (which is shaped like a saucer -- with a shallow depression in the center into which the foot of the bowl fits -- with a high foot) was used for other types of bowls.

More often than not, it is this sort of arrangement that is illustrated in Rikyū’s densho, suggesting that the use of non-temmoku bowls had become common by his period.

Only a conical temmoku-chawan was appropriately placed on a temmoku-dai, however.

³Shita jo-jō [下如常].

Referring to the things arranged on the ji-ita, “below [everything is] as usual.”

⁴Kono kazari maru-bon [h]e chaire to chashaku to narabe kazaru-koto mo ari [此飾丸盆ヘ茶入ト茶杓ト並ベカザルコトモアリ].

“In this arrangement, there is also the case where [just] the chaire and chashaku are displayed in a row on the maru-bon.”

This is what is shown in the second sketch.

However, Shibayama Fugen relates a secret teaching that was transmitted to him, during the period of his researches (by one of the last of the Enkaku-ji scholars*), with regard to this version of the arrangement:

"In this present situation” [where only the chaire and chashaku are displayed on the maru-bon], “nothing is said about what to do with the chawan. As a way of dealing with this conundrum, it has been suggested -- secretly -- that the maru-bon should be moved toward the left-seat†. Then the chaire, which is resting on the tray, will be associated with the first kane‡ on the left-seat, and the chashaku will be displayed on the central kane.

“Then the dai [with] the chawan [resting on it] should be placed beyond the tray on the right-seat, on the end-most kane.”**

___________ *The Enkaku-ji was burned down, by agents of the Imperial Army, when the monks refused to surrender the original manuscript of the Nampō Roku to them, according to what was told to me by Kanshū oshō-sama -- though it is unclear precisely when the group of scholars affiliated with the Enkaku-ji was formally disbanded (this was simply something that it never occurred to me to ask about at that time -- though apparently this group was no longer around when the Enkaku-ji was rebuilt in its present location, in what was originally the Shōfuku-ji’s [聖福寺] secular graveyard).

Shibayama Fugen’s occasional references to his source, however, suggest that the group may have already begun to fall apart during the Meiji period (a majority of the scholars were apparently members of the samurai class, who, of course, lost their jobs and sources of income at the Meiji Restoration), since his source was apparently already an old man (not otherwise identified), who apparently had nobody left to whom he might transmit this information before he died.

†In the Nampō Roku, the expression “left-seat,” hidari-za [左座], refers to the right side of the daisu.

As has been explained before, this was part of a deliberate layer of obfuscation that was built into these kaki-ire, to confuse the uninitiated. According to this argument, the daisu (and the objects arranged on it) was thought of as facing toward the host, thus the daisu’s left is on the host’s right.

Nothing resembling this idea is found in any of Rikyū’s writings, suggesting that this (together with the notion of deliberately making things obscure and confusing) was a product of the Edo period mentality. Indeed, Rikyū, when he decided to write something down, did so as clearly as his command of the language made possible.

‡”The first kane on the left-seat,” hidari-za no dai-ichi no kane [左座第一ノ矩], refers to the first kane to the right of the central kane. The kane were counted starting from the center (which was, in a sense, the zero kane), toward the left and right edges of the shelves (though the “second kane” is usually referred to as the hashi-gane [端矩] -- the “end-most kane” -- as it is in the passage quoted below).

Note that while Shibayama Fugen uses the kanji kane [矩], Tanaka Senshō (and many modern scholars) use kane [曲尺]. Rikyū, however, always represented the name of this concept phonetically, as kane [カネ].

**Quoting this passage directly from Shibayama Fugen’s commentary: kono gotoki-toki ha chawan ha ikaga ni subeki meibun nashi. Hisoka ni omou ni maru bon wo hidari-za ni utsushi, sono bon ue no chaire ga hidari-za dai-ichi no kani ni atari, chashaku ga chū-ō no kani atariru-beku kazari, shika-shite dai, chawan wa migi-za bon soto no hashi-kani ni oku-koto narashi [此ノ如キ時ハ茶碗ハ如何ニスベキ明文ナシ。窃カニ惟フニ丸盆ヲ左座ニ移シ、其ノ盆上ノ茶入ガ左座第一ノ矩ニ當リ、茶杓ガ中央ノ矩當ルベク飾リ、而シテ臺、茶碗ハ右座盆外ノ端矩ニ置クコトナラシ].

⁵Cha tate-yō betsu-gi nashi [茶立ヤウ別義ナシ].

“With respect to the way to prepare tea, nothing else is different.”

Cha tate-yō [茶立てよう, 茶立て様] means “the way to make tea.”

Betsu-gi nashi [別義無し]: betsu-gi [別義]* means “special considerations,” or “another way (of doing things);” therefore, betsu-gi nashi means there is no other special way to do anything (apart from the particulars of the pre-temae arrangement of the utensil on the daisu).

Irrespective of what objects are displayed on the maru-bon at the beginning -- whether these are the dai-temmoku and chaire, or the chaire and chashaku -- the actual temae that the host performs is the same† (after making allowances for the arrangement). ___________ *In the present day, the preferred way to write betsu-gi [別義] is betsu-gi [別儀].

†In other words:

◦ If the dai-temmoku is displayed on the maru-bon, the dai-temmoku is first moved onto the ten-ita, to the left of the maru-bon; then the chaire is moved to the center of the tray. The dai-temmoku is lowered to the mat and stood temporarily in front of the furo. Then the maru-bon is lowered to the mat and placed in front of the mizusashi, and the dai-temmoku is moved to the left side of the tray.

◦ If only the chaire and chashaku are displayed on the maru-bon, the host brings the dai-temmoku out from the katte and places it in front of the furo. Then the host picks up the chashaku, and rests it on the hane of the temmoku-dai (on the right side of the chawan). Then the chaire is moved to the center of the tray, and the tray is lowered to the mat and placed in front of the mizusashi, and the dai-temmoku is moved beside it.

⁶Hadaka-temmoku mo kaku no gotoki kazaru nari [ハダカ天目モ如此カザルナリ].

“A hadaka-temmoku is also displayed as shown.”

Hadaka [裸] means “naked.” Thus, a hadaka-temmoku is a temmoku displayed without its shifuku*.

This sentence simply describes the (original) illustration that was included with this entry†: the temmoku (containing the chakin and chasen) is placed on top of its dai (with the chashaku resting on the hane of the dai), together with the chaire. ___________ *Usually with the chakin, chasen, and chashaku placed in it -- as they are in this case. When resting on a temmoku-dai, the chashaku was placed on the dai, to the right of the chawan (as seen in the above sketch).

This way of handling the chashaku was used not only when the dai-temmoku was displayed on the daisu (or elsewhere), but also when carrying the dai-temmoku into the room from the katte -- according to Rikyū’s densho.

†The particle mo [モ], which is usually translated as “also,” or “in addition to,” is found here because, in the kaki-ire, first the alternate case (where only the chaire and chashaku are displayed on the tray) was described. Thus, the situation shown in the sketch is the alternative to that described first in the part of the kaki-ire.

This shows that at least some of the kaki-ire arose independently of the sketches (most likely in notes made by certain scholars after they took their leave from the Enkaku-ji -- since it was forbidden to write anything while on the temple grounds), and were later transferred to the sketches (probably when the author’s reputation came to dominate the other scholars who were working on the interpretation of these sketches).

In other words, rather than attempting to make drawings from memory, at least some of the scholars seem to have been content with describing things in words. This may, Shibayama Fugen notes, may be one source of the errors in certain sketches that he mentioned he discovered in some of the outside manuscripts.

⁷Chawan okurare-shi-shu nado aru toki no hiraki ni mo yoshi [茶碗贈ラレシ衆ナドアル時ノヒラキニモヨシ].

“On the first occasion when the chawan is used*, and the people who presented the chawan [to the host] are present [as his guests]†, it is appropriate to do things in this manner.” ___________ *Chawan...no hiraki [茶碗の開き] -- which literally means the first time the chawan is “opened” -- refers to the first time that said utensil is used, or the first time it is used by this host (after it entered his collection).

†It might be possible to interpret this statement as describing two different situations:

◦ the case where the chawan is being used to serve tea when the person who presented it to the host is present; and,

◦ the case where the chawan is being used for the first time.

These are not mutually exclusive, of course.

We should remember that famous tea utensils were often given to daimyō whom the shōgun wanted to favor (usually in lieu of an increase to their fiefs), and it was considered appropriate for the daimyō to use the utensil immediately (to, in a sense, make it his own). A representative of the shōgun was usually present (if not the shōgun himself), and this may be why this arrangement was considered important: when the temmoku had been received as a gift, in such circumstances, then it would be displayed on the daisu in the manner shown in the original sketch.

⁸Maru-bon no uchi kaku no gotoki mo [丸盆ノ内如此モ].

“[The way the things are arranged] on the maru-bon may also be like this.”

If the host wished to feature the chashaku (while using an ordinary temmoku that had no special connection with any of those present), then he might opt to use this second arrangement, where only the chaire and chashaku are displayed on the naka maru-bon.

As has been mentioned previously*, the chashaku would have to have some connection with the chaire -- either it was made for the chaire by a famous historical figure of the past, or had been paired with this chaire by such a person. ___________ *In the post entitled Nampō Roku, Book 5 (4): the Ordinary way to Display a Chaire and a Chashaku. The URL for that post is:

https://chanoyu-to-wa.tumblr.com/post/617400194627174400/namp%C5%8D-roku-book-5-4-the-ordinary-way-to

——————————————–———-—————————————————

◎ Analysis of the Arrangement.

This sketch shows the arrangement as depicted in the Shibayama Fugen’s commentary. The temae would follow the usual way of doing things: first the chawan would be moved off of the tray, the chaire would be centered on the tray, and then the dai-temmoku and the tray (with the chaire resting on it) would be lowered to the mat.

This shows the variation that is described in the kaki-ire (and also illustrated beneath the original daisu sketch).

Here, the dai-temmoku would be brought out from the katte. First the chashaku would be picked up and placed on the dai, then, after centering it on the tray, the chaire would be lowered to the mat (together with the tray, and the dai-temmoku moved beside it.

In both cases, once the utensils have been arranged on the mat in front of the daisu, tea is prepared as usual, with nothing special needing to be done.

In the case of the version of this arrangement that was secretly imparted to Shibayama Fugen, the dai-temmoku (with the chakin and chasen arranged inside of the bowl*)

The host would begin by picking up the chashaku and placing it on the hane of the temmoku-dai. Then the chaire would be moved to the center of the tray.

Thereafter the dai-temmoku would be lowered to the utensil mat and temporarily stood in front of the furo. Next, the maru-bon, with the chaire resting on top, would be lowered, and placed in front of the mizusashi. And, finally, the dai-temmoku would be moved next to the tray, as is usually done in this class of daisu-temae. ___________ *The chakin is folded into thirds, and then into quarters,

and, rather than folding it in half again, it is left as shown on the right.

The folded chakin that resulted from the process illustrated above is placed flat in the bottom of the temmoku (below, left),

allowing the chasen to be stood upright on top of it (right).

This is how the chakin and chasen were traditionally arranged in the temmoku-chawan. When the chashaku was added (which it is not in this particular variation), it rested on the hane of the dai, end-on, and on the right side of the temmoku.

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martincooneyart · 4 years ago

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For Individual Groups Of Up To 8 People

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PLEASE CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO EXPAND

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This tour will restore your faith in humanity, you will feel relaxed, rested and reassured that whatever the problems the world may be experiencing right now, we do indeed live on a most gorgeous and fascinating planet

Yes these have been challenging times no doubt for all of us in one way or another but sooner or later our lives must return to something like normal

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Please fill out the form below to request a time and date

And remember to include the number of people in your party and the amount of time you wish to spend touring

[contact-form]

TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE PLEASE CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO EXPAND

~ ~ ~

Boy oh boy are these strange times we are living in, or what? I don’t know about you but I am just chomping at the bit to get back to some semblance of normalcy. But yes, sadly and for whatever reason it would now seem that we will never return to the carefree days of yore, when we were free to go about our business unencumbered by what has now become quite draconian restrictions. Never-the-less we are at least free to operate the sort of single group, limited passenger, transportation tour such as our Aspen Marble Detour precisely because we have the ability to totally wipe down and completely sanitize the interior of the bus prior to each tour. We also carry masks, gloves, handi-wipes… you name it, we’ve got it.

And so, all-in-all, considering the absolute chaos this virus scare has reaped across virtually the entire commercial world, and unless we are bolted down once again, we have mercifully only had to make quite modest changes to our routine in order to adapt and cope with our strange new reality – for the AMD Bus has always presented a spotless interior environment.

As for the reduced seating, we had already planned to remove several seats anyway simply because it provides a far better experience for the passengers; as clearly overcrowding a vehicle such as this with 15 people seems a bit extreme to us. Therefore we had already plans to take out the seats and replace them with cozy rugs in stead, this way there is more leg room, easier access getting in and out, and an all-around nicer atmosphere in which to spend a few lovely hours of your day.

I originally conceived and designed The Aspen Marble Detour to ferry KMJ Cooney Gallery visitors up to the remote and historic town of Marble, Colorado, where they could then experience some of the fascinating history of our local Colorado Yule marble. And with the road journey from our gallery to Marble taking less than an hour I imagined that we would simply zoom up there and back in short time (and for some that may still be a preferable option if they wish), but the more I drove, hiked, explored and researched the route the more intrigued and fascinated I became, until pretty soon I was cataloging it in various posts right here on martincooney.com. Just click the Aspen Marble Detour tab at the top of the page and you’ll soon see what I mean.

AFTER A YEAR OF FALSE STARTS, RESTARTS AND LOCK DOWNS AND UNCERTAINTY

it gives me great pleasure to announce that

The Aspen Marble Detour is Now Underway

I will readily concede that what the AMD has evolved into now stretches way beyond any required interest in the marble, and more about enjoying the door-to-door aspect of the Detour experience. Because with the recreational options reading like that some good sized metropolitan area one could be mistaken for confusing the Roaring Fork and Crystal River Valleys for some vastly overcrowded bumper-to-bumper type place, but nothing could be further from the truth. For the Aspen Marble Detour route actually wends its way through some of the most beautiful and least crowded landscapes anywhere, as hopefully the next few sets of pictures will amply testify.

~ ~ ~

Let’s now take a look at some of those amazing recreational options just mentioned as I lead you through a few photo galleries: and prepared to be wowed as vast panoramic Rocky Mountain vistas, crystal clear rivers, wildlife, wildflowers and lovely hiking trails present themselves at almost every turn. And while those who simply wish to enjoy a leisurely sightseeing tour from the comfort of their seat, combined perhaps with a little shopping and dining; the range of options for those with a little adventure on their minds we have horseback riding, bike rentals, fly fishing guides, paddle boards, jeep tours, you name it, is as extensive as it is thrilling. And that is the whole point of a private group tour – flexibility is woven into the schedule. For whatever kind of Aspen Marble Detour you and your party wish, then that will set the agenda for the tour.

There are brewpubs and distilleries, retail shops, gift shops and galleries and of all kinds, many of which showcase local artwork and clothing not available anywhere else. And so, with just so much to see and do, eat and drink, and with so many amazing top notch restaurants, coffee shops and cafes in which to thoroughly indulge yourself, while I cannot guarantee it I am confidently sure that a good time will be had by all.

~ ~ ~

OK then, I think we’ll begin with those vast, panoramic views

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~ ~ ~

Vast Panoramic Mountain Views

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Pristine Alpine Rivers

Access to crystal clear and fast running mountain rivers are never far away on the Detour

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Shopping and Dining

Excellent retail and gallery options are as numerous and varied as the vast array of gastronomic delights await the Aspen Marble Detourists whatever the time of day

~ ~ ~

History, Culture and Accommodation

With Colorado Yule Marble’s long and proud history providing the focal point, the past is ever-present all along the Aspen Marble Detour

Courtesy of Marble Museum, Colorado

All this and I didn’t even get around to the quite stunning accommodation options presenting themselves practically all the way along the Aspen Marble Detour Route. Some of them you can see above – and yes, you can stay in that magnificent castle in glorious comfort and luxury, or rent an cabin for around a hundred bucks, plus just about everything you can imagine, accommodating literally every budget and preference, in between.

~ ~ ~

May I draw your attention to

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Situated Directly Across From Aspen Airport’s Commercial Airport

And finally, did I mention that the KMJ Cooney Gallery stands just 300 paces from the front door of the Aspen Airport commercial airport? Well, it’s true, we do. And furthermore that three hundred yards is fully paved and smooth all the way, you don’t even need to cross the road, just follow the path to the down valley public bus stop, and when you emerge from the underpass just look left and there we are, right on the frontage road and three doors down from the Fed Ex on the opposite corner of the building.

So you may want to consider making me your driver while you visit the area. I can take you to any accommodation located along the Aspen Marble Detour via our big, roomy AMD Bus. It’s something to think about you must admit!

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~⊥ •

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sweepseven · 5 years ago

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Alegria: In a New Light review

I - and many others - have expressed a great deal of skepticism about the new Alegría. The original was done with such grace and care, it was such a classic, that I worried a remount and recreation could never capture the magic. A new version wouldn’t diminish the impact of the first, but I did feel strongly that it deserved a fitting homage.

I am proud to say with total confidence that Alegría: In a New Light is not only worthy of its name, but is an incredible spectacle in its own unique right. It’s a modern tale of revolution for a modern time. Everyone was right to say the message of Alegría is timeless. This remount proves that, not refutes it.

And thanks to the machinations of one @thegoldenpandabear, I have another exceptional Cirque experience to add to my track record, and it might be the best one yet.

I’ve been backstage four times before, once through luck, twice through connections, and once through a somewhat questionable sequence of events. But this time what we thought would be a quick jaunt behind the scenes turned out to be an invitation to watch the entire matinee from backstage. We chatted with the cast, we felt the floor shake with the thunder of music and audience applause, and we high-fived everyone as they jogged offstage at the end of the show.

The highlight by far was Irene Ruiz Martin, the new White Singer. She is one of the most magnetic, sincere, and shining people I have ever met in my life. When we first spotted her she was sitting in front of a glass door facing the sun, framed in a little square of light as she ran through vocal exercises, the rhinestones on her costume casting sparkles all around her. I never want to forget that image - something about it and her told me right away that she was the perfect cast for this role. Later during intermission she spent a full fifteen minutes chatting with us, talking about all sorts of things from her challenges during the Montreal stop to her character development (“I see myself as the air and water, and the Black Singer, she is the earth and the fire, and when we are together…” she clasped her hands together and her expression said the rest). Her anxiety over living up to Francesca Gagnon’s legacy and her relief at receiving her blessing. Her passion for her work, and her respect and love for her audience. Her understanding of the show’s message and dedication to communicating it with complete sincerity. Her excitement at having more women in the cast, and in such powerful roles.

When she found out I do trapeze, she grabbed my arm and said, “That’s so amazing! You go onstage - you do the trapeze and I’ll sing Querer!” I don’t think she could have said anything that would have had a greater impact on me. And like I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been very emotionally tender about trapeze lately. So to have someone as kind and dedicated to her craft - to have the actual White Singer herself - take my arm like a friend and joke that she would sing Querer for me… she couldn’t have known how much that would mean to me.

That was the mood for the entire show. This cast is full of such bright, passionate, dedicated performers that it radiates from the stage. You have no choice to take it with you when you leave, along with a handful of snow. You must see Alegría In a New Light. Act by act breakdown below.

Opening: a very active animation precedes an absolute powerhouse opening. The Old Birds skitter around onstage with Fleur and the clowns, and meanwhile the cellist and accordionist pace around to set the mood. Once the show begins in earnest, the entire place rumbles with the incredible bass of Mirko’s new arrangement. The two “factions,” the aristocrats and Old Birds led by Fleur and the Bronx led by the Black Singer, bound onstage and stare each other down under the neutral observance of the Nymphs and the oblivious passion of the White Singer. Right off the bat the conflict is much clearer than it ever was in the original: change is here, and it won’t be ignored.

Acro poles: what an amazing and inventive act. The opening flows right into it with an uncommonly seamless transition (the poles are already onstage from the top of the show), and what follows is an incredible display of trust and teamwork.

Crossed cyr wheel: a super nice guy and very talented artist. He had some trouble with a fall in the first show, but when we were in the audience he did it flawlessly. For some reason this was one of the more forgettable acts in the show and I can’t put my finger on why - maybe the rest were just extra extra amazing. Regardless, the optical illusion created by the two wheels is very cool and he uses it to such great advantage.

Swinging trapeze: I’ll say it up front: I shed a tear. The caliber of this act is unlike anything I have ever seen on a trapeze, and at this point I can say I’ve seen a shit ton of trapeze. This duo’s passion beams out of them like a spotlight, their chemistry and connections are perfect, and you can see the joy in what they do. They seem like lovers in a way the old act did, but even more so. Something in the way they look at each other communicates such depth of respect and admiration that it nearly stole the show from the actual tricks. I was initially disappointed and confused to learn Vai Vedrai wouldn’t be paired with this act, but now that I’ve seen it with Querer, I completely understand and adore the change. This is a perfect act.

Backstage, they were utter professionals. Interested in their performance and feedback, calm, collected, critical. Seeing them in that context first made their emotional performance later that night all the more impressive.

Fire knife: no one under that tent is having more fun than this guy. He was incredibly friendly backstage and served the role of wishing everyone good luck before they took the stage: they all had little rituals with him, from high fives to fist bumps to hugs. His smile is infectious beyond description - the audience could feel his passion burn hotter than his torches and everyone fed off of one another in a way I’ve never seen before. He adored it, and we could feel his gratitude. His interactions with Elena were interesting too - they’re both visibly Bronx, but there’s something special about them that sets them apart.

Aerial straps: wow wow wow. Wow. Beautiful in every way. This is probably my favorite straps duet from Cirque - they truly look in love. I can’t remember, because all of these moments felt like a beautiful dream. The music box arrangement of Alegría is so gentle to match…. I don’t know what to say about this act except that when it was over, I wanted to fall in love too.

Sometime around here, I think after this act, the lights set into the stage lit up one by one and the Angels drew the light upward with their hands, almost like jellyfish. Fleur found a way to light the staff’s crystal himself too, which was interesting - the power it held was symbolic, it could be created from nothing and freely given. It was nice to see him learn that lesson. Closer to the end of the show, he passes the crystal to the White Singer and she accepts with grace. But he might as well be handing her a flower or anything else: she’s above this power struggle to the point of near unawareness of it, and though she’s grateful for the gift, it loses its meaning the moment she accepts. It’s a lovely moment and lesson worth ruminating on.

Hula hoops: I already knew Elena Lev was a queen but I never thought I’d see it in person. She lives up to her reputation in every way. Her character is aloof and controlled, but with the smallest touches of spark: she winks at the audience once and it happens so fast you might think you imagined it. The act itself is very similar to her original one, which is crazy - more than eighteen years later and she’s better than ever.

Power track: I LOVE the little Bronx whoop. That is an adorable touch that the cast has really embraced - I heard it a few times backstage just for fun. They make such a powerful team and I love how gender balanced this act is now. Their tricks were performed with total precision, and interestingly they favored tall, slow tricks over lightning fast ones. There were some big ones for sure, but most were about power and control rather than speed. It was an excellent choice. I will say that these costumes are my least favorite in the show - I wish they were easier to tell apart, like the Volta Free Spirits.

Handbalancing: this was in for hand to hand and honestly I’m glad, because it was unreal. An Angel is supported by two reverent Bronx on probably ten different canes of various heights, and her control and stage presence defy description. She was also absolutely gorgeous and I would do anything to achieve whatever highlight she had goin on because it was rad. The Black Singer and Vai Vedrai on this act are heavy and intense, particularly the violin and accordion that has been added since the premiere.

Aerial high bar: my heart sank a little to see the setup to this act - I never wanted the dream to end! But it’s worth noting the way the Bronx support the Angels at different points in the show. It’s most apparent here, with two Bronx catchers and a team of Angel flyers above. The tricks had me gasping repeatedly and the trust and teamwork were amazing. I will say that this isn’t the best to view from the front row for obvious reasons, but like fuck me for even complaining about that.

Finale: if I remember nothing else from this performance, let it be Irene recognizing us in the front row, beaming, and grasping our hands. We sang along the whole time. The connection between artist and audience was perfect in this moment, and the entire crowd was on its feet. Irene told us earlier about how she and the cast and the audience are all one. She’s right.

Clowns: very cute. Incredibly nice people. I think they had a liiiittle too much stage time for my taste - three interludes is a lot - but they did make the most of them. Plus, like, canon gay characters. Can’t find fault with that. I do miss the melancholy of the original snowstorm act, but this one has a charm all its own that spans the entire length of their characters’ development. The snow continues to fall during the entire intermission and aerial straps and it’s completely magical.

Characters/Story: I love love love the clearer story. Today’s revolution calls for boldness and action, not delicacy and nuance, and I think IANL captures that beautifully. Fleur is much goofier in this version and I do miss the exaggerated self-importance of his former self, but it’s true that he was always a court jester and that is much more apparent now. He’s gentler and not quite as selfish, and absolutely adores attention. The Old Birds are also purely comical, so the presence of the old establishment doesn’t loom quite as heavily in this new take. What does the job instead is the constantly empty throne, and an interlude (with the song from Le Bal!) that reads suspiciously like a faux-funeral parade for a dead king. I look forward to seeing that scene again so I can pay closer attention.

Across the board, all the characters are more human, and I love them for it. The Angels don’t seem like a world apart - they’re here with us, they love and they tease, and the aristocrats and Bronx have very palpable chemistry as well.

Music: I can’t imagine them doing a better job with the adaptation of the original soundtrack. There wasn’t a single song I didn’t love. And those that we don’t hear in full - Malioumba, Taruka, Rinalto Vera (!!!) - we still catch in interludes. It speaks to the care that went into recreating this show. So many musical moments felt like tiny love notes to their longtime fans.

And the White and Black Singers….sigh. I wish I had the words, but I don’t. Nothing I can say will adequately capture the force of nature that is Mirko or the power that radiates from the Black Singer during Cerceaux. They are splendid complements for one another, both as characters and as vocalists, and their moments onstage together really are magical.

The Black Singer’s role has been built up substantially compared to the original, which is excellent. She has multiple solos throughout the show, most notably Cerceaux and Vai Vedrai.

As for the White Singer, Irene plays her in such a way that evokes purity, cleansing calm, and gentle power. There’s a bit of humble ignorance there too, which I loved the most: she’s a herald of change but doesn’t even realize it, too busy pouring her heart out, eyes closed to the scene around her. She holds her hands to her heart often, shoulders close, like she’s holding something in, but it’s like trying to stifle starlight. It radiates out of her anyway, and towards the end of the show she stands atop a platform above a shining golden star, arms held wide. It’s a beautiful image.

Overall:

One of the best experiences I have ever had under a Grand Chapiteau. I can’t believe I ever doubted Cirque would treat one of their greatest masterpieces with anything but the utmost care and respect. If you loved the original, go. If you never saw the original, go. If you have no hope, invent.

#cirque du soleil #alegria #I'll never forget this #reviews

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redsnerdden · 5 years ago

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Log Horizon is getting a third season, Premiering Later this year

Log Horizon is getting a third season, Premiering Later this year! #LogHorizon #Isekai #Crunchyroll #Anime #Manga #YenPress #NHKEducational

2020 is proving to be the year of Returning Shows and Game Remakes as NHK-E announced that the popular anime called Log Horizon will be making its triumphant return in October 2020, this season will be focusing on the Round Table Collapse. It has been confirmed that the cast from Season Two will be returning and on the left of this announcement and below is a visual for this season. There isn’t a…

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#Crunchyroll #Isekai #Log Horizon #New Season #October 2020 #Yen Press

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magicalsalamander · 6 years ago

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Aurelius Part 5

Pairing: BTS Namjoon ⇆ Reader

Genre: Werewolf | Fluff | Angst | Smut [later] |

Summary: When the daughter of the secretary for the Minister for Wolf and Canine relations is the last living member of her clan, she must find a way to avenge her family. She must find a way to put an end to the hunters whose sole purpose is to cleanse the world of werewolves. The golden one hasn’t forgotten. Will she be able to get the revenge she needs?

Words: 8.7 K

Warnings: Rated Mature; explicit themes.

A/N: Orig post: 08|09| 2018; Updated intro 12|12|19. Part of the KLF Universe.

⇽ Prev | Masterlist | Next [Final]⇾

The brown, matted fur tapped against his calves, thick water droplets dripped off the split ends of his pelt cloak. It puddled behind him as he took powerful steps forward. His whistling echoed in the empty hallway, soft like sing-song birds chirping, to the tune of twisted nerve. He had a pep in his step with each change in his tone and tempo. He ran his trembling, bandaged hand through his hair shucking the stringy fringe out of his eyes. The pitch kept inclining reaching a near chord ripping pitch as he approached the iron cage prison door. The bottom bars were rusted, as it feed off the water that pooled around the door. He gripped the coarse edge of the handle and dramatically unjammed it out its lock.

The clanking of the heavy bars sliding across eachother shook the walls rattling the heavy, industrial chains that were attached from the ceiling to handcuffs on my wrist. The feet of chain kept me in a grid lock kneeling position as my body was kept taunt. The rope methodically tied around my thighs and calves secured me into place; the twine dug into old scars over my pants as it burned with the small movements. The Hunter about to throw another punch my way skidded to a stop and stepped back greeted the person with a ceremonial shout. I coughed recovering from the last infliction and lifted my head to the newest visitor. My shoulders ached from being held in an over arm tie for who knows how long. Everything hurt...so much, it hurt so much.

The dull, cobblestone walls echoed the sound of his boots treading through water that was still dripping from my figure. I looked up at the man who brought me here, Jared, and growled. He chuckled waving his beaten hand at me, purposely pausing with an all too happy tone, “Only got me a bit baby girl, but look at you, all tied up. Weren’t you warned to not mess with the Hunters?”

I didn’t give him the satisfaction knowing that my kind feared the name. I didn’t want to give him that hand over me, us. I’d bite his hand a thousand times over, even if I ended up in the same position, before I gave him that satisfaction. I remained smug and just stared at him.

He grew frustrated with the lack of a reaction, “Do you not know of the HUNTERS!” He enunciated each syllable, finishing with scream until the veins in his neck turned purple. When I didn’t answer him still he paced around the room, turning his back to me until he snapped and lunged at me. His eyes were that of a savage Neanderthal as he repeatedly kicking me. My knees scrapped against the flooring as I swung back but I came back like a boomerang because of the chains on the force of his kicks. The wind was knocked out of my lungs and I grunted trying to breathe again, his steel toe boots were like a knife jabbing into my ribs. I suppressed the grunts and whines the best I could, trying to prolong the effect of pain as long as possible.

The sweat dripping down my temple mixed with the water dripping beneath me. I spat a mix of saliva and blood at him, “I only know murderers and savages that go by that name.”

He grabbed my hair forcing my head back so I looked directly into his lunatic eyes. He jerked my head to the side as he looked for something on my neck. He shifted my head to the other side to observe my collarbone, my pathetic clothing wasn’t concealing much, or anything thing at all. “The bitch doesn’t have a mate, there’s no claim marking. She’s all alone. Oh, how sad puppy, you we’re out there all alone. A rogue no one cares about if she were to disappear. A waste of space.” He roughly let go of my head tossing me out of his grip.

My head bobbed down, dizziness settled in or catching up from holding my breath. I looked down at the floor. Something I didn’t think he could physically hit, but he tore into it and left it raw and bare in front of me. My heart. Namjoon. We weren’t bonded, and I left the Kim family behind me. I really was alone.

In the reflection in a puddle underneath me I saw someone in the background walk across the room. I swallowed back the taste of iron, clearing my clouded sense of smell. I picked up the pungent smell of death that I hadn’t noticed earlier, yet the life energy that was attached to it was familiar. My eyes followed and narrowed at the man who was torturing me before the other caveman came in. He stopped and stood over the out of place table, his broad back was facing me. The pelt that I felt a connection to hung over his shoulders was old, yet the man at the table was an overgrown teenager at most.

Jared caught on that I was staring at the man at the table. “We got a special treat for you.”

The kid turned around, so I could watch him slide the syringe into the vial, pulling up the thick black liquid. He handed the syringe to Jared, and he held it up to the single flood light, flicking it with his index. “This solution here, it’s going to force you to shift. We’re going to skin you and I’ll carry your pelt around on my shoulders along with the rest of my collection.” Once he was satisfied with his taunting he looked at me smiling whole heartedly, “Surprise.”

His menacing eyes locked on my neck as he stepped towards me, the other four men in the room circled around him to watch the spectacle. I jerked back, the ropes dug into my legs and the chain whipped above me as I fought to move away, “No, don’t! Don’t do it, don’t do this! NOOOOO—AHHH!”

Namjoon stumbled on the uneven ground, the fight between the human side and the wolf was pulling his energy in all different directions. His eyes opaque in glitching obsidian as he was fought off the shift. He needed to go after Aure. He needed to bring back his mate. Fur grew at his knuckles and along his spine, his nails elongated with his fangs into a non-fictional, medieval version of a werewolf. He clumsily sprinted after Aure, groans and pleads of her name fell past his bloody lips, “Aure!”

The bonsho was tolling, his internal roaring sounding at the gate of the underworld. He could see Aure’s figure in blips in front of him, “Aure! Come back!” The trees were rustling about him and his sensitive ears were ringing at the amount of sounds that were becoming overwhelming. He kept moving forward without paying attention, just relying on his wolf to follow the scent of his mate. His foot caught on dead roots that snaked unevenly from its dead stump and he crashed, skidding along the dry soil until he hit a solid tree. His pants caught on in his downfall ripping as he was yanked forward by his beastly momentum. He growled at himself, he knew he was being reckless, but he didn’t care what happened to him. He hunched on all fours, his spine curled like a lycanthrope, yet still man and continued running.

Namjoon couldn’t see her anymore, his heart was banging continuously to those at whatever gate asking them to hear his pleas. He doesn’t want to lose her, his mate, his everything. He shouldn’t have cupped his hands around the frightened bird in his hands. He should have opened his hands, but by closing his hands thinking he was protecting her he realized it was like magic trick and she disappeared when he was too late.

The broken edges of the shrubbery and stray branches scratched against his face, but he kept running forward. The fog was picking up as he approached the hurtling river, the constant sound of unsettled water was deafening. Fog swirled like a tornado around his limbs as he raced like a bullet. He pushed through shrubbery and ended up at an empty shoreline. Namjoon skidded to a stop at the edge of the water. Why did his wolf lead him here? He looked around sniffling insistently, but her scent “ended” here. In fact, it was dancing everywhere along the water, but it was localized here. Her scent was mixing in with the layer of fog and moisture in the air.

Namjoon couldn’t feel her presence nearby. He sloshed and dove forth into the water when he couldn’t find her on the shore. What if she was in the water? What if she went down the river? What…if she drowned? The fog was messing with his senses and emotions; the lucid scent was making him angry. He thrashed in the water when he kept turning up empty. He was growing restless. He fell to his knees and let his head fall back in a roar, his tears were mixing in with the fresh water below.

The daughter had been found, but she slipped through his fingers. It was all his fault.

He trudged back to the edge of the shore and lunged at the first tree within his line of sight. He balled up his fist and let it swing with all his strength. The tree splintered upon impact, denting as his fist repeatedly met the warping wood. Wood chips fell at his feet and he didn’t stop until the tree physically began tipping over and broke. He panted heavily the fur around his knuckles and skin tore open. He rested his head against the broken stump, “What do I do? What am I supposed to do!” What would Mama Luna tell him when he comes home without Aure. He couldn’t come home without Aure, it wasn’t home…it wouldn’t be home without her anymore. What would his father say…what would his pack say? An Alpha never gives up, he’s been raised to never give up.

His nose tingled again, that sweetness, her scent wafted strongly from the river. He whipped around, his eyes searching for her, but it still looked the same. He stumbled forth, feet curving around the rocks on the shore. He searched on the floor for the strong source of her scent. His eyes caught onto the gentle flowing of a white cloth stuck to a branch jammed between rocks. He immediately grabbed it and brought it up to his nose. It was a piece of her shirt. His eyes filtered red, he couldn’t give up, “I’m not giving up. I’m not ever giving up on you Aure.”

However, finding her was something he couldn’t do alone, he needed his pack.

He let the shift take over, chomping down on the piece of clothing in his mouth and ran back towards the pack house. He ran faster than he had ever ran in his life, pushing the beast to its limits to cut any more losses in time.

He saw the lights from the outside porch flicker between the trees. He howled from the depth of his bowels. He howled in alarm until he reached the edge of the forest and the lights in almost every window turned on. He stood in the center of the field, shifting back into his human form, he tore off his shirt since it hung in shreds at his waist in ruins. His panted as the back door opened and members of the pack poured out. Eleven, tall, muscular men stood at attention in front of the of worried lot in formation. His father found way through the crowd, “Move! Son! Son, what’s wrong?”

Mama Luna stepped up her white mumu dress, “I don’t see Aure. Where is—Where’s Aure?”

He turned his face away in shame from his grandmother, “I-I…lost her. I—We need to get her back. I need help getting her back!” He held up the tattered piece of her shirt to show everyone.

Aviva gasped and stepped forward taking the piece of fabric, she choked on tears and turned to Mama Luna, “It-it’s Aure’s. This is the shirt I gave her.” She ran into Mama Luna’s open embrace, crying into her shoulder. Even Seojun, who stood amongst the eleven, face dipped in despair like the rest. They had all grown close to her in some form or respected her at least. They all felt the sense of lost.

Alpha Kim voice grew stern, “What happened?”

Namjoon looked around at the faces of his cousins, their mates, grandmother, and his father. “It doesn’t matter. Right now, we need to find her. We need to send patrols out and contact the other packs if she is in their borders. The last place I saw her was at the river, her scent fades out there. We need to move now!”

Alpha Kim turned to the pack, “You heard your Alpha, divide up and move out! Keep the line of communication open!”

Without hesitation the wolves began stripping of their clothing and shifted, striking up secondary formation. They ritually howled to the moon, asking the Moon goddess to look over them and bless them with safe travels and…to protect their Luna.

Namjoon turned back to the forest, the moon making the crystalizing sweat on his broad chest glimmer. He had his eyes focused on a single goal, he was to lead, he had to find his Luna. He had to bring Aure back, “Aure, I’m coming.”

The sliding glass door slammed open a panting, half-awake mate called out, “Wait! Alpha Kim, the phone…it’s the Hunters”

The piece of fabric that was being treasured in Aviva’s hand slipped through her fingers and fluttered down onto the grass.

The Hunters.

“NOOO!” Jared snapped his bandaged hand around my neck, encasing his soft fingers around my throat. He tightened his grip until I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t protest. The glint in his eye was swirling cynically as he overpowered me. He readjusted his fingers around the syringe so his thumb was on the depressor ready for injection. He raised his fist to plummet the syringe in my neck, “Say goodbye.”

I closed my eyes, breathing in my last breath and I used it to hum the song that brought me comfort.

The metal cage door fiercely slammed open rattling the cobblestone, “Jared! Put that down and let her go!” The grip around my throat loosened as Jared stood up right at the commanding voice to address the newcomer. The other four behind us suddenly bowed deeply bringing a hand across their chest, tapping it to stand up again and in sync shouted, “AWOO!”

I coughed and greedily sucking in air, catching my breath again.

“You fuckin’ leave the house, your daughter and wife, for this!” The husky voice screamed at the barbaric animal.

My eyes nearly exploded, I looked up and sought out the voice directly of…Papa’s. He looked nothing like the sweet old man sitting on the couch with his granddaughter. Anger rolled off his figure like tar and he looked like he just climbed out bed.

Jared yelled back at his father, “Pops, this won’t take long. This bitch was out on her own. She’s nothing more than a disgusting dog, why do you care so much?”

Two more people came into the room following Papa like a cabinet. The first thing that caught my eye was the huge blade hanging in the holster on one of the Hunter’s hip. I narrowed my eyes, the shape of it was obnoxious, he was obviously compensating for something. The same man noticed me staring and walked over to me like a child walking up to a candy store. While the others were distracted he whispered to me, “Oh, little puppy are you scared?”

I cringed, all my hair stood at attention as his words echo in my mind reawakening a suppressed face, a suppressed fear. I remembered exactly who this man was, what that knife had done to me. He was the one who cut me, marked me with the H and poured the boiling water over my back. He was the physical embodiment of my scars.

I heard the unsheathing of his knife from the holster as the blade scratched the leather. He squatted down behind me, his warm breath tickling my ear as he crudely chuckled. I held myself stable despite my gut churning in nausea. He ran a finger down my spine as he continued to whisper, “Such a pretty puppy.” I growled deep in my chest violently jerking away from him. Anger flashed over him, “Behave bitch!” He grabbed at my already forsaken shirt and ripped it leaving my back exposed. The group turned towards us, Papa’s eyes widened as our eyes met for the first time. I kept my lips tight as I stared at him, never breaking eye contact. There was that look again that I saw in Nana’s eyes, but I was still unwavered. The man behind me whistled, “Well I’ll be damned pretty pup, you got a mangled up back. I mean look at these knife…marks—.” He paused tilting his head, he then rounded about me to my front and ripped one the ties around my thigh and tore open my pants until it was bare flesh. I still kept my eyes locked on Papa’s as he watched what this monster was doing. “Holy shit! That’s…my signature. I know my H when I see one…You?” He looked up to my stoic face studying it intently, my eyes glimmer rich rose gold back at him. He huffed in disbelief, “Why didn’t I see it sooner. I remember those eyes. Just like your fathers, wow, just wow, you’re alive!”

He stood up and yanked the pelt off the young man and tossed it at my feet, “Say hello to your pops.” My eyes broke from Papa’s and stared at the pelt before me partially in the water. I felt tears brimming in my eyes, how cruel, how cruel could these people get? He chuckled noticing my distraught disposition. He crouched before me again, stepping on the pelt with his muddy boots, “You’re going to be joining him soon.”

That was the straw that broke the camels back. How dare they desecrate the body of my father! How dare they treat me like this! I lunged forth, my lower half no longer restrained and sunk my fangs into his bicep and dug in deep until I was sure my teeth clanked against bone. The room was filled with deafening screams. I was ripped off him in an instant, the teen was screaming, “Dad!”

I spit out the man’s tainted blood at his face. The man retaliated by lunged at me punching me like I was a rag doll. The pain was instant as he swung right across my face, then my chest and residual areas he felt were neglected. He spat drool in my face as if he was a snake spitting venom, “Daughter like father.”

I laughed. He’s right. I’m like my father, a fighter. I won’t give up, especially not in his presence.

The son pulled his father back away from me. I must’ve hit a major artery and the man was paling fast as I watched him being drug out. They rushed out of the room whining like piglets; nearly everyone filtered out of the room to help except for Papa, Jared and two hunters. I was far worse off, but the wolf in me made me stronger than these pathetic people who claimed themselves humans.

Funny how the giants fall when they step on rose thorns.

Papa rushed towards me, done with this petty game, but the remaining Hunters held him back upon a single finger raise command from Jared. The game just became more interesting for Jared.

Jared cooed, “You’ve grown soft old man. You’ve already taken this bitch’s father. What’s stopping us from taking her life too? She should die.”

Papa roughly jerked out of the low-level Hunters grasps and came toe to toe with his son, “Don’t you dare speak to me that way. You know I didn’t send that command, I did not kill them, I didn’t want any of this, whatever the Hunters have become. That traitor who’s in line now, he destroyed the name of the Hunters. We Hunters are the peace keepers of the supernatural, not murders.”

I whipped my head up, mouth going dry. The man who…

Jared scoffed, “Your weak politics made us weak, no one respected us because of you! You bring shame to The Hunters.”

Papa tried, “No, Jared, you have it wrong. You don’t have to do this. Think for yourself!”

Jared commanded the room turning away from his father to face me, “Chain him up too.”

Papa’s eyes narrowed, the look of betrayal crossed his eyes at his own flesh and blood. A look I knew very well. The two Hunters grabbed Papa again, but Papa struck back like lightening. He raised his elbow and smashed it against a guy’s temple, knocking him out cold. The other Hunter released Papa and rushed over to Jared in attempt to protect his superior. Papa pulled out a pistol from his back pocket and pointed it at them. “The both of you are going to walk out of this room and leave like nothing ever happened. Are we clear?”

Jared sneered, “Put the gun down old man. Don’t disappoint Mom, Pops.”

Papa without blinking his eyes angled the gun at the hooligan’s foot and shot. My ears rung and body deathly rigor as the bang ricocheted off the walls. I came back to my senses when I noticed Jared didn’t sneer back, he was losing his machoism as his father pointed the gun directly at him. Papa spoke softly, “Go tell that Head Hunter of yours that you love and respect so much, that I’m not letting this shit pass. Go whine to him, because you ain’t my son.”

When the man that had his foot shot off starts drooling and panting through his slobbering lips Jared looked over to me, “This isn’t over. I’m not done with you yet.”

The two of them limped out of the room, leaving me alone with Papa. He kept the gun facing the door until the footsteps were far enough. My heart was racing realizing we were alone. The words from earlier that were almost in passing coming back like a cement truck. Papa was the leader of the Hunters. I squirmed in my spot, the chains above me rattling, despite the pain that radiated throughout my body as I moved. I’m finally feeling the effects of the abuse on my body. I whined as I squirm away from Papa, I put my knees over my father’s pelt and dragged it with me.

Papa spoke softly, “Aure, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you…never again. I should have never hurt you. I did it to protect you. I know I’m asking a lot but trust me here…yank down on the chain.”

I stuttered, “What?”

He pointed his eyes and raised the gun up again and I yanked my hands towards me, obeying immediately. He aimed gun and shot at the chain three times. I flinched at the ugly sounds and the chain snapped. My cuffed hands fell into my lap. My hands were free but the cuffs still hung around my wrist with a chain link fringes. My nerves lit up as blood was rushing back into my limbs. He walked over to me, pocketing his gun and helped me up. I groaned and whined when he touched bruising flesh and my legs burned from kneeling so long. He murmured, “Whoa there, its going to be okay kiddo, I got you.”

He adjusted my clothing and brushed the hair out of my face, “Aure, look, there’s so much I should say to you, but we gotta get you out of here. I’ll take you home. I’m not good with this whole comforting thing, but Nana can take care of that.”

I pulled out of his embrace finding my footing, “No, I won’t go with you back there. I found a pack. I have…a family.”

“Oh,” he nodded in understanding. “I’ll bring you to there then, I’ll take you home.” There was an awkward pause, unspoken words hanging in the air, “Come on, let’s go.”

He took my hand, but I stopped him, “Not without my father.”

He nodded and let me stumble over to pick up my father’s pelt. We walked out of the room into the hallway, the cobblestone theme still continued out here. He pulled me along to follow him, I grunted at his surprisingly fast pace. It was hard to keep up when my ribs were edging at me. “Come on Aure, we’re almost there.” We turned around a corner and a brigade of men blocked off the hallway.

“Will, you look who it is! The dishonorable Ex-Head Hunter, Sir you’ve come back to visit…and you have a prisoner with you.” A tall man with numerous pelts hanging off his shoulders like a coat rack stood at the center. Jared stood directly behind the man, he really did tattle tale on his father.

God, the smell of death was overwhelming.

“Stand down Head Hunter, you will let me pass by.” Papa stood in front of me slightly.

The man chuckled, “Oh you will pass by, but not with her.” The man pointed to me. Papa’s hand tightened around mine.

“No.” Papa voice was firm. He may be old, but the vigor was still there in him.

“Suit yourself.” The men started inching forward. I looked behind us, and the wall of people started closing in. I looked at Papa and underneath his stoic face I could smell the fear. I had to think fast. If I shifted I would be better off, my wounds would hold up better and I’d be able to fight off some of these guys. We were being corner, I whispered to Papa, “I’m going to shift and take theses guys on, I’m going to mow forward. I need you to defend me, can you handle some of these guys?”

He harshly whispered back, “No, you’re too injured as is, I’m going to shot and they should back off. You can escape.”

I nearly rolled my eyes, I’m not letting history repeat itself, “Look, we need to save all the bullets we can. I’m going to shift, and I need you to trust me.” I knew these people were strong…in numbers, but if I cut them down that would give us an upper hand. I had my eyes locked on the Head hunter. I tightened the strings of the pelt around my shoulders and counted down, “3…2…1!” I couldn’t let myself be taken so easily.

I let the shift take over, the chains followed me still and weighed heavy around my wrist. I ran straight for the five men lined like a brigade at the other end. I crashed into the other end and whipped my chains around striking anyone it would land on. The odds were hopeless, but my chain was able to reach farther than my limbs. I took out two in one swing. I heard gunshots from behind me as Papa manned the other end. When I found an opening, I barked back to Papa.

“They’re getting away!” One of the men shouted in our direction.

I wasn’t large, but I could support Papa’s weight. I crouched down and tugged on his shirt. We could get away faster this way. He understood and got on and held on tight. I sprinted, an abused chain clanked against the floor and broke off serving its purpose. He gave me directions to turn at different corners, the Hunters were hot on our trail. We made it out through a back entryway, I noticed we were somewhere in the woods. None of the trees or scents from the area around me were familiar.

Papa’s truck was parked not too far off, he shouted, “Get to the truck!” I sprinted off towards the vehicle, but just before we made it gun shot rung out. I halted to a stop as the tires whined as the wheels depressurized. My fear was rekindled tenfold, my body shouting at itself move, move, please move! Papa pointed ahead, “Keep going Aure!” I kept sprinting into the tree line, even if his weight was starting to become heavy I kept going. We had to get away.

“Moon goddess, if you are real, please, let us get away.” I chanted to myself to distract myself from the demons behind me. Twigs and unkept shrubbery broke underneath me as I raced past through the fog. I could hear my heart in my ears and Papa’s panting grunts whenever I hit bumpy terrain. The shouts were still very near. Hunters were emerging and keeping up besides us. I changing up our direction each time I’d catch someone in my peripheral.

I whimpered as I heard the whizzing of arrows overhead; the sound was more unnerving than the actual devices. I tried flattening, but that only slowed me down as the arrows zinged by. I heard Papa grunt and withhold a scream before I notice an arrow flying overhead and log itself into a tree. His grip tightens around my mane. I was terrified of what was to come if I did slow. I made a split-second decision and picked up speed, the worse thing to do would be to stop.

I came to a clearing and the Hunters were already standing at the other end. It was like I was being funneled here, I never escaped I played right into their hands. I veered to a stop, snarling as I realized I was surrounded. I angled my body in such a way that Papa would be the best covered from any attacks.

The head hunter stepped out of the crowd of at least twenty individuals. He loaded his gun with purple bullets and cocked it back, “Enough, it’s over pup. There’s nowhere left to run. Let’s put you out of your misery.”

He hiked up the gun onto his shoulder and readied the trigger. I waited for the shot, but it never came. I hesitantly opened my eyes as the Head Hunter lowered the gun, then I felt it—them. In my hazy state of mind, I felt their presence tingling in my bones.

Massive silhouettes emerged from the rolling fog and wild, red eyes reflected at me. I could recognize those eyes anywhere, they belonged to Namjoon. The big wolves took light with Namjoon in the center as the number of wolves seemed to go infinitely in triangle formation from him, the epicenter. Alpha Kim was to his right, equally as large, and daunting. The two shifted into their human forms, but the feral look was still in their eyes. Namjoon whispered my name, but my sensitive ears caught it as we stared back at eachother.

Namjoon wanted to run to me, but he knew any sudden moves could mean an end. He looked me over for the briefest second and anger filled him seeing the bruises, the wet blood and the chain around my wrist. He looked at the sardonic man with contempt, but that word was too light for the weight that Namjoon felt. The guy was now in his terrain, these woods were his, and he was going to show them it was rightfully so.

I remained still in this no man land between the two clans.

Namjoon growled, the hair on his back raised, “You!”

The Head Hunter laughed, “Such eloquent words from you Namjoon.”

Alpha Kim tried to reason, “You have taken and hurt one of our own, a Luna at that. You’ve broken constitutional law Head Hunter.”

Head Hunter bellowed in laughter, “Fuck the law! Fuck the Charter! The law oppressed us and belittled us, why should I respect it. I’m done and tired of dealing with you filthy dogs and your law-abiding ways. I’m glad you’ve finally shown up, now you can collect her after were done, if you live that is. Watch me end you all here tonight! Hunters, AWOOOO!!”

The Head Hunter raised his gun to me again, “I’m starting with this one.”

The whole pack howled as Namjoon shifted back with a sickening fast cracking and adjusting of bone that carried a near heathen roar. How dare he try to harm his mate!! His massive figure sprinted forth, snarling, drool slipping from him gums. He jumped over Papa and I, eclipsing the Moon above, and crashed into the enemy. Furious that someone had hurt his mate, someone had dared to hurt me!

I was reminded of the rumors of the strength and ferocity of the Kim family. Why they were the leaders of the packs of this Nation. The war had begun, a perfect pandemonium.

It all was so sudden, blurs of furs and men tumbled together. I saw jaws of men and beast alike snapping at one another. I sprinted out of the eye of the storm, I had to get Papa out of the way and somewhere safe. I dodged strikes and blows until I could see a safe spot. I crouched down to let Papa off, setting him against a wide tree. I knew despite the strength he showed, he was at his maximum. He truly put himself on the line—for me. I nudged him with my muzzle when I noticed his eyes drooping. I didn’t want him to fall asleep on me. Papa looked at me, truly looked at me for the first time, the scars, patches, all of it. He reached up and scratched my head lovingly. He hissed when he hyperextended his injured shoulder to pet me. When he pulled his hand back it was covered in my wet blood. I whimpered at the reality. The gentle moment was fleeting, reminding me that in fact, everything wasn’t alright.

I heard panting behind us and I whipped around to look at the person that had followed us. Jared stood there with his hunter knife out in his bandaged hand, “I told you I’d be back.”

I limped into guarding position over Papa. Jared continued to slowly step towards us, so I pulled at the strings and untightened the knot of my father’s pelt cloak and let it settle over Papa’s lap. I stepped forward the cold night air hitting my patchy pelt, but my body was running like a furnace as it was healing itself. I tucked my tail between my legs and showed my fangs in a snarl. I didn’t want to fight. Papa coughed, “Jared. Stop, just stop!”

Jared screamed, “Stay out of this old man!”

Jared pulled out a vial of wolfsbane and doused his knife in it. It dripped off the sharp edge like syrup. It felt like I was watching it in slow motion as the thick globs rolled off in oversaturation. My pupils dilated in fear, he really wasn’t going to stop for anything until he got what he wanted. My hearing rung out and I heard the voice in the back of my head again, “Trust me Aure, let me help you. I need you to believe in the Moon. Believe in her.” I shook my head, but the words kept ringing louder and louder, “Believe! You have to believe!”

I closed my eyes succumbing to the assured comforting voice, and I hummed the song again. I let myself believe. When I opened my eyes again Jared faltered in his aggressive steps. My eyes were burning a near cooper, my body felt lighter, I felt like I was walking on moonlight. There was no fear, no irreconcilable smirk on my muzzle. I am a Luna.

He twirled the knife around in his hand before he sprinted for me. I jumped for it, letting him crash into a tree. I had no intention of killing him, that is not who I am. I am not a murder, I’m not them. There is no pleasure in pain of others suffering. I let him glide about me, I wanted to wear him out and conserve my energy. After a few minutes he was panting and slashing his knife about in desperation and I hadn’t even lifted a paw yet. I allowed him to get close, and I used my shoulder to knock him against a tree. He tried taking jabs at my throat, screaming in my face. He was sweating profusely, his bandage hand was red, but he didn’t stop charging at me with his jaw wide open. I didn’t anticipate his two step my chain swing coming up short and he chomped down hard on my ear. I howled and knocked my thick skull against his inebriating him senseless. He stumbled, and I took the chance pinned him to the ground.

His back ached from the harsh impact, his arms no longer felt taunt as they should, while his lower half became unresponsive from overuse. He still waved the knife at me splattering his face in specks of purple poison, but I knocked it out of his hand and the blade sunk down into the ground by his temple. He jerked about for his knife, growling at me in frustration. He arched his neck and bit onto the blade of the knife and tugged it out of the ground. His tongue refused the taste of wolfsbane as he bit on his knife and spit up letting the drool roll down his cheeks.

I loomed over his body growling him into submission. I needed him to submit. I wasn’t going to hurt him.

Papa choked, “Jared, please!” It broke my heart hearing the weak strain in Papa’s voice.

Jared kept growling back at me, unwilling to give up, unwilling to see that he was only hurting himself. I leaned down eye to eye, tooth to tooth and growled back. He kept going until his voice was thinning out. I pulled back and smashed my forehead against his temple knocking him out cold. I made sure I didn’t hurt him too much and I bit onto his shirt and dragged him near his father.

I felt a sudden rush of deep set anger and I knew that wasn’t from me, it was Namjoon. It was as if the mere thought of Namjoon summoned him as my eyes instantly attached to him and Alpha Kim fighting off a heap of men. Namjoon was head to toe with the Head Hunter. The ferocity emitting from him in that frozen second of a standoff was numbing before they were back at eachothers throats. Namjoon dodged the edge of the sword in one fluid motion. The enemy swerved with an immediate counter attack. The Head Hunters eyes were menacing, hooded with anger, rage, making his features undistinguishably to a human. He raised his sword and the clash of steel with the soil blanketed Joon in a wave of dust. The force of the strength of the plunge vibration resonated even reached my ears. It was unfair, four extra sets of hands tried to seize Namjoon as they all cave into him like ants.

I lunged forward, unthinking of the consequences, jumping into the heart of it all. I jumped onto the back of a Hunter and the guy shouted, “What the hell!” I let my body fall backwards and his body came tumbling with as I barrel rolled and flung him off with my hind legs. The thud that followed rewarded me with groans and no movement. I had the decency to feel guilty. I moved on to the next, determined to help as much as I could, even if my instincts were telling me to flee.

I heard the sick sound of flesh ripping. I felt like I was gutted when the howl echoed in my ears. I turned around, my eyes set on a single being as I channeled the Moon one last time. With my jaw open and pushed the Head Hunter off Namjoon.

I knocked the knife out of his hand and we both tumbled through the fog. He crawled back onto all fours and landed punches across me as I nipped at him. I was losing energy fast. My head was hurting unbearably as I couldn’t keep up with his vicious fist. He stood up picking up his sword and laughed when I struggled to get back up, my muscles were beyond exhausted, “Not so strong now are you!”

I heavily panted, my body shifted back into my human form without any effort. I was panting as the Head Hunter stood above me. I crossed my arm over my chest as my clothing barely covering anything. “I don’t always need strength to win,” with my free hand I clenched my fist and scooped up the soil and pelted it at him. I took the window and attempted to swipe the knife out of his hand using the chain as an extension. I miscalculated the distance between us and he wrapped his hand around my waist tightly and slammed my back against his front. The syrupy blade was brought to my neck and everyone around us stopped.

Namjoon stumbled into our radius, the cut from his knife wasn’t deep but the wolfsbane left a sting. He barked ready to throw away the moral half of himself and let the nasty rumors come to life. The Head Hunter brought the knife closer to my throat in threat. His stomach was swimming as he saw the amount of blood caked and dried on different places of my body. The swelling and bruising on the different parts of my body.

Yet, I still decided to stand tall. I swallowed hard feeling the realistic threat as it chipped away at the peach fuzz on my neck. I whined out, “N-Namjoon, just do it.”

The Head Hunter tightened his grip around my waist, “Cry out, it’ll make it all the more sweeter.” Namjoon’s eyes widened as the fog settled and he saw Papa standing behind the Head Hunter with one arm holding his bleeding shoulder, the pelt hanging over his shoulder while his other hand had a gun raised and shot without hesitation.

The world seemed to quite in that second, Papa mocked, “Like taking candy from a baby.”

The Head Hunter jolted with the incredible force, screaming as he let go of me to save himself. I stumbled forth and collapsed onto my knees. Namjoon shifted and ran up to me collecting me in his arms pulling away me at a safer distance. Alpha Kim lunged forth and yelled out commands, “Detain him, don’t let anyone escape!”

The Hunters who once seemed valiant for their caused backed away, their leader had fallen. The other members of the pack circled around them and they all backed themselves into a tight circle.

Namjoon trembling hands cupped my dirty face as tears streamed down his face, “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry for the way I reacted. I didn’t mean any of it. It wasn’t about you. It was—God, I’m so glad I found you.” His lips settled between my brows as he murmured his apologizes and he peppered kisses after each sentence.

I pulled away from him taking his cheeks between my palms, “Namjoon, it’s okay, I’m sorry too.”

I pulled away when I heard someone collapse to the floor, “Papa!” I rushed over to Papa settled his head in my lap keep his head elevated. He needed treatment and soon. “Namjoon, please, we need to help him.”

Namjoon looked over his shoulder, no questions asked, “You three take him to the pack house, one of you run ahead and warn Mama Luna that more will be arriving.”

I brushed the hair out of his face, “They’re going to take care of you Papa, I promise.”

He smiled lazily at me, “I never got to tell you this, but I’m really happy that I had you for a daughter. I’m just an old fool.”

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, “Don’t say things like that. I’ll see you soon. I have to hear Nana scold you.”

He laughed and winced at the pain. He handed me back the pelt with a squeeze of his hand over mine, “He’d be so proud of you.”

The members were gentle as they picked him up and took him away. Seojun smiled at me, his face was bruising and scratched, “Don’t worry Luna, we’ll take care of him.”

Namjoon squatted down and with little to no effort broke the chain around my wrist and helped me off the ground. My weak legs were unstable, the amount of pain I was in was beginning to feel unrealistic. But being surrounded by the scent and feeling of him again stated something deeper in me. He was here. He came to save me.

“What do we do now Alpha?” One of the members called out to Namjoon, although he expected his father to respond, the Alpha was looking to him to answer. Namjoon and I stood in front of the pack, everyone was alive standing proud, he turned to address them, “The injured will also be escorted back with someone. I want the stronger one’s half in front and in the back. Get back safe, that is my priority. Everyone fought well, the police will deal with the rest of them. Let’s move.”

The Head Hunter was manhandled as he was jerked to his feet and forced to walk behind Alpha Kim.

Namjoon pulled me closer, his gaze softened as adoration filled his teary eyes. It was indescribable the way my heart sang. The way my wolf was singing in delight. He leaned down and pressed his chapped lips against mine for a brief chaste kiss. He rested his forehead against mine, “Y/N, Aure, I’m never letting go. Never.” I nodded and whined when he caressed my temple. I was beginning to feel drowsy, my mind was swimming. He could see the haze in my eyes and cupped my face lightly with his trembling hands, “Oh God, I’m sorry, it’s okay. Stay with me Aure, we’re going to get you back home. Stay with me now.”

He shifted and let me drape across his back. I avoided putting pressure on certain areas, but the morphine of being in Namjoon’s presence made it all bearable. I clutched onto his hackle with my father’s pelt safely tucked to me. He lifted up and began trotting back home.

I’m coming back home.

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wulfiesessentials · 5 years ago

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DIY Crochet Handbag

Have you ever gone into a store or see something on TV/ Internet and say to yourself.. I can make that!!! Well… Thats what happened to me one day when I went shopping at Target. I was looking for a Tote to carry the yarn I’m not packing up for our move. I glance over and see this crochet handbag… Natural instinct is to immediately check this out.. kinda like quality control.. was it machine made or handmade crochet, etc hahaha I pick it up, examine it.. Wow. it wasn’t machine made.. hmmm Then I look at the price tag and gasp. Nope.. was not going to give a Big named store that amount of money.. I can make this!!

I give you.. The DIY Crochet Handbag 🙂

The Handbag at the store was a neutral colored stiff but still on the soft side,cotton material. So off I went to find yarn similar to this handbag. I found several that were close but still not the exact texture. Then a light bulb went off in my head.. off to the hardware department I went..

Waalaa.. I found it. Cotton twine. This has the same texture and thickness of the “store” handbag and bonus .. it was 2.84 a ball. I grab a couple and off I went to create the look a like.

Half way through making this handbag, I was thinking about the texture and durability of this bag, then my mind started to wander and all of a sudden I said to myself.. Tye Dye!! Wouldn’t it be cool if you could custom dye your handbag.

After I completed the pattern I went to the craft store and picked up some t-shirt tye dye.

To be perfectly honest, I have never Tye Dyed anything before and after the initial excitement of getting the dye, I started to get a little nervous. I didn’t read the directions of the dye before I purchased and when it came time to make it.. eeekkk. This particular dye was for Large projects and required some math to calculate a smaller batch of dye. I recommend if you are going to dye your handbag to read the directions of several types of dye before you purchase.

The dye I used was 1 packet per Gallon of water.. I cut that down into 3rds and still had dye left over.

I also decided to make some swatches to test dye. So glad I did. The twine doesn’t soak up the dye as I thought it would have. It was almost like water repellent at first. I lightly sprayed water on the first area I was going to dye first… This worked out much better.

I noticed you can actually get some neat effects when spray water on the already dyed area.. it make the dye move and creep up the twine. I started with the darker dye first but you can try many different techniques with your swatches before applying to your handbag.

Cautions with the dye.. this is fabric dye and it will stain anything it gets on.. use gloves and it is best to dye outside where spills will not ruin anything. It was raining here when I went to dye so I did dye inside. I have a stainless steel sink so I used a cooling rack over my sink to dye. For drying I transferred the cooling rack to a old cookie sheet pan.

For some extra fun.. I made 2 coaster size swatches and let my husband and daughter design their own. It also gave me other ideas on how I wanted my bag to look.

When dyeing don’t worry about areas that arent covered completely with dye..the dye will spread out while drying. Also, keep in mind the color will lighting a bit also. The picture above is when the swatches and bag where wet.

Drying… Again preferably allow them to dry outside. I was late getting this post out because I didn’t not think about dry time. They barely dried while in the house. It wasnt til a day later when I could put them outside for a few hours in the sun that they finally dried. I Do Not recommend putting them in the drier.. the dye will destroy your drier.

These pictures are of the swatches and bag fully dried. As you can see the dye faded a bit and also the areas that did not have dye filled in with color.

I added some twine to the edges of the coasters the family made. Took a wire brush and combed out the twine and made little Rug coaster. Have some extra fun with this project. This little side project made me think back to crafts we did in school.. was a nice little break away from the everyday schedule 🙂

Crochet Handbag Pattern

This bag is done in the round. It has repetitive rows. It has 2 “special” need to know stitches.. Which are a Cluster and a DC2TOG. Below are a couple links for reference on how to do the “special” stitches.

Cluster.. Mama in a Stitch ….The Cluster for my pattern is only 3DC’s

DC2TOG… New Stitch a Day

Cluster2TOG..

youtube

What you will Need…

2 Balls of Cotton twine .. I went to Walmart Hardware Dept to get the kind I used

Handbag Handles.. You can use any you wish for your handbag.. I purchased my Bamboo handles from Joanns.

Fabric Dye.. Remember to read instructions so you don’t have to make large batches of dye. Also to see if you need anything to add when making dye. I needed Salt.

Dye Bottles & Disposable Gloves

Cheap Aluminum Cookie Sheet.. If you do not have one you can use for drying handbag

5mm Hook

Scissors, Stitch Marker, Tapestry Needle

Abbreviations…

Ch. = Chain

SC = Single Crochet

DC = Double Crochet

HDC = Half Double Crochet

Sl St = Slip Stitch

SK = Skip Stitch

SM = Stitch Marker

Cluster = 3DC Cluster

DC2TOG = Double Crochet 2 Stitches together

* to * = Repeat stitch or stitches between *’s

Note.. Place SM in first stitch of every round so you can keep track of your rows

PATTERN

Ch.44 +1

Round 1.) 2nd Ch from hook SC, SC across – Turn work slightly and SC in between SC and Chain row,n Turn work slightly again ( now you will be working Chain row) SC across, turn slightly and put 2SC in between the 2 rows.

Round 2.) SC around

Round 3.) Sl St into SM SC, Ch.2, DC next stitch, DC around, DC into Ch.2

Round 4.) DC , DC, Cluster, *Ch.1 – SK – Cluster*, Repeat * to * 19 more times, DC,DC,DC,DC ( around corner), Cluster, * Ch.1 – Sk – Cluster, Repeat * to * 20 more times, DC the last 4 stitches.

Round 5.) Start with Cluster, * Ch.1 – Sk – Cluster*, Repeat * to * 19 more times, DC2TOG, DC, DC, * Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk*, Repeat *to* 21 more times, DC2TOG, DC, DC

Round 6.) *Cluster – Ch.1 – SK* Repeat *to* 20 more times, Cluster in First DC, DC2TOG, * Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk*, Repeat *to* 22 more times, DC2TOG

Round 7.) *Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk*, Repeat *to* 20 more times, DC2TOG ( cluster & dc), *Ch.1 – Sk – Cluster*, repeat *to* 21 more times, DC2TOG ( cluster & last dc)

Round 8 – 9.) Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk around

Round 10.) *Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk* repeat *to* 21 more times, Cluster2TOG, *cluster – Ch.1- Sk* repeat *to* 19 more times, Cluster2TOG

Round 11.) *Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk* repeat *to* 19 more times, Cluster2TOG, * Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk* repeat *to* 19 more times, Cluster2TOG

Round 12 -16.) * Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk*, Repeat *to* around

Round 17.) *Cluster – Ch.1 – Sk*, repeat *to* around til you reach last Cluster, In last cluster place 2 HDC’s

Round 18.) 2HDC in each previous row cluster ( not in Ch.1 space)..

Round 19.) SC around, Sl St into first SC and Finnish off.

Attaching Handles…

Depending on the type of handle you use, there is several ways to attach your Handles. On my handbag I choice 2 different ways you could attach them.

First photo is a single sewn, center hold. Second picture I placed additional wrapping on either side. Options are limitless on how you would like to attach yours.

Attach along the whole bottom half of handle, Partial attachment, etc.. Also… Keep in mind as to whether or not you want your handle “holder” to be dye’d or Natural. If you want it to match, make sure you dye some of your extra cord.

When attaching the handle you want to use a whole cluster.. So sew from bottom of cluster, up around handle and into top of same cluster and just keep going around and across the same row of clusters, til your happy with the hold and look.

Get creative with your bag.. this is your creation and it needs your personal touch 🙂

I hope you have fun with this DIY Handbag and Please let me know if you have any questions. Those that would like to share your finished handbag I would love to see them… You can post them here in Comments or #wulfiesessentials on instagram 🙂

THIS PATTERN WAS MADE AND DESIGNED BY WULFIESESSENTIALS©. YOU MAY MAKE AND SELL THE ITEMS MADE FROM THIS PATTERN, BUT PLEASE LINK BACK TO MY SITE. YOU MAY NOT ALTER, REPRODUCE, SELL OR DISTRIBUTE THIS PATTERN. DO NOT USE THE PHOTOS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PATTERN WITHOUT PERMISSION.

WulfiesEssentials© is neither paid or affiliated with any persons &/or Business mentioned in this post. Any “review” is solely my opinion based on use of the Item mentioned in this post.

The DIY Crochet Handbag DIY Crochet Handbag Have you ever gone into a store or see something on TV/ Internet and say to yourself..

#DIY #Featured #freepattern #Crochet

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citizenscreen · 6 years ago

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This tradition began four years ago when I thought of no better way to share the joy of the season on this blog than to spread the magic of movies. In a Christmassy sort of way. ‘Tis the season, after all and paying movies forward in hopes that these memorable distractions take your minds off negative goings on is now my December lot in life. I’m asking that you join me, recommend your favorites and #PayClassicsForward on your blogs and across social media.

Give the gift of movies

I realize I am publishing this post much later in December than I have in the past, which leaves you little time to play with it if you are up for the challenge. However, if you are interested here’s the challenge…pick movie recommendations to the “12 Days of Christmas” theme as I’ve done below. Keep in mind that movie choices should be those you think would appeal to non classics fans and there can be no repeats. Let’s grow our community and #PayClassicsForward

Have fun!

On the first day of Christmas, etc., etc., etc…

One dream

Excluding the mother of all dream sequences, that is when Dorothy befriends a Tin Man, a Scarecrow, and a lion in a magical land, then I must go with a telling of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classics, A Christmas Carol. I didn’t set out to choose a Christmas story for this, but perused several lists of dream sequences in movies and was shocked that Ebenezer Scrooge’s legendary journey was not even mentioned. I correct that oversight with this entry as it is a dream to fill the heart.

Of all the adaptations of Dickens’ story about morality, human frailty, and redemption the best is Brian Desmond-Hurst’s 1951 movie starring Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge. This version of A Christmas Carol is good enough to watch all the year with Sim’s nuanced, affecting performance a standout. If you are a rotten person you might want to dream as Scrooge does in this movie and if you are a kind-hearted sort you might want to be reminded of why that matters.

Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge

Two islands

I could have gone with fun times and music for this category, but decided on gloom and doom instead. Take a look and you won’t forget Earle C. Kenton’s Island of Lost Souls (1932), which features a terrifically creepy performance by Charles Laughton. Next I suggest you gather with seven guests who are picked off one by one in Rene Clair’s And Then There Were None (1945) based on one of Agatha Christie’s most famous whodunnits.

Island of Lost Souls

Before there were none in And Then There Were None

Three gentlemen

No surprise here. See everything they’ve ever done.

Four speeches

From Chaplin’s The Great Dictator (1940)

Hynkel/A Jewish Barber:

“I should like to help everyone if possible; Jew, Gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness, not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone, and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way…”

From Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972)

Don Vito Corleone:

“But I’m a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him… if he should be shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he’s struck by a bolt of lightning, then I’m going to blame some of the people in this room, and that I do not forgive.”

From Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Jefferson Smith:

“Liberty’s too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I’m free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn’t, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.”

From Robert Mulligan’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Atticus Finch:

“Now, gentlemen, in this country, our courts are the great levelers. In our courts, all men are created equal. I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and of our jury system – that’s no ideal to me. That is a living, working reality! Now I am confident that you gentlemen will review, without passion, the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision and restore this man to his family. In the name of GOD, do your duty. In the name of God, believe… Tom Robinson.”

Five golden rings

Not that kind of ring! This kind…

Mark Robson’s The Harder They Fall (1956)

Robert Rossen’s Body and Soul (1947)

Reuben Mamoulian’s Golden Boy (1939)

Michael Curtiz’s Kid Galahad (1937)

Edward G. Robinson and Bette Davis in Kid Galahad

Eddie Buzzell’s The Big Timer (1932)

Ben Lyon and Constance Cummings in The Big Timer

There are quite a few great boxing movies that most have seen like the ones with that Balboa guy. I chose a few that you may not have and should. By the way, I want extra points with Santa for not listing Elvis’ Kid Galahad (1962).

Six Acting-related Stories

Assuming everyone has seen Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, Joseph Mankiewicz’s All About Eve, and the Donen/Kelly vehicle with dignity, always dignity, Singin’ in the Rain then I suggest the following glittering stories…

Victor Fleming’s Bombshell 1933)

George Cukor’s A Double Life (1947)

Robert Florey’s Hollywood Boulevard (1936)

Joseph Pevney’s Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

Graeme Clifford’s Frances (1982)

Stuart Heisler’s The Star (1952)

The Star

Bombshell

Man of a Thousand Faces

Frances

Hollywood Boulevard

A Double Life

Seven drinks

I thought it’d be fun to spread the joy with ideas for classic imbibing. Here are just seven of the many drinks had throughout yesteryear in the movies.

The Thin Man Martini

“…a Manhattan you shake to a Foxtrot, a Bronx to a two-step, but a Dry martini you should always shake to waltz time.”

1 1/2 oz Dry Gin

3/4 oz Dry Vermouth

Instructions:

Pour into a cocktail shaker, shake and strain into a chilled martini glass.

The Casablanca Champagne Cocktail

Victor Laszlo’s drink.

Champagne Cocktail 1 bitters-soaked sugar cube 1 oz brandy or cognac Brut champagne Twist of lemon, for garnish

Place your sugar cube on top of the bitters bottle. While holding it in place with your finger, flip the bottle upside down until the sugar cube is saturated. Drop the sugar cube into a champagne flute and add your cognac or brandy. Top with Brut champagne, garnish with lemon and enjoy.

Margo Channing and the “bumpy night” Gibson

This cocktail is also notable for making a cameo in the train car in North by Northwest, but Margot gets the official shout out today.

Gibson Classic Cocktail

4 parts gin 1 part dry vermouth pearl cocktail onion Combine the gin and vermouth in a shaker over ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pearl onion.

The Some Like it Hot Manhattan

This whiskey cocktail is popular in Wilder’s film and best served after stirring/mixing with a drumstick, cymbal, and hot water bottle on a trail with Sweet Sue and Her Society Syncopaters.

Ingredients:

2 oz bourbon 1 ox Italian sweet vermouth 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Recipe:

Combine all the ingredients in a shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and enjoy.

Blue Hawaii Mai Tai

1 oz white rum

½ oz Orgeat syrup

½ oz Cointreau

2 oz pineapple juice

1 oz orange juice

Dark Rum float (such as Koloa dark rum)

Pineapple spear and lime (for garnish)

Mix white rum, Orgeat, Cointreau, pineapple and orange juices in a shaker filled with ice. Pour drink into a glass with the ice, and float the dark rum on top. Top with pineapple spear and lime wedge.

Made by Angela Lansbury this is sure to be a hit at any party.

The Breakfast at Tiffany’s Mississippi Punch

2 oz / 50 ml cognac 1 oz / 25 ml bourbon 1⁄2 oz / 12.5 ml lemon juice 1⁄2 oz / 12.5 ml sugar syrup 1 oz / 25 ml dark rum

Shake all the ingredients except the rum with crushed ice and pour into a Collins glass, unstrained. Top the glass with more crushed ice, gently pour over the rum and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

The Scotch Mist from The Big Sleep

It’s important to offer a darker choice so I went for the kind of drink a femme fatale would order when sitting next to Humphrey Bogart.

Ingredients :

2 oz. whiskey (whiskey, bourbon)

2 oz. crushed ice

1 twist lemon peel

Pack a collins glass with crushed ice. Pour in scotch. Add the twist of lemon peel and serve with a straw. No garnish because garnish doesn’t fit in a dirty little world.

Eight silents

I know many classic film fans that have not taken the journey into silent film. That was me when I started this blog, but since I’ve made a concerted effort to watch a silent film when time allows. There’s no doubt I would recommend some of the popular greats to the silent movie novice, or films made by the three comedy megastars and the likes of Metropolis or Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, to name just two. This past year I saw most of the following lesser-known gems for the first time and recommend them without hesitation.

Victor Sjöström’s The Wind (1928)

Erich von Stroheim’s Foolish Wives (1922)

Per Lindberg’s Norrtullsligan (The Nortull Gang ) (1923)

Leo McCarey’s Mighty Like a Moose (1926)

Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle’s The Cook (1918)

Lois Weber’s Suspense (1913)

Paul Leni’s The Cat and the Canary (1927)

Fred Guiol’s Duck Soup (1927)

Duck Soup

Foolish Wives

Mighty Like a Moose

Norrtullsligan

Suspense

The Cat and the Canary

The Cook

The Wind

Nine Child Performances

No explanation needed for this lot of talented young ‘uns.

Roddy McDowall in John Ford’s How Green Was My Valley (1941)

Patty McCormack as Rhoda in Mervyn LeRoy’s The Bad Seed (1956)

Salvatore Cascio as Toto in Giuseppe Tornatore‘s Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Jackie Coogan in Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid (1921)

George Winslow in anything, but for now I’ll go for his performance in Howard Hawks’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Enzo Staiola as Bruno in Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Virginia Weidler as Dinah Lord in George Cukor’s The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Patty Duke as Helen Keller in Arthur Penn’s The Miracle Worker (1962)

Eva Lee Kuney as Trina in George Stevens’ Penny Serenade (1941)

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Ten Stars and their Dogs

I recently read a startling statistic. It turns out that dogs given to children for Christmas often end up in pounds. Having a pet is a huge responsibility and it should be a choice for life, rather than looked at as a toy. So, if you are inclined to purchase a puppy or kitten for Christmas and haven’t thought about it carefully, spend your time looking at these images instead…

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Cat lovers can feast their eyes on this gallery of Cats and Movie Stars.

Eleven heist movies

Jules Dassin’s Rififi (1955)

Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956)

Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Joseph Sargent’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Norman Jewison’s The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

Raoul Walsh’s High Sierra (1941)

Jean-Pierre Melville‘s Bob Le Flambeur (1956)

Robert Siodmak’s Criss Cross (1949)

Mario Monicelli‘s Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)

Fabián Bielinsky‘s Nueve Reinas (Nice Queens) (2000) – I was introduced to this Argentine gem during a course I took on heist films. It immediately became a favorite. Although it’s a contemporary movie, I know all classics fans would love it. It’s a twisty, well-acted labyrinth that’s well worth your time.

Twelve Days

I would have included Dog Day Afternoon and The Taking of Pelham… here, but no repeats allowed. These are movies with stories that take place in one day.

Fred Zinnemann’s High Noon (1952)

George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1958)

Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men (1957)

Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979)

Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950)

Mike Nichols’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolfe? (1966)

Sidney Lumet’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night (1962)

Walter Hill’s The Warriors (1979)

Carl Th. Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Fleming, Cukor et al…The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Till next year, my friends.

#PayClassicsForward

Aurora

#PayClassicsForward for Christmas This tradition began four years ago when I thought of no better way to share the joy of the season on this blog than to spread the magic of movies.

#12 Days of Movies #Classic Movie Recommendation #Movie Recommendations #Pay Classics Forward #Pay Classics Forward for Christmas

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