#ruthie taylor

[theflannelwizard]

& don’t kill mrs. taylor’s kids…

[arcane-vagabond]

This just in: @goldenseresinretriever hates me and doesn’t want me to be successful in any way 😔

[tagsecretsanta]

From @janetm74

From @janetm74 to @the-original-sineater

Dodecuplet: 12 musical notes performed in the time of the same value.

Or: 12 Christmas Eves over the years.

With much help from @mariashades

Prompts: 1) SCIENCE!! 2) Holiday in the Tropics  3)Odd family food traditions.  

One:  Scotland

Lucille Charlotte Evans met Amelia Candice Barclay on a wet and windy day in late August on the steps of a large house in St Andrews.

It was an inauspicious meeting. Lucille – Lucy to her friends – had just climbed out of a taxi and was about to drag her suitcase up the stairs when a gust of wind blew it out of her hands and she suddenly found herself racing down the hill after it.

Amelia happened to be the one who stopped it, or rather, was sent flying by it, and the two women, both strangers to Scotland, found themselves seated together in St Andrews Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit while waiting for Amelia’s ankle to be x-rayed.

It turned out to be only badly sprained and a very guilty Lucy offered to take Amelia back to her home only to find out they were neighbours, sharing the same student accommodation only on different floors.

They quickly became firm friends by the end of the day, fuelled on the rather unusual local delicacy of deep-fried pizza, chips and cheap red wine.

Lucy was studying Astrophysics and Computer Science. Amelia was studying Economics and Social Anthropology. None of their classes overlapped but they had sections of time that did, and they often sat together in the University library or camped out in one of the museums in an out-of-the-way corner.

That first Christmas they both should have spent with their respective families but heavy snow grounded airflight and so they holed up in Amelia’s room and ate the only food they could scrounge up on Christmas Eve – haggis, neeps and tatties with  a dessert called cranachan and good whisky.

It was the weirdest feast both women had ever eaten. And the beginnings of a tradition they both tried hard to keep while in Uni together – Christmas Eve was always holed up in one of their rooms with their Scottish feast.

Two: Kansas

Ruth bustled around the farmhouse, singing at the top of her voice. The radio was blasting the top 100 tunes from the 80s and she was bopping as she plated food and wrapped them ready for the party.

‘Grant, hun, do you want a drink?’

‘Thanks, Ruthie, that would be lovely.’

She took out a bottle of root beer and watched with a fond smile as he turned the ribs in the smoker. No one cooked meat like her husband did, and while his Kansas BBQ beef was legend locally, so good that even Miss Ella had said she’d buy any leftovers off him – there were never any leftovers with her husband and son – but what Grant was really famous for was his Sweet Southern Slow-Cooker Ham.

Giving him a quick squeeze from behind Ruth returned to the kitchen to finish prepping all the cold foods they would need. It might be winter and cold here in Kansas but their Christmas wouldn’t be complete without the mounds of potato salad, coleslaw, soul food macaroni and pickles to go with the ham and burnt ends.. They’d never really been a turkey kind of family, reserving that bird exclusively to Thanksgiving.

Once Ruth had wrapped all the sides and packed them away she set about cleaning the house from top to bottom. A spick and span house she could do, cooking not so much, not unless you liked burnt as a flavour and a texture.

The day passed on and as it did so did the excitement in the household. Jeff was coming home today from NASA and he was bringing his best friends Lee Taylor and the Caseys. They hadn’t seen Jeff since the spring and as the sun began to go down the sound of a truck in the driveway heralded their guests.

Christmas Eve had become the traditional day they ate their meal and had done ever since the day they had married, with Ruth’s commitments at the local clinic they had always put other families ahead of their own, letting the workers have Christmas Day instead. Jeff had grown up knowing no different and loved having their celebrations a day early.

Arms snaked around her waist as Ruth put the kettle on and a head rested on her shoulder.

‘Ma, I swear you get younger every year.’

‘Flattery will not get you out of the dishes, Jefferson.’

‘Mmm, I’ll happily wash the dishes if Pa’s made his Ham and Burnt Ends.’

‘Stop asking stupid questions and take the coffees through.’

Jeff laughed and took the tray his Mom indicated.

Three: Kent

Lucy and Amelia’s friendship lasted long past University. It lasted the distance of the Atlantic Ocean.

NASA had snapped up Lucy once they’d seen her dissertation but despite the distance they chatted regularly and met up at least once a year, and always on Christmas Eve.

This year was going to be different.

This year Amelia had married.

It Amelia’s turn to host Christmas Eve dinner, and Lucy had brought her fiancé. They hadn’t been going out long but from the chats the two women were having Amelia knew this was the one.

She was eager to see her best friend again and hopeful that Lucy would get on with her husband. She’d laughed a good solid 10 minutes when she’d found out that Hugh was actually Lord Hugh Creighton-Ward, 11th Earl of Kent and that plain old Amelia Candice Barclay was to become Lady Amelia Creighton-Ward.

Speaking of her husband, she put down the spoon she was using to mix the swede and carrot mash and went to find him. It came as no surprise that he was holed up in his office – that Stanley the butler insisted on calling his ‘study’ – even on Christmas Eve. Her husband’s work for the Home Office didn’t stop just because it was an international holiday.

Knocking, she waited for his call before entering, and Amelia broke out into a grin at Hugh’s rueful face.

‘You caught me, Me!’

‘I did, Hugh. Are you done? Our guests should be arriving shortly.’

‘And you want me front and centre. Understood.’

‘I want you to be your usual witty self, my love.’

Hugh laughed and put his file back away in his safe before following his wife out to the kitchen. He pulled up a seat at the table and watched his wife putting the final touches to the meal they would shortly be serving.

He couldn’t believe this beautiful, amazing woman had agreed to marry him. He was ten years older, in a stodgy job and a member of the elite British aristocracy. The day his chauffeur accidently crushed her bike while parking was the day his life had changed. She’d been like a spitfire, giving first Grandy and, when she found out he was ‘just the chauffeur’ Amelia had turned to him and given him such a mouthful.

No one had ever spoken to him like that and by the time the lecture had finished he was smitten. They were engaged by the end of the month. Amelia had been a breath of fresh air to the estate. For a start off she worked closely with the staff to bring them more in line with the 21st Century and after some sweeping changes life had settled into a new routine.

Amelia loved to cook and Hugh had suddenly found that he loved to be in the kitchen, a place he’d never really frequented even as a boy. He loved watching her at work. She danced and sang unreservedly and created magic. He’d never eaten such food, and some of their meals had a distinctly Scottish flair on certain days, and his introduction to the national dish of haggis had been…interesting.

Now he was being inducted into another of Amelia’s traditions, the Scottish Feast on Christmas Eve. Amelia’s best friend Lucille was coming over from America with her partner Jeff. He’d met Lucy a couple of times but he knew Jeff by reputation.

Jefferson Tracy, first man on Mars. Everyone knew him. And now Hugh was about to have the man stay at the house with him. It didn’t faze him, he’d hobnobbed with the cream of British aristocracy and foreign diplomats, he was sure he could handle a hot-shot American.

They were going to eat relatively quickly after they arrived, it was late already and just as Amelia placed the last prepared dish into the aga a knock sounded on the door. She grinned at Hugh, grabbed his hand and pulled him along behind her as they made their way to the door.

Opening it the two women may have squealed – not that either were going to admit that – and the two men shook hands before Jeff pressed a bottle of Pappy Van Winkles Family Reserve. Impressed at the gift, Hugh stood aside and allowed them entry.

‘Good evening. Hugh Creighton-Ward. Please call me Hugh.’

‘Jefferson Tracy. Please call me Jeff. Thanks for invitin’ us.’

‘My pleasure. I hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for.’

‘Lucy has been talking about nothing else for weeks.’

They settled into the kitchen rather than the dining room and Amelia passed around the hot toddies she’d prepared.

By the time dinner was over both men were firm friends and a new tradition had been created, with the invitation for the Creighton-Wards to come to Kansas next year.

Four: Dibrugarh

This Christmas Eve was going to be different.

Jeff, Lucy and their four children were off to Dibrugarh in India. Hugh, Amelia and their daughter Penelope had moved out early in the year ostentatiously to take on a job overseeing a tea plantation. The heat wasn’t really agreeing with Penny, but the ten-year-old was being a trooper.

The plane ride was long but enjoyable. They had flown from Kansas to Chicago and spent the day in the Windy City before sleeping overnight and taking the longest flight the boys had ever been on, 14 hours from Chicago to Delhi. With any other children it would probably have been difficult, but all boys had grown up flying, Scott starting at two months old. From Delhi to Dibrugarh, the last stretch being a little over three hours.

Hugh met them at the airport and drove them to a large villa on the outskirts of the town. It was obviously a new build but it was light and spacious and airy, just right for the temperature.

Drinks called Sherberts were given out and rather than collapsing in a tired heap Jeff and Lucy watched in amusement when the boys got a second wind, following Penny out and exploring while it was the adults who collapsed in a heap.

‘God, Hugh, I thought it would be hot in India!’

‘Not at this time of year.’

They laughed over drinks and chatted while the children ran in and out the rooms, even Penny coming out of her shell to join the boys in a game of tag.

Christmas Eve this year was not the Scottish Feast but an Indian one in the style of a Thali. Bhaat (steamed rice), Dal, Bhendir Sarosi (okra in mustard sauce), Lau Tenga (bottle gourd), Aloo Pitika (potatoes), Xaak Bhaji and the sides Kharoli – a papaya chutney and Assamese pickle, all washed down with a drink called Khar.

None of the Tracys were expecting a mild but highly spiced vegetarian meal, but they all enjoyed what was put before them, the boys in particular loving the open nature of the food and that they not only could help themselves from the central tray but that they could eat with their fingers. The meal was finished off with a selection of Indian sweets and glasses of Mango Lassi.

Scott declared that Indian sweets were almost as good as apple pie to the laughter of all. Lucy spent time with Amelia and the two woman who had helped cook the feast, taking notes and looking forward making some of these dishes once she’d returned home.

The evening ended with presents as usual and a happy puppy pile of Tracys and Creighton-Wards wrapped up tightly in blankets as fireworks lit up the sky.

Five: Fiji

Lucy rubbed her bump. She was getting big and pretty soon she’d have to stop flying. This was going to be their last holiday before baby number five was born.

Their Christmas vacation place this year held a double purpose. Not only were they holidaying in the tropics to give Lucy and John some much needed summer sun after both had been hospitalised with severe pneumonia, but they were here for a surprise Christmas present.

Jeff had been so secretive, the only indication of what he’d been up to was the location. Lucy looked out the window of their private jet as Jeff brought them into land. The ocean was so clear and sparkling!

Fiji was hot in comparison to Kansas, and for that first day Lucy just rested on the beach and baked. And boy did she feel better that evening! John too had some colour to his cheeks and Jeff relaxed a little, seeing that he’d made a good choice.

They had three days before the Creighton-Wards would join them. There was sadness at the thought. Penny had returned to England after a year in India, citing the weather as a reason, although Jeff and Lucy had their suspicions as to the real reason, but they would never ask and put their relationship under strain. It would be the first time Hugh and Amelia had seen their daughter for two years.

The boys understood to give the family room, and after an afternoon spent swimming and exploring the beach they returned to the villa to find the Creighton-Ward’s in their own puppy pile, evidence of tears long dried on all faces.

That evening they rested and just reorientated themselves around each other after missing last year.

Christmas Eve began with more swimming and sun lounging, with a thirteen-year-old Scott trying out some waterskiing for the first time. Lunch was going to be their Lovo Feast. Plates of Kokoda, Palisami, Fish Lolo and Vakalolo for dessert.

The food was some of the strangest they had ever eaten. Gordon’s face when he saw the raw fish made everyone laugh. But soon they had eaten their fill and rested and then Jeff was chivvying them all to the airport for his surprise.

The jet had been refuelled and was ready for them all but Jeff refused to say where they were going. He banned everyone from the cockpit…and that was when the Tracy family realised that the windows had been blacked out.

They had no way of knowing where Jeff was flying them…

It wasn’t too long a journey and they had soon landed. Jeff let them out and held Lucy close as she looked at where they were.

It was an island. Behind them a mountain rose up, in front and below them was a cove and a small patch of sandy beach. There was a gasp from every individual as they stepped off the plane onto the tiny runway. Her husband pulled her close and kissed her head.

‘Jeff?’

‘Do you like it?’

‘Like it…? What have you done?’

‘Done? Why, I’ve bought us an island to holiday on and eventually retire to.’

‘Oh.’

‘Oh? Is that all you can say?’

Lucy turned in his arms and kissed him soundly to the whistles and catcalls of their boys.

‘Was that enough words?’

‘Yes. Boys, Hugh, Amelia, Penny – welcome to Tracy Island.

Six: Kansas

This year Christmas was cancelled.

Scott tried his hardest but no one had the heart for it. With Alan still only a baby really at 21 months old there didn’t seem a point as he wouldn’t miss Christmas if they didn’t do it, and none of his other brothers had been able to muster up enough…drive, desire, want – Scott didn’t know what to call it – to do anything this year. And he couldn’t blame them.

They were never going to be whole again.

Seven: New York

It had been a battle Scott had lost despite fighting bitterly.

Jeff had sunk himself into Tracy Industries since their Mom and Grandpa’s death and the business had gone from strength to strength. And then earlier in the spring Jeff had hit a milestone, opening his headquarters in a new skyscraper in New York of all places as the first of many in an empire that was now beginning to go global.

This year had also seen changes at home, with both Scott and John leaving for their respective colleges and Gordon beginning to become a serious contender with his swimming. The Squid was going to go places – namely the Olympics – and he’d been pestering his Dad to let him attend a residential school that catered for Olympic hopefuls.

This Christmas Jeff had put his foot down. It was the first one since his boys had left and he was going to make the most of it.

Unfortunately, ‘make the most of it’ meant that instead of celebrating in a relaxed atmosphere at home they were all dressed up – suited and booted – and at Tracy Tower for the staff Christmas Party.

Scott had had words about dragging his brothers here, how it was unfair of Jeff to schedule the party on today of all days, but Jeff had held firm and dismissed him with a wave of his hand and the cutting remark that Scott didn’t know what he was talking about.

They had stopped talking for the last two days, but Scott was determined to give his brothers the best Christmas ever and had taken them all to Central Park that day and spoiled them rotten.

The staff party itself was actually fine, and Scott began to relax as it became clear that this was not one of his Dad’s networking meetings. A small band was playing Christmas pop tunes and people were dancing.

The food was…well, the food was delicious but there just wasn’t enough of it. Aware enough that if he ate as much as his stomach was telling him he needed to he’d probably get into trouble, Scott nibbled sadly as he wandered the room and looked out for his brothers.

John had brought a book and had curled up in a chair in the corner, resolutely ignoring all attempts at conversation. Virgil was currently under one of the tables, his sketch book out and another page being filled with whatever took the artist’s eye. Gordon was on his best behaviour, their dad making it absolutely clear that any discussion about him leaving home depended on his ability to show he was mature enough for it. And little Alan was with John, sitting under his chair and playing with the build-a-rocket kit that Scott had bought him earlier that day.

A hand on his shoulder had him freeze until a familiar voice sounded in his ear. Grinning, he turned and took in the sight of Penny, dressed in a…a…well, in a pink dress. Scott had no fashion sense; he had no idea what she was wearing.

But she looked stunning.

He took her hand and kissed it before offering her the floor, and at her slight nod Scott swept her up in a dance.

Maybe today wasn’t going to be a total loss after all…

Later that night the three eldest and Penny lay sprawled over the couch munching pizza and drinking pop as their fathers chatted over whisky in the kitchen. If Scott had his arm around Penny and if Penny was snuggling into his embrace well no one was going to mention it.

Eight: London

Penny hopped from foot to foot, much to Parker’s amusement. And he hoped that this Christmas would be a turning point for his ward.

They had buried Lady Amelia Creighton-Ward that spring and it had hit her daughter harder than expected. After spending so long apart, the news that her parents were moving back to England had filled Penny with hope for the opportunity to get to know them all over again, but they’d barely been back when her mother got sick.

The family that Penny was expecting had been instrumental in helping her through, and in particular the eldest, who would be arriving before everyone else since he was currently based in Germany.

She’d be lying if the thought of having Scott to herself hadn’t sparked something in her heart. Ever since that Christmas in Fiji they had been getting closer, and Scott had been calling her regularly since her mum…yeah, he knew how she felt, what she was going through. They would talk for what felt like hours even though each call was only around 30 minutes.

And there he was!

A head higher than everyone else, Scott strode confidently across the airport, looking for Penny. A shift in the crowd drew his attention, and Scott grinned as he saw Penny standing there, oblivious to the way the crowds parted for her – assisted in no small part from the grim expression on her guardian, Parker. He saw the moment she saw him, her smile lighting up the atmosphere.

Scott quickened up and, dropping his duffle at her feet, he caught her about the waist and swung her up and around, cherishing her laughter as she rested her hands on his shoulders.

They were staying in what Penny had called ‘the town house’. That term had not prepared Scott for the four-story house in the heart of Knightsbridge. Parker took Scott’s bag to his room and made his way to the kitchen where he prepared tea as slowly as he could. His Lady needed Scott right now.

He found them in the front drawing room, seated on the sofa. Scott was holding a sobbing Penny and he offered Parker a small smile as he tightened his hold. Parker sat the tray down and made a tactful withdrawal.

The next morning Parker drove them to the airport to pick up the rest of the Tracy family. He watched his ward and the boy through the mirror. She was looking brighter, and something loosened in his heart.

Parker watched as the boys gave his lady hugs and surrounded the pair before they swarmed through the airport to the car. They filled the space with a comfortable noise, both in the car and in the house, and they helped Penny relaxed even more.

Lil had made a light lunch so that the dinner could be the Christmas Eve feast Lord Hugh had asked her to prepare. After lunch Parker had taken Jeff to go and collect Hugh from his office and the rest settled down to watch some Christmas movies.

Scott and Penny were on one sofa, with Alan sitting on his brother’s lap and leaning back against him. John was sitting on the floor between Penny and his brother while Virgil and Gordon were curled up on the other sofa. All four brothers were asleep before the movie was even halfway through, their body clocks not yet adjusted to all the time they’d spent flying, and Scott and Penny let them snooze on so that they’d be fresh for the evening.

The smells from the kitchen soon roused the boys, and there was much amusement when Scott returned from there with red ears, red cheeks and a red hand. He slid back into his seat just as their fathers arrived home. There were more hugs and some chatting and then Parker returned to announce that dinner was ready.

Lillian had been given a very specific feast to create, a mixture of the family favourites. It was one of the most eclectic dinners she’d ever put together. It shouldn’t have worked, but for some reason it did. Lil reckoned it was because of who they all were, Parker wasn’t so sure, muttering under his breath about ‘boys’ and ‘cast iron stomachs thanks to Mrs Tracy senior’.

Haggis held court with baked ham with glazed vegetables. Plates of Fish Lolo sat next to Xaak Bhaji and sides of Kharoli and steamed Bhaat and to top it all off there were several desserts.

The families didn’t quieten down at all as food was consumed. And Parker was pleased to see his master and mistress begin to smile genuinely for the first time in a long time.

Nine: Germany

Jeff sat in the chair and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before stretching as much as possible while still sitting in the ridiculously uncomfortable chair.

He must have made a sound he was unaware of as a low moan came from the bed and Jeff sat forward carefully, picking up Scott’s hand as carefully as he could, mindful of the canula and the still-healing digits.

But Scott didn’t wake fully and after he settled back to sleep Jeff sighed.

A nurse entered with a tray and set it down on the table before pulling out her pad and recording details from the machines still attached to his son.

He took a deep breath.

His son.

His son was here.

Scott was here, alive.

Scott was alive.

Jeff still couldn’t believe Scott was there, and he gently kissed his son’s hand and placed it back on the bed.

‘Mr Tracy?’

‘Uh…yes?’

‘I brought you a meal.’

‘A – a meal?’

‘It’s Christmas Eve, Mr Tracy. We don’t have much, it is a military hospital after all, but we have a little. I don’t know what you eat but I brought some ham, turkey and some vegetables. And I’m sorry but I could only get green Jello for dessert.’

‘Nurse…?’

‘Abby. Please, sir, call me Abby.’

‘Abby, I am very, very touched by this.’

‘You are more than welcome, Sir.’

He eyed the tray, not inclined in the least to try and eat anything and turned back to watching Scott. Jeff didn’t pay any more heed to the nurse, but as she left she paused in the doorway.

‘Colonel Tracy, I just want you to know that your son is in the very best of hands and we’re proud to be looking after him.’

‘Thank you, Abby. That – that means a lot.’

‘I know you don’t want to eat, but Scott needs you to be strong so please try and eat something.’

‘I – I will.’

The door closed quietly and Jeff looked at the tray again. Green Jello had been the dessert Virgil had loved the most, fighting his brothers for it, invariably being rescued by Scott snatching it out of Gordon’s hands. Scott’s was always the red one, much like Alan. Stifling a sob at the memory, Jeff picked up the Jello and ate it slowly as he watched his son’s chest rise and fall.

Ten: Argentina

It was a heavy feeling of déjà vu as Jeff sat at another bedside and held the hand of another son who he’d believed was dead, but turned out Tracys were determined people, for which Jeff thanked his Irish ancestors.

Another bed, another military hospital, another Christmas away from the rest of his boys as he tried to keep one alive.

He’d never believed that anyone could come back more injured than Scott. His eldest had been held and tortured in a supposed POW camp for three months and had his arm and leg bones broken. Many had healed incorrectly and Scott had needed multiple surgeries to reset breaks. But that had needed to wait until he was better ��� if the double pneumonia, sepsis and malaria didn’t kill him first.

But Gordon, in typical younger sibling energy, had outdone his eldest brother.

The hydrofoil crash had claimed the lives of all the crew, and for almost half an hour Gordon too, but the paramedics had been able to bring him back from the dead. And when Jeff had finally managed to get someone to talk to him he had found out that Gordon had broken almost every bone, including his spine.

Even as he sat stunned at the news Scott had corralled everyone he knew to try and look for a solution to get his brother walking again, refusing to believe that their Squid could lose that ability.

Brains had come up with the solution, working closely with the spinal surgeons and physios to replace the broken sections of vertebrae and nerves with a Cahelium scaffolding framework.

Gordon had had the first surgery yesterday. He was still under; the operation had taken all day and most of the night and the anaesthesia was yet to wear off. Jeff began massaging the hand he held, humming one of Lucy’s tunes as he did in an effort to both stir Gordon and comfort them both.

‘I haven’t heard you hum that tune for a long time.’

Jeff looked to the door where Scott stood, a bad in one hand and two coffees in the other. His cane was nowhere in sight and he frowned at his son. Scott half-shrugged, completely unapologetic and Jeff sighed in exasperation.

‘How is he?’

‘Same as he was before you left for coffee.’

‘Yeah…’

Scott trailed off. Being here in these circumstances…it was bringing back unwanted memories. He’d bolted a couple of times, but he was getting better at staying. Having a younger sibling who needed him was helping him cope better with the trauma he’d been through himself.

This time he’d left willingly, for coffee. And returned with more. He took something from the bag before handing it to his Dad. Jeff wasn’t surprised to see an apple Danish in Scott’s hand and one in the bag for himself.

They solemnly tapped their cups together.

‘Merry Christmas, Dad.’

‘Merry Christmas, Scott.’

‘Do…Do you think you can keep it down? How’s a Squid supposed to sleep?’

It was the first genuine smile either man had smiled for a long time.

Eleven: International Rescue

There was an air of festivities on Tracy Island the like they hadn’t had for a long time. Everyone was here, both family and friends.

International rescue had been operating for almost eight months, and in that time their reputation had gone from strength to strength. Lee Taylor, Tim and Val Casey and Jeff had been the founders, but the last four months Jeff and Lee had been training Scott, John and Virgil to take their roles in the organisation set up in honour of their Mom.

Christmas on the island was polar opposite to Kansas where they had grown up. December was quite warm – around 70°F compared to about 25°F in Kansas – and although they’d officially lived on the island for a few years now, this was the first Christmas all the Tracys, the Creighton-Wards, the Kyranos and Brains were together. Only the Caseys and Lee were missing, Tim and Val unable to get out of work at the GDF due to some top-secret test (that Scott and John absolutely did not know about, no sir, they did not know about the Zero-X at all) about to occur and Lee because he was back on Alphie, trying to persuade NASA not to destroy their beloved base.

Virgil had been acting oddly all week, and once John had come down he’d joined him, they immediately stopped whatever they were doing every time Jeff walked into the same room. He’d caught whispers about something lost, but to be honest Jeff was just revelling in having all five boys and Tanusha under the same roof for once.

Their Dad wasn’t the only one who had noticed John and Virgil’s odd behaviour. Both Scott and Gordon had, but Scott had his hands full with Alan, the eight-year-old had clung to his eldest brother like a limpet, not that Scott minded, but that meant leaving Gordon to find out what was going on…Gordon promised that he would behave but Scott knew better than to trust that kind of promise – there were many shades to “behaving” when it came to Gordon and Scott was well versed in his prankster brother’s ability to create loopholes. Both brothers would vehemently deny it, but when it came to finding loopholes in something John and Gordon were identical. Scott himself would deny that he and Gordon were the same when it came to pranks, but he’d be lying just as much as John would be…

Whatever they were trying to do also involved Virgil’s studio. The place was a strict ‘invite-only’ place, but Virgil had taken to locking the door – both when he was out of the studio and when he was inside – and had lived up to his “bear” reputation when Scott had tried to find out what they were up to. He had backed away quickly when Virgil literally growled at him.

As the week progressed the smells coming from the studio were mouthwatering, though, and as time passed more and more Scott found himself wandering past trying to work out what the two were up to.

All anyone could work out was that it was definitely *ham* that was being cooked, but why it needed such secrecy was anyone’s guess.

Christmas Eve dawned clear, bright and hot. Breakfast was a riotous affair with so many people, an eclectic mix of traditional American, English and Malay foods meaning everyone had something they enjoyed.

Dinner was due that evening, giving everyone all day for whatever activities they had planned. Games were played, films played in the background. Lunch was a spread of finger food for them to help themselves as they so wished.

Virgil and John disappeared back into the studio. Out of the kiln Virgil pulled the latest attempt at recreating Grandpa Grant’s Baked Ham. This was their fifth attempt but, as tasty as the ham was, it was missing something. Virgil sighed despondently as John’s hand landed on his shoulder and gave him s squeeze.

‘I really wanted this to be ready for tonight but – *sigh* – it won’t be.’

‘It would have been nice, I agree, but you’re really close!’

‘Not close enough, John.’

‘We can do this, Virgil! It’s just a matter of using science and all our taste and memories to work out what Grandpa’s secret ingredient was!’

‘The secret ingre….’

The klaxon drowned out whatever else was going to be said and both men legged to the lounge where the command centre had already been engaged.

‘There’s a problem with the Zero-X launch. Scott, suit up and meet me in One. John, can you return to Five and direct us from there?’

‘FAB Dad.’

‘FAB, Dad.’

‘Kyrano, you have the command centre. Thunderbirds are go!’

Later on, when Scott finally came home, dinner had been forgotten as had all thoughts of food. Once he returned to the lounge Alan all but launched himself at Scott, his other brothers following suit. The four collapsed in a huddle in the middle of the floor, with John’s holo looking on. Pretty soon they were joined by Penny and Kayo and then the older adults surrounded them.

For the second time in their lives Christmas was cancelled.

Twelve: Tracy Island – Together Again

‘What about this?’

‘No – I’ve looked in that box. What about that one?’

‘Hang on…yes! They’re in here!’

This year promised to be their best Christmas ever!

In early spring the five of them with Brains had done the impossible. They had flown to the Oort Cloud, rescued their Father and returned home. Jeff had spent the remainder of the year in a specialist rehab centre, but now he was due home.

Due home on Christmas Eve. What could be more perfect?

So Tracy Island became a hive of activity as everyone prepared for his return. Scott got busy making sure iR and TI could survive the day without them, Gordon and Alan took it upon themselves to decorate the lounge. Brains had muttered something about snow and Kayo was busy in the kitchen with her father and Parker cooking up a feast. Even Uncle Lee had been picked up from Mars earlier in the week by Alan and John.

Virgil and John took it upon themselves to spend the week perfecting Grandpa’s Baked Ham recipe in celebration of having their family all under one roof again. The villa soon filled with the delectable smell of ham.

Every day they tried a new combination in their quest. John had suggested using science to work out what they were missing.

So they started at the beginning by asking the question – AKA ‘interrogating’ Grandma.

Unfortunately Grandma knew nothing. Her husband had been protective of his recipe, not because he didn’t trust her, but because Grant knew what a terrible cook his wife was. It had been a joke that Sally could burn water for their entire married life, and she’d proved that to be the case so, so many times. It hadn’t occurred to anyone that there would come a time when he wouldn’t be around anymore…

So the two brothers formed a hypothesis and theorised that Grandpa would have used ingredients to hand, so they thought long and hard about the kinds of food flavourings they had seen around the old kitchen farmhouse.

Based on that hypothesis they gathered groups of flavourings to try as the predictions part of the scientific method.

Testing the hypothesis had been fun at first. They had mixed flavourings like some kind of kitchen wizards, testing combinations out.

Their family had appreciated most of the ham results. At first. After three days and seven hams even Gordon had begun to complain, but Scott remained oblivious to the amount of thick-cut ham sandwiches he was consuming as he worked.

Tests complete, they analysed the data and drew some conclusions. Nothing matched. They had come close a couple of times, but there was still one key ingredient they were missing, so they tried a different method.

They began searching for their Grandpa’s secret recipe.

They tore into the storage room in the basement, looking through old boxes of stuff that hadn’t been opened since they had moved here from Kansas. They had had to stop for the rest of the day when they stumbled on the one filled with pictures of their Mom and them growing up.

John picked up a heavy box to place it on top of another to make it easier to look into. He’d been down almost the entire week and so gravity wasn’t its usual problem, but the box was heavier than he had anticipated and in manoeuvring it he caught the bottom box. It was enough to make the bottom of the box he was carrying split open, spilling books all over the floor.

A particularly heavy tome flattened his toes and John yelped. Virgil abandoned his box to come and make sure his brother wasn’t too badly hurt, picking up an old tractor manual. It was for Grandpa’s old Deere, the tractor both he and a tiny Virgil had adored both – it was a giant green machine after all…

A feeling of nostalgia washed over him as he flicked through the well-thumbed pages, some still with Grandpa’s oily fingerprints on. As he browsed a yellowing slip of paper full of Grandpa’s neat, careful writing slipped out from between the pages.

With slightly shaking fingers John bent to pick the page up and read it aloud:

Sweet Southern Slow-Cooker Ham

“Ingredients:

1 bone-in fully-cooked ham, about 5.5lb

1 cup apple cider vinegar

½ cup of dark brown sugar

1/3 cup of Kentucky bourbon

¼ cup of honey

¼ cup Dijon-style mustard

4+ sprigs of thyme”

Virgil smacked his forehead. Bourbon? The missing ingredient was bourbon?? He picked John up and swung him around. Both men were laughing before carefully packing the box and putting it back away and returning to the studio.

Several hours later and Virgil was bringing Two into land.

They were all there to bring their Dad home and Jeff was revelling in just being here. He still used a cane to walk around, but he was so much more than the husk of a man they had rescued ten months ago. He’d put on weight, had almost got used to gravity again and was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed with his own children, his Ma and his friends all around him.

Christmas Eve. What a special day to return home. There were so many Christmas Eves that had been special for various reasons, but today was going to be the best ever. As they arrived in the lounge to the cheering of those who had stayed behind and to the smells of food ready to be eaten.

Jeff watched as his children and his friend’s children orientated themselves around him and each other. Huh…interesting. He’d known Scott and Penny had a bit of a thing for each other before…before that time, but now to see Penny sitting with Gordon he realised that ship had sailed. Instead, Scott had gravitated to Kayo, an unusual pairing to be sure, Jeff thought, seeing that they were potentially too similar in temperament, but if it worked then he’d be more than happy for both boys.

Ma, Kyrano and Parker were busy laying the table when John and Virgil brought in a covered dish. There were a few groans from Gordon and Alan which had Jeff raising his eyebrows at them and they quietened down.

The ham was uncovered with a flourish once everyone was seated and ready to help themselves. Scott, recognising the smell of Grandpa’s secret Baked Ham, insisted that Jeff have the first slice and that everyone wait until their Dad and friend had pronounced judgement.

The smell hit Jeff like a thunderbolt. He’d not smelt this particular aroma for…wow, was it really almost twenty years since they had lost Lucy and his Pa? Water welled but didn’t fall from his eyes as Jeff fought to keep his composure.

And then he tastes it.

Tears fell as memories of home, of being a child growing up on the farm, of that first Christmas he’d introduced Lucy to his parents, of the time a two-year-old Scott had managed to pull the tablecloth off the table and was busy hoovering up the food that had fallen, heedless of the adults’ cries of panic over the broken glass and China.

That first time Hugh, Amelia and Penny had come over for Christmas and then Kyrano and Kayo had joined them…and Brains too vied with thoughts of the dried astronaut food he’d sustained himself on when alone out there in the Oort Cloud.

All these memories rushed upon him and Jeff suddenly realised he’d dropped his fork and was just sitting there staring into space, his family looking on with worried faces.

Jeff cleared his throat and wiped his eyes.

‘Thank you. Thank you all. This is without doubt the best Christmas Eve I have had in a very, very long time.’

[crimestompers]

i know i already said this before but not on this blog . anyway . ruthie would be a taylor swift girlie 🙏 taylor isnt on her playlist because i dont respect taylor and i would have to euthanize ruthie

[luminouslywriting]

Fancam Tag

Rules: Pick 5 songs you think would be used for fancam videos if your OC was canon and tag 5 people. Obviously, I had to choose Ruth Sharpe from my Masters of the Air fanfic :)

1-So High School by Taylor Swift

Really I think this just goes for Ruthie and Rosie so well—

"You know how to ball and I know Aristotle?" ICONIC

2-I Want More by Marisa Davila from Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

"I want more, more than I probably should, more than I probably ever ever could have."

3-Surface Pressure from Encanto

"Give it to your sister, your sister's older, give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder."

4-Liability by Lorde

"They say, "You're a little much for me. You're a liability. You're a little much for me"

5-Do It Like A Girl by Morgan St Jean

"Anything that you can do, I can do it better while I'm bleeding. Every dollar that you make, I make a percentage, call it even."

No pressure tags:

@instructionsnotincluded @precious-little-scoundrel @roadtogracelandx45

[humblequestvinyl]

boston's red

BOSTON’S RED, CONRAD FISHER X FEM!READER

APART OF THE “ANOTHER ON THE WAY” SERIES

SUMMARY: conrad fisher quickly meets a girl from the bronx, and despite their rival teams she starts to fall in love with him under those fenway lights.

inspired by tennessee orange by megan moroney

◀ ⏸ ▶

lowercase is intentional! wc: 1.9k

warning: underage drinking, and swearing

a/n: so i actually had a cute little note written out about how this is so boston sports coded when i started writing this OVER A YEAR AGO. but this is actually just my boyfriend and i with our rival sports teams. anyway enjoy!

“MAMA I STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY I’M HERE.”

y/n l/n spoke as she drove through massachusetts in her run down mustang, knowing this was the last place she wanted to be.

“because it’ll be good for you! you’ll be able to hang with your auntie mia, be right by the beach and maybe meet a few people this summer!’her mother told her, and y/n rolled her eyes, “i’d rather be at yankee stadium.”

“you’re right by fenway! why not go there when the yankees are in town?”her mother questioned, and y/n made a face as she passed by a sign, welcoming her into cousins beach massachusetts, knowing she was close to her aunts.

“absolutely not.”

“why not?!”her mother questioned as y/n’s gps directed her to take a left, and y/n had an absolutely disgusting feeling.

“that’s an absolute sin in new york.”the h/c cringed at the thought, “jail time, punishable by death.”

“alright i get it.”y/n’s mother chuckled, knowing how dramatic her daughter could be about her favorite sports team, “text me tonight alright?”

“will do, bye mama.”y/n spoke, and the line went completely dead with cruel summer by taylor swift starting to blast through her speakers.

it was a few minutes before she pulled into her auntie mia’s driveway, and laid on the horn to signal her arrival to her aunt’s home, only to see her walk out from the house next door with her hands in the air. 

“i thought you weren’t supposed to be here for another hour?”her aunt questioned as y/n hopped out of the car with a wide smile spread across her face, “your favorite niece is a speed demon!”

mia let out a laugh before y/n raced across the yards, tackling her aunt in a tight hug, “i’ve missed you!”

“i’ve missed you more ruthie!”mia exclaimed, before walking with the girl back towards the house she came from, and y/n threw her head back knowing her aunt was referencing her middle name.

“where are you taking me?”the h/c girl giggled as her aunt walked her inside the next door neighbors house, “i am not even properly dressed mimi.”

“oh who cares!”mia exclaimed, waving the teen girl off as the two walked inside, and y/n spotted a blonde woman walking back into the beach house that had been deemed as ‘beck’s house.’

“i thought that was you i heard!”the woman exclaimed as she walked towards the two with one of the biggest smiles spread across her face, “you must be y/n!”

“yeah.”the bronx girl smiled as she was brought into a tight embrace, and y/n chuckled a bit,

the woman pulled back, and cupped the girls' shoulders, taking in her appearance, and she saw her eyes drift back over towards mia, and y/n bit back the smile that threatened to peak out.

“she looks so much like sierra.”the woman pointed out, and y/n’s eyebrows furrowed, “you know my mom?”

“you know how mom and i always talked about laurel and beck from college?”mia questioned, and the h/c girl nodded, before mia nodded her head towards the blonde woman that stood in front of her, “this is beck.”

the girls mouth made an ‘oh’ shape, causing the older women to laugh, and ushered the l/n girl to sit down.

“where are the kids?”mia asked as beck ran around the kitchen, gathering things for the two girls.

“well, somehow laurel convinced all of them to do the grocery shopping for the week, and they’ve been gone for almost two hours.”beck explained, and a loud laugh escaped from mia’s lips before the three started to talk about anything and everything.

it felt like hours before the peace was disturbed by a loud crash as soon as the front door was opened, and yelling soon followed.

“i told you not to pack these bags heavy!” y/n’s head snapped towards the front door, silently observing the scene in front of her as the two boys struggled to pick up whatever had fallen out of the bags.

“it’s not my fault that they aren’t sturdy!”another argued, before y/n saw a beautiful girl walk through the front door, carrying another bag and a pizza in her hand.

“hi susannah!”the girl greeted beck before waving to y/n, one the new yorker returned back.

y/n continued to watch the front door as the last of the groceries came in, along with another boy, wearing a red sox cap on the top of his head.

“new york, huh?”the boy questioned as soon as he made his way into the kitchen, nodding towards the aaron judge shirt y/n had on, causing the girls cheeks to become inflamed.

“forgot i had it on.”y/n admitted, before standing up and pushing her chair in, “on that note, i have a lot of unpacking to do.”

“thank you, beck.”y/n thanked the woman, before rushing out of the house and towards her aunts, where her mustang sat with all of her luggage.

as she unraveled her luggage from the car and brought it in, her head was filled with the boy who had called her out in red sox territory. brown hair, blue eyes and the cutest dimples she had ever seen.

there was one problem throughout all of it though,

he was a red sox fan.

it was y/n’s number one rule when it came to even liking someone. if they were a red sox, islanders, or patriots fan, they were absolutely out of the question. she couldn’t stand them half the time, so how could she be in a relationship with one?

‘absolutely not.’ she thought as she placed her clothing into drawers, making the guest room feel somewhat like home, ‘you don’t even know him.’

and so that’s what y/n sat with, for days. it was all she could think about. the boy next door with brown hair and blue eyes, with that stupid red sox hat on.

it wasn’t until days later that the two met again, and when they did, it was during beck’s fourth of july party. 

y/n was already two drinks in and had kept by her aunt's side as much as she could without interacting with many people. she didn’t know anybody, and the new yorker did not want to run into the boy with the red sox hat.

but, the universe had other plans for the girl from new york.

“y/n! i forgot to introduce you to conrad the other day!”beck exclaimed, and y/n furrowed her eyebrows as she saw the woman waving over someone.

“conrad, this is y/n.”susannah introduced the two, and y/n looked up at the boy with slight confusion, “she’s staying with mia for the summer.”

“red sox boy.”y/n blurted out before she could even stop herself, and she saw a smile spread across conrads face as mia hit the girls arm, “little miss bronx.”

a scowl fell across y/n’s face as she heard mia and susannah chuckle, and y/n heard her aunt mention something about conrad taking the girl down towards the beach.

next thing she knew, she was stuck with the boy.

“so, new york?”conrad questioned as the two walked, and y/n took a sip of her drink before nodding, “what brought you up to cousins?”

“a mother who wants me to live my life outside of yankee stadium.”the girl grinned as a laugh fell out of the boys lips, “found out how much i was spending on yankees tickets and sent me here.”

“how much?”conrad questioned, and the girl shook her head, “too much.”

as the two continued to walk the beach, talking about their teams dislike for each other, what the boy had planned for the summer, and what games conrad was going to see in boston this summer.

“have you even been to fenway park?”he questioned, and y/n shook her head with a laugh.

“why would i do that?”the girl fired back as she took a sip of the water conrad had snagged for her. “i have yankee stadium at my ready whenever i want.”

conrad chuckled as the two continued to walk down, before looking down at his phone and turning to the girl with a smile, “you busy on friday?”

the h/c raised an eyebrow as she looked at the boy she was walking with, letting her curiosity get the best of her, “why?” she questioned as she watched the wheels turn within conrad’s head.

a wide grin spread across the boys face and y/n instantly knew whatever he was about to suggest would mean having to go into the city she absolutely despised.

“the sox are home.”conrad brought up, with his boston accent peeking through, something that y/n hadn’t noticed til that moment, “you could go see the oldest ballpark ever.”

“hell no.”

“why not!”the boy laughed as he threw his arms up dramatically, and y/n rolled her eyes, “you cannot tell me you have never wanted to experience sweet caroline on a friday night in early july.”

“i haven’t.”y/n reassured him as she brushed some of the hair that was stuck to her face away, “and i never will.”

“if you ever think i will end up at fenway park when the yanks aren’t playing, you’re dead wrong.”y/n continued on with her tangent, and conrad had a wide smile on his face, “especially in red sox gear.”

“keep dreaming pretty boy.”

★

SOMEHOW, ALMOST THREE DAYS LATER Y/N ENDED UP INSIDE OF FENWAY PARK.

it was the middle of the eighth inning when the opening notes to sweet caroline had started to play throughout the stadium, and conrad had a wide grin spread across his face.

“c’mon ruthie, it’s a classic!”he shouted over the music before helping the girl stand to her feet, and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

ruthie, never did y/n think someone calling her ruthie would send butterflies throughout her entire body, especially at a stadium she thought she would hate. but yet here she was, under the lights of fenway park with sweet caroline blasting and she was quickly picking up the words to it.

she had never felt this way with anyone back home. y/n never thought that someone would be able to get her inside a rival stadium when the new york yankees weren’t the opposing team. as she looked over to the blue-eyed boy, she could feel herself quickly falling more and more for a boy she barely knew.

as sweet caroline faded out, y/n watched as conrad took the spoked b hat off of the top of his head, and place it onto the top of hers. the boston boy expected her to immediately rip it off and throw a fit, but as the first pitch was thrown, she kept in on.

in new york they’d call it a sin, but y/n l/n was wearing boston’s red for conrad fisher.

[lexthanyuri]

Call us Mason, or Oliver. It/he pronouns. 17yrs old.

We occasionally make Stimboards and Moodboards. Requests are open for both.

Main: @spankoffskicest

Also dni; anti-radqueer, anti-progoodfaith, anti-palestine/zionist/support israel, rude/mean antis, homo/transphobic

Anyone (as long as you don’t apply to our dni) may interact with our account, as long as it’s in good faith.

open cut for list of alters that will post, and our tags

last updated 10/13/24

🕷️posting — specifically posted by Eddie

🐦‍⬛rambles — specifically posted by Naomi

🐾puppy yips — specifically posted by Kyle

🦎yaps a lot — specifically posted by Stephanie

👛ali’s tag — specifically posted by Ali

❤️‍🔥ruthie rambles — specifically posted by Ruthie

💫zoe swears — specifically posted by Zoe

🌀tay talks — specifically posted by Taylor

our moodboards — exactly what it says

our stimboards — exactly what it says

mason yips&yaps — just us talking & stuff

wilsoncest — anything related to our ocs aj and ash

Naomi ; Source: Smosh ; It/Fang/Hell ; First open proshipper in our system ; Signoff is -🐦‍⬛

Stephanie ; Source: NPMD ; He/She ; Probably one of the gayest parts here ; Signoff is -🦎

Eddie ; Source: Stranger Things ; Thing/Paw/It ; Posts the most ; Signoff is -🕷️

Kyle ; Source: NPMD ; He/him ; Just a cute little puppy :3 ; Signoff is -🐾

Ali ; Source: TGWDLM/NMT ; She/her ; Biggest Hamilton fan /hj ; Signoff is -👛

Ruthie ; Source: NPMD ; They/she ; I don’t know what to put here ; Signoff is -❤️‍🔥

Zoe ; Source: TGWDLM ; She/star/fame ; Evil alter /silly ; Signoff is -💫

Taylor ; Source: NPMD ; Pup/he/rat ; I’ll never hold the real rei and asuka in my arms ; Signoff is -🌀

[mtsodie]

i fear ruthie would be a taylor swift girlie . if i let her

[julio-viernes]

Leo los homenajes a Steve Harley. Las palabras que le han dedicado Dave Davies, Midge Ure, Boy George, OMD, John Taylor de Duran Duran y Luke Haines de Auteurs: "adiós por ahora Steve Harley. Escucharé 'The Human Menagerie'. Por unos momentos, Cockney Rebel fue más genial que Big Dave. Gran banda y compositor".

Uno de esos momentos pudo ser "What Ruthy Said", del LP de debut de Cockney Rebel en EMI, 1973. Esta siempre la asocié a La Mode de otro gran fan de Harley, Fernando Márquez "El Zurdo".

Y "Loretta´s Tale", entre la perezosa indolencia de "Sitting By The Riverside" y la indolencia perezosa de "Susurrando".

[twwpress]

Weekly Press Briefing #59: August 6th - 12th

Welcome back to the Weekly Press Briefing, where we bring you highlights from The West Wing fandom each week, including new fics, ongoing challenges, and more! This briefing covers all things posted from August 6 - August 12, 2023! Did we miss something? Let us know; you can find our contact info at the bottom of this briefing! 

Challenges/Prompts:

The following is a roundup of open challenges/prompts. Do you have a challenge or event you’d like us to promote? Be sure to get in touch with us! Contact info is at the bottom of this briefing.

@callixton is hosting The West Wing Pride Week (@twwpride here on tumblr) September 17 - 23. More details here! 

Photos/Videos:

Here’s what was posted from August 6 - 12. 

Bradley Whitford posted a photo of his dog next to his laundry. 

Josh Malina posted a photo of himself donating platelets. 

Josh Malina posted a graphic inviting people to join The West Wing pickets in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike.  

Marlee Matlin posted a photo of herself with her friend Dr. Ruthie along with a birthday wish. 

Mary McCormack posted a photo of her daughter Rose passing a SWIFT semi-truck on their way to the Taylor Swift Eras tour in LA. 

Peter James Smith posted in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike: 1 | 2

Donna Moss Daily: August 6 | August 7 | August 8 | August 9 | August 10 | August 11 | August 12

Daily Josh Lyman: August 6 | August 7 | August 8 | August 9 | August 10 | August 11 | August 12

No Context BWhit: August 6 | August 7 | August 8 | August 9 | August 10 | August 11 | August 12

@twwarchive: August 6 | August 7 | August 8 | August 9 | August 10 | August 11 | August 12

Edits/Artwork:

#JOSHDONNA: ‘Silver Springs’ by @kennysroys [VIDEO EDIT]

Miscellaneous:

Twitter users @JessBakesCakes and @Schwifts met Bradley Whitford this weekend! 1 | 2 | 3

Editors’ Choice: 

We are taking a break from Editors’ Choice this week! We’ll catch you with more recs next week! 

Fics:

Presenting your weekly roundup of fics posted in the tag for The West Wing on Archive of Our Own. 

Josh/Donna

Give me your hand, and I will love you forever by ProportionalResponse | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress Betty by Shinyrosa | Rated T | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete Forcing Laughter, Faking Smiles by MatthewsMary | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete [Editor’s Note: While this fic is listed on AO3 as complete, it has continued to update and appears to be a WIP] Errors and Omissions by Chinesepapercut | Rated M | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress Domestic Days by spooky_spacegirl | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | In Progress it’s just gravitational (i can’t escape the pull) by flowersinapril | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete Unwinding by SocialOutsider | Rated E | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss | Complete

CJ/Danny

What ifs, what about-isms and What elses? by Jxjxjx |  Rated G | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | In Progress Off the Record by  onekisstotakewithme for daylight_angel, miabicicletta, Luppiters, hondagirll | Rated T | Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | In Progress

Other Pairings/Gen Fic

Summer Fayre by Hackney123 | Rated G | Helen Santos, Donna Moss (No pairings listed) | Complete

Multiple Pairings

Storybook Romance by electric_eel | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Danny Concannon/C. J. Cregg | Rated G | Complete Could I Have This Dance (For The Rest Of My Life?): The Rewrite by mlea7675 | Rated G | Josh Lyman/Donna Moss, Ainsley Hayes/Sam Seaborn, Danny Concannon/C.J. Cregg, Helen Santos/Matt Santos | In Progress

THE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING TEAM CAN BE REACHED VIA THE FOLLOWING METHODS:

Twitter: @TWWPress

Email: weeklypressbriefing@gmail.com

Feel free to let us know if we missed something, if you have an event you’d like us to promote, or if you have an item that you’d like included in the next briefing!

xx, What’s next?

[soulsuckrrs]

Basic Information

Full Name: Rutherford Marlow Gray Nickname: Ruth, Ruthie Age: 29-33 | actually 94 Date of Birth: May 15th Species: Witch Powers: energy manipulation, shield projection, telekinesis, pyro & hydrokinetic, medical/healing magic, defensive magics, potions, enhancing spells (to improve his physical  & magical abilities).  Hometown: Massachusetts  Current Location: States | Thread dependent Nationality: American Gender: Male Pronouns: He/Him/His Orientation: Biromantic & Bisexual Religion: polytheist  Occupation: works as security detail & a bodyguard for his family’s security company. Also “moves” people or items for the sketchy people his parents associate/work with. Living Arrangements: Ruth has an apartment that is one of many properties his family owns, his parents assigned it to him and it is in New Orleans but he stays wherever his jobs & clients take him.  Language(s) Spoken: English, Latin, Italian & French. Is learning German & Mandarin. 

Physical Appearance

Face Claim: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Hair Color: Brunette Eye Color: Blue. A glowing silvery-blue when using powers. Height: 6′0 Weight: 183 lbs Build: muscular, toned, athletic. Tattoos: tbd Piercings: ear lobes, stud piercing on right ear. Clothing Style: Whatever is in style, Ruth likes to maintain a nice look, perhaps a bit lazy for a professional setting but enough to pass in his line of work. Blacks, blues & whites, some red here & there. Usual Expression: a bit arrogant & certainly mischievous when he isn’t on a job, in that case it depends on the client or job & can range from expressionless professional to bored rich boy.

Health

Sleeping Habits: he usually crashes for a few hours, 2 to 6 hours a night if he can get it. Struggles with insomnia sometimes due to restlessness or nightmares. Eating Habits: he loves food & will eat whenever he gets the chance. If you really want the guy on your side, feed him & bring him snacks or treats all the time. Exercise Habits: Ruth loves working out, in the gym, running, lifting weights, & boxing or mixed martial arts. He prides himself on staying active, athletic, & agile.  Emotional Stability: he’s a bit brash about his feelings & emotions, has a hard time really keeping them to himself even if it puts the other person in an awkward or uncomfortable positions, he doesn’t always process his emotions before acting on them & they very much control him more-so than he controls them.  Sociability: Ruth doesn’t have a filter & very much will talk to anyone whether they want to talk with him or not. He prefers being around other people & being in social places, it’s easier to ignore the dark thoughts when he’s doing anything but being alone. Body Temperature: hot, he’s always hot & hates wearing clothes. Drug Use: he typically tries to stay away from the harder drugs but does enjoy participating in some, mostly uppers & weed, a big stoner. Alcohol Use: Ruth certainly enjoys his alcohol & a good binger, though he wouldn’t say that it is a problem nor keeps him from doing his job. Scent: cigarettes, smoke & french cologne.

Personality

Label: The Wildcard Positive Traits: loyal, determined, witty, sensual & open-minded. Negative Traits: reckless, stubborn, hot-headed, impulsive, & unfiltered. Fears: fucking up & being the cause of someone’s death or critical injury. Hobbies: boxing/mma, running/working out, drawing/sketching/painting, playing guitar & drums, playing video & arcade games, rolling skating, dancing/partying, making potions & studying magic (though he doesn’t let this be known as much). Habits: paces or fidgets a lot (has a hard time staying still). Talks mad shit.

Favorites

Weather: summer, hot, sunny. Color: blue. black. purple. Music: rock, metal, hip-hop. Movies: action, adventure, fantasy. Sport: basketball, parkour, boxing. Beverage: liquor, beer, coffee. Food: Indian, Mediterranean, Mexican. He just loves food. Give him all the food. Animal: giraffe. sloth. dog.

Family

Father: Henry Gray, alive. Mother: Karina Gray (Higgins), alive. Greta Gray (Matthews), step-mother, alive. Sibling(s): Ruth has 11 siblings & he is the 4th oldest of them, the second boy of his family. His two older sisters are Rae & Ariel & his older brother is Lewis. Children: none Pet(s): none Financial Status: his family is rather wealthy with decades of working in the field all members find themselves working & contributing to the familial wealth but on his own, Ruth doesn’t entirely worry about money unless there is an issue where he has to.

Extra

Zodiac Sign: Taurus MBTI: ENTP-T (the Debater) Enneagram: the Enthusiast Temperament: Choleric Moral Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Primary Vice: Lust Primary Virtue: Chastity Element: Earth Kinks: biting/scratching/marking, oral/cunninglingus, bondage, grinding, being handsy, hand jobs/fingering, public, passion/desperation, hair pulling/grabbing, multiple partners, breath play/choking, fingers in the mouth, anal/ass play, being pegged, pain play, wax play. Position: Switch, verse.

[hclyrevivals]

❀ ˚ ↬ 𝐡𝐜𝐥𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬 : a dependent mumu, for oldmystichq which is a closed rp. please dni unless you're part of the group.

character list ( currently standing at 126 ) under the read more, * denotes oc

adam lowe*, aelin galathynius, andromea "andie" caldwell *, angel mutti, angela montenegro, angela weber, annie marks, aria montgomery, bay kennish, benjamin "ben" gates, bloom of domino, blossom utonium, brittany aarons, caitlin geller, camryn "cam" barnes, carina deluca-bishop, carol newman ( mrs. claus ), chandler bing, chase adams, clare edwards, claire standish, daphne blake, danielle de barbarac, danielle "dani" dennison, danny fenton, davina claire, delaney jackson*, elizabeth swann, eloise thompson, elphaba thropp, emma duval, esme cullen, evangeline milton*, evelyn "evy" carnahan o'connell, evie grimhilde, frances "baby" houseman, freddie benson, galleria garibaldi, georgia miller, gillian owens, hallie parker, hector "zero" zeroni, hiccup haddock, hope mikaelson, hope paetz*, holly berensen, isabel "belly" conklin, isobel "izzie" stevens, isolde navarro*, jake fitzgerald, miss jennifer honey, jesusita "jess" valenzuela, jim hawkins, joyce byers, juliet o'hara, juniper ramos*, kai hewett*, katerina "kat" stratford, katherine "kate" bishop, katniss everdeen, kelsi nielsen, kendall santoro jr*, kevin doyle, kiki nakamura, kimberly "kim" possible, kirby reed, kourtney carino*, laney boggs, laurie forman, layla williams, lexy gold, logan mitchell, loretta modern, lucy hardgrove, luke danes, luna crowley*, madeline "maddie" fitzpatrick, maeve donovan, manuella "manny" santos, marnie piper, mary jane watson, matt flamhaff, max mayfield, mikey walsh, miley stewart, milo thatch, mirabel madrigal, nancy drew, nancy wheeler, nash gibson*, nesta archeron, noah redding*, odessa guzman*, olivia whitehead, padme amidala naberrie, penelope garcia, peyton sawyer, prudence "prue" halliwell, quinn james, rachel akana-miori*, rachel peabody, rikki chadwick, riley marra, robin scherbatsky, roger radcliffe, rory gilmore, ruthie camden, sabrina spellman, samantha "sam" carpenter, samantha "sam" montgomery" samantha "sam" simpson, scout hynes*, shiloh "seven" kellerman*, sidney prescott, summer field, taylor callum, tiana rogers, topanga lawrence, veronica mars, vivian ward, wes hicks, willa fitzgibbons*, winifred "winnie" foster, yumi ishiyama, yzma mendoza, zenon kar.

[jxrm]

book log - 2023 (continued)

the good lie by a.r. torre

something wilder by christina lauren

pineapple street by jenny jackson

drinking games by sarah levy

the housemaid by frieda mcfadden

full disclosure by camryn garrett

the dream job by kiersten modglin

never lie by frieda mcfadden

the silent woman by minka kent

hidden pictures by jason rekulak

girl in trouble by stacy claftin

the waitress by nina manning

xoxo by axie oh

yellowface by r.f. kuang

unmissing by minka kent

the rise by shari king

take me home tonight by morgan matson

the best lies by sarah lyu

arsenic and adobo by mia p. manansala

our missing hearts by celeste ng

the locked door by frieda mcfadden

where the crawdads sing by delia owens

the couple at table six by daniel hurst

survive the night by riley sager

the wife upstairs by freida mcfadden

one of us is dead by jeneva rose

five little indians by michelle good

the push by ashley audrain

i’ll stop the world by lauren thoman

silver nitrate by silvia moreno-garcia

romantic comedy by curtis sittenfield

the maidens by alex michaelides

every last secret by a.r. torre

the headmaster’s list by melissa de la cruz

last summer at the golden hotel by elyssa friedland

the collective by alison gaylin

one true loves by taylor jenkins reid

the trade off by sandie jones

my summer darlings by may cobb

the last housewife by ashley winstead

good rich people by eliza jane brazier

the club by ellery lloyd

phantom limb by lucinda berry

the night shift by alex finlay

layoverland by gabby noone

the writing retreat by julia bartz

never never by colleen hoover

reckless by cecily von ziegesar

the family game by catherine steadman

just say yes by maxine morrey

a pho love story by loan le

the birthday girl by melissa de la cruz

local woman missing by mary kubica

the last to vanish by megan miranda

yolk’s on me by d.t. henderson

the housemaid’s secret by frieda mcfadden

happy people are annoying by josh peck

the fraud squad by kyla zhao

wrong place wrong time by gillian mcallister

the grayson legacy by boris bacic

remarkably bright creatures by shelby van pelt

the couple in the cabin by daniel hurst

yerba buena by nina lacour

the ex by frieda mcfadden

notorious by cecilyn von ziegesar

layla by colleen hoover

the inmate by frieda mcfadden

last night at the telegraph club by malinda lo

the friend zone by abby jimenez

how to american by jimmy o. yang

lunar love by lauren kung jessen

the it girl by crackly von ziegesar

what lies in the woods by kate alice marshall

queen of thieves by beezy march

weather girl by rachel lynn solomon

the perfect marriage by jeneva rose

my sister, the serial killer by tonkin braithwaithe

things we never got over by lucy score

like me by hayley phelan

do not disturb by frieda mcfadden

for the love of friends by sara goodman confino

reckless girls by rachel hawkins

ghost 19 by simone st. james

the winter people by jennifer mcmahon

please join us by catherine mckenzie

under the whispering door by t.j. klune

the bookstore sisters by alice hoffman

lessons in chemistry by bonnie garmus

the new year’s party by daniel hurst

the house in the cerulean sea by t.j. klune

trixie and katya’s guide to womanhood by trixie mattel

i kissed shara wheeler by casey mcquiston

horrorstor by grady hendrix

yours truly by abby jimenez

happy place by emily henry

the soulmate by sally hepworth

i have some questions for you by rebecca makkai

what happened the ruthy ramirez by claire jimenez

mad honey by jodi picoult

really good, actually by monica heisey

the ballad of songbirds and snakes by suzanne collins

the lightning thief by rick riordan

harry potter and the philosophers stone by j.k. rowling

the sea of monsters by rick riordan

the titan’s curse by rick riordan

harry potter and the chamber of secrets by j.k. rowling

the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan

harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban by j.k. rowling

the last olympian by rick riordan

the lost hero by rick riordan

harry potter and the goblet of fire by j.k. rowling

the son of neptune by rick riordan

the mark of athena by rick riordan

harry potter and the order of the phoenix by j.k. rowling

harry potter and the half blood prince by j.k. rowling

harry potter and the deathly hallows by j.k. rowling

harry potter and the cursed child by john tiffany

[fadingmadness]

✦ ↬ 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 : a dependent mumu, for oldmystichq which is a closed rp. please dni unless you're part of the group.

character list ( currently standing at 114 ) under the read more, * denotes oc

adam lowe*, aelin galathynius, andromea "andie" caldwell *, angela montenegro, angela weber, annie marks, aria montgomery, bay kennish, benjamin "ben" gates, bloom of domino, caitlin geller, camryn "cam" barnes, carina deluca-bishop, chandler bing, chase adams, clare edwards, claire standish, daphne blake, danielle de barbarac, danielle "dani" dennison, danny fenton, davina claire, delaney jackson*, elizabeth swann, elphaba thropp, emma duval, esme cullen, evangeline milton*, evelyn "evy" carnahan o'connell, evie grimhilde, frances "baby" houseman, galleria garibaldi, georgia miller, gillian owens, hallie parker, hector "zero" zeroni, hiccup haddock, hope mikaelson, holly berensen, isabel "belly" conklin, isobel "izzie" stevens, isolde navarro*, jake fitzgerald, miss jennifer honey, jesusita "jess" valenzuela, jim hawkins, joyce byers, juliet o'hara, kate bishop, katerina "kat" stratford, katniss everdeen, kelsi nielsen, kendall santoro jr*, kevin doyle, kimberly "kim" possible, kirby reed, laney boggs, laurie forman, layla williams, lexy gold, logan mitchell, loretta modern, lucy hardgrove, luke danes, luna crowley*, madeline "maddie" fitzpatrick, maeve donovan, manuella "manny" santos, marnie piper, mary jane watson, matt flamhaff, max mayfield, mikey walsh, miley stewart, milo thatch, mirabel madrigal, nancy drew, nancy wheeler, nash gibson*, nesta archeron, noah redding*, odessa guzman*, olivia whitehead, padme amidala naberrie, penelope garcia, peyton sawyer, prudence "prue" halliwell, quinn james, rachel akana-miori*, rikki chadwick, riley marra, robin scherbatsky, roger radcliffe, rory gilmore, ruthie camden, sabrina spellman, samantha "sam" carpenter, samantha "sam" montgomery" samantha "sam" simpson, scout hynes*, shiloh "seven" kellerman*, sidney prescott, summer field, taylor callum, tiana rogers, veronica mars, vivian ward, wes hicks, willa fitzgibbons*, winifred "winnie" foster, yumi ishiyama, yzma, zenon kar.

[qukillbill]

Showdown at The House of Blue Leaves

Veronica Portillo

Darrell Taylor

Johanna Botta

Kevin Prudente

Javi Marroquin

Sean Puffy Diddy Daddy Combs

J Alexander

Doc Holliday

Dave Mirra

Chris Nunez

Nigel Barker

Kourtney Kardashian

Ko Shibasaki

Chiaki Kuriyama

Edison Chen

Hayden Kho

Gabi Victor

Brian Williams Jr

Bruno Bettencourt

Trey Weatherholtz III

Jay G

Charlie Dordevich

Perez Hilton

Tila Tequila

Kim Chiu

Heart Evangelista

Svetlana Shusterman

Park Bom

Lalaine Chace Crawford

Colby O Donis

Jamie Chung

Billy Joe Crawford

Hilary Duff

Evan Rachel Wood

Caroline Botelho

Aaron Carter

D Woods

Dawn Richard

Cassie Steele

Devon Aoki

Karylle

Sandara Park

Chris Brown

Frank Ocean

Nicole Richie

Ailea Carr

Vanessa Hudgens Rihanna

Drew Sidora

Nicki Minaj

Khloé Kardashian

Katy Perry

Seungri

Majid Al Maskati

Luke Pasqualino

Drew Seeley

Zac Efron

Joi Niemeyer

Anne Curtis

Kiely Williams

Cassie

Katie Leung

Naima Mora

Pua Medeiros Ruthie Alcaide

Brenda Song

Drake

Snooki

Paulo Avelino

Deena Nicole Cortese

Pete Connelly

Lindsay Lohan

Vinny Guadagnino

Stephen Coletti

Dan Setzler

[blog-nstuff2]

Austin Kaia la oct 15 2023, Blake lively Ryan reynolds Hugh jackman backgrid just Jared, Austin Kaia paris oct 1 2023, Harry fans defending Taylor Russell with supporting comments on a photoshoot she posted abt circa aug 2023, Ashley tisdale idk when, Ruthie rogers nyc mid sept 2023