#scott shaffer

[2189114reads]

2024 reads

as usual i hope to read forty books this year for better or worse. this is a running list of what i’ve read so far and links to my thoughts on them 👍 venture beyond my guardian david byrnes boy.....

tell me i’m worthless alison rumfitt

closer dennis cooper

frisk dennis cooper

try dennis cooper

guide dennis cooper

deserter junji ito

period dennis cooper

the putrescent vein dorian bridges

crash j.g. ballard

jubilee: six film scripts derek jarman

dreamstone moon paul leonard

extremities kathe koja

seeing i jonathan blum, kate orman

lou reed the last interview

the other thomas tryon

the waste land, prufrock, and other poems t.s. eliot

rushing to paradise j.g. ballard

placebo effect gary russell

spaceflight: a concise history michael j. neufeld

the sluts dennis cooper

the liminal zone junji ito

howl and other poems allen ginsberg

we disappear scott heim

exit note dorian bridges

xtc song stories neville farmer

mysterious skin scott heim (reread)

fun home alison bechdel

the happy hooker xaviera hollander

a thousand-mile walk to the gulf john muir

high-rise jg ballard

negative space br yeager

woman at point zero nawal el saadawi

delta of venus anaïs nin

the dream police dennis cooper

equus peter shaffer

blood meridian, or, the evening redness in the west cormac mccarthy

animal farm george orwell (reread)

the trial franz kafka

glengarry glen ross david mamet

fear and loathing in las vegas hunter s. thompson

strange angels kathe koja

the room harold pinter

the indestructible man simon messingham

the birthday party harold pinter

[milliondollarbaby87]

Scandal (TV Series) Review

Olivia Pope was a former White House Communications Director who now runs her own crisis management firm as a fixer and quickly realising that uncovering secrets and making things go away doesn’t always work out well. Her close relationship with the President is another factor in her life. Seasons 1-7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Continue reading Scandal (TV Series) Review

[robynsassenmyview]

Ode to the Patron Saint of Mediocrity

TAKE that! Antonio Salieri (Alan Committie) above, in a fit of jealousy with Mozart (Mark Elderkin). Photography courtesy of Montecasino Theatre. WHEN YOU THINK of Amadeus, Peter Shaffer’s perfectly wonderful play of 1979 that cast mischievous light into the mysterious nooks and untold crannies of the life of 18th century Vienna composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the first thing that comes to…

[billboard-hotties-tourney]

Okay, folks, the mini-tourney is inching closer to the finals, so I'm going to give a list of the competitors in the Miss Billboard Tourney in order to give everyone a chance to submit more propaganda. The nominees are:

Lale Andersen

Marian Anderson

Signe Toly Anderson

Julie Andrews

LaVerne Andrews

Maxene Andrews

Patty Andrews

Ann-Margret

Joan Armatrading

Dorothy Ashby

Joan Baez

Pearl Bailey

Belle Baker

Josephine Baker

LaVern Baker

Florence Ballard

Brigitte Bardot

Eileen Barton

Fontella Bass

Shirley Bassey

Maggie Bell

Lola Beltran

Ivy Benson

Gladys Bentley

Jane Birkin

Cilla Black

Ronee Blakley

Teresa Brewer

Anne Briggs

Ruth Brown

Joyce Bryant

Vashti Bunyan

Kate Bush

Montserrat Caballe

Maria Callas

Blanche Calloway

Wendy Carlos

Cathy Carr

Raffaella Carra

Diahann Carroll

Karen Carpenter

June Carter Cash

Charo

Cher

Meg Christian

Gigliola Cinquetti

Petula Clark

Merry Clayton

Patsy Cline

Rosemary Clooney

Natalie Cole

Judy Collins

Alice Coltrane

Betty Comden

Barbara Cook

Rita Coolidge

Gal Costa

Ida Cox

Karen Dalton

Marie-Louise Damien

Betty Davis

Jinx Dawson

Doris Day

Blossom Dearie

Kiki Dee

Lucienne Delyle

Sandy Denny

Jackie DeShannon

Gwen Dickey

Marlene Dietrich

Marie-France Dufour

Julie Driscoll

Yvonne Elliman

Cass Elliot

Maureen Evans

Agnetha Faeltskog

Marianne Faithfull

Mimi Farina

Max Feldman

Gracie Fields

Ella Fitzgerald

Roberta Flack

Lita Ford

Connie Francis

Aretha Franklin

France Gall

Judy Garland

Crystal Gayle

Gloria Gaynor

Bobbie Gentry

Astrud Gilberto

Donna Jean Godchaux

Lesley Gore

Eydie Gorme

Margo Guryan

Sheila Guyse

Nina Hagen

Francoise Hardy

Emmylou Harris

Debbie Harry

Annie Haslam

Billie Holiday

Mary Hopkin

Lena Horne

Helen Humes

Betty Hutton

Janis Ian

Mahalia Jackson

Wanda Jackson

Etta James

Joan Jett

Bessie Jones

Etta Jones

Gloria Jones

Grace Jones

Shirley Jones

Tamiko Jones

Janis Joplin

Barbara Keith

Carole King

Eartha Kitt

Chaka Khan

Hildegard Knef

Gladys Knight

Sonja Kristina

Patti Labelle

Cleo Laine

Nicolette Larson

Daliah Lavi

Vicky Leandros

Peggy Lee

Rita Lee

Alis Lesley

Barbara Lewis

Abbey Lincoln

Melba Liston

Julie London

Darlene Love

Lulu

Anni-Frid Lyngstad

Barbara Lynn

Loretta Lynn

Vera Lynn

Siw Malmkvist

Lata Mangeshkar

Linda McCartney

Kate McGarrigle

Christie McVie

Bette Midler

Jean Millington

June Millington

Liza Minnelli

Carmen Miranda

Joni Mitchell

Liz Mitchell

Marion Montgomery

Lee Morse

Nana Mouskouri

Anne Murray

Wenche Myhre

Holly Near

Olivia Newton-John

Stevie Nicks

Nico

Laura Nyro

Virginia O’Brien

Odetta

Yoko Ono

Shirley Owens

Patti Page

Dolly Parton

Freda Payne

Michelle Phillips

Edith Piaf

Ruth Pointer

Leontyne Price

Suzi Quatro

Gertrude Rainey

Bonnie Raitt

Carline Ray

Helen Reddy

Della Reese

Martha Reeves

June Richmond

Jeannie C. Riley

Minnie Riperton

Jean Ritchie

Chita Rivera

Clara Rockmore

Linda Ronstadt

Marianne Rosenberg

Diana Ross

Anna Russell

Melanie Safka

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Samantha Sang

Pattie Santos

Hazel Scott

Doreen Shaffer

Jackie Shane

Marlena Shaw

Sandie Shaw

Dinah Shore

Judee Sill

Carly Simon

Nina Simone

Nancy Sinatra

Siouxsie Sioux

Grace Slick

Bessie Smith

Mamie Smith

Patti Smith

Ethel Smyth

Mercedes Sosa

Ronnie Spector

Dusty Springfield

Mavis Staples

Candi Staton

Barbra Streisand

Poly Styrene

Maxine Sullivan

Donna Summer

Pat Suzuki

Norma Tanega

Tammi Terrell

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Big Mama Thornton

Mary Travers

Moe Tucker

Tina Turner

Twiggy

Bonnie Tyler

Sylvia Tyson

Sarah Vaughan

Sylvie Vartan

Mariska Veres

Akiko Wada

Claire Waldoff

Jennifer Warnes

Dee Dee Warwick

Dionne Warwick

Dinah Washington

Ethel Waters

Elisabeth Welch

Kitty Wells

Mary Wells

Juliane Werding

Tina Weymouth

Cris Williamson

Ann Wilson

Mary Wilson

Nancy Wilson

Anna Mae Winburn

Syreeta Wright

Tammy Wynette

Nan Wynn

Those in italics have five or more pieces of usable visual, written, or audio propaganda already. If you have any visuals like photos or videos, or if you have something to say in words, submit it to this blog before round one begins on June 25th!

If you don't see a name you submitted here, it's because most or all of their career was as a child/they were too young for the cutoff, their career was almost entirely after 1979, or music was something they only dabbled in and are hardly known for. There are quite a few ladies on the list whose primary career wasn't "recording artist" or "live musician," but released several albums or were in musical theater, so they've been accepted.

[brokehorrorfan]

Sci-Fi Chillers Collection will be released on May 21 via Kino Lorber. The Blu-ray set features three sci-fi/horror films: The Unknown Terror, The Colossus of New York, and Destination Inner Space.

1957's The Unknown Terror is directed by Charles Marquis Warren and written by Kenneth Higgins. John Howard, Mala Powers, Paul Richards, and May Wynn star.

1958's The Colossus of New York is directed by Eugène Lourié (The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms) and written by Thelma Schnee, based on a short story by Ray Bradbury. Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, and Kenneth Tobey star.

1966's Destination Inner Space is directed by Francis D. Lyon and written by Arthur C. Pierce. Scott Brady, Gary Merrill, Sheree North, and Wende Wagner star.

All three films have been have been scanned in 4K by Paramount Pictures. Special features are listed below.

Special features:

The Unknown Terror audio commentary by film historian Stephen Bissette (new)

The Colossus of New York audio commentary by film historians Tom Weaver, Larry Blamire, and Ron Adams

Destination Inner Space audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Stan Shaffer

The Colossus of New York interview with film historians Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette

Destination Inner Space interview with film historians Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette

The Colossus of New York theatrical trailer

In The Unknown Terror, a millionaire (John Howard) leads a remote jungle expedition to find the legendary “Cave of the Dead” where his wife’s (Mala Powers) brother had disappeared long ago. Instead, they stumble upon a mad doctor who has created a horde of foam-spewing, fungus-covered monster-men. In The Colossus of New York, when a brilliant scientist (Ross Martin) is accidentally killed, his preserved brain is transferred to the body of a giant robot so that it can continue to serve mankind. But when it gains awareness of its own hideousness, this steel colossus embarks on a rampage of destruction. In Destination Inner Space, when an object of unknown origin is detected in the area of an underwater laboratory, scientists investigate and come face to face with the object—an extraterrestrial saucer! They board the craft and discover a mysterious cylinder, which they take back to the lab for closer inspection. It is then that events take a monstrous turn!

Pre-order Sci-Fi Chillers Collection.

[pettirosso1959]

5 dicembre 1791: muore Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Oggi siamo tutti pignolini a far le pulci sulla precisione o meno di questa o quella riduzione cinematografica tanto che oramai Ridley Scott si diverte a trollare secondo me.

Eppure nel 1984 uscì al cinema un film bellissimo ma storicamente alquanto discutibile come "Amadeus" di Miloš Forman basato sulla piéce di Peter Shaffer. Il film vinse ben otto premi Oscar tra cui quelli per film, regia, attore protagonista (F. Murray Abrahams) e sceneggiatura.

Il film è basato su una diceria oramai considerata assolutamente falsa da tutti gli storici della musica, ovvero che Antonio Salieri avrebbe assassinato Mozart per invidia. Questa voce aveva cominciato a diffondersi quando ancora Salieri era in vita e venne popolarizzata dapprima da Aleksandr Puškin nella sua piccola tragedia "Mozart e Salieri" e poi ripresa da Peter Shaffer. Motivo dell'invidia sarebbe stato il genio del salisburghese che rubava la scena al "mediocre" Salieri. Non c'è nulla di vero. Ci fu una certa rivalità artistica ma fu Mozart a "essere invidioso". Il genio di Mozart fu compreso solo dopo la sua morte, mentre in vita fu Salieri il più popolare. Salieri fu per tutta la vita maestro di cappella della corte imperiale austriaca ed ebbe allievi del calibro di Schubert, Liszt e soprattutto Beethoven (che fu invece ignorato se non rifiutato da Mozart). Beethoven conservò sempre un ricordo affettuoso del maestro e soffrì per le voci sul suo conto. Tra gli allievi di Salieri vi fu anche uno dei figli di Mozart, Franz Xaver Wolfgang. Vero che passò gli ultimi anni in un ospizio ma non tentò mai il suicidio.

Nel film Salieri pare molto più vecchio di Mozart, quando fra i due vi erano solo sei anni di differenza. Salieri è descritto come un mezzo prete un po' bigotto che si incazza con Dio per aver dato genio ad un ragazzino volgare e che ha fatto una specie di voto di castità. Salieri era un perfetto libertino figlio del suo tempo, era sposato ma aveva l'amante e, come Mozart, era massone.

Altre libertà storiche: il misterioso committente del Requiem non era ovviamente Salieri ma pare fosse il conte Franz von Walsegg che commissionò la messa per la moglie defunta. Assolutamente di fantasia la scena di Salieri che si fa dettare il Requiem da Mozart sul letto di morte. Ovviamente il Requiem non fu comunque completato da Salieri bensì da Franz Xaver Süssmayr, l'allievo più vicino a Mozart (tanto vicino da essere l'amante della moglie). Fu lo stesso Amadeus, sul letto di morte, ad affidare a Süssmayr il completamento del Requiem. A Süssmayr e non a Salieri. L'odio verso l'Italia che Mozart ostenta nel film è assolutamente falso. Mozart amava l'Italia e la lingua italiana, solo voleva dare dignità musicale anche al tedesco. Storicamente abbastanza precisa è la personalità "fanciullesca" di Mozart, la sua risata cavallina testimoniata da fonti d'epoca e la sua ossessione per...la cacca. Non è vero che fosse "povero", o meglio, guadagnava bene ma aveva le mani bucate. Per questo si ridusse in miseria e fu sepolto in una fossa comune.

Quindi il film Amadeus è da stroncare?

No, resta un bellissimo film sull'invidia. Perché se guardo Amadeus io vado a vedere una parabola sull'invidia, non un documentario su Mozart.

L'unico appunto serio che si può fare al film è l'aver contribuito alla distruzione della repurazione di Salieri, che era un essere umano realmente vissuto. Ma è un appunto umano, non artistico e, se vogliamo, la colpa maggiore è di Puškin, che era solo di una generazione successiva agli eventi. Artisticamente nulla da dire. Infatti all'epoca nessuno ruppe più di tanto i coglioni. Oggi si scannerizzano anche i bottoni per vedere se erano davvero di quell'anno. E godetevi il film. Sartori Andrea. ----------------------------------------------------- Però...

Rimane la colonna sonora più bella di sempre, e per sempre nei secoli a venire!

[midnightcowboy1969]

My bookshelf

Hey, @beanifred <3 So, here's a big peak at my bookshelf (way too many books as I said)

Beginning with my treasures:

The "Real" Bob Steele and a man called "Brad" by Bob Nareau

The Photostory of "Battling Bob" Bob Steele by Mario DeMarco

2. The Columbo Collection

Just One More thing by Peter Falk

The Grassy Knoll by William Harrington (my enemy)

Murder by the Book by Steven Bochco

And now there's chaos:

3.

Psycho 1 & 2 and Night-World by Robert Bolch (Norwegian edition)

Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

The Body Snatcher by Jack Finney

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Trash by Dorothy Allison (lesbian but at what cost)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

The Buddah of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (I also have American Gods but I cannot find it)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

The Complete Short Stories: Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie

Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane by Henry Farrell

The Hunter by Richard Stark

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The System by John Burke (novelization)

Alien Nation by Alan Dean Foster (novelization)

Edge of the City by Fredrick Pohl (novelization)

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

The Collector by John Fowels

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Norwegian edition)

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke (novelization)

Ninteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Wanderer by Sterling Hayden (the actor)

The Wicker Man by Robin Hardy & Anthony Shaffer (Novelization (?))

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

4.

Terror by Dan Simmons

Papillon 1 & 2 by Henri Charrière (Norwegian editions)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers (book of all time)

The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Midnight Cowboy by John L. Herlihy

Shooting Midnight Cowboy by Glenn Frankel

Cape Fear by John D. McDonald (watch the movies)

The Bretheren by John Grisham (Norwegian edition)

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorgood

Glitz by Elmore Leonard (Norwegian edition)

The Big Sleep and Other Novels by Raymond Chandler (the other novels are Farwell My Lovely and The Long Goodbye)

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Client by John Grisham (Norwegian edition)

Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Legion (Exorcist 2) by William Peter Blatty

La Peste by Albert Camu (Norwegian edition)

Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink & Jeffery Cranor (not read)

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg

The Day of the Dolphin by Robert Merle

Local Hero by David Benedictus (novelization)

The Glass Cage by Colin Wilson

American Psycho by Brett E. Ellis

Fools Die by Mario Puzo (Norwegian edition)

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

The Sicilian by Mario Puzo (Norwegian edition)

5.

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin (Norwegian edition) + Four different Game of Thrones books in Norwegian

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card

The Betsy by Harold Robbins (Norwegian edition)

Aliens by Alan Dean Foster (novelization)

Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

The Auctioneer by Joan Samson

Timeline by Michael Crichton

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Dune, The Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Hitchiker's Guide to the Galxy by Douglas Adams

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

6.

Trumpet by Jackie Kay

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman (short story collection that made me dislike short stories)

Mr. Monk in Trouble by Lee Goldberg (my enemy)

Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop by Lee Goldberg (I hate him)

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Wolf

Oranges are not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Maurice by E. M. Forster

The Case of the Gilded Lily by Erle Stanley Gardner (Norwegian edition)

The Case of the Glamorous Ghost by Erle Stanley Gardner (Norwegian edition)

Something Happened by Joseph Heller

Marathon Man by William Goldman

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (Norwegian edition)

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurt

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Norwegian edition)

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three by John Godey (bad)

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

Killing Time by Della Van Hise (Star Trek Spinoff Spirk book)

Star Trek: Department of Temportal Investigations: Forgotten History by Christopher L. Bennet

Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Missing by Una McCormack

Star Trek Enterprise: Rise of the Federation: Uncertain Logic by Christopher L. Bennett

7. Stephen King Collection

Outsider

If it Bleeds

On Writing

Blaze

Carrie

The Stand

Hearts in Atlantis (Norwegian edition)

The Tommyknockers

Cujo

Thinner (Norwegian edition)

The Shining

Night Shift

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (Norwegian edition)

Dreamcatcher

Doctor Sleep

Rose Madder

Pet Sematary

Christine

Salem's Lot

Dolores Claiborne (Norwegian edition)

The Bachman Books

The Institute

Insomnia

Misery

Finders Keepers

End of Watch

Firestarter

The Body

Needful Things (Norwegian edition)

Bag of Bones

8. Not pictured

A collection of Sherlock Holmes books

Many Hardy Boys books

Chilly Scenes of Winter by Ann Beattie

Some comic books

I believe this is approximately everything lol.

My dream is to have a small cozy rooms dedicated to the books I own. It won't happen any time soon.

[sporadiceagleheart]

Today's joy with Rachel Joy Scott Friday edits is for missing kids I hope soon they be found and Brought back home safe and sound Madeleine McCann, Inga Gehricke, Summer Wells, Haleigh Cummings, Morgan Nick, Ben Needham, Timmothy Pitzen, Baby Lisa Irwin, Baby Sabrina Aisenberg, Kayla Berg, Mary Boyle, Jennifer Joyce Kesse, Amy Lynn Bradley, Asha Jaquilla Degree, Brian Randall Shaffer, Brandon Swanson, Lars Joachim Mittank, Maura Murray, Kyron Richard Horman, Rebecca Coriam, Evelyn Grace Hartley, Frederick Valentich, Lauren Spierer, Marjorie West, Margaret Ellen Fox, Joshua Guimond, LeeAnna Warner, Tara Leigh Calico, Cherrie Ann Mahan, Nyleen Kay Marshall, Phoenix Coldon, Laureen Ann Rahn, Johnny Gosch, Sara Anne Wood, Rebecca Reusch, BRANDON LEE WADE, Katrice Lee, Adele Marie Wells, William Tyrrell, Rene Hasee, Jane Beaumont, Dennise Jeannette "Denny" Sullivan, Ember Skye Graham, Tricia J. Kellett, Donnis Marie "Pinky" Redman, Renee Aitken, Dulce Maria Alavez, Jonathan Allen, Victoria Allen, Mylette Josephine Anderson, Erica Nicole Baker, Ava Grace Baldwin, Amber Renee Barker, Brittney Ann Beers, Tammy Lynn Belanger, Alessia Vera Schepp, Livia Clara Schepp, Ilene Rebecca Scott, Mary Lou Sena, Natasha Marie Shanes, Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Shea, Crystal Ann Tymich, Anna[1] Christian Waters, Holly Ann Hughes, Ashley LaShay Jones, Sofia Lucerno Juarez, Amber Jean Swartz-Garcia, Brooklinn Felyxia Miller, Marjorie Christina "Christy" Luna , Lorie Lynn Lewis, Sheri Lynn Johnson, Lauren Maria Pico Jackson, Hattie Yvonne Jackson, Janice Kathryn Pockett, Alice Pereira, Sabine Morgenroth, Daniela Moreno, April Ann Cooper, Catherine Barbara "Cathy" Davidson, Mary Rachel Bryan, Hazel X. Bracamontes, Melissa Lee Brannen, Edna "Bette Jean" Masters, Shaina Ashly Kirkpatrick,

[nel-world]

$crim:

Real Name: Scott Anthony Arceneaux Jr.

Born: April 11, 1989, in Marrero, Louisiana.

Early Life: Inspired by T-Pain and Lou Reed. Started producing music and DJing with money from selling drugs. Attended Delgado Community College and DJed parties. Worked selling used furniture but was fired due to hand tattoos.

Ruby da Cherry:

Real Name: Aristos Norman Petrou.

Born: April 22, 1990, to an American mother and Greek Cypriot father, Pavlos Petrou, a former soccer head coach.

Early Life: Raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Began playing music at age seven (violin) and ten (drums). Joined bands in middle school. Worked as a waiter at his father's restaurant until 2015. Played drums in punk rock band Vapo-Rats but left due to lack of ambition among bandmates.

Formation of Suicideboys:

Relationship: First cousins with a close relationship since childhood.

Decision: Both dissatisfied with their lives, they made a pact to commit suicide if their music career didn't succeed by the age of 30.

First Project: Released a three-track EP, Kill Yourself Part I: The $uicide $aga, in June 2014. Continued with nine more iterations of the Kill Yourself series.

Breakthrough: Achieved underground success with the 2015 EP $outh $ide $uicide, a collaboration with rapper Pouya.

Mainstream Entry: Released Radical $uicide in summer 2016, which peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Rap charts.

Musical Career:

Debut Studio Album: I Want to Die in New Orleans, released on September 7, 2018. The album reflected their experiences on the road and changes in their lives.

Subject Matter: Known for niche topics like suicidal ideation, anti-religion, and depression, which have gained them a cult following.

Popular Works: Music video for "Paris" with 184 million views on YouTube and "…And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around" with 544 million streams on Spotify as of August 2023.

Recognition: Featured in Billboard's "Billboard Dance's 15 Artists to Watch in 2017."

Notable Events:

Breakup Rumors: In late 2018, rumors circulated about a breakup, but the duo clarified it was due to Arceneaux's personal issues.

Collaborations: Released the EP Live Fast, Die Whenever in May 2019, featuring Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Korn guitarist James Shaffer.

Tours: Launched their first nationwide "Grey Day Tour" in July 2019, featuring artists like Germ, City Morgue, Trash Talk, Denzel Curry, Shoreline Mafia, Night Lovell, Pouya, and Turnstile. The tour started in Seattle and ended in Los Angeles.

Suicideboys' journey from underground artists to influential figures in the hip-hop scene showcases their determination and unique approach to music, dealing with dark and often taboo subjects. Their collaborations and tours have solidified their place in the music industry, attracting a dedicated fanbase.

[bubbleteycosplay]

All actresses/actors we have already considered for the role of Sigyn in the Marvel films/series:

Jessica Alba

Meryl Streep

Lily James

Emilia Clarke

Angel Coulby

Holliday Grainger

Rebecca Ferguson

Imogen Poots

Katie McGrath

Zawe Ashton

Amy James Kelly

Jennifer Connelly

Olivia Cooke

Natalie Dormer

Evan Rachel Wood

Ellie Bamber

Alana Boden

Phillipa Soo

Anne Hathaway

Ritu Arya

Sandra James Young

Niamh Walsh

Emily Carey

Romola Garai

Perdita Weeks

Britt Lower

Georgie Henley

Sophia Lillis

Sofia Wylie

Naomi Ackie

Alia Shawkat

Karen Fukuhara

Gratiela Brancusi

Gina Stiebitz

Joanna Douglas

Moses Ingram

Dilraba Dilmurat

Zoe Boyle

Freida Pinto

Charlotte Riley

Penelope Wilton

Jing Tian

Annabelle Wallis

Sophie Rundle

Alicia Vikander

Gemma Arterton

David Lindstrom

Isla Fisher

Gabriella Wilde

Hannah Dodd

Deepika Padukone

Marion Cotillard

Ksenia Solo

Denée Benton

Mia Wasikowska

Julia Lester

Ginnifer Goodwin

Malina Weissman

Naomi Scott

Ashley Johnson

Àstrid Berges-Frisbey

Millie Bobby Brown

Tamla Kari

Dianne Doan

Aisling Loftus

Pedro Pascal

Jessie Buckley

Felicity Jones

Lucy Martin

Sadie Sink

Lana Parrilla

Katheryn Winnick

Golshifteh Farahani

Vanessa Kirby

Kaley Cuoco

Alicia von Rittberg

Rachel Shenton

Meryem Uzerli

Jeanne Goursaud

Sophie Skelton

Léa Seydoux

Claire Holt

Sophie Turner

Nicola Coughlan

Sophia Myles

Regé Jean Page

Sara Gadon

Kelly Marie Tran

Hugh Dancy

Lydia West

Amanda Seyfried

Oona Chaplin

Billie Piper

Charithra Chandran

Keira Knightley

Elizabeth Debicki

Bella Heathcote

Savannah Steyn

Jodie Comer

Eleanor Tomlinson

Clémence Poésy

Jodie Turner-Smith

Charlotte Hope

Madeleine Mantock

Simone Ashley

Georgia Tennant

Jessica Williams

Daisy Head

Ana de Armas

Jessica Brown Findlay

Mimî M Khayisa

Lolly Adefope

Amy Adams

Jessica Chastain

Bryce Dallas Howard

Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Susan Wokoma

Aiysha Hart

Sophie Okonedo

Imelda Staunton

Anna Shaffer

Emilie de Ravin

Elle Fanning

Ruth Wilson

Anna Popplewell

Nathalie Emmanuel

Freema Agyeman

Rose Leslie

Halle Bailey

America Ferrera

Jeanne Goursaud

Drew Barrymore

Sogol Faghani

[screamingforyears]

IN A MINUTE: A NEW MUSIC ROUNDUP…

“LET IT GO” is the lead single/track from @americancultureofficial’s forthcoming LP titled ‘Hey Brother, It’s Been a While’ (5/3 @convulserecords ) & it finds the Denver-based quartet of Chris Adolf (guitar/lyrics/vox), Lucas Johannes (bass/guitar/organs), Michael Stein (guitars/lyrics/vox), & Scott Beck (drums/keys) linking up w/ fellow Coloradan @mercury_tracer to live that “C86ers that sound nothing like c86” lyfe across 5+ weary ass mins of mad_chestering meets college_radio_ing JanglePop.

@_fonteyn_ is here w/ a brand new standalone single titled “JODY” (@bornlosersrecords) & it finds the Salt Lake City-based UK native bringing 3 classically timeless mins of beautifully bewitching, warmly wholesome & richly retrofitted IndiePop.

@frailbodyil are here w/ “DEVOTION,” the second single from their forthcoming LP titled ‘Artificial Bouquet’ (3/29 @deathwishinc) & it finds the Rockford-based trio of Lowell Shaffer (guitar/vox/keys), Nic Kuczynski (bass) & Nicholas Clemenson (drums) witnessing a loved one “coming to terms that their religious beliefs weren’t going to save them from their fate” across 6+ breathy mins of start/stopping RealScreamO.

“ROMANTIC WORLDS” is the latest single from @janeweavermusic’s forthcoming LP titled ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’ (4/5 @fire_records) & it finds the Liverpool-based artist “abusing, evading & obliterating” her way across a 3:52 clip of whimsically awash & retro-tinged PsychPop.

“A MATTER OF TACT” is the second single from @profitprison’s forthcoming debut LP ‘Gilt’ (4/26 @avant_records) & it finds producer Parker Lautenschlager’s Seattle-based project giving us exactly what we need across 3 ½ buzzy mins of throbbingly tactile & dark_disco_ing SynthPop.

[andrewmoocow]

Steven Universe Snake Eyes chapter 7: Gods and Monsters (originally published on October 9, 2023)

AN: And so, we enter the biggest bomb I've ever dropped in one of my stories since I revealed that Haruko Haruhara was saved from her destroyed home planet by Rick Sanchez and eventually betrayed him for Atomsk before meeting Dipper and Mabel Pines. The origins of the Gem race has been one of the biggest mysteries in all of Steven Universe with tons of fans giving their own ideas on it, even as far back as the first season. I've pondered that too sometimes, but there are some parts of the series that are best left to the imagination. Well, until now that is! In this version of Steven's universe, the story of Gemkind shall finally be revealed for all to see, and you all have front row seats to a glimpse at a whole universe's worth of backstory and quite possibly the biggest threat Steven will face yet.

Synopsis: Steven and company meet the creator of all Gemkind and learn of an evil far greater than Black Rutile.

Cast:

Zach Callison as Steven

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl

Aurelio Voltaire as King Cobralan Serpentes

Shirley Millner as Queen Constricta Serpentes

Neil Flynn as Aescul

Henry Rollins as Captain Boa

Jennifer Paz as Lapis

Shelby Rabara as Peridot

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Kimberly Brooks as Jasper

Lauren Ash as White Topaz

Grace Rolek as Connie

Tom Scharpling as Greg

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond/Gem

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Peter Cullen as Titanium

Frank Welker as Tungsten

David Kaye as Steel

Corey Burton as Chromium

Bumper Robinson as Gold

Scott McNeil as Iron

Jeffrey Combs as Mercury

Hailee Steinfeld as Zinc

Jason Marsden as Prince Nosiop Jormagundr

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Keith David as Pyth

Matthew Moy as Lars

Zach Steel as Ronaldo

Atticus Shaffer as Peedee

Cissy Jones as Princess Naja Jormagundr

Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite

Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite

Erica Luttrell as Padparadscha Sapphire

Ashly Burch as Rutile Twins

Jeff Bennett as Murinus/The Sheriff

Featuring Samantha Newark as The Lapidarist

And Joel Grey as King Serpentes I

---

The date, 420,000 years ago. The place, the prehistoric planet that would someday become Serpentes, the capital of the Slytherophidian empire. Before it would become the mighty metropolis that thrived on forcing species from across the universe to compete, Serpentes was a small scattering of snake people colonies dotting the planet's countryside, all under the shaky rule of one monarch, its namesake king Serpentes the First. Serpentes typically spent time away from his subjects on expeditions to explore the planet and learn its history, as he proclaimed himself a scholar. But there was one discovery that would change not just the history of his home planet but the entire universe as well.

"Found anything yet, sire?" a Slytherophidian dressed as a cowboy asked while spitting into a bucket. "We've been out here for weeks and still haven't found any ancient ruins and all that! Might I suggest we quit the tomb raider business, cut back on searching uncharted lands and temples of doom, and go home already?"

"No, Murinus, there has to be something we're missing. I know it!" Serpentes muttered to himself while examining the map in his hands. "We just need to keep looking!"

"Look, Your Highness, I can totally get your eagerness to explore, but I'm happy with just kicking back and letting you do all the work." Murinus said before turning his tail into feet and kicking them on a rock. "Hey, do you see a light somewhere over there?"

"A light? Where?!" Serpentes excitedly replied while gazing out into the horizon. "By Jove, I think you're right! We must go there immediately!" To the king's delight, he could see a faint beam of light ejecting from an ancient temple hidden in the distance. "Come along, Murinus!"

"Me and my big mouth," Murinus said to himself as his king dragged him along toward the temple as the beam got even brighter the closer they got. Upon arriving at the temple, the beam of light was at its absolute brightest, and Serpentes couldn't be more excited.

"Hm, I must say, this would make a nice castle to live in." Serpentes mused as the duo entered the temple, which was filled with crystals and rocks jutting out of the walls and the ceiling. But the most peculiar inhabitant was a large, crystalline being gently clutching a bubble housing a strange gemstone. "And who might you be?"

"Almost there, my child. Almost there." The being whispered to her bubble before she turned to discover Serpentes and Murinus in front of her. "More snakes? You shouldn't be here."

"Do not worry, giant woman. We come in peace." Serpentes calmed the being down. "My name is Serpentes, the king of the Slytherophidians. And this is my companion, Murinus. Say hi, Murinus."

"Howdy." Murinus tipped his hat to the giant woman. "Say, what's that you got in there, madame?"

"Oh, this?" the giant said, presenting the gemstone inside her bubble to the two Slytherophidians. "I've been working on it for the past couple of eons. I call it Gem. It is an advanced lifeform that possesses extraordinary powers unseen by mortals, but I'm not sure how I can test it to make sure it won't harm anybody with how powerful it is."

"Then, why don't I help you take care of it?" King Serpentes offered his assistance. "Maybe I can set up a way for it to grow and control its powers so that everyone can watch and see how strong it is."

"That is a wonderful idea, Serpentes." The giant agreed with the king and shook his hand, sealing the deal.

"By the way, I don't think I ever got your name," Serpentes said.

"My name?" the giant replied. "My name has been lost to time, but you may call me the Lapidarist."

--

In the present day, Steven and the Crystal Gems were being taken through the Jormagundrs' castle towards a hidden doorway by the royal guards, all having no idea what to expect when King Cobralan said it was time for them to learn the truth. As the trip grew longer, the group was soon joined by different sets of guards escorting Greg & Connie and the Diamonds.

"So, uh, what are we doing?" Greg asked nervously. "I was going to cheer you up after your big fight with Black Rutile, but then suddenly, these guys told me they had something I needed to see."

"Do they have a birthday surprise planned for Steven?" Peridot added just as curious.

"I don't know." Yellow Diamond answered. "But whatever it is, I don't think we'll ever be the same after today."

"You are indeed correct, Yellow Diamond," Aescul said as he led the group through the dark corridors hidden within the castle walls to a mysterious chamber that closely resembles the Crystal Temple back on Earth. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet your maker. Hee, I always wanted to say that."

"Wait, our maker? As in the creator of all Gemkind?!" Pearl squawked in shock as the Gems and humans bore witness to a massive, crystalline being kneeling before them, its face utterly blank except for a large diamond on it and wild, spiky hair not unlike White Diamond's.

"Hello, my children." The giant said. "I am the Lapidarist. I am the creator of all Gems."

"Dude, this is so sick!" Amethyst yelled in amazement. "We're face to face with our actual god here!"

"Correction, she is our god as well." Titanium declared as he and the other Metals emerged from the shadows of the chamber to meet their sister race. "So the rumors were true. Our creator still lives."

"Hello there, Miss Lapidarist." Steven greeted the Lapidarist. "My name's Steven Universe. Uh, do you like being called Miss, or do you prefer any other pronouns?"

"On the contrary, my friend, my species has evolved past the need for what you call genders." The Lapidarist explained. "But Miss Lapidarist does have a nice ring to it."

"So, this is the mother of all Gems?" Spinel wondered while scratching her head and sitting on Yellow's shoulder. "How come we never knew about this?"

"Hello there, Lapidarist." White Diamond said sourly as she glared at the creator of the Gem race. "Fancy seeing you again after millions of years."

"Ah, Gem. What a surprise." The Lapidarist greeted White with an inquisitive tilt of her head. "What is it you're calling yourself these days, White Diamond? Not sure if I like the name."

"Okay, enough with the introductions, everybody!" Mercury complained. "Now then, big lady, the snake people said they were going to give us answers, and by your name or whatever, we're gonna get some answers!"

"Actually, we prefer to be called Slytherophidians, Mr. Mercury." Captain Boa corrected the curmudgeonly Metal medic. "The Lapidarist has been the royal family's best-kept secret for generations, all the way back to our first king Serpentes I."

"We've been watching your race for a few years now because the Lapidarist wanted to see if Steven truly meant well in making the radical changes he did to Gem society." King Cobralan added.

"Well, I sure did, no matter what certain emotionally stunted terrorists may say," Steven said assuredly, unaware that Black Rutile, Nosiop, and Pyth were watching from afar.

"Hmph, yeah, right." Black Rutile said glumly while the three villains kept themselves hidden. "Just wait until I use the Lapidarist's powers to wipe you out for good."

"So Miss Lapidarist, earlier you called White Diamond by the name Gem," Garnet said. "We'd like to learn more about that; thank you."

"That was the name I was given when the Lapidarist created me," White said, rolling her eyes as she cringed at the thought like a human would when remembering their awkward teenage years. "And a name I've abandoned for eons."

"Well, allow me to enlighten you." The Lapidarist said while altering the entire room like a holodeck to present the Crystal Gems with White Diamond's hidden past.

--

In the beginning, there was only one. A single black infinitude, so cold and dark for so very long that even the burning light was imperceptible. But then the infinitude found release, and at last, the darkness broke, filling it with shining stars. From these stars came the Lapidarists, who filled this newly born universe with life. On that day, the universe as we knew it was born. Cells, molecules, atoms, from ions to pions, muons to gluons, neutrinos, gravitinos, these were the first planets to be forged by this race of builders, with life blossoming on each one. Life, a precious gift persevering in the face of every obstacle, but it would soon come under attack.

Where there was light to create the first sentient beings, there was a being of pure darkness and evil that sought to extinguish it. A terrible snake-like creature of frightening power known as Squamata devoured planet after planet, millions of voices suddenly crying out in terror before they were just as suddenly silenced. The Lapidarists tried all they could to stop this threat from becoming more powerful. They created many races like the Magmen, the Metals, the Slytherophidians, and the races of the first Universal Lords to combat it. While they successfully sealed Squamata away beneath the future planet of Serpentes, it came at the cost of the entire Lapidarist race being wiped out except for one. Declaring itself the guardian of the monster's resting place, the last Lapidarist isolated itself from the rest of the universe in a hidden temple where it spent millenniums forging the being that would eventually save the universe from their ancient foe. But all of that changed one fateful day.

--

"Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the first-ever challenger of the Contest of Champions, Gem!" King Serpentes announced as he revealed the Lapidarist's creation to the other Slytherophidians. Gem was a tall, pale-skinned female humanoid with copious amounts of mascara applied and dressed as a warrior, but her most distinguishing feature was a gemstone attached to her forehead. "I had found this creature one day years ago on an expedition to the wilderness of our planet and brought her home with me. That was when I got the idea to have her compete against species from other worlds to see who is truly the strongest in the universe. Now then, release her competition!"

The gates opened, and out came a green, hulking humanoid with massive muscles wearing only purple pants that let out a booming roar. Gem just smirked and pulled a spear from her gem that she used to fight the monster.

"What an astounding display of strength, ladies and gentlemen!" King Serpentes exclaimed as Gem duked it out with the ogre-like beast, showing great tenacity and grace compared to the monster serving as her opponent. "Perhaps if more were to come, we would make this into an annual event where champions from far and wide could come and display their powers, like the Grendel we captured, for example!"

"Just a little bit more, you disgusting Grendel!" Gem exclaimed eagerly as she began stabbing at the monster with her spear, causing it to leak pink blood to the cheers of her adoring fans. "Yes, you all love me!"

"And what a shocker, everyone!" Serpentes exclaimed as Gem finished off the Grendel. "Gem has slain the creature! She is truly an amazing warrior!"

"Oh, thank you, thank you all!" Gem accepted the riotous applause as she reunited with King Serpentes outside the arena. "Oh, Your Majesty, I had so much fun today!"

"Perfect, Gem. And you'll be having more fun for years to come." Serpentes said as the two walked away to the temple from whence she came, which was now having a new castle built over it.

"Um, Mr. Serpentes, if I may ask a question," Gem asked her king. "Have you ever thought about letting me explore the planet like you do? Maybe even the whole galaxy, the universe even? I bet there are infinite possibilities for me to explore out there!"

"Now, now, Gem, don't get too excited." Serpentes calmed Gem down. "I admire your enthusiasm, but your one true purpose is here, right at my side and fighting in the Contest of Champions."

"But I just want to explore like you do!" Gem urged her father figure, now sounding an awful lot like a certain pink diamond. "Why can't you let me?!"

"I understand, my dear, but the universe is a vast and dangerous place filled with millions of species that could no doubt either kill you or steal you for themselves," Serpentes explained. "Please understand that this is why you are forbidden from ever leaving Serpentes. Now, I'm off to speak with the construction workers, so you behave yourself, young lady."

Although Gem understood why Serpentes was so protective of her, she felt utterly sheltered in the world she called home. However, while the king did say Gem was forbidden from ever leaving the planet, she assumed he didn't mean more than one of her.

--

"Wow, White was just like Pink when she was created?" Steven realized as his eyes were opened to White Diamond's past while giving the three Diamonds a smug smirk.

"Maybe that's why you abused her so much because she reminded you of yourself," Connie added wryly.

"Guess it's true what they say. Some people are more alike than you think." Gold giggled at White's embarrassing memory while the Diamond blushed in shame.

"Don't make that face at me, White; don't deny what you were in the past." The Lapidarist chided her creation. "Do you remember what happened afterward?"

"Do you not?" White asked, her eyes widened in genuine surprise as she tried to dodge the question.

"Ooo-hoo-hoo, this should be juicy!" Steel giggled eagerly as White took a deep breath and came clean.

"Yes, I remember what happened afterward," White admitted. "For hundreds of years, I took advantage of a loophole created by Serpentes and created the first Gems."

--

Using technology stolen from another race that she reverse-engineered herself into what would later be known as Injectors, Gem began using Serpentes's resources to create more beings like her that she would dub Gem. However, this would come at the cost of the planet slowly suffering the effects of these Injectors draining its life energy, causing dozens to die in uncharted parts of the planet. Upon discovering this courtesy of Murinus, Serpentes sought to do something about this crisis.

"Are you sure that Gem could be to blame for all of this?" Murinus said as he and Serpentes marched to the Devil's Palm canyon, named as such for resembling a humanoid hand with a plateau in the center where the palm would be. "At least she ain't running off to explore the universe."

"And that's the problem!" Serpentes exclaimed. "When I said she was forbidden from leaving, this was not what I meant!" Soon, the duo arrived at the Devil's Palm, where they discovered not just one colorful humanoid with a gemstone on her body but dozens upon dozens more of them. "What in the?!"

"SERPENTES!" the new species all cried out in delight at Serpentes's arrival.

"Hey, your Majesty." One of them greeted casually as Serpentes tried moving his way through the sea of humanoids to reach Gem.

"Gem, what is the meaning of this?!" Serpentes yelled angrily at his creation. "Whatever you are doing, you will soon destroy this whole planet! Is this what you wanted, to tear our world apart and then abandon it to find some other planet to terrorize?!"

"No, my lord, this is not what you think!" Gem urged Serpentes. "You forbade me from leaving Serpentes, but you didn't say the same for all these creatures that I call Gems. Nice name, don't you think?"

"Yes, that is a very nice name, but that's not the point, my child." Serpentes said while drawing out a sword from his hip. "I am sorry, but to ensure the safety of our planet, I'm afraid I'll have to shatter you."

"Is that so?" Gem said as she drew her spear with a smirk. "Then come on, enough talk! Have at you!"

"I will do what I must," Serpentes replied as he readied his blade.

"You will try." Gem added before the two went head-to-head in a mini-Contest of Champions. The Gems that Gem created began cheering for their mother figure as the Slytherophidian and the Gem clashed under the scorching afternoon sun, while Murinus saw fit not to get involved in the situation and wait until it got better.

"You can't keep doing this, Gem!" King Serpentes urged his mighty warrior. "This technology you stole from the Metals was designed to harvest resources from planets at the cost of slowly killing them! How did you even find such things?!"

"Steel practically gave them away when the Metals decided they wanted to live in harmony with their colonies instead of committing genocide." Gem revealed while nimbly dodging a sword swipe. "He just happened to dump them all here one day and let me take some for myself."

"I should really tell them to stop using other planets as a garbage dump for their old tech." Serpentes muttered to himself before seeing an opening on Gem and jabbed his sword into her gem, causing a slight crack.

"W-what did you do?" Gem whimpered in fear as her form glitched while Serpentes looked down at his tail in shame at what he had done. "What did you do to me?"

"I'm sorry, my dear." Serpentes apologized while stroking Gem's face. "But I am only doing what is right." With another stab of the snake king's sword, Gem was utterly shattered, her namesake gemstone on her forehead being reduced to four pieces in four very familiar shapes. "Murinus!"

"Yes, my liege?" Murinus asked as he emerged from his hiding spot before being handed the four gem shards. "Oh no, you didn't."

"I want the Lapidarist to find somewhere for these shards and all of these Gems to flourish so they won't cause any more damage to Serpentes." King Serpentes ordered, looking out at all the Gems inhabiting the Devil's Palm Canyon. "I can handle one Gem, but this many would give me a headache."

And so, with help from the Lapidarist, once she was told of what happened, Gem and all of her creations were exiled to an uncharted planet that would one day become the Gem Homeworld. Hundreds of years afterward, the first of Gem's shards would reform into White Diamond, followed by Yellow, Blue, and Pink Diamond over the next couple thousand years, eventually forming the Great Diamond Authority and beginning to conquer a good portion of the universe that the Universal Lords didn't dominate.

Though the Lapidarist was disappointed at what Gem had become, she vowed not to interfere. She had no choice but to watch as the Diamonds wreaked havoc across the universe, conquering and destroying planet after planet as her story was passed down for generations. At the same time, her fallen kinfolk's other creations, such as the Metals and the Magmen, began rising to prominence in the intergalactic community.

--

"And that is the story of the Gem race." The Lapidarist concluded her story, having blown everyone's minds with the history she revealed to the Crystal Gems once hidden from the public eye. "I am truly sorry that I have been the author of all your pain through my creation of the Diamonds."

"We know you didn't mean any harm, Lapidarist," Bismuth said. "You only wanted to create life, but then it went horribly wrong."

"And we've carried it with our family for generations." Queen Constricta said while everyone was still unaware of who was spying on them.

"This is most interesting." Nosiop muttered excitedly. "Perhaps once we gather our army, we can unleash this snake creature and prove to the Slytherophidians that we were meant to be conquerors!"

"Yes, conquerors," Pyth smirked deviously like he had other plans in mind that didn't align with the prince's.

"As I said, I am truly sorry, but I can make a change." The Lapidarist stated while presenting a mechanical, orb-like device. "This is an Accretionator. A powerful device with the ability to create a strong gravitational pull that can draw in various asteroids and cosmic dust to revive an entire planet. Observe." To demonstrate, the Lapidarist created a hologram of a Gem colony that Steven and Connie recognized, the planet that the jungle moon they once visited as Stevonnie orbited. When the Accretionator was inserted into the planet, asteroids and space dust were vacuumed to the planet's surface, making it as good as new, like it was never conquered and colonized. "Impressive, isn't it? So tell me, do you accept this bargain?"

"Uh, we're going to need to discuss this among ourselves first," Peridot said as the Crystal Gems huddled together to discuss the Lapidarist's offer. "You saw what that Accretionator can do, right? Hundreds upon thousands of worlds revived in seconds! Do you realize what this means?!"

"Yeah, but what about afterward?" Lapis asked. "Are we just going back to how things were before Era 3 started? I think I know someone who would love that."

"Yeah, yeah, Black Rutile and all that," Jasper added sarcastically. "If Steven didn't completely break her body and her spirit, she'd accept the deal faster than you can say, 'Pull the lever, White Topaz.'"

"So what should we do?" White Topaz asked while looking back at the Lapidarist, patiently awaiting their answer. "I don't want to keep our literal goddess waiting."

"Well, ladies, your final answer?" Captain Boa spoke up. "No need to keep a lady waiting."

The Crystal Gems broke their huddle and turned to the Lapidarist. "Look, we're flattered by your offer and tempted by the chance to heal those broken worlds." Pearl declared. "But we just can't do it; the price is too high."

"The entire reason why we became who we are today is because we wanted to freely express ourselves," Amethyst added. "We wanted to live our own lives without anyone telling us what to do or how to do it."

"And we don't want to harm others simply because they are different. Everyone should be able to coexist regardless if they are flawed." Garnet stated firmly. "Like the Diamonds, for example. They have done horrible things in the past, but they're working to make a change for the better, no matter how hard it may be. I'm sure we have made ourselves loud and clear."

"How interesting." The Lapidarist said with a tilt of her head. "I thought I could coax you into complying like you did with so many other individuals, but it seems I was wrong. You prefer to make a change in your own way."

"You're right," Steven replied. "Besides, we once met alternate versions of ourselves from another dimension who were like our polar opposites, and they didn't want to make a change either."

"Should you tell them, or should I?" White whispered to the other Diamonds.

"Tell them what?" Iron asked, overhearing the three Gems' conversation.

"I don't think I like where this is going." Zinc said disdainfully as the Diamonds turned to face the Gems.

"Steven my dear, lately there have been rumors going around of a cover-up we've been performing," Yellow stated shakily. "Well, I must say that the rumors are true."

"What rumors?" Tungsten asked curiously.

"There were rumors that we were hiding the fact we did indeed wipe out organic life on a couple or so planets." Blue Diamond declared. "Well, suffice to say, the rumors were true. We exterminated all life on planets that were trying to fight back, and we hid the truth by saying we would never kill organic life. It's a secret we've been hiding for years, but somehow, the Slytherophidians found out and used it to blackmail us into coming along with them!"

The Crystal Gems all gasped in shock at this revelation. While they were aware that the Diamonds had done many horrible things over thousands of years, they were always told that the planets they conquered were primarily uninhabited, so hearing that a few worlds turned into colonies did house intelligent life was quite possibly just as, if not even an even bigger shock than learning of their species' origins. But no one took this harder than Steven.

"Why am I not surprised you'd hide something so horrible from us?" Steven said gloweringly, trying his best not to lose his temper again. "I wanted to give you three a chance, even after all the horrible things you did to me, us, and everyone. But no, you just keep hiding secrets from everyone, just like my mom did when she was alive. And especially a secret this awful. This is why I'm always so uncomfortable around you because I'm worried that any moment, whenever I turn my back, you'll just go back to your old ways and try to kill me. So destroy all my friends if you want, because I will make you pay for it."

"Steven, you don't understand. We never wanted it to be like this!" White exclaimed as Steven quietly stormed off.

"You pressed the Mom button." Amethyst declared. "You shouldn't have done that."

"Steven, wait!" Spinel yelled as she jumped off Yellow's shoulder and ran off after Steven, leaving the Crystal Gems, the Diamonds, the Metals, and the Slytherophidians alone with the Lapidarist.

"You know, my offer is still on the table." The Lapidarist suggested to the Diamonds.

"We appreciate the gesture, but it will take more than just one device to atone for what we've done." Blue politely declined the offer. "Is there anything else you want to tell us?"

"Indeed, there is." The Lapidarist replied. "There is a prophecy that states that on the day of Ragnarok, there will be a mighty warrior who will emerge from the merger of a group of troubled beings to save all reality from Squamata." She then began to chant the prophecy out loud while her body shined every possible color in existence. "Enlightened warriors of clashing kinships come from afar to banish the Eclipse. Only when united in heart and mind, can they stop the worlds from being aligned."

"So definitely a fusion then." Garnet declared after a quick analysis of the prophecy.

"Yeah, but of who?" Greg asked curiously.

"That is for you to find out, my mortal friends." The Lapidarist said while reverting her body to normal. "But in the meantime, I sense a great crisis on the immediate horizon."

--

Elsewhere in the Jormagundrs' castle, Princess Naja was pacing about her room after being locked away by her brother's enforcers for trying to interfere with his plans. "Nosiop can't get away with this." She muttered to herself. "But who can possibly help us in this hour?"

"Hey, anyone in there?" Lars asked as he knocked on the door. "One of the guards told us that somebody got locked up in their room. Can you tell us who you are before we break you out?"

"I'm Princess Naja Jormagundr!" Naja introduced herself to her rescuer. "My brother had me imprisoned here because he's plotting to conquer our race, and he and Black Rutile didn't want me getting in the way! You must tell Steven Universe at once!"

"Don't worry, miss, we got your back!" Ronaldo yelled as he tried breaking down the door by ramming into it. "Agh, my shoulder!"

"Hey, Paddy Sapphire, can you shapeshift us a key hand?" Peedee asked Padparadscha.

"Ooh, Peedee will ask for my help to free the pretty princess!" Padparadscha said before the door opened, revealing Lars, Ronaldo, Peedee, and the Off-Colors on the other side of the door.

"Looks like our princess wasn't in another castle after all," Lars said as he took Naja by the hand and gave her a gentlemanly kiss. "So, what's this about your brother?"

"He wants our race to become conquerors because no one could take him seriously," Naja explained. "He has aligned interests with Black Rutile to further those goals, and I fear they will doom you all."

"Oh dear, not Black Rutile." Fluorite shook her head in disgust. "Nosiop has made the wrong choice. Black Rutile is one of the evilest, cruelest Gems we know."

"Or is she?" Rhodonite wondered. "After her big meltdown to Steven, I'm having second thoughts about Black Rutile."

"Of course, she could also lie to gain people's sympathy." The left Rutile twin suggested.

"That is so like Black Rutile to do that." The right Rutile added.

"So, now, what do we do?" Peedee asked. "Are we just going to wait and see how this goes?"

"Everyone, I have another vision!" Padparadscha exclaimed. "Prince Nosiop Jormagundr is going to make an announcement!"

"Hey, she's right!" Ronaldo gasped before pointing at Nosiop slithering into the stadium. "Look over there!"

--

At the Ouraborium, Nosiop had returned to his family's viewing box, where he sat on his father's throne alongside the other Universal Lords to make his grand speech. "Today, people of Serpentes, shall be the most glorious day our planet has ever seen." Nosiop declared with Black Rutile and Pyth standing on either side of him. "As of today, I shall now take my father's place as your ruler, for he is not fit to be a king or a Universal Lord. Let this be a wake-up call to you Slytherophidians, the Universal Lords, the Gem race, and the ignorant masses across the entire universe! I shall soon arrive with an entire army of loyal Gems at my side to face down an ancient foe my father has hidden from you for so long! We all must answer to the hand of fate, and fate has chosen me to conquer this world!"

As soon as Nosiop finished his speech with an evil laugh, the entire stadium was sent into a frenzy, wondering if their prince was joking or if he intended to conquer Serpentes. The Universal Lords were left shocked at this declaration, but none were as affected by this as Black Rutile, who looked to one side as she began contemplating her role in Nosiop's plans.

And so, Nosiop pulls off step one of his grand plan. Announce what he's doing to the world and make everyone so scared and confused, they'll have no idea what to do with him. Yeah, talk about dropping a lot of bombs in just one chapter, but this isn't the end of it! Next chapter, we'll be in the homestretch with chaos aplenty and a contemplation of where certain characters will end up by the end. It can only get crazier from here, folks.

[youngfcs]

Hello! Do you have suggestions for female fcs in the age range 25-30 that can portray an ice skater? 🫶

Hello there! Of course <3

Kaya Scodelario (23-31) [Spin Out]

Margot Robbie (24-32) [I, Tonya]

Julie Berman (30-38) [Love on Ice]

Olga Korsak (26-34) [The Petrichor]

Aglaya Tarasova (21-29) [Ice]

Maddison Bullock (22-28) [Ice the movie]

Other options:

Naomi Scott (22-30)

Penelope Mitchell (23-31)

Samantha Boscarino (20-28)

Virginia Gardner (19-28)

Zoé de Grand Maison (18-28)

Anna Shaffer (24-31)

(cib)

[wutbju]

Mary C. Mitchell, BJU Class of 1977.

It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Mitchell announces her passing on Friday, April 19, 2024 after a 25-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 72 when she died at the Emerald Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lillington, N.C.

Mary was born in Manchester, Md., the seventh of eight children of Charles M. and Mary E. Therit. She was raised on a farm and graduated from North Carroll High School in 1969. Although she lived all over the world, she always had deep roots in rural Maryland.

She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Frederic Eugene Mitchell, Jr., their son, Frederic Eugene Mitchell III, and his wife, Alyssa Mitchell, as well as her sisters Audrey Shaffer, Ellen Hopkins (John), Shirley Richards and brothers Dale Therit and Dave Therit (Sandy). She was predeceased by her brother Charlie Therit and sister Ruth Scott. Also mourning her loss are her longtime best friends Grace and Marshall Angotti.

Mary was a talented artist and dedicated teacher. She attended Catonsville Community College and Towson State University where she received a degree in Art Education in 1973. She taught at the Carroll Christian Academy in Westminster, Md, after her graduation. She received a master’s degree in education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. in 1977. She then accepted a position as a teacher at Maili Bible School in Waianae, Hawaii (Oahu). She tutored the children of missionaries in the Philippines for a time before returning to Maili Bible School where she soon became the principal of the school. Throughout this time, she traveled to visit family every year and eventually returned to the mainland to teach at Wake Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C.

Mary was a loving wife, mother, sister and friend. She always remembered peoples’ birthdays and anniversaries and enjoyed celebrating with them. She was kind and caring, thinking of others much more than herself. Mary was generous to her core; you could never outgive her. She had a quick sense of humor and her whole face would light up with joy when she laughed. Her Christian faith was integral to her life, and whenever something would happen she would say two words: “let’s pray.” She was easy to love, and a gift to everyone she met. She had a way of making strangers into friends and friends into family.

She met her husband, Fred, in North Carolina. After their wedding they became missionaries for Biblical Ministries Worldwide, planting churches in England. Their son, Frederic, was born in 1992 and spent his early years in England. They came home after many years doing the Lord’s work in England, and served as missionaries in New Mexico, Georgia and later with Baptist Home Missions in North Carolina.

Mary was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1999; for the past five years her body has been paralyzed. Her faith never faltered; she remained strong throughout this season. Even as her body began to fail, she never lost her joy and compassion. She prayed continually, giving thanks in all circumstances. Second Corinthians, verse five reminds us, “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Now Mary gets to be with Jesus, whom she loved so dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 in the chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier, N.C. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Angier, N.C. A second memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manchester, Md. Interment will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, Md.

[divinelytm]

Mw fcs

hi  anon  —  i'm  awful  at  these  lists  ,  so  i  had  a  look  at  periodfcnetwork's  fantastic  directory  and  i  would  love  to  see  jessie  mei  li  ,  dev  patel  ,  jacob  anderson  ,  arsema  thomas  ,  emma  d'arcy  ,  ben  barnes  ,  delainey  hayles  ,  tom  glynn  carney  ,  anya  chalotra  ,  roberta  colindrez  ,  justice  smith  ,  oliver  jackson  -  cohen  ,  cara  gee  ,  winona  ryder  ,  deepika  padukone  ,  luke  pasqualino  ,  sophie  wilde  ,  amber  midthunder  ,  lashana  lynch  ,  elle  fanning  ,  lupinta  nyong'o  ,  nicola  coughlan  ,  colin  o'donoghue  ,  jodie  turner  -  smith  ,  aaron  fontaine  ,  medalion  rahimi  ,  steve  toussaint  ,  freddie  fox  ,  savannah  steyn  ,  archie  renaux  ,  cynthia  addai  -  robbinson  ,  djimon  hounsou  ,  nicholas  hoult  ,  laura  harrier  ,  tom  blyth  ,  amar  chadha  -  patel  ,  michiel  huisman  ,  ewan  mitchell  ,  anya  taylor  joy  ,  sean  teale  ,  rebecca  ferguson  ,  gemma  chan  ,  milly  alcock  ,  pedro  pascal  ,  halle  bailey  ,  anna  shaffer  ,  sam  reid  ,  triana  browne  ,  kit  young  ,  mads  mikkelson  ,  sujaya  dasgupta  ,  jodie  comer  ,  danielle  galligan  ,  oscar  isaac  ,  jessica  parker  kennedy  ,  simone  ashley  ,  maddison  jaizani  ,  phoebe  campbell  ,  jack  wolfe  ,  victoria  pedretti  ,  naomi  scott  ,  rahul  kohli  ,  freddy  carter  ,  sevda  erginci  ,  taylor  russell  &  lewis  tan  !

[longclawrp]

mwf ?

okay so i would love to see: abbie hern, alia bhatt, ana de armas, essie davis, eve best, kate siegel, kaya scodelario, lily james, adelaide kane, marina ruy barbosa, medalion rahimi, merve bolugur, emilia clarke, rosamund pike, xuan lu, zhu yilong, anna shaffer, bethany antonia, deepika padukone, naomi scott, katrina kaif, savannah steyn, wang herun, abigail cowen, amber midthunder.