#southern screen festival

[teasertrailerfilm]

Get ready for a WHOLE NEW SLEW OF PREMIERES!!

So excited to announce our LOUISIANA, COLORADO, AND SOUTH CAROLINA PREMIERES!!! Catch us in Lafayette, Grand Junction, and Columbia!

[mysunshinetemptress]

She is Heaven

Leah Williamson x Cowgirl!reader

Warning:Heaven is out of reach and you can’t blame anyone else but yourself

The roar of the crowd at the CMA festival was almost drowned out by the pounding of your heart. You'd never been to Nashville, never been further east than South Dakota, but here you were, all because of Mitch and his rodeo star girlfriend, Dakota. You shuffled through the throngs of cowboy hats and rhinestones laughing at locals trying to fit into the cowboy narrative, the air thick with the sweet tang of barbecue and spilled beer.

Mitch had given you your pass to the VIP section just behind the sound desk, flashing your lanyard you walked up the steps letting out a breath you didn't even realise you were holding in, you turned looking at the other people that had gathered in the section your eyes flicking around for Mitch or Dakota when your eyes landed on a small group of women laughing before turning as Mitch placed his hand on your shoulder "Hey, you good Oakley." you turned fully facing him "Yeah all good." Mitch had been calling you Oakley as long as you could remember refusing to call you Y/n, you were Oakley to him only to him after Annie Oakley a famous female gunslinger.

You were broken from the conversation by the sound of the three women walking past you and exiting the VIP section, your ears seemed to prick up at the sound of the unfamiliar accent, but the world seemed to go quiet as the taller girl turned her blue eyes catching your greenish gold ones.

"My God she's gorgeous." you thought to yourself.

The festival was in full swing and you were sipping a beer talking to Mitch about his upcoming rodeo gig in California when you felt a tap on your shoulder, You met the same blue eyes you had locked with a short while ago before your eyes drifted to her lips as she started talking "Hi, would you mind taking a photo of us please." You handed Mitch your beer wiping your suddenly sweaty hands in your jeans before reaching for the phone in her hand mumbling out a small sure.

"Alright saw cheese." you smiled at the screen as the three women wrapped their arms around eachother saying a loud cheese as they smiled for the photo.

You smiled at the taller girl as she said a soft thank you taking the phone before you began speaking, your Montana twang thick in the southern air, "that accent's somethin' else. Where you from?"

The woman smiled, a smile that could light up a rodeo arena. "England. I'm Leah." you outstretched your hand shaking hers "I'm Y/n."

Your knowledge of England extended as far as tea and the Queen, but Leah's accent, when she spoke to you, sent a shiver down your spine. It was melodic, a complete contrast to the twang you were used to. Hesitation warred with curiosity. You weren't exactly known for your social graces – you were more comfortable wrangling a stubborn steer than making small talk. But something about Leah propelled you forward.

"England, huh? That's a long way from Nashville." you drawled, trying to sound nonchalant despite the butterflies erupting in your stomach.

Leah, seemingly unfazed, laughed, a light, tinkling sound. "It certainly is," she admitted, her eyes sparkling. "I'm here with my Nan and cousin for the festival."

"Cool, that there is my best friend, Mitch, we're here to watch his girlfriend play it's her first major festival." Leah smiled "Wow, what's her name." God her accent was something else "Eh Dakota, Dakota Jones." Leah's eyes seemed to shine "No way, no way we love her."

A smile bloomed on your face, a genuine one that crinkled the corners of your eyes. Maybe Nashville wasn't so bad after all. "Well, you'll get to see her then, she's on next!" The music thrummed through the ground, a contagious beat that made you want to tap your boots. You glanced at Mitch, who was busy chatting with a group of cowboys, then back at Leah. "You guys should stick around, you might even get to meet her."

Leah's smile widened the kind that seemed to reach her eyes. "That would be amazing! Like I said we're huge fans." Her enthusiasm was infectious, and you found yourself wanting to share Dakota's success with them. "Come on, then," you said, gesturing towards the open chairs near Mitch. "Let's get you settled in for the show."

As you led them over, you stole a glance at Leah. The way the stage lights twinkled in her hair, the way her eyes sparkled with excitement – it was like something out of a dream. You weren't sure what it was, but there was definitely something about this English girl that made your heart skip a beat.

As you reached Mitch, you introduced Leah and her companions, a petite woman with a kind face who you assumed was her Nan, and a bubbly blonde you learned was her cousin, Jordan. Mitch, ever the charmer, greeted them with a southern drawl that had Leah and Lily giggling, "Don't mind him he's as southern as the state of Wyoming." Leah laughed at your little dig.

The conversation flowed easily, filled with questions about rodeo life from the wide-eyed English girls and tales of your Montana ranch from you. You found yourself captivated by Leah's stories of quaint villages 1000s of years old, a world far removed from your own.

"So what do you do for a living then?" You asked taking a swig of beer. "I play football," Leah answered nonchalantly with your eyebrows "Football, they have girls football in England." Leah laughed "Yeah like soccer, I play soccer only in England we call it football." Football? Soccer? You furrowed your brow, completely lost. "Like...kicking a ball around?"

Leah laughed again, a sound that was starting to feel dangerously intoxicating. "Something like that, yes. Though it's a bit more complex than that." She gestured towards the stage, where Dakota had just appeared on. "This is quite the experience, though. The music, the energy, it's electric."

But even as the crowd roared and the lights pulsed, you couldn't help but steal glances at Leah. There was a connection there, a spark that you couldn't quite explain. And as Dakota's powerful voice filled the arena, you knew this trip to Nashville, with all its twists and turns, was going to be one you wouldn't soon forget.

As the night began to draw to a close you found yourself feeling anxious over the thought of never seeing Leah again, "How long are you here for." Leah sighed "Not long I'm afraid we came just for this and i have to be back in England by the end of the week cause I'm heading into another England camp."

Your stomach clenched. A week. It felt like mere seconds since you'd locked eyes with Leah across the crowded VIP section, and already the thought of her leaving felt like a punch to the gut.

"England camp?" you repeated, hoping to buy yourself some time to process the information.

"Yeah," Leah explained, her smile dimming slightly. "I play for the national team. We have a big tournament coming up."

National team. Wow. You weren't sure what was more surprising – the fact that Leah was a world-class athlete, or the fact that you, a simple ranch girl from Montana, had managed to strike up a conversation with her.

"That's incredible, Leah," you managed to stammer, forcing a smile.

"Thanks," she replied, her gaze lingering on yours for a beat too long before glancing away.

You had only just met this girl, but the thought of her flying halfway across the world and never seeing her again felt earth-shattering.

An awkward silence descended, broken only by the faint sounds of roadies dismantling the stage and the distant chatter of departing festival-goers. You stole another glance at Leah, catching the flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Was she feeling the same way you were? A crazy, exhilarating hope bubbled up within you.

Mitch, sensing the shift in mood, nudged you playfully. "Well, Oakley," he drawled. "Looks like it's time for us to head back to the hotel. Long drive tomorrow."

You shot him a grateful look. Mitch always knew how to read a situation.

"Yeah, you're right," you agreed, standing up a little too abruptly.

As you said your goodbyes, Leah's hand lingered in yours a touch longer than was strictly necessary. Her blue eyes held a hint of something you couldn't quite decipher, a mix of sadness and a spark of something else entirely.

You stole another glance at Leah, hoping to catch her eye. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to stay in touch. But her head was bent over her phone, fingers rapidly typing a message. Disappointment gnawed at you, but you forced it down.It wouldn't be fair to get ahead of yourself.

As you said your goodbyes, Leah's smile returned, a hint of something warmer in her eyes. "It was lovely meeting you,Y/n," she said, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. "And good luck to Dakota, she was amazing."

"Thanks, Leah," you replied, your voice thick with unspoken emotions. "You too. Enjoy your camp."

As you walked away with Mitch, a part of you ached with the thought of leaving Leah behind. Yet, another part, a more hopeful part, clung to the memory of her lingering gaze and the way her voice had softened when she spoke to you.

Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't goodbye. Maybe, despite the miles and the vast differences in your worlds, this Nashville encounter was just the beginning of something special.

Oh who were you kidding this was the closest you had ever gotten to heaven and you didn't even ask for her number to stay there even for just a short while longer.

[hollywedits]

Selena Gomez arrives for the screening of the film "Emilia Perez" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 18, 2024.

[mickandmusings]

felt good on my lips

part of the 'hangman & honey' series! (stand alone story)

summary: as the sun settles over the texas air on the most patriotic day of the year, honey and jake find themselves encased in a different kind of heat, the kind that had little to do with the burning star in the sky. that night, as fireworks erupt against the starry sky, a different kind of spark flames between the two.

word count: 3.4k

warnings: sticky sweet fluff, southern american traditions, a fourth of july special, some slightly suggestive thoughts from jake and honey's mind (nothing spicy)

*timeline: this takes place the summer after part III!

**i'm not sure if this is common knowledge anywhere outside of the southern US, so some explanation: window air conditioning units are necessary for most older homes (they get extremely hot), the 'pig' is a local grocery store aka piggly wiggly, and also, kids are always sort of everywhere at family get-togethers, and the closest adult will take care of whatever kid, whether they belong to them or not, lol. southern americans give their grandparents weird names.

-

Under the scorching rays of the Texas sun, Jake lifts his shirt to wipe the sweat dripping down his face. It's nearing lunchtime, and it's prime time for the heat index to reach its max temperature. He'd been outside for an hour or so now, setting up folding tables and taping cheap red, white and blue tablecloths to them. His extended family would be trudging down Seresin Farm Road in an hour's time, and the day's festivities would be off and away. His grandmother had all but stormed into his bedroom at eight that morning, startling not only him, but Honey who was sleeping peacefully between his arms. (They were both more startled at the fact that they weren't technically supposed to be sleeping in the same bed anymore, and that they'd been caught, but Janet had seemed more focused on the fact she had a dozen more people to feed.)

After he sets up the last table in the front yard, he sighs and decides to shed the sweat-drenched shirt plastering to his chest. He wipes his face with it and takes a moment to look at his work before he went to retrieve his next task from his grandmother. The tablecloths were uneven and more than a little wonky, but they would do good enough. He shrugs and begins to make his trek back to the farmhouse. Jake's bad mood had already begun to seep in, he truly despised most of his extended family. They only visited on holidays, despite only living an hour or so away in Austin. They never visited for any pure reason, they always came when they needed or wanted something-primarily monetary-from his well-off grandparents. They would come and complain incessantly about the heat or the simplicity of small-town life, and it drove Jake absolutely mad. As he walked up the porch steps, he heard Honey's boisterous laughter filtering through the screen door he was opening. Her sweet happiness made the tension fall from his shoulders, and his face broke into a small grin.

His eyes found her immediately-she's standing at the kitchen counter next to his grandmother, a pair of denim shorts adorning her legs and her his well-worn, thin white shirt on her torso, doing little to hide the red and white striped swimsuit top underneath it. Jake felt heat fill his blood, and he knew the Texas sun had nothing to do with it. Her hair fell in waves across her shoulders from the braid she'd slept in, and she stood barefoot as she stirred something in a mixing bowl. Neither Janet nor Honey had heard him walk in, so Jake stood in the door frame, a smirk painted across his face. He watched them work in perfect tandem-there's no chatter between them, they navigated the kitchen without having to say a word-Honey working on sweets while his grandmother seemed to be making something in a casserole dish. Country music filled the kitchen from the radio on the opposite counter, and the hum of the window air-conditioning unit sounded over it, providing the ambiance of Jake's idea of a perfect southern, summer day.

After standing staring at his girlfriend for probably far too long, Jake decided to make his presence known. He sneakily slides his hands around Honey's waist, causing her to jump and let out a small yelp. She turns around in his arms, her eyes wide as she looks at him, her mouth open like she has something to say but she falls silent when she looks down at his bare torso. Jake laughs and places a chaste kiss on her cheek, and she sends him a pointed look when she composes herself.

"You scared the absolute mess out of me, Jacob Thomas!"

He kisses her other cheek, distracting her long enough to snatch a cookie from the plate in front of her. Janet watches from the corner of her eye, smiling as she chastises and shoos Jake out of her kitchen. He shuffles up the stairs to his and Honey's room to get in his own patriotic swimwear, leaving Honey with a rosy blush on her face. Honey tries to swallow her visions of the sight of him down, focusing on icing the cupcakes in front of her with red icing and white and blue sprinkles, but her cheeks still flamed.

"You alright, Honey, need me to bump up the air in here? You're looking a little red," Janet's voice is dripping with faux sympathy, she's not stupid, she knows why Honey is blushing.

"Uh, n-no, I'm fine," Honey gives her a bright smile, focusing back on the desserts she was supposed to be finishing up. The sound of Jake's heavy footsteps come down the stairs, American-flag printed swim trucks on his tanned legs, a white and blue Cowboys shirt on his torso. Honey rolled her eyes, had she really fallen in love with the most stereotypical American dream boy known to man?

"Jake, dear," Janet's voice pipes up, turning to face her grandson. "Alice is bringing her grandkids along, the younger ones. I bought some water balloons the other day, they're in that Pig bag on the back porch. Why don't you and Honey fill those up, hm?"

"Yes ma'am," Jake nodded heading towards the back door, Honey right behind him. He holds the door open for her, and slides his hand across her waist and into the back pocket of her shorts as they walk around back. Honey looks over at her boyfriend, not surprised by his action, but more so his constant affections today. She uses the plastic bag full of water balloons to slap his chest playfully.

"You're touchy today, Seresin." Honey's voice is humorous, simply jabbing at him as a joke.

Jake's green eyes shine in the sun, his eyebrows furrowing as he shakes his head, his favorite Longhorns cap backwards against his head. Once they reach the back of the house, Jake (unfortunately) lets go of his hold on her, turning on the water at the faucet. Honey dumps the bucket full of rainwater next to it, making room for their tied balloons.

"Sweetheart, after you meet my asshole family members you might run like hell, got to hold on to you while I can."

Honey frowns, she knows all about asshole family members.

"Jake you've met my mother and didn't run, I think I'll be just fine."

Jake fills a blue balloon with water, handing it over for her to tie off. He lets out a dry chuckle, pausing his actions to look up at her.

"Take your mother, times her by like eight, and give her four kids a piece, and grandkids. Then, give them all better-than-you attitudes and lookin' down their noses at you. Honey, baby, they're monsters."

It was Honey's turn to feel heat wash over her, and, under the shade of the house, she knew it had little to do with the heat and the new pet name Jake had just used. She'd never say it, too embarrassed to admit something like that to him, but she certainly liked that one the most. She stands stock still, holding the completed balloon in her hand, only staring as Jake fills another one, this time red. He hands it to over to her to tie, and notices her not moving.

"You alright, Hon?" He ties off the balloon himself, noticing the flames painting her cheeks. "Damn, you're already red. Can't stand in the sun five minutes before your skin starts burnin'."

He slings his hat over her head, the bill facing forward now.

"That'll at least keep your face from peelin' tonight."

Honey could've told him the truth, that the red was from a blush, but she didn't. She simply smiled, tucking her hair into the back of the hat to fashion a ponytail as she helped him finish the task at hand. As Jake slung the bucket into his arms and the pair started walking back towards the house, the rumble of vehicles sounded down their gravel driveway. Jake stops in his track, using his spare hand to hold onto Honey's, his voice annoyed as he spoke:

"Fuck me! They're already here."

Honey only laughed and shook her head, pulling her dramatic boyfriend back towards the house as she spoke:

"Hey, look at this way, we hang out here for a few hours, and then we have fireworks out at Willie's family's place at nine, and we're leaving before then to swim with Brett and Willie, and then you won't have to see them again until Thanksgiving."

Jake sighed, pulling her into him by the waist. The backyard was secluded enough that they could have a private moment, so Jake leaned in for a deep kiss. Honey felt her skin tingle with goosebumps, Jake's hands on her hips sending them down her spine. They broke apart and he winked at her, walking around the front to greet his family.

-

After meeting Jake's family, Honey realized he hadn't been exaggerating when he thought they were the worst. The adults had a sort of holier-than-thou air about them, with the exception of his Uncle Danny who seemed to be relatively down to Earth. Danny's only downside was that he came with his overly judgmental wife, Yvonne, who sneered at the dirt on the bottom of her fancy-looking sandals, and his six kids. Jake seemed to like Danny, and the two carried on a conversation over one of the tables. Honey found herself off to the side, not wanting to interrupt. She nursed a solo cup of lemonade as she watched the Seresin family interact with one another-a perpetual wallflower in any social situation. Janet and Jacob Sr. sat with a group of older family members, swapping laughter and memories of those long gone. Honey felt herself pick at the skin around her fingernails, swallowing a set of tears that loomed behind her eyes. Even if Jake despised his family, with their attitudes and short looks, at least he had a family to see each other on holidays. Honey thought of her mother, likely at a party with her new boyfriend's family, before she shut the thought down completely, her bottom lip between her teeth. Without much thought, she went around to the back porch, overlooking the group of kids playing in the sprinkler. All of Danny's kids (all under ten, and completely wild) played with Alice's two granddaughters peacefully, and Honey smiled. She had a slew of cousins back home in Mississippi, and, in times like these, she missed them terribly.

When she looked back up at the kids, she saw the scene of disaster unfold before her eyes. One of Danny's older girls had all but barreled into Alice's youngest granddaughter, who couldn't have been older than two. The toddler hit her head against the ground hard, and it was obvious by the look on her face a round of tears were coming. Honey's instinct kicked in before her logical thinking, and she shuffled down the stairs of the porch and scooped the little girl up before her loud sobs filled the air.

"Hey, hey, you're okay, you're okay," Honey rocked her in her arms, the toddler now sobbing against Honey's shoulder. Honey looked down at her for any possible bruises or knots on her head, but she seemed fine, the fall had most likely just startled her. "How about we go get you a popsicle, yeah? That sound good?"

The toddler, whom Honey still didn't know the name of, nodded against her shoulder, and Honey sighed in relief. She brought the young girl onto the porch and wraps her in her Barbie towel, plopping her into the rocker on the porch. Honey slings open the freezer and spots the plastic bag of different colored popsicles.

"What color, little lady?" Honey smiles at the toddler with sopping wet pigtails. A grin forms on the young girl's face as she shyly responds. "Blue."

Honey smiles and retrieves the popsicle and hands it to her, popping it open and smiling down at her.

"You alright?" Honey speaks, sitting down in the rocker opposite her. "That was a pretty hard hit."

The toddler nods as blue begins to stain her mouth, her big brown eyes looking over at Honey. "I okay, thanks."

Honey laughs at the toddler babble and begins to look out at the other children again, the children still running through the sprinkler safely. It isn't until she feels a cold hand on her leg that Honey looks down, the toddler looking up at her with her arms raised. She wants to be picked up. Honey picks her up and places her into her lap, the girl looking at her with a blue, toothy grin.

"I'm Presley."

Honey grins widely, "Hi Presley, my name is Honey."

The toddler smiles again, getting more comfortable in Honey's grasp.

"You're pretty."

"Me?" Honey jokes with the girl. "You Miss Presley are so pretty."

Presley giggles and Honey finds herself laughing too. The two are so absorbed in conversation about Barbies and Presley's preschool friends that they don't notice Alice and Janet rounding around to the front in the search for Presley, Jake behind them, in search of Honey.

"There you are, sweetheart," Alice coos to her granddaughter. Honey grows shy, not knowing Alice well. When Jake spots her, his eyes grow wide, his blonde-haired baby cousin sitting in Honey's lap. Honey was relaxed, her body language comfortable. Jake stops in his tracks, another feeling coming over him that he couldn't explain. The sight of the girl he was in love with, sweetly comforting the toddler in her arms made his emotions stir.

Presley looks at her grandmother from Honey's lap. "I okay, Gigi. Honey gave me a 'sicle!" The toddler waved the partially melted treat in the air. Honey's sweet smile formed across her face as she looked down at Presley, and Jake's heart hammered. He'd never seen Honey so comfortable with strangers, but he knew his girl's heart, and she had a soft spot for babies. Presley launched into her grandmother's arms and Honey went to meet Jake down at the bottom of the stairs. His jade green eyes glimmered down at her, her sun-kissed face hidden under his baseball cap that still sat on her head. All he wanted to do was pull her in for a heated kiss, but he decided against it, given that their company was made up of children and his own grandmother.

Honey smiled up at him, "You alright? They annoy you that much already?"

Jake only shook his head, grabbing her hand and intertwining with his own.

Honey gave him a look, as if she didn't fully believe him. "Ready to head to Willie's place?"

Jake nodded, kissing her cheek. She smiled.

"Did you grab our towels? I can go get us some if not it's-"

"I got it, baby, go get in the truck."

Honey stilled in his arms. That damn nickname was going to kill her.

-

Later that night, Jake and Honey found themselves sitting on the sandbar of the river under the moon, Willie and Brett both drunk off of Willie's dad's beer he'd stolen. Jake nor Honey had been as brave, Honey had half of one before she'd tossed it to the side, and Jake had finished it. Jake laughed as Willie tossed Brett into the water, both of them mock-fighting one another. Honey had long since had her fill of swimming, her hair damp and a beach towel around her shivering body. Jake had one arm slung over her, pressing her against his side for more warmth. If he was honest, he'd spent less time swimming with his friends and more staring at Honey in her swimsuit. She lazily floated on her back as his stupid friends all but drowned one another. Now she sat next to him as Brett and Willie picked themselves up out of the water and headed back towards the cabin that Willie's family owned, getting ready to set off fireworks with his family.

Jake had appreciated their offer for he and Honey to join them, but Jake knew Honey would much rather enjoy the fireworks without Willie's entire extended family around. Selfishly, he wanted a moment alone with her anyways. She smiled up at him in the silence, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

"It always ends with just us, huh?" Her voice comes out.

"You complainin'?" Came Jake's retort.

She shook her head, leaning up to kiss his cheek, resting her head against his shoulder. Silence settled over them, and someone shouted in the distance before a display of lights burst across the black sky. Honey smiled as she watched the display, but Jake's focus was on her instead. They hadn't had a true moment alone since his 16th birthday a few weeks before, and he was going to savor every second he had. Her eyes darted at the lights in the sky, Jake's hand resting on the bare skin of her torso, the spot not covered by her swimsuit. His thumb brushed against her skin, and she smiled up at him again. When they caught eyes, Jake couldn't stop himself, his opposite hand coming to her chin to connect their lips. As a round of blue fireworks filled the air, neither of them caught the display, Honey's hands in Jake's blonde locks, and both of his now pulling her into his lap. She giggled faintly as they pulled apart, that kiss had been more heated than she'd intended. Honey feels brave, pulling him back into another kiss just like the last. Jake's hands move to her hips, his heart racing at her touch. He thinks back to Brett's comment about him already being 'whipped', and as Honey's lips meet his again, he knows he's done for. Soon it's messy, clashing teeth and fumbling hands. Jake gently pulls her back, his southern gentleman instinct kicking in. His eyes are dark, darker than Honey's ever seen them, and he's breathing heavy.

"We should probably slow down, baby."

She stills again, her entire frame encapsulated in flames. Her hands go back to Jake's hair. Their faces are close, but their lips aren't touching.

"I love it when you call me that," her voice is a whisper, and Jake almost doesn't hear her over the fireworks popping in the sky. His eyes dart between her own, his lips barely meeting hers before he mumbles.

"Baby," His lips crash against hers, and Honey, in an act most definitely unusual to her nature, let's herself go completely. There's no shy hesitation, she's unabashedly aflame for him, the name feeling ridiculously good against her lips.

As much as Jake wanted to let this progress, the logical part of his brain refuses to allow him to take her on the dusty sandbar of his friend's spot on the river. He pulls away and pushes the hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear, kissing her forehead and pulling her into his chest. He watched the rest of the firework show with Honey in his arms, placing relatively innocent kisses to the side of his neck as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear. When Brett and Willie had come back to retrieve them, they'd teased them relentlessly-kissing noises and snarky comments about the couple-but Jake let it roll of his shoulders as he carried Honey piggy-back up the hill and back to his truck, her head resting on his shoulder on the way home. His hand rests against her thigh, his thumb lazily rubbing against her skin.

The night is quiet, the country music in his truck at a low volume. When he pulls up to the house, Honey's fast asleep against him. He shakes his head fondly and slides her out of the truck, tossing their towels and wet clothes across the front banister of the porch. His grandparents had long since gone to bed, and Jake was thankful, he was too tired to try to sneak Honey from her room across the hall into his. He simply brings her straight into his room, and places her carefully onto their bed. He carefully peels off her shoes and chucks them across the room before falling into bed beside her. He pulls her close, and his eyes are fluttering shut before he can even remember to shut off the lamp on his bedside table. He only mumbles down to her before he falls into deep sleep:

"G'night, baby."

-

taglist:

@djs8891

@unattainablesillygoose

@psuedochakra

@fraaaaankiiiiieee

[allthegeopolitics]

On 23 May, hundreds of far-right British nationalists and Israel supporters gathered outside the entrance of a small arthouse cinema in North London. Brandishing Union Jacks, Israeli and Israeli military flags, they swarmed round a group of some 80 pro-Palestine activists who were staging a vigil on the far side of the road. The vigil was part of a campaign to protest against the cinema’s hosting of a private screening of a documentary about the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, as part of the Israeli-government sponsored film festival, Seret.

Continue Reading.

[b4mpyre-k1zz3s]

You’re writing is so good, just had to get that out of the way.

I’d love to see an x reader with Johnny where the reader goes with him back to Knoxville to his childhood home

Down Home Christmas

Y/N doesn’t know what to expect when Johnny asks her to go with him to visit his folks for the holidays, but she has a Christmas she’ll never forget!

Johnny Knoxville X Fem!Reader

(Fluff)

1.6k Words

Warnings: Drinking, kissing, shit, play fighting

An: Thank you so much for the request and happy holidays if you celebrate!!!! So sorry for the wait but I thought this would make an amazing holiday special :) I’m sure we’ve all had experiences with family holiday parties, and this in part is inspired by my own whacky extended family! One of my friends suggested that I look to the film Four Christmases (2008) for an idea of what Johnny’s family may be like, so I’m sure you can see some of the inspiration there XD Anyway, thank you for the request and please keep them coming!

As you walked up to the front door from where your taxi dropped you off, the snow was painted rainbow colors from the bright Christmas lights strung about the house as powder crunched under your feet. Breathing puffs of hot air on your hands, you cursed yourself for not wearing gloves as you rang the doorbell. Oh, but it was all worth it when you saw Johnny running to the door like he was a kid on Christmas morning, all smiles. Throwing the screen door hard enough to nearly break it, he practically tackled you into the snow when he hugged you, burying you in the warmth of his arms, “Y/N, honey! M’so great to see you!”

He showed you inside the house- tiny, but god, was it packed. The place radiated this human warmth, the air swimming with smells of festive spices that made you practically drool. Holding your frigid hand in his, Johnny led you to the kitchen where those wonderful smells were coming from. As you squeezed past the people clustered in the front hall, Johnny gave you the rundown on a few notable characters you wiggled past, “Oh! That’s Aunt Dotty- her girl does pageants, Earl over there’s gotta taxidermy gig on the side, and Maureen’s the proud mom’a those five little maniacs out back playin’ with the ax.”

As the two of you stopped in the doorway, you ogled the heavenly spread of food on the table as your boyfriend called to a woman who stood at the stove, “Hey, mama!” She turned around and Johnny nudged you towards her a little, sounding so proud as he showed you off excitedly, “This is Y/N!” She turned away from the pots and her face just lit up, walking over to you and giving you one of those heart melting mom hugs, “Oh, my PJ’s finally gotta girl! I’m so happy’t meet you, sweetheart!” You were initially a little supprised- you weren't used to this kind of touchy-feely southern hospitality, but strangely enough, it didn't feel weird. It was actually pretty nice. Pulling back, she smiled teasingly as she noticed that look in your eyes, “What’s the matter? You're lookin’ like you haven't eaten all day!”

“That’s not it- I’ve just never seen that much food before. It’s just…wow.” The most your family ever did was maybe a turkey, nothing like the banquet this miracle woman had prepared. Johnny could’ve sworn he saw you drool a little. He chuckled, charmed at how enamored you seemed by something so basic to him, a grin spreading across his face as he handed you a plate, “C’mon, fill up, girlie!”

There were people sitting just about everywhere in the living room. Little kids clustered on the beige carpet around the Christmas tree with toy cars and dolls, parents and grandparents all had seats on the floral upholstered furniture talking sports or politics or whatever, leaving you and the adult children to fit in wherever you could. You and Johnny shared the seat in front of the oak piano at one end of the room with a couple other people sitting on the closed lid of the piano itself, all drinking and sharing stories together like a scene right out of one of those hallmark movies, only maybe a little less conventional.

“So that’s why m’cousin Dusty’s not allowed to show off his ‘talent’ at family gatherings anymore.” Johnny chuckled, taking a bite of his sweet potato casserole as the room buzzed with laughter. It was a wonder how he could make even the grossest subjects hilarious. Even you couldn’t keep from cracking up, placing your plate on the coffee table, “Hey, speaking of, d’ya know where the bathroom is?” Standing up, Johnny gestured for you to follow him, stepping carefully around people.

He led you down a dim hallway stopping in front of a wall when his eye caught something, “Hey, check this out.” Johnny took a picture off of a nail on the wall and handed it to you. Through the darkness, you could make out most of the general features. It was your boyfriend and he looked pretty young in the photo, maybe around high school age, but god, it was awful. “You actually had a mullet?” He broke out into snickers and you quickly followed as he tried to stabilize himself against the wall, his voice shaking from laughter, “I mean, business in the front, party in the back- It was nineteen eighty nine!” Once one of you caught your breath, your eyes would inevitably drift down to that damn photo and you would succumb yet again, the two of you laughing there until you had tears running down your faces.

Aunt Lynn excitedly passed you a tray of horderves- Ritz crackers with spray cheese on top- as you sat back down, “Oh, honey! You’re just in time!” Confused, you looked up to your boyfriend when he stood up with this little glin of anticipation in his eye as the people sitting in the center of the room cleared out, pushing away furniture to form a circle. A freckle faced kid at your feet took a cracker himself, making weird eye contact with you as he licked the cheese right off. Pushing aside all speculation, you shoved your cracker into your mouth. Not half bad.

Johnny stood with his stance wide and low at one end of the circle, starting up some friendly trash talk, “Hey, how’d your last tour go, Rodge?” Johnny’s cousin Rodger, the one that was a country musician, glared at him from the opposite side, “Yeah? Why don’t we talk about that last movie y’did?” Your boyfriend’s eye twitched and in an instant he was on him and the two started fighting like animals. Johnny had his hands around the other man’s neck as he swung his long legs up to try and pin him but his weight wasn’t enough leverage to take Rodger down. The whole room roared as a scene straight out of a backyard wrestling tape played out when Johnny was slammed onto the carpet, landing on his back hard enough to knock the wind out of him. On the side, someone started a count and Rodger leaned back, grinning as he held him down, “I think you lost your edge, Holl’awood.” Just as quickly, your boyfriend gasped, catching his breath with an exhausted smile. He slipped to one side and lunged forward with gritted teeth, throwing him into a headlock, “No way! You’re goin’ down, hoss.”

They went at it for maybe ten minutes and even you couldn’t help yourself from getting caught up in all the excitement, cheering and whooping with the rest of his family. “Ah! Uncle! Uncle!” Panting, Johnny tapped the ground next to him as a plea for mercy. You should’ve known- your boyfriend had a physique comparable to Gumby. Rodge pulled away with a smirk on his face, giving him a playful shove, “Always knew y’were a pussy, cuz. Love ya.” It was an oddly sweet moment between the two of them, even as Johnny sat up, coughing a little with a faint smile on his face as he got in one last jab, “Beatin’ me don’t mean shit. S’like beating a girl!”

And the night went on, with just as much laughing and drinking and bad behavior, but once midnight rolled around, people started peeling off. Johnny spent the later part of the evening clinging to your side, surprisingly sappy as he begged you to stay a while longer, “D’aww, c’mon…just one night won’t hurt.” Maybe you were more tipsy than you thought, judging from how nice that idea sounded. Sipping your rum punch- the one you got out of the big bowl with the ice ring of fruit- you giggled, laying your head on his shoulder,“I can’t…I gotta be at work t’morow!” You never knew your boyfriend to be a sentimental drunk but maybe coming home flipped some switch in him. Either that or you.

Johnny followed you like a lost dog as you got up to get your coat on, squeezing past the people trickling out the door, “But’cha gotta promise to call me, okay?” The headlights on the taxi you called shined bright in the darkness as it sat parked outside. You slipped your shoes on, “I promise!” As you were about to leave, someone stopped you in the doorway with a tap on your shoulder. It was of Johnny’s cousins. He grinned, pointing upward at the sprig of mistletoe hung above you, “Hey, mistletoe. You know what that means!”

“Yeah.” Your boyfriend chuckled, shoving him out of the way. Johnny looked down at you lovingly, wrapping his arms around you, his voice low as he nearly whispered an inch from your face, “I know exactly what that means.” Pulling you close, he dipped you, giving you a kiss like a soldier who just came back after the war. You didn’t even notice the cold that nipped at your skin as the onlookers inside whooped and hollered at the spectacle Johnny was putting on, kissing you with fervor, only pulling away an inch or two to catch his breath, the warm air between you turning into little puffs of white smoke as it began to snow.

[d-criss-news]

Darren Criss To Headline Long Wharf Theatre's Annual Benefit Concert This May

Long Wharf Theatre has announced that award-winning stage, music, and television star Darren Criss will headline their annual benefit in A Concert for Long Wharf Theatre. The event will take place on May 13, 2024 at Southern Connecticut State University's John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts for the second year in a row. 

“This past season at Long Wharf Theatre has been awe-inspiring to witness and I could not be more thrilled to join the celebration in May,” said Darren Criss. “Long Wharf embodies artistic bravery at its finest and most exhilarating; its new model should serve as an example for the entire industry as we look to innovate and imagine new possibilities for presenting and performing work. I can't wait to spend what's certain to be an unforgettable evening with audiences in New Haven and hope you'll join us.”

“Darren is an incredibly dynamic, innovative performer whose acclaim spans theatre, film, music and more,” said Jacob Padrón, Artistic Director, Long Wharf Theatre. “He embodies the groundbreaking, energizing artistry that Long Wharf Theatre aims to bring in all of our performances across New Haven. We're honored to have him join us for an incredible night of celebration and support for performing arts in our community.”  

----------

Darren Criss: A CONCERT FOR LONG WHARF THEATRE will begin with a cocktail hour and speeches from institutional leadership. This will be followed by a paddle raise to support Long Wharf Theatre's vision to bring theatre, without barriers, to spaces and stages across the region. The festivities will include hors d'oeuvres, dinner and drinks, and an after party.

[onlyzhuyilong]

Zhu YiLong’s box office hit Lost In The Stars is shortlisted for the “Southern Cross Star” Award at the Australia-China International Film Festival 2024 was screen at Adelaide Hoitz Cinema this week (14-21 November)

[bittersweetcanary]

Artw Fun Facts, Lore Tid Bits, and Game Tips

A collection of those Game Tips that flash by while the game is booting up that I can never manage to read before they disappear so I screen shotted them and typed them down because FUN FACTS!! LORE TID BITS!! AND SOME ACTUAL GAME TIPS!!

(I posted the images once before but I decided to just type them all down because this makes it easier to quickly read in my opinion, and less clunky. I'll update this if I see any new Game Tips in the loading screen.)

Sirius

“The name of the emoji that sorcerers use is Polar Bear’s weird Magic School Life.”

“Arcturus is easily deceived but he is not ashamed”

“In the suburbs, you can often see Sirius carrying a candy case.”

“Unlock Milky Way and get various rewards!”

“Forbidden magic is forbidden for a reason. Memory magic as one of them is…”

Alpheratz

“Be careful! Alpheratz might cling to when he is helpless.”

“Change the icon! Various icons are waiting for you!”

“Please help Apheratz if he is clasping his hands. He would be worrying about something bothering him.”

“Be careful as to not get caught by a Professor when you have a dorm war!”

Vega

“Ruled by the seven archmages of Ursa Major. The North Boundary is a land of snow and ice.”

“Is Vega fiddling with his earrings? If so, it means he’s calming down.”

“Vega does gymnastics every eary morning. Wait, gymnastics… … ?”

“Once every 24 hours! Don’t miss your chance to get a free scouting opportunity in the Possession Room!”

“If you need help while playing the game press the ? Shape above!”

“It doesn’t mean that you can give a psychology test just because you’ve taken Magic Psychology”

Arcturus

“Green Blossom Hill on the East Boundary that’s where Arcturus learned to shepherd.”

“Check the diary if you want to know more about the Sorcerers!”

“Lookout for disasters from beyond the universe.”

“Eating meat is prohibited on the East Boundary. We are only allowed to eat meat on commemorative days.”

“Stay tuned for Scouts what will be updated seasonally!”

Spica

“Spica personally has a managing office for Mythical Creatures.”

“Spica’s average sleep per day is 4 hours and 30 minutes.”

“The first disaster started from the collapse of the Tower of Babili when a rusty herald appeared.”

“Contell Acedemy of Magic has an annual event for each period.”

“You can check the affection, clothes, and profiles in the closet!”

“There are many large and small islands in the sea facing the southern border.”

Pollux

“Be careful not to get lost in the tower of Babili.”

“Sometimes we come across short stories after the visit.”

“Of five siblings in the noisy red-roofed house, Pollux and his twin brother are the only sorcerers.”

“Calls are made when certain conditions are met! Save up your story keys!”

“When the festival is held in the Viaduct Plaza of the central zone, guests from all over the world star to gather.”

“Pollux named his magic weapon Dioscuri.”

[eretzyisrael]

by Dion J. Pierre

A famous theater in the Ontario province of Canada is facing widespread criticism over its “postponement” of the upcoming Hamilton Jewish Film Festival, a decision that many observers have interpreted as a cancelation motivated by anti-Israel animus.

“After receiving numerous security and safety related emails, phone calls, and social media messages, the Playhouse Cinema reached a difficult decision to postpone the Hamilton Jewish Federation’s venue rental,” the Playhouse Cinema, located in the city of Hamilton, said in a statement posted to X/Twitter on Tuesday. “On Saturday, March 16, our decision to postpone this venue rental was reached amid security and safety concerns at this particularly sensitive time.”

Organized by the Hamilton Jewish Federation, the event was slated to feature six films across three days, April 7-9, with each exploring different eras of Jewish history, from life in modern day kibbutzim bordering the Gaza strip to Poland during the communist purges of Jews in the 1960s. Several of the films were written and produced in Israel by Israeli creators.

On Wednesday, the Hamilton Jewish Federation said that Playhouse Cinema, in canceling the festival, has acted dishonorably and adhered to the wishes of antisemites.

“The Hamilton Jewish Federation is outraged by the recent decision made by the Playhouse Cinema to backtrack on its commitment to host the 2024 Hamilton Jewish Film Festival after the theatre received a small number of complaints and threatening emails objecting to the fact that Israeli films are included in this year’s line-up,” the group said. “The decision, coming just weeks before the scheduled event, is a lost opportunity to engage the Greater Hamilton community in a Jewish cultural event during the highest rise of antisemitism we’ve seen in recent history, and in the aftermath of the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.”

Antisemitism has skyrocketed in Canada since the Hamas terror group’s onslaught across southern Israel on Oct. 7.

The Hamilton Jewish Federation added that the films that would have been screened are culturally relevant and valuable for portraying the past and “contemporary Jewish experience,” as well as the “reality of co-existence” between Jews and Arabs living in Israel as neighbors and citizens. One of them, it noted, is the final project of a filmmaker Hamas murdered during its Oct. 7 massacre, a tragedy that has left an indelible scar on Jewish communities throughout the world.

Jewish nonprofits commented on the matter on Tuesday and Wednesday, describing the festival’s scrapping as an injustice and calling on lawmakers to intervene and restore the original agreement between both parities.

“Unacceptable and appalling,” tweeted HonestReporting Canada, a nonprofit that promotes fair media coverage of Israel. “Silencing Jewish voices in a time when Jews are the #1 targeted religious group for hate crimes in Canada is a dangerous precedent and only gives more ammunition to those who hide their antisemitism under the guise of ‘anti-Zionism.'”

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, whose mission is to combat antisemitism and spread awareness of the Holocaust, added, “We denounce Playhouse Cinema’s decision to reverse its commitment to host the Hamilton Jewish Film Festival this year, in the latest example of an organization yielding to threats and intimidation from anti-Israel activists.”

[p-h03n1-x]

Yibo Official Weibo update 2.8.2024 (part 4 of 6) Welcome to play UNIQ-Wang Yibo’s key frames of the year. Recall frame by frame, wonderful and colorful. Indulge in the beautiful changes of light and shadow, enjoy expressing your true self in music, explore the unknown in different fields, and progress in life. Keyframes are drawn one by one on the strip. In 2023, you will be rewarded with diligent study and hard work, and in 2024, we will embark on a new journey with steady steps! A new chapter is about to begin. I wish you all to move forward in the Year of the Dragon, and be happy and prosperous!

Part 4 Live Events

Accumulate strength and move forward, the stars are shining brightly Forge ahead with determination and unremitting ambition. Focus and shine and gain recognition

【Movie Roadshow】

Anonymous (top left to right)

·Shanghai press conference of the movie "Anonymous"·

·Beijing Press Conference of the Movie "Anonymous"·

·Movie "Anonymous" Shanghai Roadshow·

·Movie "Anonymous" Guangzhou Roadshow,

·Movie "Anonymous" Wuhan Roadshow·

·Movie "Anonymous" road show in Suzhou and Wuxi

·Movie "Anonymous" Ningbo Roadshow·

"Born to Fly" (top left to right)

·Beijing premiere of the movie "Born to Fly"·

·Shanghai premiere of the movie "Born to Fly"·

Screening of the closing film of the Beijing International Film Festival

Southern War Zone Special Screening Event

Rocket Force Command Academy Station Road Show, Air Force Airborne Force Station Road Show

"One and Only" (top left to right)

·Global Surprise Party for the Movie "One and Only"·

·World premiere of the movie "One and Only"·

·Movie "One and Only" Beijing Roadshow·

·Movie "One and Only" Hangzhou Roadshow·

·Movie "One and Only" Yueyang Road Show·

·Thailand premiere of the movie "One and Only"·

Events (top left to right)

·2023 Dragon TV Spring Festival Gala, Singing the theme song of the same name from the movie "Anonymous"

·2022 Weibo Night·

·The 13th Beijing International Film Festival· Closing Ceremony

The 18th and 19th China Film Huabiao Awards Ceremony·

·Wang Yibo Chunzhen brand meeting.

·2023 Douyin Movie Adventure Night·

·2023 Weibo Movie Night·

·The 20th Movie Channel Media Attention Unit·closing ceremony

· Closing Ceremony of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival

·Moncler Moncler Shanghai Hang Lung Flagship Store Opening Ceremony

·2023 Bay Area Rising Moon Greater Bay Area Film and Music Gala, singing the theme song of the same name from the movie "Unknown"

"Infinite Style" ·2023 Shu Uemura Professional Makeup Competition·

·Yuehua 2023 Family Concert joined with "Exclamation Mark" to perform the stage

·The 36th China Film Golden Rooster Awards Nominee Recognition Ceremony

·The 36th China Film Golden Rooster Awards Closing Ceremony

·2023 iQiyi Scream Night·

·Redmi 10th Anniversary and K70 Series New product launch

·GQMOTY Annual Personality Ceremony·

·2023 Tencent Video Starlight Awards·

Participated in singing·2024 Cross-Strait New Year's Eve·Song "Tomorrow Will Be Better"

·Set Sail 2024 China Central Radio and Television·New Year's Eve Party Singing "Dragon"

·2023-2024 Hunan Satellite TV Mango TV New Year’s Eve Party, Singing "The Song That Never Ends" and "Bystander"

·2023 Weibo Night·

·"This is Street Dance" Season 6 Finals·

Go far with practice and persevere every moment. Every brief moment merges into a rich present

Link here for parts 1-3

[calciumdeficientt]

I know I already asked you for headcanons, but could you do some headcanons with my OC Mary and Gord? 👉👈

This is so perfect!!! I was about to make a post of Mary hcs anyway so I’m going to kind of co-opt this ask to kind of do some solo Mary hcs but dw Gord will be here!

MARY BROWN HCS (FEAT. GORD)

SOLO MARY HCS

Shes the most kindhearted prep, it really shows. She does her best to act cruel and snobbish but she just doesn’t have the heart to do it, she’s so genuinely nice that it kind of rubs off on everyone around her. It’s pretty infectious, even though most of the preps don’t want to be infected. This endless kindness does get her in everyone’s good graces. It sort of acts for a force field, especially on bullies. There’s nothing that a small gift cannot solve, its not TECHNICALLY bribery if you don’t actually want the service the other party is providing, right?

Her interest in drama leads her to join the school’s drama club. She has every right to use her power and influence as a prep to buy her way into lead roles but she thinks its unfair, so she auditions the same way everyone else does. In the drame club, she got to know Trent a little better, he’s usually the leading man, and that energy follows him offstage too. He’s a pretty cool goy once you get past all the borderline torture he puts other students through and a good friend of Mary’s too

Comes from a good, loving family who despite admitting they’re not fully on board with her dreams of being an actress they’re more than willing to pay her way into it. They just want to see their daughter happy, and if she feels more comfortable in front of a camera than she does behind a jeweller’s desk than that’s the way it’s going to be. They moved from Cambridge to Bullworth when Mary was a baby, but she retained the accent because all their house staff moved to America with them. Nannies, maids, chefs. Everyone Mary interacted with in her formative years had a southern English accent.

Cares for Bif after tough fights. They have a good sibling relationship going, so if he’s particularly down or injured, she likes to take him out somewhere for coffee or yknow… to the emergency room. Mary comes to every fight, she makes time specifically to come and watch the fights, she’s not got a great stomach when it comes to violence, she likes to let Bif know he’s supported whenever he fights. Even if he’s just sparring. It’s a real testament to her incomparable niceness. She comes, despite her hatred for fighting, to support her friend.

Started and funded their first Bullworth festival with the help of Miss Phillips, every student can make any film they like (with a few restrictions, no snuff films, no nudity -tasteful or otherwise- and no profanity unless its absolutely VITAL to the plot) they have six weeks to write, film and produce their films and then at the end of that time the films are submitted, screened and a winner is voted for by the student body. The winner receives a shitty plastic Oscar dupe, 20 bucks each and an instant pass on all art and photography classes for the semester. It’s a good morale booster, and almost everyone gets involved. To avoid any clique wars, there is one final rule that Mary introduces… each film cast/crew must contain a member from at least one other clique or the film is disqualified. It makes a difference around the school for like a month before everyone forgets and starts fighting again.

GORD X MARY HCS

Gord and Mary are very much a picture book couple, they’re so happy together. There’s never been a moment that they’ve ever fought, or even frowned at each other. They’re very happy, very healthy and so in love. It’s almost poetic, its the kind of thing any kid dreams about. They assume that they’ll marry their childhood sweetheart and live a good life, usually in a castle. Well for Mary and gord who’ve been playing happy families since they were tots, its their reality. They took a small break through middle school and the start of high school but there’s a very good chance that even during those years, their minds were still on each other.

Shopping dates are an absolute must. Gord prides himself on his fashion taste, so one thing he really likes to do is style outfits for her. They go out and he gets busy creating outfits for her based on what’s seasonal and trendy. Gord really has his finger on the pulse of fashion, a fact he’s really not modest about, so Mary always looks stunning and chic. Not one to miss out on any fashion fun, Gord buys matching outfits when he can, and complimentary outfits when he can’t.

Gord is too sentimental for his own good. He remembers every single milestone possible, and he gets Mary gifts for every one. Wether it’s the day they held hands for the first time, the day they first kissed or the day they both said i love you, a slew of fancy gifts is crammed into her dorm. It’s a little much, but it really proves to her that he cares about her.

Both of them are allergic to flowers, so Gord has to get creative. Her uses anything from his limited crochet skills to dried flowers, if its an important event Gord will usually get some bespoke flowers made. For their 1 year anniversary he commissioned a French artist to make a bouquet of roses out of blown glass and solid gold. They’re absolutely beautiful and as a bonus, he even had a vase made or them.

They have tea dates in Harrington house, an event that requires the rest of the preps to clear off. It’s more intimate than a fancy dinner or a night being paraded around at a gala. They light candles and sit around Harrington house’s smallest dining table to drink real tea, and spill metaphorical tea. If the preps weren’t so worried about hearing something about themselves they’d rather have not known, they probably would linger dunring these dates.

[hollywedits]

Selena Gomez arrives for the screening of the film "Emilia Perez" at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 18, 2024.

[sarasa-cat]

So, I'm not at home and I didn't bring ANY of my night photography gear because when I left home some days back I had no idea this solar storm would arrive sooooooooo....

I ended up with an expensive camera hanging around my neck doing nothing while I shot long exposure photos with my PHONE, body braced. Had to try really hard to not shake with laughter when a bunch of bros right behind me all yelled: DUUUUUUUDDDDDE LOOOK AT THAT TREEEEEEEEEE when stuff really lit up behind one very specific tree that is in at least a 100 people's photos.

Staying immediately adjacent to a big scenic outlook at the edge of a park with trails. Thus, it was a bit of a party / mob scene, with people driving from all over to come to this lookout point that I just so randomly happened to be staying right near. The small group of people set up at *the* ultimate perfect spot way up high on the lookout were all set up with their tripods and gear, and having a friendly little competition getting the best photos. Watched them for a little while (looking at the back screens of their cameras). Damn fine photos indeed.

On the off chance that the show continues through the weekend, partner (who is joining me for a week of various adventures starting tomorrow) is bringing all of my srsbzns gear. Regardless, it was awesome just being there, out in nature, frogs croaking, people feeling festive and friendly, and northern lights doing weird magenta-green-yellow things in the sky.

For a quite a long while -- easily well more than an hour --- right overhead there was this weird spot in the sky that felt like a hole and all the rays were coming out of this small rip in the sky, kind of like a shower head directly above us. It was wild. Eventually the whole southern sky gave off a steady deep red glow. Wild.

Given that I need to be up at a reasonable hour (and need to continue catching up on my sleep), I'm getting ready to zzzzzzzzzzzzz (mob scene of a party was still going when I left).

[kindh3art3d]

There’s only one bed… - Stephen Sanchez One Shot

"Wait are you sure they don't have any other rooms available?" My voice shakes as a mixture of nervousness and anger fills my veins. I couldn't believe it. Of all the times for the manager to mess up our hotel reservations, it had to be on the night of a big concert.

Stephen and I had been best friends for a handful of years now and I occasionally toured with him as a backup singer and guitarist. And for some reason his manager's assistant who booked this whole trip decided that we could handle sharing the same room.

What I didn't know was that same manager assistant didn't book the hotel room correctly and instead of two beds there was, well... there was only one bed.

"Y/N I'm so sorry it looks like this was the only remaining room for this weekend. What with the festival happening and a business conference happening a few blocks away the hotel was prime location for pretty everyone this weekend." The assistant Bradley responded on the other side of the line, he wasn't the most helpful but I recall earlier after I told him the situation we faced and he said

"Oh dear I'm so sorry, just know I completely sympathize with you." His southern accent dripped with fake concern. He was completely fake and he probably knew that I saw through him which made his fake niceness intensify. I really didn't like him.

I bit my lip and let out a shaky breath

"Alright, I'm guess we'll have to figure something out." I hung up, frustrated and exhausted.

Stephen and I were stuck sharing a room with only one bed. This was going to be awkward.

We had made a pact a long time ago not to let our friendship turn into something more. Because undeniably, we both knew and understood each others feelings.

But we also understood the consequences and complications dating would mean for us.

I heard the shower turn off and I quickly sat up, checking my reflection in my phone screen. We agreed that I would call the label so he could clean up and relax a little after the show, it was a great show and he puts a lot of effort into creating a fun performance for his fans. So he was exhausted already enough as it was.

Moments later Stephen walks out of the bathroom- shirtless.

My eyes grow wide as they stare at his abdomen covered in various tattoos. I was unprepared for the amount of -nakedness. I feel my face burning and I quickly look away

"Stephen! I'm still here!" I hear a chuckle from him, of course he'd think this was funny. I was always more serious out of the two of us, and he always wanted me to "loosen up" and laugh more.

"So?" He plops down next to me at the edge of the bed, drying his dark hair with a towel. I keep my gaze forward as I feel his gaze.

"I talked with Bradley, and he said that it was highly unlikely that we'd be able to get another room, but he sympathizes with us, so that's great." I roll my eyes.

"Okay, well it's only for tonight." Stephen starts to muse

"It's fine with me, as long as you don't starfish the bed." With those words my face lights on fire.

"Haha, I don't think so." My nervous laughter is so ridiculously apparent.

"Why not?" He forces himself in my line of vision, I can feel his eyes wander over my face, and I pray that I don't have a double chin at the angle he's at.

"It'll be like a sleepover!" He's too precious for this world.

"Stephen, friends don't share a bed." I say exasperated.

He tosses the towel to a basket across the room

"Yeah they do, at a sleepover."

"Let me clarify, girls and guys who are 'friends' don't share a bed." I stand up and pick up the towel that missed the basket.

"Y/N, why are you so scared? Is it because of me?" I feel his presence behind me now, but I never heard footsteps.

I turn and I'm met with his dark beautiful eyes, I can't help but get lost in them in a moment that feels like forever.

"No, I just don't think it's appropriate, that's all." I look down and fidget with my hands.

Stephen places a gentle hand on my shoulder that sends bolts of lightening through me, I look up.

"It'll be fine, nothing will happen, all we're going to do is sleep on our respective sides and we'll wake up in the morning and everything will be the same." His words are comforting.

"I'll never do anything without your permission." Those words spike my nerves. But I was never scared about what he could do, I was scared about what I might do.

"Aw, stop it with those big cow eyes, you don't have to pout." He faux coos to me.

"I'm not pouting." But my voice doesn't sound convincing.

"Come here, bring it in" he opens his arms and I hesitate before walking into them. He folds them around me.

I feel his bare skin, and the beating of his heart. This is the man I love, but it doesn't feel weird, this doesn't feel weird.

He was right, our friendship withstood a lot of storms, and this little thing wasn't going to change it at all.

"Okay, but before we get in, you have to put a shirt on." I mumble, and he laughs

"Deal."

As we climbed into bed that night, I couldn't help but feel a spark between us. I tried to ignore it, but it was impossible to ignore Stephen's warm body pressed up against my back

The bed wasn't even a king sized bed, it could hardly be considered a queen. Which meant two full grown adults didn't have much room. It would have perfect for couples, just not two friends who want to stay platonic and more or less depended on the bed to be big enough to stay that way.

We lay back to back, he finally put a shirt on, but he decided to opt for boxers instead of pj pants, which may have been even worse. I wasn't sure if he was completely oblivious to how he made her feel, he was always stuck in his own daydreams and worlds. Or he was the most evil genius ever. Both two very likely scenarios.

We lay there in silence for a few minutes, both too nervous to say anything.

Stephen broke the silence first

"Do you have enough room?" I wasn't sure if he was teasing or if it was a serious question, I laughed anyways, but there was little to no humor in it.

Suddenly I felt the absence of his body from the mattress, and I rolled over to investigate.

He grabbed a pillow and a small blanket and tossed them on the ground.

"What are you doing?" I asked confused.

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable at all. So I'm sleeping on the floor." He lays down and tucks himself in with the hilariously small blanket.

"Stephen, I'm okay. Just get back in bed."

He looks up at me, his dreamy gaze catching me off guard

"It's okay, dear."

I roll my eyes and then have a horrific realization.

"Oh my god, Stephen get off the floor now." He gives me a confused expression

"Wha-" I quickly eject myself off the bed and run around to heave him off the floor.

"It's a hotel floor, do you realize what could be on it." A barrage of gross imagery fills my head and I feel sick.

"Oh" he lets me pull him up, and I throw the pillow back on the bed.

I laugh and get back in the bed, I turn to see Stephen still standing, staring down at me.

"What?" I suddenly felt subconscious.

He has a sad look about him, but it quickly fades away as he clears his throat

"I was just thinking."

He climbs in next to me and falls quiet again. I hesitate for a moment before asking

"What were you thinking about?" He's quiet and I wish we were facing each other so I could read his face.

Just when I think he's ignoring me he says softly

"I was just thinking about how one day someone lucky is going to get you to fall in love with them and you'll get married and have your happy ending. And I'll just watch."

A pang of guilt rings through my chest and I turn to face his back.

"What if I've already fallen in love with someone?" I reach my finger out and draw swirls on his upper shoulder.

The words sit between us, and for a moment I regret saying anything, but then Stephen rolls over to face me.

"Who is it?" He asks, and I recognize hope and fear over his features simultaneously.

My eyes are heavy as they wander over his face, landing on his lips and then his eyes.

"Do I know who they are?" He asks not relenting to my dodging of the subject.

I shrug, I suddenly felt like I held something over him, I had some power and I was making him nervous.

Just the idea of me making him nervous excited and terrified me.

I realize how close are faces are, inches apart, I feel his warm breath on me, and I falter.

His eyes search my face and I recognize the hungry look in his eyes, one I've seen and dreamt of seeing many times before.

But then Stephen tentatively reached out and took my hand. The electric shock that ran through my body made me realize that I felt the same way he did.

"Stephen" I whisper

and with that we both break.

The next thing I knew, Stephen's lips were on mine.

Oh god he was kissing me.

We kissed tentatively at first, his lips soft and supple.

It quickly became more feverish as we both realized what was happening, that we both wanted this. I felt his hands sliding over my body, first starting with my neck and then moving down towards my stomach. His hand is gentle and caring, I melt under the pressure.

We finally broke apart, gasping for breath. Stephen's eyes were dark with desire as my body trembled. "I've wanted to do that for so long," he admitted rolling over.

I smiled softly. "Me too."

I stare at him as he looks at the ceiling, it was moments like this where I couldn't help but notice his beautiful, the curvature of his features, the creases and freckles. It was all so beautiful, he was so beautiful.

"I guess I don't have to worry anymore" he chuckles. I smile a little and keep my gaze focused.

He turns over

"God Y/N, I've loved you for so long." hearing those words I felt like I could die from happiness.

I reach out and stroke the side of his face

"I was always so terrified to tell you how I felt. I thought you would hate me and never talk to me again." As a spoke the words a heavy weight was being removed off my chest.

"I didn't want to lose you." I felt my eyes water up as the confession leaves me relieved.

"I'm sorry you felt that way. I'll never leave you, no matter what happens." He whispers, eyes wandering down to my lips.

"I love you so much" Our lips reconnected and this time there is no rush and we enjoy the moment.

We cuddled up in each other's arms, basking in the new light of our relationship.

All the stress from earlier feels like it happened years ago, I feel like I'm floating on cloud nine here with him.

Retrospectively it all felt so silly, and maybe once we got back home I'd buy Bradley a cup of coffee or something. Or maybe not, it was still a stupid mistake and he still made me mad.

But I didn't want to think about anything else but my best friend and we lay together. It was the perfect moment, and we both knew that we would never go back to just being friends again. He was still my best friend, we always would be, but now we could be something more. And I knew we didn't want anything else now.

I didn't know where life would take us but I drifted off to sleep wrapped up in his arms, listening to the softness of his breathing and heartbeat as I pressed myself into his chest. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation about what the future held for us. 

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.6

Holidays

Adhesive Postage Stamp Day

Army Day (Bulgaria)

Arrival Day (Guyana)

Condom Day (Japan)

A Day Without Homework

Emancipation Day (Cayman Islands)

Freud Day

Globeflower Day

Great Lakes Awareness Day

Hellshire Day (Eugene, Oregon)

Hıdırellez begins (Turkey)

Infantry Day (Ukraine)

Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day

International Blowing Bubbles Day

International Coaching Day

International Management Accounting Day

International No Diet Day

Jimmy Buffet Day (Mississippi)

Joseph Brackett Day

Mark A. Groh Cardiothoracic Surgeon Appreciation Day

Martyrs’ Day (Gabon, Lebanon, Syria)

National Aidan Day

National Azulejo Day (Portugal)

National Day to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy

National Hentai Day

National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day

National Nurses Day (a.k.a. National RN Recognition Day)

National Tony Day

National Tourist Appreciation Day

No Homework Day [also Last Friday in March]

Pastele Blajinilor (Memory/Parent’s Day; Moldova)

Peg Day (UK)

Phi Day (Southern Hemisphere)

Police Day (Republic of Georgia)

Prayer Day (Denmark)

Refrigerator Day

Rubber Day (Japan)

Salad Burnet Day (French Republic)

Saviour's Day

Senior Citizens’ Day (Palau)

Shepherd’s and Herdsman’s Day (Bulgaria)

Simple Gifts Day (a.k.a. Joseph Brackett Day)

Steel Plow Day

Teachers’ Day (Jamaica)

Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day

Wishbone Day

World Accordion Day

World Kids Coloring Day

World Moyamoya Awareness Day

World Philately Day

Yale Lock Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crepe Suzette Day

National Beverage Day

Russell Stover Candies Day

Sauvignon Blanc Day (UK; Commonwealth countries)

Independence & Related Days

Arkansas (Seceded from the U.S.; 1861)

The Kikkian Empire (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

First Monday in May

Bank Holiday (UK)

Great Lakes Awareness Day [Monday of 1st Full Week]

Labour Day Holiday (Many Counties outside North America) [1st Monday]

Melanoma Monday [1st Monday]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

National Meeting Planners Appreciation Day [Monday of 1st Full Week]

National Testing Coordinator’s Day [1st Monday]

Open Farm Day (Ireland) [1st Monday]

School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day [1st Monday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 6 (1st Full Week)

Air Quality Awareness Week (thru 5.10)

Economic Development Week (thru 5.10)

Mental Health Week (Canada) [1st Full Week]

Mental Illness Awareness Week (Canada) [1st Full Week]

National Children’s Book Week (thru 5.12)

National Nurses Week (thru 5.12)

National Safety Stand Down Week (thru 5.12)

National Sun Safety Week (thru 5.12)

National Wildflower Week (thru 5.12)

Puppy Mill Action Week (thru 5.12)

Screen-Free Week (f.k.a. TV Turnoff Week; thru 5.12) [1st Full Week]

Teacher Appreciation Week (thru 5.12) [1st Full Week]

World Cocktail Week (thru 5.13)

Festivals Beginning May 6, 2024

Food Safety Summit (Rosemont, Illinois) [thru 5.9]

Frankfort Elberta Restaurant Week (Frankfort & Elberta, Michigan) [thru 5.12]

Melbourne Writers Festival (Melbourne, Australia) [thru 5.12]

Tartu International Literary Festival Prima Vista (Tartu, Estonia) [thru 5.12]

A Taste of Talent (Andover, New Jersey)

Trondheim Jazz Festival (Trondheim, Norway) [thru 5.11]

WasteExpo (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 5.9]

Feast Days

Alexander (Positivist; Saint)

Ancestor Day II (Pagan)

Beverage Day (Pastafarian)

Bruces Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Charles Drouet (Artology)

Connect with the Land Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Dominic Savio (Christian; Saint)

Đurđevdan (Festival for the Roma People of the former Yugoslavia)

Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne (Christian; Saint)

Enlightenment of the Buddha (Buddhism)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (Artology)

Evodius of Antioch (Roman Catholic Church)

Food (Muppetism)

François de Laval (Christian; Saint)

George (Eastern Orthodox Church) a.k.a. ... 

Đurđevdan (Gorani, Roma)

Gergyovden  (Day of Bravery or Army Day; Bulgaria)

Police Day (Georgia)

Shën Gjergji (Albania and Kosovo)

Yuri's Day in the Spring (Russian Orthodox Church)

Gerard of Lunel (Christian; Saint)

Guinness (The Stout) Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Harry Martinson (Writerism)

Jeffery Deaver (Writerism)

Long Island Church of Aphrodite (Everyday Wicca)

Lucius of Cyrene (Christian; Saint)

Petronax of Monte Cassino (Christian; Saint)

John before the Latin Gate (Christian; Saint)

John Demascen (Christian; Saint)

Munichia (a.k.a. Mounikhia; Ancient Greek Festival to Artemis)

Nestor Basterretxea (Artology)

Prudence (Christian; Virgin)

Remembrance  for Eyvind Kelve (Asatru/Norse Pagan)

The Sixth Day of May (Shamanism)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

Easter Monday (Orthodox Christian) [Day after Orthodox Easter] (a.k.a. ... 

Memorial Day (Georgia)

Doua zi de Paste (Moldova)

Doua zi de Pasti (Romania)

Orthodox Easter Monday

Vtor den Veligden (Macedonia)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [17 of 32]

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [25 of 60]

Premieres

Alias the Saint, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories; 1940) [Saint #6]

At Folsom Prison, by Johnny Cash (Live Album; 1968)

Backstreet Boys, by Backstreet Boys (Album; 1996)

Call for the Dead, by John le Carré (Novel; 1961)

Captain America: Civil War (Film; 2016)

Chernobyl (TV Documentary Series; 2019)

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Film; 2022)

The Double Helix, by James Watson (Memoir; 1968)

Highwayman, by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson (Album; 1985)

The Hollow Hills, by Mary Stewart (Novel; 1973) [Arthurian Saga #2]

The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound (Animated TV Special; 1988)

I Got You (I Feel Good), by James Brown (Song recorded; 1965)

Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice (Novel; 1976)

Into You, by Ariana Grande (Song; 2016)

Kingdom of Heaven (Film; 2005)

La Bohème, by Ruggero Leoncavallo (Opera; 1897)

The Leghorn Blows at Midnight (WB LT Cartoon; 1950)

Little Shop of Horrors (Off-Off-Broadway Musical; 1982)

Metropolis (Film; 1927)

Mickey’s Trailer (Disney Cartoon; 1938)

The Million Dollar Cat (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

New York Herald Tribune (Daily Newspaper; 1835)

Paint It Black, by The Rolling Stones (Song; 1966)

Railroaded to Fame (Hector Heathcote Cartoon; 1961)

Rock and Roll Music, recorded by Chuck Berry (Song; 1957)

Rocket Man, by Elton John (Song; 1972)

Son of Batman (WB Animated Film; 2014)

The Stainless Steel Rat, by Harry Harrison (Novel; 1961)

Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Film; 1980)

Swooner Crooner (WB LT Cartoon; 1944)

Take This To Your Grave, by Fall Out Boy (Album; 2003)

The Thanatos Syndrome, by Percy Walker (Novel; 1987)

This for That (Money Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1996)

Thor (Film; 2011)

Thugs with Dirty Mugs (WB MM Cartoon; 1939)

Un Verano Sin Ti, by Bad Bunny (Song; 2022)

Today’s Name Days

Godehard, Jutta, Sigrid (Austria)

Irina, Mira (Bulgaria)

Anđeo, Hilarije, Maksim (Croatia)

Klaudie (Czech Republic)

Gothard (Denmark)

Loit, Loomet (Estonia)

Maini, Melina, Melissa (Finland)

Judith (France)

Gotthard, Jutta, Sigrid (Germany)

Efraim, Efrem, Eirene, Eirini, Eirinaios, Irene, Irini (Greece)

Adrián, Györgyi (Hungary)

Angelo, Massimo, Pellegrino, Penelope (Italy)

Gederts, Gerhards, Ģirts, Gothards (Latvia)

Angelas, Anielius, Barvydas, Gintaras, Pijus (Lithuania)

Guldbrand, Gullborg (Norway)

Irena, Ita, Pius, Teodor, Waldemar, Zdzibor (Poland)

Irina (Romania)

Lesana, Lesia (Slovakia)

Amador, Ángel, Hilario, Máximo (Spain)

Erhard, Gotthard (Sweden)

Irene, Myroslav, Myroslava (Ukraine)

Morna, Mya, Myah, Myrna, Orson, Prudence (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 127 of 2024; 239 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of week 19 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Saille (Willow) [Day 23 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 28 (Geng-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 28 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 27 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 7 Magenta; Sevenday [7 of 30]

Julian: 23 April 2024

Moon: 3%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 15 Caesar (5th Month) [Junius Brutus]

Runic Half Month: Lagu (Flowing Water) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 49 of 92)

Week: 1st Week of May

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 17 of 31)