#such as robert giving advice about gardening books | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

scarfacemarston · 5 months ago

Text

Abigail Roberts Fluff Alphabet M-Z.

This is hella long so I had to split it up. Please think about "liking" and reblogging! This took a long time. Feel free to request more Abigail things!

M: Mornings (How are mornings spent with them?)

Abigail is an early riser. She's one of the first people awake at camp, and it's the same at Pronghorn and Beecher's Hope. However, she would prefer not to speak until she's had her coffee. From there, she sets breakfast for everyone and starts her morning chores. She admits it's boring. Modern Au has her helping Jack for school. She drops him off, but she sometimes takes him to the bus once he's old enough. From there, she worked on the ranch or the garden before moving on to even more house chores.

However, I can see a partner, John, trying to convince her to sleep in with cuddles. It sometimes works, but she knows she's basically the one in charge in the morning. Having Jack, she knows she doesn't really have a choice but to get up early—Canon and modern.

Night (How are nights spent with them?)

She goes to bed EARLY. She knows she's an old lady for it. She wants to be in bed by ten. She will go out with friends if she can find a babysitter, but that's rare. She's usually tired from working since 6:00 /7:00 a.m. Plus, finding a babysitter is hard. However, she's always happy to have company over to watch TV with her, play cards, or work on a craft. She'll watch cooking shows, knit, and the occasional movie with Jack. Sometimes she'll watch "Fixing" shows with John - She's lost, but he's happy. She also loves to read. Sometimes it's agricultural or ranching magazines, sometimes it's a mystery novel.

Canon, it's knitting, listening to Jack read, sitting by the fire and singing, and really not much else.

O: Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Abigail is absolutely not an open book. She is quiet but polite and even friendly. She is definitely the mom friend of the group, whether she likes it or not. She is the type that appears extroverted but truly isn't. Part of her feels it is her duty to look out for those who need someone. She is reliable and intelligent, and it's why people, like even MOLLY, come to her for advice. Despite this, she reveals very little about herself. She was even careful around Sadie, but in time, she began to let people in. She is only so secretive because of the numerous people who have hurt or disappointed her in the past. Hosea is the only one who truly knows and understands her.

P: Patience (How easily angered are they?)

This is a tricky one. She seems easily angered, but remember the YEARS she put up with John being nasty. That was at least four years, and it was tumultuous with reuniting and then John leaving, reuniting, John leaving, and so on. Of course, she's going to be sensitive to whatever he does.

However, Abigail HERSELF is patient in that she never truly gives up on him in the main story. It's why she doesn't take Hosea's advice to leave. The epilogue is different because that was an additional several years of putting up with John's attics. It was, again, desperation.

She also has a lot of patience with Jack, which anyone with children knows can be very difficult. She deals with many things thrown at her but stays quiet most of the time to avoid making a fuss. TLDR: Unless she is truly triggered, like with John or Grimshaw, she can be cool-headed—even with Micah.

Q: Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every detail in passing, or do they kind of forget? )

Abigail remembers everything, including things you wouldn't want her to remember. She is meticulous in remembering things like dates and coordinates, directions to travel somewhere, or orders to take on a heist. Drink orders at the dive bar she works at in a Modern Au details about patrons like who will grab asses, who tips well, who tips like shit.

When she was a sex worker, she'd remember who to avoid servicing if she could, when she needed to avoid someone, if someone had a particular fetish, etc. She'll remember everything down to the littlest detail because it's her perfectionism. She does not have a photographic memory, but she strives for this. She lived in a time where someone had to be quiet and bide their time just in case their safety called on it. (Ex, knowing dirt on someone, knowing when to be quiet, knowing where to be, how to avoid something)

Modern au: But in a lighter sense, she won't forget a birthday, or a dance recital, a baseball game, Jack's projects or tests, and if you have university or a job, she'd help you as well. If it's Sadie, this includes her contracts and her borderline outlaw activities. Unfortunately, Abigail hates remembering those because it reminds her of the danger Sadie could be in. She wishes Sadie could just put the guns away and help out on the ranch, but she knows it's not that easy.

Now, she does need to look at agendas and sheets occasionally to refresh her mind, especially if things get chaotic, but she has a huge memory bank.

Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

She would love for John or a reader to take her out of home, out of town, and they drive somewhere to get a nice view. I was thinking, as sappy as it might sound - a sunrise because Abigail is usually up for those, but if the reader or John aren't usually morning people, that's a bonus as it would show they're sacrificing her sleep for Abigail. (Of course, Abigail isn't always happy to be woken up at that time, and it's dark, but she's perfectly fine - if not tired - afterward. Something like getting coffee and breakfast afterward would make it even better. But she'd also enjoy a sunset in a flower meadow and a meal, whether it's a picnic or somewhere cute to eat where she can enjoy her meal and people-watch. She loves quiet moments best, but someone taking her out on the town like John did in the epilogue would also be special to her.

S: Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

One of my favorite scenes in the entire game is when Dutch is talking about leaving John behind, and she tries to march towards him----John just barely holds her back. I think that says it right there. She is NOT afraid to speak up. She's strategic in how and when she does so, but she will call someone out if they dare harm someone she loves. She also knows how to punch, use a knife, and shoot a gun.

As for her, she just wants someone to back her up when she's figuratively being beaten down by the others. She'll claim she doesn't need the help, but it means the world to her for anyone who tried.

T: Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, and gifts?)

We see in the epilogue that Abigail definitely tries to make things special for John sometimes. She'll buy him a new shirt, and she'll make his favorite food. She seems to decorate the place extra nicely and genuinely just wants to spend time with him. For Jack, she wants each birthday to be as special as possible since she feels she can't give him much. She'll make cinnamon rolls or French toast in the morning. She always saves money to buy him a new book or takes him to the bookstore, bakes a cake, and gives him the few gifts she and John could buy or make him. She'll try to buy something affordable from the catalog, with John giving suggestions on what he THINKS Jack might like……..it doesn't always work, but he tries. In the modern au, she'll take him to an arcade with his friends. (YES, THEY EXIST STILL.) That, or the movies and some restaurant. Needless to say, she puts a lot of time and effort into dates, anniversaries, and gifts.

U: Ugly (What would be a bad habit of theirs?)

She worries and paces so much I bet she could make a mark on a wooden floor. I'd also say that maybe checking in on people is too much. Some people like Jack and John think it's bossy and nosy, but she's trying to help for the most part. If it's Jack or John………or Uncle, she's trying to make sure they're behaving.

On a lesser scale, she either seems to have great posture or really bad posture, but there is no in-between, it seems. Finally, her squinting at the sun really damages her eyes, causing her pain. She also worries way too much to the point she can't sleep and if she can't sleep, she gets grumpy and sometimes snaps at people, but she tries to hold it in and does busy work instead. The other is messing up dinner. No matter how hard she tries, she just can't get it right. Sometimes, it burns; sometimes, she seasons it too much, others not enough. Sometimes, she experiments. Yeah, not great for her.

V: Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

She knows she's beautiful, but she doesn't bother putting much effort into her looks. In canon, she wears the same outfit for years. She also wears a simple bun and a braid at night. She could be curling her hair or wearing it up like the other ladies, but she doesn't. I thought she wore the lightest makeup, but I don't believe it at the end of the day, and she wouldn't waste the little money she had on it. Modern Au is just as beautiful but doesn't spend a lot of time on her looks, either. She wears her hair naturally. Mostly in a bun or braid, but she is more likely to wear it down here. She wears light makeup. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick and foundation. She goes for a more natural look, but red lipstick looks stunning. She doesn't bother with beauty trends, just what she feels comfortable with. She is also less fashionable than Molly. She cares about being comfortable and "age-appropriate." Meaning she doesn't dress like a "mom," but she's not wild either.

W: Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Abigail learned this lesson after all the hell she was put through with John. Her heart felt incomplete, but she never would admit it, even when L.H. Arthur would point it out. She resigned herself to being alone. She felt no one would ever love a single mother, especially one with her past. She had given up on love. Could she be pulled out of that mindset? Yes, but it would take someone very special. IMHO, a woman would have better luck with this. (Granted, women can be super judgmental.)

X: Xtra (A random headcanon for them)

I hc Abigail as demisexual. I think part of it is being born with it, and some of it might have been experiences she's had and discovered herself. I say that as someone who is the same. However, I do not say she is demisexual because I am. I truly believe she has the characteristics of someone who is demisexual. I think canon is more likely, given her past and how protective she is of her sexuality in all forms. I think she truly needs a bond and to feel safe. She might find someone attractive, but it's not something she truly feels until she gets to know someone - then it clicks that she cares for them. Did it happen with John? No, I hc that was love at first sight, but I think that she discovered this after the events with John, and she has remained that way ever since. It's why someone like Sadie makes sense for those who ship her with them. They have a strong foundational friendship. I picture it would be the same with any OC. It's a hc I am very passionate about.

No Y

Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?)

Abigail hates sleeping on her back anymore. Sleeping outside on the ground for so many years has really messed with her back. She's a side sleeper now, but she sometimes rolls onto her back anyway.

#red dead redemption 2 #van der linde gang #rdr 2 #abigail marston #abigail roberts #abigail marston x reader #abigail roberts x reader #sadie adler #sadigail #john marston #jack marston #john marston x abigail marston

18 notes · View notes

fictionadventurer · 1 year ago

Text

Victober Wrap-Up

The Romance of a Shop by Amy Levy: I read this one on October 1st. Very easy, very fun, if very underwritten, read about four sisters who open a photography shop. Gives a fascinating perspective on a different side of Victorian daily life.

The Europeans by Henry James: I forgot this one almost immediately after reading it, but I did enjoy it. The best way I can describe what I like about Henry James is that he writes like a woman. There's a concern for the inner lives of characters and the little moments of daily life that you usually don't see from male authors, and it works really well for the types of stories he tells.

Miss Meredith by Amy Levy: Short novella about a young woman who takes a job as a governess in Italy, and who gets a much nicer romance out of it than most of those types of characters. It's nothing ground-breaking, but it's fun to see her perspective on the setting, and the romance reminded me so much of some scenes from an old, beloved, abandoned WIP that I couldn't help liking it more than it probably deserved.

The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins: I loved the heroine of this book. I was so invested in her story. She was going to solve the mystery of her husband's past, no matter who stood in her way. Her (hilariously) pathetic wet napkin of a husband doesn't deserve her, but he needs her, and she loves him a lot, so I can root for them. It's astounding to me that a Victorian man can write such good female characters. They get to be people--strong-willed, intelligent, flawed, the center of their own stories rather than just a prop in someone else's. My love for Valeria papered over a lot of other flaws in this story (some not-great use of disabled characters, for one), and I'm seriously considering picking up another of his books next month. (They have perfect November vibes).

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green: Not technically Victorian (it's American), but still the right time period. Apparently, this is where a lot of the detective genre started. I love the detective--he's got a quirk of not making eye contact with people, and I love that he's explicitly so working-class than he can't pass himself off as a gentleman for investigating this high-society crime--but I don't care about any of the characters, and the writing's not great. (Though it's kind of hilarious how often the narrator gets information because people come up to him and go, "You're a lawyer, right? Let me ask for advice about an intricate situation that just happens to tie into the case you're investigating.") I'm about 2/3 done with the audiobook, but it's going to be a bit of a slog to finish.

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson: I'd probably find this a bit too cutesy most of the time, but I read this on a Sunday when I was feeling under-the-weather, and it was exactly what I needed. Very sweet, easy read.

Wuthering Heights by Emile Brontë: I made it a chapter and a half. It's a Hard No.

Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith: I heard it was short and funny, so I tried a couple of pages. Maybe there's a cultural divide, but I just wasn't feeling it.

The Odd Women by George Gissing: I tried a couple of chapter of the audiobook, because a story about women working as typists in late-Victorian England sounds right up my alley. I'm only two chapters in, but I'm debating whether to go further, because he already writes about women like a man--way too detailed descriptions of their physical appearance that suggest they're already decrepit in their early 30s, a suggestion that "we leave it to the men to decide if she'd be attractive"--and that doesn't bode well for a book with a female cast. It is just about to introduce the "progressive" woman who's about to drag the main characters into this newfangled job, so maybe it'd get better, but I'm not sure I'm invested enough to try.

#books #victober

20 notes · View notes

dollycas · 9 months ago

Text

Special Guest Holly S. Roberts - Author of Breach: A Terrifying Summer Adventure @hollysrobertsauthor - Great Escapes Book Tour #AuthorInterview #Giveaway

Breach: A Terrifying Summer Adventure by Holly S. Roberts I am delighted to welcome Holly S. Roberts to Escape With Dollycas today! Hi Holly, Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born dyslexic and read my first complete book at twelve. I turned my love of reading into a career and purchased an independent bookstore in my twenties. I owned the store for twenty years but there was something caused by an experience in my childhood that I needed to do and I was running out of time. At age 45, I went to the police academy and lived my dream a few years later as a homicide and sex crimes detective. I became one of the leading experts in the state on predator behavior. On the advice of a very good therapist, I began writing and I haven’t stopped. I retired from law enforcement in 2014 and turned writing into a fulltime career. What are three things most people don’t know about you? I’ve been hiding my newfound love of Taylor Swift. No embarrassment but its special so I’ve been keeping it to myself. The only other secret I can think of is I haven’t missed a season of Survivor since the first episode. I’m running out of time to apply for the show but I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe. What books/authors have most inspired you? There are so many but back in my bookstore days I was lucky enough to have a parttime gig for some major publishing houses and drive authors around the Phoenix area. Amazingly they paid me to do this. Three authors I spent time with inspired me to write: Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, and Iris Johansen. I can’t thank them enough and I learned so much. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? Research is one of the best parts of being a writer and I like to challenge myself by learning more than I could possibly ever write in a book. My research can start as far back as a year before I write a word but it always continues through the first draft. Do you ever suffer from Writer’s Block? I really don’t. There are so many stories floating in my head if one isn’t working I can switch to something that does. What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer? Write until you become great at it. I’m still working on that part and I will until I write my last word. Study the best, find your own techniques. Listen to other authors but throw away what doesn’t work for you and grab what does. Write bad stuff, write silly stuff, write good stuff. Just write! When you are not writing what do you like to do? I’ve been involved in martial arts for many years and I love Sinawali sticks and practice religiously. I also love gardening which keeps me busy during the spring, summer, and fall. Then there are my two big goofy dogs who keep me company and give me slobber kisses when I’m down. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? We own 100 acres off grid and it’s where I go to recharge. No phone service or internet but incredibly silent in its beauty. Oh and I hunt for rocks there, a small obsession of mine. What is next on the horizon for you? Before Covid, I owned a martial arts gym and taught self-defense to women. Sadly the gym didn’t survive. I’m looking forward to teaching again in someone else’s gym. I’m at a point in my writing career that I’m working on books I’ve wanted to write for years. That will continue and there’s a special book that may take a decade to finish but I won’t know until I put the first word on paper. Thank you Holly for visiting today. __________ Keep reading for more information about Holly's new book Breach. I read the book earlier this week and I can't wait to share my review with you. Be sure to come back Tuesday for it. I will tell you the story has stuck with me and I have pushed my husband to read the book too so we can discuss it. About Breach Breach: A Terrifying Summer Adventure Psychological Thriller Setting - Off the coast of California Publisher ‏ : ‎Independently Published (March 22, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 202 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8320606989 Digital: Wicked Story Telling (June 20, 2024) ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQYXJ3T1 Craving the vastness of the open sea, Kate and her family set out on a journey of forgiveness and healing aboard Ryan's Gift, their newly remodeled yacht. After a tragic accident, it’s imperative that Kate returns to the ocean, the place she once called home, in an attempt to restore her spirit. In the middle of their idyllic voyage, the nightmare begins. With no power or communication, a monster lurks below the surface and the family must find a way to defeat the darkness before it destroys them. Experience this gripping story of a family's fight for survival and a terrifying reckoning from the deep. Excerpt "Eighteen months had passed since the accident that left Kate with an incomplete spinal cord injury, taking away the use of her legs. The rehabilitation center staff had believed her fortunate for retaining some sensation below the waist, but Kate had never felt unluckier" . "Kate examined the water looking for a dorsal fin. Slight waves from the Sea Doo rocked the yacht. She wheeled herself frantically toward the stern, her pulse hammering as the real threat lurked unseen below". "Kate's voice was a whisper, her hands tense on the wheels of her chair. 'Ryan, hold on,' she breathed as the shark's massive silhouette darted beneath the yacht toward her daughter". "With every ounce of her being, Kate focused on the rolling waves. 'This ends today,' she declared, determination lining her features as she prepared to defend her family from a terrifying nightmare". About Holly S. Roberts Holly S Roberts is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and romance. Her Detective Eve Bennet crime series is a #1 Amazon bestseller. She’s a retired homicide detective who worked high-profile cases in Arizona. Holly lives high in the mountains with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Author Links Website Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Goodreads Purchase Links Amazon/Kindle Unlimited Also written by Holly S. Roberts TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops. June 20 – The Mystery of Writing – SPOTLIGHT June 20 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT June 20 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT June 21 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT June 21 – Novels Alive – REVIEW June 21 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT June 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 22 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 22 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW June 23 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT June 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT June 24 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW June 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT June 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW June 25 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT June 25 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW June 26 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT June 26 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT June 26 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT CLICK HERE TO ENTER A GIVEAWAY FOR A SHARK PLUSHIE! Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

0 notes

whatdoesshedotothem · 2 years ago

Text

Thursday 10 March 1836

8 ½

11 20

no kiss fine but dull morning F38° at 9 ½ and breakfast in an hour - out at 10 ½ having been ¾ hour looking over Journal - with Mark Hepworth with carts and men + 2 fillers (Robert Mann’s men) as yesterday - then with Robert Mann + 4 at the hollow till Mr. Freeman came to me bringing his nephew from Kent with him - came to look at the new road as I had told him at the rent day I should like him to see the road and give me his advice - took him along the road to the Lodge - he was against lagging and advised cutting up the thorns and branches and laying them (on new cart stuff) as a foundation for the rubble - mentioned the Landymere stone - thought perhaps it was fast in water - the stone of Mrs. Lancashire and Brooke sold - did not know at what price - but some stone near sold at 3/6 per yard - wages and rents must alter or stone could not be sold at the present prices - the best customers in the country - In London the stone most sold at any price - for it cannot lie in the vessels and some are obliged to pay 6d. per ton per day for ground for the stone to lie upon and stone has been hawked about in carts in London streets and in the country 10 miles from London - took Mr. F- to the rock-work - explained - he said it would be rather inconvenient to let me have men and tackling, but he would do it for me - I said then I was equally obliged as if he let me have the men, but that I could manage another way on this he said oh! no! he could manage for me - and it was agreed (he said he would do it for me as cheap as anyone) that he should come next Monday week he finding men and tackling for getting and loadening the stone at the quarry and Nelson to let me have Hinton and men to manage at the rock-man - Mr. F- to speak to and arrange with N- told F- I had had an application for the stone in Joseph Hall’s land, and asked him (F-) to value it for me - had F- and his nephew in the north parlour till near 2 - before going away F- said he had a favour to beg of me to change the stone-road in yew trees wood or have more time - to get the stone the stone in - in fact, this was the real reason of his coming however little he might think I should find this out - said I had often congratulated myself on having Mr. F- to deal with instead of anybody else - that I grieved over the spoiling of the wood and would rather change the road than give more time but that I would do the best I could but could never give more time -A - had Parkinson in the hall - brought him into the North parlour - he wished to have a new public house built in the tan-house garden - 4 rooms on a floor - 5 yards x 5 yards and 1ft. and the back rooms would do 5 yards x 4 yards with 4 good chambers and brewhouse and stable - less would not do - could not afford to pay more than £30 per annum pays £20 a year at present - the building he has would make 5 cottages - thought a new Inn would be built for £300 then when I said no! said well for £400 but could not pay than £30 per annum - A- to consider of it, and give him an answer in a few days - he said he should not stay where he was - then A- had luncheon downstairs - sat with her there and then upstairs till she went to Cliff hill and I to the workmen (Robert + 4, and Frank and my own cart) plant at the meer-head - keep Wood and Samuel Booth planting till 6 when rain came on and from 4 to then sent Robert + 2 to the stubbing at the hollow open drain - came in at 6 ¼ - wrote about a French or German lady’s maid ‘speaking English not essentially necessary’ and sent my letter this evening to ‘Madame Lecomte 11 Bryanston street Portland Square London post paid’ - dinner at 6 ¾ - coffee - A-‘s French as usual - we dined on Pork - too rich for us - it disagreed with both of us so bilious we could not see a letter of A-‘s French book - A- 10 minutes and A- ½ hour with my aunt poorly tonight - came upstairs at 8 55 - tea - rather better for it - but very bilious - wrote all the above of today till 10 10 at which hour F40° fine day but dull till rain at 6 and afterwards for some time - Mr. F- told me the union cross would be sold on young Mr. Thompson’s (of chapel of Briers) coming of age in a year from this time - Messrs. Rainer and Beaumont, brother-in-law to Mr. Jonathan Akroyd, bidding against one another for it - they had already got it up beyond Mr. Mitchell’s valuation - asked F- to get to know for me what it was valued at - F- said the buildings were very bad repair - all the roof would want taking off and the timbers renewing - I said all that would not be done for nothing - F- said it was an excellent situation of which I agreed but made no further remark thinking to myself I see whence the opposition to Northgate will come - F- had said Carr was the fittest man for it - I merely said I thought he had neither capital nor character but, in fact, he had never named Northgate to me - But thought I, I must mind what I am about there will be opposition anyway with Carr or without him - I had best have a man who would be more difficult to oppose than Carr - A- would not take luncheon till I got her persuaded at last told me she had been unhappy the last two or three weeks had not pleasure in anything never felt as if doing right would not take wine was getting too fond of it afraid she should drink was getting as she was before afraid people would find it out and began to look disconsolate oh oh thought I I see how it is cheered her up said we would get off in May would go to Paris first this made me stay with her so inconveniently long on leaving her thanked god as I walked along for all blessings to myself and fervently begged his help and felt comforted and my spirits good and my head clear

3 notes · View notes

nooneelsecomesclose17 · 4 years ago

Text

Who says I want to go back

This contains spoilers for Friday's ep of Emmerdale, because it enraged me so much I had to write a fix-it. So have a Robert's the one helping with Liv fic. I've borrowed relevant bits of dialogue from the ep (watching that twice was not pleasant btw)

--------

"Well I need something to forget that I'm here with you. When you're in my face Aaron, I hate you." He can tell himself that she's just mouthing off, that she doesn't mean it but it still hurts, has every time she's said it.

"Yeah I know Liv, you keep telling me. What am I supposed to do, I'm terrified. I can't stop you hurting yourself."

"Please. I'm not in danger. You're just a control freak that can't stand me having fun." He can see Robert, standing just inside the door, trying not to intervene because just lately that makes everything worse, but he knows he's there, that's what's important. He should be on his way to see Seb, he's already late and he nods, tells him to go, he can manage.

"That's not true."

"You want everyone to be as miserable as you, don't ya. Oh poor Aaron. You wouldn't want to be happy if you knew how to. You just want to drag us down cos of what you've been through." He just shakes his head. Is it true, is she right, does he do that? Robert's always teasing him for being grumpy, but is it more than that, does he drag him down too. "What, no shouty comeback?"

"If that's what you think then there's nothing I can say is there." He doesn't wait for an answer, just grabs his coat and leaves. There's no point even trying to talk to her when she's like that.

He heads to the yard, maybe an hour or so of bashing the hell out of metal will help calm him down. He should've gone with Robert like he suggested, but he hadn't wanted to leave Liv alone all that time.

It doesn't work like it always had in the past, and Robert's not answering, even after enough time has passed for him not to be driving.

"You alright kiddo?" He throws the crowbar down as Cain approaches.

"What's she done now?"

"Who? Your demon of a sister? Nowt, but your Mum said you'd had words."

"Something like that." He collapses down on the steps, throwing his gloves on the ground.

"You alright? She said Sugden was off to Liverpool."

"Yeah, to see Seb. Not like we can have him at ours right now is it?"

"You know, it's not a failure to say you can't cope."

"There's no one else is there? Sandra's worse than useless and she doesn't have anyone else. I'll sort it Cain. You'd never leave Mum to fend for herself would ya?"

"I might if she didn't want my help. I'm just saying...it's alright to fail." He nods, because he can't. He's failed her once already, he left her behind. He won't do it again, no matter how hard she pushes him.

--------

She's not about when he gets home and after making himself a cuppa he tries Robert again, just wants to hear his voice.

"Robert, this is really not a good day for you to do that ignoring calls thing. Just, call me back, please. I need you."

"God that was pathetic. No wonder he's not answering. Maybe he's finally seen the light. He's gone off to Liverpool for a couple of days, who knows what he's getting up to there."

"Why would he Liv?" Her words don't even hurt anymore, he knows Robert better than that, trusts him properly now.

"Wouldn't be the first time with her would it? All he's got here is you leaving whiny messages on his phone."

"You don't have to pick a fight just to cover what you're really after. It's right there."

"Aw what's up, don't want to tell me what to do anymore cos hubby's off with the ex?"

"Enough! Do you know why he's gone there huh? It's cos we daren't have Seb here with you like this. Just go Liv, get out of my sight."

"You just can't face up to the truth can you? He's up there with her and you're here, alone. Face it Aaron, you're the fool."

"Oi! What the hell is going on?" Both of them turn round at the sound of Robert's voice. Aaron smiles when he sees he's got Seb in his arms, immediately reaching out for the little boy who he's sure has grown since the last time he saw him.

"Liv was just telling me what she thought you were getting up to in Liverpool." He can see when Robert realises what he means, and he takes Seb into the kitchen away from the pair of them. "Hey mate, it's alright, we're not mad at you. How about a biccy eh?"

"Oh was she. Why don't you enlighten me?" He sets Seb at the table with a colouring book they keep handy before watching the two of them.

"Well it wouldn't be the first time would it?"

"I think you're winning in the repeating mistakes game right now don't you? So what brought on this latest round of making everyone hate you? Run out of vodka?"

"Of course you're taking his side!"

"You've all but accused me of cheating so why would I take yours? How long are we doing this for Liv, because I'm tired. Aren't you?"

"Get off my back Robert!"

"Fine. Just get out."

"You can't throw me out. It's my house!"

"So you keep saying, except that's not actually true is it? It's half Aaron's and mine too." He stands his ground and Aaron stops himself from getting her to stay. He doesn't have the energy, just wants Robert and Seb, and some peace. Liv stares at him for minute before she grabs her bag and storms out.

"You know she's just going to drink all that at the pavilion don't you?"

"Yeah, probably. I'll go after her in a bit, when you tell me why I have thirty missed calls?"

"I should go. I'm her brother."

"Yeah well you married me. What's yours is mine and all that crap. I think you've taken enough off her for today don't you?" He runs a hand through Seb's hair before hugging Aaron, holding on until he relaxes properly. "Go on, what did she say?"

"Do I control people? Make them miserable?"

"What, no! Did she actually say that?" Aaron nods. "That's ridiculous."

"You're always saying I'm grumpy."

"Yeah cos you are, and I love you anyway don't I? You never make me miserable though, or anyone else. The only one doing that round here is Liv. I know she's suffering Aaron, but this can't go on."

"I don't know what to do anymore. She won't listen."

"Then we ask for help. As much as I love your Gran, her idea isn't going to work and your Mum's idea...well the less said the better. When I've found her, we're going to see Liam, or Manpreet."

"But..."

"No. We need proper advice Aaron. They'll know who to talk to, or how to talk to her. She doesn't have to know, not yet, but I'm not having you upset like this."

"Ok." He sniffs, pulling back from Robert's arms, feeling cold as soon as he does. "How come he's here?"

"When I got to Rebecca's I saw all your calls and guessed something had gone on so I asked if we could change the weekend to here. She didn't mind, her and Ross have some concert thing they want to go to anyway. Besides he missed ya. I don't do cuddles as well as Daddy Aaron apparently."

--------

"So this is where you're hiding." He sits down on the steps beside her. The bottles beside her are still mostly full so hopefully he can actually get through to her. "Make you feel good does it, hurting Aaron?"

"Does actually."

"Funny...I used to think I could manage all on my own, didn't need anyone else. Without the gallons of vodka obviously, but yeah, I pushed everyone away, said all the right things to make it happen even though inside I was begging someone to stay, to see how much I was hurting, how much I needed them."

"I don't need anyone."

"Except you do, if only to pay the bills so you can afford that." He points to the bottles. "So why don't you talk to me because if I come home again and find you've spoken to Aaron the way you have today you might just find yourself truly alone. Trust me, you don't want that to happen."

"Aaron would never do that."

"Maybe, maybe not. Everyone has their breaking point and I truly don't think he's far from his. So go ahead, if you want to lose your brother forever then I'll give you some tips from when Andy and I hated each other. Or," He picked up one of the bottles, unscrewing the cap and pouring it onto the grass. "You can come home with me now, apologise, and then tomorrow, we'll go to Manpreet or Liam and get some advice."

"And if I don't?"

"I reckon it'll take about an hour to pack the car and then Aaron and I would be gone."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me. I love you Liv, you know I think of you as my sister, but Aaron is my number one priority, him and Seb and I'm not having him putting up with your verbal abuse any longer." He gets up, brushing off the back of his jeans. "I'll leave you to think about it. We'll be at home."

The walk back to Mill calms him down, ready to tell Aaron what he'd said. Liv was likely right, he doesn't think Aaron would ever abandon her, anymore than Robert would Vic, but something had to happen, had to change.

"Do you think it'll work?" Aaron asks him as they watch Seb playing in the garden a while later. There's been no sign of Liv but Robert could only hope she'd listened.

"I don't know, but if it does, then it's a start."

#robron fic #emmerdale spoilers #early ed lb #ok so I don't know if his tactics are good or not #but i figure it's soapy enough #but aaron will always come first for robert #and he wouldn't do a ben of just being on her side against aaron or whatever that is #so anyway it didn't actually go as i thought #but i hope it fixes something

39 notes · View notes

djmunden · 5 years ago

Text

Thousand Scars Author Interview

Hey guys, back with a new isolation interview! I’ll have an SPFBO author interview ready for the weekend, but I’d like to bring back an old survivor of the Scar den in Deston Munden. Hope you guys enjoy!

First of all, tell me about yourself! What do you write?

Hello again! I’m Deston J. Munden, former SPFBO writer and now resident stuck in the house author. I’m a science fiction and fantasy author who is surviving all this craziness by stuffing his head full on Dungeons and Dragons characters and learning how to cook neat food. I’m the author of two series, Dargath Chronicles and Dusk Orbit Blues, both which are getting an audiobook real soon. It’s a pleasure to be back.

How do you develop your plots and characters?

I’ve been asked this quite a few times and I never feel like my answers are satisfactory, but nevertheless true. They just kinda come to me. There are small inciting events that makes me want to develop a character or a plot. It could just be me sitting and reading. It could just me be playing a game or roleplaying a completely unrelated character. From there, I put them on what I called the simmer mode. I slowly develop them in my head until they are ready for the drafting phase.

Tell the world about your current project!

Dargath is a fun, high fantasy world that I created a while back. It’s a world where everyone has magic and no one is truly human. I wanted to create a world where magic was a common stance and everyone has a degree of it that is unique to them. Also, I wanted a world where the reader doesn’t go in with the natural biasness of starting with a human. Yes, there are human-like races, but I wanted to have this mystical feeling to everything. The world is split into two continents, eight races, and plenty of subraces. It’s rich in history, politics, and turmoil while also having that classic dungeons and dragons type of feeling to the world. If that seems like your type of thing, try me out!

Who would you say is the main character of your latest novel? And tell me a little bit about them!

Ser Torlyek is the main character of the novel that is coming out later this year. I’ve been marketing him as Neville Longbottom meets Thor from the MCU and Steven Universe. He’s my first autistic main character who adores knights and honor beyond anything else. He’s also a complex character who has a deep backstory with his family. Duke’s Brand follows him as he comes to terms with who he is now as well as him making friends along the way. I hope that you guys enjoy him as much as I enjoyed writing him.

Have you been to any conventions? If so, tell me a little about them!

I’ve been to so many conventions! They are some of my favorite places to go for vacations. They are so lively and powerful, and you get to meet so many fellow nerds. My goal this year was to finally sell my books at a convention. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Now, I’m going through convention withdrawal. If you never gone to a convention before, I’ll honestly suggest that you try it out. There are so many cool things that you can find and you’ll meet so many cool people.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I realized that I wanted to be a writer when I was young. Luckily, none of my teachers tried to squash that love. Instead, they tried their hardest to cultivate the talent that they saw. I always wrote fan fictions and loved the creative writing assignments given to me. But, it wasn’t until after college where I realized this was a career I could do. Self-publishing opened an entirely new opportunity for me and ever since I’ve been pushing myself more and more to expand my dream into a reality.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?

Rome, hands down. There’s so much history there that I would love to explore and set a story within. I think it would be fun to explore the mythology and the people of rome and wrapping that up in a story that I would write.

What advice would you give new writers?

Finish. That. First. Draft. I’ve seen so many new writers get into what I call the world building loop or worse the first chapter loop. Its when a new writer keeps world building or writing the first chapter endlessly until the end of time. That is not how you’re going to improve. You’re going to have to finish that first draft at one point or another. Not to say pre-writing is not important, however, if you’re stuck on it you need to start on the first draft. As a new writer, learning how to finish a project is key.

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding?

Too many. I usually get inspiration from history, cultures, food, architecture, generally whatever that I think would make my world feel richer and livelier. Each of the races are inspired somewhat after certain regions of our world albeit blended in such a way to better fit the region I’m going for. I’ve used things from Africa, the Middle East, Medieval Europe, Egypt, etc to make my world feel stronger and cohesive. It’s a fun experience as a history and culture nerd.

What inspires you to write?

I enjoy it. That’s the long and short of it all. Writing is a passion of mine. I love sitting down at the computer and letting my imagination go wild. There’s a magic to it all. I used to write after I finished my schoolwork in class just for fun. I didn’t realize that was weird until my teacher saw me doing it while everyone else was playing games on the computer. Writing is my creative outlet and without it I might burst.

What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part for me is keeping the pace with everything. There’s a lot that goes into be an author. Some days I just want to sit down and write, but I know I can’t do that all the time. There are days where I’m going to have to research, do my social media, and market the books I already have released. Managing my time has become quite difficult.

What is your routine when writing, if any? If you don’t follow a routine, why not?

My routine is usually 8-4 every weekday. If I don’t follow this schedule, I will and can work myself to death.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write in any of your books, and why?

This is spoiler territory. There’s a certain scene in Tavern that I really enjoy that has made people lose their marbles and I always laugh manically about when I get a message about it. Recently though, I’ve been getting a lot of “OMG” about a certain scene in the middle of Dusk Mountain Blues. It makes me giggle. I might be evil.

What these two scenes have in common is that I throw the reader for a loop. I love doing that.

Did you learn anything from writing your latest book? If so, what was it?

Writing Duke’s Brand and Dusk Ocean Blues taught me a lot how to condense my writing style a bit. Lately, I’ve been trying to hone my writing style a bit. I feel like writing these two books has helped that a lot going forward.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A gardener or an architect?

I am definitely a pantser. I’m all about writing it and winging it until I get to the second draft.

If you had to give up either snacks and drinks during writing sessions, or music, which would you find more difficult to say goodbye to?

Definitely snacks. I can give up music if I had to, but snacks I need to survive. I can’t imagine how I’ll get through certain parts of my novel without snacking on some chips or some other ungodly unhealthy food or beverage.

Which is your favorite season to write in, and why?

Spring. There is something about the temperature and the outside environment that brings out the power in me.

It’s sometimes difficult to get into understanding the characters we write. How do you go about it?

It’s all about learning how that character ticks. The big thing I’ve realized about getting in the mindset of a character is knowing their motivation. A person drive and ambition tell a lot about the character as a whole and getting into the mindset of them. You gotta realize what they want to realize who they are. From there, I think, their personalities, dreams, relationships, etc becomes more apparent the more you write it.

What are your future project(s)?

Dusk Ocean Blues (Book 2 of Dusk Orbit Blues)

Undergrove (Book 3 of Dargath Chronicles)

Dusk Country Blues (Book 3 of Dusk Orbit Blues)

What is your favorite book ever written?

I’m pleading the fifth here. I enjoy all the books that I’ve written so far. There are parts where I feel like I’ve done better in this book while others in that one. So at the end the day, I can’t choose.

Who are your favorite authors?

Traditionally Published: Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Michael J. Sullivan, Robert Jordan, Scott Lynch, Jonathan French, Brent Weeks, Sean Grisby, and Gareth L. Powell, Renee April.

Self Published: James Jakins, Emmet Moss, Deck Matthews, Andy Peloquin, Bernard Bertram, Garrett B. Robinson.

There’s probably a million more.

What makes a good villain?

A good motivation and a strong personality. I’m the type of person that enjoys a big personality in my villain over sheer fear and power they may possess. The villains that have a good time while also having depth speak out to me. Yes, I do enjoy the looming dark lord type villain as well, but if I can somehow get both I’m a happy camper.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Cooking! It’s my favorite past time other than video games and tabletop RPGs. I’m not as good as it as other people, but I’m trying my best and I’m learning every day!

If you couldn’t be an author, what ideal job would you like to do?

A chef! Like I said before, cooking is a fun hobby and being a chef/cook would be a fun job for me. I also like to bake, so a baker would be not too far behind. I just like working with food.

Coffee or Tea? Or (exult deep breath) what other drink do you prefer, if you like neither?

Tea! There are so many different types of teas and most which I can drink (because I can’t have a lot of caffeinated beverages). I prefer fruity teas, but I’m willing to try any of it.

You can travel to anywhere in the universe. Where would you go, and why?

Whew. I don’t know. I’ll probably want to try to find new planets to explore, specifically with new life.

Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?

No. I don’t have any writer blogs that I’ll recommend but check out the #writerblr tag on tumblr if you need any inspiration!

Do you have any writer friends you’d like to give a shoutout to?

Nicky Ball, Kathryn York, Hallie Fleischmann, Chris Barber, Dave Deickman, Emmet Moss, Bernard Bertram, and Deck Matthews to name a few!

Pick any three fiction characters. These are now your roadtrip crew. Where do you go and what do you do?

Clay Cooper from Kings of the Wyld, Matrim Couthon from Wheel of Time, and Wayne from The Alloy of Law.

We’re gonna go on a rock-star tour and we’re gonna cause some trouble.

What superpower would you most like?

Super Strength. I know that’s a simple power to want to have but it would just make my life a whole lot easier. Being able to pick up a lot of things would be amazing.

What are two of your favorite covers of all time? (Not your own.)

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

It’s a very difficult time right now for the world. When quarantine and pandemic comes to an end, what is the first thing you would like to do?

Travel more and meet some of my online friends. My goal this year was to travel more, get out there, and meet some of the people that I’ve been talking to for ages. The quarantine and pandemic put that to a screeching halt. I want to go to more conventions, I want to see more places, and I want just enjoy life more. This whole situation made me realize that I haven’t been out nearly as much as I want to be.

Finally, what is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, here on Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?

Remember to follow me everywhere below and it was great coming back!

Website: www.djmunden.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Deston-J-Munden/e/B07Q2D6948/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SrBuffaloKnight

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordjmunden/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D.J.Munden/

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18874896.Deston_J_Munden If you have Kindle Unlimited, both of my books are available there too!

10 notes · View notes

revisitingstoneybrook · 4 years ago

Text

Mystery #19 Kristy and the Missing Fortune: Chapter 4

I smell another plot device! And Kristy Thomas...real, live millionaire?

Well, looky here! Kristy's dying to tell everyone about the Christina Thomas thing, but she can't because of one of her own rules: Club business always comes first on penalty of death. And she has to wait until all the new business is said before she can tell everyone! She's even starting to wish she had never made up the stupid rule! Please, if there was no rule, Mallory would constantly interrupt club business by telling everyone about a dibble pair of sparkly leggings she saw at the mall.

Just as luck would have it, there's lots of club business. God, don't those moronic parents of Stoneybrook know anything about raising children? Does the BSC have to solve all the problems of all the children in this town? I'm surprised there was never a plot where the BSC hosted a parenting class for all the parents since the BSC knows more than they do.

Jessi gives an update on her plot device plant-sitting job. All the plants are starting to droop and Jessi's been picking dead leaves off them. Maybe the plants hate you because you're best friends with Mallory. Everyone hates Mallory.

Stacey suggests that they've probably been like that the whole time. Yeah, just try that. “Why are all your plants' leaves dried up and the soil's dry? Oh, they've been like that the whole time! They're resting! That one over there's stunned, and the big one's pining for the fjords.” Jessi throws Stacey's suggestion out the window and says that the plants were healthy when she started. Oh, and Mrs. Dodson left her three pages of instructions on how to take care of all her plants properly.

Honestly, why would you hire an 11-year-old babysitter to watch your plants if you're that meticulous and leave three pages of instructions? Why not a gardener or someone from the local nursery or something? People call the BSC to watch their pets and their plants, should they change their tagline to “Just pay us our $1.50 an hour and we'll watch your silverware drawer if you want us to!”

So everyone thinks of different advice to give to Jessi, who's worried about the plants that Mrs. Dodson cares for as if they're her own children. Well, everyone except Kristy, who gives us this:

“If Mrs. Dodson comes home and finds her plants dead, that's not going to look too good for the BSC,” I said. I was imagining Mrs. Dodson telling everybody she knows that the BSC members are plant-killers. I hate the thought of anybody spreading negative information about us. We could start losing clients.

Because if someone like the Newtons or the Papadakises hears that plants died on the BSC's watch, they'll assume “Plant killers = CHILD KILLERS!” and never call the BSC again. Shut up, Kristy. Then again, if the plants do die, Kristy will tell everyone “Charlie drove Jessi and I out to the desert and she just disappeared!” Mallory suggests the arboretum, and we're given the definition of what an arboretum is by Kristy. “Isn't that one of those places where they keep plant specimens?” Yes indeed! Conveniently, Vanessa's class just so happened to visit there on a field trip and the woman who runs it could definitely help Jessi! Jessi says she'll go there this weekend, and that's that...for now.

Ok Kristy, now you can tell-oh wait, not yet, Claudia has club news too. Did Gabbie helped her read Cat in the Hat without stumbling? Oh...she's got a new candy she wants everyone to try, Cocoa Blinkens, and she pulls the bag out from under her pillow. Kristy says that's where Claudia likes hiding things. Um...wouldn't that make for a really lumpy place to rest your head while sleeping? Then again, Claudia isn’t huge on logic.

Everyone (except Dawn and Stacey, of course) takes some and Kristy says they're great then finally gets to announce what she wants but Mary Anne points to the clock. It's 6! D'oh! Kristy, needless to say, is mad. Uh oh! Claudia upset the President with her offer of tasty chocolatey delights! SHE WILL PAY. Now everyone's curious, so they agree to stay for a few minutes to hear about it since they looooooove mysteries. Hear that Charlie? You and Janine still have some time, so don't race back to the Junk Bucket while pulling your shirt on just yet!

Oh. Kristy won't tell them until she properly adjourns the meeting. Everyone get their robes on and light the candles while Kristy gets the brainwashing serum ready to pass around!

The next day, Kristy begins her research and starts out at the library. Unfortunately, everyone's got a babysitting job except Kristy. D'oh! Claudia probably doesn't have one, she just doesn't want to set foot in the library because looking at all the books makes her brain hurt. Actually, Stacey doesn't have a babysitting job...she's with Robert. That bitch! Doesn't she know anything involving the BSC supersedes the rest of your life?

The librarian sets Kristy up with the microfilm and for once, it isn't Mrs. Kishi. The first article Kristy finds is about Christina's parents, John and Rachel Thomas, who were both killed in a carriage accident in 1861, when Christina was 16. Her parents' estate was divided amongst her and her two brothers, Devon and Edward. Hey! Christina's the only girl in a family of boys! Maybe her and Kristy really are related! Keep looking through the old articles, Kristy. Maybe you'll find a vintage ad for a babysitting club run by Christina!

The last article Kristy finds is about Christina disappearing in 1863, along with her fortune. Showing the patented BSC trademark of Jumping to Conclusions, Kristy thinks, “If Christina was a relative of mine, that missing fortune might make more than just a good story and a fun mystery. It might make me rich.” First off, your stepfather is Watson the Millionaire, you're already rich. Second, if Kristy was related to Christina, wouldn't the money go to Patrick, or his mother (I think his mom still lives in Stoneybrook, Kristy mentions her other grandmother in Kristy's Big Day), or get divided up among Kristy and her brothers? It wouldn't all go to her. Ugh, why am I searching for logic in a BSC book...

#babysitters club #kristy and the missing fortune #kristy thomas #bsc #snark

2 notes · View notes

erzakyuubei · 6 years ago

Text

Jonsa Book Foreshadowing

Not mine. Credit goes to Juligen from asoiaf forum.

YOU WILL MARRY A KING..............

“You,” Ned said, kissing her lightly on the brow, “will marry a king and rule his castle, and your sons will be knights and princes and lords and, yes, perhaps even a High Septon.”Arya screwed up her face. “No,” she said, “that’s Sansa."

(Eddard V- A Game of Thrones)

-------------------------------------------------------------

For me this quote is one of the most important quotes from the entire series because it pretty much sets up for the audience both Sansa and Arya story arc. Sansa will be the sister who will marry and have children and fulfill her childhood dreams of a happy family, which is why Love, marriage and children will be a constant theme in Sansa’s arc story. She will be treated as an object, passed around by the powerful players of the story, all interested in her claim of Winterfell and the North; she will be forced into marriage alliances and her future children will be desired for their claim in the North. Sansa will try to survive as much as she can, keeping still a slim hope to find love and happiness and maybe one day fulfill that sweet dream of a rebuilding her destroyed family.

Arya will follow another path; she will be a warrior and ruler on her own. Arya always wanted to be the keeper of her own holdfast, she wanted to be a knight and fight in battle and most important, I believe Arya wanted to feel the independence that most women in Westeros could never feel. Not that love and marriage is not impossible for her, but I feel George wants Arya to be a Queen regent on her own.

George is trying to tells us in this passage of the books that women should be able to choose their own paths and if its love, marriage and children what they wish for they should have it, but if its not, they should be free to figure out her own destiny. The tragedy of Lyanna Stark was that she never had a choice and was forced into marry someone she never cared for, and I believe George wants to show with both Sansa and Arya that girls should be free to choose their own dreams., because BOTH dreams are equality valid.

A CLOAK STAINED IN FIRE AND BLOOD......................

When she crawled out of bed, long moments later, she was alone. She found his cloak on the floor, twisted up tight, the white wool stained with blood and fire. The sky outside was darker by then, with only a few pale green ghosts dancing against the stars. A chill wind was blowing, banging the shutters. Sansa was cold. She shook out the torn cloak and huddled beneath it on the floor, shivering.

(A Clash of Kings - Sansa VII)

---------------------------------------------------------

Sansa cloaked herself with a cloak stained in "Fire and Blood" the words of House Targaryen. For me this has always been one of the biggest foreshadows on the book and its interesting to notice how George used the character of Sandor Cleagane as a redherring for this scene in order to not make so obvious the connection with Jon.

It was only when we make the connection of this particular scene with one that happened a few chapters before In the book A CLASH OF KINGS that it became pretty obvious this quote was about Jon Snow.

----------------------------------------------------------------

“I’ve never lain with any woman but Cersei. In my own way, I’ve been truer than your Ned ever was. Poor old dead Ned. So who has shit for honor now, I ask you? What was the name of that bastard he fathered?”

Catelyn took a step backwards. “Brienne.”

“No, that wasn’t it.” Jaime Lannister upended the flagon. A trickled ran down onto his face, bright as blood. “Snow, that was the one. Such a white name … like the pretty cloaks they give us in the Kingsguard when we swear our pretty oaths.”

A Clash of Kings - Catelyn VII

A Clash of Kings - Sansa VII

-----------------------------------------------------------

THE ORDER OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE BOOKS....

Every time Sansa’s marriage proposals are being discussed in the books, the next chapter usually its followed by a JON chapter. Once you put the two quotes together is that you really get it, what George was once again, very delicately trying to tells us.

In the first book A GAME OF THRONES, chapter 4 Eddard I, we have King Robert arriving at Winterfell and asking to visit Lyanna tomb in the crypts of the castle. While there King Robert decides to ask for Sansa’s hand in marriage for his son prince Joffrey. This is the chapter where Sansa and Joffrey become officially betrothed to each other and their Royal engagement its made official. The very next chapter? JON. This is also the chapter where Jon Snow will get drunk in the Feats for the king and ask uncle Ben to join the NightsWatch.

In a CLASH OF KINGS chapter 52, SANSA IV, Sansa will get her period and be finally “fit to bear children to the king”. Cersei then tries, as best as she can, to be a mother figure to Sansa in this very special moment and gives her a womanly advice. She tells her that love is a dangerous feeling that makes us all weaker and it should wiser for her to love only her children. Once again we have a chapter discussing Sansa future marriage to a king and the following chapter is JON VII.

Finally on A STORM OF SWORDS, we have the famous chapter 68, Sansa VI, where she laments that no one will ever marry her for love, its only her name and Winterfell they all want. The very next chapter of the book? JON. Again, thats not a coincidence, George does this, he said that he takes a lot of planning and caring about the way he writes and structures his books.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

A CLASH OF KINGS - THE WINTER ROSE

In A CLASH OF KINGS we will have George very quietly making the connection with Jon, Sansa and the tale of Bael the Bard. While was I re reading the books I noticed that George was playing with the chapters orders and trying to tells us some hints of the story by putting characters chpaters next to each other. The first time Jon meets Ygritte on “A CLASH OF KINGS”, chapter 51, she tells him a story of Bael the Bard and the Blue Winter Rose:

"The Stark in Winterfell wanted Bael's head, but never could take him, and the taste o' failure galled him. One day in his bitterness he called Bael a craven who preyed only on the weak. When word o' that got back, Bael vowed to teach the lord a lesson. So he scaled the Wall, skipped down the kingsroad, and walked into Winterfell one winter's night with harp in hand, naming himself Sygerrik of Skagos. Sygerrik means 'deceiver' in the Old Tongue, that the First Men spoke, and the giants still speak.

"North or south, singers always find a ready welcome, so Bael ate at Lord Stark's own table, and played for the lord in his high seat until half the night was gone. The old songs he played, and new ones he'd made himself, and he played and sang so well that when he was done, the lord offered to let him name his own reward. 'All I ask is a flower,' Bael answered, 'the fairest flower that blooms in the gardens o' Winterfell.'

"Now as it happened the winter roses had only then come into bloom, and no flower is so rare nor precious. So the Stark sent to his glass gardens and commanded that the most beautiful o' the winter roses be plucked for the singer's payment. And so it was done. But when morning come, the singer had vanished . . . and so had Lord Brandon's maiden daughter. Her bed they found empty, but for the pale blue rose that Bael had left on the pillow where her head had lain."

(A Clash of Kings – Jon VI)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Right next in the following chapter 52, Sansa has her first flowering. This is the chapter where Sansa gets her first period and its now “fit to bear children to the King.”

"The blood is the seal of your womanhood. Lady Catelyn might have prepared you. You've had your first flowering, no more." Sansa had never felt less flowery. "My lady mother told me, but I... I thought it would be different.""Different how?""I don't know. Less... less messy, and more magical.” Queen Cersei laughed. "Wait until you birth a child, Sansa. A woman's life is nine parts mess to one part magic, you'll learn that soon enough... and the parts that look like magic often turn out to be messiest of all." She took a sip of milk. "So now you are a woman. Do you have the least idea of what that means?" "It means that I am now fit to be wedded and bedded," said Sansa, "and to bear children for the king." …….

Do you want to be loved, Sansa?" "Everyone wants to be loved." "I see flowering hasn't made you any brighter," said Cersei. "Sansa, permit me to share a bit of womanly wisdom with you on this very special day. Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same."

(A Clash of Kings – Sansa IV)

---------------------------------------------------------

In the chapter 52, Sansa gets her period for the first time. She is taken to see Cersei who uses the moment to give Sansa womanly advice about love. She warns Sansa that love is dangerous and make us weaker. The following chapter of the book is JON VII.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

“Robert wanted to be loved. My brother Tyrion has the same disease. Do you want to be loved, Sansa?” “Everyone wants to be loved.” “I see flowering hasn’t made you any brighter,” said Cersei. “Sansa, permit me to share a bit of womanly wisdom with you on this very special day. Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same.”

(A Clash of Kings – Sansa IV)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the end of chapter Cersei warns Sansa about love and how dangerous it can be. The following chapter of the book is also JON VII. George really wanted us to picture Jon, Sansa and the Blue Winter Rose tale all together. For me this is one of the biggest clues that not only Jon and Sansa will marry but also, its their child that will continue House Stark.

----------------------------------------------------------------

A STORM OF SWORDS - THE FALLING SNOW

In A storm of Swords, George used the prologue of the book to foreshadow Jon and Sansa romance, using the snow to symbolize Jon Snow. In the two paragraphs under, Chett will lament that heavy snow has ruined his plans for desertion and that Jon Snow and Sam stole his comfortable position as Maester Aemon’s steward: and that Jon Snow stole his position.

“He could feel tears freezing to his cheeks. It isn’t fair, he wanted to scream. Snow would ruin everything he’d worked for, all his careful plans. It was a heavy fall, thick white flakes coming down all about him.How would they find their food caches in the snow, or the game trail they meant to follow east? They won’t need Dywen nor Bannen to hunt us down neither, not if we’re tracking through fresh snow. And snow hid the shape of the ground, especially by night. A horse could stumble over a root, break a leg on a stone. We’re done, he realized. Done before we began. We’re lost. There’d be no lord’s life for the leechman’s son, no keep to call his own, no wives nor crowns. Only a wildling’s sword in his belly, and then an unmarked grave. The snow’s taken it all from me … the bloody snow …”

“Snow had ruined him once before. Snow and his pet pig.”

(ASOS Prologue)

--------------------------------------------

And later we have Jon Snow introducing himself as “the snow”……

“The singer rose to his feet. "I’m Mance Rayder,” he said as he put aside the lute. “And you are Ned Stark’s bastard, the Snow of Winterfell.”

( A Storm of Swords – Jon I)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Then comes Sansa’s chapter at the end of the book, where she will feel snow falling down her lips and touching her almost like a lover……..

Snow was falling on the Eyrie.

Yet she stepped out all the same. Her boots tore ankle-deep holes into the smooth white surface of the snow, yet made no sound. Sansa drifted past frosted shrubs and thin dark trees, and wondered if she were still dreaming. Drifting snowflakes brushed her face as light as lover’s kisses, and melted on her cheeks. At the center of the garden, beside the statue of the weeping woman that lay broken and half-buried on the ground, she turned her face up to the sky and closed her eyes. She could feel the snow on her lashes, taste it on her lips. It was the taste of Winterfell. The taste of innocence. The taste of dreams.

(A Storm of Swords - Sansa VIII)

-------------------------------------------------

A FEAST FOR CROWS - SANSA FIRST LOVE

In A FEAST FOR CROWS, chapter 23, we have Sansa playing the role of Alayne Stone, Littlefinger bastard daughter. In this chapter Sansa remembers Lord Yohn Royce son, Ser Wayman Royce and how she fell madly in love with him when he visited Winterfell on his way to take the black on the Nights Watch. If we go back to the prologue of the first book, we will find out that surprising, Ser Waymar physical description is identical of Jon Snow. George is trying to tell us that Sansa will probably be physical attracted to Jon Snow once she is reunited with him later in the story.

"Bronze Yohn knows me," she reminded him. "He was a guest at Winterfell when his son rode north to take the black." She had fallen wildly in love with Ser Waymar, she remembered dimly, but that was a lifetime ago, when she was a stupid little girl. "And that was not the only time. Lord Royce saw . . . he saw Sansa Stark again at King's Landing, during the Hand's tourney."

- A FEAST FOR CROWS, Alayne I

------------------------------------------------------------

Waymar Royce is described as follows. Notice how similar this description is to Jon.

Ser Waymar Royce was the youngest son of an ancient house with too many heirs. He was a handsome youth of eighteen, grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife. Mounted on his huge black destrier, the knight towered above Will and Gared on their smaller garrons. He wore black leather boots, black woolen pants, black moleskin gloves, and a fine supple coat of gleaming black ringmail over layers of black wool and boiled leather.

A GAME OF THRONES, Prologue

---------------------------------------------------------------

Jon’s eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast.

- A GAME OF THRONES, Bran I

----------------------------------------------------------------

JON SNOW BECOMING SANSA'S HERO

“Sweet one,” her father said gently, “listen to me. When you’re old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who’s worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. This match with Joffrey was a terrible mistake. **That boy is no Prince Aemon, you must believe me.”** -

( A Game of Thrones – Sansa III)

She shouted for Ser Dontos, for her brothers, for her dead father and her dead wolf, for gallant Ser Loras who had given her a red rose once, but none of them came. She called for the heroes from the songs, **for Florian and Ser Ryam Redwyne and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, but no one heard.**

(A Clash of Kings – Sansa IV)

They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. “I’m Prince Aemon the Dragonknight,” Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, “Well, I’m Florian the Fool.” Or Robb would say, “I’m the Young Dragon,” and Jon would reply, “I’m Ser Ryam Redwyne.”**

A Storm of Swords – Jon II

Notice how Sansa's heros match with with the ones Jon's used to pretend to be as a child.

“Frog-faced Lord Slynt sat at the end of the council table wearing a black velvet doublet and a shiny cloth-of-gold cape, nodding with approval every time the king pronounced a sentence. Sansa stared hard at his ugly face, remembering how he had thrown down her father for Ser Ilyn to behead, wishing she could hurt him, wishing that some hero would throw him down and cut off his head.

A game of Thrones – Sansa VI

"I will not hang him," said Jon. "Bring him here." "Oh, Seven save us," he heard Bowen Marsh cry out. The smile that Lord Janos Slynt smiled then had all the sweetness of rancid butter. Until Jon said, "Edd, fetch me a block," and unsheathed Longclaw.

A dance of Dragons – Jon II

----------------------------------------------------------------------

THEIR DREAMS COMPLETING EACH OTHERS

Dreams of home and family

“She pictured the two of them sitting together in a garden with puppies in their laps, or listening to a singer strum upon a lute while they floated down the Mander on a pleasure barge. "If I give him Sons, he may come to love me. She would name them Eddard and Brandon and Rickon, and raise them all to be as Valiant as Ser Loras. And to hate Lannisters, too. In Sansa’s dreams, her children looked just like the brothers she had lost. Sometimes there was even a girl who looked like Arya.”

A STORM OF SWORDS, Sansa II

“I would need to steal her if I wanted her love, but she might give me children. I might someday hold a son of my own blood in my arms. A son was something Jon Snow had never dared dream of, since he decide to live his life on the wall. I could name him Robb”..-

A STORM OF SWORDS, Jon XII

Rebuilding Winterfell……

The snow fell and the castle rose. Two walls ankle-high, the inner taller than the outer. Towers and turrets, keeps and stairs, a round kitchen, a square armory, the stables along the inside of the west wall. It was only a castle when she began, but before very long Sansa knew it was Winterfell.

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII

Winterfell, he thought. Theon left it burned and broken, but I could restore it. Surely his father would have wanted that, and Robb as well. They would never have wanted the castle left in ruins.

A Storm of Swords - Jon XII

--------------------------------------------------

There is so much foreshadow for this relationship that I always shake my head when people say there is nothing in the books about this romance.

Edited March 30 by prettylongclaw

#asoiaf #game of thrones #jonsa #actually jonsa #jon x sansa #jon snow #sansa stark #aegon targaryen #foreshadowing

474 notes · View notes

thelifestyleeditor · 5 years ago

Photo

CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS

Who are you: Silvana de Soissons

What is your work: I am the founder and product maker at Farm Soap Co.

Where can we find you:

Website: www.farmsoapco.com

Twitter: @silvanades

Instagram: @farmsoapco

Facebook: Farm Soap Co.

Describe your work in 5 words: Handmade, small-batch, botanical skincare.

Can you tell us a little about what you do? I grow and produce botanical skincare products - I have just recently launched my business with eight different plant-based soaps, and will be launching bath salts, body oils, toners, mists and creams soon. I aim to grow the botanicals which are distilled and turned into the hydrosols, macerations and essential oils that go into the products. I am working on a section of the walled garden at Deans Court in Wimborne - hopefully we will be able to harvest the first plants in the autumn of this year.

Can you tell us about your career journey and how you got to where you are today? Well, I have certainly had a circuitous career, starting with a degree in Economics from the University of Bath and then moving to London. I have worked in finance, sales, marketing and retailing and have also owned my own food and lifestyle business in Bath. For a long time I have been a buyer of artisan toiletries and skincare products – both as a consumer and also as a retailer. I believe in the healing, nourishing and medicinal power of plants, and in putting the very best ingredients on my skin in the same way I would only put the best, seasonal, local ingredients on my plate. I wanted to create a skincare brand that was completely plant based, vegan, zero chemical and zero plastic, with trustworthy and transparent sourcing, and production with a sense of place. That’s how Farm Soap Co. was born.

Where is your office/studio, and what is the view out of your window? I am very fortunate, especially since the Coronavirus lock-down was announced, that my workshop is in the back of my home, so I have no commute. I live on a Dorset dairy farm and my workshop used to be a cheese room - the right temperature and size to create a soap making workshop. My view out of the window is the garden.

What is the first thing you do when you get to work? I come down to my kitchen at around 6.30am to let my Fox Terrier dog Gumdrop out. I then make coffee, listen to the news on BBC Radio 4, and then I make my ‘To Do’ list for the day - amount of soaps that need to be produced, check on the cured soaps, answer emails, send out samples to potential stockists, order new supplies etc.

What are the tools of your trade? There are so many! The soaps are made from olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, almond oil, essential oils, lye and in some cases sea salt and seaweed from Dorset’s Jurassic coast. I use weighing scales, pouring jugs, bowls, spoons, knives, thermometers, pots, spatulas, moulds, trays, steel racks, the list goes on!

What can’t you work without? My Roberts radio – I have it on for most of the day, a bit of Radio 3, a bit of Radio 4. Always accompanied by Italian coffee or British tea, with a cheeky biscuit or two.

Why do you love what you do? I love working for myself; I love the artisan, handmade process; I love creating a product that is pure, natural and simple; I love growing and producing; I love not having to manage people (is it OK to say that?!).

Who or what inspires you? There are so many excellent independent, small-batch botanical skincare producers all over the world, and I am inspired and informed by them every day. It is fascinating to see how producers and formulators from many different countries use their culture, heritage, flora and customs to create skincare, toiletries and well-being products with a sense of place and pride. I love to follow the work of: Bamford, L.A Bruket, Sphaera Soap, Seed to Skin, Primally Pure, Rawbatch Soap, Pai Skincare, Votary, Vintner’s Daughter, Wild Sage, Wildsmith Skin, Wilder Botanics, A.S. Apothecary, Enchanted Plants, Yellow Gorse, Saint Iris Adriatica, Honest Skincare, Haeckels, so many!

What is the best advice you have received? This is a quote by Benjamin Franklin, so obviously it’s not advice received but it’s the advice I always give to those who want to be cheap, do sloppy work and cut corners: “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” The best advice always comes from my husband John-Paul, and my 24 year old daughter Mariella. Whenever I have had problems dealing with certain people in my career, managing difficult members of staff, or handling a supplier who wasn’t behaving in a professional manner, I tell them the whole issue and they talk me through sensible solutions bit-by-bit. They really should set up an “Agony Aunt Advice” column, they’re so good at getting to the heart of the matter and nailing the solution on the head. Sometimes when the going gets tough in business (and when is the going not tough in business?!), you need to be strong and detach yourself from situations - you can’t see the solution clearly if you’re too close.

One moment in your career you will always remember? Err, launching Farm Soap Co. at the time of the Coronavirus epidemic has got to be right up there as memorable. I have never launched a lock-down business before – any helpful hints and tips?! Still, soap saves lives! We will always need soap, remember that.

What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job is working with fantastic botanical ingredients – coconut oil, shea butter, essential oils, herbs and flowers.

And the worst? The washing up! You would not believe the amount of washing up there is after you have made a batch of soap. Endless washing, drying, putting away and repeat!

What’s your proudest career achievement? Still being in the world of business and making and selling products thirty two years after graduating - I love making, creating, learning and developing and I think that it’s an achievement in life to never lose the gift of wonder, the thirst for knowledge and the drive to explore and invent. I am proud to be a dinosaur and still alive - that’s an achievement.

What are you working on at the moment? Formulations for botanical bath salts, body oils, toners, tonics and creams.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life? Please can someone find a vaccine for Coronavirus. Please could someone come and help me do the washing up. Also, please could someone come on a daily basis and tire Gumdrop out!

Can you share a favourite websites or Instagram feed? I love The Shopkeepers @the_shopkeepers https://www.theshopkeepers.com/ - they are such a wonderful resource for learning about and celebrating small, independent shops all over the world

I love The Botanical Candle Company in Shaftesbury - @thebotanicalcandleco https://www.thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk/ – such a beautiful shop selling wonderful homewares, lifestyle goods and the world’s best smelling scented candles made of soy wax. The owner Amalia Pothecary (what a wonderful name!) and her husband James, also have a lovely home and pets and her personal account @_apothecary_ is a hilarious peek at her life at home.

One of the most beautiful feeds on Instagram belongs to No 56 Penzance @no.56penzance and the artisan makers account @no.56makers https://no-56.com/ - I want to buy every single thing in that shop. The owner Carole has exquisite taste.

As does @thehambledon and @objectsofuse and @gonzalezygonzalezstore and @march.sf and @levestiairedejeanne and @rennes._ and @bontucson and @cinq.kyoko and @cloveandcreek and @avidaportuguesa and @veritecoeur_shop and @veritecoeur_atelier and @plaingoods and @tiinathestore...I could go on and on!

What have you learned the hard way? It takes a great deal of patience and commitment to formulate a good soap, or any skincare product. There are no shortcuts - you need to commit the time, resources, focus and energy. There are lots of failed attempts. You will end up using A LOT of soap yourself.

If you could do another job what would you like to do and why? I am a fair weather person - during the Summer I would like to work in a herb garden and look after plants all day long - being surrounded by nature, with a straw hat on my head, a Thermos flask of tea and a picnic lunch in my basket. Then in Winter you would find me in front of the fire - looking through all the seed catalogues and gardening books, planning the fair weather days.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to do what you are doing? You will need to learn a great deal, go on workshops and courses, follow all the professional makers, buy good books on the subject, practice, practice, practice, and develop your own distinctive products. The toiletries and skincare market is very crowded - you will need your own USP (unique selling proposition) and good branding and packaging too. I would say, go and work for others for a few years first and watch and learn all the sides of the business - from finance to sourcing, origination, production, sales, distribution etc. With every job comes an apprenticeship period that will stand you in good stead for the future.

If you could be someone for a day who would it be? I would like to be Jo Malone - she has such a wonderful sense of smell, ability to create new fragrances and market them in an extremely overcrowded market. She sold her eponymous business to Estée Lauder and then created Jo Loves. She has overcome huge personal adversity without losing her enthusiasm and smile - what a brilliant entrepreneur and positive, engaging role model to all who follow.

Do you have a secret ambition still to achieve? So many - I would love for Farm Soap Co. to grow as a business and be stocked in my favourite lifestyle stores and boutique hotels and B&Bs. My ambition is to keep learning and developing, producing really good botanical skincare products and toiletries for all my customers to enjoy.

What is your personal motto? Keep your head and hopes high.

If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it? Enjoy a really long, hot bath with essential oils and bath salts, a glass of cold Prosecco in hand, woody, scented candles flickering, a warm, white fluffy towel on the radiator and clean flannel pyjamas. I am totally rock & roll!

How would you like to be remembered? She came. She saw. She made it happen. Then she had a bath.

Thank you Silvana for talking to The Lifestyle Editor.

4 notes · View notes

whatdoesshedotothem · 3 years ago

Text

Friday 26 April 1839

8 50/..

12 20/..

fine but dullish morning – had done up the imperials last night – did the rest of our packing before finishing dressing this morning – breakfast at 10 ¼ - Charlotte N- sent back the handbook of South of Germany and in favour of her nephew T.N- (Harrow school?) and the testimonials from Dr. Wordsworth and -------- whose house was lately burnt down and from which the pupils (Tom N- among the rest) were only just saved losing clothes and books and everything – observe these testimonials excellent as to conduct – as to progress in learning ‘creditable’ – Mrs. Duffin sent over her maid Busfield with Mrs. Clarkson’s receipt for curing mutton hams which I had asked for yesterday while seeing E.R. and which Mrs. C- had very civilly sent to Mrs. D- last night for me directed to Miss Norcliffe! then about 11 or before had Robert Gilby who had waited about an hour having come from Mr. Bacchus to offer as gardener and brought the 250 Scotch firs – character to be had from the gardener at Bishopthorpe – little man, looking neither very able-bodied, nor very 1st rate claver as gardener – 2nd at Bishopthorpe with 2 or 3 under him – asked 20/. a week – said I had only given my last, a professed gardener, £50 a year and his house – not taken with this man – would give him an answer in the course of a week – Dr. Belcombe came before the man was gone about (after) 11, and staid till 12 – A- must not be over-fatigued, must live sufficiently well, and will bear going by steam to St. P- this not to be breathed – may eat sugar – this hint taken by Dr. B- from old Dr. Darwin – white appearance of the tongue in a morning indicates low habit – said I had observed this and mentioned the recent white transparent appearance of the edges of A-‘s tongue as having strongly convinced me she wanted her strength getting up I had come at this knowledge from observation and reflection on observation made at lectures in Paris – Dr. B- hastily muttering to himself ‘you are very clever’ – added ‘I like many of my fellows was mistaken about this till informed by our old practitioner – I thought as many do it indicated fever’ – but fever (said Dr. B-) is indicated by the dry hand and hard pulse, you cannot mistake it – he then mentioned that a friend of his had told him the Chinese physicians were entirely guided by the pulse – this friend had ridiculed the thing, but sent for a native physician at Canton who never asking a single question but merely feeling the pulse at both wrists, and several other parts said (truly) the patient was labouring under diarrhoea and sent him a powder which really relived him cured I think was the inference) – Dr. B- a member of the French institute – was in London the other day for a day – he told me but I forget the name of the person who got him his honour of being member of the Institute – asked for some good, short rational work on medicine – what popular? no! not exactly that well but said Dr. B- there is a great deal of information in Grahams’ domestic medicine – A- went out of the room for 2 or 3 minutes – Dr. B- observed that her mind had very much expanded in the last 2 years – yes! said I; and it will expand much more – he said she was always to very timid – yes! but with increasing knowledge, we agreed, that would se modifier was the substance tho’ not the expression of either of us – he felt my pulse – good – tho’ I mentioned the obstinate state of my bowels for the last month past – I then gave him advice for himself – to go abroad and how, for a couple of months – taking in all the principal Spas, and Geneva, and Paris – and mentioned the curious skeleton in the museum at Berne, ½ carious from L.V. the other ½ unaffected – he note down this observation (vide my travelling journal of 1827) – Dr. B- went away at 12. I sat finishing my breakfast till 12 ½ A- and I at the minster (seeing the under part – parts of the 1st and 2nd churches discovered at the time of the fire) from 1 25/.. to 2 20/.. – then 2 or 2 minutes at the Norcliffes to say goodbye, and home at 2 40/.. Mrs. Duffin had been waiting for us sometime – had sent word by her maid this morning that I wished to see her again for a moment and would call en passant if she did not come to us – I told her I merely wished to say goodbye, and that Mr. gray had said yesterday evening that he thought I had better not write to Mr. Robert Swann – better not interfere at all – Mrs. D- agreed and then sat talking till we paid and settled all, she knowing all about it to her great delighted she had a little of our little rest of Madeira which she took for sherry – saw us off (from the George Inn, York) at 3 25/.. – stopt en passant at Sutcliffes’ (the druggists’) and took up 2 bottles mixture and 2 ditto lotion (8oz. bottles = 16 tablespoonfuls each) for A- should be kept in a cool dry place – when the least clouded (turbid) they are going bad – Between York and Tadcaster A- had a little wine and biscuit and again between T- and Leeds – Read aloud handbook of Athens to T- and there at 4 ½ - from T- A- read French aloud 2 ½ pp. Thierry letters on French history – then talked – at Leeds at 6 20/.. and off in 5 minutes when A- and I made pencil notes of today till now 6 50/.. – home at 8 25/.. – tea and cold beef at 9 to 9 ¾ - then till 11 wrote to Mrs. S- A- having found a long foolscap short letter from her, much o fit referring to business – thinks A- quite right to think of herself rather than her aunt Mrs. AW-‘s unmeaning wants and glad she is thinking of getting off – I wrote quickly and was delighted to get this copy of letter for A- off my mind – came upstairs at 11 ¼ - fine but dull day – found letter from Mrs. Gross dated the 20th instant – thanks for being engaged and for the guinea a week each from the 10th of May to the time of joining us allowed for their board and lodging – will be handsome the best they can for us and her husband will go behind the carriage when required – Catherine and Christian Gross – Note from the waggon warehouse Cockerhams’ to announce the arrival of the cement from Earls’ at Hull -

5 notes · View notes

anne-lister-adventures · 5 years ago

Text

Friday, 26 April 1839

8 50/’’

12 20/’’

Fine but dull morning – Had done up the imperials last night – Did the rest of our packing before finishing dressing this morning – Breakfast at 10 1/4 –

Charlotte N-[Norcliffe] sent back the handbook of South Germany and the testimonyials in favour of her nephew T.[Tom] N-[Norcliffe] (Harrow School?) from Dr. Wordsworth and ___ whose house was lately burnt down and from which the pupils (Tom N-[Norcliffe] among the rest) were only just saved losing clothes and books and everything – Observed these testimonials excellent as to conduct – As to progress in learning ‘creditable’ –

Mrs. Duffin sent over her maid Busfield with Mrs. Clarkson’s recipe for curing mutton hams which I had asked for yesterday while seeing E.[Eliza] R.[Raine] and which Mrs. C-[Clarkson] had very civilly sent to Mrs. D-[Duffin] last night for me directed to Miss Norcliffe!

Then about 11 or before had Robert Gilby who had waited about an hour having come from Mr. Bacchus to offer as gardener and brought the 250 scotch firs – Character to be had from the gardener at Bp. Thorpe – Little man, looking neither very able-bodied, nor very 1st rate clever as gardener – 2d.[2nd] at Bp. Thorpe with 2 or 3 under him – Asked 20/- a week – Said I had only given my last, a professed gardener, £50 a year and his house – Not taken with this man – Would give him an answer in the course of a week –

Dr. Belcombe came before the man was gone about, after, 11, and staid till 12 – A-[Ann] must not be overfatigued, must live sufficiently well, and will bear going by steam to St. P-[Petersburg] this not to be breathed – May eat sugar – This hint taken by Dr. B-[Belcombe] from old Dr. Darwin – While appearance of the tongue in a morning indicates a low habit –

Said I had observed this and mentioned the recent white transparent appearance of the edges of A-‘s[Ann’s] tongue as having strongly convinced me she wanted her strength getting up I had come at this knowledge from observation and reflection on observation made at lectures in Paris –

Dr. B-[Belcombe] hastily muttering to himself “you are very clever” – Added – ‘like many of my fellows was mistaken about this till informed by an old practitioner – I thought as many do it indicated fever’ – But fever, said Dr. B-[Belcombe], is indicated by the dry hand and hard pulse, you cannot mistake it –

He then mentioned that a friend of his had told him the Chinese physicians were entirely guided by the pulse – This friend had ridiculed the thing, but sent for a natural physician at Canton who never asking a single question but merely feeling the pulse at both wrists, and several other parts said, truly, the patient was labouring under diarrhoea and sent him a powder which really relieved him (cured I think was the inference) –

Dr. B-[Belcombe] a member of the French Institute – Was in London the other day for a day – He told me but I forget the name of the person who got him his honour of being member of the Institute – Asked for some good, short rational work on Medicine – What popular? No! Not exactly that – Well but said Dr. B-[Belcombe] there is a great deal of information in Graham’s Domestic Medicine –

A-[Ann] went out of the room for 2 or 3 minutes – Dr. B-[Belcombe] observed that her mind had very much expanded in the last 2 years – Yes! said I; and it will expand much more – He said she was always so very timid – Yes! But with increasing knowledge, we agreed, that would be se modifier was the substance tho’ not the expression of either of us –

He felt my pulse – Good – Tho’ I mentioned the obstinate state of my bowels for the last month past – I then gave him advice for himself – To go abroad and how, for a couple of months – Taking in all the principal spas, and Geneva, and Paris – And mentioned the curious skeleton in the museum at Berne, 1/2 carious from L.V. the other 1/2 unnaffected – He noted down this observation – (Vide my Travelling Journal of 1827) –

Dr. B-[Belcombe] went away at 12. I sat finishing my breakfast till 12 1/2 A-[Ann] and I at the Minster (seeing the under part – parts of the 1st and 2d.[2nd] churches discovered at the time of the fire) from 1 25/’’ to 2 20/’’ – Then 2 or 3 minutes at the Norcliffes’ to say good by, and home at 2 40/’’ Mrs. Duffin had been waiting for us some time –

Had sent word by her maid this morning that I wished to see her again for a moment and would call en passant if she did not come to us – I told her I merely wished to say good by, and that Mr. Gray had said yesterday evening that he thought I had better not write to Mr. Robert Swann – Better not interfere at all – Mrs. D-[Duffin] agreed, and then sat talking till we paid and settled all, she knowing all about it to her great delight? She had a little of our little rest of Madeira which she took for sherry – Saw us off (from the George inn, York) at 3 25/’’ –

Stopt en passant at Sutcliffe’s (the druggist’s) and took up 2 bottles mixture and 2 ditto lotion (8 oz.[ounces] bottles = 16 tablespoonfuls each) for A-[Ann] should be kept in a cool dry place – when the least clouded (turbid) they are going bad –

Between York and Tadcaster A-[Ann] had a little wine and biscuit and again between T-[Tadcaster] and Leeds – Read aloud Handbook of Athens to T-[Tadcaster] and there at 4 1/2 – From T-[Tadcaster] A-[Ann] read French aloud 2 1/2 pp.[pages] Thierry Letters on French History – Then talked –

At Leeds at 6 20/’’ and off in 5 minutes when A-[Ann] and I made pencil notes of today till now 6 50/’’ – Home at 8 25/’’ –

Tea and cold beef at 9 to 9 3/4 – Then till 11 wrote to Mrs. S-[Sutherland] A-[Ann] having found a long foolscap sheet letter from her, much of it referring to business – Thinks A-[Ann] quite right to think of herself rather than her Aunt Mrs. A.[Ann] W-‘s[Walker’s] unmeaning wants, and glad she is thinking of getting off – I wrote quickly and was delighted to get this copy of letter for A[Ann] off my mind – Came upstairs at 11 1/4 – Fine but dull day –

Found letter from Mrs. Gross dated the 20th inst. – Thanks for being engaged and for the guinea a week each from the 10th of May to the time of joining us allowed for their board and lodging – Will be handsome the best they can for us and her husband will go behind the carriage when required – Catherine and Christian Gross – Note from the waggon warehouse Cockerham’s to announce the arrival of the cement from Earl’s at Hull –

[symbols in the margin of the page:] + ✓c ✓c L N + ✓

[in the margin:] Leave York

[in the margin:] white appearance of the tongue

Page Reference: SH:7/ML/E/23/0030

#anne lister code breaker #anne lister #ann walker #York 1839

1 note · View note

lroth690-blog · 5 years ago

Text

A visit with Psalm1

For those saved by faith, there will always be two directions we go: away from God or to God. Ps. 1:1-2 shows that a person follows unreliable sources on one path while the real way is with the Lord. In the present age, spiritual disciplines lead us to spiritual maturity. When we prepare ourselves in advance of attacks from the evil one, the less we stray, although that isn’t guaranteed. For example, Adam and Eve spoke directly to the Lord continually in the Garden of Eden. The cunning serpent then deceives the two in Gen. 3:1-7). Whether the source of deception comes from Satan or one of his agents is not the issue. The seeds of this deception can occur in the past and continue their damage in the present. The key is that our opinions about God’s trustworthiness and whether He has our best interests don’t change during a spiritual attack. That is the crux of verse 2 in our Psalm – we are fully satisfied with the Lord’s instruction.

Timothy Clinton points out that practicing spiritual disciplines is the training required to “cultivate a secure relationship with God.” Training requires discipline to achieve the relationship we long for with God. When we allow anything else to replace God, then we enter the wrong path. Ultimately, this leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13). Remember the example in Genesis? God bans Adam and Eve from the Garden, due to their disobedience and the closeness that existed is no longer[1]. The author lists the following for “starters:” corporate worship, Bible reading, prayer, and fasting[2]. I would also add confession (in a non-liturgical sense) to this list.

Are you blessed?

Psalm 1 opens with a description of a righteous person (Ps. 1:1-2). What is a “blessed” mean? “Happiness” is often associated with the word “blessed,”[3] In this case, the concept is related to a favored individual (by divine grace). This person does not behave or live as do “wicked” people. Scripture warns about acting as the world does – as in, indistinguishable from non-believers. We are either on one path or the other. The way of the wicked can take years away from serving the Lord and bearing fruit. We can understand the Old Testament idea of blessing with selected passages:

1. Deut. 28:2 – Verses 1-6 discusses the benefits that show the Lord has a hand in the events of our lives. This passage says every necessary blessing comes to the obedient one. Again, this is the OT blessings and those for a restored Israel during the 1000-year reign of Christ.

2. Deut. 33:29 - Blessings extends to protection provided by the Lord. 1 Peter 1:3-5 echo this with a New Testament application.

3. Lastly, Ps. 32:1-2 – The forgiveness of our transgressions is the best blessing of all. Forgiveness is the Lord’s way in all dispensations.

4. This idea is also in Matt. 5:3-12. The Beatitudes are the Kingdom of Heaven focused. They describe the comfort and mercy the believers receive after the Tribulation and before the Millennium.[4] Note the shift after verse 11, indicating the trials the apostles and other missionaries would endure before the Kingdom of Heaven appearing on Earth.[5]

What causes me to choose one way instead of another?

Everybody takes advice or direction from somebody or something (social media, for example). Hopefully, this is the Lord (Matt. 16:24-26). How often do we see our friends or children change their behavior when they start hanging out a “bad element.” Enticed by something that proves that another direction is more fun or better can change the course of a vulnerable person’s life.

Once lured from the path of righteousness, that life will sometimes damage relationships with friends and family. This Psalm applies today as much as it did in the past. Wiersbe shares some insight to understand the connection between the Bible as a defense:

• We should not allow ourselves to be contaminated by the world around us (Num. 23:9; Ex. 19:5–6; Deut. 32:8–10; 33:28). John 17:11-17 echos the concept of in the world but not of the world.

• James 4:4, Rom 12:1-2, and 1 John 2:15-17 give stern warnings about friendship with the world, and an example is in James 1:27 [6]. The NT application of Psalm 1 is behavioral. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so physical separation is not as important as the mental aspect to protect believers in fellowship with the Spirit. See 2 Cor. 101-6.

Back in Ps. 1:1, the text is talking about godless people (they could be saved) luring believers away from God’s way. These attacks can come from either inside or outside the church. Today we have more venues that Satan uses to scoff at God: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, etc. What about hanging out with sinners? It stands to reason that they, too, have been seduced by the Devil’s lie and follow his pathway. What does it mean to stand in their path? The image is a walking trail that leads to a destination. When a person stands in a specific trail, the person is committed to a particular goal. That is the analogy of a person’s behavior. Hang out with sinners, and their destination becomes your destination! These sinners could be life-long friends, but are they your friends if they are guiding you to the wrong place spiritually? No. The text continues by adding the idea of sitting with those who scoff the Lord. Don’t do this.

An example of this idea of two sole directions is in Eph 4:25-5:10. This passage cites the behavior for one path, God's, looks like in practice 4:25-5:5). The last five verses of chapter 5 illustrate the lure I mentioned above. Consider also Gal. 1:6-10.

Verse two clarifies the first verse by stating what the believer should be doing. These activities should bring us extreme pleasure or satisfaction. Those that use the spiritual discipline mentioned above to seek fellowship with the Lord behave differently with those in rebellion.

Verses 3 and 4 give an agricultural contrast between the wicked and the righteous ones. The righteous are like a tree with firm roots able to weather lousy weather and droughts. These trees yield good fruit when those with weaker or exposed roots do not. With Jewish Law, prosperity would refer to the earthly realm. The new testament equivalents are the rewards we accumulate while on earth. Prosperity preachers claim we can have both physical and heavenly rewards. If you ponder this idea, why would you want something you cannot take with you to heaven? In contrast, the wicked (verse 4) don’t do anything of value on earth or heaven. Chaff is defined below:

“Loose hulls separated from the edible grains by threshing and winnowing. In Bible times, the common sight of winnowed grain remaining when the wind blew away the lighter husks gave rise to the vivid image of good people or nations surviving judgment while the wicked do not.” [7]

You see, the wicked are associated with something useless in agriculture.

No matter what happens here on earth politically, the wicked will not be the ones judging the righteous (verses 5-6). We can visit Matt. 13:30 and Isa. 2:10-21 to see that this verse refers to our future. In other words, it has not happened yet. The Psalm has already established that the wicked are chaff, useless.[8]

Footnotes:

1. Clinton, T., & Sibcy, G. (2006). Why you do the things you do: the secret to healthy relationships. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Clinton, T., & Sibcy, G. (2006). Why you do the things you do: the secret to healthy relationships. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

4. Pastor Robert L. Bolender. (n.d.). The Life of Christ (Lk 6:20–49).

5. Pastor Robert L. Bolender. (n.d.). The Life of Christ (Lk 6:20–49).

6. Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 12–13). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.

7. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Chaff. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 422). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

8. Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Ps 1:5). Galaxie Software.

1 note · View note

amandajoyce118 · 6 years ago

Text

Avengers: Endgame Easter Eggs And References

Okay, Avengers: Endgame has been out for over a week now, so I’m actually getting my Easter eggs up on time this time around instead of waiting nearly a month. That being said, if you haven’t seen the movie, there are spoilers here. So. Many. Spoilers. Do not read this if you haven’t seen the movie.

Got it? Good.

I did not include general pop culture references or, “hey, we last saw this character in this movie,” moments. Easter eggs, comic book references, and things you might have missed are what you’ll find below.

Again, SPOILERS!

The Opening Credits

When MCU movies roll their opening Marvel logo, they’ve slowly been adding the characters they’ve added to the franchise. You see images of Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Captain Marvel in the last few flips, for example. This one devotes most of the images to the core six of the Infinity Saga. Most of the images you see belong to Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man Captain America, and Thor.

Tony And Nebula

A lot of people like the opening dynamic between Tony and Nebula because it’s something different for us to watch, but there are a couple of callbacks there. While Nebula getting to win a game of “football” is cute, it’s also important because, growing up, Thanos always pit Nebula and Gamora against one another. He made them compete for everything, and despite all of her “enhancements,” Nebula always lost. In fact, those “enhancements” are a result of each time she lost at a competition, prompting Thanos to find a way to “improve” her. Also, the last of the food they have? Tony tries to share it with Nebula, but she lets him have it. Tony sharing his food is a THING in the MCU. In the first Avengers movie, Robert Downey Jr. would actually tuck bags of candy, chips, nuts, etc. into drawers on set so that he could eat between takes. Eventually, Tony just started eating snacks on camera as well. This scene is a callback to him offering food to Chris Evans on camera and it staying in the movie as Tony offering Steve a snack.

The Garden

The planet where Thanos decides to retire is called 0259-S, but Nebula calls it The Garden. That alpha numeric sequence doesn’t appear as a designation in the comics, but The Garden does exist. In the comics, a Celestial known only as The Gardener lives in the blue area of the moon where he literally tends The Garden. That’s what he’s chosen to do with his life. The power of the Time Gem is what keeps his garden thriving while he’s meant to care for it. Thanos, of course, is the one to take it from him in the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. The name for the movie is likely a nod to that aspect of the comic book story, while him “retiring” to a farm is also right out of the comics. So is the scarecrow made from his armor.

“I went for the head.”

Thor says this as a nod to Thanos telling him what he should have done when he didn’t defeat him in Infinity War. There’s also another callback to their fight later in the movie. During the huge battle sequence at the end of the movie, Thanos presses Stormbreaker into Thor’s chest just as Thor did to him in Infinity War.

Creator Cameos

During the sequence for Cap leading the support group (a nod to a piece of advice Falcon gave him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier), there are a couple of cameos. Joe Russo, one of the writers and directors, appears as the member of the group talking about his date. The man who asks him about it? That’s comic book heavyweight Jim Starlin. Starlin also gets a special thank you in the credits at the end of the film. He’s the man who created Thanos. (Sidenote: Joe Russo’s kids all have roles in the film as well. His daughter Ava even plays Hawkeye’s daughter Lila.)

5 Years Later

Not an Easter egg, but some timeline clarification here. With the five year time jump, the big confrontation takes place in 2023 as the start of the movie is very close to the events of Avengers: Infinity War, which started in 2018.

An Underwater Earthquake

When Natasha has her conference call with Rocket, Rhoadey, Carol, and Okoye, they briefly discuss an underwater earthquake near Wakanda. Okoye brushes it off, but there is an underwater nation that doesn’t particularly get along with Wakanda in the comics. Atlantis. Their leader, Namor, is not T’Challa’s biggest fan. I like to think this is a hint that he’s coming. (When Steve visits following this scene, you can also spot Natasha’s ballet slippers on a chair. Looks like she was feeling nostalgic in more ways than one.)

New Hair

Steve and Tony go back to their trimmed looks for this movie, but someone else gets a new haircut. After the five year time jump, Carol’s haircut is closer to her modern comic book look than what we’ve seen in the movies before.

616

The storage unit where all of Scott Lang’s belongings are, including the van and the rat that helps him escape the Quantum Realm, is marked as unit 616. That’s a nod to the 616 universe in the comics, the one that features the main continuity.

“...Only to make conversation.”

So, when Scott asks Steve and Natasha is they known anything about physics, Natasha gives this response, which on first blush, might sound like her being a smartass. It’s not. As a spy, she literally learned enough about subjects to sound like she understood them when meeting a target. The first target she took on in the comics? Iron Man, whom she needed a working knowledge of physics to banter with.

“...regular size man.”

Rhoadey calls Scott this as a reference to the last time they saw each other in Captain America: Civil War. Rhoadey was the one to proclaim, “tiny man is giant now.” It’s a nice call back

The Necklace

If you look closely at Natasha’s neck when they start recruiting Avengers for the time travel idea, you’ll notice she’s wearing a familiar necklace. It’s the same arrow she wore in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as a nod to Hawkeye.

Howard Stark

Tony gets to see his father in the flesh during the time travel segment of the movie, but we get a teaser for him earlier in the movie. When Tony picks up the photo of himself and Peter in his kitchen? There’s a photo of his father on the shelf as well. (Side note: when Tony asks how far along Howard’s wife is in the 70s? It’s because he’s born in May and they arrive in April.)

Morgan

Looks like Tony went ahead and named his kid Morgan just like the dream he had in Infinity War. Morgan was also Tony’s cousin in the comics. (Also, how great is Morgan playing with what becomes Pepper’s helmet? Pepper’s armor, though it isn’t named, is a recreation of her Rescue look from the comics.)

Ronin

Though the name isn’t used in the movies, the name Hawkeye goes by in the comics when he decides to start cutting down all the bad guys in his path, is Ronin. The name comes from the word to describe a samurai without a master. It literally means “wandering man,” and is portrayed in artwork by the bones of a warrior inside their samurai gear. That depiction is exactly what you’ll find in Hawkeye’s tattoo sleeve, and it’s why Black Widow finally tracks him down in Japan. It’s also fitting that his sword doesn’t look like a traditional samurai sword to me. It looks more like a bow fashioned into a sword.

Akihiko

The guy that Clint fights in Japan is based on a comic book character of the same name. In the comics, he worked for a SHIELD rival that was also a branch of the Yakuza.

Recruiting Thor

Thor only comes out once a month for supplies? Sounds like Aquaman only coming in on the King Tide to provide for the people, but I’m hoping that’s just a coincidence and not them poking fun at one of DC’s good on screen characters. The whole thing with Thor yelling at the mean kid Korg is gaming with though? Did that feel like them shouting at the guy’s living in their mom’s basement who claim to be comic book purists to anyone else? Just me?

Also, I appreciate that New Asgard is supposed to be in a Scandinavian country. I do. Tonsberg is supposedly where Odin led his people to war against the Frost Giants thousands of years ago. And it’s where the Red Skull found the Tesseract. However, this is clearly the part of the movie filmed in Scotland. Why? There’s a half empty bottle of Irn Bru (Scotland’s national soft drink, and my personal favorite) sitting on a table behind Thor through most of that sequence. I’m glad someone on set has good taste in soda.

New Asgard also existed in the comics, but as a merging of New York and Asgard when realities collided, and also as Asgard floating above Oklahoma when it fell from the sky.

Ben And Jerry’s

Does anyone remember Dr. Strange and Wong discussing the Avengers ice cream flavors in Infinity War? Looks like Bruce finally got to try some as he’s eating a Hulk-sized container of Ben and Jerry’s during the brainstorming sessions.

Budapest

Just what was the mission in Budapest? Will we ever know? It clearly made an impression on Natasha and Clint since it’s been referenced by them twice before. We also know Fury spent time there thanks to his listing of the B countries in Captain Marvel.

“That’s America’s ass.”

Someone on set knows the internet has an appreciation for Chris Evans’ ass. Who? Who knows? But someone has clearly seen the gif sets.

The Elevator

When we see Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, and Ant-Man return to 2012, not only do we get to see another point of view for The Avengers, but we get some nice callbacks. Cap in the elevator with a bunch of menacing SHIELD agents (hey, Sitwell and Rumlow who are off to give the scepter to Liszt, the same guy that got Wanda her powers!) who are actually Hydra evoked that amazing fight scene in Captain America: Winter Soldier. This time, he doesn’t knock them all out though. Instead, he gives a “hail hydra” to avoid the fight. That in itself also evokes the recent comic book storyline that featured a rewritten reality where Captain America was hydra all along.

“Lunch, then Asgard.”

Back in 2012, Thor tells Secretary Pierce they’re going to lunch before he goes home.That lunch is the Avengers shawarma post credit scene.

“I can do this all day.”

As the most iconic Captain America line at this point, I don’t have to tell you how often he’s said it. I’m sure there’s a gif set on tumblr for it.

Stan Lee

Stan gets a posthumous cameo driving a muscle car with a license plate that includes the numbers 420 while he spouts on about making love, not war. He’s clearly a hippie, and it’s not a subtle cameo. You’d only miss it if you left the theater to run to the bathroom here. You might have missed his “Nuff said” bumper sticker, which was a phrase he often used in his responses to letters to the editor.

Community Cameos

The Russo brothers like to feature actors from their other projects. In the MCU, they’ve included at least one actor from Community in all of the movies they’ve been involved in. This time, there’s two. Ken Jeong plays a security guard at the storage facility while Yvette Nicole Brown plays a SHIELD agent in the 70s.

The Terminal Beach

When Ken Jeong’s security guard pops up early in the movie, he’s reading a book instead of watching the cameras. The book he’s reading is The Terminal Beach. It’s a collection of short stories. One of those in the book had a familiar title. It’s called “End-Game.” It’s not about superheroes, but instead about a man waiting his execution.

The 70s Eggs

Speaking of the 70s, let’s get a few of the Easter eggs and references in this sequence out of the way. The military base is the same one where Steve initially trained and was chosen for the super soldier program. The name on Steve’s uniform? That’s Roscoe for Roscoe Simons, a man who took over for him in the comics, and then was promptly defeated by the Red Skull. When Steve calls Hank about a package? We see the original Ant-Man helmet on his table. It’s pretty impossible to miss. The photo of Steve on Peggy’s desk is one of the images used for the first Captain America movie, and I believe one from the file she had in Agent Carter, if I’m not mistaken. When Tony encounters his father, he’s looking for Arnim Zola, the man who programs his mind into the computers at that same military base and appears in Captain America: The Winter Soldier there. When Howard leaves, that’s James D’Arcy still playing Jarvis and acting as his driver. Jarvis appearing in the movie is the first time a character originated on an MCU TV show to cross over to the movies. It’s a small step, but one in the right direction that might mean characters from Agents of SHIELD, Runaways, or Cloak And Dagger could eventually do the same.

“Get the rabbit.”

The Asgardian guards share Thor’s belief that Rocket is a rabbit because they say this while following him when he gets the aether.

“Daughter of Ivan, son of Edith”

Edith was in fact Hawkeye’s mother in the comics. She died when he was young, leaving Clint and his brother as orphans. Ivan, on the other hand, was not exactly Natasha’s father in the comics. Instead, one story sees Ivan Petrovich as a benevolent stranger who raises Natasha as his own when a woman gives him baby Natalia Romanova from a burning building. Retconning sees that as a fabrication as Ivan was actually a soldier and agent of the Red Room who got Natasha into the program. Still another sees him as her “uncle Ivan” whom she cared for so much that she gave up her freedom, joined the Red Room, and got them both the super soldier serum to save his life. Just how that will play into the MCU remains to be seen in the upcoming Black Widow movie.

The Big Three

When Thanos lets his weapons loose on the Avengers compound, the three that go out to meet him while everyone else is scrambling are Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. These are the three tentpole franchises of the MCU. While Hulk had a solo movie, it was distributed though Universal and starred another actor. It’s a nice full circle moment for the MCU.

Captain America Is Worthy

When it seems like Thor is headed for certain doom, his hammer finds a new target - and a new person to wield it. Cap is one of the many heroes who wielded it in the comics, but the moment he catches Mjolnir is a callback to Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the movie, the Avengers take turns trying to lift the hammer, but only Cap seems to shift it, though he’s still unable to pick it up. The implication, of course, is that by the time this movie rolled around, the things he’d been through made him worthy.

Also? That shot of him all alone, ready to take on everyone? That’s an homage to the Avengers taking on Thanos in the comics. At one point, everyone else was down and out, and Cap was the only one left standing.

Captain America’s Shield

As Thanos shatters Cap’s shield during the fight, it echoes Tony’s talk of his vision earlier in the movie. There’s talk about how Tony wanted to build a suit of armor around the world, and that wish was a result of the vision Scarlet Witch put in his head in Age of Ultron. That same vision showed Cap’s shield broken in the same way it ends up broken here.

“On your left.”

We all know that this is one of the first things Sam said to Steve in The Winter Soldier, right? It’s a cute callback.

“Is that everyone?” “You wanted more?”

Dr. Strange and Wong have this exchange as the wizards stop opening portals all over the battlefield. Not only is this a nod to the sheer number of characters in the battle sequence, but likely a nod to their being more heroes out there that aren’t in the scene. After all, none of the TV heroes are visibly present.

“Avengers, assemble!”

Is this the first time Steve actually gets to say this on the big screen? He’s been cut off while saying it in the past, so I think it is, even if he gets to say it all the time in comic books.

Pegasus

Where exactly did Valkyrie get her flying horse? We saw it in the story of her past in Thor: Ragnarok, but we’ve not seen one used in the MCU lately, so while it’s a nice callback to her past, it’s an odd one.

“We’re on it, Cap.”

Wasp gets this line when Steve needs a new quantum tunnel up and running. After, she and Ant-Man share a look because he once told her only Steve’s friends call him Cap.

Instant Kill Mode

When Peter learned his suit had this in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it freaked him out, but here? Not so much. He uses it when he gets desperate.

The Ladies Of Marvel

There is a moment during the fight with Thanos where all of the female heroes on the ground manage to congregate around Peter Parker and Captain Marvel. Their aim? Protect Carol from Thanos’ army. Some cynics have called it pandering, but it makes sense. The woman, half of whom have the power to fly, have been following the glove around the field, trying to keep it out of Thanos’ hands. While the guys are still fighting, they form a team. It looks an awful lot like an A-Force team up in the comics, but it also echoes a moment in Infinity War. When Wanda is told she’s going to die alone in battle, Natasha and Okoye step up to protect her, with Natasha saying, “but she’s not alone.” At this point in the movie, Natasha is gone, but Wanda is still following her lead, protecting the other women on their team.

“If I tell you what happens, it won’t happen.”

The first time I saw the movie, I saw this as the opposite of a self fulfilling prophecy. But seeing it again, I actually think Dr. Strange was unsure if Tony would do what needed to be done if he told him the truth about their one shot. He knew to end the Thanos problem, Tony would have to snap his fingers. It makes me think Dr. Strange underestimated Tony’s commitment to saving the planet.

“I am Iron Man.”

This is Tony’s big response to Thanos, but it’s also the most iconic movie from the first Iron Man film. Why? It wasn’t even scripted. The original script had Tony keeping his Iron Man identity under wraps. During filming, Robert Downey Jr. ad libbed the admission that he was Iron Man and it stayed, changing the route of the films.

Also, Tony wielding the gauntlet he made is a nice homage to the comics, where he was actually the first human to successfully create and use one.

Captain America’s Suits

So, we see Steve wear his first Avengers suit. But, at the beginning of the movie, he’s also wearing his Winter Soldier suit. Later, he gets a brand new suit, probably courtesy of Tony. That one combines the look of his Civil War and Winter Soldier suits. But, it also adds the chain mail look that’s prevalent in the comics. So, he gets the chance to be pretty much every version of Cap we’ve seen on screen in this movie.

Harley Keener

The Avengers, their family, and Tony’s family are all present at his memorial, but so is someone else who wasn’t in the movie. The tall teenager at the back? That’s Harley from Iron Man 3, and he’s still played by Ty Simpkins. The kid had a real growth spurt that fits the timeline.

Proof That Tony Stark Has A Heart

We all remember this was a gift set on display for the Iron Man movies, yes?

Morgan Wants A Cheeseburger

Like father, like daughter. When Tony got away from the Ten Rings, he had Happy stop at Burger King on the way to his press conference because he wanted “American cheeseburgers.”

Asgardians Of The Galaxy

I know this is just Thor being Thor, but… there is a comic book team called the Asgardians of the Galaxy. Like the guardians, they travel around in a spaceship and do good deeds, but they’re all from Asgard.

“You’re taking all the stupid with you.”

In the first Captain America movie, Bucky Barnes went to war without his best friend. He told Steve not to do anything stupid until he got back. The above line was Steve’s response. Their roles (and lines) are reversed when Steve travels through time to return some Infinity Stones and Mjolnir to their rightful points in history.

Captain Sam

When the elder Steve Rogers returns to his departure point in the timeline, he does it with a new shield, and passes it on to Sam Wilson. In the comics, an older Captain America who had the super soldier serum removed from his blood did the same thing. Sam even had his own Captain America comic series for a while. (Other heroes who have been Captain America in the comics include Bucky Barnes, Sharon Carter, and Peggy Carter, in case you’re wondering.)

“It’s been a long, long time.”

Could the song title be more fitting for Steve and Peggy? And yes, this is a branched timeline. And yes, the song has been used in the MCU before, in The Winter Soldier.

The Clang

Post credit scenes are an MCU tradition, but this movie doesn’t have one. Instead, it has a clang. That noise is the sound of hammer hitting metal. Specifically, the sound of Tony’s hammer hitting metal when he created his very first Iron Man suit in the 2008 film, signalling the end of an era here instead of the beginning of one.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got! Tell me if I managed to miss anything.

#avengers endgame #endgame spoilers #endgame easter eggs #marvel easter eggs #mcu

17 notes · View notes

forme-iwrite · 7 years ago

Text

Elia Martell: Ladies in waiting

part 2/2: North

I believe Elia was trying to have at least one companion from each of the regions in Westeros. I also believe that the ladies had to be connected to important and powerful houses if they were planning to take the throne from Aerys. We know two of Queen Rhaella ladies, Joanna Lannister and the Princess Of Dorne, who are both in a sense rulers of their regions. From the ladies Margaery has and the two Rhaella is known to have we can assume that the companions can vary in ages and don’t have to be the same age as Elia. If Elia had lived longer she would have added more prominent ladies or switched some. She might have asked Catelyn Tully who was betrothed to the heir of the North and who was the Lady of Riverrun until she married Ned, so she had a lot of power over the Riverlands because her father Hoster was the Warden of the land. She might have also considered Lysa Tully and Lyanna Stark. Lyanna might have been considered because of her betrothal to Robert Baratheon the lord paramount of the Stormlands and being the daughter of Lord Stark the ruler in the North, though after what happened in Harrenhal I doubt Elia would ask her. She might have also asked Cersei after a while though I doubt her or Tywin would accept, them being too proud and Jamie being a kingsguard. This is just my personal list of ladies for Elia. Which I wanted to give names and backgrounds to.

Jeyne Darry

Riverlands: The Darry

She is from a prominent house in the riverlands. They were said to be a powerful house before Robert's rebellion. It is also stated they were very loyal to the Targaryens, even now they still have portraits of the Targaryens hanging in their castle. Willem and Jonothor Darry were in service at the Red keep, one being a kingsguard the other master-at-arms, both had a good relationship with Rhaegar. Her sister Mariya is married to Merrett Frey, the ninth son of Lord Walder Frey. She was also either soon betrothed (more likely) or married to Cleos Frey when Elia asked her to be one of her ladies. This is important because it ties her to the Freys and the Lannisters (Cleos being Genna’s son) giving Elia access to two strong houses.

I believe she was born in or around 268A.C. due to Cleos age and her kids age.

Personal headcanon: She came to the Red keep when she was eight because her mother passed away and she was left in the care of her uncle Willem. Mariya being older was already married and did not want to be left in charge, besides I doubt Walder Frey would allow it, he was trying to get rid of kids not bring more in. She was ten/eleven when Elia met her and asked her to be one of her ladies. She liked using a spear and dagger, and she was well skilled, due to the fact that both of her uncles were incredible fighters (How else are they a kingsguard and master-at-arms). Elia grows to think of her as a little sister, something that started because of Jeynes preference in the dornish weapons. Elia had a hand in Cleos being the Frey she is betrothed to, though she makes it seem like it was Mariya's idea.

Leyla Hightower

The Reach: Oldtown

She is from the oldest house in the Reach. The Hightowers are a prominent and powerful house. Her sister Alerie is married to the heir of Highgarden Mace Tyrell. We know Rhaegar and Aerys were at odds and Rhaegar was planning some way to take the crown. She would be useful in sending letters between Rhaegar/Elia and those houses without causing suspicion. The Reach was loyal to the Targaryens during the rebellion. Leyla could be one of the reasons the stayed loyal until the “bitter end” according to Kevan Lannister. Elia met Leyla when she was on her betrothal trip in 273A.C. Oldtown is a major port and has the citadel something that would interest both Elia and Rhaegar. Her great uncle was Gerold Hightower the lord commander of the Kingsguard.

I place her birth in or around 267A.C because she is Lord Leytons sixth child and I personally place Baelor around 256A.C. Also Leyton has had four wives.

Personal headcanon: Leyla is a bookworm like her father and it is something both her and Elia share. She is the only child born from her mother, Leytons second wife. Her mother is not from the seven kingdoms but was born somewhere in Essos. Elia was originally going to ask Alerie to be one of her ladies because of her stronger influence on the Reach but Willas and Garlan were both still too young to be without a mother by their side according to Elia (Elias own mother having been a lady to Rhaella and not spending a lot of time with her children). Elia becomes very fond of Leyla. Ashara Dayne and Leyla do not get along due to their house history.

Shyra Errol

Stormlands: Haystack Hall

Comes from a prominent house in the stormlands. As far as we know she inherited Haystack Hall so either her brothers died or she didn't have any, so she was an heir or lady to an important house (she also kept her name over her husbands). She is one of the few ladies we know in the stormlands with a name and she was alive during Robert's rebellion. After Robert dies she does not choose to remain loyal to his son the new king (nobody knows that he's Jaimes yet) but declares for Renly. Her loyalty does not lay with the Lannisters or Robert and maybe it's because she was one of Elias ladies. Renly was too young to blame for what Robert did during the sack in king's landing.

I do not have a year of birth for her but I believe she was significantly older than Elia. She has a son who is a knight, so he was at least fifteen, and she implied to have passed away during the parley at the walls of Storm’s End in “A Clash of Kings”. I personally believe it might be due to old age. Maybe around 238 A.C.

Personal headcanon: Shyra is a great at needle work and loves making dresses. Her and Elia are not extremely close due to their age gap but she does give her great advice when she thinks she needs it. When Rhaenys is born Shyra makes her a beautiful blanket that has a dragon circling a large sun. She is also really glad that Nymella Toland brought her daughters to court because now her son Sebastian will have playmates. She also makes a blanket for Aegon and gets really mad at Rhaegar when he leaves so soon after Aegon's birth.

Darlessa Marbrand

Westerlands: Ashemark/Casterly Rock

House Marbrand is one of the main noble houses in the West. She is married to Tygett Lannister brother to the Warden of the West. She is also related to the Lannisters because their mother was a Marbrand. Elia probably knew about Tywin’s plan to marry Cersei to the Targaryens and wanted to have leverage against him incase he decided to do something extreme. According to Genna, Tygett had a rivalry with Tywin and probably encouraged his wife to accept Elias offer, seeing it as an upper hand with the royal family that Tywin seemed to be losing. It might also explain why Tywin did not immediately side with the rebels. Though I know he was probably also waiting to see who had a better chance of winning the war. It would also explain why he came into kings landing under a peace banner, so they could safely get to Darlessa and any other highborns without Aerys harming them.

She was probably born at latest in 273 A.C because her son Tyrek was born in 286 A.C and she would at least need to be 13. I personally believe she was born around 251 A.C. I do not like the idea of her having a kid that young and 251 makes her around the same age as her husband who was born in 250 A.C.

Personal headcanon: She is very proud as most of the ladies of the West seem to be but she also has a humorous side. While Tywin is still hand and has Cersei in the Red Keep she divides her time between Elia and her. She loves her husband dearly because he is more kind hearted then his older brothers and doesn’t mind showing affection. She likes watching Tygett practice in the training yard and Elia and the rest of the ladies usually join her and place bets and gossip. She is only five years older than Elia and they don't have the greatest relationship at first, Elia thinks Darlessa has a stick up her butt, but once they move their court to Dragonstone Darlessa becomes more carefree. She refuses to talk to her husband after the sack of king's landing when she finds out what happens to Elia and the children, and it takes even longer before she can even look at Tywin.

Rhonda Rowan

The Reach: Goldengrove

The Rowans are one of the oldest and most prominent houses in the reach. They control the Reach’s north border so they are also very powerful and could have chosen to remain neutral like Tywin. They also chose to go against Joffrey. Though it is stated that the current lord of Goldengrove is very loyal to his liege lord. I believe that Shyra is his sister because the daughter he is said to have seems to young to have been alive during Robert's rebellion or way to young to be one of Elia’s ladies. Again like Shyra she is one of the few ladies in the Reach who is given a name and is alive during that time. Also I am just trying to find possible ladies for Elia, I know some might be a stretch.

I place her birth in 257A.C because she is married to Baelor hightower who I place around 256A.C. This also makes her the same age as Elia.

Personal headcanon: Rhonda likes to garden and had a little one at Goldengrove. When they move to Dragonstone she helps Elia fix Aegon’s garden since the castellan had neglected it. She is also loves books and gets along with Leyla. Elia helps set up her betrothal to Baelor, who she still writes letters to.

The following ladies are not characters that are stated in asoiaf but their is a possibility that they might have existed. The Lords Velaryon and Gafton are stated and might have had daughters or sisters or wives. These characters also give reason as to why one of their relatives might have been a lady to Elia.

“Elaena” Velaryon

Dragonstone: Driftmark

We know that the Lord of Driftmark during Aery’s reign was Lucerys Velaryon. Lucerys was master of ships and was probably in Aery’s court in king’s landing. Since not much is stated about Lucerys and his family or what happened to them after Robert’s Rebellion I gave him a daughter. It is stated that Lucerys was a big supporter of Aerys over Rhaegar. Elia could have asked “Elaena” to be one of her ladies to keep him from doing anything too drastic towards Rhaegar's position as heir. Also Driftmark and house Velaryon are prominent and wealthy. They are also the closest house to Dragonstone and they also come from valyrian descent.

“Elaena” Velaryon is a character of my making so I can make her any age I choose. I choose to place her birth around 269A.C, because she would still be too young to be betrothed or married and it's the age the westerosi start fostering their kids, making it harder for Lucerys to say no to Elia’s invitation. Also what offer is better than being in the company of the future queen.

Personal headcanon: “Elaena” is very close to both Jeyne and Leyla due to them all being around the same age. Being born on an island she is a very good swimmer and loves going to the beach in Dragonstone and collecting shells. When Elia falls pregnant she goes and looks for rare shells and brings them to her as a gift. She claims to have seen a seahorse which neither Jeyne nor Leyla believe. Out of all the northern ladies she is the most excited when Elia takes them to Dorne. She whispers to Elia that she loves her and is glad she choose her as a lady in waiting when Elia gives in and takes her to the pools in the Water Gardens though she is a year or two older than the kids playing in the pools. ( Areo Hotah says the smallest child is 5 and the oldest 10 in one of his chapters). She stays in Dragonstone when Elia is called back to King’s landing and is there for the birth of Daenerys. It is said the Targaryen fleet was in Dragonstone during Danys birth, so Lucerys being master of ships was probably there with his daughter.

“Alys” Grafton

Vale of Arryn: Gulltown

House Gafton is a noble house in the Vale. They rule a main port and big city so they are probably also wealthy. Marq Grafton was Lord of Gulltown during the time of Aerys II. When Jon Arryn called his banners Marq remained loyal to Aerys. This might be because he believed in Rhaegar/Aerys or because he had a wife in service to Elia. He tried to stop Jon from leaving the Vale but was killed by Robert Baratheon. He is the only lord in the Vale who we know of that remained loyal to Aerys. “Alys” would be an option because I believe Elia was trying to have someone from all the regions in Westeros and “Alys” is someone who would have been alive during Robert's Rebellion and belonged to a powerful house in the Vale.

I do not a specific age for her though I imagine she was slightly older than Elia but still considered young because I think Marq was young and impulsive and that is why he decided it would be a good idea to try to stop Jon Arryn without much help. Maybe 252A.C making her only five years older than Elia and around 31 during the rebellion.

Personal headcanon: “Alys” is one of the few ladies who actually prefers King’s landing over Dragonstone because she is used to living in a city. She loves to gossip which gets her in trouble a lot. She prefers cold weather and hates the heat in Dorne. She likes going to the Ships and hearing the stories the sailors tell, and likes retelling them to Rhaenys and the rest of the children at court.

“Melisa” Whent

Riverlands: Harrenhal

We know that during the tourney at Harrenhal Lord Walter Whent and Lady Shaella had a daughter who was considered a fair maid. It is speculated that Rhaegar provided the money for the tourney so it can be assumed that Walter knew about Rhaegar's plan to remove Aerys from the throne and supported Rhaegar. House Whent was a Targaryen ally. Oswell Whent was a Kingsguard to Aerys. “Melisa” was probably made one of Elia’s ladies as a thank you for their support. They could clearly be trusted by Rhaegar/Elia in such a big plan.

“Melisa” is considered a fair maid so she is at least thirteen at the time of the tourney. I am going to make her fifteen so it would place her birth around 266 A.C

Personal headcanon: “Melisa” wasn't made one of Elia’s companions until after the tourney. She has red hair as most Whents are known to have. She and Elia share the same sense of humor and when “Melisa” finds something hilarious her face turns as red as her hair. She is surprised to find how small all the castles are compared to Harrenhal. It takes her a while to bond with the other ladies because most of them have been with Elia since she came to King’s Landing. She develops a crush on one of the dornish knights in Elia’s service, Myria Jordayne finds it amusing and teases “Melisa” about it.

#elia martell #asoiaf #asoiaf meta #elias ladies #mdrwrites

20 notes · View notes

oh-my-otome · 7 years ago

Note

I’m currently being taken down by the flu 😷 how would the MidCin suitors take care of an MC who is feeling REALLY awful?

Hello, Precious!

The flu is the worst! I hope that you feel better soon! Rest when you can and drink lots of water!

Rayvis is in the zone making you a light soup from scratch, while you sleep. Although he hasn’t cooked much, he found that his feet brought him to the kitchen anyway, upon hearing that you were ill.

He shoos the staff out and gets to work spreading out the freshly-washed vegetables on the cutting board so that he can make you something delicious to help you feel better.

Alyn supports your weight in the crook of his arm as you sit up in bed and settle against him. When you go to take a bite of the rice porridge he’s made for you, he insists on feeding it to you, himself.

He blows gently on the spoonful of porridge, still warm from the pot, and holds it within reach of your mouth. After a few bites, he eases you back against the pillows, and pulls up a chair as close to the bed as he can get. Sitting by your side, he continues to watch over you with a gentle look, as you rest.

Nico comes bursting into the room, frantic that your condition has gotten worse every time he leaves the room to get you another cool glass of water.

You don’t have the strength to outright laugh at his good-natured cuteness, but the smile you do manage helps him to realize that you’re okay.

As you take a sip of water, Nico’s right there with a handkerchief, softly pressing the corners of your lips even if nothing’s spilled. As the day goes on, he continues watching over you with a diligent eye, making sure that you have everything that you need.

Robert heard that you were feeling unwell, but instead of going to see you right away, he stepped outside. When he returns, he’s carrying a bundle of flowers in each arm, and you recognize them from the cutting garden by the palace fountain.

He chats away, arranging a colorful bouquet for you in your nearby vase, keeping up the conversation by himself since he knows that your throat feels a little scratchy.

Byron takes a few days off to care for you personally. He’s not often sick, himself, and he’s never taken care of a sick person before, but he checks in with the maids every now and then to ask for advice on what to do.

Finding it much easier than he thought, Byron can hardly remember what he was so nervous about, and by the end of the day he’s gotten down a routine.

Feeling accomplished, Byron fluffs your pillows one last time, and draws the covers up over your shoulders. Changing his clothes himself, he climbs in next to you and settles you in the circle of his arms.

Sid all but threw his paperwork at Giles, nearly missing the desk as he slammed down his reconnaissance notes. He tears down the hall, skidding to a stop near your room. With a deep breath, he resets, hoping that he’s opening the door somewhat normally, and that the look on his face is a placid mask of unaffected nonchalance.

You can tell by his gait that he wants to run right up to you, but is holding himself back. As he walks up to you stiffly, the most you can do is offer him a lopsided knowing smile. You won’t tease him today, although you do think about it.

Sitting on the edge of your bed, Sid’s large hand comes down with a gentle pat over your warm forehead and you snuggle into the coolness of his palm.

Moving his hand down to caress your cheek, you feel the softness of his lips press briefly against yours as he sighs out his request: for you to tell him everything you need, because he’s at your service until you feel better.

Leo is anxiously drumming his fingers as he waits impatiently to get out of his meeting. With his eyes shifting to the window every few minutes, he comforts himself in knowing that if he doesn’t see a flash of color fly past, then Sebastian must not have anything to report and all is well.

As soon as his meeting is over, Leo all but trips the other bureaucrats on his way to race out of the door, and he’s down the hall like a shot as he speeds to your room.

He opens your door as quietly as possibly, and is relieved to see Sebastian still watching over you from where he sits on the headboard. Leo changes out your tea for a fresh cup, and by the time he comes back, you’re up.

You sip at your tea here and there, making small talk while he gives you a sponge bath and helps you into a new nightgown. Any other time, there would be a pleasantly teasing undercurrent to his intentions, but right now all he wants is to make you as comfortable as possible.

Giles has everything that you could possibly need nearby, before you can even ask. All you did was look toward the window, and Giles is already up and cracking it open. You cleared your throat and he’s handing you a glass of water like it’s second nature.

You tell him that you’ll repay him for his kindness, but he smiles instead. Pressing feather-light kisses to your temple, he shushes you, telling you that he’s not doing this for what he can get out of it, but because he loves you.

Albert knows, fundamentally, that he’s probably setting himself up to be sick next, by being all up on you, but he can’t help but want to snuggle you when you’re not feeling well.

With the chills that you keep having, it feels so good to be that close to him– so safe and warm –that when he tucks your head against his chest, you settle right in.

While you try to get comfortable enough to fall asleep, Albert rubs your back with slow, smooth up and down strokes, easing the tightness out of your sore muscles.

At times, he hums a little– a low and melodic purr that you’re not quite sure he realizes he’s doing. The sound of it, combined with the warmth radiating from him, helps lull you into the rest that your body needs.

Louis runs you a warm bath, but doesn’t stop at just carrying you in. He washes you normally, with none of the usual playful exploration that bathing with you brings out in him.

Once you’re dry and clothed, he fluffs the blankets around you, propping you up on as many pillows as you like before he leaves the room.

He comes back a few minutes later, nudging the door open with his foot, because his arms are full of books and board games that he borrowed from Leo.

Louis pushes over a chair and gets comfy by your bedside, entertaining you with games and stories to help cheer you up.

#q&a #midnight cinderella

69 notes · View notes