#susannah moran

[biggsodorcitystories]

Captain Zero, Sir, fellas, I want you to meet my eldest daughter, Susannah!

Zebedee and his and Edward's eldest daughter, Susannah. Though she has inherited much of her looks from Edward, she is a harbour tug and worked at Cammell Laird in Liverpool/Birkenhead, much as Zebedee did, and has been sent as part of a potential expansion to Bigg City. The existing relationships between the Cammell Laird tugs and Zebedee is something that Captain Zero would want to exploit as much as possible to serve his own interests, but would they let him?

[scifipinups]

Doctor! Doctor!

When it comes to parts for women in sci-fi, I may be starting to pick up on a pattern here...

Kyra Zagorsky as Dr Julia Walker in Helix

Gates McFadden as Dr Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Shannon Kenny as Dr Claire Keeply in The Invisible Man (2000)

Kari Matchett as Dr Mariel Underlay in Invasion (2005)

Kim Cattrall as Dr Sheila Moran in Invasion (1997)

Deanna Russo as Dr Sarah Graiman in Knight Rider (2008)

Carla Gugino as Dr Molly Anne Caffrey in Threshold

Maria del Mar, Alexandra Wilson, Gay Thomas Wilson as, respectively, Dr Haylen Breslauer, Dr Dru Breslauer and Dr Rema Cook in Mercy Point

Fiona Gaunt as Dr Helen Smith in Moonbase 3

Lee Meriwether as Dr Ann MacGregor in The Time Tunnel

Yvonne Craig as Dr Marjorie Bolan in Mars Needs Women

Diana Muldaur as Dr Katherine Pulaski in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Susannah Harker as Dr Angela Marsh in Ultraviolet

Lynda Mason Green as Dr Suzanne McCullough in War of the Worlds (1988)

Lois Chiles as Dr Holly Goodhead in Moonraker

Jess Bush and Dr Christine Chapel in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Alison Pill as Dr Agnes Jurati in Star Trek: Picard

Carmen du Sautoy as Dr Gentian Foster in Astronauts

Debra Messing as Dr Sloan Parker in Prey

Helen Shaver as Dr Rachel Corrigan in Poltergeist: The Legacy

Denise Richards as Dr Christmas Jones in The World is Not Enough

Hermione Norris as Dr Stella Isen in The Outcasts

Gretchen Corbett as Dr Maggie Sheridan in Jaws of Satan

Felicity Huffman as Dr Nancy Da Silva The X-Files 'Ice'

Louise Jameson as Dr Anne Reynolds in The Omega Factor

Vivian Wu as Dr Lu Wang in Away

Christina Wolf as Dr Cat Brandice in The Ark

Yvette Mimiuex as Dr Kate McCrae in The Black Hole

Saffron Burrows as Dr Susan McCallister in Deep Blue Sue

Kirstie Alley as Dr Susan Verner in Village of the Damned

And that's only the first 30! Stay tuned for the next installment!

[ulkaralakbarova]

Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife, finds herself increasingly compelled to consume dangerous objects. As her husband and his family tighten their control over her life, she must confront the dark secret behind her new obsession. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Hunter Conrad: Haley Bennett Richie Conrad: Austin Stowell Katherine Conrad: Elizabeth Marvel Michael Conrad: David Rasche Erwin William: Denis O’Hare Lucy: Luna Lauren Velez Alice: Zabryna Guevara Luay: Laith Nakli Aaron: Babak Tafti Bev: Nicole Kang Nurse: Myra Lucretia Taylor Dr. Santos: Maya Days Jill: Alyssa Bresnahan Nim: Olivia Perez Lillian: Kristi Kirk Dr. Reyes: Elise Santora Film Crew: Director: Carlo Mirabella-Davis Editor: Joe Murphy Director of Photography: Katelin Arizmendi Assistant Location Manager: Lauren Andrade Associate Producer: Gregory Horoupian Producer: Mynette Louie Producer: Frédéric Fiore Co-Executive Producer: Katy Drake Bettner Associate Producer: Adam Kersh Background Casting Director: Olivia Crist Producer: Mollye Asher Producer: Carole Baraton Assistant Editor: Henry Butash Original Music Composer: Nathan Halpern Colorist: Sam Daley Visual Effects Supervisor: Alex Noble Foley Artist: Leslie Bloome Foley Mixer: Ryan Collison Foley Artist: Joanna Fang Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Kurihara First Assistant Director: Jake Martin Makeup Department Head: Kai Stamps Hair Department Head: Meagan Coyle Costume Design: Liene Dobrāja Production Design: Erin Magill Executive Producer: Haley Bennett Executive Producer: Joe Wright Executive Producer: Constantin Briest Executive Producer: Yohann Comte Executive Producer: Pierre Mazars Executive Producer: Eric Tavitian Executive Producer: Sam Bisbee Co-Executive Producer: David Boies III Co-Executive Producer: David Stone Co-Executive Producer: Julie Parker Benello Casting: Allison Twardziak Music Supervisor: Joe Rudge Line Producer: Javier Gonzalez Second Assistant Director: Brian Johanson Still Photographer: Anna Kooris Gaffer: Lorenzo Pace Leadman: Jake Harms Set Decoration: Frank Baran Property Master: Luke Carr Script Supervisor: Jodi Domanic Special Effects Supervisor: Pete Gerner First Assistant Camera: Vincent Weiler Second Assistant Camera: Emma Penrose Digital Imaging Technician: Jake Westphal Production Sound Mixer: Dan Bricker Boom Operator: Finn Pfeffer Additional Production Sound Mixer: Viktor Weiszhaupt Assistant Costume Designer: Celeste Montalvo Best Boy Electric: Anna Cocuzzo Key Grip: Alexander Prokos Best Boy Grip: Nick Neary Hairstylist: Kristin Nawrocki Location Manager: Lauren B. Taylor Casting Associate: Juliet Axon Production Manager: Maggie Ambrose Production Accountant: Jay Britton Production Accountant: Margret P. Dunlap Assistant Editor: Susannah Kalb ADR Recordist: Chris White Foley Editor: Nick Seaman Foley Editor: Laura Heinzinger Music Coordinator: Blake Jessee Additional Music Supervisor: Laura Katz Compositing Artist: Dulany Foster IV Set Dresser: Linnea Crabtree Art Department Assistant: Tommy Mitchell Art Department Assistant: Dan Normile Art Department Assistant: Bruno Vernaschi-Berman Art Department Assistant: Michael Allegro Script Supervisor: Abe Kemmis Costumer: Kelsey Sasportas Makeup Artist: Rosie Sklar Makeup Artist: Tracey Hussey Makeup & Hair: Lia Parks Second Second Assistant Director: Mike Moran Craft Service: Zola Zimmerman Craft Service: Mauricio Villalobos Craft Service: Joe Facey Post Production Supervisor: Javian Ashton Le Additional Music: Chris Ruggiero Thanks: Stewart Thorndike Movie Reviews: liena: I sadly missed the chance to watch Swallow on the theatre when it hit a film festival in İstanbul while I was there, but I’ve been keeping an eye on this movie since it wrapped and I talked non-stop about how much I wanted to be able to see it. Now that I finally saw it on VOD, I heard there is a possibility for it to re-run in cinemas in Turkey soon and I will certainly go see it again. This film made me sick, I hated every scene while it rolled but at the same time I fell in love with it. So well acted, extremely pretty to...

[sbvrkes-blog]

susannah burke had an impeccable memory. she could recall little tidbits about people she might possibly have only interacted with a few times in her whole life, visualize poignant moments throughout the years down to the most minuscule of details. it was somewhat of a blessing and a curse when it meant she could remember the good, and the very, very bad. somewhere in BETWEEN the two lie her memories of melusine moran, a woman she’d met in her time at university in london. what stuck out most about her in susannah’s mind was that, unlike with others who had come and gone in her life, there had been no definite and remarkable end to whatever sort of relationship they’d once had. though the woman whom she’d once fondly called friend, addressed by the soft nickname ‘mel’, had faded from susannah’s life ( and susannah had likewise faded from hers ), she had HARDLY faded from the psychologist’s mind ( and heart ). 

it had been a mutual understanding, in some way –– though never uttered aloud, they’d both permitted space to grow between them until there was no coming back together. nothing had happened –– and that was the PROBLEM, susannah knew regretfully. she had come to care more for mel than just as a friend, and perhaps, deep down she’d known mel had felt the same. but neither of them had been able to breach that boundary, for each their own reasons, and they had come to quietly decide that letting go without a fight was better than bringing a painful, tangible end to what they had. though susannah did not think back on it every day, it remained a permanent reminder of what her inability to express her feelings after her mother’s death did to her life. in no way way had she found peace with the hard choice both she and her friend had made. 

running into her at the new year’s eve yacht party had been a surprise and a half for susannah, who hadn’t heard from the woman since she’d invited her to her wedding several years back. that engagement had been called off, as she’d found out, and to this day she hadn’t settled on how to feel about it. it had been a while since that, and then there she was, almost as if she’d stepped right out of susannah’s memories of her and the psychologist had done what she always did –– she set aside her own feelings to help someone else. it was only after the issue of her stained dress had the two women been able to acknowledge the STRANGE situation of being in each other’s lives again by total happenstance, and next thing she knew, susannah was taking a trip to mornington crescent books. it was funny, it had all begun in a bookshoppe, and now she feared in the deep pit of her stomach that it would end the same way. would mel want closure? to finally voice the end of it all years after susannah had accepted it, endured the heartbreak of it? the bell on the door gave a little jingle as she stepped inside, her movements tentative. 

@melusinemcran

[lifejustgotawkward]

365 Day Movie Challenge (2018) - #121: The Feels (2017) - dir. Jenée LaMarque (52 Films by Women 2018: #30)

The romantic dramedy The Feels (available to stream on Netflix) is the second directorial effort by Jenée LaMarque, who showed promise with her previous film, the Zoe Kazan project The Pretty One. Like that earlier work, The Feels is woman-centric both in front of and behind the camera; the film’s crew features a female co-screenwriter (Lauren Parks), cinematographer (Kristin Fieldhouse), editor (Steph Zenee Perez), production designer (Susannah Honey), costume designer (Emily Moran) and several producers. Onscreen, the plot focuses on a lesbian couple, Andi (Constance Wu) and Lu (Angela Trimbur), who are preparing to get married and are attending their own bachelorette party when Lu accidentally lets slip that she has never experienced an orgasm.

As Andi and Lu deal with the ramifications of Lu’s revelation, the friends and family members in attendance struggle to lend keep the weekend from falling apart. This includes Nikki (Jenée LaMarque), Lu’s flaky older sister who is trying to keep her impending divorce a secret; Josh (Josh Fadem), Andi’s oldest friend since childhood and a guy who has been in love with Andi for his whole life; Vivien (Lauren Parks), who has a crush on Josh; Kárin (Kárin Tatoyan), a famous singer-songwriter; and, my favorite of all the characters, “Regular Helen” (Ever Mainard), a chef who met Lu in culinary school. Helen has a frankness to her that is refreshing and delightful, particularly in the ways she delivers lines and physical gestures.

The party group contends with one rollercoaster of emotion after another, whether it is Andi’s feeling of betrayal at discovering that Lu has faked all her orgasms or the two romantic encounters between other friends that happen before the party concludes. The characters’ hipster tendencies occasionally make them seem too obnoxious to care about, but LaMarque keeps the story entertaining throughout and the acting is uniformly good, especially by Wu, Trimbur, Mainard and LaMarque herself. One hopes that the future of American cinema will give us more and even better films by/about/for women that discuss female sexuality and LGBTQ+ relationships with the same openness and humor.

[georgiapioneers]

Chatham Co. NC Genealogies and Histories #northcarolinapioneers

Images of Chatham County Wills and Estates

Chatham County was established in 1771 from Orange County, having been named for William Pitt in 1759, the first Earl of Chatham. It was Pitt who served as the British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies. The earliest known settlers were Quakers from England who settled along the Haw and Eno rivers. In 1907, parts of Chatham County and Moore County were combined to form Lee County. The county seat is in Pittsboro, North Carolina and Chatham County is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill area.Among the first settlers were the families of Armistead, Alston, Dodd, Kemp, Edwards, Womack, Brewer, Lambeth, Taylor, Fooshee, Waddell, and Patrick.Chatham County Probate Records available to members of North Carolina Pioneers Images of Wills and Estates 1798 to 1819 Alston, James to Phillip Alston (deed) | Babb, Moses | Bagley, , Henry | Barbe, Goin | Bennett, , James | Bishop, Richard | Booker, John | Booth, Moses | Branch, Edmond | Branch, Edmund | Brantly, John | Brantley, Joseph | Brasington, Joseph | Braxton, Thomas | Bray, , Henry | Brewer, Jeremiah Brooks, Thomas | Brown, Daniel | Brown, Joseph | Brown, Nancy | Bryant, Elizabeth | Bryant, Obediah | Bullard, , James | Burnett, Alexander | Burns, John Sr. | Bynum, Luke | Carniss, Matthew | Carrell, Starling | Carter, Samuel | Cate, Richard | Chapman, David | Collen, John | Cook, Abraham | Cook, , Henry | Cook, John M. | Copeland, , James | Coskatt, John | Cotton, Seth | Cox, William | Crow, John | Crutchfield, Martin | Culberson, Andrew. | Culberson, Samuel | Dabney, John and Thomas Perkins to William Vestal | Dark, Joseph Sr. | David, Richard | Davis, John | Denton, , James | Doan, John | Dorsett, Travis Douglas, John | Dowd, Judith | Dowd, Richard | Dowdy, Thomas | Duffy, William | Duly, William | Edwards, William | Emerson, Margret | Evans, Ruth | Farrar, John | Farrar, Milly | Ferrington, John | Fooshee, Joseph | Fooshee, Simon | Fuller, , Henry | Futterlok, Elizabeth | Gillimore, Samuel | Glasson, Joseph | Glover, Benjamin | Glover, Thomas | Goodwin, Gideon | Gotarton, William | Grady, Thomas | Granger, Thomas | Graves, William | Guthrie, William | Hadley, Joshua Sr. | Hall, John | Haynes, Andrew. | Headin, John | Henderson, Angeline | Hines, Boling | Hinson, James from Sarah Ronalds | Hinton, Joseph | Hobson, Joseph | Holaday, , Henry | Hollowell, Reubin | Hunter, Elisha | Hurley, Amos | Jenks, Joseph | Jones, Elizabeth | Kinchen, Alexander | Kirby, , James | Kirk, George | Lacy, Ann | Lacy, Philemon Sr. | Lea, Joseph | Leavens, Richmond | Ledbetter, William | Lucas, George | Lucas, William | Marley, Benjamin | Marsh, Robert | Marshall, Benjamin | Marshall, John | Martin, Clementine | Martin, George | Martin, William | Martin, Zachariah | Massey, , James | Matthews, Clybron | May, Joseph | McDaniel, John | McIver, Duncan | McManus, Lawrence | McSwan, John | Meacham, William Sr. | Medlin, Michael | Milliken, Quinton | Minter, John Sr. | Moffit, Hugh | Montgomery, John | Moody, William | Moon, , James | Moon, John | Morgan, Joseph | Odean, Thomas | Pace, Richard | Parker, Robert | Parish, Davis | Parrish, Robert | Partridge, Sarah | Patterson, , James | Pattmon, Mark | Pearce, Richard | Peoples, Hugh Piggott, John | Pike, Lydia | Pilkinton, John | Poe, Robert | Poe, William | Powers, David | Powers, John | Prince, Nicholas | Pritchet, Thomas | Purvis, Robert | Pyle, John | Ragland, Thomas to James Alston (deed) | Ratcliff, John | Rayland, William | Reynolds, Florence | | Ritch, Jacob | Rives, Seley | Rives, Thomas | Rogers, Josiah | Rogers, William | Rows, John | Self, Parish | Sellars, , James | Smith, John | Smith, William | Springfield, John | Staley, Christian | Stinson, Aaron | Stokes, Thomas to Obediah Bryant | Stone, Francis | Straughan, Richard | Tabor, Thomas | Teague, Bunsby | Teague, Moses | Temples, William | Thompson, John | Tomblinson, John | Tripp, John | Uttey, William | Vestal, Thomas | Vestal, William | Wade, Edmond | Ward, Rachel | Whinnery, Robert | White, John | White, John (2) | White, Katherine White, Thomas | Whitehead, Arthur | Whitehead, Joseph | Wilkins, Alexander | Williams, A. | Williams, Burwell Williams, John | Willis, William | Willson, Michael | Wilson, Rebecca | Winter, Daniel | Wistray, Benjamin | Womack, John Sr. | Womble, , James | Womble, Thomas Wills and Estates 1818 to 1833Armistead, Alexander | Atkinson, John A. | Atkinson, John | Avent, John | Avent, July Ann | Barbee, Betsy | Barbie, Gray | Beasley, Elizabeth | Bell, Thomas | Bland, John | Booker, , James | Branson, Joseph | Branson, Levi | Brantly, William | Branton, William | Brewer, Samuel | Brewer, Solomon | Brooks, Isaac Buchannan, Elizabeth | Buckanon, Sarah | Buckner, Jesse Burns, Thomas | Burns, William | Bush, Mary | Cate, Richard | Caveness, Matthew Cole, Elizabeth | Cole, Thomas | Cole, William Sr. | Copeland, Mark | Cotten, Rhoderick | Curl, William | Denny, Anderson Dismukes, George | Dixon, George | Dixon, Nathan Dixon, Sarah | Dixon, Solomon | Dixon, Thomas | Dodd, William | Edwards, , James | Edwards, Joshua Sr. | Fann, Rachel | Farrar, Peter | Farrar, William | Fooshee, Happy | Fooshee, Joseph | Fields, , James | Garner, , James | Gillam, William | Glass, Josiah | Glass, William | Gunter, Richard | Guthrie, Cleburn | Hackary, William | Hadley, Jane | Hamblett, William | Harris, Benjamin | Henderson, John | Hinshaw, Joseph | Hinsley, William | Hobson, Stephen | Holaday, Samuel | Horton, Benjamin | Horton, Jesse | Horton, William | Howard, Dorcas | Johnson, Jesse | Jones, , James | Justice, David | Kemp, Joseph T. | Kemp, Josiah | Lawrence, Elizabeth S. | Leighleman, John | Lindley, Thomas | Lucas, Mary | MacIver, John | Manly, Basil | Mann, Thomas | Martin, , James | Mazey, John | McCan, Mary | McDaniel, , James | McInnis, Miles | McIver, Evander | McKenzie, Murdock | McQueen, Archibald S. | McQueen, Murds | Mebane, John | Merritt, George | Merritt, William | Milton, David | Minter, Joseph | Moran, William | Moss, John | O'Kelly, Elizabeth | O'Kelly, , James | O'Kelly, William | Oldham, John | Pattishall, William | Penny, Charles | Phillips, William | Poe, Stephen | Powell, Eliza | Powell, Thomas | Prince, William | Purvis, George | Quackenbush, , Henry | Ramsey, Ambrose | Ramsey, Eliza | Ramsey, John | Richardson, Isaac | Riddle, John | Roberts, Ishmael | Roe, Solomon | Rollings, John | Sanders, A. | Sanders, Benjamin | Scarborough, Miles Sewter, , Henry | Smith, Ambrose | Smith, Lemuel | Stedman, Wiinship | Stone, Ann | Stone, Thomas | Taylor, George W.| Taylor, , James | Taylor, James (1829) Teague, David | Tyson, Cornelius | Vestal, Benjamin | Vestal, David | Walden, John C. | Ward, Robert | Ward, William | Watson, Robert | West, Ignatius | West, Thomas | Wester, Mary | White, John | White, Stephen | Wicker, Thomas | Willett, , James | Willis, Francis | Willis, William | Wilson, Stephen | Wistory, Elizabeth | Woody, Hugh Images of Wills and Estates 1834 to 1857Adcock, Joshua | Albright, William | Allen, John | Allen, Peter | Alston, Aran | Alston, Gideon Alston, John | Alston, Nathaniel | Armistead, Larry | Armistead, Westward | Atkinland, Richard | Bain, Francis | Barham, William | Baute, Randolph Bay, Thomas | Bell, Elijah | Bell, Mary | Benett, Solomon | Blande, , James | Booker, Phylis | Boon, Raford | Bowen, William | Bray, Harman | Bray, , Henry | Bray, , James | Bray, William | Brewer, John | Brewer, Nathan Bridges, Joseph | Bright, Simon | Brooke, Larkin | Brooks, Joab | Brooks, Richard | Brown, Ebenezer Brown, Nancy | Brown, William | Bryan, Aaron | Bryan, Reddin | Bunn, John | Burchard, Elizabeth | Burchard, Jedekiah | Burgess, John | Burnett, Isaiah| Burns, B. J. | Burns, , James | Carter, John | Chawney, Joshua | Cook, Mary | Cooper, , James | Cross, Parish | Crump, Martha | Crutchfield, Thomas | Dane, George | Daniel, Mary | Dark, Susannah | Dickens, Thomas | Dison, Benjamin | Dodd, Benjamin | Dodd, Herbert | Dodd, , James | Dorsett, John | Dowd, Richard | Dowd, Samuel | Drake, Richard | Drake, Sally | Drake, William | Edwards, David | Edwards, Hanah | Edwards, Hugh | Edwards, Isaac | Edwards, , James | Edwards, Joel | Edwards, Stokes | Emmerson, Eli | Evans, Anthony | Evans, Richard | Farrah, Powell | Ferguson, Archibald | Fooshee, Bethany | Foushee, Nelly | Fooshee, Simon | Fooshee, William | Fox, David | Fox, John | Freeman, Lewis | Garner, William | Gee, George | Gilden, , Henry | Gilmore, Stephen | Goodwin, , Henry | Gunter, Isham | Gunter, John | Guthrie, William | Hackney, Joseph | Hackney, Robert | Hadley, Jacob | Hammond, William | Hanks, John | Harland, William | Harman, George | Hartsoe, Isaac | Hash, John | Hatley, Uriah | Hattey, Abner | Haughton, John | Headen, Dolley | Headen, Isaac | Heathcock, Patrick | Henry, George | Herndon, Reuben | Hill, Jeremiah | Hinshaw, Benjamin | Hinshaw, Nancy | Hinshaw, Thomas | Hinshaw, William | Hinton, A. J. | Hobson, Joseph | Holland, Sampson | Holland, Wiley | Hodges, Joab | Holmes, Lewis | Horne, James | Horton, James | Jacks, Job | Jackson, Samuel | Jean, Barber | Jenkins, Sanford | Jinkins, Sanford | Johnson, Daniel | Johnson, John | Johnson, Michael Sr. | Johnston, John | Jones, Alston | Jones, Edmund | Jones, Susan | Jordan, William | Justice, Susannah | Kelly, Mary | Kemp, Daniel | Kemp, Joseph | Kemp, Susannah | Lamberly, John | Lambeth, Rachael Lambeth, Thomas | Lassater, Bennett Lassater, Thomas | Lassatar, William | Lindley, , James | Lindley, Joshua Mann, Isham | Mann, Joseph | Marcus, Jane | Marks, Margaret | Marsh, Susan | Masey, Sally | Mason, William | McBride, Archibald | McMasters, William | Mebane, John | Moody, Benjamin | Moon, B.| Moore, J. | Moore, Rebecca | Morgan, Joseph | Neal, , James | Owen, Winnifred Palmer, Robert | Patrick, William | Pattishall, John | Peoples, John | Perry, John | Perry, Turner | Pickett, Simeon | Pickington, Samuel | Poe, Rebecca | Pugh, Thomas | Ridell, Cato | Riggsby, Phebe | Rives, Edward | Rush, Elizabeth | Scott, Stephen | Siler, Philip Sr. | Simon, Whitney | Small, Joseph | Snipes, John | Snipes, Thomas | Stanton, Willis | Stewart, Alexander | Stillman, Robert P. | Stinson, Robert | Stone, John | Stout, William | Strom, Alston | Strangham, Bailey | Swann, Sarah | Taylor, Rowling | Taylor, Sarah | Terry, Hannah | Terry, , James | Thomas, Benjamin | Thompson, George | Toomer, John | Torance, Sarah Ann | Uttey, Gabriel | Vistal, David | Waddell, Sarah | Ward, Martha | Watson, Elizabeth | Watson, John | Webster, Elizabeth | Welch, , Henry | Welch, William | Whiteheade, John | Whitner, Margaret | Wickson, Milly | Williams, Delpha | Williams, George | Williams, John | Williams, Richard | Williams, Thomas | Womack, Green | Womack, John | Womble, Catharine | Workman, Thomas  Find your Ancestors Records on North Carolina Pioneers SUBSCRIBE HERE

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[sphinxevents]

Women Centre Stage 2015

Women Centre Stage was a two day festival of workshops, panel discussions and new writing seeing Sphinx working with 71 actors, 24 directors, 26 writers and 24 pieces of theatre with a hugely diverse response to the theme of Heroines and all with a drive to put women centre stage.

The National Theatre Temporary Space - March 27th/28th 2015

Contributors included GRAEAE, KALI, BOLTON OCTAGON, INSPECTOR SANDS, RONA MUNRO, BARNEY NORRIS, TIMBERLAKE WERTENBAKER, RACHEL DELAHEY, ROY WILLIAMS, APRIL DE ANGELIS, GEMMA WHELAN, DAVID MERCATALI, BRIGID LARMOUR, ROSEMARY SQUIRE OBE, TANIKA GUPTA, PENELOPE SKINNER, GEOFF COLEMAN, ANGELA CLERKIN, BEATRIX CAMPBELL OBE, NATALIE WILSON, CAZ MORAN, SUSANNAH TRESILLIAN, ALICE HAMILTON, ANNA LEDWICH, ANYA REISS, LUCY PITMAN WALLACE, LUKE BARNES, CHARLOTTE JOSEPHINE, MATILDA IBINI, SHARMILA CHAUHAN, OLADIPO AGBOLUAJE, ZOE WATERMAN, BRYONY SHANAHAN, HOTTUBS AND TRAMPOLINES, CHARLOTTE CORNWELL.

“I sincerely hope we get to enjoy the benefits of a Women Centre Stage festival on an annual basis, as its inaugural year has certainly proved that there’s a greater appetite for female-centric theatre than there’s ever been before” Hannah Roe, Female Arts, 31st March 2015 http://www.femalearts.com/node/1638

“It’s great to see not only the issues being raised but action taken to combat them so leading female roles become the norm across the industry”
Official Theatre, 31st March 2015 http://www.officialtheatre.com/fringe/sphinx-theatre-women-centre-stage-heroines-national-theatre/

[biggsodorcitystories]

Edward and Zebedee's Mothers - Sketch

Today is Mother's Day in the UK, and I wanted to share my designs for Edward and Zebedee's mothers to mark it. Unfortunately, I only managed to finish the lineart today, but I think it's enough to share.

Edward's Mother: "The Countess of Cumbria" Daphne Stewart. Percy takes after his grandmother very strongly! XD

Zebedee's Mother: Lai-Ling Moran.

[biggsodorcitystories]

The Seagull's Daughter

I was in a mood to draw Susannah - and try to make it clear how much she looks like Edward - again and share some facts about her. Given that her mother's (Edward's) engine type were commonly known as Seagulls, I drew her eating chips (fries), which are the favourite food of all coastal seagulls. Despite being in the US, Bigg City has a thriving British community and therefore has one or two proper Fish n Chip shops along the port.

Some facts about Susannah Moran:

Full name is Susannah Alice Zoanna Moran - her first and middle given names are in honour of her father's favourite sister, her mother's favourite sister, and her godmother.

Half engine, half tugboat. She is faster than other harbour tugs thanks to her mother's heritage.

Her horn sounds more like a deeper version of Edward's whistle. She's a little self-conscious about it.

Prior to her arrival in Bigg City Port, Susannah lived in Ellesmere Port, and worked in Birkenhead as part of the Cammell Laird fleet where most of her family (and her father previously) worked.

Susannah volunteered to join other members of her fleet in going to Bigg City on behalf of Cammell Laird - the shipbuilders - who were interested in gaining a foothold in the US post-war. She was accompanied by some cousins and some of Zebedee's siblings.

The eldest daughter of Zebedee and Edward, the blue engine, Susannah was conceived as part of her parents' plan to marry. Fortunately, this plan was successful.

Suffered bullying due to being a half-breed, but quickly learned to stand up for herself and takes no nonsense from anyone - including attempts by the coastguard to judge her for being the daughter of a Z-Stack.

Is called Little Susie by her family - except for Zebedee, who calls her Princess, Edward, who calls her Sugarlump, and her siblings, who call her Zannie - but prefers everyone else to call her Sooz.

Speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese like her father.

Is the same age as Warrior and Andrew Conroy (Big Mac and Top Hat's youngest son)

Is dedicated to being very impartial when it comes to the rival fleets, despite her father and godmother being Z-Stacks, and makes a serious attempt to get on with all of them.

[biggsodorcitystories]

Warrior's Missing Eagle Crest -A TUGS Fanfiction

I haven't written anything in an embarrassing amount of time, so this is probably a big pile of doo-doo, but I'm just so proud that this feels like a release of sorts so I had to share!

Fandom:Tugs

Rating: General

Genre: General, Family.

Characters (active): Hercules, Warrior, Susannah (OC)

Charcters (mentioned): Top Hat, Big Mac, Ten Cents, Sunshine, Captain Starr, Sea Rogue, Lillie, Zebedee, Aurora (OC), Silver Penny (OC), Grandma Starr (OC), Bright Dawn (OC), Andrew (OC)

Pairings: Warrior x Susannah, Hercules x Lillie, Big Mac x Top Hat, Bright Dawn x Sea Rogue.

Warnings: Humanised characters, Headcanon that Warrior is the brother of Hercules and Ten Cents, M/M pairing and references to Mpreg, CanonxOC ships, references to abandonment, depression, and angst.

Summary: Hercules accidentally comes across Warrior and Susannah deep in conversation on an evening walk, and hears Susannah ask why Warrior does not have an eagle crest like his brothers. Warrior's response is not what Hercules expected, forcing him to reflect on how his behaviour could have shaped Warrior's thoughts.

This route to Lowtown brought back a lot of memories as Hercules strolled along the path. It felt like another time – another world, even – when he had trotted along at the heels of his beloved aunt, Bright Dawn Starr, and her beau Patrick Teach – known to most as Sea Rogue. In a way, it had been both. His aunt and Sea Rogue had been in their late teens, barely into adulthood, while he had been little more than a toddler and still figuring out coherent speech. But he could still remember how much he had enjoyed the walks, clutching his auntie's hand and thinking up new ways to stop 'Uncle Patch' from holding the other one. Looking around, very little had changed along the riverbank path itself, but he couldn't remember enough about the area to consider how the environment had changed. It had been around twenty-five years since he'd last taken a walk this way.

He'd been twelve when they'd returned to the city, and Hercules had been far too busy in the past decade with supporting his grandfather to rebuild the Starr fleet and their reputation, and helping his mother to recover with the divorce from his father after he ran off with Auntie Dawn, with her raising his new baby brother, Ten Cents, and with...

“Warrior, can I ask you something?”

Hercules stopped in his tracks at the sound of the voice. He immediately recognised it as Susannah Moran – her Liverpudlian accent so like her father, Zebedee's, that it was fairly unique. To the surprise of many, she and Warrior had entered into a courtship that her father had not opposed. It seemed that he had stumbled across one of their dates.

They were sat by the river's edge, with their backs to him, deep in conversation. Part of him was screaming that he shouldn't be eavesdropping on them in this way, and he was about to make his presence known, when Warrior spoke.

“Course you can, Suse. What is it?”

Susannah seemed to be looking at something in front of her.

“How come yous don't have an eagle crest on your hat like your brothers? Don't yous have one?”

Hercules froze. That question had never been asked of him, nor of his brothers to his knowledge, but he knew that it had been whispered throughout the port ever since Ten Cents had received his crest two years before.

“Why is Warrior the 'odd one out' to his brothers..?”

He had an idea what the answer was, but to his shame realised that he'd never heard it from Warrior himself. Though he felt guilty, almost dirty, he kept quiet and listened for Warrior's response.

Warrior sighed, moving to take what Hercules assumed was his hat from Susannah.

“Oh, sure I got one.” He sighed. “Grandma gave us all one on our fifteenth birthday, like a coming of age thingy. She gave one to Aurora and Sunshine the first Christmas after we found out who they were.”

Susannah nodded with no hint of surprise. Hercules wasn't sure how he felt about that, given that it meant she knew more about their family history than he'd like, but was distracted as Warrior continued.

“I've got mine in the box it came in, on my bedside table.”

“Why don't you wear it?”

There was a pause before Warrior replied.

“I...I daren't, Suse. I don't wanna break it or lose it if I 'ave one of me accidents. It...it means too much to me.”

Hercules pulled a face and fought down an urge to scoff. The eagle crests Grandma Starr had given them were heavy, solid things that practically fused to his and Ten Cents' hats, so he wasn't entirely convinced by his brother's reasoning. Hell, Ten Cents had taken a fuel tanker explosion to the face, and his crest had suffered nothing worse than a bit of soot and smoke staining. Warrior's habit of bumping into and tripping over things was unlikely to cause it much harm, if any.

Susannah seemed to be following a similar line of thought.

“Doesn't it mean as much to Hercules and Ten Cents too?” Warrior looked away as he gave a bitter chuckle.

“I'm not sayin it don't...doesn't mean anythin to them. But...I don't think either of them ever saw it as I did when they got theirs.”

Susannah didn't reply, and she sat quietly until Warrior turned back to look at her.

“Yknow 'ow I told you about being fostered by Big Mac and Top 'At when we first moved back here?”

Susannah gave a nod, which Hercules wasn't entirely shocked by. Strangers to the port would frequently make the assumption that Warrior was the son of Big Mac and Top Hat, which annoyed him almost as much as the looks of surprise when they learned who his real family was. Hercules wished his younger brother wouldn't be so cheerful whenever he corrected someone, and in quiet moments he suspected that Big Mac and Top Hat secretly delighted in the mistake. He couldn't let go of the thought that the couple would like nothing more than to claim Warrior as their own child, as they probably would have done if his mother hadn't claimed Warrior back.

“Oh yeah?” Susannah continued. “Because your Mum needed the break while she was getting back on her feet?”

“Yeah. With my Dad runnin out on us, movin from London, and finding out she were pregnant again. It was a lot to 'andle...an I think I was making it a lot worse with the way I was acting.”

Hercules felt his brows raise at this last remark. He would have sworn that Warrior didn't remember that time.

“My Dad...I don't really remember 'im that well. I were only three when he left, but I do remember 'im lettin me get away with a lot. Then 'e was gone, and suddenly I wasn't allowed to do anythin' any more and kept gettin' into trouble. I do remember not taking it well and I was a little shit to everyone, especially my Mum...”

“You were three years old, Warrior. Three year olds don't behave at the best of times, and your whole world changed overnight.”

“I know, but...I was too much for Mum to 'andle at the time. Hercules tried to help with me, but he was...eleven or twelve? I reckon we both looked and sounded like screaming kids.”

Hercules found himself nodding in agreement as he looked away. No matter how much they wanted to, a pre-teen was no substitute for a parent, even if they weren't hurting from their own trauma as he had been. It was just one of many things he struggled with guilt over, regardless, unable to shake the feeling that he'd failed both his mother and Warrior.

“Mum ended up breaking down. Lucky that Top 'At were with her when she did, an 'e offered to 'ave me for a little while, until she were better. Hercules ended up stayin with our grandparents.”

“Why didn't they take yous too?”

“They offered, more than once. Thing is, Andrew was me best mate even then, an I reckon everyone thought it would do me good if I were close to someone my age instead of with Hercules. Mum kept comin to see me, anyway, tellin me about the new baby an 'ow I was gonna be a big brother an all. At first, it felt like a big sleepover – it was great. Not to mention, Big Mac and Top 'At were doin a lot to undo the behaviours Dad had taught me, though I didn't know at the time. I don't like to think about what I'd have turned out like if they'd not sorted me.

But when the weeks turned into months, and I spent most of Christmas with them instead of my own family...I remember starting to worry. I knew by then that I'd been...naughty while I was at home, and I wondered if I'd been sent away to live with my godparents because of it, like a punishment. I asked them when I was going home again, and they told me it was just until Mum 'ad the new baby.

It were enough for me for a while, even though I knew Hercules was back home, but he was older. I was happy to start – I got to spend every day with Andrew and I loved that. Mum was still coming to visit, and I went to see her and my grandparents, just came back with Big Mac and Top 'At. I reckon it were bothering me, deep down, but I could still treat it like a long sleepover, or an 'oliday and forget about it.”

He paused to give another heavy sigh.

“Then Ten Cents was born. Top 'At took me to see Mum and I got to hold 'im. I remembered being so excited an tellin Mum he could sleep in my room with me, which Mum smiled at and said he was too little to share my room. I went back thinking Mum would come and get me a few days later, but she didn't.

I still went to visit like I 'ad before, but there was no talk of me comin back.”

“Why didn't you ask to come home?”

For a second, Hercules thought that he'd spoken – the question had been echoing through his skull loud enough and he'd been getting more frustrated each time Warrior mentioned wanting to go home. He'd been asking the same questions while Warrior was away – if Warrior had just asked once, maybe their mother would have brought him back where he belonged sooner than she had. He half expected Warrior to hear and turn to see him, which would almost certainly result in another fight between them.

But Warrior's attention remained fixed on Susannah, the one who had actually asked the question. His response was so quiet that Hercules barely made out what he said.

“I was scared to, Suse. I didn't even want to go into my bedroom in case I saw it had been turned into Ten Cents' nursery and all my stuff was gone. I'd been getting' nightmares for weeks about Mum and Hercules tellin me that they didn't love me any more...”

He could hear the tears behind Warrior's voice as he ended the last sentence – as sure as he felt his own stinging his eyes. The frustration of a few seconds ago withered in the face of this new shame. Why was this a revelation to him? Warrior was talking about something that happened seventeen years ago – he should have known long before today that Warrior had felt like this and soothed said fears away.

But Warrior had never told him about them!

He looked up to see Susannah comforting Warrior, her head leaning on his shoulder. He saw his brother wipe his eyes.

“I'm alright.” He said softly, turning his head to kiss the top of her head. “Sorry about dat.”

“It's okay.” She replied. “You got back to your family though, and they didn't send yous away.”

“Yeah...that's a story in itself. When Ten Cents was born and I still didn't get to go home, staying with Big Mac and Top 'At wasn't so fun any more. They'd got me out of the tantrums and bratty stuff, and I knew dat if my real family didn't want me they were all I 'ad left, so I just cried myself to sleep a lot. I wasn't as quiet as I thought, as either they'd hear me or Drew would go down an tell em I was crying and they'd come up and comfort me. They tried their best, but I was sure I was staying with them forever. Then...”

Warrior paused for a second, as if trying to choose his words. Hercules was partly relieved for the respite – every word had felt like an accusing jab to the stomach – but he was fairly confident about where Warrior was going next.

“It turned out that I weren't the only one thinkin' I was stayin' with my foster parents forever. Top 'At an Big Mac have two kids older than Andrew – Joeseph an Heather. I dunno why, an if I'm bein really honest I think I'm best not knowin, but they decided I was stayin with them forever too. Heather decided to start bragging to Hercules about I was her brother now. Hercules got really angry and mouthed off at her. She got upset and Joe stood up for her, which might 'ave gone really badly if he wasn't an ocean-going tug as well.”

Hercules felt his teeth clench in anger, but not at his brother. Since that day, he and Joeseph had been unable to stay in the same room, let alone talk to one another, without it escalating to a fight. Joeseph had only been defending his little sister, but he didn't know why until Heather confessed to her teasing a year later. Her parents had been furious, but the damage had already been done...

“When we managed to break them apart, Mum an Top 'At went away an 'ad a very long talk. I was miserable, an sure dat was it for me. Mum an Hercules would never want me back after the fightin and Mum 'ad fell out with her best friend. But, later dat night Mum came over and said I was comin home the next day. I wanted to be 'appy, but I was frightened dat it was a punishment because of the fight.” He paused to sigh. “My room was still the same with all the stuff I'd left, an Mum helped me put my other things away. She gave me lots of hugs and said she was sorry she adn't brought me back sooner. My grandparents came over an made a fuss of me bein back – especially Grandma – an even Ten Cents seemed to like avin someone to play with. Hercules made a big show of bein glad I was back, but...”

'Made a “big show?!”' I was happy you were back home! Hercules wanted to scream at him, but forced himself to calm down when he heard Warrior speak in response to something Susannah had said.

“Well, it was the way he was with me later...it were like 'e thought I was only actin less spoiled and he was just waitin' for me to drop the act. Every little thing, he'd be there, either fixing what I was already doing or tellin me what to do. To start with, I thought he was tryin to 'elp an I wanted him to see how much better behaved I was now an make 'im proud. But...nothin' I did, nothin I said, were ever good enough for Hercules to stop watchin' me like I was gonna just go back to before. Everyone else seemed so happy with me, but the way Hercules kept treatin me made me worry dat he was the only one who wasn't hidin' the feelins they all 'ad. I felt like they were all waitin for me to make a mistake...so....so they could send me away for good...”

Hercules could barely think as he heard Warrior – his own brother – confess to feeling unwanted because of his behaviour. He wanted to deny it, insist it was just Warrior's imagination that made him believe those things. He even wanted to blame Big Mac and Top Hat, somehow poisoning Warrior's mind against them. It had been their son who Hercules had gotten into the fight with, and their daughter who had caused the fight with her tall tales, so maybe it was revenge against him to create a rift?

But for all his wants, he knew they would be lies. Not the wanting his brother back home, that had been true enough, but what Warrior had said about him watching for a return to form? To his shame, that was completely true.

He had resented his younger brother for automatically getting all his father's attention and favour, to the point that he'd been shocked that he'd not been taken by their father and Auntie Dawn when they left. In the weeks that followed, he'd seen their father's actions in everything Warrior had done, with every tantrum feeling like just another act of mockery from the man. He shouldn't have held his brother, who was barely more than a toddler, accountable, but he'd been twelve years old and full of pain. When Warrior had been sent to Big Mac and Top Hat, a tiny part of him had been relieved to be getting a break and having his grandparents' full attention. Maybe in some darker moments, in those early days of sorting his feelings, he'd entertained some private thoughts about how it might be better for Warrior to stay away. He'd caught them and buried them away, horrified by them. When Warrior had stayed away they had often danced back into his memories like an accusation. Once again, they were trying to resurface...

Because it had been so much easier if he treated Warrior like he needed to be constantly watched, to ignore his guilt by transferring it to his brother. It had been noticed too – his mother, grandparents, O.J, even Ten Cents had tried speaking to him about the way he treated Warrior. They'd never approached him, but Big Mac and Top Hat had often flashed disappointed glances in his direction when Warrior had fled to them after yet another argument. If they really did want to steal Warrior away, Hercules was doing them a huge favour.

“Yeah, I spent a lot of time with Big Mac an' Top At. Dey never made me feel like I 'ad to walk on eggshells, so I went over just for the peace. Even after they adoped Maggie, I was welcome any time. Mum and my grandparents would try an get me to stay 'ome more, an I'd try to, but it just got too much sometimes. Some days, I'd barely get through the door before it started...dat's one of the reasons I did the Fire Tug training, to get away from the fleet an do somethin different. The Fire Chief 'ad nothin but good things to say 'bout me, so Hercules couldn't pick at me about it.”

Hercules had been impressed with Warrior's dedication to becoming a certified Fire Tug – he'd been stupidly proud of how much the Fire Chief had praised Warrior.

But like many things, he'd never expressed these feelings out loud...

“When I were seven, Hercules turned fifteen and Grandma came in with this little box. She called 'im away for a minute, an' when they came back, 'e was holding the eagle crest. I remember thinkin it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen, and Ten Cents – 'e was three – was asking Grandma if 'e could have one like it. Grandma said we would both be getting' our own on our fifteenth birthdays, because it were a tradition. She specifically said I'd be getting mine first, because I were older and it was fair, but I became convinced dat she'd only said it to calm Ten Cents down and thought I'd forget. I was so sure as I got older that my fifteenth birthday would come an' dere wouldn't be a crest for me...right up until I opened the box and saw it.”

“What happened? Your gran must have seen you were surprised when she gave it to you.”

“I...burst into tears right in front of her – she was horrified!” Warrior chuckled. “She even looked in the box to make sure it was in dere before she gave me a hug. She's the only one in the family I ever told about 'ow I was feelin because I just blurted everythin out right in front of her. We spent so long away from everyone Mum came lookin for us. I'd calmed down by dat time an we were just getting ready to come back, so Mum didn't see me upset. I think Grandma must have said somethin afterwards, because suddenly Mum was giving me a lot of hugs – I think she might 'ave been hurt I didn't tell her myself. “

“What about Hercules?”

Nobody had said anything to Hercules, but after Warrior's fifteenth birthday, his grandparents had pulled him up about being so hard on Warrior a couple of times. He'd listened to them – or he'd thought he had – but it had never occurred to him to wonder why.

“I mean, things aren't as bad as they were between him an me, but...I still feel like Ten Cents is the only thing keepin us from arguing a lot of the time. I know he gets confused about it all, but I think he's decided it's better not to know. Besides, I reckon he's 'had a bit more to worry about after what nearly 'appened with Sunshine.”

Sunshine, and his twin sister Aurora, had both been given their own crests the previous Christmas. Their sister had fashioned hers into a pendant, and wore it out as a necklace more than as a crest, and Sunshine only wore his on special occsions, claiming the weight gave him a headache after a few hours. That had never bothered Hercules anywhere near as much as Warrrior not wearing his had, and he realised with a sudden shame that he knew how his other three siblings - two of whom he had only known about for little over a year – felt about their crests before now, but not Warrior.

“Warrior...” Hercules took a step back to hide behind a bush as Susannah turned to look at Warrior straight on. The last thing he needed was for her to spot him now, after he had eavesdropped on this conversation.

“I know it's not my place, but I think yous need to tell Hercules these things. I'd be horrified if any of my brothers or my sister felt this way about me, and...I think he would too, if he'd heard us talking.”

Warrior sighed, and hung his head.

“I reckon 'e would too, Suse. Things 'ave gotten a bit better since everything went down last year, cos I think Hercules realised 'e could actually talk to me a bit. We talked a lot about our father, but...I don't know if I can bring the conversation up without starting another argument and goin back to square one...”

Hercules backed away slowly, relieved to see that neither of them were making a move to get up, and turned to leave.

He had a lot to think about...

[biggsodorcitystories]

Happy New Year!!

Thought I would start 2023 off right with a drawing of my Steam Team designs!

Warning(s):

Genderbent Edward

Genderbent James

Headcanons as to family relationships and ships below:

I hope you enjoy it! Please note that these are subject to slight changes.

NWR Number One: Thomas Billinton. The official - and self-proclaimed - face of the North Western Railway. Best friend to Percy, the main engine of the Ffarquhar branch line, and until recently the boyfriend of Liora "Lady" Moran. He is currently in a relationship with Rosie, though he visibly still holds a candle for Liora. Cocky and confident at face value, but highly insecure deep down and far more complex once you get to know him.

NWR Number Two: Lady Edward Stewart-Moran. Married to Zebedee Moran, a harbour tug from Liverpool and Bigg City. Mother to Percy, Liora (Lady), Bill, and Ben. Also has an older daughter, Susannah, and a baby daughter, Eve, who are both tugboats like their father. The "work Mum" for all engines on Sodor, and universally adored. Has a past history of mischief and trickery, which was passed to her youngest sons. The train equivalent of aristocracy, Edward is the rebellious, and sadly only surviving, daughter of the Earl/Count of Cumbria, a title she will inherit. Frequently regarded as one of the most attractive engines on Sodor in spite of her age, even being referred to as a "Milf" by Flying Scotsman.

NWR Number Three: Henry Stanier. The illegitimate half-brother of Gordon and Flying Scotsman, husband to Emily, and ex-husband to James as well as being the father of James's eldest son. Despite causing the breakup of Henry's first marriage, Gordon remains Henry's best friend and is unwittingly a rival of Flying Scotsman because of it. Blighted by ill health, made worse by the end of his marriage to James, Henry is very health conscious and suffers a little from hypochondria, but is now doing well thanks to his new wife, his son with James, and his growing family with Emily. After his last long illness, Henry grew a full beard and moustache, and decided to keep it after being told it suited him.

NWR Number Four: Gordon Gresley. The eldest legitimate son of the famous Gresley family (Henry is the oldest but illegitimate) and the official Express engine for the NWR. Older brother to Flying Scotsman and cousin to Mallard, Spencer, and Ryan. Now married to James, with whom he has always been in love but was too proud to admit until after her marriage to Henry, father of two children and stepfather/half-uncle to James' eldest son. Proud, arrogant, and pompous, Gordon is also capable of almost profound kindness and will always (eventually) own up to his faults, and will move heaven and earth for those he loves. Initially jealous of his more famous younger brother, Flying Scotsman, recent changes in his life have made him realise that perhaps his own life is much happier. Also the only reason Mallard is still in touch with the family. Very proud of his South Yorkshire roots, though he only ever reveals "The Accent" when flustered or angry.

NWR Number Five: James Stanier-Gresley. The original blonde bombshell of the NWR, known for her flamboyant, fast style as much as her splendid red uniform/paint. Wife of Gordon, ex-wife of Henry, and mother of currently three children between them. Her confident, vain persona masks a deep-seated lack of self-worth and terror of being abandoned that resulted in James placing all her value in her, admittedly very beautiful, looks. Although she has always been in love with Gordon, his seeming rejection led her to seek comfort in Henry, with whom she married and had a son. James has no regrets about marrying Henry, who she holds up as a very loving husband right up until their divorce and an exceptional father, she maintains her greatest regret is that she had an affair with Gordon rather than ending her marriage to be with him and keeps Henry's name for her son's sake. Her two children with Gordon have ensured the future of the Gresley line. James is half-Trinidadian through her father, using her memories of his experiences to try and help Nia transition into life on Sodor.

NWR Number Six: Percy Moran. The eldest son of Edward and Zebedee, younger brother of Susannah, older brother to Bill, Ben, and Eve, and twin brother to Liora (Lady), Percy is actually genetically half-tugboat, exhibited by his bulkier physique and is surprisingly strong. He works on the Ffarquhar branch line, handling the goods work, and is the official Sodor Mail train - a role he is obsessively proud of having and takes extremely seriously. Best friends with Thomas, although this is often a surprise to newcomers to Sodor and the UK as the two spend a lot of time insulting one another for fun. This relationship has become a little strained after Thomas dated Percy's sister and almost ended after the relationship ended, but is slowly recovering. After his mother, Percy misses his father the most, causing him to find substitute father figures in Toby and Gator. Next in line to inherit the Earl/Count of Cumbria after Edward, and possibly even less interested in it besides occasionally making jokes referring to his 'future countess.'

NWR Number Twelve: Emily Stanier (nee Stirling). The beautiful Emily is a popular figure on Sodor and the adored older cousin of Donald and Douglas. Emily met Henry without knowing that he was married to James, though the marriage was long dead, only learning about it when the two began divorce proceedings a few weeks into the relationship. Despite the initial shock, she continued with the relationship, eventually marrying Henry and becoming stepmother to his son while having a son of her own later. Luckily enjoys an excellent friendship with James and does not overstep as the stepmother. Often remarked on as being very similar to Edward, Emily has become something of a big sister figure on the NWR and has assumed Edward's role after the former's stepping down. Hardworking and friendly, Emily is also stern and serious when needed, capable of keeping her peppery cousins in line.

NWR Number Eighteen: Nia Kur. Originally from the East African Railway, Kenya, Nia is the youngest and most recognisable member of the NWR. Through her harder upbringing on a struggling railway, Nia is mature from her years. Combined with her early puberty, this makes everyone assume she is in her late teens like Thomas and Percy when she was in fact only eleven when she arrived on Sodor. Since her actual age was discovered, Nia has been mothered by Edward, Emily, and James. Thanks to her better understanding of the cultural struggles, Nia gets on best with James and sees the red engine as an auntie figure. She has a tendency to pick at her nails and fidget when nervous or upset, which is usually the only indication that anything is wrong. Nia has become very friendly with Bill and Ben, who are closest to her in age, despite their initial teasing of her. Nia accepted their unusual offer of friendship and unwittingly caused Bill to develop a crush on her. Nia is cheerful, hardworking, and determined to settle into her new life on Sodor.

NWR Number Twenty-Two: Rebecca Bulleid-Gresley. Rebecca is the newest member of the NWR and the relief Express engine for her Uncle Gordon so he can spend more time with his growing family. This was a surprise to everyone on Sodor when Gordon seemed happy with the idea until it was discovered that Rebecca is Gordon's (and Henry's) niece. Rebecca was the only daughter of Gordon's sister, "pretty" Polly Gresley, who was especially close to Flying Scotsman growing up. Sadly, she died when Rebecca was young. Believing her mother's family had abandoned her, Rebecca was very nervous to reveal her identity to her surviving uncles, not knowing that she had inherited several characteristics of her late mother. With the help of Henry, she has reconnected with her family and has taken on the Gresley name officially.

[biggsodorcitystories]

Cousins & Retail Therapy

Molly Stewart & Susannah Moran

Just a little doodle of Molly and her cousin/best friend, Susannah (daughter of Zebedee and Edward), engaged in a little shopping trip. The two have made a tradition of going shopping since Molly came out as transgender to her cousin.

[biggsodorcitystories]

STEAM TEAM (OC) FANKIDS!

WARNING: Shipping.

From Left to Right: Susannah Moran (22/23) and her (baby) sister, Eve Moran (eldest and youngest daughters of Zebedee and Edward; Tyler Stanier (4) (only son of Henry and Emily); Anthony Stanier (12/13) (only son of Henry and James); Leon Gresley (baby) and Hope Gresley (4/5) (son and daughter of Gordon and James)

I'm on a real fankid kick right now

[biggsodorcitystories]

Bill and Ben Moran

So here's my concept for the Clay Pit Twins: Bill and Ben, the youngest sons of Zebedee and Edward, younger brothers of Susannah (OC), Liora (Lady), and Percy, and older brothers of Eve (OC).

Bill and Ben were born on Sodor, having been conceived shortly before Edward's move to the island. As such, although they still love him very much, they have the weakest relationship with their father. Like Percy, Zebedee's absence has caused them to seek out an alternative father-figure. Unlike their brother, they have settled on a single engine: BoCo. Though they would never try to break up their parents' marriage, they can't help but enjoy how well Edward gets on with BoCo.

Always known as troublesome, they have morphed into pure creatures of chaos as they enter their teenage years!

A little on each twin:

Bill:

Real name is William, but will only allow Edward, Ben, and occasionally Zebedee, to call him by that name. Anyone else will be ignored - if they are lucky!

Is actually the younger of the twins.

Is straight.

For some reason, everyone thinks he's the gay one.

As he enters puberty, it is clear that he is taking more after Edward.

Has a huge crush on Nia - proven when, after she addressed him as William, he simply stopped and politely corrected her. Has no idea how to express his feelings.

Knew Ben was gay years before he came out (claiming he knew before Ben did). While he was unsurprised by Connor's rejection, he couldn't help but hate him after seeing Ben so utterly heartbroken.

Ben:

Real name is Benjamin. Unlike Bill, he doesn't actually care, but does think it's pretentious and will behave as such towards anyone who uses it.

The older twin.

Has just recently discovered that he is gay.

Everyone thinks he's the straight one.

Puberty will lead him to become a little bulkier than Bill and more like Zebedee. Currently manifested as him being a bit chubby.

Fell head over heels with Connor, but had his heart broken when the older engine - having tried to let him down gently - brutally rejected him.

Is completely aware of Bill's feelings for Nia and is trying to figure out how to bring them together as he thinks she will be good for his brother.

[biggsodorcitystories]

Zebward Children!

Back: Susannah (22/23), Percy (17), Liora/Lady (17)

Front: Bill (14), Eve (Bebeh/1), Ben (14)

All six Zebward children together in one picture!

Also... Yay, for my 100th post! 🥳🥳🥳

Susannah and Eve Moran are my own original fankids

[biggsodorcitystories]

Lady Liora Moran

WARNING: HEADCANONS, WEIRD HEADCANONS, AHEAD!

Here's my version of a humanised Lady.

My AU completely ignores the TATMR storyline for Lady because I have no time for any movie that ignores my beloved queen Edward and refuse to make time. She's still a magical engine, but there is reason for her powers.

Lady is the second daughter of Edward, the blue engine, and the harbour tug Zebedee. She is the twin sister of Percy, the younger sister of Susannah (OC), and the older sister of Bill, Ben, and Eve (OC). Her real name is Liora - Hebrew name meaning "My Light" - and her principal role is to serve as the private engine to Lady Hatt and Dowager Hatt (because Lady Hatt isn't an idiot). Due to her pretty appearance and super-polite mannerisms, she also runs special trains to the Skarloey railway, which always prove popular with tourists.

Her siblings generally call her Lee, Zebedee calls her Angel, and Edward tends to call her Little Doll given that she was tiny - half the size of her brother - at birth. Everyone else refers to her by name or as Lady.

She was also, until very recently, the girlfriend of Thomas. As childhood sweethearts, seemingly very devoted to one another, it came as a huge shock when Liora left Thomas after she she caught him with Rosie. Initially heartbroken and furious, she is slowly coming to the realisation that there really are plenty more engines in the shed, as she has been surrounded by admirers since the breakup. She has been seen in the company of Paxton, Ryan, and Whiff, even going for lunch with the anti-steamie Diesel 10 on one occasion. A recent visit to her father has added even more names to her list of admirers, and she is considering just how many other options she has after a passing comment from Ashima! Due to being half tugboat - and being very much her mother's daughter besides - Liora has no discrimination against diesels, or indeed any other vehicle.

Like her original incarnation, Liora has magical powers. These are inherited from Edward's side of the family and still very much trying to figure out what she can do with them.