#this is based of the court circular

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in July 2023

01/07 Princess Anne accompanied by Sir Tim, opened the 30th Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy Harbour. ⛴️

03/07 As Chancellor of Harper Adams University, visited the University’s Future Farm, Edgmond and met the 2023 Marshal Papworth Foundation Scholars. 👩‍🎓

As Patron, Scottish Fisheries Museum’s Reaper Appeal visited the Scottish Fisheries Museum in St. Ayles, Anstruther. 🎣

04/07 Visited Strathcarron Hospice, Denny. 👩‍⚕️

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, attended a 5 Military Intelligence Battalion Training Night at the Army Reserve Centre, Edinburgh. 💂

05/07 As part of Holyrood week in Edinburgh, Princess Anne carried out the following engagements;

Opened the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, at NHS Lothian as part of #NHS75 celebrations. 🧸

Opened King’s Buildings Nucleus Building at the University of Edinburgh. 👩‍🎓

Launched WETWHEELS EDINBURGH Accessible Boat at Port Edgar Marina. 🦽🛥️

Attended a Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria for Eric Liddell 100 programme. 🍽️

06/07 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attended the Textile Institute World Conference at the University of Huddersfield. 🪡

Opened Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Maternity Theatre at Bradford Royal Infirmary.🤰

As Colonel of The Blues and Royals, with Sir Tim, took the salute at the Household Division Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade. 🫡

07/07 Attended a Charity Polo Day at Cirencester Park Polo Club for the Spinal Injuries Association 🐎

11/07 Visited Flintshire Adult Day Care Centre, Hwb Cyfle in Queensferry, Wales. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

HRH, as the new Patron of BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) visited their Headquarters at Marford Mill, Wrexham, Wales. 🦡

12/07 Visited St Helena’s Nursing Campus at the University of Derby in Chesterfield. 👩‍⚕️

Opened Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Department. 🏥

Attended a Reception at Rolls-Royce Learning and Development Centre for the Motor Neurone Association. 🚘

13/07 Sir Tim represented the Princess Royal at a service of thanksgiving for the life of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce at Westminster Abbey. ⚓️

Princess Anne opened the King’s Arch at Government House, visited the Tortoise Takeover Trail at Gorey Castle and subsequently opened the Tortoise Tunnel at Jersey Zoo. 🇯🇪🐢

Princess Anne with Sir Tim, later attended the Royal Academy of Engineering Annual Awards Dinner at the Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, London. 🏆

14/07 Opened the new Southampton Citizens Advice Bureau and visited DP World Shipping Container Terminal. ⛴️

15/07 As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, attended their Annual Corps Day at Chicksands. 🪖

18/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim carried out the following engagements in Kent;

Opened a new affordable housing development at Bartlett Close, Staple, Canterbury, followed by a Reception at Staple Village Hall. 🏡

Visited St James’s Cemetery in Dover in her role as Patron of the Remembrance Trust 🫡

Visited Folkestone National Coastguard Institution Station in Folkestone to mark its 25th Anniversary, followed by a Reception at Folkestone Yacht and Motorboat Club. 🚨

19/07 In South Wales, visited Barry Citizens Advice Bureaux in her role of Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and later visited HM Prison Cardiff in her role of Patron of the Butler Trust. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

20/07 Joined the ship’s company of HMS Albion and visited Clyde Marina near Glasgow, Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

21/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim attended a Dinner at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Clubhouse, to celebrate the 50th Edition of the Fastnet Race in Cowes, Isle of Wight. 🛥️

27/07 Attended the Tall Ships Races Captains’ Dinner at Lerwick Town Hall, Lerwick, Shetland Islands. 👨‍✈️🍽️

28/07 Visited ships in Lerwick Harbour taking part in the Tall Ships Races. 🚢🏁

29/07 With Sir Tim, attended the King George Day at Ascot Racecourse. 🏆🐎

30/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim visited Cowes, Isle of Wight for Cowes Week and carried out the following engagements;

Viewed Cowes Week Racing and met Squadron Staff at the Royal Yacht Squadron. 🛥️

Visited HMS Tyne and The Royal Navy Stand. ⛴️

Attended a Church Service at Holy Trinity Church. ⛪️

Attended a Reception for Members, Racing Crews, Flag Officers and Sailing Associates at the Royal Yacht Squadron. 🥂

Total official engagements for Anne in July: 42

2023 total so far: 304

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in July: 14

2023 total so far: 70

[mavisthemae]

A side thing I really, really enjoy about the Murderbot universe is its lawyers.

For one thing, Martha Wells refers to "corporate solicitors", not "attorneys" nor "counsel". In one book (can't remember which), Pin-Lee refers to her General Counsel which is the apex of in-house practice.

Pin-Lee is close to perfectly written, she is strategic, sharp as a razor, pugnacious and ever so slightly too aggressive for everyone else's comfort, of course is a workaholic and is almost always up to her eyeballs in documents and drafting.

In Fugitive Telemetry, the second that Mensah even suggests displeasure at Indah Pin-Lee has begun her legal research, is preparing to advise and is champing at the bit to draw up a legal fireball. And she is not happy when the tack changes, but of course takes instructions and backs down. (I myself have never hissed when the opportunity to really go someone evaporates, but I have certainly felt it.)

And Pin-Lee is much more than a brain on legs. She cares very strongly about and for her team: in Exit Strategy she's well aware how dangerous a situation she, Ratthi and Gurathin are in, tries (not well admittedly) to buoy the others up and is sensibly cautious when Murderbot approaches her. When Murderbot returns to Preservation Space she's the one who makes sure that not only does it know it's free to leave again if it wants but that it has the means to do so (with the hard currency and fake IDs). She swears, drinks, parties and loves watching gruesome I-told-you-so media about hostile fauna.

She's sized up Murderbot and totally runs rings around it in her own domain - one of the funniest things for me in Network Effect (besides "no hugging") was the revelation that she'd written its contract with PresAux so as to try and keep it safe from itself. To its outrage.

The court system is never explained (with no apparent government, how are Corporate Rim judges appointed and their decisions enforced? Is there any appeal system? My guess would be that it's essentially treaty-based with each participating polity enacting the necessary legislation and the corporations entering into some behemoth multipartite Deed the breach of which brings the wrath of all the counterparties raining down...but that's circular, because - I'll stop myself here on the basis that very few lawyers will be reading this!) I'll buy it though as equivalent to the tech hand-waving. It's something that doesn't get explained because Murderbot doesn't need to know or care about the details for it and the story to get the benefit.

Pin-Lee, my unexpected sci-fi hero!

[rebeccawangart]

King Aldhelm of Mercia (2025)

'Radiant Beauty in Green and Gold'

Acrylic painting on 24" x 36" (61x91 cm) stretched canvas, completed March 26, 2025.

Lord Aldhelm as the King of Mercia, what both he and the people of Mercia deserved. This is an idea that has been in my head for over 3 years now, and I finally had the time and courage to undertake it. I have lost count of how many hours I spent on it, but I started it late last year and worked on it in between pet portrait commissions.

More information and details below the cut.

Closeup views of the painting, showing off the details.

The golden halo behind his head was painted with metallic gold and bronze acrylics, and it shimmers and glows in direct light.

The crown is loosely based off of the Essen Crown, worn by the Saxon Germanic kings in the early 10th and 11th century. It was also inspired by King Alfred's crown in The Last Kingdom. According to Bernard Cornwell in the appendix of 'Death of Kings', King Alfred wore a golden crown inset with emeralds, but in truth I chose a golden crown with emeralds because green and gold are Aldhelm's colors. While there is no evidence that he would have worn a crown, I thought it would add to his regality in the portrait. Please note that gemstones of that time were cut into a cabochon shape (oval or circular with a flat back). Stones were not cut with facets until the 15th century.

The knotwork along the borders of the sleeves and down the center of the tunic were painted with details to suggest they are embroidered with golden threads, a technique called 'goldwork'. While this design is commonly referred to as a Celtic Knot, the proper term is 'interlace' and it is Germanic in origin. A good example can be seen on the Sutton Hoo belt buckle design. The Celts later adopted these interlace patterns from the Germanic peoples who invaded the British Isles in the 5th century; before that, Celtic Artwork consisted mostly of spirals and triskelions.

The sword was inspired by the Fetter Lane sword, an 8th century Anglo-Saxon sword. I modified the pommel to be thicker and have an emerald cabochon inlaid into it, along with an interlace pattern along the center. The blade is made of Damascus steel, with the beautiful wavy patterns characteristic of this type of metalwork.

The green and gold colors were chosen specifically based off of Aldhelm's 3rd season Mercian court outfit. I feel that green and gold are his colors, and suit him very well. The green of the background is a pale sage green that matches the color of his eyes. The gold color complements the golden hair in his beard. The cloak is made of wool, and painted phthalocyanine green to match the color of his cloak in the series. The tunic is a slightly less saturated version of that color, with more brown undertones. The high ornate collar is a callback to the ornate collar he wore in that season, with the leaf pattern and diamond borders similar to but not the same as in the series. It is a separate layer from the tunic, underneath of it, and does not connect to the knotwork below. And of course, his beloved brooch pins the cloak over his left shoulder.

[cryptotheism]

Hey a few weeks ago you mentioned in a post that you were developing a syllabary "alternate script" to the IPA and I just saw it and I want to know as much about it as possible? Here are my like top 3 questions:

Is it meant to be able to cover the full capacity of the IPA, get everything a language can do? Or is it for a more limited ambition

What are you doing with the kerning? I know that term in the context of designing instances of an already developed script, am I missing something or are you going into insane detail?

What's that big,, circular diagram looking thang in the picture you posted

So yeah I've never seen anyone else design scripts for fun which is a thing that I do so basically I need to know everything about you approach. I would like to interrogate you in some sort of "direct messages", if it pleases the court

Just for English.

Flexible calligraphic kerning for aesthetic purposes. You'll figure it out when you try to write.

Its based on Chumbley's Blood-Acre Circle-Seal of the Sacred Alphabet.

I am sure you have many questions. Isn't that fun?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Erin Reed at Erin In The Morning:

On Thursday, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk—a far-right federal judge in the Northern District of Texas with a record of aligning with the GOP’s most extreme legal positions—issued a ruling declaring that Title VII no longer protects LGBTQ+ people from workplace discrimination. The decision directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s landmark 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is, by definition, sex discrimination. Kacsmaryk’s ruling marks one of the most alarming judicial rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights in recent memory—and sets up a direct legal challenge to one of the foundational civil rights protections for queer and trans people in the United States. The case was brought against the EEOC by the state of Texas alongside the Heritage Foundation, a central force behind Project 2025—an aggressive right-wing policy blueprint that explicitly calls for rolling back LGBTQ+ protections in federal law. In siding with the plaintiffs, Judge Kacsmaryk pointed to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s current employee policy, which requires “employees to comply with this dress code in a manner consistent with their biological gender,” specifying that ��men may wear pants” and “women may wear dresses, skirts, or pants.” The ruling also upheld the department’s policy banning transgender employees from using restrooms that align with their gender identity. The judge reached a verdict that Title VII only protects “firing someone simply for being homosexual or transgender,” but that it does not protect transgender or gay people from “harassment”: “In sum, Title VII does not bar workplace employment policies that protect the inherent differences between men and women,” Kacsmaryk writes in his ruling.

Judge Kacsmaryk further argued that disparate treatment of transgender employees does not constitute unequal treatment, reasoning that “a male employee must use male facilities like other males”—a statement that erases transgender identity altogether. He extended that logic to dress codes and pronouns, claiming that requiring employees to adhere to clothing standards and pronoun use based on their assigned sex at birth is not discriminatory because it applies “equally” to everyone. The argument mirrors the discredited legal reasoning once used to uphold bans on same-sex marriage—that such laws didn’t discriminate against gay people because they, like straight people, were allowed to marry someone of the opposite sex. It’s a circular logic designed to mask exclusion as neutrality. It also flies in the face of the fact that Texas allows people assigned female at birth to wear gender “pants, skirts, and dresses” but denies that same right to people assigned male at birth. Ultimately, Judge Kacsmaryk ordered the complete removal of all references to sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under Title VII from EEOC guidance. 

Far-right judicial activist bozo Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a very heinous ruling in Texas v. EEOC that Title VII no longer protects LGBTQ+ people from workplace discrimination, in direct contravention of the 2020 Bostock ruling by SCOTUS.

[paceprompting]

the sigil

written for ‘"And the truth?"’ wc: 500 # | merlin x arthur pendragon | rated: g | cw: non archive warnings apply | tags: pre-relationship, admission of feelings (sort of), banter, based on 4x01 deleted scene

@merlinmicrofic

Merlin knew what the sigil meant.  

He hadn’t told Arthur. Well, truly, he hadn’t quite realized over the fact that Arthur had just handed over a noble sigil to Merlin like he actually meant something more than a manservant.

Then it hit.

The sigil was his mother’s.

And practically a marriage proposal.

Merlin hadn’t said a word after Arthur had handed it over to him, running his bare thumbs over the metal. He stared at it, the campfire’s flames crackling in the silence. Arthur waited beside him, but with Merlin’s silence, he gave a solemn nod and walked away.

He hadn’t told Arthur he knew what it was, and now he’d taken it as a refusal. Ridiculous prat.

“Arthur, wait.”

He’d stopped, from the sounds of his boots scuffing the dirt and leaves. Merlin swallowed hard, still staring at the sigil.

“Why did you give this to me?” he asked, voice carrying into the flames.

This time, Arthur was the one who went quiet.

After his whole speech, and for all his talk about taking the noble path with his own sacrifice—Arthur couldn’t say a single word about the one decision that would change the course of both their lives. Of the kingdom.

Merlin had proven his devotion to Arthur since the day they’d met, as much as the prat hadn’t deserved it then. And Arthur wasn’t the same selfish, hard-headed prince that he’d been, but old habits didn’t disappear overnight.

They were both stubborn.

But Merlin hadn’t put his heart into Arthur’s hand.

There was a soft clink of Arthur’s armor as he shifted, and he answered, “Because you’re a good friend.”

He turned away from the fire toward Arthur, mouth set into a thin line, jaw tightened.

“And the truth?”

Arthur crossed his arms over his chest and lowered his chin to avoid Merlin’s gaze.

“Arthur.”

“Because, of anyone, you should have it,” Arthur snapped, eyes blazing as they reflected the firelight at Merlin. His glanced at the sigil, voice quieting. “I want you to take it. Please.”

Merlin tightened his hand around the circular sigil. “And if we live, after this?”

After a monster that was more likely to kill them both by the morning.

“The question will still stand,” Arthur said. Resolute. No room for maneuvering.

Merlin was adept at making room.

“What question?” he asked slyly, rising to his feet. “You haven’t asked me anything.”

The sigil had been the question, they both knew that. But where nobles spoke in metaphoric gestures and symbolic courting, Merlin had still been a commoner longer than a manservant. And if Arthur wanted him, they’d have to meet somewhere in the middle.

“Merlin,” Arthur sighed, biting his lip as Merlin strode toward him.

He stopped when Arthur’s breath caught, a hairsbreadth between them. He raised the sigil in his hand, holding it between them.

Arthur glanced at it, and then to Merlin. He leaned forward, almost as though he might…well. But he didn’t. He waited.

“Ask me,” Merlin said.

[snarky-art]

Variations for Land and Sea Androsi clothing

These are the main ones. There are more variations for the Androsians that live on the islands on the planet but I figured I’d just do the main ones that would be seen the most on my rewrite.

Used Niobe and her father as the models for the Land variations since there are more differences in traditionally feminine and masculine clothing whereas for Sea Androsi clothing it’s all pretty homogeneous so I just used Aisha.

There is a type of gender binary present on Andros but it’s loose and anyone can wear anything regardless but the appearance of the clothing is typically used as an indicator of the wearer’s gender.

This one ended up being way more detailed than the other traditional wear for the other home worlds than, but more stuff just kept coming to me while I was drawing and who am I to deny the muses even if my wrists hurt😭

What the writing on the pages say below the cut!

First chunk of images are based on Land Androsi variations

First 2 images:

Furthest Inland Variants:

- loose clothing

- lots of geometric print

- big earrings

- flat shoes

- neckwear typical at all times

- head decor typically worked into hair

- Further inland variant has little change between traditionally femme and traditionally masc

- traditionally masc looks emphasize earrings over necklaces

General Land variations outside of furthest inland are next

On 3rd image:

- beadwork

- rectangular cloth cuts

- chunky beaded pieces

- barefoot common

- layered

- circular shaped headwear

- arm and leg pieces

4th image has no text, just an example of a more traditionally masc styled outfit following that general criteria

5th image:

- more animal hide on traditionally masc looks due to tradition from the past where heteronormative relationships were expected. Women would hunt and bring pelt to men to show they can provide. Beadwork more common on traditionally femme looks as gifts from men to show they can provide too.

- topless with large chest/neck adornment common style for everyone

6th image:

- animal hide used mostly for accent pieces in traditionally femme pieces with more beadwork present

The last on the Land Androsi variations are examples of Courtwear

7th image:

- overall, traditionally masc looks have more wrap around cloth and less pattern work

8th image:

- more beadwork, less metal overall for Land Androsi mainly due to less ore deposits being located further inland. Resulted in fashion proffering it more as smaller accent wear.

- more angular shapes more common on Land Androsi clothes

- circle gems/beads present on Land and Sea Androsi wear

- tear shape gems almost exclusively on Sea Androsi

About the diamond symbol with the circle and tear shape in the middle:

- an older symbol still used where the diamond represents the land surrounding the sea, which is the circle with the tear drop in the middle to emphasize that. For those on land, that is their whole world so they used to view it as the land encompassing the sea with land as the main body in the planet.

Sea Androsi variants next!

9th image:

-an example of a simpler look

- more shells common in this kind of look

- still more metals than Land Androsi variants typically, but less than other wealthier Sea Androsi looks. Hair is still usually very elaborate though as is present through all Sea Androsi styles

- symbol for the moons with the metal ring representing the bigger of the 2 moons and the empty space in it to represent the 2nd smaller moon.

Fun fact about it not featured on the page: sometimes the piece is one solid coin with a line etched into it so the same shape is present. Usually only Sea Androsi with more money have that though or there’s a few in a family handed down through the generations.

10th image:

- example of a more typical wealthier/court look

- lots of metal work

- pearls in abundance

- open shoulders

11th image:

General info:

- shells

- jewelwork

- more embroidery

- flowing cloth

- Earth equivalent of silks

- more detailed cloth printings and more pattern work

- ores and metals more common due to larger deposits of it surrounding shorelines

- almost always barefoot

- veils attached to headwear commonly

- lots of hanging head accessory pieces

- pattern work usually with softer line work

Additional info on this specific outfit:

- example of a wealthier look

- hat wear more common for wealthier outfits with veils/headscarves common of all classes though

12th image:

- example of a more Land/Sea “fusion” fit

- usually only reserved for the heirs and some of their advisors who are to act as an example on how to carry “both causes” equally

13th image:

- custom wear made of spindly metal work with pearls and jewels current fashion trend in court

- neck and arm work for this style is considered more masculine

14th image:

- corset style considered more feminine

- more she’ll motifs present in this style typically as well

[acourtofladydeath]

WIP Wednesday - TBAV is back with...

Neve Aenson, only daughter of the Winter's Autumn Court Border Emissary, has only ever met the Vanserra's a few times before. That is until she decides enough is enough and takes over her father's role, hoping to readapt treatise in her Court's favor. What she didn't expect was to find a mate, let alone two. Conleth Vanserra never expected Neve, never expected love at all. He doesn't do emotions. Neither does his brother, Fintan. Those who have met them would say the brothers are polar opposites, despite having been forced together as young boys. How will they deal with being forced together once more?

"Tastes of Desire" explores who the second and third born Vanserra brothers are outside their father and brothers shadows, both as integral parts of the Autumn court and as individuals. You can find out more about the three characters in this fic here. The title and tagline are based on the poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost.

This fic has been SO MUCH FUN to write, and working to develop these original characters has helped the lore of the "To Become A Vanserra" universe really blossom. As always, this fic builds on the previous installations, and I highly recommend reading them all in order. I cannot wait to share this fic with you all, starting next week as part of @polysjmweek! Below the cut, you can read a snippet from each of the first two chapters.

Chapter 1 Snippet

She turned when he entered, the skirts of her gown the only sound in the room. The fabric was gorgeous, a dark thistle color more vibrant than any other he’d seen in the manor before. But what finally took his breath away, stealing it from his lungs before he could choose to exhale, was the look of challenge written across her pale face. Her vibrant blue eyes were already narrowed, painted lips in a slight frown as she looked him up and down.   Neve, Conleth remembered her slightly upturned nose and the powerful set of her shoulders from the few times they’d met at equinox and solstice gatherings. They’d danced, once or twice, at the gatherings. But he’d never really talked to her before today.  When she spoke, her voice was sharp, yet composed. “Well I certainly expected you to be more foreboding, seeing as you’ve walked all over this court for the past several years.”  Conleth inhaled to respond, but when he drew in the breath, something else joined the oxygen that rushed into his chest. The bond slammed home with the ferocity of a blizzard, wrapping around his heart like the snow had danced around his boots on his walk in. He lifted a hand, feeling the thick suede coat above his clothes, and the tight tether coiling in his chest. Conleth looked down at his hand before glancing up, unable to hide the shock on his face. The look on her face was a challenge, one he’d have to learn to meet quickly, because Neve was his mate.

Chapter 2 Snippet

Conleth entered, his steps intentionally loud against the soft wooden floor that had been inset around the tree. Bookshelves lined the walls of the circular room, alternating with floor to ceiling windows. Regardless of his brother’s obvious entrance, Fintan stayed bent over his desk, intently reading with a quill tucked between his teeth.   “You know, I've always thought it was sacrilegious to keep so many books close to the tree,” Conleth spoke as he meandered slowly to the side of Fintan’s desk, eyes roving over the cluttered bookshelves.  “Because you care oh so much for the tree,” Fintan mumbled around the quill between his teeth. He’d had this particular habit since he was a child, his mind running too fast and hands too busy with other things. Fintan couldn’t simply put the quill down because it was one of the only objects he was regularly capable of losing.  “Try again, dear brother, I’m not sure I heard you over the damn feather in your mouth.” The sarcasm dripping from Conleth’s words was thicker than molasses. 

My deepest thanks to @climbthemountain2020 for being my sounding board and cheerleader through the development of this fic, and helping me with edits and beta work.

[houseofbrat]

You what I notice about the wailers cult and their sycophants: Everytime they want to talk about family, work loads (cue family/love first), whatever sob stories they want to sell, they always invoke the name of Diana. OTOH, they also always pull out the “heirs/the next king and queen/TiArAs/royal jewels” whenever they attend ceremonial events. At this point, them and the Sussexes are no different. But at least harry and meghan don’t receive funding of the Duchy of Lancaster. (anw I am haven’t got enough of sleep in the past few days so sorry if this ask sounds a bit weird)

It's amazing to watch.

They eat up all of THE KP TITANIC's deceptions hook, line, and sinker.

No pics of Will & Kate & kids and their security entourage at Easter services at Sandringham? Believe the rumors anyway.

No pics of William attending a secret screening yesterday and no mention of it in the court circular? Praise him anyway.

No specific mention or timeline of when Kate is going to return to her previous level of royal duties, even though she's gone skiing twice this year? Just have to believe Kate needs more time to "recover" and anyone who points out the obvious is a hater or a member of the Sussex Squad.

Point out that Kate was publicly DEMOTED last year when she was given the Order of the Companions of Honour? Blame it on mean ol' Charles & evil stepmother Camilla, even though Kate wasn't given it in 2023. They never seem to think about the timeline of these events!

Point out that William has a reputation of not doing the basics of his job, such as attending funerals of foreign dignitaries? Oh, it's your fault you pointed it out and got mad based on William's prior behavior over the years.

Point out that there have been obvious gulf of separation by Charles to distance himself from William publicly? Time to write a whole paragraph about how it didn't happen, even though it has continued to happen since last November.

Honestly, whenever I read comments or posts by those in the Wales fandom and their merry band of apologists these days, my impression is that they are writing fanfic propaganda for 1950s housewives. Or romance novels.

It's just bizarre because so many people who used to have positive opinions of Will & Kate have changed based on the events of last year and continuing into the present.

Meanwhile, the Wales fandom and their merry band of apologists will keep pretending things that reflect badly on their faves just don't happen.

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in September 2023

02/09 The King and Queen, Princess Anne and Sir Tim attended the Braemar Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

03/09 (not counted) The King, Queen, Princess Anne, Sir Tim, PM Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murphy attended the Divine Service at Crathie Kirk Church. ⛪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

06/09 (unofficial) Princess Anne, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales recorded a special episode of the Good, the Bad and the Rugby, with Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne at Windsor Castle. 🏉

07/09 As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, visited Digswell Place Group, Digswell Place Stables, Welwyn Garden City, to mark its 50th Anniversary. 🐎

As President of UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited MAES London Womenswear Manufacturer. 👗

Sir Tim represented Princess Anne at a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Matthew Farrer (former Solicitor to the Late Queen) at St Magnus-The-Martyr Church in London. ⛪️

As Patron of the South Georgia Heritage Trust Princess Anne and Sir Tim, attended the Return of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Quest Crow’s Nest Service at All Hallows by the Tower, followed by a Dinner at Trinity House. 🗺️🍽️

08/09 Participated in a Meeting via video link in her role of Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Members Election Commission. 🎥💻

11/09 At Gatcombe Park;

Presented The Princess Royal Award and Royal Dairy Innovation Award. 🏆

Held a Management Team Meeting for the Chaffinch Trust. 💼

Held a Management Team Meeting for Give Them a Sporting Chance. 🏏

12/09 As Patron of the Boston Stump Restoration and Development Appeal, visited completed restoration work at St Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. ⛪️

As Patron of Magpas Air Ambulance Capital Campaign, opened a new Air Base at Alconbury Weald. 🚁

As Patron of Maritime UK, attended the London International Shipping Week Tenth Anniversary Reception at Mansion House. 🚢

13/09 In Northern Ireland Princess Anne;

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit at the International Conference Centre Belfast. 💼

As Patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, lattended the World Sheep Dog Trials at Gill Hall Estate, Dromore. 🐑🐶

Unveiled a Royal British Legion Community Bench in Dromore Square, Dromore. 🌹

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit Reception at Hillsborough Castle. 👔🇮🇪

14/09 Attended the British Equine Veterinary Association 2023 Congress at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. 🩺🐴

As Patron of the Butler Trust visited Stonnall Road Approved Premises in Walsall. 🏠

Opened the Firefly Woods at Dorothy House Hospice, Winsley House. She unveiled a firefly dedicated to her late parents. 💡

15/09 As Patron of the Restorative Justice Council, opened the Restorative Justice Council Inaugural Northern Ireland Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 🇮🇪⚖️

As Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, attended the North, West and Hebrides Annual Graduation Ceremony and Celebration of Success and Achievement at St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Thurso. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎓

18/09 The Princess Royal, As Guardian of Give Them A Sporting Chance, visited the Rivertime Boat Trust at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. 🦽🚣‍♀️

As Patron of the National Transport Trust, attended the Annual Awards Ceremony at Fawley Hill Transport Museum, Henley-on-Thames. 🚂🥇

19/09 Visited the Our Cow Molly icecream parlour and dairy farm at Cliffe House Farm, Dungworth, Sheffield. 🍦🐮

Launched the Ethel Trust Community Barge PEARL at Victoria Quays and attended a Reception at the Quays Hotel Sheffield. 🚤

As Patron of the Royal College of Midwives, visited Doncaster Royal Infirmary Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 👶🤰

20/09 As Patron of Police Treatment Centres, visited the St Andrews Centre in Harrogate. 👮‍♀️

Visited Claro Enterprises Community Workshop, Harrogate, to mark its 30th anniversary. 🎂

Visited Woods of Harrogate Limited Fine Linens Company in Harrogate. 🧖‍♀️

Visited Hollybank Trust Care Centre, in Mirfield, to mark its 70th Anniversary. 🩺

21/09 Visited Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Vehicle Plant to mark the 60th anniversary of its opening in Liverpool. 🚙

As President of the British Olympic Association, attended an Executive Board Meeting in London W1. 💼

22/09 With Sir Tim opened the Aberdeen South Harbour Expansion Project at the Port of Aberdeen. ⛴️

26/09 Held an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

Opened the renovated Old War Office Building, Whitehall in London. 🏢

Attended the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s President’s Reception at Westminster Abbey. 📑🍾

As Patron of Mercy Ships International, attended a 45th Anniversary Dinner onboard The Elizabethan, sailing on the River Thames. 🛥️🍽️

27/09 Held two Investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As President of World Horse Welfare, attended a Reception at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London. 🐎

As Patron of Opportunity International UK, attended a Dinner at Evercore in London. 🌍

28/09 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attended the Sustainability in UK Textiles Conference at Drapers’ Hall, London. 👗

As Founders’ Patron and President, of the Benenden School & Society, attended the Centenary Global Conference “Inspiring Future Female Leaders”, opened the Seniors’ Courtyard, launched “Benenden 100” Centenary Book and attended the Benenden Society Reception at Benenden School in Kent. 🏫

29/09 Attended the Rededication Service of Southport War Memorial. 🫡

Total official engagements for Anne in July: 47

2023 total so far: 353

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in July: 5

2023 total so far: 75

[the-jewel-catalogue]

Monthly Jewels: May || Emerald

The Godman Necklace

In 1965, a pair of elderly sisters, the Godmans, approached Buckingham Palace and told them that they had a piece of jewelry that the Queen might be interested in. According to Leslie Field in The Queen’s Jewels, they believed that a diamond and emerald necklace that they’d inherited from their father, British Museum trustee Frederick McCann Godman, had connections to Empress Joséphine of France.

The palace did a bit of digging about the Godmans’ necklace, and unfortunately, it was determined that the piece didn’t come from Empress Joséphine or the Leuchtenbergs at all. Regardless, it’s an extremely beautiful nineteenth-century necklace, and the sisters asked if the Queen would still like to have the piece. It’s rare that the royals accept such extravagant gifts from the public, but as in the case of the Queen Mother and the Greville inheritance, this time the Queen accepted.

~ The Court Jeweller

The necklace which is a delicate ornamental work in platinum, is encrusted with diamonds and emeralds. The design used on the necklace is based on symmetrical flower motifs, a style that was common for jewelry crafting throughout the 19th century, a naturalistic style that used the “language of flowers.”

The thick circular band of the necklace is encrusted with diamond baguettes interspersed with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Seven floral motifs arise from the lower side of this band, which take the form of seven pendants. The largest of this floral pendant is situated along the median line of the necklace, and is encrusted with two large emeralds, a rectangular-shaped smaller emerald at the base, and an elongated oval or drop-shaped emerald in the center of the pendant, which is the largest emerald in the necklace.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Christina Buttons

Published: Apr 14, 2025

The claim that transgender status is immutable and biologically based was raised in the recent case of Talbott v. Trump. Eight plaintiffs—six active-duty service members and two individuals seeking to enlist—are challenging President Trump’s January 27 executive order barring transgender individuals from military service. The plaintiffs’ filings refer to “gender identity” as a deeply ingrained and involuntary characteristic with a biological basis—language that can be used to claim constitutional protections. The plaintiffs allege that the ban amounts to unlawful discrimination under the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.

During hearings in February 2025, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes pressed Department of Justice attorneys on the administration’s justification for the order. She instructed both parties to brief the court on “questions of biology,” prompting the plaintiffs to submit a five-page brief arguing that transgender identity is both innate and immutable.

This claim carries implications far beyond military recruitment. Activists have used it to justify medical interventions for minors, inform education policies, and establish civil rights protections for “gender identity” comparable with those for race and sexual orientation. There’s just one problem: the plaintiffs’ brief—and the immutability argument more broadly—doesn’t withstand scientific scrutiny.

Though the plaintiffs’ filing never defines gender identity—commonly understood by its proponents as a person’s “internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither”—it nonetheless describes it as “innate,” “deep-seated,” and “impervious to change through external influences.” The brief also claims that a “scientific consensus” exists supporting the biological basis of transgender identity and asserting that transgender individuals constitute “a discernible class.”

The brief’s claim that transgender identity is both innate and immutable appears to rely on a misreading of the evidence. While “innate” typically refers to traits present at birth, “immutable” implies that they cannot be changed. Even early researchers who believed gender dysphoria might be innate did not consider it immutable—particularly in children. Decades of desistance research suggest that 85 percent to 90 percent of children with gender dysphoria who do not undergo medical transition eventually outgrow those feelings, with most going on to become gay or lesbian adults. The growing visibility of detransitioners—individuals who once identified as transgender but later reversed course—further challenges the idea that transgender identity is invariably fixed.

Even if biology plays a role, transgender identification does not arise from a single cause. The heterogeneity within trans-identified populations makes it unlikely that one universal explanation applies across the board. Research instead points to several developmental pathways: a homosexual pathway, historically seen primarily in boys and linked to childhood gender nonconformity and same-sex attraction; an autogynephilic pathway, primarily in adult men, involving sexual arousal at the thought of being female; and rapid-onset gender dysphoria, a pattern that has recently emerged mainly among adolescent girls and shaped by social and psychological factors. These distinct profiles challenge any effort to define transgender identity as a singular, biologically determined condition.

To a layperson, the plaintiffs’ brief may appear persuasive. It employs technical language, cites scientific studies, and references earlier court rulings that treated transgender status as immutable.

But none of this holds up under closer scrutiny. The rulings cited failed to examine the underlying evidence, instead reinforcing a kind of circular legal logic. The studies—focused on brain structure, twin concordance, genetics, and fetal hormone exposure—can give the illusion of a solid scientific foundation, but they are fraught with limitations. They often rely on small, non-representative samples, produce inconsistent results, fail to control for key confounding variables, and lack reliable replication. What remains is a patchwork of inconclusive findings, frequently overstated to support broad claims.

To assess the plaintiffs’ scientific claims properly, it helps to understand that, while sex itself is binary, many sex-related physical and psychological traits exist along a continuum. Some individuals naturally display traits more commonly associated with the opposite sex—often referred to as gender or sex nonconformity. Evidence suggests that prenatal hormone exposure can shape such traits in both boys and girls. Childhood gender nonconformity, a term used in clinical research, has also been strongly associated with same-sex attraction.

Social and cultural influences shape how these traits are understood and expressed. For some, these traits may cause distress, leading to a diagnosis like gender dysphoria. In today’s environment, where transgender identity is often conflated with gender nonconformity, individuals who don’t conform to traditional sex stereotypes may interpret their experiences as an internal “mismatch,” rather than as natural variations in behavior, personality, or sexual orientation.

Sex-based differences in brain structure are well-documented, and, as neuroimaging techniques advanced in the early 2000s, researchers began searching for neurological correlates of gender dysphoria. This sparked a wave of transgender brain studies, many of which received enthusiastic media coverage. Many have referenced these studies to support the idea of a “neurological sex”—that the brain possesses an internal sex separate from the body.

Building on this idea, the brief claims that “research shows transgender women and non-transgender women have similar brain structures,” citing five studies. But these findings are complicated by confounding variables. The use of cross-sex hormones—commonly used among those who medically transition—can alter brain anatomy. And sexual orientation can independently influence brain structure. When studies control for these factors, the results often show that the brains of trans-identified individuals more closely resemble those of their biological sex.

The brief also cites a review of numerous twin case studies to suggest a genetic basis for transgender identity. While identical twins in the review were more likely than fraternal twins to identify as transgender, this does not constitute strong evidence of genetic causation. The research relies on case reports of twins raised together, making it difficult to separate genetic influence from environmental and social factors. Identical twins often share closer emotional bonds, which can influence belief systems and reinforce shared identities.

In nearly every case where both twins identified as transgender, both were also homosexual. The one exception involved a pair of identical twins described in the literature as exhibiting “transvestic fetishism”—a condition now more commonly referred to as autogynephilia. This raises the possibility that the studies are not capturing a genetic basis for transgender identity, but rather a shared predisposition for same-sex attraction.

The study’s findings also diverge from what would be expected if transgender identity were strongly heritable: concordance rates between identical twins—that is, how often both twins in a pair identified as transgender—were modest, while fraternal twins showed no concordance at all. For comparison, twin studies on homosexuality show a more typical genetic pattern, with fraternal twins exhibiting about half the concordance rate of identical twins.

The brief references a study of genetic variants—differences in DNA sequences—related to sex-hormone pathways. These pathways influence how the body produces or responds to hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which may in turn affect behavior patterns traditionally associated with masculinity or femininity. Atypicality in these traits reflect gender nonconformity—not transgender identity itself. While these variants may be more common in trans-identified populations, they are neither unique to, nor predictive of, transgender identity. The authors of the study explicitly caution that “none of the studied variants could hence be assumed to be a primary cause of this condition.”

The brief also cites research on congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a disorder of sex development in which female fetuses are exposed to elevated levels of testosterone due to adrenal gland dysfunction. This excess androgen can lead to masculinized physical traits and more traditionally male-typical behaviors in childhood. While the brief interprets this as evidence that prenatal hormones shape “gender identity,” what the research actually shows is an association between prenatal androgens and masculinized behaviors or interests—that is, gender nonconformity, not identity rejection. Most girls with CAH continue to identify as female, despite these biological effects.

Taken together, the studies cited in the immutability brief do not establish that transgender identification is biologically determined. Instead, they more consistently reflect patterns of gender nonconformity and same-sex attraction. Ultimately, transgender identification is an individual choice made in response to gender-related distress—not the result of a hardwired biological condition.

Misinterpreting the findings of these studies as evidence of a fixed transgender identity risks narrowing society’s understanding of gender nonconformity. Rather than encouraging individuals to alter themselves to fit a prescribed identity, we should create space for a broader range of expression—recognizing that many gender-nonconforming children grow up to be gay or lesbian adults.

As courts and policymakers weigh the arguments in Talbott v. Trump and similar cases, they should treat claims of scientific certainty with skepticism. Decisions with profound personal and social consequences demand clear evidence, honest interpretation, and restraint in drawing conclusions that the research cannot support.

==

I love how "sex is a spectrum," yet somehow an MRI can test for and reveal a "brain sex" binary of a male brain in a female body, or vice versa. And yet also we should trust "self ID," because people can just feel the results of an MRI innately.

"Gender identity" is "innate" and "immutable," except that it's also a "social construct," "not a simple fixed binary construct," "fluid" and a "journey."

Mind-body dualism is a deranged Wonkian boatride.

[princessanneftw]

Hardest working royals of 2023 revealed

Princess Anne tops list with more than 450 engagements with the King also increasing his time spent at public events

Patrick Sawer, Senior News Reporter and Hannah Furness, Royal Editor for The Telegraph

Princess Anne was the hardest working royal this year, carrying out 457 engagements as she lent steadfast support to her brother in his role as monarch.

The King was ranked in second place, having taken part in 425 royal engagements, while his brother the Duke of Edinburgh was third, with 297 engagements.

The Queen was fourth with 233 royal engagements and the Duchess of Edinburgh fifth with 219.

An analysis by The Telegraph of public events and official meetings based on entries published in the Court Circular showed that the Princess Royal continued to be the most industrious member of the family.

Princess Anne and the King were among members of the Royal family to increase their workload over the past year, after taking on many of the duties and engagements previously conducted by the late Queen Elizabeth.

A separate analysis last year by Reboot SEO company showed that Princess Anne carried out 214 royal engagements, while the King took part in 181.

In a typical average week this year, Princess Anne undertook between 12 and 14 engagements.

Her busiest month was February, when the Princess Royal undertook 57 engagements, which included trips to Australia and New Zealand.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and former editor of The International Who’s Who said: “Anne is one of the best advertisements for the Royal family because she is hardworking, she is dedicated and she is popular because people look at the way she handles things and they like it.

“The public see Anne as someone who is grounded, I think the institution does need her very much.”

The King’s workload over the past 12 months included a state visit to France in September as well as his own Coronation on May 6.

Some of his busiest days have involved back-to-back meetings at Buckingham Palace with ambassadors and other dignitaries and politicians, while the King has also undertaken numerous smaller-scale engagements in the community, visiting local projects and businesses.

Typical of this was his visit to the Broke Not Broken charity in Kinross in September, where he viewed its food bank store, and vegetable garden and met volunteers and members of staff, before visiting an art exhibition and a day centre.

The Court Circular shows that over the past 12 months both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester carried out 172 royal engagements each.

The Princess of Wales undertook 128 and the Duchess of Gloucester 111. The Duke of Kent carried out 69 engagements.

An analysis of the number and type of royal engagements raises questions about the future of the monarchy, with the Prince and Princess of Wales taking a very different approach to that of the older generation.

The majority of day-to-day engagements are now carried out by those well into or approaching retirement age, with the Duchess of Edinburgh now 58 and the Duke of Edinburgh turning 60 next year.

The Waleses have deliberately chosen to focus on fewer patronages, hoping to use their power to shine a light on issues close to their hearts to make a bigger difference.

Traditionalists have raised questions over who will pick up the numerous daily visits around the country in the newly slimmed down monarchy with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex departed and the children of the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Duke of Edinburgh not working members of the family.

Dickie Arbiter, the royal commentator who was press spokesman for Queen Elizabeth from 1988 until 2000, said Princess Anne provided invaluable support to the King.

“She just gets on with it, often carrying out multiple engagements in one day,” he said.

“Of course much of what the King does is behind the scenes, in meetings and going through his red boxes, which doesn’t warrant a mention in the Court Circular.”

Mr Arbiter added: “Anne is a tremendous support to the King. He bounces ideas off her. For an ageing monarchy they are doing pretty well.”

[bleachbleachbleach]

[Bleach 080]

Things I Love Thinking in Circles About

How big, area-wise, the Seireitei is

What regular Gotei work looks like when we're not looking

What did the early bird VCs do the entire time they were sitting around in Conference Room 2 waiting for people to show up?

--

1. How big, area-wise, the Seireitei is

According to Yoruichi, walking from one gate to the next would take 10 days, which initially makes the Seireitei seem really damn big. The city of Ann Arbor, Michigan has a population of 120,000 people. If we're meant to believe that there are 6000 shinigami (citation: Ooetsu?), I find it difficult to believe that the Seireitei's population would be much larger than 120k, if that. (Personally, I proceed as though it's a lot less than that.) Like the Seireitei, Ann Arbor is also circular, ringed not by a Seireimon but a necklace of Interstates, but it's only like 10 miles across. It really wouldn't take that long to walk 1/4 of the way around its rim.

You'd have to walk around a quarter of the entire country of Spain for it to take 10 days:

Obviously Google is not taking into account tired feet or needing to like, sleep, with this estimate, but STILL. The Seireitei is not the size of SPAIN.

A) Let's say it would really take 10 days. This gate-to-gate trek might need to take terrain into account (which Google sometimes does and often doesn't lol). The area Ichigo et al ended up in seemed pretty civ where the gate matches up with Junrinan, but maybe a shade north and the terrain is much more difficult!

B) Let's say it really would not take 10 days. Yoruichi might have been exaggerating, because she doesn't want to walk to another damn gate and also it's not as though there aren't also shinigami waiting at...the other gates... So she nips that in the bud and directs her party's attentions elsewhere.

Or maybe she knows that even this close to the Seireitei, in Rukongai time gonna wime, and space-time are not going to exist in a constant relationship with each other.

C) Let's say Matsumoto's "half-day" comment probably isn't about geography, either. Half a day would make the Seireitei approximately the size of like, Indianapolis? (population 882k, area 368 sq. miles/950 sq. km) if we were basing it purely on area. But also, shunpou?? So I really feel like the "length of time it would take people to arrive"half day" comment is less a function of physical distance and more about the fact that they're all busy and have tasks they'd need to extricate themselves from before they started walking/running/sauntering/gamboling over.

Which leads me to--

2. What regular Gotei work looks like when we're not looking

I think we've seen enough evidence that the way the Gotei has built itself does not lend itself well to rapid response. Their response to the ryoka invasion was not particularly rapid, nor organized. Their response to AIZEN'S MURDER was nearly non-existent. Winter War prep was also kind of rough, and I guess TYBW 1 was kind of a surprise attack, but I think my point still stands that it's just not their forte. I think part of this is because the Gotei is legitimately just kind of bad at being functional; we all know this. They all know this. I think the other part is that rapid response is very, very hard.

Given that they are heavenly court guards, you'd think rapid response to potential threats would be more of a priority, but you could say that about a lot of real-life things that, in reality, do not work that way (and perhaps cannot, in the absence of radical reinvention). To use a near universal example, see Exhibit C: COVID responses lol. Even outside of that very particular example, I'm part of a direct action organization and even though it's relatively small and its politics are activist-minded, rapid response is still very, very hard.

I just love thinking about, okay, where are the Gotei bottlenecks, what's the red tape, where's the sludge in the workings, where to the capacities fall through, what jobs haven't been invented that they really need, what jobs exist that really shouldn't, how much is logistical, how much is political, how much is cultural, how much is personal? *this is my bulletproof kiiiiiiink*

If it's going to take 4-12 hours to get all the officers in one place, it makes me think that yes, the alarms are going off, but it's a rapid response priority only for those who were assigned to quadrant 6 or whatever. Yes, this meeting call went out, but the threat is not yet at a level where you need to drop everything and haul ass. It's serious, but not more serious than the rippling consequences of ignoring the essential tasks you were already engaged in that are really going to fuck things up in domino-like ways if you don't do them right now.

For Ichigo et al, rescuing Rukia is Priority #1. For the Gotei, the ryoka invasion is this major world event that slammed on top of their already-full calendars of other shit they're supposed to do today. Big meeting? That's great, but it's going to have to wait or else a whole deployment's going to ship out late, the payroll office is going to close before those forms get signed, and Z isn't going to have the Y report that's required in order to start the X project.

3. What did the early bird VCs do the entire time they were sitting around in Conference Room 2 waiting for people to show up?

The meeting was called to address Ichimaru's behavior in dealing (or not dealing) with the ryoka, so we can assume it was called relatively quickly after Yamamoto got wind of that. Renji just took Rukia to Fancy Prison, but it doesn't seem like there's yet been dissemination of an official report, because he doesn't actually know if Ichigo got killed by Ichimaru or not. But the meeting is still going on when the ryoka invade successfully via The Sky.

In the interim, Ichigo et al hung out with the denizens of Junrinan, met Ganju, walked out to bumfuck to find Kuukaku's house, got introduced to the cannon and the cannonballs, practiced with the cannonballs, ate dinner, gained proficiency with the cannonballs, and blasted themselves through the sky.

Which makes it seem like the VCs who got there early literally did have to wait around for half a day before everyone showed up. Keep in mind THEIR MEETING DID NOT EVEN HAVE AN AGENDA. They were just supposed to stage in Conference Room 2!

So what did they do? Did they bring any work with them? Did they shoot the shit for six hours? Play games? Nap?

...Orgy?

(Orgy.)

[lifeofpriya]

Could you write ,,giving you a massage,, with Jack please?

we're getting close to the finish line, y'all! we got a few more from the jack weekend 👍🏼

Cozy Night In

wc: 2.1k

You stand in the doorway, watching the rain tap dance on the cobblestone street. The sound is rhythmic, almost soothing. Inside, the scent of rosemary and thyme fills the air from the simmering pot of stew on the stove. You've been waiting for Jack to come back from his grueling practice. His footsteps echo through the hall, a familiar pattern of exhaustion and accomplishment.

Jack enters the room, his face a canvas of sweat and determination. His eyes lock onto yours, a silent plea for relief from the ache in his back. You nod, understanding his unspoken request. He's been pushing himself harder than ever lately, striving to climb the ranks in the tennis world. The towel slung around his neck is a stark contrast to the vibrant hazel of his eyes, which seem to have lost some of their usual sparkle.

"How was it today?" you ask, keeping your voice low, not wanting to shatter the quiet solitude that follows his intense sessions.

Jack's smile is weary but sincere. "Tough," he says, his shoulders dropping with the weight of his gear. "Trot had me running drills, really working on my backhand."

You guide him to the couch, gently taking his bag. "Let me help with that," you offer, placing it aside. His eyes light up in appreciation as he sighs, feeling the warmth of the room embrace him. The crackling fireplace adds a soft glow to the space, casting shadows that dance on the walls.

Jack winces as he lowers himself onto the plush cushions. His muscles are tight, a testament to the hours spent on the court. You move closer, your fingertips grazing his damp hair. "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere," he groans with a chuckle, "but mostly here." He points to a spot between his shoulder blades. You nod, knowing this is a common complaint after a day of relentless training.

"Dinner is almost ready," you say, moving to the kitchen, "but afterwards, I'll give you a proper massage."

Jack nods gratefully, his eyes closing as he inhales the savory aroma of the stew. The anticipation of relief is almost palpable. As you stir the pot, you consider the array of essential oils you have waiting. The calming scent of lavender might help him unwind, or perhaps the invigorating scent of peppermint to soothe the muscles.

Dinner is a quiet affair, the crackling fire and occasional clink of silverware against ceramic the only sounds breaking the silence. You both savor the meal, Jack devouring the stew with a hunger that comes from pushing his body to its limits. His eyes never leave yours, filled with gratitude for the simple comforts of home.

After dinner, you lead Jack to your shared bedroom, dimming the lights to create a serene atmosphere. "I'll go get the massage oil," you murmured under your breath, "just get comfortable."

Jack nodded his head and discarded his damp shirt, revealing the tapestry of muscles beneath. He laid face down on the bed, the sheets cool against his flushed skin. The room was bathed in a soft, golden light from the bedside lamp, casting a warm glow across the space.

You return with a bottle of almond-scented massage oil, the cap already loosened. You warm a generous amount in your palms, feeling the slickness of it as you rub them together. The scent fills the air, mixing with the faint remnants of his sweat and the lingering aroma of dinner.

"This might be cold," you warn, placing your hands on his back. His skin jumps at the sudden chill, but he relaxes almost immediately as you begin to work the oil into his muscles. Your thumbs press into the knots, applying firm, even pressure. You can feel the tension in his body start to dissolve, like sand slipping through your fingers.

You start at the base of his neck, working in slow, circular motions. His breathing deepens, and his body sags into the mattress. With each stroke, you feel the tautness of his muscles give way to your touch. You've learned his body's language over the months you've been together, the silent cues that indicate pain or pleasure, the spots that need extra attention.

The rain outside has turned into a gentle patter, the rhythm of the drops a soothing backdrop to the focused quiet of the room. You move down to his shoulders, applying more pressure, feeling the knots protest before they loosen. Jack lets out a sigh that's part relief, part contentment.

You glide your hands down his spine, spreading the warmth of the oil and your touch along the way. His breath hitches when you hit a particularly tight spot, but he remains still, trusting in your ability to bring him relief. Your thumbs dig in, kneading the tight muscles until they start to unravel. His skin is slick with the oil, making it easier to glide over the contours of his back.

As you work, Jack's breathing evens out, his body melting into the bed. The rain outside has become a soothing lullaby, complementing the rhythmic motions of your hands. You switch to long strokes, going from the base of his spine to the tips of his shoulders, feeling the tension dissipate with each pass. His back is a landscape of ridges and valleys, each one telling the story of the day's exertion.

You pause for a moment, taking in the scene. The warm light, the soft sounds of Jack's breathing, the scent of the massage oil blending with the rain-soaked air. It's a moment of quiet intimacy that you cherish, a reminder of why you're here, taking care of him. You resume your ministrations, applying gentle pressure to the small of his back, where the tension often hides.

"Does it hurt anywhere else?" you ask, your voice a soft whisper in the stillness.

Jack mumbles something unintelligible, his body now boneless under your touch. You interpret it as an invitation to continue. You glide your hands over his lower back, feeling the tension coil like a spring beneath your fingertips. With precision, you work on the tight muscles around his spine, the sound of his breathing guiding your movements.

As the minutes tick by, Jack's body relaxes further, the tightness in his muscles giving way to your persistent efforts. His legs twitch slightly, a sign that the tension is slowly seeping out of him. You switch to using your elbows, applying deeper pressure to the muscles along his spine, feeling the knots slowly dissolve.

The rain outside has become a gentle hum, the rhythm of the drops syncing with the rhythm of your movements. You can almost feel the stress of the day being washed away along with the rain. The room is warm and cozy, a cocoon of comfort for the both of you.

Jack's breathing slows, his body fully surrendering to the massage. You know he's close to falling asleep, but you want to ensure every inch of his back is attended to. You move down to his lower back, where the muscles are often the most neglected. Your hands glide over the contours, pressing firmly into the knots that remain. His legs twitch slightly in response, but he doesn't protest.

"Did that hurt, babe?" you ask, pausing as Jack's body tenses for a brief moment.

"A bit," he mumbles, his voice thick with sleep.

You apologize, but he waves it off with a lazy hand. "It's okay," he murmurs, his breathing already evening out again. You decide to be more cautious, using the flats of your palms to soothe the remaining tension in his lower back. The warmth of your hands seeps into his skin, and you can feel the last vestiges of his day's exertion slowly releasing.

As you continue to massage, Jack's body relaxes even further, his breaths deepening into the steady rhythm of sleep. You switch to lighter strokes, not wanting to disturb him. The tension in the room has shifted from one of pain and fatigue to one of peace and contentment. You take a moment to appreciate the feeling of his muscles relaxing beneath your touch, the trust he has in you to care for him.

The room is filled with the comforting scent of the massage oil, mingling with the faint aroma of rain that seeps through the windows. You can hear the distant sound of a car driving by, the wipers a metronome in the night. The warm lights sent softly glowed, sending a flicker of light across Jack's relaxed features. His forehead is smooth, no longer creased with pain.

You take a step back, admiring your handiwork. His body, once a battleground of tension, is now a canvas of tranquility. You gently squeeze his shoulder. "I'm all done now," you murmur.

Jack stirs, his eyes fluttering open. He turns his head to look at you, a sleepy smile gracing his lips. "Thanks," he whispers, his voice hoarse from the exertion of the day.

"You're welcome," you reply, your own smile mirroring his. "How do you feel?"

Jack stretches his arms over his head, arching his back. "So much better," he says, the tension in his voice replaced with a hint of satisfaction. "You have magic hands."

You laugh softly, the sound like a melody in the quiet room. "No magic, just a bit of TLC," you reply, taking the towel you've warmed and placing it over his lower back. The heat seeps into his skin, a gentle warmth that adds to his relaxation.

Jack groans in contentment as the warmth spreads, his eyes closing again. You take the opportunity to admire the defined muscles of his back, the way his body has transformed under the rigorous training regime. Each ridge and curve tells the story of his dedication, his passion for the sport that consumes his life. You feel a swell of pride, knowing that you're part of his support system, the one who helps him recover after each grueling day.

You lean down, placing a gentle kiss on his shoulder blade. "You should get some rest," you murmur, your breath fanning over his skin.

Jack nods, his eyes still closed. "Yeah," he agrees, his voice a rumble of satisfaction. "But don't go anywhere, okay?"

You sit on the edge of the bed, your hand resting on his back, feeling the rise and fall of his breaths. "I'm not going anywhere," you promise, stroking his skin lightly. The rain outside has turned into a steady pitter-patter, the sound of it a gentle lullaby.

Jack's eyes remain closed, his body fully relaxed under the warmth of the towel and your lingering touch. He rolls over onto his side, his eyes fluttering open to meet yours. The exhaustion has lifted, replaced by a softness that makes him look younger than his 22 years. "Thank you," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

You lean in closer, your foreheads touching. "It's nothing," you reply, feeling the warmth of his breath against your skin.

Jack's hand reaches up, cupping your cheek. "It's not nothing," he says, his eyes searching yours. "You always know what I need, even when I don't."

You blush, your heart swelling with affection. "It's just what we do for each other," you reply, your voice a whisper.

Jack nods, his eyes never leaving yours. He takes a deep breath, the tension in his body replaced by a newfound ease. "I'm lucky to have you," he says, his voice earnest.

You smile, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. "And I'm lucky to have you too," you reply, your hand resting on his chest. His heart beats steadily beneath your palm, a rhythm that matches the calming patter of the rain.

Jack's grip on your cheek tightens for a moment before he leans in and kisses you, a soft press of his lips that speaks volumes. The kiss is a gentle reminder of the connection you share, the unspoken understanding that goes beyond words.

Breaking away, he pulls you closer, wrapping his arm around your waist. "Stay with me," he whispers, his eyes pleading. You nod, curling up beside him, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. The bed shifts as he gets more comfortable, his arm pulling you tighter against him.

You lay there for a moment, listening to the rain, feeling his heartbeat against your chest. His breathing evens out, and you know he's close to sleep. But before he drifts off, he speaks again, his voice a soft rumble in the quiet. "I love you."

The words hang in the air, warm and tender, wrapping around you like a blanket. You lean in closer, pressing your nose to his neck, inhaling the scent of sweat and shampoo that is uniquely him. "I love you too," you murmur, your voice barely audible.

[aliciameade]

Darkness at Dawn - Ch. 3

Title: Darkness at Dawn Author: aliciameade Rating: M/E Pairing: Stephanie Smothers/Emily Nelson Summary: Even Bonnie & Clyde met their fate eventually.

Set five years after "Baby."

Also on AO3

The next several days are spent circling one another in the rec yard, Stephanie keeping her distance, Emily staring her down. It’s an act, one Stephanie knows Emily is directing, and she needs to patiently await her cue.

It’s a Sunday afternoon, she thinks, when there’s an uproar in the cellblock. She doesn’t bother rushing to her door’s tiny window to look. She’s too short anyway, and her cellmates wouldn’t let her have a glimpse even if she asked. She’s familiar with the noise though: it’s the welcoming committee of prisoners welcoming a new resident to their section. She’s heard it often, though this “celebration” is especially boisterous and is accompanied by a lot of shouted chatter.

One of her cellmates makes a comment about needing to watch her back.

The next morning at breakfast, Stephanie walks to her usual table with her tray. She’s managed to befriend (she uses the term loosely) a handful of women who all tend to keep to themselves. Two of them are pregnant.

“Hey, baby.”

She slows her pace, looking for the voice to see she’s walked past Emily sitting at the table that’s always occupied by many of the most intimidating, violent inmates of her block. They make eye contact.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you. You speak English? Looks like it.”

She pauses, fingers tapping the sides of her plastic tray. “Uh, yeah.”

“You’re cute. Come here.”

She turns slowly, not exactly sure what Emily’s up to, but she’s buzzing with the opportunity to finally do more than exchange glances. Emily’s holding court, eight or nine other women sitting around the circular table. She makes a sharp comment and they all shuffle until there’s a space next to her.

“Sit with me.”

Stephanie spares a glance at her usual table, its residents watching with rapt attention and fear. It feels a bit like Regina George inviting Cady Heron to join The Plastics’ table in Mean Girls if it had been a prison and not a high school cafeteria.

The women sitting at Emily’s table are also staring and exchanging glances with one another but no comments are made until she fits herself in the space made vacant for her. It’s a narrow spot and she’s grateful for it. Her hip presses into Emily’s, their upper arms grazing. She bumps her foot against Emily’s under the table. She hasn’t felt Emily’s warmth in weeks, has barely heard her voice…taken in the scent that she carries, even here, in the dank, odiferous prison that grants inmates two showers per week. She’s still wearing her hair in a pair of braids, and Stephanie considers braiding her own hair later. It would certainly help with the lack of traditional grooming options.

“What’s your name, baby?” Emily asks as she looks down at her from her height. She’s wearing the same smile Stephanie remembers from the first day they ever spent together, Emily catching her dancing to a French tune in her house. It’s a smile of amusement that reaches her eyes, but one very much laced with danger, or maybe predation, her sharp, straight teeth that have pressed into so much of Stephanie’s flesh over the years on display now.

“Uh…” Stephanie shifts and glances at the women staring at her, everyone waiting for what she’ll say or do. She’d been booked under her given name, and she’d shared it with her cellmates because using a false name in prison, even with other prisoners, seemed unwise.

“It’s Stephanie, right? I know everyone here.”

“Yes,” she answers as she tentatively picks up the unappetizing sandwich from her tray to take a well-observed bite of it. The action garners a strange round of whispers and she wonders if, based on the untouched food on the other women’s trays, she was meant to ask permission. From whom? From Emily?

Emily waves off her response and picks up her sandwich, the rest of the table relaxing a bit and following suit. “I’m going to call you ‘baby.’ You can call me Emily.” 

Stephanie hides her smile in another bite.

Emily rattles off a list of names of the other women at the table as an introduction; some of the names Stephanie already knows from overhearing conversations, others are new to her. They are the women she’s pointedly avoided, their reputations and auras far too menacing.

Emily’s aura, however, is in control of their audience, but they’re starting to lose interest in the lack of action and start to fall into conversation with one another.

“Anyone get to you yet?” 

Stephanie slows her chewing of her terrible sandwich which has a good chance of disagreeing with her stomach later. The question is a double entendre. Emily wants to know if anyone’s made Stephanie their pet yet. If she’s someone’s girlfriend, voluntary or otherwise.

And Stephanie also recognizes that, unsurprisingly as she has managed to do in every scenario, Emily has already claimed a position of power. It’s the first time the thought crosses her mind that maybe Emily, before knowing they would find each other, had claimed a girlfriend or two of her own as a way to assert dominance over the women of her last block. The thought makes her sick, or maybe it’s the sandwich, and she drops it to her tray.

She struggles to keep her eyes down, the natural inclination to look at the person talking to her, especially her wife, is a challenging one. She shakes her head, and she feels Emily’s hand on her back, rubbing it seductively in front of the entire room, and Stephanie can sense everyone taking notice.

“Good.” For a brief moment, her fingertips even slip under the edge of Stephanie’s too-large thread-bare brown sweater and it makes her whole body jump.

She hopes the watchful eyes interpret it as fear that the inmate running things has just laid claim to her as opposed to the arousal of having not been with Emily in months coursing through her. She swallows hard and does nothing else but press her knee against Emily’s under the table.

“Listen up,” Emily suddenly barks, in Greek, and the entire mess hall takes notice. “Anyone touches Baby, you die. This one’s mine.”

A murmur rolls through the hundred or so women sitting at tables like their own until a few of them wolf-whistle and a chorus of hoots, hollers, obscenities, and table-pounding breaks out. It results in the guards, heretofore paying them little mind as meals were a mutually agreed-upon neutral zone (everyone needed to eat, and if a fight broke out, all would go hungry), shouting and stalking threateningly through the rows of tables until everyone settles down.

The distraction lets Stephanie better settle at the table, dropping one hand first to her lap while she picks at the bread on her tray with the other, before briefly sneaking it over to squeeze Emily’s thigh. There are so many people around the table that she knows no one can see what’s happening beneath it, obscured by everyone’s legs, but she doesn’t risk more than that. She does her best to look aggrieved at being claimed, but she’s confident her cheeks are pink.

“Fuck this slop,” Emily announces, first shoving her tray away, then standing up from the table. She looks down at Stephanie and gives a jerk of her head and Stephanie reads it like the command it is and stands as well. She watches with awe as one of the women at the table takes both their trays and first divvy up their leftovers and then racks their trays for them. “Let’s go. Mama needs some attention.”

She strides toward the room’s exit; the only place inmates are allowed when they finish eating is to return to their cells, and very few have done so. Stephanie follows closely, still feeling eyes on her as snide, inappropriate comments are made within earshot about how physically injured she’s about to become. They leave the mess hall, past guards who are engaged in conversation, into their cell block. They pass Stephanie’s empty cell and continue down the corridor lined with heavy metal doors that, for now, sit open and unlocked.

When they reach Emily’s cell, she’s pulled into it and hears the door close behind her, though it doesn’t lock. A guard will be by within the hour to do that.

“Oh, my God, I missed you,” she says, almost crying as she rushes into Emily’s arms. She’s caught and held close, then lifted so her legs can wrap instinctually around Emily’s waist. They’re kissing like the first time they’d made love, sloppy passion on Emily’s designer couch in her million-dollar house. Now, it’s sloppy passion on Emily’s thin-mattressed bunk where they land, Stephanie astride Emily’s hips.

“I missed you, too, baby,” Emily says between kisses, her tongue claiming and reclaiming Stephanie’s mouth as they grab hastily at each other. She’s moving quickly and while Stephanie has no idea how much time they have, she has a suspicion that if Emily’s cell door is closed, her cellmates know to wait until they’re allowed to return. 

She’s okay with quick, though, and moans when Emily’s hand finds her bare breast under her sweater and the other easily moves into her pants, and underwear that she’s grateful Emily can’t see, to slide her fingers into Stephanie.

“Fuck,” she breathes into Emily’s mouth, hips riding Emily hard and fast. It’s only been a couple of months, but it's been full of anxiety, stress, unknowns, and loneliness and sex had been the last thing on her mind until Emily threw a basketball at her head. But now she’s starved, ravenous, and she can’t manage to keep their mouths connected. She’s moving too much and lets her head fall next to Emily’s, moaning and begging in her ear as Emily fucks her in a prison cell.

“Come for me, baby,” Emily purrs in her ear and she does, heat and wetness rushing through her as she cries out, Emily’s hand abandoning her breasts to wrap around Stephanie’s back and pull her in closer, lips and tongue reaching her ear and jaw and neck.

It ends with a sob and Stephanie’s fully crying when it’s eased enough to lift her head. She ignores the tears as she kisses Emily, still riding her fingers as she adjusts her position so she can reach between them and push her hand down Emily’s sweatpants to find her soaked and swollen. She circles her clit in the way she’s long-known turns Emily into a writhing mess.

It works, and Emily’s cursing and begging, and the metal frame of the bunk they’re in is starting to screech against the floor with their thrusting, and Stephanie’s all but forgotten their reality. She slides her fingers lower to push inside Emily to feel her trembling from within and presses the heel of her hand into her clit, her hips riding Emily’s hard, working to fuck each other at the same pace.

It’s messy and desperate and Emily bites her neck as they come together, hard enough that Stephanie knows she’ll leave a noticeable mark for everyone to see. That she’s been claimed.

When it’s over, they’re breathing hard, tangled together, still dressed though Stephanie’s pants have worked their way as low as her stance allows. She feels Emily’s heart racing beneath her fingertips, fingertips that are resting over Emily’s breast. They kiss lazily. Languidly. Lost in the haze of reunion and release until the echo of voices starts growing louder as inmates begin to return.

“What are we going to do?” she says between kisses as she starts to come back to herself and take stock of the situation. 

Emily’s smiling up at her. “Anything we want. I run this place.”

She huffs and sits up, still astride Emily’s waist, though Emily’s fingers are between her lips rather than inside Stephanie. It’s distracting, but not quite enough. “This place is prison, Em.”

“I know,” she says after drawing her fingers from between her lips with a pop!. “And now I own the sweetest snatch in this godforsaken place.”

Stephanie jostles Emily beneath her, even if she’s flattered. “Be serious. What are we going to do? Detective Summerville showed up when they took me to the hospital after I fainted. He knows—”

“Thinks he knows,” Emily interrupts. “That man really has a thing for you.”

“—yes, thinks he knows what we did. Or, at least he has a pretty good idea of what he thinks we did. He said because we forged our everything, we aren’t legally married, and that’s going to negate our spousal privilege in court, my adopting Nicky is null, and Em, they cleared Sean and released him and Summerville contacted him. I have no idea where Miles is, if he’s with Helen, or if they’ve put him in a foster home. I assume Sean has Nicky by now.”

Emily sobers quickly and sits up. “He did what?”

“He said he called Sean to tell him they found us. We were still missing persons. He said Sean was already flying here, and my attorney still hasn’t contacted me. Have you heard from yours?”

“Not since we were transferred. She said it might take a while, but we have a plan.”

“What’s the plan?”

Emily’s about to answer when she closes her mouth. “We aren’t married.”

“I know that, please don’t remind me.”

“We can’t protect each other. They could try to get one of us to incriminate the other. Or both. It’s better if we don’t talk about it.”

“Em, I would never—” she rushes, framing Emily’s face with her hands.

“I know.” Emily’s voice is low and quiet. “I know that. Let me do this. Let me protect you. This is all my fault anyway.”

“Hey, no.” Stephanie leans in and kisses her. The voices in the corridor are loud now, and she can hear them right outside their door. Emily’s cellmates are waiting to be allowed in, she assumes. “Don’t rewrite history. I chose this. I chose you.”

Emily kisses her at the statement and they get lost in it for a moment before a buzzer sounds; it’s a warning to get back to your assigned cell before they’re locked. She’s seen what happens to those who miss the headcount while bunking up with someone else, or just choosing to be a troublemaker.

Or rather, she hasn’t seen it. They disappear. For days. They return bruised and beaten, or not at all.

“Trust me,” Emily says, kissing her urgently at their clock ticking down. “Do you trust me?”

“Always.”

Emily kisses her as they clamber off the bunk, her hand reaching to push her cell door open, but stops just short as they kiss. Stephanie knows they’re being watched; there’s no way they’re not, standing right in front of the small window in the door as they are. She’s barely tall enough to peer out of her own cell door, but Emily’s sure to be fully in frame even if she has to lean down. There’s whistling and shouting and Emily finally takes a step back and Stephanie can see her slipping into her boss persona. 

“What did you do to make them all respect you this way?”

Emily shrugs and tries to tidy Stephanie’s mussed hair and crooked sweater. “Told them I killed my sister.”

“Imagine if they knew it was little ol’ me,” she says with a laugh. “Can’t believe I’m the boss’s bitch now,” she says with one last kiss to Emily’s lips. “You’re hot when you’re the alpha.”

“Oh, baby,” Emily says as she swings the cell door open to a chorus of cheers and vulgar gestures, “I’m always the alpha.”