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jackredfieldwasmyjacob · 3 years ago

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THE 12 TRIBES OF PELTAL

According to Duveghian Religion, Lughet created Everything and, upon doing so, he birthed twelve spirits he put in charge of mantaining Order while he had to fight against Chaos. These Twelve Spirits are the central focus not only of Duveghian Religion, but of Peltan society and culture. Each of these spirits created a tribe with a specific role in society; these roles may not be altered, for the Order will be broken and Chaos will grow stronger, posing a threat to Lughet and the Twelve.

The calendar pays a huge role into the sorting of people into tribes; the month of your birth determines which tribe you belong to. You are marked with a tattoo that depicts the symbol and common name of your tribe, and have to adhere to it after graduation from school, when you are 18.

The year is divided into 12 months of 30 days, and the first month of each year gets 5 days more. At the start of every month, the ceremony of yikaaqyy takes place, which decides what spirit presides under that month and, of course, under which tribe the ones born in that month are gonna be sorted into. There is no predefined order in the months or anything like that to let everything happen according to the Twelve's will. The months are listed by the common name of the Spirit, which corresponds to the common name of the tribe (Month of the Lion, Month of the Scorpion, etc).

Below I'll detail the characteristics of each of the tribes, their protector spirit (they are refered as "kindred of..."), and their career paths once they achieve adulthood.

LIONS, KINDRED OF QAVMIF

The Lions are the Warriors. Once they finish school, they are distributed in big five Barracks located in the cities of Iiz, Nuzniin, Ik, Myaa and Bini during 2 years. Depending on their performance there, they are then distributed around Peltal onto different jobs such as soldiers, guards, police enforcement, bodyguards, or hunters.

DRAGONS, KINDRED OF YNAALAN

The Dragons are the Nobles. After their school graduation, they are sent to the Golden House (Oo-Uuzay Vavyuulo), where they spent the next 9 years learning all about nobility, important Dragons, networking etc and attending balls and other activities among other Dragons. After those 9 years, they have to have find a sponsor, who'll help them settle in as lords of hamlets, villages, towns or cities; as heirs of other Dragons; or as lower landowners or landlords.

GAZELLES, KINDRED OF AAZFUH

The Gazelles are the Mages. During their last year in school they have to take a series of exams to enroll into a Magic School, be it in Peltal or overseas (the requirements for going to a Magic School not in Peltal are usually very high and only the best students from the country can even dare to apply to them). Peltal has a total of 7 different magic schools, located in Tanaas, Ceeopy, Audidyuu, Bini, Fio, Binifiobuc, and Aaskuun. After studying wind or sand magic along with different secondary magics during 4 or 6 years (depending on what career path you want to pursue), Gazelles might work in a variety of different occupations such as itinerant mage, magic practitioner / seller, battle sorcerer, healer, scholar, and others.

SCORPIONS, KINDRED OF KYIIFTUN

The Scorpions are the Leaders. After finishing school, they are sent to the Nest of Stings (Iih oo-Aqaatqaqfuj), near the town of Fiidaupyy for 3 years, after which they'll be interviewed by clan leaders (they have to be of the same clan as the interviewed Scorpion) and marquises in need of an heir. If they're not selected, they can still be selected to be an official or an administrative in their court or under their guidance. Most end up in the Duke's court as officials, courtesans and ministers, or they can also be heads and administrators of companies.

RIVERS, KINDRED OF AMAABDUHM

The Rivers are the Makers. Once they graduate, they have to register as an apprendice in one of the offices located in the main cities of the country (Tanaas, Ceeopy, Audidyuu and Binifiobuc) to commence their apprenticeship. Normally Rivers have talked beforehand with the fellow River they want to become their master, or at least know what they want their speciality to be. In case they haven't chosen a master and / or a speciality, they will be randomly chosen among all Rivers in Peltal. The master has the faculty to extend the apprenticeship as long as they see fit, and to declare the apprentice a fellow master. After that, the River can finally work as one, free from the mentorship of the master.

BIRDS, KINDRED OF SAAWKIIB

The Birds are the Sellers. After finishing school, they have to register themselves as a Bird in one of the offices located in the main cities of the country. There, they'll have to choose their speciality: tenant, merchant or diplomat. Each speciality has a different path:

Tenants have to talk either with the Dragon of their hometown or the Scorpion of their district if they're from Binifiobuc, describing their future shop and the products they'll have, to get a physical space in which to set up said shop (their home is usually in that same building, so it doubles as bargaining for a house). The Dragon or Scorpion have the authority to accept it, decline their proposal or to relegate them as an apprentice of a Bird with a similar shop. The tenant Bird can get an interview with the Dragon as many times as they want and in any town in Peltal they want.

Merchants get assigned a distributor at the registry (just as with Rivers, Birds could've previously spoken and chosen said distributor themselves or at least a sector in which they would like to work in). After passing an exam (with contents in driving carts, animals and ships, quality of the product, personal defense, caring of the product and others) they'll become part of the team of the distributor, usually led by another Bird, a River or a Goat, that'll let them act as a merchant in all of the territory, both in and out of Peltal; in land or in sea.

Diplomats get interviewed by a panel of Scorpions from the Ducal Court of Binifiobuc, and, if they approve of the candidate, they'll be assigned diplomatic missions of all kinds in other countries and lands.

GOATS, KINDRED OF AAYNAUMIZ

The Goats are the Artists. Much like the Rivers, after graduation they have to register as an apprentice, following the same conventions as the Rivers. However, once their master decides they have concluded their apprenticeship, they have to then get a patron. As such, they have to present their work every year during the Festivities of the Goat until a patron, who can be of any tribe but is usually a Dragon or a Scorpion, decides to sponsor them. Only then they become a full-fledged Goat.

CAMELS, KINDRED OF DJAO

The Camels are the Clerics. Once they finish school they are sent to the Great Chapel (Oo-Hulmwuubaa Liinquuqbaa), near the town of Kaan, to study theology during 3 years. Upon graduating, they'll be assigned a role (depending on their performance during the previous year and the disponibility of each year) by the Hearer themselves. Camels can be shamans, chapel aides, theologists, aides of the Hearer, Dog hunters, etc. They can form a family with no problem whatsoever, except for the aides of the Hearer, as they are next in line to become the purest of mortal,s the Hearer themselves.

HUNTERS, KINDRED OF CEEFIZ

The Hunters are the Travellers. Upon graduating, they have to register themselves as a Hunter in one of the main cities of the country and inscribe themselves in one of the 35 mercenary guilds. Each of the guilds works differently, is active in a different part of the world and has its own set of rules, most of them allow smaller groups within the guilds, while some are more strict and work as a whole. If the Hunter has not previously thought about this and chosen a guild themselves, they will be randomly placed in one. Normally, the first year is spent in the Headquarters of the guild, which can be in Peltal or in another country, training and learning the ways around their new life, and in the second year onwards their either form a new group or be introduced in an older one in need of a new crew member. Below is a map with all the areas of influence of each guild along with their name and headquarters:

eOXEN, KINDRED OF YAABIVUQ

The Oxen are the Growers. Once they finish with school, the Dragon of their hometown, which is their new lord, redistributes them in various ways. If there's a necessity of new Oxen in their lands, they'll give them a place to live and a job. If there's no room for Oxen anymore, the Dragon has the obligation to find a fellow Dragon who can relocate them in their lands. Normally, almost all Oxen are relocated to the most fertile lands in Peltal (Leyev and Binifiobuc) to work as farmers, but some of them also work as miners, shepherds, cattle herders, fishermen or gatherers in their home areas. In exchange for food, shelter and security, the Oxen have to give a percentage of their gatherings to the Dragons; this percentage changes between margraves.

TREES, KINDRED OF ONAU

The Trees are the Helpers. After graduation they are sent to study in the Palm Grove (Oo-Gabcaanauu), with dozens of specialities and optative courses. After 5 years, they graduate and get to inscribe themselves as an official Tree in the registration office at one of the main cities in the country, that acts as a job board. There's a Tree Office in almost all localities, where any other tribe can hire a Tree to help them out in all sorts of jobs, depending on their academic curriculum and speciality. They have a lot of possibilites; from teachers and administrative aides to secretaries, servants, butlers, maids, mailmen, delivery people, workforce in construction sites, store clerks or even waiters.

DOGS, KINDRED OF PYODIIY

The Dogs are the Repudiated. Their role is to perish to mantain the Order and as such, they have no need to be scholarized. When they turn eighteen, or in the rare occasion when they go to school and get to graduate, they are banned from society and condemned to the desert forever.

#magiyai #worldbuilding #peltal #yes i made a whole map for just the hunters #i also made little descriptions of each of them but i didn't want to make the post like twice as long #also speaking of hunters #keep an eye for the wind watchers 👀#btw i've said this before i think but the main characters of my book are a gazelle and a dog!#the gazelle is called jiji and it's the daughter of a bird and a lion and has a little bro who's a river #the dog is called li and it's the son of a goat and a hunter

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fibula-rasa · 4 years ago

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12 Christmas Films of a Century Past

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to watch somewhere around 50 Christmas and Christmas-adjacent silent films from before 1920 to put together a playlist for you all. So, I hope you enjoy!

I chose these twelve as a representative selection. My general criteria were:

Christmas should be central to the story

The plot should be novel to a modern viewer or something a modern viewer would be surprised to see so early on film

The list on the whole should have a variety of settings and narrative structures

Here’s a direct link to the YouTube playlist if you want to watch them all in one go. (They are all shorter than feature length!)

Two quick presentation notes: 1. Some of the videos have music and some don’t, so you may want to check your volume level. 2. The intertitles for some of these films are not in English, so be sure you have captions turned on for English translations.

See the whole list BELOW THE JUMP!

1. Santa Claus (1898) (UK)

Directed by George Albert Smith

Short and sweet, this film sees children put to bed by their nanny on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus coming down the chimbley to fill their dutifully hung stockings. Director G.A. Smith used his own patented technique of double exposure to show Santa’s arrival without cutting away from the children’s room. Santa Claus might not pack the punch of a Méliès trick film, but it’s a fun novelty and is purportedly the first appearance of Santa Claus on film.

2. The Little Match Seller (1902) (UK)

Directed by James Williamson

This one’s quick but effective adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson tragedy featuring impressively well-coordinated superimpositions.

3. The Christmas Angel (1904) (FR)

Directed by George Méliès for Star Film Company

The Christmas Angel follows an impoverished girl driven into the city to beg on a snowy winter night. First she’s chased away from a church by more seasoned beggars; then she’s thrown out of a poultry seller and harassed by police. On the verge of falling asleep in the snow, a rag-and-bone man rouses her and offers her help. Later, the girl passes out beside a road but is luckily spotted by a wealthy couple on a car ride. When they learn of her plight, they bring her home along with food and gifts.

Though not as fantastical as some of Méliès’ more famous works, The Christmas Angel is still highly stylized (and stylish) and features special effects that photograph beautifully. It’s also worth noting that the version of the film included here is the American cut. The original French cut, titled Détresse et Charité (Distress and Charity), did not include the sequence with the wealthy couple and instead ends with the girl dying in the snow.

4. The Night Before Christmas (1905) (US)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

This is the first time the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was put on film. Loosely following the poem, we see Santa Claus prepare for his yearly trek while a middle-class family prepares for his visit. When Santa heads out, we are treated to an extended panning sequence with a fully painted backdrop for a mini Santa and his reindeer to glide across. When Santa arrives at the family home, he chaotically dumps presents and decorations around their living room and makes a large, decorated tree appear out of thin air. (Across many of the movies I watched to put this post together, this seems to be a favored scenario for the jolly fat man around this time–and it’s delightful.) The family then wakes to find their gifts and the film closes with Santa directly wishing us a Merry Christmas.

5. A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus (1907) (US)

Directed by J. Searle Dawley and Edwin S. Porter for Edison Manufacturing Company

Even at the risk of this list being too Edison heavy, I couldn’t leave this great short out. While walking with his mother, a rich little boy encounters a poor little girl alone in the cold. They take her home to play and warm up. When the boy learns that the girl doesn’t believe in Santa because apparently Santa doesn’t visit poor children, he hatches a scheme. On Christmas Eve, the boy has a stake out near the fireplace and takes Santa hostage, tying him up and holding him at gunpoint. The boy then forces Santa to visit the girl–going so far as shimmying down the chimney himself to let Santa in the front door. When the girl wakes up to a beautifully decorated tree, new toys, and a full stocking, she can finally believe in Santa Claus. While I’m generally not so into stories about supposedly benevolent rich people, I do love the implications this story has on how Santa Claus works and I also find the means with which the boy gets his way hilarious.

6. Il Natale di Cretinetti / Foolshead’s Christmas (1909) (IT)

and Come fu che l’ingordigia rovino il Natale di Cretinetti / How Greediness Spoilt Foolshead’s Christmas (1910)

and Il Natale di Cretinetti (1911)

Directed by Andre Deed for Itala Film

This entry is a three-for, which I hope you’ll excuse, but I couldn’t decide which Cretinetti Christmas to share! Cretinetti, the comedic persona of filmmaker Andre Deed, is an absolute agent of chaos.

In the 1909 film, Cretinetti attempts to bring a tree home for a Christmas party. The destruction escalates wildly, culminating in an entire building falling to pieces.

If you can believe it, the stakes are even higher in the 1910 film, when Cretinetti can’t resist sneaking out of bed on Christmas Eve to snack on the candy decorating the tree. When Santa sees what Cretinetti has done, he chides him and takes him back to his workshop, which is apparently in heaven. Destruction ensues. Cretinetti then proceeds to cause havoc for Saint Peter, annoying god so much that he calls the devil to come get Cretinetti. Cretinetti is then chased to hell where demons try to cook him alive. Thankfully, spoiler alert, it was all a bad dream and he wakes up on Christmas morning with a terrible stomach ache.

The 1911 film returns to localized chaos. Cretinetti has a run-in with a mail carrier and his Christmas packages get mixed up with one of the carrier’s parcels. The parcel contains three bottles of ether which then begin to emit gasses in the middle of the family Christmas party.

I wasn’t familiar with Cretinetti before reviewing films for this list, but I’m definitely going to seek out more of Deed’s movies. Each of these films had well-executed chaotic slapstick; over-the-top in all the right ways.

7. Making Christmas Crackers (1910) (UK)

Produced by Cricks & Martin Films for Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs Confectionery

To start, if you’re not sure what a Christmas cracker is, it’s a colorfully decorated paper tube that makes a cracking noise as you pull it open. Inside the tube is a paper hat, a joke, and/or a small toy. It’s a traditional part of UK Christmas celebrations.

This short starts as a documentary of the workers at Clarke, Nickolls, & Coombs constructing the crackers. It’s a fun thought that as early as 1910, people were interested in watching how mass-produced consumer goods were made. It’s also fun to see these skilled workers ply their trade so deftly (even though I’m sure wages and working conditions were less than ideal). The film ends with a family celebrating around a Christmas tree topped with a functional giant cracker.

8. A Christmas Carol (1910) (US)

Directed by J. Searle Dawley for Edison Films Manufacturing Company

There are so so so many film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol made before 1920 that it was hard to choose which one to include on this list. In the end I chose this 1910 version for its economy of storytelling, fluid use of special effects, and for Marc McDermott’s great performance as Scrooge.

9. Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner (1911) (US)

Directed by Gilbert M. Anderson (Broncho Billy) for The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company

Gilbert M. Anderson was an incredibly prolific and popular filmmaker and star of early American film, particularly in his role as Broncho Billy. As was typical for Anderson, he’s pulling triple duty on Broncho Billy’s Christmas Dinner as the star, director, and producer. The film features a simple and heartwarming story.

On Christmas, Billy comes across a young woman in peril as her horses got startled and are now pulling her cart along wildly. Billy manages to wrangle the horses and in gratitude she invites him to Christmas dinner at her parents’ home. Unfortunately, her father happens to be the sheriff. But, all is well, as it turns out that Broncho Billy’s been given a pardon and the sheriff welcomes him to the table gladly.

The enduring appeal of outlaws or criminals getting into the Christmas spirit is fascinating to me and it’s cool to see such an early instance of the story!

10. Le Noel de la princesse / The Little Princess’s XMas Gift (1911) (FR)

Produced by Société Générale des Cinématographes Éclipse

In all honesty, this is the least Christmassy of all the films I included here, but its style and novelty stood out. The sets, costuming, and production design are lush. It might also be one of the weirdest Christmas stories I’ve even encountered.

After Lord Othberg passes away, the conniving Otto plans to assassinate the baby prince in order to inherit the lordship himself. He poisons the baby, but the princess prays for her baby brother to come back to life as her Christmas gift. An angel appears to her and they summon Jesus, who resurrects her baby brother. Of course, they then place the revivified baby in the castle’s nativity scene, to the joy of all but Otto.

11. Ida’s Christmas (1912) (US)

Directed by Van Dyke Brooke for Vitagraph Company of America

With a more classic Christmassy story, Ida’s Christmas tells us of a family who are facing hard times. Ida (played by a very small Dolores Costello) has her eyes on a pricey doll. Meanwhile, her mother seeks out employment with a wealthy family. The matriarch of the wealthy family overhears Ida’s wish and decides to buy the doll for her as a surprise. Later, Ida is distraught to find that the doll has been purchased but comes across a wallet that someone has dropped. She considers taking the money, but chases down the owner instead. The old man gives her some reward money for returning the wallet. Ida rushes to see if she can buy the doll, but has second thoughts when she thinks about how much her family could use the money. She arrives home with the money just in time for a Santa-esque old man to show up bearing packages and an assurance that the wealthy family has work for her father. The film ends with the family celebrating an unexpectedly Merry Christmas.

It’s a sweet story that hits so many beats of what we now consider traditional Christmas tales.

12. Rozhdestvo obitateley lesa / The Insect’s Christmas (1913) (RU)

Directed by Władysław Starewicz for Khanzhonkov

Fair warning, if you thought The Princess’s XMas Gift was odd, you might need to ready yourself for this one. Stop-motion virtuoso Władysław Starewicz (Ladislas Starevich) spins a tale about a tiny ornament of Santa/Ded Moroz coming to life on Christmas and going out into the wild to bring Christmas joy to creatures small and smaller, including a frog and a ladybug. Starewicz’s animation is as impeccable as ever and the short is imaginative and quirky.

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riversofmars · 4 years ago

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Well whenever ya get to it.. maybe a fic where 13 comes across River in a bad mood because River and 12 had a fight? Lol, I suppose it could be the same fight that led to 12 sulking with otters and at the end 13 drops River off with 12 so they can make up.

Thank you! I really hope you like what I did with it! <3

Word count: 2600

Rating: G

Read on AO3 or below

A Stolen Moment

“Step away from the bars!“

Yaz remained seated in the poison cell, she wasn’t stupid enough to get in the guard’s way as they slid open the iron bars.

“You know you’re really going to regret this. I was going to let you live once I get out of here but now, I’ll make sure I kill you first.“ A woman was shoved into the cell who regarded the guard with a threatening glance. The guard, however, just laughed at her threat and locked the door again. “Mark my words!“ She called after him but didn’t get a response. “Well, that’s just rude.“ The woman huffed and had a look around the cell. It was pretty cramped, twelve prisoners last time Yaz had counted. “You lot seem like a whole lot of fun.“ The new arrival stated as everyone carried on waiting in silence. When she didn’t get a response, she turned back to examine the lock. Yaz watched with mild interest, though she couldn’t make out much, the woman’s impressive curls were blocking her view.

“We’ve all tried, it’s really not that easy…“ Yaz spoke up at last, drawing her attention.

“Well, you could say I have some experience with being locked up. A prison has not been invented that can hold me for any length of time.“ The woman gave Yaz a confident wink. “Now, if only I had my trowel…“

“You want to dig your way out of here?“ Yaz frowned confused. The cell was solid rock all the way around.

“It does more than just dig.“ The woman replied in an off-hand sort of way.

“Well, I’m waiting for a friend of mine who will break me out very soon, if you just hang tight, I’m sure she will be here in no time.“ Yaz revealed as she watched her continue to fiddle with the lock. If she carried on, the guards might come back and make things more difficult for the Doctor once she got here, so she thought it best to stop her.

“Is that so?“ The woman looked around, raising her eyebrows at her.

“Yes and if you try and break out now, you’ll end up drawing attention to us and that’ll probably make it harder for her, so…“ Yaz decided it was best to be honest. They had the shared interest of getting out of here, she she figured honesty would be the best policy.

“Fair enough. I guess I can hang on.“ The woman decided after brief consideration. She turned away from the metal bars and made her way over to Yaz who was wedged in between two aliens that she hadn’t encountered before. The mystery woman, however, despite her human appearance, seemed to know her way around aliens. She barked some orders in a completely foreign language at the alien to Yaz’s right who surprisingly budged over to make room for her. “Professor River Song.“ The curly haired woman introduced herself as she sat next to Yaz. It was a tight squeeze so she elbowed the alien to scoot up further. “When did your friend say this rescue mission would take place?“

“She didn’t.“ Yaz admitted. Her and the Doctor had been split up a while ago but she knew she would come for her eventually. “But she’s very reliable at this sort of thing. I’m Yasmine Kahn, Yaz is fine though.“

“Well, Yaz, if your friend doesn’t turn up in an hour, I’ll get us out of here myself, how’s that for a compromise?“ River said and Yaz chuckled:

“Sounds good.“

“What are you in for? You’re not from around here. I know a 21st century Earth jacket when I see one.“ River carried on, looking her up and down.

“How do you…“ Yaz’s face fell. In all her travels with the Doctor, no-one had realised they were time travellers, at least not this quickly and not on their own accord.

“I have an eye for these things.“ River smirked. “So you are a time traveller then, time agent perhaps? How did you get stuck in here?“

“Well, my friend and I we’e trying to solve the mystery of who assassinated the crown prince and now, they think it was us.“ Yaz sighed. This was always the way, things were never just straightforward, were they?

“Classic mistake, never interfere with the monarchy.“ River chuckled.

“What are you in for?“ Yaz asked curiously.

“Ah, you know, the usual…“ River gave a wave with her hand. “Had a fight with my husband, so I naturally came to a planet known for it’s exquisite jewellery to treat myself. Found this lovely pair of earrings, fifteen thousand credits but worth it and the charlatan of a seller exchanges it for a fake as he's wrapping them up for me. Thinking I wouldn’t notice.“ River rolled her eyes. “If you want to trick me you have to try a bit harder than a simple slide of hand. Obviously I called him out on it and perhaps the argument got a little out of hand…“ She sighed thinking back to the unfortunate incident. “But I wasn’t going to waste fifteen thousand credits of my husband’s money that he doesn’t even know he owns. He has no concept of money, I have no idea who he thinks is paying for our suit on Darillium, so I set it all up for him, another thing that ridiculous man has no concept of… Anyway, the argument got out of hand when I pulled a gun on him, apparently that’s not something they do on this planet even if you’re the wronged party in a jewellery deal.“ She sighed concluding her story.

“Right…“ Yaz wasn’t sure what else to say.

“I did steal the jewels mind. Wasn’t going to get cheated twice.“ River winked and pulled out a pair of beautiful crystal earrings.

“Wow they’re…“ Yaz was in awe and some of the prisoners looked around, taking an interest, but River was quick to return them to her pocket and shoot threatening glances all round.

“Beautiful, I know.“ She smiled, returning her attention to Yaz.

“So uh… your husband, will he come looking for you?“ The girl ask, amused by River’s description of her spouse, he sounded like a bit of a handful.

“Probably not. He went off to sulk as well…“ River shrugged.

“Maybe he's gone shopping, too?“ Yaz suggested and River chuckled:

“No, I believe he said he was going to live with otters for a while.“

“Must have been a big fight…“ Yaz wasn’t sure whether she was being serious or not but in the far reaches of space, anything was possible.

“It was honestly not even a big deal. I was just telling him about this expedition I wanted to go on and he got all funny about it. He got all like We’re time travellers, River, you don’t have to do this expedition now, you can do it later, it’ll always be there, waiting.“ River mimicked in a heavy Scottish accent, rolling her eyes.

“You’re a time traveller too?“ Yaz asked in surprise. It certainly explained why she had been so quick to catch on.

“Hence the keen eye for period clothing.“ River confirmed with a smile. “And yes, obviously, he’s right. I can go whenever I please but I was getting excited about it. I’ve always wanted to go to the Library, it’s so big, it doesn’t even have a name, you know, just a great big THE. But no, he insisted I at least stay till the end of the night and I don’t like being told what to do. And he doesn’t like to be told what to do either. And yes, it was a silly thing to argue about but I don’t take kindly to criticism and he’s such a manchild! Honestly, that’s the word we should get from him, not Doctor, wise man my arse…“ River went off on a bit of a rant, it seemed she still wasn’t quite over the argument just yet.

“Doctor…“ Yaz echoed, a little confused.

“My husband, the Doctor…“ River nodded.

Oh right, you said you were a professor, are you both academics?“ Yaz asked.

“Not quite. Doctor is what everyone calls him, I’m afraid his real name is a bit of a secret that I can’t reveal.“ River explained slightly amused. “But if you’re a time traveller… if you’re with the time agency, you must know about the Doctor.“ She realised. “And about me“

“I uh…“ Yaz didn’t know what to say, her head was spinning. Where they really talking about the same Doctor? “The Doctor, a time traveller…“

“Blue box, ridiculous clothes?“ River prompted her.

“Yes, of course I know the Doctor…“ Yaz tried her best to hide her shock at the revelation. “I just didn’t know about you…“ The Doctor had never mentioned a Professor River Song before. And River seemed to think the Doctor was a man. So she had to be from her past. The Doctor had mentioned many times about how she had been a man before so it made sense. She had neglected to mention she had been married though.

“Well, that’s either a very rude oversight by your agency or incredibly flattering that my existence is classified.“ River chuckled.

“I uh… I’m not with any sort of agency…“ Yaz decided it was probably best to come clean.

“Then how are you travelling through time?“ River frowned but Yaz didn’t get a chance to respond, suddenly, an explosion up the corridor shock the building.

“Sorry, that was a bit more obvious than I had planned!“ The Doctor sprinted up to the bars and worked the lock. “Sorry to keep you waiting Yaz!“

“Doctor?“ Yaz looked up in shock, she hadn’t expected her to turn up out of the blue. River’s head whipped around to Yaz and then she looked to the blonde who was just sliding the bars open.

“River?“ The Doctor looked back at River in shock. There was a moment of stunned confusion and the other prisoners took advantage of it. They jumped up from their seats and rushed out of the cell, nearly knocking the Doctor over. Yaz looked in between the two woman back and fore, not knowing what to say. This confirmed that they were clearly talking about the same Doctor and the way the Doctor’s face lit up for seeing River, Yaz could only conclude that she had been telling the truth about their relationship.

“Did you really wait to regenerate again before looking for me? Only you would sulk an entire lifetime!“ River jabbed her finger at the Doctor who was about to throw herself into her arms..

“I… what?“ The Doctor’s face fell.

“Our fight on Darillium about the Library! How long have you been sulking for? Did it kill you?“ River huffed crossing her arms in front of her chest, refusing the hug the Doctor was clearly craving.

“That… this is where you came after that fight?“ The Doctor exclaimed as the penny dropped.

“Yes! Buy myself some nice earrings. Well, when I said buy, I mean steal… where did you go?!“ River shot back, deflecting before she could scold her for stealing.

“I told you, to go see my otter friends!“ The Doctor retorted and Yaz just shook her head to herself. This conversation was getting more ridiculous by the second.

“You actually did that?“

“They’re good listeners!“ The Doctor replied defensively. “Didn’t even stay that long… just until you came and apologised.“

“That doesn’t sound like something I would do.“ River shook head.

“Yes, in hindsight, it really doesn’t. I guess this is why… guess it’s cause we meet and I convince you to go back…“ The Doctor gave an awkward smile and River huffed:

“And what is it you’ve got to say that will convince me to apologise to your past self?“

“He’s just scared.“ The Doctor shrugged. “Really really scared. We just found this wonderful life together, this reprieve from the running and the fighting… he’s just not ready to give that up yet… just let him have that night, the whole night, before you go anywhere…“ She held out her hand to her.

“I wasn’t really going to go right that moment…“ River mumbled, trying to gloss over how much of an effect her words had on her. Reluctantly she placed her hand in hers and the Doctor gave it a comforting squeeze.

“I know that now, he didn’t at the time.“ The Doctor smiled apologetically.

“I hate you…“ River huffed refusing to feel the magnitude of it all. This was a future Doctor, one she had never met before, one that knew how the night on Darillum would end and whether it really was the last time she would see them.

“No you don’t.“ The Doctor chuckled and pulled her into her hug. She held her close and closed her eyes the hide the tears pooling in them. River would pick up her past self from the far side of Darillium, where the white-haired scotsman was currently playing with otters, and they would continue their long and last night together. And then she would go to the Library… it was all written, no more time left. This was a stolen moment, nothing more. The Doctor pressed a kiss to the side of her wife’s head and nuzzled into her bouncy curls that were soft and familiar as ever.

“As much as I hate to interrupt… I’m sure someone would have heard that explosion…“ Yaz awkwardly cleared her throat. She didn’t want to intrude on what was clearly a very emotional moment - one that she would have to quiz the Doctor on at a later date - but they probably should get moving.

“How about a spin in the Old Girl, Professor Song?“ The Doctor pulled herself away at last.

“Why not, for old time’s sake.“ River chuckled and nodded. “Are you sure I really apologised to you?“

“I remember it quite clearly.“ The Doctor grinned. “I also remember we ended up swimming in a lake…“

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.“ River raised her eyebrows and the Doctor winked:

“Exactly.“

“That, on the the other hand, very much sounds like something I would do.“ River smirked. “Perhaps you and me can go for a little dip ourselves first… just, you know, make sure I actually can swim…“ She carried on suggestively.

“Okay, enough of the flirting, can we please get out of here?“ Yaz exclaimed wishing she was anywhere but here.

“I think I’m embarrassing your friend here, Sweetie.“ River chuckled, giving Yaz an apologetic smile. “To the TARDIS?“

“Let’s get you back to your husband.“ The Doctor agreed in amusement.

“You are her husband.“ Yaz exclaimed.

“And every time our paths cross, I wonder how I got so lucky.“ The Doctor grinned, trying to make light of the situation and not think about how this probably really was the last time she would see her.

“Look at you being charming.“ River smirked.

“Fine, just kiss already, so we can get a move on.“ Yaz groaned in annoyance and glanced down the corridor to make sure they were alright for the time being. When she looked back, she immediately regretted it. The Doctor had buried her hands in her wife’s impressive curls, River had already pushed the Doctor’s coat off and was pulling her braces down. Neither of them was paying any attention to Yaz or where they were. They were kissing feverishly.

“Right, you guys just carry on, I’m gonna go meet you back at the TARDIS… I can wait… guess the otters can too… you have a time machine after all…“ Yaz knew they really weren’t listening so she quickly turned away and hurried down the corridor in search of the TARDIS.

#doctor who #fanfiction #prompt #space wives #river song #thirteen #thirteenth doctor #river x thirteen #thirteen/river #yowzah #twelve x river #Yasmine Kahn #femslash #general #fluff

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solarscholarsofmagick · 5 years ago

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few people have come to me asking for recommended reading regarding astrology, and my answer is constantly changing, as it really depends on your level of knowledge. So here I’m going to share a few of my favorites off my Astrology bookshelves (yes, I have more than one shelf dedicated to astrology). This is a guide for the self-made, self-taught astrologer! - Our Astrologer, Cosmic Love

For Beginners! Learn this name. Linda Goodman. This woman was my introduction to astrology. I read her book, Sun Signs, when I was 8 years old and it hooked me. This book came out in 1968 and was the first book on astrology to reach the New York Times Best-Seller list. Her writing is very clear to complete beginners, and entertaining to read even for more experienced astrology students. Her writing style reminded me of my grandmother, who gave me the book, so it was a very familiar-feeling and easy-to-read book.

Many of you will recognize the name “Llewellyn” if you’re involved in the metaphysical or magickal community in any way. They have a great introductory book on astrology, called Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Astrology: The Easy Way To Learn Astrology. It is a good resource for anyone learning astrology, and will give you a decent grasp of the basic factors involved in a chart.

Another great resource for any astrologer looking to learn is Astrology: Understanding The Birth Chart by Kevin Burk. This book has a lot of very useful information and is an excellent tool, especially for those interested in a more classical approach to astrology. This book is aimed less at modern astrology, and more at the carefully calculated science that ancient astrologers practiced in Greece.

One of my personal favorite textbook-like astrology books is A Spiritual Approach to Astrology, by Myrna Lofthus. This is an incredible book with a whole load of information useful to any level astrologer. It even includes a spiritual view on aspects and placements. This book dives into overviews of the planets, signs and houses as well as aspects from a karmic and spiritual perspective. If you’re looking for soul development, this is your astrology bible.

I found this next one at a garage sale one day for $1 and just had to call it destiny. The Compleat Astrologer, by Derek & Julia Parker, was published in 1971, and was such a great find! It’s a beautifully illustrated collector’s book with lots of good information for the beginning astrologer. It goes through the signs one by one and includes a historical timeline of astrology and “The Astrological Ages of Man,” which the history buff inside me finds incredibly fascinating! Maybe I’ll do a blog post on astrological ages of man soon…

One of my more recent favorites, The Astrology of Fate by Liz Greene, presents astrology from a somewhat classical perspective, yet also slightly modern in her psychological analysis. She uses Greek myths and ancient archetypes to describe the patterns of the planets involved in major life events and makes some very interesting connections! This book also gives many examples and may use technical jargon, so I recommend this book for after you’ve read the previous books listed.

I personally did not have as much interest in this book, but it is a good beginner resource, so I feel obligated to list it here. The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest was recommended to me by a friend years ago, and I didn’t connect very well with his writing style, but he does have great information here. Steven Forrest also has a whole series of astrology books for different levels of learning, so there is something for everyone with his work.

An excellent book for anyone struggling to understand the concept of the houses and their themes, The Twelve Houses by Howard Sasportas is a wonderfully informative book specifically about the houses and the planets throughout the houses. This has some great information on aspect patterns involving houses as well.

9, 10, 11.

There is a series of astrology handbooks by Frances Sakoian and Louis S. Acker, all of them very good resources. First, there’s The Astrologer’s Handbook, which focuses mainly on natal chart interpretation. The next one I would look into is Predictive Astrology, which mainly focuses on the meanings of transits. Then there’s another book on reading synastry charts (relationship astrology) called The Astrology of Human Relationships.

12.

If you’re interested in learning specifically about the ancient Hellenistic tradition of astrology, this list would not be complete without Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune by Chris Brennan. This book is a textbook for the ancient Hellenistic way of learning astrology, complete with chart examples and analyses. Chris Brennan offers astrology courses on his website as well and is the host of The Astrology Podcast.

13.

Another one, Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Predictive Astrology: The Easy Way To Predict Your Future, is a good resource for beginners of predictive work. It has a lot of information and great example charts to help grasp confusing concepts.

14.

Another great book is Predictive Astrology: The Eagle And The Lark by Bernadette Brady. This one has a huge amount of information stuffed into such a tiny package. It includes descriptions of the planets, signs and aspects and how they translate to predictive work. It also includes transits and progressions, as well as time maps, transit grids, and how to use them all.

15.

One book I’ve worn out with predictive astrology is Planets in Solar Returns: Yearly Cycles of Transformation and Growth by Mary Fortier Shea. This book is specifically written for solar return charts, but has some very helpful information on how to translate a solar return into something that makes sense. This book includes placements as well as aspects.

16.

Another great book on solar return predictions is The New Solar Return Book of Prediction by Raymond A. Merriman. This book goes into all kinds of detail regarding solar return charts and how to interpret them.

17.

For a great guide book on transits and progressions to natal planets and points, look for Roadmap To Your Future by Bernie Ashman. It contains symbolism of all of the planets, example charts, as well as a description of all of the transits and progressions.

18, 19.

If you’re interested more in Vedic astrology, check out volumes 1 and 2 of Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra: A Compendium in Vedic Astrology. This massive collection of knowledge may be a little advanced for those just starting in astrology, but if you’re already familiar with the basics of Vedic astrology, go ahead and give it a shot!

20.

For people interested in predicting events with astrology, I have a few books that have helped me! First, Predicting Events With Astrology by Celeste Teal. This book is textbook-like and very informative regarding predictive astrology. It goes over using decans as well, which is very important in getting specific information from a chart.

21.

For those of you interested in a karmic approach to astrology, Astrology, Karma & Transformation: The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart by Stephen Arroyo is a great informative read, and includes the karmic ideas of the outer planets and their transits. Also, any and all of the Karmic Astrology series by Martin Schulman. I still haven’t been able to get all of this collection, but I have a few and they’ve all been quite interesting to read.

22, 23.

For anyone interested in the complex world of medical astrology, I have two books to recommend. First, Your Health in Your Horoscope: Introduction to Medical Astrology by Stefan Stenudd. This book is a great introduction, as it says in the title, but doesn’t get into extensive medical correspondences and specifics. I just ordered The Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology by Howard Leslie Cornell, and I’m so excited to see what information it holds for me!

24.

Anyone who likes lists and textbook learning will love The Rulership Book by Rex E. Bills. This book is essentially a book of lists relating to astrology. It includes correspondence lists for each sign, planet and house, as well as a “dictionary” in the beginning to look up almost anything you can think of. I use this book ALL the time when writing my articles as well as for reference sometimes when I’m blocked reading a chart. I highly recommend this one; I feel it’s essential for any astrologer to have.

25.

For tarot readers out there, I just bought a book called Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings With The Wisdom Of the Zodiac by Corrine Kenner. This book is excellent for those with an understanding of tarot who are trying to learn astrology to help their readings. It has tables for reference as well as corresponding cards for each sign and planet placement. Very useful book already and I’ve barely even gotten a chance to read through it yet!

26.

Another book I just bought and am already enjoying is Pam Gregory’s You Don’t Really Believe in Astrology, Do You? I really love a good astrology book that gets technical with things. Pam Gregory is someone I’ve already been following on YouTube and online, and now I’m so excited to be reading her book!

27.

For anyone looking for information on working with the Moon’s timing, Living By The Moon: A Practical Guide for Choosing the Right Time by Ute York is an excellent addition to your library! A must-have, in fact. This book packs all kinds of lunar information into a small package and isn’t astrologically complex at all, so any level of astrologer can use it!

There are a few more on my shelf that are great books, too, but I think this is enough for a good, well-rounded reading list. I hope this list will be a helpful tool for your journey of self-discovery and healing, and I hope that you continue to learn the path of the stars!

Please consider supporting our astrologer by tipping her here!

#witchblr #witch #witchcraft #witches of color #witches of tumblr #wiccablr #wicca #wiccan #astrology #wiccans of color #wiccans of tumblr #pagan #paganism #pagans of color #pagans of tumblr #occult #new age #spells #books

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prettyinlimegreenboots · 4 years ago

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Twelve Days of Holly Jolly Tidings - Day 12

Disclaimers: I watched “Dash & Lily” the other day on Netflix. This story is LOOSELY based on that book and Netflix series. I do not own “Dash and Lily” or Newsies or anything recognizable within the series. There are occasional curse words throughout the series, nothing too horrible but there’s some.

Catch Up Here

Tuesday, December 24

At exactly eight that morning, a knock sounded on her door. Already ready, she was dressed in a pair of jeans, a thick cable knit sweater and her boots. She had her bag swung across her chest. Throwing open the door, she grinned seeing Jack, dressed similar to her, holding two take away cups. “Good morning m’lady.”

“Good morning, dear sir.” She took the cup of hot chocolate he offered, leaning in to give him a kiss. “How are you?”

Looking at her from head to toe, he grinned. “Good. You ready for your last adventure?”

“As ready as I think I can be.” She made sure she had her bag, walking out of her apartment, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Once outside, Jack offered her his elbow, slipping her arm in the crook of his elbow, grinning as they started their walk down the street. “So I gave you a hint last night . . . any idea where we’re going?”

She had stayed up, later in her standards, trying to figure out where he was taking her. She had hit up all of her favorite places within the city the last eleven days. “I am officially stumped.”

“Good.” Jack grinned, as she gave him a look, taking a sip of his coffee as she did the same. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t figure it out.”

Her lip pushed out in a pout as he leaned over and kissed it away. “Don’t worry . . . you’ll figure it out quickly enough.”

They continued their journey throughout the city, Jack purposely winding throughout the streets, trying to throw her off. “You’ve got me totally lost.”

He chuckled, glad his plan was working. “Good. We’re almost there.”

“And where exactly is there?” She raised an eyebrow, looking around the neighborhood they were lazily walking through.

“Ah ah ah . . . nope. You’re not getting any additional hints from me.” Jack tutted, shaking his head. “All will be revealed in a little bit.”

Nodding, she continued to match his stride as they walked. The neighborhood they were walking through was decked out in full Christmas decorations. She grinned seeing the wreaths deck the doors and the lights strung around the doors and windows. “What are you thinking about?”

She was knocked out of her daydream by Jack’s questions. “Truthfully?”

“No, I want you to lie to me.” Jack’s voice was full of sarcasm as she grinned, shaking her head.

“Haha you’re a funny man. Well . . . I was thinking about how cool it would be to live in one of these brownstones all decked out for the holidays.” She shrugged, sipping on her drink. “They’re all decorated but they all have their own spin on color scheme and decorations.”

Jack nodded, his head swiveling as he took in the decorations. “Is that something you want? To live in a brownstone like this?”

“I mean, eventually.” She scoffed. “I can’t actually afford anything in this neighborhood.”

He laughed. “I’m with you on that. But maybe someday.”

“Maybe.” She echoed, getting lost in her thoughts once more, that she failed to notice what they were coming up on, until Jack stopped her, giving her a look.

“Surprise.”

Her eyes widened as she took in the many stalls of a Christmas Market at Bryant Park. She had always loved strolling between the booths, looking at everything that was offered and often picking up a Christmas present or two along the way. “You really do know me way too well.”

“I would hope after five year together that I would know a lot about you.” He teased, as she hip checked him, laughing at his offended pout.

She leaned forward and kissed him, successfully wiping the pout off his lips. “So what’s the game plan?”

“I was thinking we’d spend the next few hours wandering in and out of all the booths. We have somewhere to be at 11 so we’ve got some time to wander.” He said, unhooking her arm from the crook of his elbow, opting to lace his fingers with hers. “Do you need to look for anything special?”

She reviewed her list in her head. She was done shopping for everyone in her life. “The only thing I’m looking for is an ornament for this year.”

“I think we can cross that off your list.” Jack grinned, squeezing her hand. “How about we start wandering and seeing what we’ll come across?”

And so they did just that. There were about 60 booths and each booth had something different, so it was a must to visit every single booth so as not to miss out on anything. Jack mostly hung back while Kat talked with the sellers, exciting talking about the holidays and upcoming plans. A few times Kat must’ve said something about him because moments later both Kat and the seller were looking over at him in amusement. He meekly waved, causing both women to giggle and turn back to talking.

Soon Kat joined him as they wandered through a couple more stalls. As Kat was distracted by one of the booths, Jack wandered off to go look at something. He quickly found what he was looking for, purchasing it and was back at the booth before Kat even knew he was gone.

She joined him as they continued their journey. “Wanna grab some food?”

Jack nodded, as they looked around for a place to sit and order some food. A little booth caught their attention and they quickly made their way over to it to order. Sitting at the table, Jack looked over at Kat with a grin. “Having fun so far?”

“Yeah.” She grinned. pouting. “But I haven’t found my ornament yet.”

Jack looked around the square. “We’ve barely gone to half of the booths. I’m sure there’s going to be something that catches your attention.”

“You’re right.” She nodded. “Is there anything you’re looking for?”

Jack shrugged. “I’m not looking for anything in particular. Just browsing, seeing what people are offering.”

As their food arrived, a band started up just to the left of them. Jack smiled watching Kat sway to the music as she ate her food. “What?”

“Just watching you and continuing to fall in love with you.” Jack grinned, popping a blueberry in his mouth.

A light blush crept onto her face as she looked down at her Belgian Waffle. She bit her lip, a smile fighting to appear. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me . . . just telling you how it is.” He laughed as they continued to eat in silence, the music from the band a perfect background filler.

Lifting his fork, he snuck a chunk of her Belgian Waffle as her mouth dropped open. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you don’t steal food from someone’s plate?”

“You steal my french fries all the time.” Jack gave her a look, his eyes wide challenging her.

Shrugging, she plucked a strawberry from his plate and popped it in her mouth. “That’s different.”

“In what way?” He argued back, stealing another piece of waffle, quickly dodging her ill attempt to hit him.

Taking a sip of her coffee, she mulled it over for a moment. “It’s written in the girlfriend code . . . didn’t you have to sign one when we started dating?”

“Hmm . . . was that a document in that big stack you gave me before you accepted a date with me?” His eyes went wide as she giggled.

“Yep!” She continued laughing, pushing her plate away. “That was good but I’m full.”

Gathering their trash, they quickly disposed of it before lacing hands. Jack pulled her close to him as they started slow dancing along with the band as they played “Winter Wonderland.” Throwing an arm around his shoulder, she laughed as he led her through the steps. For someone who proclaimed he wasn’t a good dancer, Jack actually did quite well, not messing up at all.

Once the song was finished, a couple of people clapped around them as blushes crept up both of their faces. “There’s your daily dose of embarrassment.”

“Thanks for that.” She squeezed his hand. “You know, you’re actually a pretty good dancer, despite your protests. Who taught you?”

“Medda actually.” Jack grinned, as her eyes lit up.

Medda was their residential hall “mother” back in their freshman and sophomore years in college. She watched out for all of her residents but Spot, Race, Kat, and Jack all held a close place in her heart and she adopted them, along with Albert and Finch. She was the one they would all go to if they couldn’t talk about their issues with anyone - she was that calming presence and they all thought of her as a second mother. Medda was the one to always have a stash of candy in her office and would bake homemade goodies to bring them. More than once in college, they had all arrived on her doorstep in need of a hug and a warm meal.

“When did she teach you?” Kat asked, as they started their journey towards more booths.

Jack squeezed her hand, pulling her towards a booth. “Just before Amelia’s wedding.”

Amelia was Katherine’s freshman roommate who got married just after she and Jack got together. It was the first time Jack had seen Kat in a dress and heels. Though he loved how she looked, it wasn’t anywhere in his top ten favorite looks of hers, not that he would ever tell her that.

Kat raised an eyebrow as Jack continued. “I was worried about making a fool of myself, since you were a bridesmaid and all. I asked Medda for some help and she roped Race, Spot, and Natalie into helping. Race was natural due to dancing already but Spot and I were a mess.”

Natalie was Kat’s other roommate and had a fond spot for Jack. “I bet Natalie hated all three of you.”

“She did . . . until we figured out how to dance and not step on her toes.” Jack chuckled, pausing to look at a couple of knick knacks at a booth.

“How long did it take you?” Kat asked, looking at a couple of ornaments, not finding what she had in mind.

Jack sighed, tilting his head back slightly. “I think we practiced for two weeks. I was so nervous when the bridal party had to join Amelia on the dance floor. I just kept thinking to myself not to step on your toes or embarrass you.”

Throwing an arm over his shoulder, she leaned over and placed a kiss on the corner of his lips. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“What’s that?”

“I was so nervous to dance with you. We had only been dating for a couple of weeks at that point and one of our first big outings as a couple was a frickin’ wedding. It was a lot of pressure for a girl . . . not to mention it was all the bridesmaids could talk about once Amelia showed them a photo of you. They all thought you were ruggedly handsome.” She laughed as Jack stood a little taller at the compliment. “Not to mention how they all hit my shoulder for downplaying how gorgeous you were in real life.”

Throwing his head back, he laughed loudly. “Little did they know how gone I was for you and didn’t even bat an eye in their direction.”

“The same was for me.” She kissed him again.

Jack’s ears perked up as the clock at the church struck 10:30. He looked over at Kat who was purchasing something, glancing over her shoulder at him. He gave her a little wave as she turned back to the seller, murmuring a few words before walking back over to Jack, slipping something in her bag.

“You good?” He asked, as she glanced around the area, before nodding. “Good. Let’s find a bench . . . there’s something I need to give you.”

Her eyes lit up at the prospect, slipping her hand into his before letting him lead the way. They walked for a little bit, getting out of the Christmas Market and heading to Central Park. They walked for a bit, trying to dodge all of the last minute shoppers as they made their way along the sidewalk.

Jack tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow, ensuring that she didn’t get lost in the shuffle of the hubba babloo of the city. He heard her laugh at something as they crossed the street, walking into one of the many entrances of Central Park. Quickly locating an empty bench, Jack led her over to it, pulling the familiar notebook from his coat. “In the rush of the day, I kinda forgot to give you this this morning.”

Accepting the notebook from him, she slung her bag onto the bench, sitting back and cracking open the book, flipping to the correct page. A smile crossed her lips, seeing a rough sketch of them sitting on the couch in her apartment drawn out on the page for the day.

Katherine,

Happy 12th day of Christmas and Happy Christmas Eve. I hope you have had a wonderful morning so far. I kept the Christmas markets for the last day so I could go with you . . . it’s fun to see your face light up at each booth’s offerings and the way you engage with each of the owners.

So I’m going to let you in on a little secret . . . another favorite outfit of mine. Don’t get too excited but it was the outfit you wore when you first came to volunteer with me at the Children’s hospital. You wrote a red sweater dress, leggings, and your boots but that’s not the only thing I remember from that night. The thing that remains stuck out in that memory is the way you interacted with each child you came in contact with. You spent so much time with them, them believing you were one of Santa’s elves, they wanted to make sure they told you everything they wanted. And you patiently sat with them, coloring, and making notes so you could tell the Big Guy, or their parents.

I remember Maggie coming up beside me and telling me I need to keep you in my life somehow because you were real, true, and genuine. And she’s right. You’re all of that.

Pausing, she hastily wiped away tears that had clouded at her eyes as she read Jack’s words. She heard Jack chuckle as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Keep reading.”

But what I didn’t tell anyone, or even you until now is that I kept thinking about how amazing you’d be as a mom. You would be patient, loving, kind, and so supportive . . . which got me thinking about our future kids but not for a long, long, long, time.

Laughing, she shook her head at her boyfriend. continuing to read.

But that’s not for a long time. Maggie mentioned something that night that has stuck with me all these years. She mentioned how more laid back I am when you’re around. She said that it’s almost that I can relax and not be on edge when you’re around me and it’s so true. I never realized it but it’s really true.

So we’ve got a few more places to visit before the day is over. Don’t fret . . . just take every moment in.

Love you,

Jack

Closing the book, she tucked it in her bag, leaning over and kissing him. “You never fail to make me cry when I read these entries.”

“I don’t mean to . . . it’s sometimes easier to write everything down than to tell you face to face.” He confessed, shrugging before pushing off the bench. “Come on, we’ve got places to go and people to see.”

Accepting his hand, she grabbed her bag, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Still holding her hand, he tugged her closer to his side. “I love you, Kat. Thanks for going along with my hair brain idea.”

“I love you too, Jack. I’ll always be your sidekick.” She giggled as they made their way through the park.

As they walked, Kat’s eyes kept dashing around the park, laughing a few times at the kids who were running around while parents walked lazily behind them. Feeling Jack squeeze her hand, she looked over at him with a grin. “Happy?”

“It’s Christmas Eve, of course I’m happy. It’s fun watching the kids run around in the snow and trying to wear off energy so they don’t drive their parents nuts.” She said as a family caught her eye building a snowman. “My dad used to bring my brothers and me to the park to build snowmen so mom had time to wrap presents. He used to bring us through the Christmas Market in case mom needed more time. Hot Chocolate was always given as a bribe, not to tell mom what we got up to in those afternoons out.”

Jack laughed, nodding. “It was similar with dad, Maggie and me. Dad would take us out, giving mom an opportunity to wrap all the presents. Anything that wasn’t from Santa would end up under the tree. Maggie and I couldn’t touch the presents or they would all be shipped back. No matter how many times that was said, they never were. I think my parents were worried the two of us would destroy the house before Christmas morning.”

“I mean, they probably did have plenty of cause to worry.” Kat grinned while Jack hip checked her. She yelped, shaking her head, giving him a look. “You know I’m not lying and there’s some truth to the statement.”

“You’re right . . . Maggie and I were hellions when we were younger. It wasn’t until we both hit our teenage years did we calm down slightly.” Jack admitted sheepishly, while Kat threw her head back and laughed.

“Part of me would’ve loved to know you in high school and even in the beginning of college but meeting you in Junior year was perfect.” She smiled.

Jack smiled, as he led her into a more secluded part of the park. “You would’ve hated me in high school and probably even in my freshman and sophomore year of college. I significantly calmed down junior year so I’m glad I didn’t meet you until then. You probably would’ve been running for the hills if I had met you any earlier.”

“I don’t think I would’ve hated you . . . I think I might have been a bit cautious.” She hesitated to tell him that but didn’t have to worry as he laughed.

��You were hesitant to date me when you did finally meet me.” He smirked. “I saw you around campus a lot, always surrounded by people. Spot told me your name in Sophomore year and I kept hoping we’d have a class or two together but fate never stepped in.”

She barked out a laugh. “Spot told you my name?”

“I mentioned that I saw you around campus once and Spot blurted out your name one time. Him and Race turned that into an opportunity to tease me about you.” Jack shook his head. “Race was especially awful when you and he had that Speech class together. They almost staged a run-in just so they could introduce me to you.”

“Little did they know we would meet each other all on our own.” Kat beamed as Jack led her through the Bethesda Terrace. Looking at the architecture and the gorgeousness of the terrace all decked out in Evergreen for Christmas, she looked over at Jack but didn’t see him, until she looked down.

“I’ve been carrying this around for the last eleven days, trying to figure out a good time to ask you. You have been a bright light in my life for the last five years and I love you. I love you and can’t imagine my life without you in it. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” Jack’s eyebrows rose as he cracked open the ring box.

Tears clouded her eyes as she nodded excitedly. “Yes, Jack Kelly, I will marry you.”

Pushing off his knee, he scooped her into his arms, twirling her around as they both cried excitedly. Lowering her to the ground, Jack cupped the side of her face, leaning in and kissing her. “You said yes?”

“Yes, Jack. Yes, I will marry you.” She said as he kissed her again before they broke apart by clapping within the terrace. Pulling away, they looked at people standing around watching them get engaged. “I guess I should give you this.”

Showing her the ring box, he took the ring out before slipping it on her ring finger. She held up her hand, admiring the oval emerald ring, flanked by diamonds as it laid perfectly on her finger. For the first time, in a long time, she was speechless and didn’t know what to say. “I love you, Jack. This is gorgeous.”

“I love you Kat. I’m glad you like the ring - it was actually hard to pick out which one I thought you might like.” Jack leaned forward and kissed her again. “And thank you for saying yes. I didn’t know if you could tell I was nervous.”

She grinned, shaking her head. “As if I was going to say anything else. And no, I couldn’t tell you were nervous.”

“As soon as you said yes, all the nerves went away and all I saw was our future.” Jack leaned over and kissed her again. “I love you fiancé.”

Her eyes lit up at that name. “Fiancé has a nice ring to it.”

Several Hours Later

He tugged on her hand as he led her up the path to the house. Squeezing her hand, he pulled her close, kissing her. Opening the door, he tugged her inside, slipping off his shoes, allowing her to do the same before they walked down the hallway to the kitchen. He grinned seeing his parents, Maggie, and Brendan standing there. “About time you two show up. We were starting to worry.”

Jack grinned at his dad, his eyes glancing over to Kat. “Sorry about that. We got caught up in the afternoon.”

“It was your last adventure, wasn’t it Katherine?” His mom asked.

Kat looked from Jack to his mom grinning. “It was. We hung out in the Christmas Market at Bryant Park.”

“Good day?” Maggie asked with a knowing grin.

Jack nodded. “The best.”

His parents traded glances, looking between their children. “Why do I feel like I’m missing something?”

Jack pulled Kat close to him, grinning at his family. “Because you kind of are mom. Earlier today, I asked Kat to marry me and she said yes.”

A cheer went up in the small kitchen as his mom and Maggie came over to hug Katherine while his dad and Brendan came over to shake his hand and congratulate him. Glancing over at Kat, he sent her an air kiss followed by an “I Love You.”

Later that evening, after dinner was served and things had settled down, Jack and Kat sat on the couch looking at the tree. The gifts have been given, everything unwrapped and oohed and ahhed over. She had gotten several wonderful gifts from Jack’s parents along with Maggie and Brendan. “Good Christmas Eve?”

Looking up from admiring her engagement ring, she grinned leaning into Jack. “It was the best. It was wonderful spending time with your family. They’re so excited.”

“They have always thought of you as a daughter, now it’s official.” Jack pressed a kiss to her lips. “Did you call your parents?”

Shaking her head, she bit her lip. “No. I figured I’d tell them when they come back from their travels.”

“Kat!” Jack was astonished at his fiancé’s flippant response. “Don’t you want to tell them?”

Kat bit her lip and shook her head. “They haven’t been exactly supportive of our relationship in the last five years. Mom has this notion that I’ll marry a doctor while dad thinks I’ll just be alone for the rest of my life.”

“Your dad doesn’t think you’ll be alone for the rest of your life.” Jack said off handedly, giving his fiancé a look.

Her eyes went wide, listening to him. “What do you mean? Did you go talk to him?”

“I may have. I went and saw him the day you went to the hospital.” Jack wrapped his arm around Kat, kissing her forehead. “I wanted to give him the heads up of what I was planning.”

Kat looked over at him. “Did you ask him for his blessing?”

“God no.” Jack snorted, shaking his head. “I just told him I was asking you to marry me and I hope he could support that.”

She nodded, leaning up and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I love you for doing that. What did he say?”

“He didn’t say much . . . only that we should have dinner with them when they get back.” Jack sighed, cracking a smile. “I’m sure that’s as much music to your ears as it is mine.”

Holding out her hand, she grinned at him. “At least I have my partner in crime by my side. We can do anything together.”

He laughed, his hands cupping her cheek leaning in, kissing her. “I love you, forever and always, Kat.”

“Love you too Kelly, forever and always.” She kissed him again, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

“So I know I already gave you a gift but I got you a little something else.” He gave her a look, pointing to a lone bag with tissue paper in the corner behind the tree.

She looked over her shoulder at him as she slid off the couch and onto her knees. Grabbing the bag, she pulled the tissue paper from it before pulling out an item wrapped in tissue paper. “What did you do?”

“Just open it Kat.” He grinned, watching her carefully unwrap the item. She gasped as her eyes flew up to him. The item was an ornament that had “Just Engaged” painted on it with their names and the date below it.

She grinned, holding it up so that the porcelain caught the lights of the tree. “It’s gorgeous, thank you.”

“Got it at the market earlier.” He nonchalantly said, as she wrapped up the ornament before joining him on the couch.

She eyed him curiously. “How were you so certain that I would say yes?”

“A tiny part of me was worried about what you said but a bigger part of me knew you were going to say yes.” Jack grinned. “Besides you said that you were looking for an ornament for the year . . . and I think that one fits this year pretty well.”

Leaning over, she captured his lips in a kiss. “You did good, Jack. I love you.”

“Love you too Kat.” He smiled, kissing her again. “See you didn’t have to worry about your gift . . . you gave me the best gift by saying yes.”

She snuggled into his embrace. “Sap.”

“But you love my sappiness.” He chuckled, pressing a kiss to her head.

They sat there in silence, enjoying the Christmas tree and reflecting on the last twelve days and the happiness they felt along with gratitude for everything that was in their lives.

What do you think? Feedback would be wonderful and amazing. Thank you for following along on this journey with me!

#Newsies #Newsies Fan Fiction #writing #jack x katherine #Newsies Holiday Fic #Twelve Days of Holly Jolly Tidings

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gtavicecityapp · 4 years ago

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GTA Vice City Review: A Classic Never Goes Out Of Style

Parachute pants, big hair, and pale sports jackets may not be the height of style nowadays, but gamers were in the middle of a digital resurrection ten years ago. Grand Theft Auto Vice City rode about the enormous (and pleasant ) victory of GTAIII using a new setting, a much more character-driven narrative, and an elegant sandbox universe, which makes it a string popular even now. People who wish to relive the glory days of the 1980s (and 2002) may download the game on Google Play for only five dollars.

Can Vice City live up to expectations? Well, no and yes. The technical facets of the game, and Rockstar's ambitious dedication to the sandbox design, have not aged well. If you have played GTA-style games in recent years, Vice City will appear simplistic and laborious. The game's comparative absence of sophistication works nicely in the brand new mobile form factor on the flip side. People who are burnt out to the "everything to everybody" design of Grand Theft Auto IV (guy dates, anybody?) Will enjoy the simplicity. And as an interface, Vice City excels on high-powered hardware.

Crime Pays Pretty Well, Really

The narrative begins with Tommy Vercetti, a mafia guy. He has just been released from prison and delegated to emerging criminal possessions in Vice "no, it is not Miami, we swear" City. Players can build a criminal empire by stealing automobiles, busting drug prices, intimidating less elastic sellers, and even killing lots and lots of individuals. The narrative is amazingly coherent and plays out like a love letter to Scarface. Voice acting is strong - really, the actors and actresses much outclass their electronic avatars' capacity to express them.

Compared with the elderly Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City includes a lot of depth, even though it isn't immediately evident. A broader selection of weapons and automobiles (like bicycles and helicopters) will be the icing on a remarkably profound system of property and money laundering. Play about half the game, and you will have the ability to get and upgrade land, subsequently making you money. It's possible to invest this money in more and better hideouts and improved equipment. Coupled with more collectibles and side assignments than you can shake a 12-gauge at, Vice City provides about 30 hours of playtime directly through and at least 70 hours for completionists.

But moving straight through assignments in this sort of game is practically missing the point. You'll end up hard-pressed to withstand the desire to crash automobiles, race tanks, try out numerous challenges, and normally create the Vice City Police Department to make their cash. At times, the subtle and, sometimes, a not-so-subtle comedy that endures through the game should delight the twelve-year-old in you (also create the adult in you feel guilty). It goes without mentioning that this game isn't intended for children and should not be played with them between the picture representation of criminal behavior and novelty.

They Do Not Make' Em As They Used To

To a technical degree, Vice City is somewhat behind the times. Textures are flat and dull; draw space is almost zero, and also, the individual versions particularly seem like something from a 90s game. All these were forgivable back to the PlayStation because of the sheer extent of this game. Still, past an increase to a resolution that's thankfully flexible from the settings menu, there are not any improvements. To put it bluntly, the game is ugly, but that should make it much easier for older hardware to join in the fun. The screenshots in this review have been shot on a Transformer Prime, with settings maxed out.

On the plus side, this comparatively low degree of graphical elegance makes the game run amazingly well on Android. Vice City is quicker and more straightforward in my tablet computer than it had been in my own dusty old Xbox, also. As mentioned above, people who demand a little additional oomph in their hardware ought to have the ability to correct the digital resolution of this game to match. More annoying are the marginally older gambling conventions present: both the planning and leaping mechanics are annoying at best and utterly ruinous at worst. The simple fact your character dies almost immediately in water at a game consisting almost exclusively of islands remains incredibly annoying. These issues are not specific to the Android variant, but it is a slight bummer that Rockstar did not address them at the translation.

The highlight of this game's demonstration, today as then, is your sound. Total voice acting was uncommon back in the afternoon, and also professional, devoted focus on the figures was less. Combine this with Vice City's full complement of period-correct radio channels (and, of course, exceptionally entertaining faux chat channels ), and you would do yourself a disservice if you did not hear this game on a fantastic set of headphones.

Catch A Controller

This is generally the stage in the review in which I lament a game's touch-based controllers, and really, Vice City leaves a lot to be desired in this section. You can fix the camera by sliding in the center of the display, but what else is accomplished by onscreen buttons - lots of these. It is a complex game and demands many excellent controllers, particularly in these sections where you are working guns or flying vehicles.

The controls are responsive and quick, for the most part. I can not fault the designers for the intricacy of the game because simplifying the controllers will need gutting a lot of actual gameplay. If you are patient and well-coordinated, you should not find the touch controls a significant barrier to your enjoyment of this name.

Grand Theft Auto is supposed to be played with a gamepad. Recognizing that, Rockstar programmed complete gamepad support (such as the PowerA Moga, for all those who took advantage of this current free advertising ). After hammering in my Logitech gamepad, the digital controls automatically vanish, and the layout yields. There are a couple of hiccups; for instance, there's no visual indication regarding what to press to take a telephone call. But overall, it is a virtually perfect emulation of the classic gameplay. Throw in an HDMI adapter, and suddenly you are back in 2002 - with high-definition images to boot.

Conclusion

There are many slight issues with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the majority of which have already been with the game since its first edition. Meaning that it is challenging to play with no control, and it'll punish gamers used to more pliable, contemporary mobile games. However, for those willing to check beyond its flaws, the game is delightful and engaging as it had been a decade ago.

More than this, it is a beautiful price. While five dollars is on the other side for Android games, many games at the Play Store do not have the breadth and scope of Vice City, and they will not keep you going for months on end. If you are a casual fan of Grand Theft Auto or sandbox games, Vice City is essential. Otherwise, await the game to go on sale (it probably will at some stage ) and snag it afterward. You will not regret it.

#GTA Vice City #GTA #Vice City

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ghana-weddings · 4 years ago

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Arozzi Enzo Gaming Chair Evaluate

And though there is a newer SL5000 model now on the market, we're nonetheless massive fans of this cheaper different. Thankfully though, the consolation and ergonomics on offer make this good for working from home too. It's somewhat fiddly to put together, and on the costlier aspect, but the AndaSeat Fnatic is among the comfiest gaming chairs around. List of the best pink gaming chair models.

Made from premium PVC, that is also a formidable-wanting chair that uses its orange accents to its benefit. The Iskur has a comparatively acquainted form and type to it but some distinct variations are present that assist it stand out from the group. First of all, and what would be the clincher for some, is the adjustable, built-in lumbar help.

Are gaming chairs expensive?

Expensive gaming chairs cost between $300 to $550. They provide superior padding, upholstery, and armrests. People pay more to ensure optimal comfort, no matter how long they sit.

The X-Rocker Pro Series 2.1 delivers surprisingly decent sound, and the vibrations add an additional layer of experience to gaming sessions and flicks. A panel on the best-hand side homes controls and various wired connections. There's a removable headrest pillow, and you will find a lumbar cushion on the again that you could slide up and down. Like this one.

On the opposite, when my taller associates try out the chair, they like it. At RM 899, the Warlord Phantom offers a full range of features that are shared among all their product lineup. The price distinction you’re paying is principally for the completely different cushion measurement and seating characteristics. This is one thing we don’t see often, especially where the opposite brands would purposely downgrade the options of their decrease end models to entice you to purchase the higher finish models.

It was a detail that made me take into consideration how many individuals probably did contact it and subsequently had a foul time. When I worked in a traditional office area, I made do with a standing desk, which was superb for posture and lower back fatigue. And like most other folks, I set myself up with what I thought can be a brief solution.

If cash isn't any object and you want the thought of a matching suite of gaming furniture, then it is a wonderful desk that performs properly with the Embody Gaming Chair and the Ollin monitor arm. Having a twelve-12 months warranty for the worktop and five years for the motorised meeting can also be spectacular. However, I think most people will be higher served by shopping round, with equally-specced alternate options available at around half the price from each big-field retailers and on-line sellers.

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ahnsael · 4 years ago

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I bought a bunch of masks on Redbubble, and of the 12 I bought, six did not come as advertised. Previous orders had been okay, but maybe they’re screwing up because they’re trying to meet quantity demand?

Take, for example, a Space Mountain mask I ordered. This was the image in the listing:

This is what arrived:

I know they’re backed up on replies as everyone who has a shred of responsibility is ordering masks right now (I still have several days left on their promise of an eventual reply, and I’m okay with that), but for six out of twelve masks to show up with these kind of printing errors SUCKS.

On the plus side, I also received some absolute winners in the same order. Everything printed as advertised, and some masks that I cannot wait to wear.

I know Redbubble enough to know that the seller sized and centered the image. What shows up on the preview SHOULD be what you get based on that (the seller would have seen this and the preview would have reflected it if the image was not scaled large enough, and the preview would have shown any blank spaces).

This was a pure printing error...which means that Redbubble is pushing these through with zero quality control.

I recommend https://shop.machadofarmfoundation.org/ for masks. They run from $5-$7 depending on how many you order, and shipping is free, and they have an ever-changing selection of both Disney and non-Disney designs. And they are honestly the most comfortable masks I wear from the many places from which I buy them.

#face masks #WEAR THEM #don't be selfish and say 'I don't care if I get anyone sick'#because that's what I see if you do not wear a mask under these circumstances #it's just selfish to not wear one

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wasalwaysagreatpickle · 4 years ago

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Monday 28 September 1829

7 55/..

Breakfast at 9 – went out at 10 (alone) to get eau de Cologne, and went to a book sellers and bought Corinne and Delphine in german meaning to give one of them to Miss Hobart. Back at 11 – Cosmo and Lady Gordon’s maid had gone per diligence at 6 a.m. – Lady Gordon and I off from Cologne at 11 50/.. – very fine day –

Alight at 5 1/4 at the crowns at Juliens – cold meat for Lady Gordon and the servants and bread and cheese for me – off again at 6 5/.. (in 50 minutes) and Lady Gordon having heard from Georgy at Cologne that Lady Stuart and Miss Hobart had moved (a week ago) to Madame Dubicq’s (grand hotel) alighted there at 10 1/4 – very glad to see us – Mr Gordon here – Lady Gordon drank tea with us, and stayed till 11. Lady Stuart went to her room at 11 1/4 – Miss Hobart and I stayed talking a little while in the drawing room then in our own rooms till 12 5/.. –

Miss Hobart’s room next the salon and mine thro hers but had another entrance into the open passage Lady Stuart’s room at the other end of the salon and a small one adjoining for Wyatt very comfortable distribution

Lady Stuart had written to me at Francfort, to say she had gone to Dubicq’s, and was so comfortable we might stay a few days longer – did not get her letter -

Said I was glad for then we should have staid and I better pleased to be back again. Said I had not been foolish to Lady Gordon. Oh no, said Miss Hobart, you are only foolish to me said the only foolish thing I had said was today that I thought Miss Hobart would make a very good wife and were I a gentleman I should certainly offer to her adding but I know you are angry. Oh no she liked it said I had gone merely to know whether she would be sorry to lose me and glad at my return she said that was nonsense no said I would have gone twice as far and I did believe she was glad to see me back again praised Lady Gordon but said I just liked her to the point she Miss Hobart wished well said she you know it would not be pleasant to be put out in fact she really does like me I believe I said Lady Gordon was fond of her, poor girl she little knows Lady Gordon told me today Miss Hobart was very unpopular with the gents and how few partners she got and it was then I said I should have offered to her but adding how much I was a creature of habit that had I taken such a journey with Lady Gordon I should have offered to her she had before been talking of our (Lady Gordon and me) living together two years in Paris and what proportion I ought to pay she would order all my dress I ought to have four gowns a year she would take care of the salon have all nice would take the woman’s part. I then talked of the misery it would be to me to be happy two years and then be left better not to taste of happiness at all than have it so limited I said at dinner she would never she would never meet with any lady with whom she could live so happily as with me she a greed saying I was more like a man she did not mean anything disagreeable but that I took all things en grand felt more as a man would I said there could be no rivality between us if she chose to flirt I could feel no jealousy etc. etc. I thought a person might be comfortable with me married women more pleasant than single she would see that I should choose one who had been married said I really liked Lady Stuart she had so much heart she said Lady Hardwicke did not really like her but put it on ditto Lady Stuart de Rothesay ditto the Miss Burys who did not much like Miss Hobart astonishing how unpopular she is sharp with people but the men were most struck with her sharp manner to Lady Stuart. Lady Gordon did not know that Miss Hobart had any particular friend not liante enough she sometimes refused singing it was in reality she could not sing but people did not understand that for she had been badly taught did not understand music could not sing at sight she thinks old Lady Stuart a great bore but it is ungrateful for Lady Stuart is really fond of her I said yes she was Mr Henry Yorke a heavy dull gentlemanly man does not suit her at all no love for Miss Hobart I said if he did not marry her for love I thought she had not money enough and as he had nothing I thought it would be equally bad for both and so I should say as once to both parties were I called upon to give an opinion well Jot Yorke wonders what Henry sees in her she told me the first day of our journey speaking of the Flauhauts (Lady Keith and her husband) history if the disagreeableness between Lady Stuart de Rothesay and the Miss Gents (they think the Gents right the family party they were asked to sing to consisted of forty and count Flauhaut himself ran away and said he would not sing none but singing people can enter in to the feelings of those who sing) that Lady Keith comparing the people who visited the Granvilles with those who visit the Stuarts said and there is that odious Miss Hobart. Lady Gordon wants twelve thousand and has offered a house at Cadiz six percent and a pound of every butt of sherry sold and the average sale is a thousand butts a year she will probably be in Paris this time year talks as if she fancied I knew this one and that she does not like to be thought to have no heart but she is a thorough woman of the world? will make a convenience of me if she can –

Wrote all the crypt of today which took me till 1 20/.. -

#anne lister #vere hobart #lady gordon #lady stuart #1829 #anne lister code breaker

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coffeecomicsgalore · 5 years ago

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25 Days of Adrien (+6 of Marinette)

Tom and Adrien bake cookies together.

Part of the MLHolidays2k19 prompts.

Ao3

Chapter 12 – Cookies

Adrien’s fencing class had ended but he was not in the mood to go home. He was finally able to meet with his father and announce that he would be moving out before the summer ended. Adrien knew it wouldn’t go that great, but he didn’t realize it would prompt a very disgruntled Gabriel speaking in a more colorful language than Adrien was used to. Marinette’s parents, on the other hand, were much more ecstatic over the news. It only made his decision in leaving so much easier.

Adrien took his time getting himself ready to leave. Marinette had class representative duties that would keep her for a few hours longer, but she had told Adrien to head over to the bakery and wait for her there.

Tom and Sabine were both smiling to see Adrien walking through the door.

“Adrien, son!” Tom beamed. “Marinette told us you would be coming by. We are in the process of making a variety of cookies. Would you like to help us? You get to eat all the ones that don’t make the cut.”

Adrien smiled excitedly. Getting to help bake was one of his favorite things to do. It was a stress reliever for him and he loved to spend time with her parents. It would also make the time move faster before Marinette came home. Plus, getting to eat all the cookies he wanted? Sign him up.

He grabbed an apron, ready to do whatever Tom instructed him to do.

“We will be making 12 varieties of cookies.”

Adrien went wide eyed. “Wow, twelve?” He was still not used to the busyness of the bakery during the Christmas season.

“Ha!” Tom slapped his large hand against Adrien’s back. “This is a small order compared to normal. You just walked in on a slow day!”

Adrien let out a nervous chuckle. He never knew how Tom and Sabine could work the bakery with just the two of them alone. They are one of the best bakeries in Paris, and the love Tom puts into his baking really shows through.

“Adrien, go on and grab that large bag of flour.” Tom pointed in the direction of the bags. “Bring it over to the large mixer over there and measure out 10 cups of flour. Remember to level out the scoops before placing it in the bowl. Baking is precise measurements. If you put too much, the cookies will come out doughy. Put too little, and the cookies will be thin.”

“I’ll take care of it, M. Dupain.” Adrien grabbed the heavy bag with ease. His strength from being a superhero really helped in situations like this. He was able to pick up heavier items without much of a struggle. He plopped the bag onto the table, forgetting that doing so would create a dust cloud of powder in the air, most of which covered his face.

He pursed his lips at the unfortunate event, letting out small coughs from the dust. Tom only looked over and chuckled at the boy.

Before long, Adrien had dusted himself off and measured out the 10 cups of flour. As he finished the first set, Tom had asked Adrien to measure out another few cups for the macaroons.

“M. Dupain? What kinds of cookies are we making?”

“The first batch you measured for will be chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut, and peanut butter chip. For the batch you are working on right now will be for the strawberry macaroons with vanilla buttercream filling, chocolate macaroons with chocolate mousse filling, and pistachio macaroons with vanilla bean filling. Once those are all measured out, we will then start on the sugar cookies, cinnamon sugar cookies, gingersnaps, and gingerbread cookies. The last will be triple chocolate brownie cookies.”

Adrien could feel his mouth watering. So many delicious flavors that he couldn’t wait to try when he had the chance. His father would have an aneurysm if he knew how indulgent Adrien became when the sweets passed his hands. Gabriel or Nathalie could never truly know how many sweets he really ate when he was here. If it wasn’t for running around chasing akumas all the time, he would be spending all his days at the gym.

Tom really enjoyed Adrien’s company. It was nice to have another man in the kitchen laughing and making puns alongside him. Adrien enjoyed it too. His puns made Tom laugh harder than Ladybug ever had (and she had admitted to loving them a few years ago as long as he didn’t do it during battles). Marinette was used to it by this point, but Tom's boisterous laughs always made the joke ten times better.

When all the cookies had completed the mixing stage, Tom taught Adrien how to scoop and form the cookies. It isn’t just tossing the cookies onto the sheet pan and hoping for the best. There was a trick to getting it just right and placing it in the oven in the correct direction. Even the timing was exact. Cooking was a science, and science was Adrien’s favorite subject.

Maybe that’s why Adrien enjoyed baking so much. Everything working together in harmony, chemical components with baking powder and liquids allowing certain cookies to rise (or fall if the measurements weren’t precise), and even the way the baking had to be done had to be exact. Tom had to hypothesis, trial, and test every product he placed on his menu. He was a glorified baking scientist.

In between the baking, Tom had Adrien sample new flavors he was working on for the new year. “How do you make time to create these ideas when you’re so busy?” Adrien asked while licking the spoon.

Tom kneaded the dough while thinking of his response. “Baking is fun. But sometime my creativity gets the best of me. I may be busy with many orders at a time, but experimenting is what makes my days so much better.” He flips the dough over. “Experimenting takes days at a time. One day, I could be baking a pie and the idea will hit me. I will write down the idea and go back to work. The next time I work with one of the specific flavors in the idea, I will put some aside and play around with the flavors in between baking and cleaning.”

Adrien watched Tom with curiosity. “No wonder Marinette has such passion in her designs. Every time an idea pops into her head, she has to go write it down. She spends so many hours working on her designs. And yet she always has time to stop and create new designs. She is definitely your daughter.” Adrien lets out a chuckle. “But I still don’t know how you do it. Both you and Mdm. Cheng are always so busy.”

“Most days are not as busy as others. We have our days and times that we work harder than others. We know what kinds and how many pastries we need to keep on hand at all times. Like the croissants. They are our best sellers so we make sure they are all out in the display cases at all times. There are certain pastries we only make during the holidays. Time is valuable, Adrien. You just need to know how to use your time wisely and make the most of it.”

Adrien nodded his head in agreement. Tom was extremely passionate in his work. You could see it in the way he talked.

-----xoxox-----

Marinette walked into the bakery in a flustered mess. The meeting went longer than it needed to, and a lot of items on her list had to be compromised in one way or another. She was just glad it was over.

She could hear laughing coming from the kitchen and sauntered through the door. A smile pressed upon her lips when she saw Adrien rolling out dough for the next batch of croissants. He was covered in flour from head-to-toe but his bright smile really shown through. Tom and Adrien were competing against each other on who had the best puns.

She leaned against the doorway, the men still unaware of her presence.

“All you knead is love!” Adrien announced and he molded the dough, getting a laugh from Tom.

Tom grabbed a tray of hot cookies from the oven. “I won’t drop it like it’s hot!” Adrien laughed a little harder.

“And muffin compares to you.” Marinette punched in, causing a roar of laughter from the gentlemen. She grabs an apron, ready to knead some dough to release the stress from her body. “Having a pun-tastic time?”

“Now that you added your puns to the mix?” He wiggles his eyebrows at the pun. “We couldn’t have asked for a better weirdough.”

She giggled. “I love you two dorks.”

Tom and Adrien looked at each other before turning to her. They both grinned widely before saying in unison, “your dorks!”

#mlholidays2k19 #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #ml fanfic #miraculous ladybug #christmas fluff

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comesaveme · 4 years ago

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Toronto Real Estate Market

Toronto Real Estate Market - An Overview The Toronto real estate market, much like Canadian winters, can feel like a harsh environment to get around for the average Joe. With tougher federal mortgage laws invented in January 2018; many homeowners have literally also been priced out of the market, and existing owners have found their property values sticking in neutral or falling with an common loss of 4 percent. With property no longer feeling as a guaranteed investment, we take a look at what has been happening in your Toronto real estate market to lead to this downward trend plus how is the wheel of fortune likely to turn over a subsequent 12 months? Mixed fortunes In recent years property prices experience risen exponentially across the GTA, and although this has long been a delight for many sellers, it has been a double-edged blade in that fewer people have been able to afford to get over to the property ladder. Those who did buy when the price was initially high then found their mood falling along with the predictable decline in market prices as well as those who presumed their apartment was a stable investment for the future that would only keep boosting in value. There are those of course who are now wishing for a crash to put a definite end to what has felt for a lot of inhabitants as Toronto's housing affordability crisis, but it is without a doubt more likely that the market will continue to stabilize with a very few bumps along the way during 2019. New federal mortgage procedures In line with the country's intentions to limit the amount of debt the population and financial institutions took on; new federal home finance loan laws introduced on the 1st January 2018 meant who Canadians getting, renewing or refinancing a mortgage could find his or her self having to complete a "stress test". This is in order to be that they would be able to cope with interest rates substantially higher than the written agreement rate. This was relevant even for borrowers who received a down payment of 20 percent or more and was basically yet another tweak in what has felt like a rather long line of regulatory changes to actually get on, never mind having the ability to climb the property ladder. Priced out of the market These differences affected roughly 100, 000 of Canada's population through half of these still being able to make a purchase other than exactly what they had originally planned and the other half giving up altogether. So , although many people rushed either to buy or sell as well as upgrade to a property that they would not be able to afford after the new regulations came into force, many people found themselves costed out of a market that they could not afford to enter on paper. This is true even if they felt they had the personal means to do so or would have met the criteria set in previous years. Buying your way back in The inevitable grow in property prices across Canada was also personally seen to reach dizzy heights in the Toronto real estate market but the things goes up must come down, and these tougher mortgage guidelines saw the market begin to balance out during 2018. This development looks set to continue during the spring of 2019, and it's this news, along with February's announcement of thousands of newly-created jobs that is providing hope for those wishing to buy for those first time or move higher up the property ladder. Through 665 new home developments also taking place in Toronto; it literally could become a buyer's market. Snowbound However Ottawa and Montreal are beginning to see signs of renewed growth and hotting up, Toronto's real estate market is still mostly said to be on the cool side at present, and the literal greatness of the weather hasn't helped either! A particularly harsh wintry has made prospective buyers think twice about even the ability to make property viewings and as it takes a while for the snow to thaw so will it take a while for the step by step warming spring temperatures to melt the "froideur" from the Toronto real estate market. More home listings are expected to appear that can be found over the spring and summer months, perhaps bringing a minimal increase in prices. But, with many other variables affecting real estate trends including elections and the economy; it could be that typically the Toronto market will neither be firmly in favor of sometimes the buyer or seller but rather your own individual circumstances. Some folk will, therefore , be winning, some losing and some breaking-even financially. Luxury properties The demand for luxury properties and Condos IS expected to increase and as demand normally comes with an increase in prices; those selling these styles of properties look to be definitely in the winning camp. The regular price of a luxury house is expected to reach $3, 691, 700 within the next twelve months and $2, 390, 405 for a condo. Interest Rates It is not expected that the bank in Canada will increase interest rates more than once this year, but in the same train of thought, this means that they are unlikely to fall either. The quote is currently 4. 375 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate property loan but with mortgage rates remaining the critical thing in determining the affordability of a home purchase; keeping a detailed eye on the rate of interest is literally in a buyer's best interests! Larger Toronto is a Land of hope Although homeownership quotes dropped in Canada for the first time in 45 numerous years in 2018; it is still a country that has the highest homeownership rates in the world. More than 40 percent regarding households under 35 own their own property, and however Toronto is considered to be one of Canada's least affordable trading markets, there is still opportunity and hope in the real estate market to make a good investment. Need for a Good Real Estate Lawyer in Toronto Downtown Finding a good Real Estate Lawyer in downtown Toronto is equally as important as a find a good property to buy on Toronto. Some Lawyers provide great service but fee an arm and a leg for the transaction. Some Legal counsel advertises their legal fees as the lowest but his or her service is equally the lowest in the market. Transparency in Legalised Fees structure is one of the main issues with Real Estate Lawyer Rates structure in Toronto Downtown. The only Law Firm stands out out of your crowd is Shaikh Law Firm because they have posted the Real Estate Lawyer Toronto Fees on their website. Their testimonials suggest that they are transparent, honest and provide a good service. Once this article was being published in 2019 Shaikh Law will be ranked among the three best Real Estate Lawyers in Toronto, along with Jonathan G. Griffiths and Jay Teichman. Jonathan and Jay's quality of Legal Service is great and yet their legal fees are significantly higher than Shaikh Attorney. How to Choose a Good Real Estate Lawyer in Toronto Downtown Prior to hire your Real Estate Lawyer you should ask the following Things; 1) How many transactions the Real Estate Lawyer completes from a Month? 2) How long has the Lawyer been practicing Realty? 3) What is the Fees Structure and can the Lawyers give a written Quote without any hidden charges? You should always your house online, ask a friend for any recommendations. It is important to note that your own Realtor recommendations are always biased because they usually receive kickbacks for recommending a Real Estate Lawyer. Therefore achieve your own research before you hire anyone. It is always recommended for you to call up the Real Estate Lawyer in Toronto for a Free of charge Consultation to review your transaction before you engage anyone.

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inkdrinkershadowsinger · 5 years ago

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Thoughts/Background on Chamber of Secrets

There simply cannot be neighborhoods like this, where there are miles upon miles of cookie cutter homes that stretch out into the horizon. Does anyone know if this is a real shot? Or did they multiply the houses like they do to extras in a battle scene?

I never noticed that this photo album is this detailed. There is a little J and L on either side of James and Lily’s photo here. Hagrid is an artist.

It’s on every page? Was this supposed to be something that Hagrid found from Godric’s Hollow? How did he get something so specific? Or is that rumor true that Hagrid owled Lily and James friend’s and Remus, who had been left things like this when there was no one else left to claim them, got it off his bookshelf and sent it to his best friends’ son?

I like how Harry’s room progressively becomes more his own. Look at it in this movie, the walls are bare, everything is relatively tame and plain verses in Order of The Phoenix, when Harry’s room has distinctly more decoration.

Those pink candlesticks are ghastly.

Harry, my darling, you have been getting letters it is merely a well meaning house elf who has stopped them. I wonder what everyone else thought about Harry’s silence? Especially Hermione. Did she think for even a moment that Harry and Ron had decided that they didn’t want to be her friend at all? Ron isn’t much of a writer, and Harry wasn’t responding. I don’t want to know what kind of a mind fuck that must have been to 12 year old Hermione who had just got home from “magic school”, and none of her new “friends” were responding to her letters.

We have heard that theory that James is Harry and Sirius is Ron, etc. But Dudley is Petunia. Dudley and Harry were raised in the same house, closer than cousins because of location alone. But whereas Petunia never got over the resentment that she felt towards Harry in book seven Dudley was more concerned for Harry’s well-being when they were leaving for the safe house then I think Petunia ever was if Lily ever mentioned how hard and dangerous things were getting during the First Wizarding World. Dudley received some characterization and growth where Petunia never bothered.

Harry sounds so sarcastic when he says that.

Dang! Every time Harry leaves his room he has to see a pencil drawing of Dudley’s face? The Dursley’s cruelty knows no bounds.

All of this decoration, and the shelf are missing from the first scene with Harry in this movie.

Harry is just like, “Fuck it all.”

But he’s got manners galore.

At this point, Harry has never seen a house elf. He has no idea what a house elf does. He has no idea why one would be in his bedroom. He has no idea that this even is a house elf? Why is he so calm? This could be a blood thirsty toga wearing creature that they only study in seventh year, and yet, Harry is all but like, “Can I take your coat, sir?”

And now he’s crying, (those could have been lethal gas releasing nerve agents), and now he’s hitting himself (gearing up for attack.) Oh, Harry, number one at defense my arse.

And their champagne flutes are pink? You can’t buy taste.

Those people look so offended like, “You have a cat? How common.”

I know that the fanon is that wizarding children all heard bedtime stories about Harry Potter, but Dobby is proof that other beings also heard about Harry’s triumph over the Dark Lord.

Who painted that picture on Harry’s wardrobe? Dean Thomas, fanon artist. Or does Harry Potter have latent creative talent? Or can you buy these out of the Hogwart’s catalog? Lol

Dobby is like, “Oh, shit, I should not have said that.”

This is where Harry’s Gryffindor really shows because he could just lie to Dobby, but he doesn’t. It’s that Gryffindor honesty.

The man is just like, “Oh, look, cake. Neither of them even looks angry.

Vernon bowered Niall Horan’s hat for this scene.

Harry sleeps with the scrapbook right by his bed. Someone shoot me.

I love that to Ron, Fred, and George that this is a completely normal thing for them to be doing. None of them look nervous about flying a car in a Muggle neighborhood. Destruction of property? Who gives a fuck? They are just like, we have to do what we have to do for our bud. Just a regular drive around.

Hedwig is very annoyed at being called a pigeon.

Ron knows to appreciate the simple things. Tell you mate Happy Birthday, no werid shows of masculinity here.

I love the Burrow. I love the position of the Burrow. I love that they are surrounded by land and a little pond. I love that it is secluded, and that it looks pieced together.

The inside of the Burrow is stunning. You have the Farm House sink. The detailed windows. The hardwood surfaces. The eclectic but perfectly fitting furniture. It would be considered chic to many a Muggle. And that DOOR, that opens up, and then also opens out. The extra space above that little cubbie. Fireplace. Hand, or magic, knitted blankets.

There is a wooden orange cat, a la, Crookshanks on the fireplace there.

Ginny is me.

He says, “Morning Weasleys.” Like they are a clan. He could totally use that tone and call them all to action.

I feel like Mrs. Weasley could sound more disappointed here. I feel like she is kind of annoyed, but also kind of interested in their little stunts as well.

The stainglass windows, the open placement for the dishes, like this house is amazing!

“Dumbledore must know that you’re here.” So, the headmaster is the one who can keep track of the placement of certain students and their whereabouts, or is this simply a case where Mrs. Figg informed Dumbledore that Harry had taken off. Can you imagine that letter? Like, “Super sorry, Professor Dumbledore, but it seems as if Number Four Pivet Drive has been attacked by three red haired boys in a flying car. The red haired youngsters seemed to be on quite friendly terms with Mr. Potter however, as they helped them into the flying vehicle. Just thought that I should mention it.

Sincerely,

Arabella Figg

So, does Appartition take a lot out of a witch or wizard? Why don’t Mr. and Mrs. Weasley just apparate all the kids to the Diagon Alley? Is there such a thing as flooing by twos or threes? Because that would also be useful. Are there many fireplaces lining Diagon Alley like the tones that are shown in seven part one in the Ministry? Where to they floo into? Just one of the thousands of questions that need answers, Mrs. Rowling.

There is a gilded head of an elephant behind Harry’s head before Harry examines closely a cabinet that seems to follow a very tight skull aesthetic for maximum creep.

On the top shelf, there seems to be a lamp? A magical one?

More skulls. The hand of glory, that is mentioned in the books. And then a vase full of eye balls. This place is a health hazard. I know the wizarding world lacks mental health professionals, but you’re telling me they don’t have health inspectors?

Harry looks like he has been covered in spiderwebs. When was the last time that Floo was used?

Who are these random people just immediately accosting a twelve year old boy?

They pass a book seller. Knowledge is the root of all power.

The sign in front says from top to bottom: Quality. Value. Ease. Style. Then I think, Variety.

Hermione is internally shrugging because of course her ride or die new friend is covered in ash and has broken glasses. Of course, he is.

The girl behind them as they walk away looks back at them like, “Oh, Harry Potter.”

The fashion and lighting in this movie went from drab and seventeen hundreds to really flamboyant and really stylish with bright colors. I love that the dashes of color really followed them into the other films. Even Prisoner of Azkaban with its more muted color scheme is still vibrant.

The front page that reads: Gilderoy Lockhart gives Wizarding Wolrd Hero Hygiene Tips. Ash free for the cameras, always.

They are literally crammed into the bottom floor of this shop, and Draco Malfoy has an excellent view from above?

Ginny’s got some balls. Love her. All the boys are silent, and she just ain’t taking no shit.

Like Lucius, it is not okay to fondle people’s foreheads, you creepy mother f-er.

Hermione is a bad bitch. Like she knows how dangerous magic can be know, and yet, she doesn’t back down from this grown wizard.

They are all dirty. What happened to scourgify? Or were they scouring grate after grate trying to find Harry, and just didn’t have time after the relief of finding him? Literally, no one else is dirty.

Ginny’s trunk has a Hogwart’s emblem. And we all know the Weasley’s use hand me down items. Whose trunk does she have?

Like Ronald, this is not logical. Dang! I know y’all aint in Ravenclaw, but you are twelve years old. This is basic.

“Your hands all sweaty.” This is no time to be a snob, Harry.

So, did the car fail because they hit Hogwart’s wards? That would seem logical for its sudden failure.

It could also be why the Womping Willow attacked the car so viscously. It may have sensed that this car doesn’t belong to the grounds, and thus, could potentially be a threat. So, it tried to dislodge and pulverize the threat.

Pete, you rat bastard.

This car knows its way around Hogwarts? Or did some of the sentient magic that is in Hogwarts take over the car, and that is why it saved Harry and Ron when they were in the forest with the acromantulas.

To make things more environmentally friendly. The Daily Prophet should have a self updating paper, that changes with each news day. People can still buy the others, if they want to keep them for posterity, but I mean, come on, save the planet.

I feel like this is just a flashback for Snape. James getting away with everything and now Harry.

And Ron, is just so used to getting caught out by Mrs. Weasley, that he just instantly thinks that he is going home.

The look on Snape’s face is so sad here. Will no one ever take this man’s side?

I like this overhead view of the greenhouses. I like the idea too, that there are several levels of greenhouses. The ones that we see in this movie are close to the castle and are set for first and second years, but then the Greenhouses that we see in Half Blood Prince are set away a bit from the castle for the upper years. And some are just for Professor Sprout.

There are little dragon statues on top of the greenhouses. That’s a bit ironic.

Do you think that those large pot like things hanging from the ceiling are

Like, how common is getting petrified, that this would be in second year school book. Also, why were they being grown in the first place if there uses were so rare.

Headcanon that Neville truly developed an interest in Herbology when he fainted that year. He went back to see what work he missed, and Professor Sprout was just straight battling some giant carnivorous plant, and just kicking the fertilizer out of it, and Neville helps her. Then she shows him something else, and something else, and talks about all the things that plants can do, and what they are capable of achieving. “But that’s normally a lesson I reserve for the older years.” But Neville doesn’t want to wait, he wants to do it now. He goes back to the common room with several borrowed books from Professor Sprout, and he is never the same again.

We are legit just going to leave a student lying on the ground. Are we? The wizarding world is really survival of the fittest.

There is a studious Ravenclaw behind them there, reading away.

Neville still has flashbacks to be honest.

When the wizarding world doesn’t have cell phones to yell at or embarrass your children with, you hit them with a howler. Respect.

This DADA room is surrounded with pictures of Lockhart. All the frames along the side of the room are pictures of Lockhart. Bless this man.

This painting of Lockhart is painting a picture of Lockhart.

He bought those Cornish Pixies on the Wizarding Web.

Is that a skeleton of a hippogriff handing above them there?

Even the pixies have had it with Lockhart’s shit books.

The painting Lockhart runs out of the way as well.

Hermione is a baddie.

Hogwarts is so beautiful.

Flint, Wood is tired of your shit.

Hermione and Ron smell trouble, and are like, “I’m going to get me some of that.” Because Gryffindors.

Clap back Hermione.

I love that in the book everyone reacts to what Draco calls Hermione. I wish they would have included that a bit more in the movie.

Ron must have learned that from somewhere, but instead of someone helping him, they just laugh.

This interaction here with Hagrid and Hermione always melts my heart. I like to think that Hagrid is one of the reasons that Hermione worked so hard later in life for the protection and promotion of creature rights. Hagrid being a half giant.

Hagrid is number one. Let’s be real.

Where can I get this level of staged photograph when I go to the Wizarding World in May?

Lockhart is like, “Dang, the fame is already getting to this one. What a shame.”

Harry hears someone threatening to murder people, and of course, he runs right to them.

If Tom Riddle had a giant, most likely extremely hard to kill snake, why didn’t he just try to ride it on out of Hogwarts, take over Diagon and flatten everything? Why didn’t he come back for it during the first wizarding world?

Ron is not down with spiders, and neither am I.

Look, this may be a controversial opinion, but I love Mrs. Norris, and I think that her and Filch are cute and are not to be messed with.

Let’s be real, Filch has been hearing for a solid year from Snape about how Harry Potter is such a little shit. That rage has got to come from somewhere.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry thinking that they were just about to sneak off. Dumbledore is like, “Bitch, please.”

Hermione, Harry, and Ron: “Is Snape taking up for us….actu….oh, wait, of course not.”

I feel so bad for Filch here. That cat is probably the only thing in the whole world that he actually loves.

McGonagall has a large number of zoo like cages in her classroom as well. Her classroom is also very symmetrical, from the two blackboards, to the candles in the front of the room.

Draco and Goyle are reluctantly impressed.

That is the beautiful thing about libraries. There is an unlimited amount of information available at any point in time.

I’m glad that there is at least one adult in the common space for the students. Is that supposed to be Madam Pince? Or a helpful teaching assistant? We all know that the teachers at Hogwarts have an intense work load.

Why is there a spider depicted on the woman’s head in this book?

I just imagine that every time that Harry is in the air that Ron and Hermione experience quite a lot of anxiety.

I can just hear Lucius in the stands saying, “We do not show off for such people.” When the snitch is right beside Draco’s head.

I feel that Lucius grew into being a good father when the threat of his family became a reality. I think before he judged Draco by too harsh means because things were always rather simple in his mind. He thought he was the best, and Draco should be too. But he was humbled, and became a better father because of it.

Dobby strictly uses the word, “Enslavement” here. That word makes what Hermione does with Spew seem less radical.

The table is decorated with the phases of the moon.

Snape rises from the crowd like a ghost.

How on Earth did Lockhart get Snape to agree to do this? He had to have accosted him in the staffroom or during a meeting when Snape couldn’t get away.

“Severus, I really think it would be a great idea. We could really give the kids something exciting, riveting, and imaginative.” It is only when McGonagall tells him that he could probably get Lockhart on his perfectly pictured arse a few times that Snape considers it, and eventually concedes.

The most iconic Drarry line ever. “Scared, Potter?” “You wish.”

Can conjured things kill people? Or are they just charms? Is the pain temporary, or a real solid thing that can seriously damage?

Is this study hall?

Harry Potter has the crappiest luck ever.

Some of the headmasters and headmistresses seem to be still. I like the idea that all of the professors that get promoted to that level get to be immortalized whether they would like to put apart of them inside of a portrait or not.

I really like the idea of Dumbledore as a scholar and an academic, so I really like that they show all of his scrolls and books.

I feel like Fawkes dying and then being rebirthed among the flames is a really poignant thing for Harry to experience at this stage in his life. This image of the phoenix dying, but still having life probably stuck with Harry and it might have been something that he thought about when he was preparing to walk into the forest in book seven.

Hagrid has got Harry’s back, and I love it. He is a really good friend.

This image of the Black Lake frozen over, and the students being pulled across it’s icy surface is stunning.

Hermione was training to join MI6 before she got her Hogwarts letter, and no one can tell me differently.

Are flying treats that common that Crabbe and Goyle are just like, “Dead on.” It must have been a cute thing that there house elves did for them when they were children, levitating treats or toys in the air for them to grab. Or their parents showing them magic and giving them treats at the same time. Otherwise, how would they have ever thought, “You know what? Excellent and safe idea to eat these random treats.”

Harry literally doesn’t know here which one is Crabbe and which one is Goyle.

The Slytherin common room looks way more lush then the Gryffindor common room. I feel like you can see really clearly into the Black Lake there, and since it is frozen over, the light that you see is light blue instead of green. I mean, look at how big there common room is. It looks like they have a designated study area and everything.

Draco, don’t be the stereotype of rich boys who steal. Just don’t.

Myrtle is not to be fucked with, bro.

A young Tom Riddle for sure got this one year for Christmas at Wool’s orphanage before the war started, and things got so tight that they couldn’t even afford three meals a day. Then, like everything in his past, he transferred these basic Muggles things to something more extraordinary, like him.

Tom Riddle in this movie is a hottie. Like, y’all can’t even fight me because there is no denying his killer beauty….get it?

Okay, so are we thinking that during this flashback that Tom’s soul piece is not only aware that Harry is watching a scene from his life, but is also, acting out the part of himself? He is the director and the lead, so to say.

I like this sequence because it shows more insight into who Tom Riddle is, and where the fear of death started to come from. I wish that Rowling would have made this connection more thoroughly for the viewers of the movies. A single mention of there being too many bombs, or a lot of fighting by Tom here when he is talking with Dumbledore would have provided some more insight into this character.

Ginny knows how to do some damage. I think it would have been easier for them to figure out. Girls can get up boy’s dorms, but boys cannot get up to girl’s dorms. It would have had to have been a Gyrffindor. The common room couldn’t have been completely empty. Hermioen could have fact checked this, and figured out who had wrecked their dorm.

Look at those game plans back there. I just envision, Oliver Wood drawing frantically on the blackboard wild circles that simulate flying motions, but he goes too quickly for everyone else to understand what he’s saying, and thus, the only one who knows the plan is Wood, himself.

Did they show Colin’s friends his frozen body? Or Penelope and Justin’s? Not one person in this school thinks of the potentially traumatizing circumstances that they are putting these kids through.

It is popular fanon that McGonagall and Riddle went to school together. From this perspective, it would be doubly as traumatizing for her to hear that the school could be closing again.

Ron is me. I ain’t messing with no mother flipping spiders.

Ron is no help in this scenario. Absolutley none.

Harry replacing Hermoine’s flowers, and thus subtly telling the viewers how much time has elapsed.

Harry is wickedly smart. He is also very logical which I think attributes a lot to that sarcastic personality that he has.

McGonagall has some Slytherin in her for sure. She went from worried to blasting Lockhart in 2.5.

Lockhart packed up really quickly. It was almost like he….. had….experience…leaving…quickly.

I wonder if Lockhart’s victims ever got any retribution after he wound up in St. Mungos. It’s almost certain that his sales went up when he got admitted to the hospital just because of the public’s sheer curiosity and gossip mongering.

Salazar Slytherin was one slick mother f-er. “I’m going to hide my chamber in the bathroom.”

I can just imagine Riddle not having a lot of time in between OWLS and what not, and taking the easy way out and opening the Chamber whenever he could just to chuck down dead rabbits and chickens. Forays into the Forbidden Forest were many for Tom’s minions back then.

Honestly, Lockhart, Harry probably wouldn’t mind if you took a few of his less than pleasurable memories.

Tom Riddle also has that innate need to be polite even though he’s about to stab someone just like Harry does. Or is this a British thing?

I love how the villains in these movies say, “Potter.”

That does not look like the hole that they came down? It looks like Fawkes took them up another exit.

Why is Dumbledore trusting Hagrid’s release papers from the wizarding world’s worst prisons to a twelve year old? To a twelve year old Ron Weasley at that.

It looks like Dumbledore has a crystal ball by his desk. Trying his hand at divination? Or is that how he keeps track of all the students? I need to know what headmaster powers enable him to do all of these things.

Jason Isaacs is super fine. I can even deal with the wig. In fact, the wig makes it better.

It looks like Dumbledore’s office is located outside of the courtyard which makes the scene in Order of the Phoenix when Fred and George are comforting that boy all the more poignant.

#Harry Potter #Chamber of secrets #Harry Potter thoughts #Harry Potter movie thoughts

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