#w/ Esther;

[alicemp]

❛ if that's what you want, i think you should do it. i'll help you out. ❜

"It's all alright, I think I've got it, just lacking a little bit of confidence."

Alice smiled, showing her thankfulness to the demigodess who had spent her afternoon listening to her concerns and so-called future plan. The daughter of Odin had been thinking about it for a while, to book flights to the places that had popped up in the stories others had told about their shared pasts.

She still remembered that anonymous note in her hand the day she woke without memory. It told her to not come back, but now that Alice gained certain insights into who she used to be and what she used to do, it gradually became a tease rather than a glaring warning.

"Maybe I'll take a short trip to Jeju first, see if I can at least gain some clues of what happened that day." She said, both to Esther and to herself. "We can go together though? You can consider it as a gift for yourself, after everything you've gone through, you know."

[mperik]

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

"Shouldn't it be the other way round? You did help me feel much better with that pretty song you played.” 

Erik aimed his warm smile at the pretty demigoddess, his face brightened and body language much more relaxed than the first moments he walked into Noona. It was a solo dinner he had not planned beforehand, his stomach suddenly demanded attention after a rehearsal at the theater, and the Italian restaurant was the nearest place that offered guaranteed high-quality food. 

He did not expect anything more than a good quick meal, but fate put him on the seat closest to the small stage, enough for him to strike up a conversation with the gorgeous pianist after her performance. 

“How long have you been playing?” Erik asked, could not help feeling his professional side kicking in. “Have you thought about performing to a larger audience?”

[eirwenxmp]

Esther smiled at the other. She provided a quick head nod. She had been through the park several times so far, and as she chose to eat out more than in, she had frequented the stall quite a bit. Whether the other would enjoy it, she could only find out. However, she was hopeful. "No problem." She states warmly, and once she knows that the other is ready to go, the demigoddess moved her arms behind her back as she started walking into the direction of the stall. "I tend to spend a lot of time in the park. It's rather pretty. So far, no matter the season, there is either something to do or some sight to see." Circe? That sounded familiar. A goddess likely in a story she read during her college studies. Though she was rather curious to know more of the powers, she chose to let that happen down the future. "Wow! I've been to the bakery a few times. I have not been let down yet!" She praises warmly. "I am a musician for Noonas. I play most nights, so if you are ever planning to make a reservation, try to aim for then so you can see me." Esther offered her a light smile. Nothing beat yummy food and her music together. That was a fact. "Are you new to the island?"

Eirwen listened to the other demigoddess with a light smile on her face, as she could see that Esther was, at least temporarily, released from the grip of her own misery. 

“You’ve just made me realize that I should come here more often,” Eirwen commented, matching her pace with that of her new friend. “I’ve been walking past this place several times, but rarely spend time here, either because I’m too caught up with things or don’t have enough energy for it.” 

What Eirwen had read about  Skuld in mythology got her curious, yet it may not be the best time to ask one of the goddess’ demigod daughters about her. As Esther had just recovered from an emotional breakdown, Eirwen assumed it would be better to keep their conversation light-hearted.

“Thank you, I’m glad that you’ve got good experiences at Black Forest.” She responded with a bright smile, her words may appear to be over-professional, but Eirwen’s joy was genuine. “May I ask which products of the bakery are your favourite?” 

Her eyes opened slightly rounder in nice surprise as Esther revealed her occupation and workplace. Despite not showing up at many musical events, Eirwen enjoyed music, and she had grown deep respect and appreciation for singers and performers. “That’s so cool! When I find a chance to come to Noona, I’ll definitely check with the restaurant to catch your performance!”

Eirwen noticed just now that they had gone out of the park and got on the way leading to the night market. The streets were moderately busy, most stores were still open, and she realized it had been a while since the last time she went out at this time of the day. It was a rather inexplicable feeling, but it was not bad at all, especially when she got a new companion. 

“Hmmm, if we’re talking about how long I’ve stayed here, then I’m not really new anymore,” she explained to Esther, finding it slightly embarrassing to admit. “But if you mean my experiences on this island, then yeah, I’m still new to it. I’ve spent most of my time at the bakery and in my apartment, quite boring, I know.” 

She quickly scanned over the surroundings, gazing at the blinking neon signs of the stores, before a question came to her mind. She turned to look at Esther, asking. “What are some interesting things you’ve noticed about this island so far?”

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜

Esther had been sitting outside on one of the benches. She had a lot on her mind lately. Where she thought she had finally been coming out of a funk, the joy she had built up seemed to collapse in seconds. She could only save face for so long before she finally could no longer. And, seated in a place she thought she would be alone, she finally allowed herself to cry.

When the other sat beside her, she stared at the other with widened eyes. Tears stopped, only because she was immediately embarrassed that she was caught in her moment of weakness. "I--." She speaks, voice wavering as her lower lip quivered. It only took seconds for her sobs to come back. "I am sorry. I am fine. I promise."

[imageingrunge]

Updated some sims

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Painters on the Brooklyn Bridge, November 1946.

Photo: Esther Bubley via the Int'l Center of Photography

[kelvingemstone]

love brennan's commitment to wifing up zac oyama each time. no matter if it works for the character or not and ykw? i'd do it too

[casadabiqueira]

Lago Refinery, Aruba

Esther Bubley, 1957

[guzhufuren]

Esther Oruche on ig (@ esthervnus)

[jinxproof]

Esther Cañadas | © Jacques Olivar

[reeama-the-mage]

The difference between the tragedy of Edwin's and Charles' lives and deaths and what makes Charles' much more compelling to me is that Edwin never had anyone he could trust: he grew up with distant parents who i imagine he saw rarely and could not confide in, then he went to school and was immediately recognized as other in a way he had not fully realized of himself yet and was killed for it, and then comes hell and well who can u trust in hell? Certainly not the things that chase you until your legs ache, and even if your compatriots in the whole ordeal are as innocent as you, trapped in the same technicality, what is the good of trusting them, when they are just as helpless as you?

But Charles? Everyone Charles was supposed to trust betrayed him. His parents were close to him, atleast somewhat, atleast his father was around enough to get sick of hearing owner of a lonely heart, and his mother was around enough to watch his father beat him and be silently horrified and ultimately not do anything about it, maybe she stepped in once and we just never saw it, but I wouldn't bet on it, Charles' mom is 'quiet' that's her defining feature to Charles not protective or gentle just 'quiet', then Charles gets to school and he is popular he has friends! He has people who care for him (or should maybe, as long as he's good at sports like he's needed to be) and then he stands up for one person, because he has always wanted to be good and maybe he trusts himself to do it just this once and his friends kill him and his own actions signed the death warrant and he cannot even trust himself to do the right thing properly (it never got better and then you died)

And maybe, maybe Edwin does it too, with less intention to hurt, and with less knowledge but Charles and Edwin trust eachother maybe more than anything (maybe Charles would sooner slip away from earth's gravity than stop putting his trust in Edwin who he thinks is good and smart and brills and aces) and maybe Edwin still looks at Charles trying to protect him after Charles has had maybe the worst week of his existence and says "that was a bit...... extreme" and Edwin still promises Charles can tell him anything while hiding himself in a way that makes Charles feel untrustworthy

So yeah I'll never stop thinking about the tragedy of Charles Rowland actually 👍 think about him with me

[itsatorchwoodthing]

omgg you dont like miracle day? should we tell everyone? should we throw a party? should we invite RTD?

[alieliscious]

Employing the kings weird kid as ur bodyguard is the ultimate power move

[22plus15]

gotham vs. san diego wave 🏟️

(brought to you by my shitty phone camera and my sister’s slightly less shitty phone camera </3)

[newyorkthegoldenage]

People at the bus station in 1947.

Photos: Esther Bubley via the Howard Greenberg Gallery, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, & MoMA

[dykeseinfeld]

crack fic covering the entirety of holster and jack's brief situationship called "5 times holster almost outed jack and 1 time jack outed holster"

[casadabiqueira]

Charlie Parker, Norman Granz, Jam Session, LA

Esther Bubley, 1952