#wrapped: zosia

[honcyandlemon]

Closed Starter for : @lvciano​ Location :  The Vincelli Mansion Pool  Timestamp : Late in the evening, Saturday 27th September 1924

Of all the ideas Nalini Khuranna has ever had, this definitely isn’t her brightest. 

She isn’t quite sure how she got here, the time in between leaving Zosia abandoned in the bathroom and stumbling into the deserted pool with a jersey and a journal and an unopened bottle of champagne a complete blur. She doesn’t really know where here is, or how she got there - just that it is a quiet, calm place to collect herself. The more time she spent in the crowd, the more she spiralled, and without the distraction of another set to perform (Tony and his band had been playing when she had ducked out), it was for the best that she remove herself. 

What was not for the best was that instead of taking herself home, like a normal, sensible girl would do, she had taken to playing at being a cat-burglar, breaking into her ex’s childhood bedroom, pilfering his things, and bringing them here to this quiet room nobody else had discovered. She perched by the edge of the water, jersey in her lap like a child’s blanket, one hand rifling through the journal. She barely understands it - but that doesn’t matter. She cares more that Luciano’s hand one touched the pages she now trails her fingers over. It’s the closest she’s felt to him in a year. Her other hand is wrapped around the neck of the champagne bottle, occasionally bringing it to her lips to drink, her lipstick staining the rim. 

She can hear the sounds of the party distantly - but it is still enough to mask the sounds of oncoming footsteps until they are too close to run from. Nalini curses herself inwardly - being caught somewhere she shouldn’t be is one thing, but being caught clutching the belongings of a man she has no business mooning over is another. She just has time to bundle up the jersey and the journal and dump them in a nearby plant pot when the door flings open, and she blinks at the intruder like a deer caught in the headlights. 

She isn’t sure if she is relieved to see that it’s Luciano, or if it’s her worst nightmare. Relieved, because at least with him, she doesn’t have to think of an excuse. A nightmare, because there are so many things she wants to say, a million questions she wants to ask, and a gut-wrenching fear of what his answer will be. She shouldn’t still feel like this after a year, but they’ve been apart for longer before, and that didn’t change how she feels about him, either. Why would this be different? 

For a minute, she does nothing but stare. Then, she offers the smallest of smiles, tentative and unsure. “Hi.” She forces herself not to think of all the things she hoped to say when she saw him again. Instead, she apologises. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be here.” She tries to rise to her feet gracefully, but she’s drank too much and her shoes are too new and she wobbles, throwing one arm to the wall to steady herself. “I’ll go.” she offers, but she doesn’t move. She looks at him, drinking in the way he looks, and under what she’s actually said in offering to leave is another statement she hasn’t, and won’t, say out loud. 

Ask me to stay. 

[gemtvusa]

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix

THE BUZZING LINE-UP OF 2024 MOVIES From epic action sequels to superhero phenomena, animated adventures for all ages, and beyond – here’s why 2024 is shaping up to be a cinematic thrill ride! The movie realm is ever-evolving. The shadow of a global pandemic, the burgeoning domain of streaming platforms, the rise in franchise-centric blockbusters, and the challenge for theaters have stirred numerous questions about cinema's trajectory. Yet, as we inch closer to 2024, the cinematic horizon gleams with promise. We're set to be graced with high-voltage superhero sagas, a musical interpretation we can't wait for, George Miller's fresh take on Mad Max, another dive into the world of Avatar, and a plethora of other delights. Dive in to discover the gems 2024 has in store, and keep an eye out for constant updates to our line-up!

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix JANUARY

El Muerto (2024)

- Director: Jonás Cuarón - Star Power: Bad Bunny - Release Date: January 12, 2024 Though initially Sony had slated Madame Web for an early 2024 release, they’ve now shifted gears to ‘El Muerto.’ The limelight focuses on the musical maestro, Bad Bunny, as he takes on a lesser-known Spidey comrade's role. While production details remain under wraps, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the January launch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tTwPQKY6vc

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix FEBRUARY

Madame Web (-1)

- Director: S.J. Clarkson - Featuring: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, Isabela Merced, Tahar Rahim, Emma Roberts, Mike Epps, Adam Scott, Zosia Mamet - Release Date: February 14, 2024 Sony’s Spider-Man universe (minus Spider-Man, ironically) has seen peaks with ‘Venom’ and troughs with ‘Morbius.’ Now, Madame Web is on the horizon, with Dakota Johnson leading the way as the mysterious, clairvoyant Spider-ally. With a cast that boasts Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, and Zosia Mamet, it’s already piquing interest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTU-h-unzBk

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix MARCH

Elio (2024)

- Director: Adrian Molina - Featuring: America Ferrera, Yonas Kibreab - Release Date: March 1, 2024 Revealed in 2022, Pixar's next masterpiece comes after 2023's 'Elemental.' This intergalactic tale revolves around Elio, an 11-year-old Earthling, who finds himself mistakenly thrust into space, deemed Earth’s representative on a foreign planet. Director Adrian Molina, known for his stellar work on Coco, Toy Story 4, and Luca, makes his directing debut here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w_K3CB8PuE The Fall Guy (2024)

- Director: David Leitch - Lead Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt - Release Date: March 1, 2024 When it comes to pulse-pounding action, David Leitch has made quite the mark with movies like John Wick, Atomic Blonde, and Deadpool 2. He's now reviving an 80s TV classic – a tale of a stuntman with a double life as a bounty hunter. With Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt leading the charge, this is set to be an adrenaline-packed ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id0PrIwhPn0 Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

- Director: Mike Mitchell - Lead Cast: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, David Cross - Release Date: March 8, 2024 The acclaimed "Kung Fu Panda" franchise by DreamWorks Animation is a masterclass in storytelling, transcending a comical concept (a lovable panda voiced by Jack Black mastering kung fu) into an epic tale packed with humor, emotions, and breathtaking action sequences. The recent CinemaCon 2023 announcement revealed Mike Mitchell, renowned for "Trolls" and "The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part", as the director. The upcoming sequel promises an intriguing journey where our hero Po confronts a chameleon antagonist and embarks on a quest to find the next Dragon Warrior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=dR1LjDVXQtg A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

- Director: Michael Sarnoski - Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Denis O’Hare - Release Date: March 8, 2024 The "A Quiet Place" series has predominantly centered around a post-apocalyptic world, dominated by lethal extraterrestrial creatures with hypersensitive hearing abilities. But as hinted by its name, this third installment offers audiences a rewind, diving deep into the terrifying initial days of the alien onslaught. The narrative unfolds at a time when humanity remains clueless about the impending doom or the capabilities of these alien beings. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, celebrated for directing Nicolas Cage in the acclaimed 2021 movie "Pig," this installment is set to be an exhilarating experience. While the ensemble features fresh faces, fans will be delighted to see Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from the second film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9If0ZPaCHU Dune: The Next Chapter (2024)

- Director: Denis Villeneuve - Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård - Release Date: March 15, 2024 The resounding success of the initial Dune adaptation paves the way for this enthralling sequel. With esteemed director Denis Villeneuve at the helm, the next chapter promises to be a captivating continuation of Frank Herbert's monumental science fiction saga. A stellar ensemble including Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Austin Butler, and the legendary Christopher Walken join the existing cast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Way9Dexny3w The Return of Snow White (2024)

- Director: Marc Webb - Starring: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap - Release Date: March 22, 2024 Disney's iconic fairy tale returns, decades after its original animated debut in 1937. This time, the retelling features West Side Story's sensation Rachel Zegler as Snow White and the iconic Gal Gadot stepping into the shoes of the menacing Evil Queen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=IEYZNZF4-pA Ghostbusters: Legacy Continues (2024)

- Director: Gil Kenan - Starring: Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, McKenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt - Release Date: March 29, 2024 Under the fresh direction of Gil Kenan, this sequel promises to stay rooted in the original's legacy while charting a new course. The ensemble is spearheaded by Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, and others, with an exciting backdrop set in New York. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k52DmOaVXk8 Mickey 17: The Odyssey (2024)

- Director: Bong Joon-ho - Starring: Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun - Release Date: March 29, 2024 From the visionary mind of Bong Joon-ho comes another gripping tale. Inspired by Edward Ashton's novel, this cinematic journey depicts the life of a recyclable worker, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, as he undertakes a mission in outer space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-iY5l9JcOWY

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix APRIL

Godzilla x Kong: Rise of the Titans (2024)

- Director: Adam Wingard - Starring: Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, Rachel House - Release Date: April 12, 2024 The titanic monsters, Godzilla and Kong, return for another monumental showdown. This sequel promises unforeseen twists and turns, hinting at a possible alliance against an emerging global threat. With Dan Stevens leading the human cast and Adam Wingard ensuring an epic direction, this is one not to miss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJEpl4ty4Sw Challengers: Love & Tennis (2024)

- Director: Luca Guadagnino - Starring: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist - Release Date: April 26, 2024 Zendaya takes center stage in Luca Guadagnino's intricate narrative that blends tennis, passion, and intricate relationships. The tale revolves around a prodigious tennis coach (Zendaya), her once-champion husband (Mike Faist), and his former close friend (Josh O’Connor), who shares a complex past with her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDnVk5jIJr0 MAY FILM ROSTER Deadpool Returns (2024)

- Director: Shawn Levy - Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Leslie Uggams - Release Date: May 3, 2024 Deadpool, the iconic and irreverent anti-hero, makes a spectacular comeback. With the surprising reintroduction of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, fans are buzzing with excitement. Given Deadpool's trademark adult humor, how it will synergize with Disney's more family-friendly Marvel Universe is eagerly awaited. Jackman's return, especially after his unforgettable performance in Logan, only heightens the anticipation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqa3wjsBN_0 Furiosa's Origin (2024)

- Director: George Miller - Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson - Release Date: May 24, 2024 Delve deep into the world of Furiosa before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road. This gripping prequel unveils the journey of a young Furiosa, played by Anya Taylor-Joy. Directed by the maestro, George Miller, and co-starring Chris Hemsworth, this narrative explores Furiosa's tumultuous past and her ascension in Immortan Joe's dominion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm9xMNZSuDc The Legendary Garfield (2024)

- Director: Mark Dindal - Starring: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames - Release Date: May 24, 2024 Chris Pratt lends his voice to the iconic, lasagna-craving, Monday-averse feline, Garfield, in this delightful reimagining of the classic comic. With a surprising twist, Samuel L. Jackson brings Garfield's father, Vic, to life. An animated treat awaits! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXWvmPGjVXI The World of IF (2024)

- Director: John Krasinski - Starring: Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Cailey Fleming, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina - Release Date: May 24, 2024 In this enchanting fantasy comedy created by dynamic duo John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds, the narrative revolves around a young girl's discovery of her unique power – perceiving forsaken Imaginary Friends. With Krasinski penning the script, the tale is brought to life by a constellation of stars voicing these fantastical companions. MAY'S CINEMATIC LINEUP Planet of the Apes: The New Era (2024)

- Director: Wes Ball - Starring: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Peter Macon, Eka Darville, Kevin Durand - Release Date: May 24, 2024 After Caesar's iconic leadership came to an end in "War for the Planet of the Apes", the saga continues. Directed by Wes Ball of the Maze Runner fame, this installment advances the storyline to the future, post the events of the last war. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HimhSuITJdY

The Best Movies on 2024 JUNE

Ballet of Vengeance (2024)

- Director: Len Wiseman - Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne - Release Date: June 7, 2024 Ana de Armas headlines this gripping tale set in the John Wick universe. As a trained assassin under the watchful guidance of the mysterious "Director", she embarks on a whirlwind journey of revenge. The timeline offers insights into events that transpired between the third and fourth John Wick chapters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3njg62ni8lE Bad Boys: The Final Ride (2024)

- Director: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah - Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence - Release Date: June 14, 2024 Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite for an electrifying adventure, further fueling the legacy of the Bad Boys series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnmig3tXeiQ Emotions Rekindled: Inside Out 2 (2024)

- Director: Kelsey Mann - Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black - Release Date: June 14, 2024 Venture into the intricate labyrinth of a college-bound Riley's emotions. As she navigates this new chapter, the sequel promises a fresh array of feelings, introducing new emotional avatars to accompany the beloved originals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuFVmdIgkiQ Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning's Echo (2024)

- Director: Christopher McQuarrie - Starring: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Henry Czerny, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff - Release Date: June 28, 2024 Tom Cruise returns with death-defying stunts and thrilling espionage in the newest Mission: Impossible film, which picks up where 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One left off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDRHI24zrzw

The Best Movies on 2024 Netflix JULY

Despicable Tales: Minion Mayhem (2024)

- Director: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage - Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Steve Coogan - Release Date: July 3, 2024 The Minions are back with their lovable mischief alongside the iconic Gru. This chapter promises more chaos, humor, and heartwarming moments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYaZlsoxTHo Mufasa: Rise of the King (2024)

- Director: Barry Jenkins - Starring: Aaron Pierre, Kevin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Kani - Release Date: July 5, 2024 Delve into the origins of Mufasa, the regal lion before he became king, in this immersive prequel to the "Lion King". Experience his early adventures and the bonds that shaped him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY2yo7H2XUo Symbiotic Struggles: Venom 3 (2024)

- Director: Kelly Marcel - Starring: Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor - Release Date: July 12, 2024 Tom Hardy returns as Eddie Brock, wrestling with the alien entity, Venom. While the narrative remains shrouded in mystery, expect thrilling confrontations and unexpected alliances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2GVcQbmryE Tornado Tales: Twisters (2024)

- Director: Lee Isaac Chung - Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Maura Tierney - Release Date: July 19, 2024 More than a sequel to the iconic 1996 film "Twister", this "new chapter" promises high-octane action as tornadoes wreak havoc, with a fresh ensemble cast ready to face nature's fury. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7pXSgIxe2U Captain America: New Frontiers (2024)

- Director: Julius Onah - Starring: Anthony Mackie, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Carl Lumbly, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas - Release Date: August 26, 2024 Sam Wilson, once known as The Falcon, steps into the spotlight, wielding Captain America's shield against new threats and age-old enemies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvb97m_gCUY

The Best Upcoming Movies on 2024 Netflix AUGUST

Borderlands: Galaxy's Edge (2024)

- Director: Eli Roth - Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt, Jamie Lee Curtis, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Bennett, Florian Munteanu - Release Date: August 9, 2024 Journey to the outer reaches of space in this adaptation of the hit video game series. As chaos ensues on an alien planet, a group of unlikely heroes forms an alliance to seek untold treasures and battle formidable foes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAs6cyCfIAQ Read the full article

[liesthehead]

Her mention of William drops any teasing from his tone. Shoulders tense against his will, unwillingly allowing Zosia to see just how much the news had bothered him. Kázmér tried not to think of it- Will walking down the aisle, saying his vows, taking the English princess to wife. It made him feel sick. His stomach twisting and turning as if he were crossing the sea in a winter storm. "Will has nothing to do with this," he mumbled. He was surprised, maybe more than anyone else, at the news. He still had not fully wrapped his head around the idea.

"I'm interested because what people say about us matters." His sister, who was everything he could never be- who would have made a better spare than he ever had, a better soldier, a better fighter, a better use for their country- she had to know. "If people discredit you and your children-" Marius would be next. It was the only way things would go. It was his duty to protect them- that is what Kázmér had been told. Take up a shield and sword for the kingdom, watch your brother's back. "Aksel Madsen. The same man for whom our host calls the head of."

"Truth to a rumor you have heard? Is it true that William is getting married? Were you as surprised as the rest of us? If so we should send our condolences to the English for the match I may lend them my pre-punctured portrait of the prince." Zosia mentioned casually again with a cool and biting anger woven into her words, curling around vowels and consonants. Eyes narrowed effortlessly like the sun had shone too brightly and one needed to wince. It was more at the mention of the upcoming announcements of certain nuptials. A portrait existed in the apartments a princess occupied in Hungary where a masterpiece was impaled to the wall. A pretty face yet but Zosia never held warm feelings for such a human being ever before, especially concerning what the entanglement was to Kaz.

Mentioning the Viking though the same eyes that narrowed and looked beyond a brother to the spaces behind him and the way he'd come. Truth be told if she wanted to kill him it would be easy. It would've been done years ago if Zosia so wanted to be in line for a crown or at least the stewardship there would be until her niece inherited a crown should Marius fall. No. The expanse was large, the path long but a landing not too far from a foolish man asking questions she would rather not speak on. Moving now skirts brushed along the stone of the parapet coming closer with muscles coiled. "I do not demand an explanation of what goes on within your own love life - why are you interested in my own or if a rumor is true? My children are not my husband's no but if you remember Bartholomew correctly - he was nothing of a man and a worse lord arranged by our father to be my husband in the hopes of settling my spirit into compliance with his ideals of what a woman should and shouldn't be. I will ask you to clarify - which viking is it that you claim I am to have slept with? All of them, perhaps or none? I have been eyeing a certain dane but must ask dagmar if they are worth pursuing. Clarify your accusations, my dear brother. Name the man you claim I've bedded"

[itsbraedanmueller]

WHEN: Tuesday night, 7pm WHERE: Mystic Elementary School WITH: @zosiasolomon​

The parent-teacher conference was something Braedan never looked forward to. Not because his son was a troublemaker, or had learning problems – in fact, Camden was surprisingly ahead for a kindergartener, something he definitely didn’t get from him. The reason of his dread was quite easy to guess, even if his boy had never asked him why, at the opposite of the other kids in his class, he had no mom praising his good participation in class or his fantastic attitude. And at every reunion, the father’s heart broke even if it wasn’t really his fault.

If the father disliked those events, his son was always thrilled by them. He enjoyed playing with his friends, unbothered by whatever his dad and teacher could talk about. This time, he was specifically excited. Braedan would finally get to meet his new teacher, that Camden had been talking about for more than a week now. The father was not as excited as the small boy, but he knew how thrilled he was, and didn’t want to disappoint him, so he decided to pretend he was just as hyped as he was. Whatever to make his kid happy, right?

After eating at Rosie’s Diner, the pair headed to the conference. Braedan rarely dressed up. As in only in very special occasions, weddings, funerals… and parent-teacher conferences, because he didn’t want to look like a complete idiot in the crowd of parents. Entering the elementary school with his son, he stared at his reflection, rolling his eyes at the grey dress shirt. Even if he tried to convince himself, nobody would buy it. Following the hallway leading to the kindergarten classroom, he stepped into the colourful room plastered in posters of letters, numbers and animals, pale hues scanning the room, pausing on the familiar silhouette sitting behind the teacher’s desk. Immediately, his jaw went slack, and the smile on his lips disappeared.

The shock was brief, as quickly Camden brought him back to reality with the gentle tug on his arm. Shaking his head, Braedan exhaled slowly and looked at his son, forcing a smile. “Dad, you’re not listening… can I go play with Will and Derek?” Braedan looked at the two boys at the back of the class and raised his brows. “After we meet your teacher. You don’t want to introduce us?” Of course, it was terrible, and he could have easily let him go play with his friends. Camden rolled his eyes and grunted, walking slowly to the teacher’s desk, followed closely by his father. As he approached, though, the boy seemed much more enthusiastic. “Dad, this is Miss Solomon. She’s my new teacher.” For a split-second, Braedan was somehow relieved he had not mentioned anything about her looks. He kept a composed face. “I told my Dad you were very nice and pretty.” Braedan choked, his face turning red and turned to look at his son. “You know what, why don’t you go play with Will and Derek? And we’ll have a talk…Later.” Camden grinned, and ran away quickly, before the blond man sat down on the chair before the desk, muttering a curse under his breath, avoiding the brunette’s gaze.

“I’m sorry. He’s ridiculous sometimes. I’m sure Lach told him to embarrass me tonight or something.” He paused, glancing furtively. “So, you’re teaching kindergarten now, huh?” He didn’t want to ask what was bringing her back. He knew her father was ill. The old man was visiting the repair shop less and less. His jaw clenched nervously, and he chewed on the inside of his cheek, searching for something to say, avoiding her gaze. She hadn’t changed much. She was older, but those ten years had not hit her so hard. The question was haunting him, but he knew it was not the right time to ask it. Suddenly, the nervosity left place to bitterness. He forced a polite smile. “Alright, Miss Solomon, do you have anything to say about my boy?” He leaned in, wording in a low voice. “Because I’m gonna go straight to the point, I do have a few questions for you, Zosia.”

[jungwooisms]

🌠 (we haven’t really talked to each other at all but i’m genuinely curious on how you perceive me based on my rambles LMFAO hope your nap was great zosia!!)

emily! 

old libraries, the smell of old books, and the weathering of pages doted on by their users

rain trailing down windows as city lights pass by, the neon & fluorescents streaking across the glass

muffled music playing in the room over, the comfort of hearing a familiar song while wrapped in a blanket

[tabloidtoc]

National Enquirer, November 2

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Jealous O.J. Simpson killed Nicole Brown over sizzling photos 

Page 2: Melanie Griffith was caught in lockdown meltdown mode outside her Los Angeles home yelling at an unsuspecting laborer and giving him a good working over after he somehow crossed her bath and pushed her buttons but it doesn’t take much to get Mel to blow these days because she’s upset about two things which are getting old and not having a man in her life 

Page 3: Lisa Marie Presley’s son Ben Keough’s tragic last moments were caught on tape as he argued with his girlfriend according to the coroner’s report on his suicide and security camera footage also captured the eerie sound of an apparent gunshot said the officer who viewed the tape -- Ben had hosted a party for his girlfriend Diana Pinto then about 4 a.m. the 27-year-old musician went to his bedroom; two hours later Diana went to check on him and had to jimmy the bedroom door lock with a bobby pin and she discovered his body and called 911 but Ben was pronounced dead at the scene -- since his death a devastated Lisa Marie has blamed herself for not intervening sooner; Ben had been to rehab several months before and Lisa Marie could see he was struggling with drugs and depression and she has kept a close eye on Ben’s gravesite with Graceland’s surveillance system 

Page 4: Anne Heche’s shocking public pronouncement that she wants to reunite with former galpal Ellen DeGeneres was met with fury from Ellen wife Portia de Rossi -- Ellen and Anne were Hollywood’s highest-profile lesbian couple when they dated for three years before their bitter split in 2000 and they haven’t spoken since but Anne announced after her elimination on Dancing with the Stars that she would love to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show but Portia has made it clear she wants Anne nowhere near her wife and she believes Anne is using Ellen to drum up publicity for herself, lonely Ryan Seacrest is longing for a reunion with former flame Shayna Taylor but she wants no part of him -- workaholic Ryan announced the combustible couple’s third split in June after eight on-and-off years together -- Ryan’s obsession with being the next Dick Clark tests the patience of everybody around him and it’s made him a nightmare to be in a relationship with as Shayna found out firsthand -- Ryan seemed so cocky and sure that breaking up was the right thing to do but not having Shayna there to lean on has really gotten to him however Shayna is refusing to be played for a fool 

Page 5: Kelly Clarkson made a massive mistake dumping husband Brandon Blackstock according to famed numerologist Glynis McCants 

Page 6: Doting dad Kanye West is spoiling oldest daughter North rotten and it’s causing even more problems between him and wife Kim Kardashian because Kim feels North is getting too spoiled but Kanye won’t hear any of it because North is his firstborn and his princess and he treats her like it -- North is regularly served breakfast in bed on a silver tray and gets whatever she wants even if it’s waffles with strawberries and ice cream and she also has a team of beauticians and a stylist to cater to her every need as though she was a full-grown woman and her wardrobe is extensive and expensive and she never wears the same designer outfit twice plus North also loves to shop online for jewelry and Kanye gives her his credit card and she can spend $100,000 in a single sitting and Kanye just thinks it’s cute 

Page 7: Daring Jill Duggar and husband Derick Dillard are rebelling against her conservative parents and causing a full-scale family war as the couple has publicly defied Baptist patriarch Jim Bob Duggar several times since their 2014 marriage and now they’ve been banned from the 19 Kids and Counting reality clan; Jim Bob’s even demanded that their neighbors have nothing to do with them -- Jill and Derick drew Jim Bob’s fury after criticizing her parents’ conservative views and shutting down their own family factory after having two sons and said they’re stopping there for now unlike Jill’s folks who had 19 kids, dog lover Jennifer Aniston adores her new rescue puppy but potty-training the pooch has been the pits so desperate Jen had to sign up her new pup Lord Chesterfield for private lessons with a dog trainer -- she has two other dogs Clyde and Sophie but they’re well-behaved and know to do their business outdoors and Jen loves them all but she forgot how much work it is to train a puppy 

Page 8: Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle revealed her private battle with depression as her struggles with first-time motherhood and fitting in with the rigid royal family pushed her over the edge but Queen Elizabeth thinks her conniving confession is simply a ploy to sully the monarchy -- Meghan described the emotional pain caused by criticism as a death by a thousand cuts and said if people are saying things about you that aren’t true what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging -- Queen Elizabeth believes Meghan’s confession is a calculated attack on the monarchy and Meghan is acting like the royals waged a war against her but Meghan and Harry’s actions since they quit have infuriated Her Majesty because Meghan keeps orchestrating situations where she takes center stage appearing to support and put the spotlight on those in need but she turns them all into opportunities to talk about herself and how hard her struggle is

Page 9: Rattled Tyra Banks’ rocky start on Dancing with the Stars has her looking for a way to waltz off the show and she is already trying to back out of hosting because she hates the criticism she’s been getting from virtually everyone plus she’s unpopular with the contestants and is bickering behind the scenes with producers who now regret replacing longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews -- ratings have also plummeted since Tyra took the helm with the show losing more than a million viewers in early October from the same week in 2019

Page 10: Hot Shots -- Gwen Stefani during a photo session in Calabasas, Tiffany Haddish used a leaf blower during a skit on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Justin Bieber on a scooter in Beverly Hills, Zosia Mamet donned a unicorn horn as she wrapped the final scenes of The Flight Attendant, Robert Pattinson and Colin Farrell on the Liverpool set of The Batman 

Page 11: John Oliver’s jokey jabs have earned him a crappy honor from the town of Danbury in Connecticut -- after he ragged on tony Danbury on his show Mayor Mark Boughton vowed to rename its sewage plant after him and now it’s official that the Danbury Sewage Plant is now the John Oliver Memorial Sewage Plant and as promised John is donating $55,000 to local charities which has spurred fundraising efforts for local food banks and Boughton is offering tours of the plant for $500 donations to local food pantries, ailing Phil Collins was rocked by ex-wife Orianne’s betrayal and pals fear he won’t make it to Christmas -- the singer was shocked when it emerged that Orianne who he’d divorced in 2006 and reunited with a decade later married another man in Las Vegas and the stunning news prompted him to serve an eviction notice to get her out of his Miami home and his life for good but Orianne refused to leave

Page 12: Straight Shuter -- Nev Schulman on roller blades in an L.A. parking lot (picture), Eboni K. Williams only landed the gig on The Real Housewives of New York City because she co-hosts State of the Culture on Sean Diddy Combs’ Revolt TV cable network and Bravo is desperate to get famous New Yorkers on the show so cameras will be following Eboni around at work hoping to catch Diddy, with Keeping Up with the Kardashians ending E! is looking for the next big reality family and it may be Sylvester Stallone’s daughters Sophia and Sistine and Scarlet Stallone who are all models and not one has a sex tape, with Bravo boss Andy Cohen and axed Housewife NeNe Leakes at war their mutual friends are being forced to pick sides -- Andy gave NeNe access to his famous non-reality show friends and now he’s regretting it -- Kelly Ripa and Anderson Cooper are all Team Andy

Page 13: Kris Kristofferson is battling Alzheimer’s disease and has been forced to retire from singing and acting but the songwriter is in the best place he can be at his home in Maui with family and friends who are surrounding him with love and support, frantic Kate Gosselin is feeling a financial pinch and ready to take a bath on her house by putting her $1.2 million mansion on the market for a measly $815,000 because she’s been struggling with money because she hasn’t worked in a while and living off the money she made in past 

Page 14: Crime 

Page 15: Marie Osmond was blue over being booted from The Talk but husband Steve Craig gave her something to get over it which was a stunning pair of opal and tanzanite earrings worth nearly $3000, Megan Thee Stallion cheated death when she was shot twice in July and is now using the terrifying incident as a platform to empower Black women and she wrote an op-ed saying the attack proved she and other Black women are not protected as human beings -- fellow rapper Tory Lanez was charged with the shooting that left two flesh-shredding wounds in Megan’s feet and allegedly took place after they argued in an SUV in Hollywood Hills 

Page 16: Cover Story -- Rampaging O.J. Simpson was driven into a kill-crazy rage after seeing photos of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson dating hunky young boytoys and flaunting her body in modeling shots -- 25 years after the disgraced football star’s 1995 acquittal intimate images from Nicole’s secret photo album including a picture of the blond beauty posing topless with lover Brett Shaves is believed to have given the jealous ex-jock a motive for murder 

Page 18: American Life -- I found a $1M diamond in the rough 

Page 19: John Travolta paid tribute to wife Kelly Preston on what would have been her 58th birthday three months after tragic death following a secret two-year battle with breast cancer -- John addressed his late love in a touching Instagram post featuring an image from their 1991 wedding day alongside a picture of his own parents as newlyweds, sci-fi legend George Takei has fired yet another shot at former Star Trek castmate William Shatner as the aging actors’ war of words continues to rage on well into their 80s -- George who played Sulu claimed Shatner was jealous of the amount of fan mail received by their late co-star Leonard Nimoy who played Spock but Captain Kirk shot off a testy response and claimed George was making things up and the only person with jealousy is George -- when told Shatner’s comments George calmly remarked that you can tell by those words that he is upset to put it mildly 

Page 20: In a rerun of their long-running rivalry Madonna and Mariah Carey are prepping dueling biopics -- their cold war dates back to the ‘90s but Mariah ramped up their feud when she revealed the very exciting prospect of her biopic but that followed Madonna’s announcement that she was collaborating on her own script -- they’re each obsessed with getting their film out first and getting the right It Girl to play her so the other one doesn’t grab her first

Page 21: Elton John and ex-wife Renate Blauel agreed to zip their lips about their four-year marriage and privately settled her $3.8 million lawsuit over claims he blabbed about their relationship in his memoir Me and the movie Rocketman, Stevie Nicks admitted her insomnia has gotten so bad that she needs therapy or needs someone to hit her on the head with a hammer -- she’s long been nocturnal and it used to be she could sleep from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. but now says she doesn’t nod off until 8 a.m., singer Amy Winehouse died in 2011 but her dad claimed he still can’t get her out of his house -- former taxi driver Mitch Winehouse who is working on a movie and stage show about the late singer insisted he’s regularly visited by his daughter’s ghost who comes and sits at the end of his bed -- Mitch also said Amy helps around the house in his dreams 

Page 26: Niecy Nash’s new bride Jessica Betts has a nightmarish criminal past according to police reports -- Jessica was arrested twice in Chicago once for domestic battery and then for selling a gun to a minor

Page 28: Stars Who Refuse to Zip It -- cringeworthy confessions and nasty habits and more -- Jennifer Love Hewitt, Megan Fox, Al Roker, Olivia Wilde 

Page 29: Kristen Stewart on Robert Pattinson, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Suzanne Somers 

Page 32: Demi Lovato’s relentless ex Max Ehrich refuses to let her go and her friends are worried he’s turning into a stalker -- since their breakup he’s been particularly creepy, Tatum O’Neal’s confession that she was ready to jump off the balcony of a Los Angeles home was actually a desperate cry for help -- Tatum was reportedly put on a psychiatric hold at a local hospital after the alleged incident and the event signaled she was in unbearable emotional and physical pain and she feels lost and rejected because she was the youngest Oscar winner ever and now she has trouble finding a job and lost all confidence in herself 

Page 34: India Oxenberg has confessed she was afraid of former NXIVM cult master Allison Mack of TV’s Smallville -- India found herself Allison’s slave and realized she was being groomed as a sexual partner for NXIVM leader Keith Raniere and she was branded with Raniere’s initials in her pelvic regions, a disturbing TV interview in England has sparked new fears for the well-being on boxer Mike Tyson -- Mike looked like the train wreck he was when he was plowing through drugs and was sent to prison in the early ‘90s; he looked barely conscious as he slurred his speech and offered incoherent responses -- Tyson blamed his interview on lack of sleep and insisted his contact with drugs is now limited to growing and smoking pot on his California ranch 

Page 36: Health Watch

Page 42: Red Carpet -- Zendaya 

Page 45: Spot the Differences -- Debbie Matenopoulos on Home and Family 

[sirrriusblack]

P.S. Ooh and I think we are all curious what did Sirius need from Marlene... Can't wait to find out! (also, maybe I should sign myself or sth?) Lots of love, Zosia :)

hii, so this ask is based on another drabble i wrote which is very angsty but um yeah, you don’t have to read it before this but it probably does make more sense if you do... the link is here :) also, this is my contribution to valentine’s day, even though it’s technically the day after... it has to be valentine’s day still somewhere right? maybe not. either way we’re going to pretend i wrote this last night and didn’t get home at midnight after watching a horror movie :)) thanks for the prompt zosia !! i hope you like it :)

* * *

I’m pretty sure Sirius woke up muttering under his breath. His hand kept reaching up to run through his hair like he wanted to make sure it was still there. It was there. Oh boy, was it there. And it was very, very green. Dark green, to be exact. Marlene had offered to do the spell but Sirius had refused, not wanting Marlene to mess with his hair more than she had in the first place. I smiled to myself as he held a strand of it in front of his face. It suited him, really, in my opinion, but I didn’t say so. He was absolutely livid that Marlene had picked green, “the Slytherin colour” (as Sirius had called it). I think that’s why she chose it. Sirius still wouldn’t tell me why he needed her help or what he was planning. I had a feeling it might be for today though; it was Valentine’s Day. I had tried to be romantic this morning; I woke him up and he was in the bathroom, scowling at his hair. I had walked up to him and—well... started undressing him. He grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

“Not yet Moony! Happy Valentine’s Day, but not yet,” he said, before kissing me and leaving the room.

I shook my head. He was dragging me somewhere now. Somewhere that would either be everything I wanted (chocolate, warmth and him) or something way too extravagant (most likely a whole setup in the forbidden forest). The latter would probably be more likely. We turned a corridor and stopped in front of a large portrait of an obese, scarily hairy man. I loosed a breath. Happy Valentine’s Day to me. Sirius was giving me a shit eating grin.

“What?” I asked, looking between him and the painting. His grin grew wider.

“You’ve got to kiss his forehead,” he said. I sputtered.

“What are you on about Padfoot?” I asked taking a step away from the portrait. The man was looking at me expectantly. I shuddered.

“You’re part gay, this shouldn’t be a problem,” he reasoned. I was so confused.

“You’re completely gay! You have more of a reason to do it!” I countered.

“Remus John Lupin, I have spent months planning this day, I turned my hair green for you, it is Valentine’s Day, now go kiss another man’s forehead!” he demanded, still smiling. I winced. He’s such a fucking dork.

“Fine! But if there isn’t chocolate at the end of this I’m breaking up with you,” I promised. Sirius smiled. I shook my head, braced myself. And then I kissed the obese, scarily hairy man’s forehead. It was something that would never leave my mind. I shuddered. But bloody hell, when we stepped into the hallway behind the frame, it was so worth it.

Sirius had hung lights and flowers all down the hallway (messily, might I add, but that made it all the better) and at the end was—well, at the end of the hallway was paradise. The hallway opened up to a small room and I don’t know how he did it, but Sirius had gotten a bed down there, layered with blankets and pillows. When we got closer to the room, I saw that the bed was stacked with honey dukes chocolates and sweets as well. And on the table by the bed was a record player. And—

“A Day at the Races!” It was the newest Queen album and I’d been asking for it since it came out last December. And Sirius had gotten it for me. And Sirius had done all of this for me. And Sirius’ hair was green. And it was Valentine’s Day. Sirius smiled at me.

“I hope you like it,” he said sheepishly. I could feel tears burning at the back of my eyes. He’s such a fucking dork.

“I love you so much, Sirius,” I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. The album was still in my hands. Sirius looked up at me; I was still taller than him, he hasn’t grown for two years, and I leaned down to kiss him. This was it. This was everything. Us. Here. Now. Forever. We made our way back to the bed, still touching, still kissing.

“Oh, shit,” I said, breaking away from Sirius. He looked up at me. “I got you something too,” I smiled, reaching into my pocket. “It’s nowhere near as good as this,” I gestured around us, “and now that I think about it, it’s probably stupid—“ I got cut off. Sirius held my face between his hands.

“Hey, no. Nothing you ever do, especially for me, can be considered stupid,” he reassured me. I raised my eyebrows. “Okay the birthday present you got me in second year was pretty stupid,” he admitted and I hit him in the shoulder.

“It was sweet!” I argued. Sirius squinted at me.

“It was a handmade star made out of popsicle sticks!” Sirius cracked up laughing, which in turn, sent me into a laughing fit. I kissed him again, slower this time. Sirius’ hands found their way into my hair and I pulled away again. Sirius groaned in frustration.

“Shut up, I’m trying to love you,” I ordered. I swore Sirius muttered ‘yeah well so was I’ under his breath. He sat on the bed. I cracked a smile. “It’s probably not much better than second year, and there’s still a star involved,” Sirius raised his eyebrows. I ignored him. “But anyway,” I pulled the present out of my pocket and chucked it to him. It was in a black box, littered with silver stars. Sirius’ constellation was outlined on the lid. He looked at me and sat on the bed before he opened it. I looked down at the ground. It was a bracelet made of black rope, and in between the two pieces was a silver moon, tied onto the bracelet. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And I hoped he liked it. A hand lifted my chin and I was met with Sirius’ eyes, as silver as the moon on the bracelet. He was standing again.

“You’re a dork,” he smiled, pulling me closer by the waist until we were hip to hip, chest to chest. I looked around the room, to the chocolates on the bed, as if to say ‘I’m the dork?’. Sirius huffed a laugh. “Shut up,” he said. I smiled.

“Do you like it? It’s not much, I know, but—“

“Moony.” I looked up. Sirius handed me the bracelet and gave me his wrist to tie it around it. “I bloody love it, okay? It’s better than I could have asked for.” I shook my head. “I bloody love you, Remus,” he breathed, smiling up at me. I blinked the tears from my eyes and tied the bracelet around his wrist.

“I love you too Sirius. More than you can imagine.” I leaned down to kiss him before he could take it back, before he could change his mind. I loved him, and he loved me and it was Valentine’s Day and he liked my present. My hands drifted to his shirt and I started unbuttoning, but he broke away. I groaned and Sirius smiled like he knew exactly what he was doing.

“Didn’t you say there was a star involved?” he asked. I smiled.

“Oh yeah,” I started, pulling on the matching black rope around my neck, “I’ve got a star,” I finished, showing him the silver star tied to the rope. Sirius blushed and pushed his hair behind his ear. His hair! It was green! Right! “Oh, Marlene also got you a Valentine’s present. I’m the messenger,” I said, pulling a piece of paper out of my pocket.

“No! Speak of the devil and she shall appear,” Sirius recited, glancing around the room like Marlene might actually show up. I shook my head and pulled out my wand, muttering the spell. Sirius’ hair was back to its normal, immaculate black. He ran his hands through it.

“Oh yes!” he cheered, letting it fall in front of his face. I slid my hand down to link it with his and put my wand on the bed.

“What did you need her help for? Did she find this place?” I’d never seen it before; it wasn’t on the map.

“Nah, Pete found it a few months ago,” he said. “Marlene helped me gain access to the wonderful invention of a record store,” he explained, motioning to the album that I had also put on the bed at some point. I made a mental note to thank Marlene later. But right now... I grabbed my wand again and cast a spell to move everything off the bed and into a neat pile on the floor. Sirius grinned at me. One minute I was standing at the end of the bed and the next, I was pinned on my back with Sirius above me, his hair falling around him. I’d never seen a better sight. Though it probably would have been better if his hair was still green. I huffed a laugh and lifted my hands to twirl his hair through my fingers. Sirius smirked.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Remus.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” I replied, and moved so I was pinning him down. Sirius grinned as I started on his buttons.

[endxng]

love to you is just a game || zashlyn

@closebywriting

It started again in late April. For months some sort of fragile and careful peace had blanketed their one bedroom apartment. It wasn’t meant to last, this kind of peace balanced on the thinnest line and inevitably was bound to shatter. Somehow she had never gotten comfortable with it, worrying whenever Ashlyn was even half an hour later than usual, or every time she got a phone call from a number she didn’t recognize when Ashlyn was away —half expecting her to be hurt, half expecting her to be dead.

Yet when it started out again, and although she thought she was ready for it, Zosia was completely unprepared to navigate the way it returned. It hurt, that after their continued presence in each other’s life and the love they shared, Ashlyn hid it from her, hid her addiction as though Zosia wouldn’t piece it together.

The changes were subtle at first, longer hours at “work”, coming home late in the middle of the night, Ashlyn being overly affectionate in the guiltiest of ways whenever she came home. And when it got worst, it got bad. Nights were spent wondering where Ashlyn was. The phone rang unanswered, or busy, and text messages were left on read. Soon nights turned into days and for days on end Ashlyn would be missing.

In those instances, Zosia received few carefully construed text messages reassuring her she was fine. But every time Ashlyn came home she looked worse than the last. She was losing weight, pale, hands twitching enough that Zosia had put their ceramic coffee mugs away in favor of less breakable ones. She was irritated, always exhausted, and seemed to be losing life right in front of Zosia.

Zosia tried to tell herself it was fine. That like the last time Ashlyn had relapsed she would be honest with Zosia and ask for help when she needed it. So she held her tight the rare nights Ashlyn made it back to their bed but the words ‘help me’ never came. And the more Zosia tried to meddle, the further away Ashlyn seemed to drift. Arguments only ended with Ashlyn leaving, and Zosia always felt her throat tighten at the possibility that ‘please stop pushing me away’ would be her last words to Ashlyn.

On the good days, because there were good days, Ashlyn would be the perfect picture of the girl she fell in love with who had held her heart since that steamy winter night in her fourth year of college. She knew Ashlyn had been dealing then and yet one night was enough to change both of them, albeit the change was slow from Ashlyn. It took a couple of beatings, a couple of robberies, and Zosia wiping the blood from her face one too many times for Ashlyn to quit cold turkey.

Except you can’t quit cold turkey in that world. So when she hadn’t heard from Ashlyn for a few days only to get a desperate text message from the girl in question asking for her to pick her up –no cops— Zosia knew she was in too deep. There weren’t many bones in her forearms and hands that weren’t broken once she found her. Ashlyn was high then, and the boat rocked and soon enough Ashlyn was on the very receiving end of what she had been giving other addicts – a quick fix, a temporary solution, and relief from pain.

They got through that, so Zosia assumed they could get through anything. Ashlyn got help eventually, sobered up. And then relapsed. Then sobered up again. Such was the cycle. But this was the worst she’d seen her.

It started again in late April, and by June Zosia was exhausted from staying awake countless nights waiting for Ashlyn. And the good days were farer and fewer in between. It was another sleepless night tossing and turning, clutching her phone like a lifeline when Ashlyn came home. She heard the keys scraping the door trying to find the lock, heard the way Ashlyn’s step thudded heavily while walking down the hallway. Like always, Zosia pretended to be asleep when Ashlyn walked into the room. Only instead of falling into bed like she always did, Zosia felt Ashlyn’s leather jacket thrown onto the bed along with her cellphone and her keys.

There was a pause, a choked sob and then Zosia heard the bathroom door shut. Soon enough she heard the shower running and opened her eyes. There was almost a paralyzing fear in her, a real alarm that things were… less than ideal. She sat up in her bed – their bed– and looked at the bathroom door, almost hopping that Ashlyn would come and ask her for help. But she never did.

A small vibration broke her out of her stare and she focused on Ashlyn’s phone. It buzzed again. And again. And again. At least five message in the spam of a few minutes. She picked up the phone, stared at the lock screen full of text messages from unsaved phone numbers and then put the phone down. This was not who Zosia was, she was not going to go through Ashlyn’s phone. But still. She needed answers, she needed to know. She bit her lip, inhaled and picked the phone up again. There was another pause before she put in Ashlyn’s pass code and her worst fears were cemented.

Ashlyn was dealing. Using and dealing. And, although she wanted to believe Ashlyn would never cheat on her, some of the text messages on her phone were racy and downright flirtatious. There were pictures received, but never reciprocated or requested. When Zosia put the phone down, the sound of the shower was gone and Ashlyn stood in their doorway, changed into clean clothes and hair wet from the shower. There were bags under her eyes and she was fidgeting. A new dark blue bruise coloured her right eye and Zosia could see the faint trace of lipstick on her cheek. And underneath everything, a hint of shame was shining through.

“You’re dealing again,” Zosia stated thickly. There was beat and then,

“No.”

Zosia scoffed out a laugh in disbelief.

“How do you sleep, Ash,” she whispered, her voice raspy. Her face was wet, why was her face wet? “How do you sleep when you’re lying to me?”

Zosia sniffled and wiped at her cheeks. Ashlyn didn’t answer.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

For the first time in months, Zosia saw Ashlyn’s face change into something other than indifference. She stood up and walked over to Ashlyn before grabbing the girl’s palm and putting the phone into her hand.

“I can’t be the girl that waits all night for you to come home. And I never wanted to be the girl that looks through your phone. I can’t be the girl that wonders if you’re cheating, if you’re even alive. So I can’t… I can’t do this anymore.”

Ashlyn stayed quiet and so Zosia stepped back. She wiped at her eyes again and grabbed Ashlyn’s jacket and keys before turning back and pushing them into Ashlyn’s chest. Once Ashlyn had a hold on them Zosia licked her thumb and brought it up to Ashlyn’s cheek to wipe away the lipstick.

“Zo,” Ashlyn wavered as she pressed her face into Zosia’s hand, “I love you.”

Zosia paused and opened her hand before wiping away Ashlyn’s tears. “I know,” she settled for saying, her voice sounding anything but strong.

“I love you, Ash, but watching you leave hurts less than watching you die,” she whispered before pulling her hand away. She pressed a small kiss to the corner of Ashlyn’s mouth and then pulled away.

“I’m going to call Seaside and let them know you’re coming. Whether or not you show up is entirely in your hands.” Zosia sat back down on her side of the bed, grabbed her phone and clutched it in her hands.

Ashlyn stood still in the doorway, tears streaming down her face as Zosia’s did the same.

“Zo—”

“Go,” she forced out thickly, trying to build her resolve, “And come back sober or don’t come back at all.”

For a second it seems like Ashlyn was going to argue. But then Zosia felt the bed dip and the familiar smell of all things Ashlyn enveloped her as the girl’s leather jacket was wrapped around her. She felt a ghost of a kiss against the back of her head and shut her eyes. Then receding footsteps before the front door of their apartment opened and shut.

She pulled the jacket tight around her and laid back into their bed. And Zosia wondered if that was the last time she would ever see her alive

[annakendrick89]

Zosia and Jac one shot...

“I thought you would have at least bought me a drink before trying to see me naked.”

I hold the mug of tea in my hand, noticing the shakiness of my hand. I shrug it off before sighing, I haven’t felt well all week. I had three days off work last week and I know Jac is going to pissed off with me! I finish my tea before walking off into the ward, seeing some of the nurses busy doing jobs, “oh Dr March, Miss Naylor wanted a word in her office.” A young nurse says hesitantly, I roll my eyes before turning on my shoe and waking to Jacs office. I knock lightly on the door and open it slightly, “you wanted to see me?” I call out quietly as I watch the formidable red head spin around in her chair and delicately place her heels on the ground. She gives me one of her infamous glares before gesturing for me to to walk in, “glad to see you back Dr March- hope your feeling well.” Jac states sarcastically, I stare at the ground ignoring the twinge of pain in my stomach and lower back, “sorry about last week, I was really unwell.” I reply trying to justify myself, “and I was a senior consultant down, do you know how many surgeries I had to cancel and rearrange?” She replies sternly, I shake my head, I know better to just let her say what she has to say. “Do you know how many days off I had when I was pregnant. None. Because I just sucked it up and got on with it.” Jac says harshly, I nod and take deep breaths, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest, “bed 5 aortic aneurysm prep for surgery- your assisting.” Jac says holding out a patients file, I nod and gladly take the document before rushing off back onto the ward.

“Well done Dr March. That was good surgery.” Jac says as we walk back onto Darwin after successfully repairing a patients aortic aneurysm. I nod and smile to myself, “I am working on a new project at the moment and need an assistant surgeon. Walk and talk.” Jac says matter of factly, I quickly pick up my water bottle and follow behind her listening to her proposal. The two of us get into the lift, probably heading to Hansens office, I’m not really taking anything Jac is saying in, as a pain fills my body and stomach. That’s when I notice the lights flicker off and the lift come to a stop, “we’re not moving.” I blurt outloud immediately panicking, “what?” Jac asks staring at me through her glasses, “the lift, it’s stopped.” I state agin looking around and feeling my heart race. “Okay well don’t panic I’m sure there’s some explanation, I’ll ring the alarm.” Jac says rolling her eyes, I clutch my stomach, I know there is something wrong with the baby. “It’s not working. Dammit, I haven’t got any signal on my phone either.” Jac says now understanding the seriousness of the situation. “Woah, are you okay?” She asks as I clutch my stomach in pain, panting slightly, “I think there’s something wrong with the baby.” I mumble getting out of breath, “great! Just great! That’s fucking fantastic!” Jac says throwing her hands in the air, “Jesus you really helped calm me down. Thankyou!” I reply sarcastically as I let out an inaudible groan, “Jac something is wrong.” I whisper panicking to the max now, tears filling my eyes as I fear for my life and the baby’s. “I’m sure it’s just Braxton hi-“ she begins to say before water comes splashing out of my legs onto the floor and her shoes, “oh god you have got to be kidding me!” She says as I smirk slightly, “you were saying?” I mumble, I see her roll her eyes and place her folder down in the furtherest corner of the room, “Jac it’s too soon. I can’t be in labour. I’m only 26 weeks.” I whisper completely terrified at the thought of giving birth in a lift, with only Jac Naylor, when I’m this early. I try to read the usually stone faced consultants face as I see fear and panic fill her own eyes, I start groaning again as the pain becomes too much to bare. “Right Okay. I’m taking charge, Zosia sit down, pull your trousers off, have you got a vest top on?” Jac says confusing me, I nod and continue to groan, “take your top off too, so we have something to wrap the baby in.” Jac says nodding. I nod in too much pain to protest, I slowly pull down my blue scrub bottoms that are soaking wet and kick them to the corner, and use all my strength to pull my scrubs top off leaving me in black knickers and a black vest top- not something I would have wanted Jac too see me in. “I thought you would have at least bought me a drink before trying to see me naked.” I mumble offering Jac as smirk as she rolls her eyes. I scream out in pain again as another contraction hits me, I reach out and grab hold of Jacs arm squeezing tight and feel her lower me to the ground.

“Jac, Jac it’s too early. The baby- it- it can’t come yet.” I scream out in pain as I continue to panic, “Well this baby is coming whether you like it or not, so we have to do what we have to do.” Jac says sternly as I nod, preparing myself for the fact that my baby will probably not make it. “Zosia I need to see how dilated you are.” Jac says as I nod, I watch and grimace with pain as another contraction hits me. “Okay, yep your 10cm.” Jac says wiping her hand on her trousers, I nod, feeling like I’m about to throw up. “I can see the babies head, push, Zosia come on push!” Jac says as I hold her hand squeezing tight and screaming, “Okay, stop, don’t push, just breath.” Jac says as I freeze, it should be crying. Why isn’t it crushing. “Pant now, babies head is out, just little pushes.” Jac says her own face even paler than normal. I give one last agonising push before a weird sensation comes over me, it’s out. “Why- why isn’t it crying?” I ask, already crying as I see Jac shake her head. I watch as Jac carefully cut the cord, “Jac?” I whisper knowing the answer, everything goes into slow motion as I begin to sob, knowing I’ve lost my baby. I watch as Jac wraps it up in my top, rubbing it’s back hard and giving it cpr.

Then my heart stops as I hear the most incredible sound I have ever heard in my life, the small, weak cry of a baby, my baby. “Zosia, you have a little girl.” Jac says wiping away her own tears as she places the smallest baby in my arms, I cry as I stare at the tiny thing. She doesn’t even look like a baby. I stare at her, eyes shut and all pink, my heart filling immediately with love. I keep her close to me, trying to keep her as warm as possible. I reach out and grab Jacs hand, squeezing tightly, “Thankyou.” I whisper, tears rolling down my face, she smiles at me and kisses me gently on the head.

That’s when we notice the lights coming back on and the lift moving, it’s going to be okay. We’re going to be okay. The doors open to the ED and Jac immediately jumps up calling for help, almost instantly nurses appear and I’m on a trolly and being whisked away.

48 hours later

I stare at the tiny little baby in the incubator, her heart rising fast as she tries her best to breath. I wipe away tears and sit back, still sore and in complete shock of what just happened. I grab one of the nurses and tell her I’m going for a walk and grab my bag. I pull my cardigan around me further and make my way up to Darwin. I walk down the corridor smiling at some of the nurses before stopping outside her door. I lightly knock and her stern, cold voice makes me smile. “Oh Zosia, I didn’t realise it was you.” Jac instantly says as I walk in, “how are you doing? How’s the baby?” She asks as I take a seat on her sofa, “I’m doing good, very emotional and she’s fighting.” I say smiling, Jac nods and a comfortable silence fills the room. “I know you don’t do sentimental gifts but I got you this.” I say handing over a small bag, she raises an eyebrow before peering in, revealing a willow tree ornament, that’s the angel of hope. “Zosia it’s lovely, you didn’t have to get me anything.” Jac says smiling returning her gaze to me, “theres one more thing, I wanted to ask, you can say no, but if you would be her godmother?” I ask with a tear filling my eye, “you really want me to be her godmother?” Jac asks sounding surprised, “you helped her come into this world and let’s be honest everyone needs a Jac Naylor in the corner!” I say with a small laugh, at which she laughs and nods. “I cannot Thank you enough for what you did. I will be eternally grateful.” I says smiling Jac nods, I know she finds it hard to take compliments like this. “Have you thought of a name?” Jac ask trying to avoid the tear in her eye from falling, I nod and smile, “her name is Liliana Jaqueline Anya March.” I say smiling, Jac smiles a tear now rolling down her cheek. “It’s beautifull.” She whispers I nod and stand up, “I had best be off, Thankyou.” I say waking towards the door, “I’ll pop down when I finish up here to come see you both.” She says smiling l, I nod and smile before walking out the door and back to my perfect little baby.

[taneyhana]

I Think She Took My Soul || Tomlin, Taney, & Lucas

With a day of morning consultations, Taney had a long day of an empty house. She carried her sketchpad and pens upstairs and settled into the silence of her home. As she rolled around into various positions on the floor her clothes started to come off. First it was her shirt, obnoxiously hiking up as she laid on her belly and drew out a clients tattoo. Then it was her leggings, twisting as she scooted around the floor to the coffee table. With no one home and no planned guests she took her bralette off and chucked it onto the growing pile of clothes, stretching out through the comfort of new freedom. When her hands rolled over her breasts the not-so-fleeting thought of Lucas’ tongue teasing her nipples by playing with her nipple piercings led to her panties coming off. Taney stood up and kicked them off before flopping onto the couch. Tossing one leg over the back of the couch, she moved her fingers down her pale scarred skin and played with herself.

Taney’s sex addiction meant that she oftentimes couldn’t orgasm. It required patience, foreplay, trust in her partner, but she also just loved the rush of fucking strangers and being tasted, tasting someone, and having someone thrust themselves into her. With no porn on Taney hadn’t expected to have an orgasm. However, as she pressed two fingers inside of herself and rolled her hips replaying her shower sex with Lucas that morning, her body reacted instinctually. Taney gasped as she remembered the feeling of her husband’s body pressed against her as he reached around and grabbed her breasts while he grunted and bit her shoulder. The mere thought of Lucas spanking her in frustration as she squirmed away just before he was about to get off made her breath catch. It was when she remembered how deep and hard Lucas had thrust into her when he scooped her up and pinned her to the shower wall that she came, thinking about him finishing, feeling him fill her up.

Her green eyes were shut as her body shook from the little earthquake and as exhaustion washed over her she nearly dozed off. Once she opened her eyes, she saw her phone blink with a text message. Too far from her reach she decided that if it was important the person would call. Instead, she played with herself a little more, savoring how her tired body twitched with pleasure at a little more teasing. It wasn’t until she heard keys turning in the lock to the door of the house-portion of Asmodeus that she bothered to sit up. None of the employees had a key to this part of the place and her mentality that anyone with a key had seen her naked didn’t encourage her to get up. Still she’d made a mess of herself and reluctantly got up and picked up her clothes moving into the master bedroom to chuck them in the hamper and freshen up in the bathroom.

When she turned off the sink, Taney heard the sound of the bed sheets rustling and she smiled. Taney knew that only a few partners that would turn up in the master bedroom rather than the spare room. She was never one to hope, but having just gotten off to the thought of Lucas made her anxious to find a specific blonde man in her bed. Squealing she skipped across the room and jumped on top of the man in her bed, seeing no part of him but his blonde hair. Immediately she realized it was Tomlin, not Lucas. She pushed the blanket out of his face and ran her fingers through his hair, damp from a recent show. “Hey, Tomo, didja just get off work?” She whispered in his ear as she kissed the sharp line of his jaw and slid off of him so she could see his face. The tired bags under his eyes seemed swollen and she knew that his insomnia had been combined with crying. “Want to talk about it?”

Tomlin pushed the blanket down just enough to pull his arm out. His thumb brushed her lip and she relaxed, fleetingly wondering when they’d become so comfortable that she no longer felt physical pain from him touching her. “I didn’t want to fall in love after Abigail.” She nodded as he gave his confession. “I feel like I’m watching someone die all over again and I feel physically sick from guilt. Guilt for betraying Abigail, now for betraying Selene.” His fingers moved down to Taney’s throat, wrapping around them but not applying any pressure. Taney didn’t need him to explain, they’d talked each other through many scenarios, including the possibility of entering a polyamorous relationship with Lucas and Zephyr. Then she’d also seen him finding some comfort with Zosia being back.

The woman’s small hands slid up his arm and encouraged him to squeeze her throat. Tomlin obliged and leaned forward, before leaning in and kissing her. She offered up only a little bit of advice. “I think you should just keep being you, keep being honest. People will either stick around or not. They can go fuck themselves if they leave you.” Taney had always been fiercely protective of her family, Tomlin had been a part of that for a while now.

While holding her neck, Tomlin pulled Taney’s mouth to his and kissed her. Taney bit his lip, a plea for nothing gentle in their play. She was rarely treated like a petite 5′2 flowered woman with anyone she slept with, the exceptions had always been Naya, Lucas, Tomlin, and the few others she had been seeing regularly that now left the city. Her body bore the marks of all the rough sex with strangers recent and long past. Taney watched her guest’s expression change as he let go of her throat. “Sorry, it’s not that I don’t want to…” Taney reached under the blankets and push his sweatpants down with his boxers. She smirked like a pleased kitten, wrapping her fingers around his cock knowing, without a doubt, he wanted to sleep with her.

“I can do sweet. I’ll give you whatever you want.” Taney’s words were spoken to the firm muscles of his chest as she kissed up his body while stroking his length. Then, Taney drew her tongue up his neck and pressed her lips to the stubble on his chin, laughing as it tickled her soft skin. A fleeting smile found his lips before they kissed again. “Those smiles.” She purred against his mouth as he cupped her face and kissed her again. They enjoyed the silence of each other’s company, exchanging kisses and heavy petting before Tomlin casually rolled her around. His cock pressed into her ass and Taney squirmed when he reached around her in a hug that led to his teasing her clit. Soon he had her begging and when he finally obliged Taney came again as Tomlin pushed himself slowly and deeply within her. Her fingers laced over his as he brushed over her clit faster, making her cum again almost immediately. Her small hands pressed into the headboard, pushing her ass harder into him as Tomlin held her hips and continued to fuck her.

The couple became louder as they found their rhythm. The door to the room opened some time later, as Taney lay face down with her ass up in the air, Tomlin laying over her back as he continued to take her slowly. It was, unsurprisingly Lucas at the door. The pair both smiled at him and held their hands out, eager for their other lover to join them. “Hey, Blues. Come love on us.” The tips of her fingers caught the hem of Luke’s jeans and pulled him to the edge of the bed. Her green eyes looked up at him and she used one of those rare words that he almost never heard pass her lips, “Please.”

[pauseliveaction]

(Series 20, ep. 31 ‘Child in Your Shadow’ by Elliot Hope and Johanne McAndrew 31.7.18) Here’s this week’s Holby City summarised in handy bullet points. For my more in-depth review, please head over to Metro.

– I loved Jac being too posh to push Fletch’s car, but at the same time being willing to help him out. I still don’t know if romance is possible between them, or whether I even think that would be a good idea, but I love their friendship.

– It’s also lovely how Holby keeps reminding us of Arthur Digby, with Serena pointing out that one of the F1’s was very much like him.

– Henrik Hanssen is very good at wrapping presents. He’s also very thoughtful with his gift-giving. Despite Roxanna’s reaction, that little brooch that reminded him of her student days said so much.

– Evie and Fletch together are always brilliant, and Macey Chipping is such a good actress. 

– Donna sticking up for Fletch with social services was really nice to see. Donna can be so kind.

– When Serena said that Meena and Nicky needed taking down a peg or 12, I heartily agreed. I was thinking more along the lines of the time Michael Spencerammed little admin guy George Binns’ head towards a corpse though. Maybe I wouldn’t be such a great mentor.

– Essie is apparently going to be ‘head bridesmaid’ for Lofty and Dominic’s wedding. I also want Zosia to come back to be a bridesmaid.

– Hanssen’s face when Dominic told him he was happy. I love how Hanssen cares for his people.

– Jesse Birdsall was well cast as Fletch’s dad. You can see an Essex geezer through-line from him via Fletch down to Mikey ‘Artful Dodger’ Fletcher.

– Fans of Holby/Casualty crossovers will have been pleased to hear Evie mentioning the time Fletch ran off with Tess-from-Casualty. Fletch was less pleased to hear this. (via Holby City: The mysterious smoking man)

[starsandboulevardsroleplay]

Zosia Solomon ✖ 28 ✖ Professional Artist ✖ Bisexual

‣ BIOGRAPHY ↴

Spoiled would be an understatement to describe Zosia Svahnstrom. Born to an heiress of billions and a self-made multi-millionaire, she’s wanted for absolutely nothing her entire life. Zosia was born in a mansion on the North Shore of Long Island and since that day, her entire childhood, she only lived in luxury and had been pampered from the start. Luckily, her personality never really entirely reflected her nearly-royal DNA and aside from reflections, she wasn’t much like her family. She made a choice one day to quit private school and attend public, something her family and all their wealthy neighbors thought to be far beneath them. It was the only way to get Zosia to attend school. Her father had too much of a soft spot to fully argue with her and her mother eventually wore down without the backup, and that left young Zosia to get her way. The argument made, however, had been hard to beat, especially since it went so far beyond her personality and she clashed with the kids at school so much that all she did was butt heads with them. Zosia didn’t like that wealth and who had the best what or the biggest that was all that mattered to everyone around her, everything was a competition and she hated the feeling of always being measured. That way of life felt shallow to her, not just the peers she went to school with but the world she grew up in as well. Love wasn’t in short supply from her parents and she was blessed with their looks, though it often left her feeling frustrated that most people didn’t look past the surface. Zosia craved more from life and from her connections and interactions with others. She wanted people she could really talk to and those that were interested in life rather than parading. Achievements scholastically were fairly easy. She was sharp and witty like her father and carried her mother’s allure and poise. Sometimes she wondered if she intimidated her teachers into giving her top grades and rather than being upset by that, she found it an amusing thought but never made to exploit it. Like her mother, Gia, Zosia looked too adult for her age and her beauty was hard to resist and she faced very similar things her mother did when she was 16. Men started coming around, even her father’s business friends tried getting her attention. Zosia hardly showed any interest and quietly despised the disrespect she often felt in the actions of those seeking her attention and affections. There was a time in particular when one of her suitors, a man that clearly went above and beyond to try and win her materialistically, bought her a brand new Ferrari in hopes of gaining her attention and time. Zosia crashed the car and made sure it was totaled beyond repair. Any jewelry given to her by these men, she would donate or give away, having no interest in the material things she could easily get herself. Love was found though with a small pub owner in the city; he drank, he smoked, played music, and just had an all-around wildness to him that Zosia wasn’t used to. The relationship was kept secret from her parents, it had to have been due to their very different social classes and coming from two very different worlds. Plus, Zosia liked having something of her own and free from the constant judgment. She knew her parents wouldn’t approve, especially since the pub owner was older, much too old for the then eighteen-year-old Zosia. The secret relationship went on for nearly two years and ended abruptly when an absolute nightmare happened that still haunts her to this very day. The couple had been having issues, things were no longer quite as rosy between them anymore and it had largely been due to Zosia finding out about his drug problem. He wasn’t a heavy addict, it gave him mood swings and changed his personality in some ways that made Zosia pull back. They tried to repair things and while she hadn’t left his side or given up on their relationship, he had become jealous of a male friend of her that she was close to. Surprising her one day with a stop at her house just outside of the city, he was acting strange and speaking in goodbyes as he stood on her doorstep. Zosia went to grab something he had asked for in the house and she had it in her hand, turning back towards the door when the words “I will always love you” were spoken just before he took his own life with the gun he hand in his hand. Shaken to the core, hurt and depressed, broken at the loss, Zosia allowed her family to move her across the country to California. She was still in a deep state of grief when she learned she was with child and she still doesn’t understand how it all happened, only remembers bits of what is now another one of her family’s deeply buried secrets. The being whisked away to “have it taken care of”, and it wasn’t until she began to come out of her depression that she remembers the hospital and some of the whispers. A fight ensued with her parents and billionaire grandfather and Zosia received no real answers, only that she had taken herself out on her own once again. They lived in a world where they believed they were above just about anything and anyone, they made their own rules and had the power and influence to make them so. It was a pattern in her life of being forced to be apart of their world and her trying to get away from it, only now as an adult with some money and a name for herself in the art world she could make a real attempt at living her own life by her own rules. Back when she lived in New York, just outside of the city, Zosia attended Tisch School of the Arts to hone her talents and perfect natural skills she had with painting. Ever since she was capable as a child Zosia was drawing and painting, she enjoyed using her hands to craft and create things. Learning about sculpting and woodworking in high school she expanded upon her artistic skill set and often made mixed media artwork. Thanks to her family name being so known around the city and holding power she had much of her paintings seen, some even sold and displayed as abstract works seemed to be her greatest talent they were the most sought after when it came to selling or loaning pieces. She traveled south and away from her family in Long Beach and set to make a name for herself strictly on her artwork and talent alone, changing her last name from Svahnstrom to Solomon, in hopes that any influence it could have on the west coast be put to bed right away. It had been something she had always been insecure about if anyone truly liked what she created or if it was simply for whom she was and whom she was the child of. Now living in Los Angeles, the pressures of her parents aren’t far away but they have given her some room to be herself and do her own thing. Mostly due to her father’s say so because of his guilt and since her mother would like for Zosia to follow in her’s and her grandfather’s footsteps of the family business back in Sweden. While dining with the royal family was fun and quite an unforgettable experience the last thing she wants is to be anything like her family. Aside from her art, Zosia really wants to be a writer and has begun attending classes at the university and while she’s made some progress with her painting she has yet to fall anywhere with her words. With no romantic prospect in mind, Zosia took herself on lonely dates that mainly comprised of watching other couples and feeling her chest constrict at the sight. In free time that she had no clue what to do with other than lurk in libraries and street corner cafes when it came to reading and writing, it seemed a second chance would happen. It was at one of these cafes that Zosia heard the pleasant sound of his voice above all others, which is when her eyes first found the man she would learn was named Marco. He’d been alone and spoke English with a thick Italian accent, which was definitely what compelled Zosia to get up and introduce herself out of intrigue mostly. The gorgeous face, warm eyes, dark velvety hair, and soothing voice had nothing to do with it at all. Marco’s presence was the unexpected and anticipated sensation of sweet relief all at once. Zosia’s instant attraction to the brunette had brought down a barrier within her. She suddenly had desired to make her beautiful companion laugh and be interested and impressed. Conversation flowed from Zosia’s lips as if she was seventeen again. In Marco’s presence, her body instantly relaxed and unwound, as if recognizing an old friend. An old friend that it felt right to trust and kiss and touch and make moan in ways she had never felt drawn to in so many years. Zosia had never felt a love so charged before, was this what safety felt like? It had been so long since her heart had felt so open. There was a new tenderness in it that existed not out of pain, but out of her longing to be nearer. Moving in had seemed inevitable, as the longer they spent together the better. Zosia hadn’t thought they were moving fast, but some forces at be seemed to. She had never expected to lead a life with someone else in happiness. Alas, even her refreshed outlook on sharing a future with an equal did not go as planned either. If she had known that a few more days wrapped up in Marco is all she had to feel the warmth of love fluttering in her chest, she wouldn’t have let him out of sight. In the middle of one of the following nights, Marco unexpectedly fled without explanation, leaving an abundance of questions and worry behind. Zosia’s questions and worries, that is. Marco was brilliant minded and capable of being out in the world on his own, Zosia knew that much of the little she knew of the man, but his absence felt like death had walked into Zosia’s life again. The abandonment took a heavy toll on the already weary and grief-stricken shoulders of the artist, leaving her to cave in on herself a little. Putting her hands to work had seemed to be the only thing that pulled the gloomy woman from her bed; whether it was paint brushes in her hands or carving and sculpting tools in her grip, books held gently and typewriter keys under her fingertips, through her continued charity work and completely throwing herself into saving anything and everyone she could — Zosia found a way to maintain.

‣ CONNECTIONS ↴

Danish Royal Family connections are HERE

hAR[T]per connections are HERE

LACMA connections are HERE

‣ DETAILS ↴

FC: Phoebe Tonkin Ethnicity: English Availability: Taken Writer: Sarah Gifs: 383 . 252 . 176

main rp . rules . nav . faceclaims . APPLY

[ironcrusaderebel]

How Kaley Cuoco moved on from sitcom past to serve up racy sex scene in 'Flight Attendant'

For Kaley Cuoco, HBO Max's "The Flight Attendant" is 10,000 frequent-flyer miles away from CBS' "The Big Bang Theory." That was apparent during an intimate scene in the limited series involving her title character, Cassie Bowden, and a passenger-turned-lover (Michiel Huisman).

"Network 8 o'clock TV is a little different than HBO Max all hours of the night. I had scenes like that on 'Big Bang,' but this was like a true sex scene. I told Michiel, 'I've never done this before. Have you done it before?' He goes, 'Yeah, like 30, 40 times.' And I was like, 'WHAT?' " Cuoco says during a Zoom interview from the airy suburban Los Angeles home she shares with her husband, equestrian Karl Cook.

To maintain decorum between bedroom takes, Cuoco contorted herself above Huisman, who played Daenerys Targaryen's lover in "Game of Thrones."

"So when they called action, I still wasn't really giving my all," she says. "Michiel finally goes, 'It looks like you're hovering over a public toilet. What are you doing?' I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing.' So he had to awkwardly teach me how to have fake sex."  

It should be obvious we're not in Leonard and Sheldon's apartment anymore. That's OK with Cuoco, 34, who takes a huge post-"Big Bang" leap as central star and executive producer of the eight-episode, darkly comedic thriller (the first three episodes stream Thanksgiving Day) based on Chris Bohjalian's 2018 novel of the same name.

Although her "Big Bang" character Penny and free-spirited Cassie share traits ("They both love to party"), the flight attendant has more troubling issues: a serious alcohol problem and disturbing childhood memories. And, oh, yeah, a bloody corpse in her bed.

"This is definitely my coming-out party in the sense of showing everyone I can do something other than comedy. It gets quite dark, quite emotional," she says. "This is my way of pushing the door down and going, 'I can do more and I love doing more.' "

She doesn't worry about the enormous shadow cast by Chuck Lorre-produced "Big Bang," a cultural touchstone and ratings blockbuster that ended its 12-season run last year.

" 'Big Bang' is so its own planet, own dimension, own lane. It takes the pressure off because I can never compare anything to that," Cuoco says, acknowledging how "special" the show is to her.

Steven Molaro, executive producer of "Big Bang" and spinoff "Young Sheldon," watched the first two episodes of "Flight Attendant" and was "blown away" by Cuoco's transition.

"It doesn't feel like you're watching Penny. She's a different person," he says, recalling a "Big Bang" scene where her unscripted tears added poignancy. "Between making incredible choices as an actor and being in the moment at the same time, I've never seen anything quite like it."

Nevertheless, fans can't always separate an actor from a career-making role. California native Cuoco considers that with wisdom developed in a long career that includes her first movie credit at age 6; playing childhood versions of Claire Danes' and Ellen DeGeneres' characters in their '90s TV series; working with John Ritter on "8 Simple Rules" as a teen; and joining the final season of "Charmed" a year before her "Big Bang" debut at 21.

"I know that for every person that loves you, there's like 20 that don't. So, I'm very aware of that and I'm ready," she says.

Cuoco started preparing for her future when "Big Bang" was still going strong, creating Yes, Norman Productions (named for her 14-year-old rescue pit bull mix, one of her seven dogs) in 2017 and acquiring the rights to "Flight Attendant."

Cassie's enjoyment of alcohol first plays comically but signals darker underlying issues. (The character chugs airline-size bottles of vodka as if they were water – which, fortunately for Cuoco, they were. She drank so many during the shoot, "I was constantly running to pee.")

A romantic romp through Bangkok turns nightmare when a drunk Cassie blacks out and awakens next to Alex's bloody corpse. That propels her on a roller coaster ride of mistakes and brave but foolhardy risks to avoid arrest, remember what happened and not get killed in the process.

As her life unravels, Cassie relies on fellow flight attendant Megan (Rosie Perez) and attorney Annie (Zosia Mamet), friends who have their own secrets.

Cuoco, who describes her acting approach as "fly by the seat of my pants," asked director Susanna Fogel if she should ditch her "wing it" style and prepare more studiously to play a character dealing with trauma.

"And she said, 'Do not change one thing that has gotten you to this point,' " Cuoco remembers. "I almost cried. It was so freeing."

Cuoco has the skills for the complex role and a personality that lets viewers know they're "in good hands" as she tries something new, says "Flight Attendant" executive producer Steve Yockey, who has story ideas that go beyond the book if the show gets a second season. "She has this effervescence and charm and is very open. But at the same time, she's shrewd in her decision-making. And she isn't afraid to take chances."

Besides "Flight Attendant," Cuoco voices the ribald title character of HBO Max's animated "Harley Quinn," now heading toward Season 3, and she will produce and star in "America's Sweetheart," a half-hour comedy being developed for Apple TV+.

Cuoco, who mentions Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Regina King as acting/producing role models, squeezed in a movie, "The Man from Toronto," after "Flight Attendant" wrapped this fall.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down "Flight Attendant" filming in March, stalling "workaholic" Cuoco for five months, it provided a personal benefit: She and Cook, whom she met nearly five years ago at a horse show and married in 2018, finally moved in together.

"We bought our dream house a while ago and just with our work schedules – he's traveling with the horses – we couldn't move in," says Cuoco, who has discussed living apart from her husband after more than a year of marriage in past interviews. "With the pandemic, we got to nest and do that whole thing. So it was actually a gift to both of us."

With "Flight Attendant" and "Toronto" completed, Cuoco is home again with plans for more horseback riding, which "keeps me very sane and normal," especially during the pandemic.

Some day, Cuoco envisions making a full go of ranch life with Cook.

"A big part of our relationship is the bond we have with our horses, that lifestyle that we really love. I could see us living in, like, Kentucky or somewhere where we could have a big ranch," she says. "That would be a dream."

[endxng]

                           Almost Everything Part 2— @closebywriting I know you wanna rest your head And just forget the night Forget the night So know I’m gonna stay right here I’ll sit by your side pairing: Ashlyn & Zosia (feat. Kayla and Cordelia) timeline: The verse in which Kayla and Zosia are together but Zosia is wholly invested in Ash’s recovery location:  Zosia and Kayla’s place content: Short part two of ? Ashlyn and Zosia talk about why she got kicked out of rehad. 

The house hasn’t changed much since she’d last stepped inside. Even in the comfort of their own home Zosia and Kayla didn’t overshare who they were or what they had. The occasional photograph hung on the walls, mostly of Cordelia, and sometimes of Zosia or Kayla, but almost never both together. They were candid intimate snapshot into very mundane tasks, as though the reason there was any photograph of either of them was because the other one was behind the lens. It was obvious to anyone who walked into the house that Cordelia was the centre of both of their worlds, and yet knowing them and looking at the pictures they had taken of each other you could see the fondness and adoration that both women had for each other.

And Ashlyn always felt like she was intruding every time she starred too long. There was a wordless exchange for Ashlyn’s coat and she complied before following Zosia deeper into their house.

Although she’d never admit it, Ashlyn’s favourite room in Zosia’s house was the kitchen. Not for the layout, or the way light always seemed to flood it no matter what time of the day it was, rather for the various drawings and tattered photos that covered their fridge. This was where Cordelia’s art exhibit seemed to flourish. Ashlyn’s favourite drawing was a self portrait of the two of them, made in crayon and wavy lines, wearing matching superhero costumes. No visit without seeing the drawing was complete.

As Zosia fixed them both a cup of tea, Ashlyn ran her finger along the outline of Cordelia’s vision of her, felt the doubt in her stomach ease a little. Although she had nowhere to go, and would never ask Zosia and Kayla to move in, she’d figure something out. She was still in the early recovery stage of her latest relapse, only four months into sobriety, but she had so many safeguards in place now to curb the urge to shoot up.

“She worships you, you know,” Zosia told her softly, handing her a cup of tea. She wrapped her nearly frozen hands around the mug and raised an eyebrow towards Zosia.

“I wonder whose fault that is,” she replied. Zosia leaned back against the counter, observing, always observing, with the faintest of smiles on her face.

“Thank you,” Ash said after a brief moment of silence, “for not telling her the truth.”

Zosia took a small sip of her drink, keeping her eyes on Ashlyn, before putting her tea down on the counter and crossing her arms over her chest.

“She wouldn’t see you any differently if I did.”

Ashlyn ignored that, tried taking a sip of the too hot beverage before blowing on it in a desperate attempt to get some of the heat to dissipate so that she could warm herself up from the inside.

“Did you bring anything with you from Searidge?”

“You mean drugs?” Ashlyn said, almost defensively. Zosia smiled and held her hands up in front of her as if to say hold your horses.

“No, I meant any of your property. Relax, Ash, we can talk about it when you’re ready.”

Ashlyn forced a burning sip of tea down her throat and averted her eyes from Zosia altogether.

“They weren’t my drugs,” she said, focused heavily on her cup of tea. When Zosia didn’t say anything, Ashlyn spared a glance in her direction only to find that Zosia was still smiling softly at her, waiting for her to continue. “It was my roommate or whatever, I don’t know.”

She sighed and put the cup of tea down on the counter. “I just said they were mine because… I don’t know, she has nowhere to go I guess. And she needs to be there more than me. The first month is the hardest, and she wasn’t selling them to anyone. They were for her use. It wasn’t hard for them to believe it was me, you know, with my record of dealing and stuff. I don’t know, I didn’t think it through.”

She was rambling now, only noticed as much when Zosia put a calming hand on her arm. Ashlyn took a deep breath and curled her hands into fists, willed the tears to stay out of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I can’t seem to stop fu—screwing it up.” She swallowed and continued, “I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I’m sorry you keep giving me chances and I keep letting you down.”

Zosia’s warm hand slipped under her chin and guided Ashlyn to look at her.

“You’re not letting me down. You humble me and make me proud to know you.”

She pulled her into a hug and Ashlyn felt herself warm up from the inside for entirely different reasons. They stayed like that for a while, interrupted only by the opening of the front door and quick hurried steps into the hallway.

“Cordelia! Get back here and take off your shoes like a civilized person!” she heard Kayla call out after her. The little steps stopped about halfway from the front door to the kitchen. There was another step, walking closer to them, and Kayla’s warning voice “Cordelia.”

An exasperated sigh made Ashlyn and Zosia smile at each other before loud clomps walked back towards the door.

“I don’t even want to be sea-vinized,” she heard Cordelia grumbled. Zosia laughed softly and pulled away from Ashlyn all together to poke her head into the hallway and observe what Ashlyn was sure was a completely normal scene in this household.

After a brief moment she heard the same quieter little steps barreling down the hallway and into the kitchen, straight past Zosia to vault into Ashlyn’s arms, a magnificent feat for a four year old.

“Yaaaaaaayyy! Youstayedyoustayedyoustayed!” She wrapped her small arms around Ashlyn’s neck and buried her face into the girl’s neck. Ashlyn smiled down at the little human in her arms and forced herself not to get emotional at the onslaught of affection she had received in the last five minutes. Despite her best effort, she still felt the tears prickling behind her eyes.

“My socks are wet now,” she heard a small whisper into her neck and Ashlyn laughed.

“Oh no, we can’t have that now can we.” She maneuvered herself so that she was supporting Cordelia with one arm and then used her other hand to pull Cordelia’s socks off. There was a pause and then Ashlyn tickled the underside of the little girl’s foot eliciting a shriek and proclamation of “put me down, put me down!”

Ashlyn complied and placed her down before ruffling her hair. Kayla walked into the kitchen then, Brutus in tow who also went straight for Ashlyn. She bent down to pet the excitable dog and saw out the corner of her eyes Kayla pressing a quick peck to Zosia’s lips.

“Ewwww,” Cordelia stated, covering her eyes. Kayla and Zosia laughed and then exchanged another look which elicited a nod from Zosia. Ashlyn was jealous, and not because of the kissing, but in the effortless way it seemed the two could communicate without words.

She watched as Zosia pried the little hands away from Cordelia’s face and whispered conspicuously, “Why don’t you show Ashlyn to the bathroom upstairs so that she can have a warm shower before dinner, do you think you can do that?”

Cordelia nodded seriously before grabbing Ashlyn’s hand and pulling her out and away from the kitchen, rambling about how after dinner she could show her all the toys she had and how Ashlyn could read her a story before bed. Ashlyn turned just as they reached the stairs and caught a glimpse of Kayla and Zosia now in the middle of a serious conversation.