#Haka spirit
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WanderingSims Fave CC - Asian Community Pt. 1
1, 3, 7-8, 25 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 Sims-KKB Korean Style Goods Set (Posters, Signboard, Signboard (Sims41ife recolors), Shadow Screen, Standing Board)
2, 4 - VivianDang - 4t3 DominationKid Japanese Retro Shop Signs & Street Bulletin Boards
5-6, 35-36 - Ziva-Sims - 2t3 Japasims Set (Cheap Shop Sign, Emergency Lamp, Noren, Pori Waste Bags)
9, 19, 58-59 - SimpleStudio404 - Izakaya Set (Menu Poster, Akanoren, Beer Case 1, Beer Case 2)*
10 - SimpleStudio404 - Clutter Set (Retoro Kanban 1)*
11-13, 16-17, 21 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 Slox Expressway Set Pt. 4 (Awning, Magazine Rack, Sign 1, Sign 2, Sign 3, Banner)
14-15, 18 - Martassimsbook - The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Noren Curtains Long, Mini, Short
20 - SimpleStudio404 - Retoro Set (Bench)*
22 - simnaru - Nobori Sign
23 - NoirandDarkSims - Gatchapon Machine
24 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 Sims-KKB Utensils 2 Set The Shade
26, 68 - NoirandDarkSims - Japanese Festival Ultimate Edition Nobori & Cash Register
27-29 - SimpleStudio404 - Retoro B Set (Ice Box Table, Refrigerator, Post Deco)*
30, 33-34 - NoirandDarkSims - Tokyo City Decor (Mailbox, Road Decor 09, Road Decor 10)
31, 51-56 - NoirandDarkSims - School Days Set (Shoukaki, Sink School, Blackboard, Desk, Chair, Class Plate, Locker)
32 - NoirandDarkSims - Yuxi Tkangie Noren
37-43 - Mitarsi - Graveyard Set (Sotoba 2, Haka S1, Floral Tribute, Haka S2, Haka 1, Candle, Sotoba 1)
44-45 - Martassimsbook - 4t3 StudioK Convenience Store Set Copy Machine & Sticker
46-50 - simnaru - School Set 1 (School Poster 4, School Plate, Sink School (3 Pieces), Shoebox, Classroom Locker)
57 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Spirited Away Set Paper Lanterns
60-61 - SimpleStudio404 - Ob Set (Dining Chair & Yatai Dining Table)*
62-64 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Senran Kagura Bon Appetit Conversions (Yakuza Restaurant Spice Tray, Plate, Napkin)
65-66 - SimpleStudio404 - Takoyaki ki Set & Charcoal Stove Set*
67, 71 - Ziva-Sims - 2t3 Simsconnection Soy Sauce & Sake
69 - MurfeeL - Taru 1-3
70 - Kewai-Dou - Japanese Sake Set
72 - NoirandDarkSims - Mitarsi Sims Tori Gate
73, 75 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Lighting Outdoor & Street Pennant Static
74 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Nobori Flag
76-77 - MurfeeL - C2077 Round String Lanterns & Oval String Lanterns
78 - jazzysimlife - 4t3 Snowy Escape Deco Buildings
79 - HydrangeaChainsaw - Japanese Houses
*All the SimpleStudio404 downloads are in the same ZIP graciously uploaded by @ameriko-steelie. I listed the set name so that you can find the specific CC without opening every folder.
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The Gym Membership - Part 16 (Echo)
Summary: The family deal with a trying day, Echo and Sofie take a step.
A/N: Hello Lovelies,
Sorry I wasn’t able to post it last week, but I was finishing up the editing. This is the last part for Echo, next will be Crosshair, but there will be a short hiatus, about two months. So I’m hoping by the week of May 1, 2023 I’ll have Crosshair’s first part up and ready to go. After Crosshair there will be a small Omega part and then the series will be done.
The next one I’m working on now is the Reunion, I’ll have that ready hopefully by next week.
Thank you for loving this series as much as you have.
I described the Haka dance of the Maori people in the story, I did research on how the dance is done. However, this is not the only way to do the Haka dance. Please accept it, in the spirit it was written, with one of respect and dignity.
Love oo.
Warnings: Grief, emotions, dance, discussions about kissing (nothing explicit), kissing, tears, fluff, angst, I think that’s all of the warnings, if I miss any please let me know.
AO3 Link | Words: 7,061 | PREVIOUS - -> NEXT
Gym Membership Master List | Main Master List
Echo held on to my hand as we walked back to the cars, everyone had pretty much left except for the immediate family. He didn’t say much simply tightening his grip on my hand, after what all these guys had been through, a cemetery was the last place they needed to be.
“How do you think he’s doing?”
Echo leaned against the car, looking at his brother still standing over Kamarie’s grave.
“As well as can be expected, I don’t think he’s ever really been in love or at least loved anyone as much as he loved her. Then again he does play things pretty close to the vest.” Echo wrapped his arm around Sofie pulling her in, “She was one of a kind though, I wish you got a chance to meet her.”
“Me too, from what I heard from the eulogy she was quite the amazing woman, held two doctorates, advanced prosthetic technology to an amazing degree, and helped thousands have a better life. She seemed exceptional.”
“Mmhmm” Echo pressed his lips against the top of her head, “She was, but beyond that she was incredibly kind” he mumbled against her hair. “Everyone wants to meet you properly, are you able to come to the wake? Don’t feel pressured to come, you’ve already done so much.”
I nodded against his shoulder, “I took the week off, specifically to be around to help you and your family. I can’t wait to meet them, too. I just didn’t expect you to have such a huge family.”
He couldn’t stop laughing at her statement, “Yeah, it’s … let’s just say my dad had a hard time staying with one person. However, we’re family and we’re always here for each other. Just remember their crazy.”
I chuckled against his side, “I’m fully prepared.” My eyes focused on Tech’s back he was still standing by Kamarie’s grave, Hunter and Crosshair stood off to the side, at least I believe I got their names right, talking amongst themselves.
Tech looked at the coffin freshly laid in the grave, despite needing to leave, he still couldn’t pull himself away, “I understand you are no longer here, and yet despite what my head knows, it seems I am unable to leave you.”
He cleared his throat, he had done enough crying, he didn’t want to cry again.
“This morning when I woke up in our bed, it felt inexplicably large; it’s not a different bed, it’s the same one I’ve always owned, but somehow it feels too big for just one person. I hadn’t realized there was still some of your yogurt in the fridge. When I opened it this morning, I began preparing your breakfast without a second thought, until a moment later I realized you wouldn’t be coming downstairs. I stood there looking at the breakfast I had made you for three minutes before Echo walked in and was kind enough to eat it, even though he doesn’t like yogurt.”
He kneeled down, the amaryllises flower in his hand, “I miss your beautiful face, your laugh, the way you would kiss my cheek to wake me up. I miss hearing your voice, the way you would hum or sing when you cooked. I miss you. I’m grateful I still have some of your perfume left, so I can always have your scent on my pillow.”
Tech let out a sigh, his hand trailed along his pocket, he shifted a little shoving his hand in, pulling out a box. He opened it, looking at the ring he had bought the week before she passed.
“I was going to give this to you on the anniversary when we first met, which would’ve been today.” He cleared his throat wiping away a tear. “I want you to have this” he took the ring, placing a gentle kiss on the stone, before threading it through the stem of the amaryllis. “I had it specially made for you, the band is both of our DNA strands intertwined, the emerald and the green moss agate the two stones you said reflected the both of us so well. You always said I was an emerald full of wit, eloquence and foresight, while you were my moss agate encouraging tranquility and emotional balance in my life. I couldn’t wait to see your face when I would’ve proposed this morning.” Tech stood, keeping his eyes focused on the coffin, “Thank you cyare, for allowing me the opportunity to love you. I’ll always carry you with me” his hand brushing against her James Webb Telescope pendant she always wore, which now hung around his neck. He remembered how she laughed when someone thought it was a honeycomb. He placed one final kiss on the flower, “and I’ll always be with you.” He tossed the flower and ring on to the top of the coffin.
No matter how much he wanted to move, his feet wouldn’t listen, he closed his eyes taking in one deep breath, tilting his head back, blinking back the tears that were making more of a presence, how was he going to move on? How had he managed to live before she came into his life?
Echo walked up quietly beside his brother, knowing the moments he had with her were fleeting and simply not enough, “It’s never easy is it?”
Tech shook his head no, the lump in his throat making it impossible for him to speak. He’d been to so many funerals, Fives’ funeral was probably the hardest one for him, not as difficult as it had been for Echo. Even Heather’s funeral was tough, but nothing like what he was feeling now. He finally could understand why Hunter threw himself into taking care of Omega, why it seemed every day was a struggle for him after he lost Heather.
“You know what I loved most about her?” Echo asked
“Her smile?”
“No. I loved how much she loved you” Tech turned to look at Echo, the tears streaking his cheeks. Echo offered a soft smile, full of warmth and respect, “She loved you, for you. She wasn’t trying to use you, she wasn’t doing it to make a point or to make her ex jealous. One night when you had fallen asleep on the couch, while we were watching the documentary on bridges, we had a discussion about you, me, all of us. She had such a unique way of seeing the world, she’s the one that helped me to see I was punishing myself for Fives’ death and Wrecker’s injury. She sat there, combing your hair with her fingers, while holding your other hand, and the entire time she talked about you, her smile never left her face. The love she held in her eyes never faltered. She told me the best part of her life had been every moment she got to spend with you.”
Echo fully turned to look at his brother, “Plus she made us promise”
“Promise what?”
“She made us promise we wouldn’t let you wallow” Crosshair answered, walking up behind Echo, his sharp eyes able to read their lips.
“She also made us promise we’d make you leave, and not remain here with her all day” Hunter added.
“She also made us promise we’d help you in any way we could” Wrecker stated, placing his hand on Tech’s shoulder, “We all loved her, Tech; she was your better half. She made you better. We’re here for you vod.”
Tech was holding back the tears as much as possible, even in her death she made sure to take care of him. His vision became blurry as the tears obstructed his view, and at some point, someone pulled him forward, and the next thing he knew he was in the middle of a group hug, as his brothers held on to him.
- - - - - - - - - - -
The wake was a monumental moment for Echo and me, he took the time to introduce me, not only to his brothers and sisters-in-law properly, but also to his various extended family. The man had so many cousins, I had no idea one family could have this many uncles and cousins. I was speaking with one of the cousins, named Tup, when Hunter stood in the middle of his living room.
It was inspiring to see how he commanded a room, he cleared his throat, and nodded his head, two uncles, Rex and Cody, I think was the name stepped forward standing beside him. Wrecker, and Crosshair followed, along with a few other cousins. They stood with their arms at their side, their hands quivering, their stance was wide as their knees were slight bent, they all made sure to keep their palms hidden.
As one they raised their arms in front of them to shoulder height, slapping the front of their thighs, raising their arms and slapping their thighs again.
It was mesmerizing as they turned their quivering hands sideways, stomping their foot and extending their arms out mid torso, pulling their arms back and repeating it again. They closed their fists, making a slow ‘rope pulling’ motion with their right hand, holding it in front of their torso, then with the left hand, repeating it slowly.
As they danced more and more joined, finally Echo and Tech joined in, standing beside their brothers. Their faces were full of emotion as their left hand extended, their right arm crossed the centreline pointing down, as their fingers quivered, their hands pulling back. Their right forearm raised with their hand in a fist, as their left hand rested on their hip. They then raised their left forearm straight in front with their hands in fist, as their right hand slapped their elbow, repeating their steps.
Their movements changed slightly with the next set, rather than slapping their elbow, they swept their right hand under the raised left forearm. Their movements were familiar, comfortable, something clearly taught to them from a young age, it amazed me to see their synchronicity, not one of them missed a step, as they raised their right and pointed their left arms down with open palms, fingers extend and quivering. They held their arms in place shifting their upper body to face to the left, then switching their arms as they shifted facing the right.
As one entity, they turned to face straight ahead, sweeping their right fist under their raised left forearm. Their right hand raise and their left lower, as their hands opened, their fingers quivering, their eyes bulging, as they stuck out their tongues.
The dance went on for a few minutes, my eyes were focused on Echo’s movements, he was in sync with his brothers, his prosthetics not causing any sort of discomfort or tripping him up in any way. The pain and emotion on Tech’s face was intense, his grief was breaking through, his movements were starting to slow down and break until he couldn’t stand up anymore, collapsing down on to the floor, as his tears and sobbing burst through.
Without a second, the guys surrounded him and helped him up. Echo and Crosshair each stuck to his side, as they walked him to a room at the end of the hall.
I walked over to Mel once the group had dispersed, the atmosphere taking on a new somber feel. She had organized the whole wake, and I had to say there was not one thing missing, it had to be one of the most functioning wakes I’d ever been to, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Sweetie, thank you for offering” she held on to my forearm, giving it a light squeeze. Despite the smile she had, her eyes were glistening, her hand was trembling.
I moved closer to her lowering my voice, “Are you okay? Do you need a break?”
She simply smiled, patting my forearm, “I’m okay, it’s just … we all got really close to Kamarie and it’s still …” she cleared her throat, “fresh, it’s still fresh. Seeing him break down … Tech’s always very logical and always does his best to keep his emotions in check. To see him fully let go, not in private, but in front of everyone …” Mel swiftly swiped a tear that had threatened to escape, “she opened up his heart.”
“And you’re concerned” Zaina’s voice joined us, as she stealthy joined our conversation, “I’m concerned too.” She gave Mel a side hug, “Like Mel said, Tech’s always been a logical man, it’s one of the things we connected on, when I first met him. There’s no doubt, Kamarie made him a better man, I’m just concerned he’ll lock up his heart for good this time if he can’t move on.”
“If that’s what he needs to do to deal with his grief …”
“No” Omega stated also joining our conversation, “I know my uncle, he wouldn’t just lock up his heart, he’d shut it up tighter than womprat’s butt”
“Omega! Where did you learn that?” Mel frowned at her teenage niece; I had to stifle my laugh, since apparently no one else found it funny.
“Uncle Cross”
“Explains more than enough” Zaina smirked, “Despite the colourful wording she isn’t wrong. If Tech is unable to handle what he’s going through, I have no doubt, he’ll shut down forever. However, unless he actually wants our help, the best we can do is just be there for him. Speaking of which, do you guys know if any of our guys have eaten?”
“Wrecker had a sandwich when we got here, about four hours ago” Mel answered
“Echo snacked on some fruit he wasn’t particularly hungry when we got here. I’m not sure about Crosshair though” I had to say Echo’s family were a lot more welcoming than I expected. I mean Echo’s always been kind and considerate but that doesn’t necessarily mean it would be the same for his family.
“Well Hunter hasn’t felt hungry,” Zaina glanced down to Omega, resting her hand on her shoulder, “Have you eaten sweetie?”
“Not really”
“Why don’t you go grab a sandwich or something” Omega simply nodded, as soon as she had stepped away, a solemn expression appeared on Zaina’s face, “Hunter told me this felt too close to home for him, reminded him too much of Heather’s funeral. He said he’d try and get Tech to eat, but they’re both somewhat similar that way, so my guess is if Hunter hasn’t eaten, chances are Tech hasn’t either.”
“How about I go with some sandwiches and stuff, and see if any of them want to eat?” I offered
“That would be amazing thank you so much Sofie. I know this probably isn’t the best way to meet your boyfriend’s family, but we’re really happy to meet you despite the circumstances” Mel’s calming and motherly personality really made me feel welcome.
Zaina however, I hadn’t quite figured out yet, she seemed kind but very guarded when it came to herself; I’ve worked with enough people to know trauma when I see it. I was doing my best not to push her too hard.
“Truthfully, I hadn’t expected to meet you all so soon, but I have to say I’m glad I got a chance to meet you all despite the circumstances. For the sandwiches, is there anything I should avoid?”
“Crosshair isn’t a fan of egg-salad” Mel responded, “made that mistake when I first met him.”
“Hunter is more into vegetables and fish, he’s not one for a lot of red meat. Tech and Wrecker are pretty good at eating anything” Zaina offered.
“What about Echo? I mean I know some of the things he likes but we haven’t gotten to the sandwich part of our relationship” I smirked, hoping to add a tiny bit of humour to the day.
“Echo is good with anything as long as it’s not super greasy, he finds it affects his stomach too much” Mel offered smirking.
“Yeah he mentioned something about that; alright, let me go and get some food for these guys”
“Need any help?” Zaina tilted her head as she looked at me.
“No, I should be okay. If I need help, I’ll let you guys know or rope Omega into helping me”
- - - - - - - - - -
“Excuse me” I called as I peered into the study, Tech had his head in his hands, as Hunter and Wrecker sat beside him, Echo waved me in, I assumed it was either Hunter’s or Zaina’s study, either way it was cozy.
There was a couch against the east wall, three large bay windows on the west wall, a wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling bookcase, filled with books and a TV in the centre, on the south wall. On the north side of the room was a desk, seemed like an antique, behind it was another bookcase just as big as the one on the opposite wall. Crosshair and Echo were sitting in the arm chairs in front of the bay windows. A coffee table in the middle of the room.
“We brought some food for you guys” I moved into the room, placing it gently on the table, Omega following behind with another tray, “I can bring you guys some coffee or tea, water, juice?” I offered as I glanced around the room. As soon as Omega left the tray, she went and gave a hug to Tech before heading out again.
“Coffee’s fine love” Echo answered, holding my hand and pulling me closer to him, “Just bring us five black coffees, and we’ll add in the cream and sugar after.”
“Alright” I nodded, placing a kiss on his forehead.
I was heading out when a thought struck me, “Tech,” I rested my hand on the door, ready to close it after I finished, “I know we don’t know each other, but from what I’ve heard Kamarie was a wonderful person; and if you can find someway to honour her memory, maybe a foundation or I don’t know something, then she’ll never really be gone.”
Tech didn’t say anything as he tilted his head to look at me, I don’t know if what I said helped or just made it worse. I glanced back to Echo who had a soft smile on his lips, as he looked at me.
“Anyway, just a thought. I’ll get those coffees.”
The door closed behind Sofie, as Tech’s eyes focused on Echo, “Did she just quote Star Trek to me?”
“It’s not bad advice, vod” Echo defended
“I don’t think he’s saying she said anything wrong, but she’s a geek.” Crosshair smirked, “Plus she’s easy on the eyes” he chuckled, hoping to irritate Echo.
“Yeah she is, and she’s my girlfriend”
Crosshair held his hands up chuckling to himself, Hunter simply shook his head, “Tech, why don’t you have something, even a few of these veggies here” Hunter leaned forward putting some on a plate, and handing it back to his younger brother.
Tech nodded a thanks, nibbling on the carrot he had in his mouth.
“You know, Kamarie once told me she wanted to examine my brain, to really figure out how I worked” Wrecker bumped Tech’s shoulder hoping to get him to smile.
“That’s because your brain doesn’t work, she wanted to know how you were able to still function” Cross sneered out.
“Come on now, everyone behave” Hunter’s Sergeant’s tone coming out.
The door opened once again as Sofie walked through with a pitcher of coffee and a bag full of essentials, “I stole one of the pitchers, there are five cups here, stir sticks, creamers, milk, sugar, brown sugar, sweetener. Oh do you guys want some pastries?” She was talking a mile a minute, Echo couldn’t tell if it was because she was nervous or if she was just doing her best to be helpful.
“Pastries sound nice” Tech spoke up, offering a thank you smile to her, she simply nodded and exited again. “Echo, she seems really nice. You did good”
Echo nodded, moving forward to pour everyone a cup, “She is, when she heard about the funeral, I didn’t even ask her to come with me, she offered. She said she wanted to be there for me, for us. She even helped me figure out coffee and snacks.”
“How long have you guys been dating?”
“Since the night of Wreck and Mel’s wedding”
“Only two weeks and she’s already helping you like a proper spouse?” Wrecker chuckled, “She’s quite the woman”
“I’ll say” Crosshair smirked, as his finger trailed along his lips, “Too bad I didn’t meet her first”
“Crosshair” Hunter spoke, elongating his name, it was his final warning. The door opened Sofie and Omega carrying pastries in, Sofie rearranged the table a little to make sure everything fit, she double checked if anyone needed anything again. Once she knew everyone was fine, her and Omega exited again.
Crosshair making a point to eye her figure as she walked out, only to get a smack from Echo, “I’m kidding.” He chuckled, “However, in all seriousness, how are you two able to date, isn’t it against a code or something since she’s a physiotherapist?’
“Yup,” Echo leaned back a cup of coffee in his hand, a sandwich in the other, he took a bite, chewing it for a bit as his brothers all watched him like he was a monkey in a zoo, “that’s why I fired her.”
Hunter choked on his coffee, Wrecker had stopped midway reaching for another sandwich. Tech had a carrot in his mouth, not finishing the bite, and Crosshair just blinked a few times before bursting out laughing.
“You fired her! Well there’s an I love you, if I ever heard one.”
Hunter wiped his mouth, ignoring the burn from the hot liquid, “She’s still talking to you?”
Echo simply nodded, smiling as he took a bite, “She was happy to be fired, she even kissed me after.”
“On the lips?” Tech finally spoke, it took him a lot longer to eat the carrot then he wanted.
“Uhhh…” Echo cleared his throat, “No. Not yet. We were about to but then Hunter called … and everything became super busy.”
“I’m sorry” Crosshair was holding in the laughter. He coughed, hoping to calm down the urge to laugh, “You’re blaming the inability to kiss your girlfriend on … being occupied. I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s understandable to focus all your attention on today, however … there wasn’t a moment, a second, a minute, where you could have taken her in your arms and just planted one, helping her remember she’s a woman, make you feel alive.”
Echo took in a deep breath and shifted in his seat, doing his best not to answer.
“Don’t you want to kiss her?” Wrecker looked hurt on behalf of Sofie, after everything she did for them.
“I do, that’s not the problem.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Hunter couldn’t help become invested in this conversation, the fact Crosshair was intrigued just sent a shiver down Hunter’s spine.
Echo rubbed the back of his head, “The night we almost kissed, I was … I was all set for it. I hyped myself up enough to get the courage to finally make the move, but then …”
“The phone call”
“Right, and since then … well I … I haven’t kissed anyone since before I was injured.” The silence in the room was strangling, all four pairs of eyes looked at him as though he had grown a second head all of a sudden. “Stop it” Echo muttered.
Tech blinked a few times, before he reached forward taking a sip of the coffee Hunter made him grabbing a pastry as well, “You haven’t kissed anyone … I mean no one - in nine, almost ten years, you’ve never kissed anyone?”
“It’s not that bizarre”
“Of course not” Wrecker agreed, “I was hesitant the first time I kissed someone after my injury.”
“Really? You seemed so comfortable around Mel” Hunter added hoping for clarity.
“Mel wasn’t the first kiss after my injury” Wrecker cleared his throat, glancing away from the rest, pretending to read the spines of the books on the shelf.
“Who was the first?”
“Done Queen-ho-tee. What kind of book is that?” Wrecker did his best to change the subject, not really wanting to discuss that night.
“It’s Don Quixote, and don’t change the subject” Tech directed, “Who was the first?”
Wrecker shifted, “Don’t tell Mel, I never told her, but it was just a quick thing.”
“What do you mean by ‘thing’?” Crosshair shifted his toothpick, focusing his attention on Wrecker, they all became super focused on him.
He stood from his seat, shifting around for a bit, until he leaned against the bookcase, “Okay, so I was feeling particularly low one night; it was the night I originally planned to propose to Isabella when I would’ve gotten back from my tour. I knew you guys wouldn’t have approved so I didn’t tell any of you, but before I could do anything, she broke up with me. Anyway, I went to a bar and before I knew it, I was about ten shots of whiskey in, I couldn’t tell my left from my right. All I do remember is the cold air snapping me back into coherence, and the feeling of someone’s tongue in my mouth.”
“Who was it?” Hunter asked shocked by the revelation, Wrecker was many things, but not one to go out drinking, that was more of a Crosshair story than a Wrecker one.
“I don’t know for sure, but they appeared to be a rather tall and somewhat muscular woman. Long red hair, striking green eyes, but that’s all I remember.”
“What happened after?”
“Nothing” Wrecker played with his ear, not looking at them.
“Nothing?” Tech questioned
“At least nothing that I can remember. Somehow I made it home, and I woke up in my bed.”
“Just because you woke up in your bed, don’t mean nothing happened” Crosshair jested.
“Whatever. Nothing happened. Well, the only thing that did happen, was I realized I didn’t want to kiss someone unless I was sure about them.”
“How long was it before you kissed Mel?” Hunter asked as he grabbed some food to snack on.
“Um… about ten seconds after I asked her out.”
“WHAT?!” All four shouted in unison.
Echo appeared shocked, his mouth gaped open, “You knew that quickly?”
“Yeah. I did. What about you Hunter? When did you first kiss Zai?”
“I’m not discussing that” Hunter chuckled.
“Come on, we’ve all been open about this. I’ll tell you when’s the last time I kissed someone” Crosshair egged on.
“You mean aside from whatever poor soul had the misfortune of meeting you last night” Tech teased.
“Alright well if he doesn’t want to say it, I can guess. It was after you sent Omega and I back to the hospital with the stuff for Wrecker, Mel and Iris.”
“No”
“Oh I know” Wrecker chimed in, “it was when she was living with you before the attack, when you guys were training?”
“No”
“When she woke up in the hospital” Tech stated with firm conviction.
“No. I almost kissed her then.”
“So then when did you?” Echo tilted his head, wondering how much darker his face would go, with all the blood rushing to Hunter’s face from embarrassment.
“Guys, drop it”
“Nope, we’ve been pretty open and honest about our embarrassing moments, come on” the pleading look on Echo’s face made Hunter want to punch him; instead he simply let out a frustrated laugh and resigned to just let them know.
“Fine, I kissed Zaina for the first time when I was helping her pack up her stuff.”
Silence filled the room, as the guys waited for him to continue, it “Wait that’s it, you’re not going to tell us anything more?” Crosshair sneered out, annoyed by his older brother.
“You don’t need to know the details, that’s between her and I, and frankly how is any of this helping?”
“During my research last night, on how to deal with grief, one scholar mentioned ‘while distraction isn’t healthy for long periods of time, it can be a relief to get your mind off of your present grief, with simple distractions, and help you deal with the weight of your loss.’ Granted, I doubt this was the kind of distraction he had been implying, it has been helpful.” Tech nodded his thanks to his brothers, grateful in that moment to have them.
There was a slight knock on the door as Sofie peered her head in, “Sorry, just wanted to see if you needed anything?”
Hunter glanced around, confirming with each of his brothers that nothing was needed, Wrecker simply motioned to his watch. Hunter nodded in confirmation, turning to look at Sofie, “We’re all good, thanks. Out of curiosity, how many people are still left?”
“Umm not a lot, most of Kamarie’s co-workers have left, some friends of the family if I remember correctly are gone, it’s most family that’s left, some cousins and your uncles are still here.”
“Do you feel like going back out again?” Hunter turned to Tech, resting his hand on his younger brother’s shoulder.
Tech nodded, “Yeah, yeah I’m good. Everyone has shown exemplary tolerance and extraordinary kindness in allowing me to hide here. I should go and express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the patience they have imparted towards me.”
I watched as the guys all stood at once, waiting for Tech to make his way first only for him to motion towards Hunter. I waited outside of the door for Echo, it had been a sad and overwhelming day, it been a long time since my anxiety started to act up, but meeting a lot of his family, being a listening ear to a few, and learning a little too much about some of them, all I wanted was Echo’s arms.
As soon as he stepped out, I grabbed his hand and pulled him over slightly, moving away from the rest, wrapping my arms around his torso, “Hey” he mumbled against my hair, “you okay?”
“Yeah, just needed a hug”
The warmth from Echo’s arm, and the pressure from his prosthetic somehow eased my stress and anxiety, his hands started rubbing up, down, and from side to side. I could feel the tension in my back melt away, “Is that better?”
I nodded against his chest, “Yeah sorry, it just got a bit overwhelming all of a sudden.”
“Didn’t realize you suffered from anxiety?” He tightened his arms around her, holding her a little closer. “Thank you for everything you did today, it meant a lot. Not just to me, but to everyone.”
“I really didn’t do much, mostly hung out with Omega, as she introduced me to your family. I got to talk a bit with Mel and Zaina, they’re really awesome.”
“Yeah they are, and you did a lot. Don’t sell yourself short” he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, squeezing her a little bit more, “How are you feeling? Is that okay?”
“Mmhmm” I nodded against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, standing there with his arms wrapped around me, felt like the best blanket in the world.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Hunter sat on the couch in the living room, everything was back to normal after the wake had finished.
Omega was lying on the couch as well, resting her head on Zaina’s lap, her eyes focused on the TV, Zaina was reading, while her hand carded through Omega’s hair. As he watched them he couldn’t help smile at his family, his hand reached out on its own as it started playing with Zai’s hair.
She glanced out of the corner of her eye looking at him, a smirk on her lips. However, when she saw his expression the smirk vanished, he looked like he was miles away, there was still a hint of a smile on his lips, yet his eyes held grief and pain.
‘You okay?’ She mouthed to him, trying not to disturb Omega.
He gave a simple nod, as his hand shifted from her hair to her cheek, his eyes widened as he really took her in. He thought of Tech, and everything he was going through, he leaned over placing a kiss on her cheek, “Love you, and love you too kid” he placed a kiss on Omega’s head.
Omega shifted her head to look at her dad, “You okay?”
“Yeah, just ... after everything today, I’m reminded that I have an awesome family. I love you both.”
Omega smiled, reaching her hand up to pinch his cheek, “Love you too, dad”
Zaina chuckled, placing a kiss on his cheek hoping to ease the pain from Omega’s pinch. “We both love you, amar (moon - arabic), and it grows more with each passing day.”
Hunter placed a kiss on Zaina’s lips pulling her into his side, focusing his attention back on the TV.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wrecker stood beside Iris’ crib watching her sleep, his finger trailing over her forehead and along her cheek. Simply being beside her, and watching how she slept with confidence and without fear, made his heart ache. He couldn’t remember a time he slept the whole night through without a worry, without a nightmare of the war, to be able just to close his eyes and have pleasant dreams.
Even if he couldn’t experience it, he was happy, he could provide that comfort for his daughter.
Mel did her best to keep her footsteps light as she walked up to Wrecker, wrapping her arms around his middle, resting her head on his arm. She had woken up when she didn’t feel him lying beside her.
“You alright, sweetie?” Her voice was barely audible, doing her best not to wake their sleeping daughter, who was finally able to sleep through the night.
“I keep thinking about Tech and Hunter.” Wrecker’s voice didn’t exactly lead to quite whispering, but it was low enough not to disturb Iris, “I never fully understood the pain Hunter went through when he lost Heather, even though I had Isabella at the time. I’ve realized since then I was never really in love with her. Today, watching Tech fall apart, seeing how much pain he was going through, I kept imaging what my life would be like without you or Iris and …” he turned to face her, there were tears welling up in his eyes, “the very idea of not having you two in my life …” his voice trembled, his lips began to quiver, he couldn’t lose it now. He closed his eyes calming the storm within him. “I can’t lose you, either of you. You’re my rock, Mel. My foundation and my strength. You’re my sun and Iris is my moon, either by day or night you are both guiding me; always there to shine a light into my life I hadn’t realized I was missing. You brought me out of the dark.” His trembling hand, caressed her cheek, as his forehead gently pressed against hers, “Don’t leave me, cyar’ika. I can’t go back to the darkness.”
Mel’s heart ached in pain at seeing the one she loved without restraint torturing himself on the possibilities of what-ifs, her hands rested against his neck, as her thumb trailed along his jawline, “Sweetie, we’re not going anywhere, we’re here. Right now, with you. We’ll always be here. I’ll always be here.”
He pulled back his head, smiling as she wiped the tears from his face, he gently placed a kiss on her lips, as his arms slowly wrapped around her pulling her in. She pulled back a little as he started to deepen the kiss, “Wreck, we should go back to our room.”
He nodded, placing another kiss on her lips, lowering himself a little until he wrapped his arms around her knees picking her up, surprising her if the small squeak that escaped her lips gave any indication, he chuckled as he placed another kiss on her lips, heading towards their bedroom.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tech sat with Crosshair in Cross’ living room, he had refused to stay with either Hunter or Wrecker and he didn’t feel like going back home. He just wanted to sit there and drink, not having to be reminded that Kamarie was gone, which was irrational. He understood what he was getting into when he agreed to their relationship; he had accounted for every possible scenario, he simply hadn’t realized how painful it was going to feel.
“Want another one?” Cross motioned to the empty glass in Tech’s hand.
He tilted it back and forth, eyeing the ice that hadn’t melted yet, “Have you ever fallen in love?”
“You want another one?” Cross held up the bottle of scotch, pouring himself another, before he stood and headed towards his bookcase, it was one of the few things that truly brought him joy. Reading. He wasn’t as avid as Echo or Hunter, but he did enjoy it. He took a swig of his drink, grabbing the old photo album he had.
He turned to see Tech pouring himself another drink, downing it in seconds. Cross’ eyes widened as he watched his younger vod fill his cup again. Tech had never been one to drink, and the last thing Cross wanted was to have him develop a coping mechanism that would be detrimental.
He subtly moved the bottle away from Tech opening the photo album to a group photo of him and his unit sitting at a pub in London, he pointed to a short haired, bespectacled, chubby looking woman.
“Who’s that?” Tech asked doing his best to keep his eyes focused on the person Cross was pointing towards.
“You asked a question, I’m giving you the answer”
“The one who’s drinking … club soda?” He asked wearing into the photo
“Yup”
“The one who looks like she hasn’t slept for three days?”
“Yup”
He looked from the picture back to Cross, “Her?”
“You got something to say?”
Tech’s eyes closed as he swayed, “I’m just making sure she’s the one …” his voice trailed as he head slumped against the table passed out.
Cross chuckled at his vod, adjusting him till he was lying down on the couch, dropping the blanket on him, taking off his glasses. Once his younger brother was set, he grabbed the photo album sitting back on the couch, his finger trailing over her face again, “Yeah, she’s the one.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Echo stood in Sofie’s kitchen preparing their drinks, his hot chocolate, and her tea. It had been a long day for everyone, it was emotionally, mentally, spiritually and even physically draining. His body was hurting after the dance.
Truthfully, if it hadn’t been for all the physio and dance classes he was going to, he doubt he’d have the stamina to last as long as he did. It’d been a concern of his after the accident, whether or not his stamina would fail him, not just in this aspect, but in all aspects of his life.
Being in Sofie’s apartment was nice, it felt cozy and warm just like her; as soon as she stepped in to her place she turned on her speakers and started playing Miles Davis, they had gone through almost two of his albums already, it provided the perfect way to ease their stress and tension.
My arms wrapped around Echo, as I snuck up behind him, my hair was still a little wet, I could feel him shiver underneath me from the dampness, “Sorry”
“It’s okay, just unexpected. How was the shower?”
“Refreshing, you should take one too”
“I’ll take one when I get home”
I let go of his torso, my hands slowly dragging away; my mind couldn’t help think that maybe he didn’t want to stay because I’d done something wrong … I had to calm down my racing thoughts. This had nothing to do with me, it’s probably had more to do with his own comfort. However, no matter how much I tried to silence the inner voice that kept telling me I disappointed him, it still managed to rear its ugly head.
Echo could feel her breathing quicken against his back, he slowly turned around until he faced her completely, her head resting on his chest now. “Hey” his voice was gentle and soothing as his hand shifted her head a little, guiding it till he was able to look at her completely, “I would love to stay with you tonight, but … I’m …” he cleared his throat as Sofie looked into his eyes, he could feel his heart beat quicken, his blood pressure rising, all of a sudden it felt as though he was on fire. Everything was just too warm all of a sudden.
“Your?”
“As much as I want to stay ... spend time with you” his prosthetic finger trailed down her face, “I’m not …” he cleared his throat, “I’m not ready to … you know.”
It took me a minute to completely understand what he was referring to, when the shoe finally dropped, “Oh!” I chuckled a little resting my head against his chest, before I focused on his face again, “Echo, I’ve worked with enough veterans and trauma victims not to demand anything. I know this is a big step for you, and just being here with me doesn’t mean I’m expecting anything either. I’m happy just to be with you, Echo, like this and when you feel ready we can take that next step.”
He couldn’t help the tears that were welling up, his heart began beating faster, his face felt flushed, he never imagined he’d meet someone who was kind and as considerate as Sofie, his thumbs trailed along her jawline, as his eyes looked deep into hers, glancing between her eyes and lips.
He watched as her lips widened and parted a little, he leaned down unable to hold himself back any longer.
His breath fanned over my face, as his lips inched closer, grabbing the front of his shirt, I pulled him closer till our lips met. Echo took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, it was a little awkward and clumsy at first but soon enough it started to feel better than any previous kiss.
Echo held her closer, taking in all the warmth, love and comfort she had to offer. Knowing this had been a first step for him.
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Upon my second viewing, I'm a bit gagged about how they wrote Tonowari to explicitly state the Metkayina knee the RDA has harpooners that were killing Tulkun, but they didnt investigate nor fight them because it was all "from a distance". Like what?!!
I know the Metkayina were clear about not bringing conflict and war to their village, and of course you can hate crimes from a distance but prioritize harm reduction (maybe it was better that they avoided direct hostility with the Bridgehead to prevent risking more lives, Tulkun and Na'vi, than the Omaticaya stradegy of waging battles for resources and sabotage). But the primary reason the Metkayina ended up waging war anyway was because the RDA were Tulkun killers and Jake eventually did not surrender himself. The RDA were close and their fleets coincidentially killed Ronal's Spirit Sister and left their corpses out to float as bait to bring the war "out" of them. Tonowari explicity said they needed to die today, and the villagers in the haka scene before deploying for war agreed the RDA should pay for killing clan members and threatening their peace.
So for Tonowari to explicitly say in his speech that they didnt go to war with the humans for being Tulkun killers specifically because it happened farther away was just so not subtle and honestly so weird to me. Like if the magnitude of killing a Tulkun amounted to killing a family member, then why did they just now decide to be hostile to the RDA? Were all Tulkun family members? Or just the ones that migrated to their village? Are their different species of Tulkun that live in different areas? Were the Metkayina the only villagers that decided against war efforts or investigations against Bridgehead for knowingly being Tulkun killers?
I think I feel this way anout what Tonowari was written to say because I'm severely underestimating how close Bridgehead or any harpooning operations are to the Metkayina and their argepelligo, compared to how close the RDA was to the Omaticaya and their camp. And I'm probably forgettng to consider that the Metkayina are largely collateral damage in the RDA's efforts to specifically assassinate the "leader of the [Na'vi] insurgency", and "passify the hostiles", not attack any and all Na'vi in general. And perhaps I'm just still largely unsatisfied with how little of Metkayina culture and philosophies were explored in the film to make sense of their descision making than just.... vague references to notions of balance, and their reactions to direct assaults. I think it could be all this but idk.... I wrote it down in my notes how much that part puzzled me and now I'm processing it.
So what do yall think?
#oel.mine#avatar 2#avatar film#james cameron avatar#avatar way of water#avatar the way of water#tonowari#ronal#tulkun#miles quaritch#metkayina#Jake sully#bridgehead#omatikaya#na'vi#worldbuilding
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"Tell me about your OCs" ok don't have to ask me twice
Gonna tell you about my first fursona, ThornShadow, and his world.
ThornShadow is a black and brown feral wolf who lives in a world similar to ours, with the most notable differences being that there are no humans and there are two moons. He is a member of a wolf pack called the Pine Canyon Pack, and he used to be the beta of it but he stepped down. His pack lives near five other wolf packs, called the Long Shadows Pack, the Windy Meadow Pack, the Red Desert Pack, the Misty River Pack, and the Ice Forest Pack. The Pine Canyon Pack actually arrived in the area within ThornShadow's lifetime, after they were chased out of their old territory by a rival pack. Due to many deaths during the final battle when they were ousted, and subsequent splitting up of the pack for a time, ThornShadow was temporarily thrust into a leadership position. He wasn't very experienced, so luckily he was able to step down some time after the pack was reunited. In addition to not being ready for all the responsibilities, ThornShadow also didn't enjoy being high-ranking because it meant he didn't get much sleep (due to the aforementioned responsibilities) and he also got a lot of romantic attention that he wasn't interested in. Now though he gets to spend his time lying in the sun and painting the walls of the canyon where the pack lives.
ThornShadow's best friends are his siblings; his sister Clear Starry Night and his brother MuddyFoot. Clear Starry night is white with black markings and MuddyFoot is brown with white markings. The alpha of the pack is called Howl of Furoed Bracken (all the alphas have 'howl' in their names).
Speaking of names: naming is a very important part of wolf culture. As pups, they are given a name such as ShadowPup, MuddyPup, or StarryPup, and then once they become full members of the pack they get to choose their own full name (this typically includes the prefix from their pup name, but not always). This represents a lot; it is both a personal choice of defining identity, as well as solidifying a wolf's place of belonging within a pack. As a result, it's generally considered disrespectful to call a wolf by only one part of their name (the exception being close friends/family using a shortened version of three part names). Calling a wolf by only one part of their nane is disrespectful and insulting, insinuating some mix of "you're not a valid part of this community," "I don't see you as a full person," "you're a baby," and "I don't respect your individuality and right to self-determination." As I mentioned before, Alphas add the word "howl" into their name in some way (howling is very important to them, so it's a big honor), and there aren't really any rules around the structure for them (ex. the other five pack alphas are RedHowl, StarDustHowl, Howl Over Tall Grass, StormyNightHowl, and Misty Breeze Howl). Also lone wolves often don't follow these naming structures; either as a rejection of pack culture or just because it's a culture they don't share.
Pack structure of the wolves is a mix of warrior cats and the old idea of alpha and omega wolves. Alphas are the leaders, betas are the deputies, and omegas are the lowest rank (middling ranks I'm not naming because I'm reworking a lot of it lol). Depending on the pack, the actual strictness of the hierarchy may vary, as well as the expected role of each rank.
I'm reworking a lot of the mythology/religion as well, but the basics are that a lot of things in their world get personified as wolf spirits in their stories and such. Most thorough example right now is sun-wolf, Haka, the moon-wolf, Milan, and the little-moon-brother, Juni. Haka is vain, selfish, and uncaring, but not "evil;" he just kind of "is" by his nature. And the wolves recognize his necessity in the functioning of the world. Milan is kind of their "patron" god; she cares for them and is more gentle and takes great interest in the flourishing of the world. Juni is seen a lot like Milan but more minorly, and where Milan is more concerned with keeping check of all the overall harmony of the world and what's best for the whole, as well as finding your place within this greater whole, Juni is a lot more about encouraging individual growth, and therefore is associated especially with younger wolves. Both Milan and Juni can be symbols of fortune, fluidity, and change, whereas Haka is a symbol of consistency.
Their creation story goes that the Haka used to rest in one place on the planet, making everything around him scorching hot, and everything far from him freezing cold, with no change or variation, leading to a hostile world where very little life could flourish. Milan couldn't convince him to care for his effect on the world, so as a last resort one night she enacted a plan to steal his ears and tail. Haka woke up and was angry, so he chased her until he grabbed her by the tail, ripping it off. Her tail gained it's own life and became Juni. When Milan cried out in pain, she flung Haka's ears and tail across the sky, and he rushed to search for where they fell. He ran down to the ground so fast that the wind ripped out his fur, which scattered across the sky to become stars. As Haka ran across the earth, the temperatures changed with his movement, spawning various new climates where previously there was only frozen cold or scorched heat. He dug into the ground in his search, creating valleys and mountains, river and lake beds, hills and canyons. He was unable to find his ears and tail on the ground, and so he ran back to the sky to search there and to re-collect his lost pelt. But his light drowns out the faint glow of his scattered hairs, so he can never find them. Milan and Juni, to avoid his wrath, also move through the sky, and change their appearances often so if he sees them it will be harder to recognize them. When Haka searches closer to the ground it causes hot days and summertime, and when he searches far away in the sky it causes cold days and wintertime. And if he gets to close to finding his ears and tail, Milan and Juni block out his vision and path, causing eclipses.
Theoretically the wolves understand that the sun and moons aren't literally giant wolves in the sky (I mean look at them. They're circles), but that's how they think of them. Like that's what they are in spirit.
Anyway this is already suuuper long so I'll stop now ✌
That creation story is really cool, I like how it explains lots of cosmic phenomena the way ancient traditions used to. Thanks for telling me about your OCs!!
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i love hakas i love the pure power and spirit in them ive literally watched the all blacks' hakas for like a solid 30 minutes
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Historical families Hel is known to have given her patronage to because I Cannot Shut The Fuck Up:
Made contact with and on her demise took the spirit of Hanka, the wife of a deposed Albanian Bey in the late 18th century. Haka proved a cunning and bold woman, one Hel would have been honored to count among her ranks. All Hanka asked in exchange was that Hel give her family power to reclaim their lands and avenge their lost patriarch, especially for the sake of her ten year old son, Ali.
Hel granted certain favors to the band of brigands that the mortal woman assembled, and in turn pointed the eyes of the Empire towards the young lion that Ali would become as he came of age. After that, she needed to do little, as the man made a name for himself as a fierce warrior and vassal to the Sultan. Regardless of her lack of influence over his adulthood, she was a passing figure in Ali’s court, always welcomed as a valued guest when she traveled the north of Greece.
When he was executed for his rebellion against the Empire in 1822, Hel turned her guidance towards his youngest child per RP lore. Haydee was especially doted upon and cherished by Hel upon the teenager’s arrival in Europe over a decade later, likely due to her resemblance in spirit to her fierce father and unrelenting grandmother. Well, that and one can debate endlessly how much of herself Hel saw in the dutiful daughter moving Heaven and Hell and enduring any indignity for the chance to avenge her beloved father.
It is uncertain whether Hel continued to provide patronage to Haydee’s descendants, as all of her children were adopted, but given Hel’s own stance on blood bonds, it seems likely she continues to provide at least blessings towards the family into the modern era. The only exception to this would be if Hanka bound the pact to her own blood, at which point Haydee’s descendants are on their own regardless of Hel’s feelings.
Made contact with and offered succor to the daughter of a French executioner in the 17th century, keeping up an interpersonal relationship even after the young woman’s marriage to a soldier. When called upon to keep watch over her companions son and descendants, Hel accepted. This is how she became a patron of the infamous Sanson family of executioners.
What details exist of this arrangement are scarce, but it can be assumed the goddess offered some knowledge, power, or protection to the family over the centuries that followed. Her most integral relationship of the Sansons might be with their best known member Charles-Henri, the Royal Executioner during the French Revolution. It is known that during the Terror, Hel kept to rooms that overlooked the scenes of executions, and she claimed she was conducting some research in her unflinching vigil over human ugliness. Charles-Henri might have been her favorite of the family, but the line continued as executioners through his son, an his grandson, before the family lost their role as executioners.
It is unlikely her patronage extended past this point, ending a 159 year arrangement between the divine and the wretched. It is also unlikely that Hel collected the souls of any of the Sansons for her army, but rather forged a deal for knowledge in exchange for whatever the family gained from her as their divinity incognito.
Both agreements came about in the same relative stretch of time, forged less than a century apart and both having potentially ended in the late 19th century. From this, one might assume she was only open to such arrangements during a very specific ‘dead’ period in her time on Midgard. However, this ignores that she had been attempting to make deals during the 9th century (Ivar the Boneless, exact deal status unknown) and in the 15th century (Vlad Dracula, who denied her offer for alliance.) It is more likely that Hel has been extending her hand to mortals across the centuries, and that Hanka and the Sansons are simply the most recent of her deals, and thus better recorded than those who came before them.
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Compiling a list of the "greatest" sports fans in the world can be subjective and vary widely based on sports, regions, and personal enthusiasm. However, I can list 20 fan bases globally known for their loyalty, passion, and unique cultures, which make them stand out as some of the greatest sports fans in the world:
1. **Green Bay Packers (NFL)** - Known for their "Cheesehead" fans, who even own shares in the team, making them the only publicly owned franchise in the NFL.
2. **Borussia Dortmund (Soccer)** - Famous for the "Yellow Wall," a stand in their stadium that holds 25,000 standing fans, known for its incredible atmosphere.
3. **Boston Red Sox (MLB)** - With a fan base that sold out Fenway Park for 820 consecutive games, showing their loyalty through thick and thin.
4. **Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)** - Despite a long championship drought, Leafs fans remain fiercely loyal and supportive, filling their arena every game.
5. **Chicago Cubs (MLB)** - Fans remained loyal and hopeful for 108 years between World Series titles, a testament to their enduring spirit.
6. **Boca Juniors (Soccer)** - Known for their passionate and raucous support in Buenos Aires, particularly in the "Superclásico" against River Plate.
7. **New Zealand All Blacks (Rugby)** - Fans are deeply connected to the team, especially through the cultural significance of the Haka performed before games.
8. **Liverpool FC (Soccer)** - With the anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone," Liverpool fans are known for their passionate support both home and away.
9. **Golden State Warriors (NBA)** - Known for their raucous crowd at the Oracle Arena, and now Chase Center, who have supported the team through both lean and boom years.
10. **LSU Football (NCAA)** - Known for incredible tailgating and fierce loyalty, their stadium becomes one of the loudest in college football.
11. **Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)** - Eagles fans are infamously passionate and have stuck by their team through ups and downs, including finally winning the Super Bowl in 2018.
12. **Real Madrid CF (Soccer)** - With a global fanbase, Real fans are known for their high expectations and passionate support.
13. **Calgary Flames (NHL)** - The "C of Red" is famous as fans wear red jerseys creating an intimidating sea of color during playoff games.
14. **Manchester United (Soccer)** - One of the most widespread fan bases in the world, United fans are known for their loyalty and global support network.
15. **Celtic FC (Soccer)** - Known for their passionate support and the vibrant atmosphere at Celtic Park, often described as one of the best in European football.
16. **Alabama Crimson Tide Football (NCAA)** - With a legendary following, Alabama fans are known for their immense pride and high expectations.
17. **Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)** - Holding the record for the loudest outdoor stadium, their fans are known for their overwhelming noise and enthusiasm.
18. **Cleveland Browns (NFL)** - Known for their loyal fan base, who famously supports their team no matter the conditions or record.
19. **AC Milan (Soccer)** - AC Milan fans are known for their passionate support, especially during derby matches against Inter Milan.
20. **San Antonio Spurs (NBA)** - Spurs fans have supported their team through a period of sustained success, known for their class and loyalty.
These fan bases represent a cross-section of sports around the world and are celebrated for their commitment, passion, and unique contributions to the sports they love.
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Soulful Sojourns: Unveiling the Mystique of Cultural Immersion
In travel, a new wave is emerging—one that transcends the ordinary and unveils the mystique of cultural immersion. Welcome to "Soulful Sojourns," a transformative approach to travel that invites wanderers to step beyond the tourist façade and delve into the heart and soul of diverse cultures. In this article, we embark on a journey through the enchanting tapestry of Soulful Sojourns, where every experience explores the profound and the authentic.
Sacred Rituals in Varanasi, India: Ganges Reverie
On the banks of the sacred Ganges River, Varanasi offers a profound entry into the soulful realm of cultural immersion. Soulful Sojourns guide travelers through ancient rituals along the ghats, allowing them to witness the spiritual hunger of daily life. Participate in Ganga Aarti ceremonies, engage with local priests, and gain insights into the profound symbolism embedded in every ritual. This immersive experience fosters a connection with the spiritual heartbeat of India.
Traditional Silk Weaving in Florence, Italy: Artistry Unveiled
Renowned for its artistic heritage, Florence unfolds its secrets through Soulful Sojourns that go beyond the galleries. Immerse yourself in the tradition of silk weaving, visiting family-run ateliers where artisans create intricate masterpieces. From understanding the history of silk to hands-on experiences with looms, this journey into the world of craftsmanship reveals the artistic soul of Florence.
Indigenous Storytelling in Uluru, Australia: Dreamtime Chronicles
Venture into the heart of Australia's red desert and experience Soulful Sojourns that delve into the Dreamtime narratives of the indigenous Anangu people. Engage with skilled storytellers who share ancient tales, connecting the landscape of Uluru with the spiritual realm. Through song, dance, and narrative, travelers gain a profound understanding of the cultural significance of the sacred site.
Sufi Music in Istanbul, Turkey: Mystical Harmonies
Istanbul, the bridge between East and West, becomes a musical sanctuary in the realm of Soulful Sojourns. Engage with Sufi musicians in intimate settings, where the haunting melodies of the ney and the rhythmic beats of the daf transport you into the mystical world of Sufism. This immersive musical experience connects travelers with Turkey's spiritual and cultural heritage.
Maori Haka in Rotorua, New Zealand: Warrior Spirit Unleashed
Soulful Sojourns lead travelers to Rotorua, where the indigenous Maori people share the power and passion of the Haka. Participate in traditional ceremonies, learn the ancestral war dance, and understand the cultural significance of this powerful expression. The experience goes beyond performance, allowing travelers to feel the heartbeat of the Maori warrior spirit.
Flamenco in Seville, Spain: Passionate Dance of Andalusia
Seville, the heart of Andalusia, comes alive with Soulful Sojourns that unravel the passionate art of Flamenco. Engage with seasoned dancers and musicians at intimate tables, where the rhythmic footwork and soulful guitar melodies convey the essence of Spanish passion. This immersive encounter delves into the emotional depth of Flamenco, connecting travelers with the vibrant cultural spirit of Andalusia.
Tea Ceremony in Chengdu, China: Serenity in Sip
Journey into the soulful serenity of a traditional tea ceremony in Chengdu, China. Soulful Sojourns offers an intimate exploration of the ancient rituals of tea preparation, providing insights into the philosophy and artistry behind each ceremony. Engage with tea masters, savoring the delicate flavors of Chinese tea, and immerse yourself in the tranquility that unfolds with each mindful sip.
Mākaukau in Oahu, Hawaii: Seafaring Wisdom
Hawaii's Soulful Sojourns take travelers beyond the pristine beaches and into the world of Mākaukau, or traditional seafaring. Engage with navigators who preserve the ancient art of wayfinding, using the stars and natural elements for navigation. Participate in canoe voyages, gaining insights into the deep connection between the Hawaiian people and the vast Pacific Ocean.
Beyond Exploration, a Journey of the Soul
Soulful Sojourns redefines travel as a journey of the soul—an odyssey that transcends the superficial and connects travelers with the profound essence of diverse cultures. It is an exploration beyond sightseeing, inviting wanderers to participate actively in the rich tapestry of global heritage.
As we navigate the enchanting realms of Soulful Sojourns, each experience becomes a chapter in the story of cultural exploration. It is an invitation to observe and listen, learn, and engage with the heartbeat of communities worldwide. The transformative power of Soulful Sojourns lies in their ability to foster connections, promote understanding, and enrich the spirit through authentic cultural encounters. So, set aside the ordinary and embark on a journey where each step is a dance, each note is a melody, and each encounter is a profound exploration of the soul.
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The Grit and Grace of Rugby: A Comprehensive Exploration of the Sport
Rugby, a sport born from the rugged landscapes of 19th-century England, has evolved into a game renowned for its intensity, camaraderie, and unique blend of skill and physicality. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of rugby, exploring its historical roots, global impact, the spirit of its players, and the enduring appeal that has garnered a passionate following around the world.
Historical Origins:
Rugby's story begins in the early 19th century, when a moment of spontaneity during a football match at Rugby School in England led to the creation of a new sport. Legend has it that William Webb Ellis, a student at the school, picked up the ball and ran with it, laying the foundation for the distinctive rules and style of play that characterize rugby. The sport quickly gained popularity, spreading across the British Isles and eventually finding its way to distant shores.
Global Growth:
While rugby has its roots in England, it has grown into a global sport with a significant presence in countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, and France. The establishment of international competitions, including the Rugby World Cup, has fueled the sport's expansion and heightened its profile on the world stage. The tournament, held every four years, showcases the best teams from around the globe and captures the attention of millions of fans, further cementing rugby's status as a global sporting phenomenon.
The Code and Variants:
Rugby is played in various forms, with two primary codes: Rugby Union and Rugby League. The key distinction between the two lies in the rules governing play, particularly around the number of players on the field, scrummaging, and scoring. While both codes share a common heritage, they have developed unique characteristics that cater to different playing styles and preferences.
The Players:
At the heart of rugby are the players, whose physical prowess, tactical acumen, and unwavering commitment define the sport. From the powerful forwards who engage in scrums and lineouts to the nimble backs who showcase speed and agility, rugby demands a diverse skill set from its athletes. The camaraderie among players, epitomized by the post-match tradition of sharing a drink with opponents, contributes to the unique ethos of rugby—a sport where respect and sportsmanship are held in high regard.
Rugby Culture:
Rugby has a distinct culture that sets it apart from other sports. The ethos of respect, both on and off the field, is deeply ingrained in the sport's DNA. The post-match socializing, known as the "third half," emphasizes the importance of camaraderie and friendship, fostering a sense of community among players and fans alike. The haka, a traditional Maori war dance performed by New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, exemplifies the cultural richness and diversity that rugby embraces.
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Helsinki Takes Early League Lead in Finnish Football Competition
In order to quickly adapt to the rhythm of the league, Haka played many warmup matches before the start of the new season. However, after entering the official matches, the team was still unable to escape the fate of being slow to warm up. They lost all three of their first matches. Their form only improved as the league progressed, and they currently have a record of 2 wins and 3 losses, with wins both at home and away.
Helsinki has a deep pool of talent and is outstanding in fighting spirit. They are still being viewed as one of the favorites to win the championship this season by outsiders. Helsinki has been very strong in scoring this new season. After their 3-1 home victory over Oulu in the last league match, their total points in the league has expanded to 16, ranking first in the league.
Currently, whether in attack or defense, Helsinki is the best team in the league. With this advantage, the team has a record of 5 wins and 1 draw so far this season. They are also the only unbeaten team currently in the league. Although this match is an away game, the praise for this team from the outside still persists, from the initial half mark to the current mark of one and a half balls, it is not difficult to see where the heat is coming from and to prevent being overwhelmed by the hype.
With Helsinki's strength, it should not be difficult for them to control the initiative in this game. However, a big victory will be difficult. Hype is one factor, but also Haka's form has been good recently. The team won their last two matches, shaking off their earlier lethargy, and morale has clearly risen. In this game, knowing their own strength is inferior to the opponent, they are expected to adopt a tight defensive stance in response, very likely to hinder the opponent's big victory.
All views and contents in this article are personal opinions of the author only and do not represent the views of Polar Bear Sports. Any data or information shown are for legitimate use of Chinese sports lottery only and for reference and discussion purposes.
Any company or media needs to mark "Reprinted from Polar Bear Sports" if reprinting, and we will resolutely crack down on any plagiarism. We reserve the right to pursue legal action!
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The ETBU Women’s Soccer team departed Texas for New Zealand earlier this week as a part of ETBU’s Tiger Athletic Mission Experience (TAME). This is the 16th trip as a part of the ETBU Athletic Department TAME initiative and second for Tiger Women’s Soccer, after the Tigers traveled to Costa Rica in 2019. ETBU is partnering with International Sports Federation (ISF), as they will conduct soccer clinics and other ministry activities alongside the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which is being held in New Zealand.
Cheyenne Vick, a freshman Christian ministry major, shared the following regarding their first day in New Zealand. “Our arrival in New Zealand came after a 14 hour flight from Houston to Auckland with an early landing at 5:30 AM. Though the purpose of the first day was to get settled into camp, we were able to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit the moment we stepped foot into camp. We were greeted with a traditional welcome and haka performance and spent the majority of the day learning about New Zealand traditions. After lunch we had our first devotional led by an ISF director, Brett, and ice breaker games to get to know each other, while walking the beach. We split up into small groups and shared our excitement, as well as our anxieties, and prayed over each other. Later, the team took a stroll on the beach and each player took the opportunity to open up about their faith and how they expect God to move in them and other people the next two weeks. We are all excited to share the good news of our savior Jesus and we are expecting Him to keep opening hearts and changing lives through the upcoming days.”
Junior biology major, Sarah Ramos, stated, “The camp we are staying at is called Willow Park, which is just off the beautiful Bucklands Beach. The camp staff, led by Jarome, has welcomed us with open arms and made us feel like family. The camp has plenty of fun activities like a gym, tennis courts, miniature golf course, and volleyball courts. The beds are bunk beds and everyone shares the restrooms that have private showers within. The food has been great so far, and there is always a supply of hot chocolate to keep us warm in this cold weather.”
“The team had the opportunity to meet two boys and their mom on the beach and they asked for our autographs on a soccer ball and for a picture with the team! We invited them back to our clinic on the weekend and they said they will come and bring their friends! It’s funny how many people have asked us if we are on the USA National Team, but also awesome how God has used that to open up the door for others to talk with us and ask us questions. God calls us to be obedient and to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, that’s my goal for this trip.”
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WILLIAM LAWSON II - “LOOKING AT PREVIOUS WORK”
pride.
pride is the first of the seven deadly sins
(followed by greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.)
but as with most things - it is all about balance.
though most would assume that this sentiment implies using an opposing force in the seven heavenly virtues:
I would instead argue that pride seemingly has a lot more depth to it than one might originally think.
from my reading; pride seems to be the only sin with a virtuous side - as we are about to discover, through our brand analysis - with “William Lawson’s” embodying the bold and unconventional, acting as an encapsulation of the positives that come with having pride in one's country, in one's community, and in oneself.
and with our previous initial research into the history of the brand’s beginnings, we’ve got ourselves a strong foundation that will allows us to more effectively convey the ideas “William Lawson’s” stand for - through analysis of the way in which the brand presents itself based in some of their popular commercial advertisements, their website and social media(s)..
THE HIGHLANDER ATTITUDE - “A SYMBOL OF SPIRIT”
for over half of my currently 20 year life-span on this earth;
I lived on Umm al Nar’s: Sas Al Nakhl Island, in Abu Dhabi - the capital city of the UAE - a coming on 52-year-old nation in the Middle East.
one of my fondest memories of celebration was every year, around the end of the first school term, on December 2nd - we would celebrate ‘National Day’.
there would be traditional food, lively music, and plenty of performances - from traditional Al-Ayyala to Falcon shows.
but for me - the most memorable moment was always when the whole school assembled together in the middle of the pitch, in both uniform and the keffiyeh and dish-dash combo to sing the national anthem, together.
in that moment - where everyone stands together; surrounded by beautiful fabrics draped over the familiar surfaces, ornamental balloon-displays, and the bold colours of the flag proudly on display: every element compiles together in a way that makes the day feel like a proud symbol of national identity, where everyone is well and truly united.
and though this is a form of “pride” - it certainly is not negative.
far from a world of sandy dunes, and yowlah performances - is another culture that proudly display their spirit:
one that I feel is the foundation for what the William Lawson’s brand is, was and ever will be - down to the distillery in which it’s brewed,
“ the Macduff Distillery in Scotland is (Lawson’s) spiritual home. ”
“ Macduff is an extremely fertile, abundant landscape where everything grows big, and the distillery sits in the old grounds of Duff House, a baroque Georgian mansion originally home to the leader of clan Macduff. ”
a respect for their brewing process,
“ legally every drop of William Lawson’s must be aged in oak barrels, in Scotland for a minimum of 3 years before we can call it a ‘scotch’. ”
and the legacy of the man who started it all.
all in all, William Lawson’s brand identity seems to be one that is built upon a respect for the history behind its origins, and it is through an analysis of the way their brand has evolved that I will attempt to showcase this, in further detail..
SCOTTISH PRIDE - “A PROUD HISTORY, A CONFIDENT PRODUCT”
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William Lawson’s: “The Haka” (2000)
“The Haka” was one of the brand’s most successful adverts - with 75% of the 1 out of every 3 people in the focus group(s) that I ran (specifically the one on brand recognition, in this context) who recognised the company stating this as the advert they associated the brand with.
The advert opens on a team of Highlander Scots; shirtless, in kilts, running onto the pitch in a stadium to play rugby union against a New Zealand team.
The New Zealand team line up and perform the Haka - a ceremonial dance in Māori culture: using vigorous movements, body slapping and stamping of the feet, as an accompaniment to a rhythmic, shouted chant that acts as a show of challenge and displays a tribe's pride, strength and unity.
As the performance ends, and the Scots stand unmoved, the team silently lift up the front of their kilts; and present their own “cultural challenge”..
the team in the ad is clearly supposed to represent the real life New Zealand National Rugby Union team due to the team’s similar jerseys, as well as their Haka being similar in appearance to the signature variant performed by the All-Blacks.
the Haka is considered to be one of the most intimidating pre-game strategies; and has been linked to shaking up teams in such a way that they have actually made mistakes during matches - so to showcase the Highlander Scotsmen as being unmoved by it is a visual representation of the bold ways in which the William Lawson’s attitude is all about being a strong, brave, and confident individual.
this ad was vital in establishing William Lawson’s whisky in Belgium as the drink of irreverence, virility, authentic Scottishness, impertinence and humour.
DO THINGS YOUR OWN WAY - “A LESSON IN UNCONVENTIONAL THINKING”
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William Lawson’s: “The Office”
The next ad I wanted to focus on follows a man struggling with everyday activities around the office; as his highlander co-workers do things their own way, and showcase
we open on a close-up of a guillotine - failing to cut sheets of “client meeting” summary infographics, splitting the edges and making them appear untidily cut.
we are introduced to our protagonist:
a fairly uninteresting man, clean shaven with a tidy haircut, in his work clothes.
he looks over his shoulder, as we are introduced to the primary concept behind the ad - as a highlander swings a celtic battleaxe at the stack, creating a perfect cut down the middle
our protagonist stares on in bewilderment, holding an expressionless stare for a few seconds before we move on to further hijinx.
this is, in essence, the established formula of the advertisement:
office man struggles to perform a task,
highlanders do the same task, but in an unconventional manner and succeed
office man is shocked
rinse, and repeat this three more times.
break from the established convention
man gets pretty woman
(epic win)
cut,
print,
end commercial.
I feel like this “office” ad perfectly encapsulates the first part of the infamous William Lawson’s tag-line.
going beyond just “the Highlander mentality” - ‘The Office’ is an advert that showcases the concept that there is a little bit of bold, brave and unconventional spirit living in us all.
the typical average Joe, that we follow here is somewhat of an everyman:
somebody that anyone can relate with - he works in a boring monotonous job that he assumably doesn’t like, he struggles with talking to the girl he likes, and is just trying to get by in the world he finds himself in.
the office itself is bland and uninteresting: devoid of colour, with a very corporate basic colour scheme - the Highlanders stand out, due to their unconventional means of clothing; breaking down dress-code norms - with an outfit that stands out; a visual representation of the ways in which the brand attempts to challenge convention and inspire individuals to establish their own norms, and live in the way they want to.
when presented with a choice: it is up to the individual to choose whether to act conventionally, or break the established mould and find solutions where others do not.
in “Office” these solutions are both bold as well as good humoured - as they contrive from the conventional, ordinary and expected way to react to a situation; by having the highlanders act in what can only be described as the William Lawson’s way.
and I think this is the most crucial aspect I need to consider when creating something that fits in with the brand.
WILLIAM LAWSONS - “NO RULES. (FOR) GREAT SCOTCH”
William Lawson’s: “Rule No.583″
a current day series of William Lawson’s advertising - consisting of short videos that educate the general public on the issues surrounding the breaking of social-norms to be a more confident individual
in essence; this type of branding is what’s most effective.
its short,
simple
funny
and most importantly..
to the point.
we open on a black screen - directly cutting, with no transition into a chalkboard-esque informative explaining a short and simple rule of life, as the stock music jingle kicks in.
we hold as one of William Lawson’s iconic highlanders enter from stage left, and knock the items off of a table, cluttered with cocktail making equipment: clearly rejecting the stuffy side of cocktail making - as a simple, branded glass is placed on the table, off centre.
I think that the significance of having the products not placed directly central is effective in that it doesn’t feel as much like a promotion to try and get you to purchase their products;
instead, that it’s a skit that attempts to break down the societal etiquette of drinking - and allow people to drink in whatever way they do so perceive to be appropriate to the individual.
through a rejection of the flamboyance that comes with cocktails - with the advert instead choosing to do a simple ice, whiskey, and cola combo: the brand is appealing in its attempt to showcase that the company is one that makes whiskey, and it’s as simple as that.
advertising shouldn’t have to be overtly complicated.
showcase the product.
show what you’re about.
and be done with it.
with William Lawsons, it is just that.
they don’t pretend they’re more than just a company.
at the end of the day: they are trying to get you to buy their whiskey, through a very humorous and human marketing campaign.
to quote the brand themselves:
“ We have a witty sense of humour that makes people laugh because of how unexpected and/or smart our jokes are. we look at the world through the highlander’s point of view.
( and we never use toilet humour.) ”
this Ron Swanson-esque simplicity is one of the crucial factors of this brand that needs to be recognised, and replicated, in my final film.
CHALLENGING CONVENTION - “SEEING THE FUN IN IT ALL”
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William Lawson’s: “The Highland Games”
the final film I wanted to look into focuses on an afternoon at the park, amongst friends, that is interrupted when the William Lawson’s Highlanders take field..
we open on a lone buck - one of nature’s most beautiful creatures; alone in a field surrounded by greenery - its eyes dart up as it observes various different groups as they enjoy their parkly activities
(picnicking, barbecuing, passing the ball around, etc.)
from over the horizon marches a group of Highlanders, waving a William Lawson’s Branded flag, accompanied by a rising uplifting melody; with strong strings, powerful horns, and impactful timpani: all instruments that embody the Scottish spirit.
after their arrival is announced by a bearded highlander blowing into a drinking horn - the crowds react to their arrival with interest;
taking their phones out to record, gasping and chatting amongst themselves, etc.
as they carry large logs to the centre of the field; a large, hairy man Caber Tosses a log off-screen, to mark the centrepoint of construction for a canopy tent, where the crowd gets involved, with the group bringing everyone together for a drink, at the end of the day.
a point of interest in this advert is the significance of greenery, and nature - with the commercial taking place in a park, surrounded by trees.
I especially enjoyed the fact that the Highlanders used both traditional techniques, as well as natural materials to construct their gazebo - and were able to draw in the attention of the regular park-goers through doing so.
another aspect of the brand, that seems to be significant in regards to highlighting is the use of live environments.
from the stadium of “Haka” to the office in the appropriately named “Office” - making the environments used in these ads feel real is important to create an authentic experience and maintain the values the brand hold so dearly.
another reason that I feel this particular ad is noteworthy in that it goes beyond the idea of the brand being exclusively for overtly-muscular, and active individuals:
as beyond the outward appearance of a brand that focuses on all things outdoorsy with rugged highlanders; we see here that anyone, no matter build, race, or gender are getting involved in the festivities.
to me: this ad is saying that the “Highlander Way” is not a lifestyle choice as is often interpreted to be - instead, that the “William Lawsons Way” is about being doing things differently and being ‘your own you’,
and through this new found confidence; finding a community of likeminded individuals to share in adventurers and enjoy the pleasures that life has to offer.
FINAL THOUGHTS - “BRINGING IT ALTOGETHER”
with a thorough analysis of the branding that William Lawson’s uses; I feel like we are in a strong position, with a good foundation that will allow us to create a great final product.
each of the films we looked at served a purpose in teaching us a lesson:
“Haka” taught us to be bold, brave and act in confident ways that are impossible to ignore.
“Office” taught us to contrive from the conventional, ordinary and expected.
The “Rules” Series taught us to keep it simple, yet humorous
“The Highland Games” through going beyond just “doing manly things” teaches us to remain instinctively open-minded.
and with that, I present my interpretation of a set of rules that I believe build up..
THE WILLIAM LAWSON’S WAY
By Ike Pearson
Be Bold,
Be Brave,
Act Unconventional
Yet Kind
the shackles that hold you down
only exist in your own mind
Be Adventurous,
Be Honest,
Act Daring
Stay True
Bypass Societal-Norms
Be your Own Version of You
Shave your beard with an axe,
Run with Wolves if you want
Break Convention,
Be Witty
Just Don’t let
yourself be Lost.
The Hologram is Faded,
Reality Dislodged
This is The William Lawson’s way:
No Rules,
Great Scotch.
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Movies I watched this Week #94
My 6th and 7th films by Mike Leigh:
🍿 "En-ra-ha!" - His light and pleasant film, Happy-go-lucky is another insightful look into the lives of ordinary people. Sally Hawkins (Photo Above) dominates the story as the bubbly, always-spirited primary school teacher, but this is not a feel-good movie: Pathos bubbles to the surface through the character of Eddie Marsan, the anti-social driving instructor, who harbors so much anger, it blackens his teeth. 8/10.
🍿 On the surface, Vera Drake did not seem to be very compelling: A story of a working class, middle age woman in 1950 who secretly provides abortions to desperate young women who “needs her help”. But the good-hearted, saintly mother who helps everybody around her, and who has to pay the price for it, is a hero for our time. Subtly, without commentary or judgement, it tells a tragic tale of suffering without redemption. 10/10.
It’s the best of the Mike Leigh’s films that I saw so far, and my best film of the week.
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The Ornithologist, my first from gay Portuguese director João Pedro Rodrigues. What a strange, maybe unusual film! It starts with a quiet view of a bird watcher in nature whose kayak capsizes. As he finds himself lost and then found, he experiences a sequence of odd and symbolic adventures: Two young Chinese missionaries hang him up in a Shibari set in the forest, intending to castrate him. Some tribal men perform pagan rituals at night. A deaf and mute goat herder named Jesus makes love to him and then he kills him. He sermons to some koi fish he finds in an abandoned mission abbey. Eventually it becomes obvious that the film is an odd erotic-religious allegory, about the teachings of a local Saint, Anthony of Padua. 5/10.
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3 more by François Truffaut:
🍿 First watch: Shy Charles Aznavour in Shoot the piano player. Loose, non-linear, low-key homage to American Noir. 4/10
🍿 “You can’t make love all day. That’s why work was invented...”
I wanted to revisit The man who loved women for a long time, and couldn’t find a copy until now. The sweet Don Juan fantasy is about compulsive womanizer Charles Danner, addicted to the process of seducing every single woman that crosses his path. He loves women so much, that he smashes his car just so he can meet another driver, and eventually he even dies while crossing the street following another stranger. He is not a misogynist pick-up artist, but his story could not be made today. In spite of its problematic gender politics and exclusive male-gaze, I still enjoyed it.
With the magnificent Brigitte Fossey (24 years after ‘Forbidden Games’) and a cameo by Truffaut a-la-Hitchcock.
🍿 “Grégory il a fait boum!”...
The magical L'Argent de poche (Small Change) is from the same period, done in the same episodic, romanticized style, but with ‘Kids’ instead of ‘Love’ for its theme. This has not only been my all-time favorite movie about children, and my favorite Truffaut movie (Even more than his ‘400 blows’ and ‘The last Metro’) - it’s probably one of my top 50 films of all time. With another 2-second Truffaut cameo at the beginning. 10/10.
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2 by (Māori-Jewish!) New Zealander Taika Waititi:
🍿 I’ve only seen one film by Waititi, ‘Jojo Rabbit’ (which I hated very much). His early film Boy was much better. It’s a simple coming-of-age story about 11-year-old boy whose mother is dead, and father returns suddenly from prison. Low-budget, charming and poignant, reminded me a bit of a sad ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. The young actors were terrific, especially the main boy. It ends with a lovely mid-credits Haka dance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller! 7/10.
🍿 2 cars, one night (2004) was his Oscar-nominated early short, another terrific and sweet story about 3 Māori kids waiting in a parking lot while the grown-ups are busy with drinks at the pub. 9/10.
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First watch: “...Don’t be redic!...” Billy Wilder’s overdramatic The lost weekend, with hopeless alcoholic Ray Millard going on a bender. An early entry in the long tradition of stories about drunks, like ‘The verdict’, ‘Under the volcano’, ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, Etc.
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2 more by Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania, directed before her ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’:
🍿 Beauty and the Dogs, a harrowing abuse story that was incredibly hard to watch. A young woman is raped by two policemen and then spend a traumatic night trying to report it at the same police station. Brutal and not for the faint of heart.
The only ‘good’ thing about it, is what happened to the real-life policemen who committed the crime on which this film is based: The convicted rapists were sentenced to 7 years in prison, and after protests it was extended to 15 years.
🍿 Sheikh's Watermelons, After her acclaimed ‘Beauty, she filmed a 23-minute short about a power struggle between an imam in small mosque and his duplicitous assistant. (This Vimeo copy is in French without subtitles.)
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The Fool, grim and dark kitchen-sink Russian drama from 2014. It tells a depressing story about an honest plumber, who discovers that an apartment building with 820 tenants in it is about to collapse, due to faulty structural construction. His earnest attempt to save the people there clashes with apathy, corruption and drunkenness of the authorities in this provincial northern town.
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“...Don’t you believe in medicine, doctor?
- Do you believe in justice, judge?...”
And Then There Were None (The first 1945 version), based on the ‘world's best-selling mystery novel’ by Agatha Christie. I recently saw the latest BBC 3-part adaptation with Charles Dance, which was faithful enough for this original. Solid entertainment. Agatha Christie was as bloody macabre as Hitchcock! - I should try to watch other films that are made from her books.
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Re-watch: I used to love reading the early crime novels of David Baldacci. Absolute Power, based on his novel, is peak Clint Eastwood who directed, starred in, composed, produced, etc. and with an excellent William Goldman scrip. Eastwood used to play such ‘salt-of-the-earth’ types. The full cast is terrific: Gene Hackman as the sadistic POTUS, E. G. Marshall in his final role, Laura Linney, Hector Salamanca as ‘Red’, Richard Jenkins as an assassin, others.
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“...What’s up?...” The new Bros, which was heralded as “one of the first gay romantic comedies released by a major (American) studio”, but which bombed in box office (due to off-kilter marketing). It wasn’t ‘When Harry met Sally’, and still a pretty decent rom-com (even though the Billy Eichner character was loud and obnoxious). 6/10.
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2 wordless Shorts:
🍿 Nuisance Bear, a short New Yorker documentary about what happens in Churchill, Manitoba, when polar bears' migration paths crosses this northern town.
🍿 Seven Boats, a simple, black-and-white short from Iceland. A single, 360-degree shot that leaves a mark.
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An interesting genre to enjoy: At night, when all is calm, I am diving into a Mellow Psychedelic Journey. Later on I will find other meditative Psychedelic slow trance videos to relax with.
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“I would rather die with you, than live in this world without you... “
Why am I so obsessed with Palm Springs, that I keep watching it again and again? It’s my all-time favorite Time-loop Rom-com, and it is based on a perfect script. I can’t find any fault in it. I even posted it to r/Moviesinthemaking, and discovered that there are others who watch it multiple times.
It’s also very funny: “She’ll be OK! This dentist glues teeth!”
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“So-bad-I-couldn’t-finish-it-films” X 2
🍿 Another time loop romance but one so bad I couldn’t finish: 50 First Dates. A horribly-directed cringe-fest with unfunny and artificial acting from Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Rob Schneider (?). I lasted 20 minutes before having to turn it off.
🍿 Strippers who steal? Glamorized pole dancers? Hustlers (2019) received some positive reviews from critics, and its hook of female and economic revenge appealed to me. But in spite of all the noise, curves and titillation, it was flat, boring, idiotic. I soldiered on for painful 29 minutes.
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(My complete movie list is here)
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The Tribe - Buckingham Palace - Tom Hern (Ram) Performs the Haka
On a visit to the UK during a tour, members of The Tribe cast were keen to visit Buckingham Palace, of course home of the late HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. Tom Hern (RAM) performed a Haka in front of the palace - and we are showing it here as a tribute to the passing of the Queen. The Haka is a powerful ceremonial dance in Maori culture where the participants put emotion and feeling into it, to express honour and respect to those for whom the Haka is given. It is also a display of unity, pride and strength from a tribe. Her Majesty and members of the family have had it performed on occasions in New Zealand or with visiting New Zealand teams or personnel. As well as being used on welcomes, it is often performed at funerals. And so it is offered here in the spirit of grief, in honouring those who have passed, and as a farewell.
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A-T-2 286 Anime Ambient
Joe Hisaishi was thrown into the spotlight when as a relatively unknown composer he scored the soundtrack for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Hisaishi went onto score the anime films Laputa, Kiki, Porco Rosso, Mononoke Hime, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle for Miyazaki. He's scored over 40 soundtracks but we're right at the beginning of his recording career here
Joe Hisaishi & Square Orchestra - Apollon Dream from the anime Ring ni Kakero
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These two are from his debut solo album, recorded as Wonder City Orchestra, the album is called Information it's top and tailed by two ambient tracks and has some nice balearic bits in-between
Wonder City Orchestra - Islander
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Wonder City Orchestra - Information
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Takeo Watanabe and Yūshi Matsuyama - Rara from Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
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Japanese ambient synth jazz from Yuji Ohno's album Lifetide. In between the manic jazzy bits and the super smooth jazzy sections there are brief moments of genius on this album. Lifetide is the followup to 1981s Cosmos, it marks Ohno ditching the orchestra and transitioning to synths. Ohno is also scoring anime at the same time (see tomorrows post)
Yuji Ohno - Dreamin' in The Space
youtube
Yuji Ohno - Birds on Paradise
youtube
Shigenori Kamiya might be better known for his 1980 album Mu. This oriental themed track is from the anime Pharaoh No Haka (RIP the great Pharaoh Sanders who has just died)
Shigenori Kamiya - Nairukia No Yume
youtube
#1982#Joe Hisaishi#Yuji Ohno#Shigenori Kamiya#Takeo Watanabe#Yūshi Matsuyama#anime#soundtrack#ambient#japan#80s music
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Kupu
Partner’s entrapment:
Hara - violation of tapu, transgression - Denise’s research
tūkino 1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to ill-treat with violence, rape, torture, destroy, abuse, maltreat, violate, mistreat. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=cruel
Downplaying/dissociating
Wairua noho - sleeping spirit
Mind games - coercion and control
Uruhi: 2. (noun) force, coercion.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=coercion
Shame
Whakamā - profound sense of shame and embarrassment; inability to manaaki - Denise’s research
Protecting tamariki - staying vs going
whakamarumaru: 1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to shade, shelter, protect.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=protector
parepare: 2. (noun) enticing movement of a woman’s hips (in haka). Show example3. (noun) fortification wall, breastwork, parapet - protective wall of earth. Show example4. (noun) defender, protector. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=defend
ngākau kōnatunatu
1. to be in a dilemma, in a quandary, disturbed by conflicting emotions.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=conflicted
Literally: mixed heart
History of distrust - the coloniser
tāmitanga: 1. (noun) suppression, oppression, repression, subjugation, colonisation. 2. (noun) stress, trauma, hassle. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=colonise
Fear that this will make it worse
nāwai i hē ka hē kē atu: 1. things are going from bad to worse.
hē kē atu: 1. to get worse, worsen, deteriorate.
1. to get worse, worsen, deteriorate.
No resources
Hāhoretanga
Pōhara
tahanga
1. (modifier) naked, bereft, desolate, having nothing.
2. (modifier) alone.
3. (modifier) empty.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=empty
Don’t know where to turn
makaro 1. (verb) be dimly visible, blurry, dim, indistinct, blurred, fuzzy. 2. (verb) to be out of sight, lost. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=lost
Systemic entrapment
tārore 1. (verb) (-a,-tia) to catch in a trap, snare, trap, ensnare, entrap, catch.2. (verb) (-a,-tia) to strangle, hang. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=tārore
Unhelpful/uncaring people
whakawiri 2. (modifier) cruel, unkind, nasty, brutal, vicious, ruthless, harsh, callous. https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=cruel
Systems that fail
pare ā-waha
1. (noun) empty words, empty promise, lip service, not a serious proposition.
Show example
2. (noun) someone who makes empty promises.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=empty
Racism/judgement
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=racism 1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to disparage, belittle, deride, denigrate, be racist, prejudge, practise discrimination, be bigoted.
Threat of children being taken
matapā
1. (verb) to be barren, without offspring, infertile.
https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=barren
huamutu
1. (adjective) be childless.
mutu - cease, cut short, amputated.
Existing decision making strengths/strategies
Tino Rangatiratanga
Ariki - leader
Rangatira
Mana
Self sacrifice
Aroha and Manaakitanga - Denise’s research
Love for her tamariki
Ngakau
Precolonial Roles
Te whare tangata - Denise’s research
Stories
Pūrakau - Denise’s research
Mana wāhine
Tāonga
Wairua
Wāhine toa
Although many of these words I don’t have a proper understanding of, for my prototype I will begin with chosen, found words, and then continue to have conversations with Denise and her team, in order to find kupu which best represent concepts
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Last Seen Blogs
onlythebeston
Best Women And Couples
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nostalgia: the blog
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All things Cullum!
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Hello
wrabubu1
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