#but jay and gill mean SO MUCH TO ME in so many ways | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rosepetalwings · 3 years

Text

Oh I'm More Than Glad To Talk About Deeprune

ok so lets run through the au in sections

DEEPRUNE

Story:

The cast are now all mythological mermaid/siren creatures.

The Light World is the epipelagic zone (and upper half of mesopelagic zone) of the ocean and live in ignorance of the strange creatures that look as they do in the twilight below...

Dark World is mid-mesopelagic and below, full of frightening sea creatures those so blessed to live in sea reef coral homes could never hope to fathom... and should never hope to meet.

One day, one of the 4 kings of the ocean basins drew help from a powerful, unknown force and imprisoned his peers at the bottom of the deep sea trenches... And to this day, he rules his little area, biding his time for the day the Dark can take over the Light.

That is, of course, unless a very human looking siren, a sea crocodile tough girl, a bioluminscent jellyfish(?) fluffy boy, and a villainous... cloaked hybrid thing can fulfill a very familiar prophecy...

Locations:

Light Zone

Hometown - A bright and cheerful coral reef with a good amount of merfolk in the community.

School ‐ Building constructed out of stone and hidden amongst normal marine foliage and coral. Normal congregations of school akin to what the land-dwellers (or terrans, as the merfolk might call them) do for their own children.

Hospital ‐ Made in the same way as the school and serves the same function as its land counterpart. The hospital does have different instruments to serve its marine patients, however.

QC's diner - Hidden under a rock shelf and is more of an open seating arrangement. Fan coral serves as a sort of decorative barrier to keep the seating plan from being too open.

ICEE's p"e"zzeria - Incredibly conspicuous and placed between the brightest coral on the reef for the attention-grabbing colors. High visibility means free advertising, no?

The Graveyard - In a clearing among the kelp forest, there lies a set of engraved stones covered in algae. It's especially quiet there. Peaceful when you focus on the sunlight filtering in through the kelp stalks.

The bunker - Placed just before the continental shelf begins to fall off into complete and utter darkness. The merfolk in town warn their children to never near that area.

Dark Zone

????? - A craggy mess of rocks on the outskirts of the continental shelf. The light begins to grow strange here for whatever reason...

Castle Town - A shipwreck amongst the craggy rocks in the dark where a strangely kind shadowy figure lives.

Field - A seemingly endless stretch of ocean in which a Lightner's vision alone cannot be used to find one's way in the dark, lest they be horribly lost until the end of time. Or lest they stray further down, where it grows darker, yet darker...

The Scarlet Forest - Not really a forest, per se. More a jestful remark over the collection of sea creatures that have evolved to have a red tone to their skin as camouflage in the watery depths. The creatures are so very frightening and strange with their sharp-toothed open maws and flashy photophores. Strange to think how normal this all is down in the depths...

Great Board - The inlets and caves that checker the continental slope and house very many deep sea merfolk. Very many large tunnels dug out to house many of the population and keep them interconnected as a society. Alas, this stationary grouping also makes them vulnerable to the power of kingly apex predators.

The Castle - Hidden within the depths of the Mariana Trench. None of the Board have seen the castle in such grave depths and lived to tell the tale. None but a strange barreleye and his hyper young ward...

Characters:

Lightners

Kris - A mostly human-shaped siren, save for fishy bits, including but not limited to, gills and an iridescent shine to their hair. Always sneaking off to play tricks on unsuspecting beach goers. Kind of a quiet kid but their mischievous grin says it all for them.

Susie - A rude, rough-and-tumble kind of sea crocodile gill girl that does not appreciate nautical wordplay. She will appreciate your lunch money, though.

Noelle - The most nervous kelpie you'll ever meet. Easily provoked but she's very sweet and intelligent and perhaps she's a shade dorky, but it's through that dorkiness she'll find a way to make you smile.

Asriel - Sweet and effortlessly loveable and smart and talented capricorn brother to Kris who's just gone off to do independent study in a different sea basin! He's coming back to town next week; Kris seems a little downcast as of late, though...

Alphys - Marine iguana teacher at the reef's local school. Please don't ask her for her reviews on neat human media she's managed to salvage, we'll be here all week.

Undyne - The undying undine on everyone's minds! ...Because she's likely tried to tackle you for minor offenses like littering or jay-swimming in the humdrum life of this little reef town. She's somewhat of a vigilante, working by her own judicial metrics and warning the reef of any terran sightings or other such troubles. Not much to report on though, these days...

Toriel & Asgore - The capricorn divorcees. Haven't you heard; the news has spread all over the place! What a shame too, they looked just like the perfect reef family...

Sans and Papyrus - The strange brothers that just moved into the reef... Coelacanth merfolk with mottled, skeletal appearances. The shorter brother "runs" the reef market. ...If you can get a fin in the door, anyway. The taller one hasn't made much of a public appearance in town yet; hard to comment on him.

Darkners

Ralsei - The prince of the prophesy, as well as the bringer of Light to the Dark, as symbolized through his charmed hat and cloak, to make him appear as though he is but a jellyfish that sways with the currents. Seems to be as soft in personality as a jellyfish's bell though.

Lancer - A hooded, mischievous figure that's always up to no good. It's kind of hard to tell what he is, with his short, stubby tentacles and furry, webbed paws, but he's kind of too adorable and personable to care much about it. Popular vote's on dumbo octopus though.

Rouxls - A vigilant barreleye with his haunting eyes always to the sky in search of tributes to pay his king or danger from which to protect the child of a royal bloodline he's been entrusted to care for. He's ditzy and kind of an asshole, but deep down, he's got a good SOUL... that glows through his transparent chest.

Seam - Ah? Looking for wares? Seam's will definitely have something to cure what ails you. The old anglerfish sits behind the shop counter, items lit only by the faint light of small jellies and the wisened shopkeep's lantern-like forehead protrusion. Go for the low prices and stay for the enchanting tales.

Jevil - A laugh sounds in the dark before you could ever approach his cell. He's nothing but needle teeth smiles when he explains to you the nature of the game. Numbers game. Must be a couple of sharks to have gotten down there in the first place. And this freed jester wouldn't have it any other way - sharks to goblin shark.

King - He is, by all accounts, imperceivable. He is larger than life and covered in shifting, writhing appendages that do not keep the shape you once thought them to be, no matter how hard you attempt to keep your focus on any point of his form. He is Leviathan, and the fact that you are before him means that you are incredibly fucked.

Knight - [REDACTED]

PREVIOUS DRAWINGS

Rouxls and a mysterious man

Unmasked Lancer

okay... i think that's about it! don't be afraid to ask for more clarification on anything, i know i gave general overview/musing blurb of... kind of everything i could think to describe! hope this is fine!

or ask me to infodump on another of my AUs! ;3c

#deltarune #utdr #safeutdr #deltarune au #deeprune #long post #spooky writes #body horror mention

50 notes · View notes

s-nnyd · 6 years

Note

3, 9, 12, 21, 24, 26, 33, 48, 56, 57, 73, 92 (I’m totally not gonna beat em up), 110, 111, 112, 127, 135, 144 :P

3. WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING?

being honest, im excited to see mrs q and mrs y when we do a meet up for lunch cause itll be like the first experience where we actually just chill and its out of a classroom setting and context so yea im hyped for that

9. DOES TALKING ABOUT SEX MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE?

lol no

12. WHAT ARE YOUR 5 FAVORITE SONGS RIGHT NOW?

oof mmmm

1 Lose - Hannah Gill

2 Never Been in Love - Will Jay

3 Talking in Your Sleep - Will Jay

4 Sunflower - Rex Orange Country

5 We Don’t Need to Dance - Castelle

21. WHAT ARE YOU BAD HABITS?

oooo not sure if overthinking counts as a bad habit but if not id definitely say overeating but its been a long time in the process so im still working on breaking that

24. FAVORITE PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE?

sticking my feet in the pool and playing lofi hip hop 24/7 chill beats while i act like i could be someone’s object of affection and then laughing it off

26. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WAKE UP?

roll onto my other side and then relish in how damn comfy i feel

33. SPELL YOUR NAME WITH YOUR CHIN.

i hate

im on the computer so

sduijjuhyh

48. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DRUNK?

nope there was one time i was at a party and i was really thirsty and there was a drink dispenser and i thought it was orange juice

it was not orange juice (i spit it out after cause i really was looking for something sweet at the time)

56. FAVOURITE COLOUR?

kinda specific but cerulean

57. FAVOURITE FOOD?

soondubu or ramen for sure

73. DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS?

mm i used but then i stopped cause i felt bad that i was squishing them

92. IN A FIGHT WITH SOMEONE?

currently? nah but if i count as someone then yea

110. HAVE YOU EVER LIKED SOMEONE SO MUCH IT HURT?

oof yeah i really reeeeaaallly liked them they meant a lot to me and they taught me a lot theyd smile and id melt theyd laugh at a dumb joke i made and it was like the world seemed a bit brighter their eyes were such a pretty color that i wondered how much depth and variation in color a pair of eyes could have hugs made me feel like i was safe and just hearing their voice could make me smile sometimes thered be banter some back and forth and a bit of flirting that i almost thought i was gonna die cause it knocked the breath out of me and knocked me off my feet i remember when i told them how i felt how scared i was i was so afraid of the response my heart was in my throat and everything felt so cold i could have just took the option and not told them but everything just felt like it was bubbling over and i needed to do something about it and when i told them i remember how much my heart felt like it was gonna give out every time i waited for their response and the tiny pauses here and there i remember having to wait until the next day cause they said they couldnt give me a proper response yet and when i woke up the next morning there was an absolute pit in my stomach and then i got a really long message from them saying all sorts of things and the pit in my stomach definitely went away but i cried so hard that day im pretty vocal when i cry not that loud but you can hear me but that time i really couldnt hold it in people walked by me as i cried it was really early in the morning so there werent that many people i went to school right after that and my eyes were red and swollen my dumb ass tried to play it cool and act like i usually did but the moment we hugged for a bit i started crying like an idiot and then i had to hide my face it was definitely a time but i couldnt have been luckier because they were really gentle in letting me down and it was definitely a learning experience for me like they really meant a lot to me and they still do and i truly enjoyed having feelings that whole time just a laugh and a smile was enough

111. DO YOU HAVE TRUST ISSUES?

yeah i think i do and its usually towards new people i dont really know how to actually make friends like im not entirely clear on how to initiate the first social interactions i get really wary of first interactions and end up being a dumbass think that the other person’s got ulterior motives i mean you’re not entirely a good person what makes you think someone else is but that sort of thinking im working on trying to change that

112. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU CRIED IN FRONT OF?

cried in front of? i think it might have been ada

127. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

when i try on some clothes and it fits well on me and it makes me look like me those moments when im with a good friend and were talking about where we were where we were and where well go when i get to make the person i like smile oh or when they laugh not like the laugh they give to the general public or the one they do when its just a regular laugh no i like it when i can make them laugh so genuinely so that it catches them off guard and it just bubbles out of them and out of their mouth and they close maybe one eye all the way cause theyre still trying to keep eye contact with you but its still just so funny to them and they just laugh with their whole body when the work that i make and produce is thoroughly well done enough so that im proud of it and others appreciate the work im doing and even are excited to show others when someone values my work for what its worth rather than what they want it to be worth cause thats what their wallet is telling them when i see content of my favorite character oh but my favorite is when someone i know has just overcome soemthing that had previously been making them so upset when they realize something that needed to be changed when they have character growth so astounding that they even realize it themselves

135. DUMBEST LIE YOU EVER TOLD?

“Nah, I don’t have a crush on you. Psh...wait what? You had a crush on me, too?”

144. DARK, MILK OR WHITE CHOCOLATE?

milk fuck dark is too bitter and white tastes so weird to me

#long post #ayeayewrong

7 notes · View notes

blessed-but-distressed · 7 years

Text

#FindEmmaSwanAFriend

Feeling left behind by her more successful, settled friends, Emma Swan moves to Scotland on a whim. Sure, she’s winning at Instagram, but something is still missing from her new life. Fortunately, her friends back home are on it. #FindEmmaSwanAFriend goes viral. Enter Killian Jones, reluctant columnist, who is on the hunt for his newest subject, and may just have found her. CS AU.

also on ff.net

Tagging: @katie-dub, @wholockgal, @kat2609, @whovianlunatic, @optomisticgirl, @ladyciaramiggles, @the-lady-of-misthaven, @emmaswanchoosesyou, @ilovemesomekillianjones, @cigarettes-and-scotch-whisky, @biancaros3, @ms-babs-gordon, @ab-normality, @andiirivera, @fangirl-till-it-hurts, @onceuponaprincessworld, @chocolatecrackle.

This chapter was a mess for so long, so big thanks to @wholockgal for helping me try to whip her into shape, and @lenfaz for always listening to my writing-related whining.

Emma

The next person who emails me asking for an extension on an assignment they’ve had ALL SEMESTER to do, I’m straight up murdering. ES

I think that’s what they call premeditation, Swan. KJ

There are 33 emails in my inbox right now asking for last minute extensions. 33! Justifiable homicide. ES

33? You’re quite right. Not a jury in the land would convict you. KJ

… This is the part where you chime in with your own work horror story, so I can see I’m being irrational. ES

Is it? As you wish. I just thought seriously about poisoning our illiterate sub-editor with expired milk I found in the darkest recesses of the break room fridge. All because she used a Daily Mail-worthy pun as a headline for one of my articles. And I might’ve done, if the work experience kid hadn’t just used up the last of it for his Ovaltine. KJ

Oh god. Is he okay? ES

For the moment. Looking a bit green around the gills though. I’ve a bet going with the Pictures Editor he won’t make it til lunchtime. KJ

Okay, so not exactly what I was going for, and yet, I feel strangely less like a monster. You, on the other hand, might want to get that kid to a doctor. And/or book yourself in for a refresher for that workplace sensitivity training seminar. ES

According to Liam, there isn’t an opening for six months. Believe me, he checked. KJ

Of course he did. So... 6 hours til happy hour at the Jingles. You in? ES

Oh? Are you buying? KJ

The first round, sure. But only if you promise me it’ll be an early night. I have 203 final assessments to grade. I DO NOT have time to be hungover. ES

Your proposal is acceptable. KJ

Emma saw the poster on the last official teaching day before Reading Week, tacked to the pinboard outside her office. Poorly formatted, and clearly the work of someone with little to no design ability, it nevertheless managed to stop her in her tracks.

End of Academic Year Staff Party

LASER TAG

School of Classics, Archaeology & History VS School of Social & Political Science

Has it ever rankled to be told we produce “Mickey Mouse” degrees? Have you ever been made to feel that your knowledge of Classic Greek literature was “too highbrow” to be relevant in today’s job market? Ever run afoul of Tracy from Social Anthro in the Library Cafe?

Here’s your chance to get your own back! Sign ups below.

Emma could feel something building in her gut. Something unpleasant and inevitable. Something like picturing herself strapped into a cheap plastic breastplate sometime in the near future.

Killian was going to have a field day.

Or, she thought he might, if she could just dig herself out from under the pile of term papers she needed to grade long enough to set up a meet with him.

It figured that all of the empty space in Emma’s schedule would evaporate just as soon as the weather turned. Living under so many layers for so long, Emma had almost forgotten the sun was supposed to have any real warming ability at all. But suddenly, just as the semester was drawing to a close, it re-appeared with a vengeance, and the city was utterly transformed.

Gone were the puffer jackets and tights, the Gore-Tex and the ugly sweaters Emma had long considered to be the unofficial national uniform. Instead the sidewalks became filled with pasty-limbed people displaying their newly liberated flesh with the kind of exhibitionist zeal Emma hadn’t seen since her first Spring Break trip to Florida.

She nearly tripped over a few as they lay sunning themselves out on the Meadows, oblivious to her sweaty, breathless approach. Not to mention the ten or so pubs she had to avoid on her walk home from work, the pavements outside bursting with mismatched outdoor furniture someone had scrounged up in a hurry. All of them packed with sun-worshippers in the most reptilian tradition, and none of them alone.

Who were these people? Emma wondered. Drinking Magners mid-afternoon and stripped down to the barest essentials, always an audience for their bawdy jokes. Where had they all materialized from? Didn’t they have jobs to go to?

In contrast, Emma’s apartment remained completely ignorant of the change in seasons, still cold as a morgue. Her south-facing windows not only had a great view of the brick wall opposite, but they also brought in precisely zero natural light.

It really was a shitty apartment.

And if she had to spend any more time cooped up in it, alone, wrapped in three sweaters while she read circuitous papers in defence of Andrew Jackson, she was going to go crazy.

She had to get out.

She discovered it by accident, really, one day last November when she’d been caught in a surprise hailstorm, and looking for somewhere warm and dry to scarf down the rest of her Greggs donut. Her office-mate had office hours, and the University library stacks were always too crowded with clueless undergrads or amorous couples looking for privacy.

But the City Library? There were whole floors where the only ones around were harmless old biddies working on their genealogies, and their peripheral vision wasn’t the greatest. It was the perfect place to devour a forbidden pastry, or wait out a hailstorm or two. Or run into the very Englishman you’d been meaning to text back.

Emma liked the Reference Library best. It looked kind the kind of thing a fairy tale Beast might gift to a reluctant new house guest to win her over: floor-to-ceiling shelves lining every wall, supported by cast iron balustrades reachable by spiral staircases, an imposing geometric dome that looked like it came right out of Versailles. For the nerds, original card indicies. And for the displaced American history lecturer: plentiful desk space, wi-fi and always somewhere to charge your phone.

Emma had always considered the place to be kind of her little secret. No matter the time of year or weather, it was never too crowded. But there was no mistaking the leather-clad figure sat alone in the second row, feet up on the desk, nose buried in a thin paperback.

He didn’t register her proximity as Emma made her approach, even as she bent down to get a better look at what had him so engrossed.

‘‘Codes, Ciphers and Secret Writing’?” Emma read aloud, perversely gratified to see him lurch forward in his seat, caught unawares. She clicked her tongue as she took the seat next door. “If you’re considering taking up a career as a spy, you might want to make yourself slightly harder to sneak up on. Just a tip.”

He set the book down on the desk, shooting her a somewhat annoyed glance. “Well this is a turn up for the books. It’s been so long between texts I thought maybe you’d done in one of your students, and were lost to the ravages of the criminal justice system forever.”

Emma made a face.

“No? Well, small mercies I suppose. And fancy seeing you here. I didn’t really pick you for a fan of French Renaissance architecture, Swan. Or was there some other marvel you’d come to admire?” He asked, batting his eyelashes in the kind of over-the-top way that would put a silent film ingénue to shame.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Sorry to deflate that massive ego of yours, but I’m not stalking you. I’m just here for the free wi-fi. How was I supposed to know you’d be here… studying spycraft?”

“So just a happy coincidence then?” He held her gaze for a moment, like he didn’t quite believe her. “Well then, as to the book, believe me, Swan, I have zero aspirations towards the Security Services. Callum, however…”

At that, a young woman a few rows down glanced up from her MacBook to give them the evil eye, and Killian ducked his head, slipping a piece of paper from out between the pages of the book, marked with an indecipherable jumble of numbers written in a childish blue scrawl.

“He’s off penguins for the minute,” he continued, his voice now little more than a hushed whisper. “Now it’s codes. Ciphers. Secret communiqués. Which wouldn’t be so bad, perhaps, if the lad hadn’t refused to communicate in any other way...” He scrubbed a hand over his face, his frustration plain.

By the sound of it, things might have been a little tense at the breakfast table lately.

Emma whistled through her teeth, though she fought to match his soft tones. “Wow. I think when I was eight years old, all I cared about was ponies.”

He glanced up at her then, the unspoken ‘Is that so?’ making her cheeks color. Even when he said nothing at all, Killian still found ways to make her regret every casual remark, every tiny breadcrumb she unwittingly left behind of the childhood she’d tried so hard to forget.

“Let me see that,” Emma said hotly, snatching the coded message from where it lay before him, leaning forward to examine it.

Then without thinking too much about it, she plucked the red pen from her hair that she’d been using to keep her bun in place, and set about making a series of tiny scribbles.

Killian, his book apparently forgotten, leaned over to study her work. “Know a thing or two about ciphers, do we, lass?”

Emma shrugged. “A bit. It came free with my John Jay obsession. But Callum’s what? Eight, right? So it’s probably not anything too difficult…”

The numbers could mean he was using a book as the key. Each number corresponding to a page and paragraph in the book where the desired word lay. Jay had been a fan of that particular method. He’d favored a dictionary as his key, usually. But the numbers Callum had written…

Emma drew up the matrix, smiling to herself as the childish meaning behind the code slowly became clear. She twisted the paper back in Killian’s direction with a victorious flourish.

“Lachie... is... a…” she translated. “Well, you can see for yourself.”

Killian’s eyes widened looking from the paper, back to Emma, his mouth agape. “You’re bloody brilliant, Swan.”

Emma wasn’t sure she’d ever been told that before. By anyone. Certainly not by someone who’d never been on the receiving end of one of her blow jobs. It was a single stray thought that stuck uncomfortably in her thoughts, and had her barreling on in a hurry to fill the awkward pause.

“It’s a six-sided Polybius square,” Emma explained, keeping her eyes trained to the piece of paper. “I’m pretty sure I read somewhere POWs in Vietnam used a variant of it to communicate between their cells. But Callum’s numbers only go up to 6, so I… what?”

He was staring.

“Nothing,” he said with a cough, though she could see the tips of his ears turning pink.

“You okay?”

He shook his head. “Of course. I was just thinking…”

“Thinking what?” Emma asked warily.

Looking kind of like he’d rather the ground rose up and swallowed him instead, Killian sighed and met Emma’s eye, shooting her a look that was so direct she was tempted to scoot her chair back to give them some space. “I was just thinking that Dr Swan is quite a good look on you.”

Emma opened her mouth, to what? Scoff? Say thank you? Luckily, she never had to find out, the silence punctuated by a series of conspicuous buzzing noises.

Emma heard MacBook Girl’s muttered curse. As if she wasn’t just dicking around on Facebook, like everyone else.

“Forgive me,” Killian murmured, clearing his throat and reaching into his pocket and fishing out the device. Whatever he read on that screen, his face immediately pulled into a tight frown and he rose out of his chair all at once.

“Everything okay?” Emma asked, growing concerned.

“Hmmm.”

It was not the most convincing sound Emma had ever heard.

As if somehow sensing Emma’s frustration, he raised his gaze from the phone to look at her, his expression softening a fraction around the eyes. “Apologies, Swan,” he said with a pained smile. “It appears I’m needed elsewhere.”

He hovered a moment, his weight shifting restlessly from foot to foot. “I need to head back to the office first. Would you like to walk with me? Or is the lure of free wi-fi too good an inducement to pass up?”

Emma glanced down at her watch, which showed the time to be little past noon. She’d been planning on enjoying the silence of solitude of the library a little more. Make a dent in her grading somewhere with decent heating and what passed for natural light.

But given the look on his face right now, and the way he was clenching his jaw, the fact that he’d even asked meant he probably really, really needed the distraction. And Emma might be pretty selfish on her best days, but she wasn’t cruel. And it just so happened, she had a particular distraction in mind.

“Sure,” she said, letting some of her weight fall onto his proffered prosthetic, as she rose from her chair.

“Sure, I’ve got time.”

Yeah, he was a fan of the laser tag idea.

His mood wasn’t buoyant exactly, as they wended their way along Castle Terrace, dodging Chinese tour groups who were arriving by the busload, selfie sticks at the ready. But the idea of Emma making a humiliating spectacle of herself certainly seemed to hold some kind of appeal for him.

He was no longer actively brooding.

“I can just picture it now; Emma Swan: Jungle Warrior.”

Emma snorted. Then she opened her mouth to refute this, and then closed it again, considering her track record.

Killian considered her shrewdly. “Something you’d like to share with the class?”

“I don’t know…I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m kind of competitive. The last time I did something like this, it got kind of… ugly.”

“Define ugly.”

“We went paintballing for David’s birthday one year and August ended up in the ER with a dislocated knee.”

Killian winced.

“He says he can still feel it when it rains. Of course, he’s a novelist, so he’s kind of known for being needlessly dramatic so...”

Encouraged by the prospect of mayhem, the usual mischievous sparkle was returning to Killian’s eyes. “I think this competitive side is something I’ve got to see for myself.”

“Too bad you’re not invited, then, huh?”

“I could be…?” Oh no. No way. Was he really pulling puppy dog eyes right now?

“No way. Not happening. You can put those eyes away. It’s a work event. The administration are already on my case about this whole thing enough as it is.”

“And if I talk them ‘round?”

“You’re not going to get the administration to change their minds about me with a winsome smile and pretty boy charm.”

“You think I’m pretty?”

Emma just rolled her eyes, and nudged him into the path of an oncoming tour group.

When I got back to the library I realized you left your book, btw. I returned it. Figured you didn’t need it anymore? ES

Indeed I don’t. In cracking his code, I believe you’ve exhausted Callum’s sudden passion for cryptography. At least, for now. Elsa would like to express her eternal gratitude. KJ

Wow. Look at me, extinguishing a young boy’s thirst for learning. Clearly I’ve got this whole teacher thing on lockdown. ES

Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. I saw him googling nebulas on the iPad earlier. I dare say another obsession is in the offing. One that might drive his mother a little less insane. KJ

Well, that’s something. ES

Okay, so clearly the administration was into winsome smiles and pretty boy charm, because the next thing Emma knew, she was seated on a university-chartered bus headed out into the hinterland, her columnist stretched out of the seat beside her.

Because that was a super normal thing to bring along to a work event.

Emma found it easiest to ignore the curious looks of her bus-mates by picturing how she was going to wipe the floor with each and every one of them when they got to where they were going.

For the most part, the reluctant recruits they’d manage to scrape together from the School of Social & Political Science did not inspire awe. Emma was pretty sure she could take them. Between Tracy from Social Anthro with her scoliosis, and Glen from British Politics with his spare tire, they seemed a pretty ragtag bunch, not suited to roughing it in the great outdoors.

There was only one among them who looked like a contender, the bearded guy in the army surplus jacket dozing at the back of the bus.

His possible narcolepsy aside, he at least seemed to be in decent shape, if the cut of jaw was any indication. As if he could feel her gaze on him, his eyes blinked open, and Emma turned back to Killian, who’d suddenly trailed off mid-sentence.

“And you didn’t hear anything I just said, did you?”

Emma cringed inwardly. “Sorry. I was just sizing up the competition.”

“Oh?” He enquired, his tone lightening. “And how do they measure up, in your estimation?”

Emma shrugged. “I think it’s in the bag. Our combined youth-”

“Your fighting spirit-” Killian interrupted.

“And the fact the history department won against the Divinity School last year... ,” Emma continued, ignoring him.

“What about Rambo over there?” Killian asked, raising his chin to indicate the same guy Emma had been caught checking out before. “He looks like he might present a challenge.”

“Yeah, well,” Emma said, refusing to follow his gaze. “We’ll see.”

If Emma thought she might be able to somehow avoid this handsome stranger, maybe she should have remembered that she was cursed. Because when they nominated team captains, somehow it was him that Emma found herself facing off against.

The two of them stood awkwardly, forced to wait while some teenaged employee scrounged around in the pockets of his cargo pants for a coin to flip to determine territory.

And he was handsome, there was no getting around it. Nice hair, just on the manageable side of curly. Admittedly impressive biceps peeking out from underneath an ill-fitting plastic breastplate. Not to mention the warm, friendly smile as he held out a hand.

“Best of luck,” he said.

Oh, and an accent. A very nice accent.

“And to you,” Emma said graciously, accepting the handshake. She might have been naturally competitive, but there was no need to be rude.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you on campus before,” he mentioned casually, even as his hand still clasped over hers. “I’m Graham Humbert, International Relations.”

The way he said it, with his tongue peeking out to wet his lower lip, she wondered if he was flirting with her. She wondered if she wanted him to be.

“Emma Swan,” she replied, letting her hand fall back down to her side, palm tingling. “American History.”

Killian

Killian Jones was no stranger to using his masculine wiles to his advantage. Though he’d been something of an awkward youth, his university years had been their own sort of education, quite aside from his unfinished philosophy degree.

Now, as a mediocre journalist with few moral scruples, he employed charm and flattery as tools of the trade. What better way to put an interview subject at ease? Or finesse that long-guarded secret from someone’s lips?

True, Saorsa was hardly The Guardian. He wasn’t uncovering government corruption at it’s highest levels or netting himself any Pulitzers. Though he did manage to stir up a hornet’s nest in Parliament that one time, after he got a MSP to admit to an extra-marital affair. Necessary to the public interest it was not, but it never did the circulation numbers any harm.

It was these skills he thought might help secure him a spot on the team bus to Lugton Bogs, the aptly named quagmire that was home to Edinburgh’s premier, and only, outdoor laser tag centre. Or at the very least, might improve Emma’s standing with the university after a rocky start.

Killian’s first port of call? The Press and Public Relations department, tucked away in cobbled alley near Sandy Bell’s. And from the rising stink of it, mostly treated as an open latrine by some of the male patrons of said watering hole after one too many libations at the weekend.

The inside was decidedly more pleasant, sheltered from the stench by double glazed windows and a heavy steel door. The office itself was attractive enough, a hive of industry playing to the soundtrack of ringing telephones. He stopped to ask the way to the right office, and was directed up to the first floor, where cubicles gave way to actual offices.

It was a promising start, he thought. That is, until he seated himself in a rather uncomfortable chair outside his target office, and had gotten a good look at the nameplate velcroed to the door.

That Killian’s quarry turned out to be a male was regrettable, and a waste of Killian’s talents. That Killian’s quarry turned out to be none other than Robert Gold, native Glaswegian and former husband of one Belle French, Killian thought perhaps it wasn’t too late to do the honourable thing and fall on his sword.

He’d never been stupid enough to name Belle directly, but realistically, how many Australian librarians in Edinburgh could there be? And here was the very man Killian had publicly outed just a few short months ago, as a man who’d chosen his pill addiction over his marriage.

This was the man he had sought?

Killian was already halfway to his feet, ready to skive off their meeting with great urgency, when the door opened and out stepped a slight, silver-haired man, leaning heavily on a cane.

Tink hadn’t been lying when she’d said he’d been older.

“Killian Jones, is it?” he asked, looking bored.

Hello, rock. Hello, hard place. Killian’s first temptation was still to flee, but seeing as he was half-standing in plain sight, it seemed that ship had long sailed.

Instead he straightened, and held out a hand, trying to keep his voice quiver-free. “Aye, Killian Jones. I believe you’re the man to see about getting oneself included on an employee outing?”

For all his vices, Robert Gold did have one thing to his credit; he did not seem to be a Saorsa subscriber. Indeed, Killian’s name did not seem to bring about any flash of recognition. Nor, to Killian’s immense relief, a sudden zeal to sue for libel.

Though now Killian knew what to look for, he very much doubted the man would have much legal grounds. From the sweat soaking through his dress shirt, to the sallow complexion, to the pupils round as saucers, there was no way Robert Gold wasn’t in the throes of some chemical cocktail. The single life clearly wasn’t working for him.

He did, however, seem for the moment to be all-business.

“Laser tag?” he enquired.

Not sure if he was asking for an explanation, or merely a confirmation, Killian hesitated. “Something of an annual tradition from what I understand. Pitting department against department, all in the name of friendly competition.”

Gold nodded, absently.

“And this…” He peered down to examine the form in front of him. “... Emma Swan. You’re writing a column about her personal life?”

“It’s more an exploration on the nature of adult friendships. How difficult it is to make meaningful connections when you find yourself separated from your familiar networks. Emma is merely a vehicle I’m using to…” Killian fumbled for a suitable word. “...illustrate the point.”

“Hmmm.”

With any luck, that “Hmmm” meant that Gold found the idea tedious, and never wanted to hear about it again. Still, Killian wondered how long it would take him to convince their IT guy to “accidentally” corrupt the link to February’s column online.

“And you feel it would be helpful to you if you ‘tagged along’ on this outing?”

Truthfully, now he’d gotten Ruby to confirm Emma’s ER story, he mostly just wanted to watch her in action. But something told him Gold wouldn’t be particularly sympathetic to his plight.

“I think it would lend my words a certain credibility, if I was actually present for the events, certainly.”

Gold looked thoughtful, as if he was actually entertaining the idea. Or perhaps he was just meaning to add his next date with his dealer to his personal calendar. At any rate, he didn’t make Killian wait too long.

“There’s a number of forms to fill out,” the Glaswegian declared airily, pulling a stack of papers from a filing cabinet. “And some insurance concerns. I imagine your employer can email through proof of that?”

Could they? Killian certainly hoped so.

“Aye, of course.”

“Of course, we don’t ask for copy approval ahead of time, we’re not totalitarian savages. But you should be aware that we are always looking for ways to promote the university as a diverse, innovative and enjoyable workplace. Sometimes this means entering partnerships with members of the fourth estate, and sometimes that means breaking off such arrangements, if we feel our aims are not in concert. If you understand my meaning?”

Don’t burn any bridges. Duly noted.

At Killian’s nod of acquiescence, Gold clapped his hands together. “Well then, dearie, it looks like we have ourselves a deal. Blue pen, or black?”

And you thought it couldn’t be done. KJ

You didn’t. ES

I did. KJ

Please tell me you’re joking? ES

Alas, the cramp I’m nursing after signing near a dozen documents in triplicate says otherwise. I am UoE approved, and ready to watch Emma Swan go full berserker. KJ

I hate you. ES

I know. KJ

“Players must keep two hands on the phaser at all time to activate it. This is a safety feature which prevents the phaser being held at an arm’s length,” Killian read the tiny warning sticker on the side of his gun aloud.

Well, wasn’t that just fantastic.

Killian looked around for some teenaged, zero-hour contract flunky he could flag down, but after the initial hubbub of the coin toss, they’d all but vanished. The stand of trees stood all but empty now, except for the handful of middle-aged academics in green vests, wheezing as they made their way over the rise.

Sod it.

His gun might be fucking useless, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t do what he came here to do: Watch Emma Swan kick arse and take names.

She really was in fine form. She might have been surprised by her appointment to team captain, but Killian wasn’t. She was the only one among them who actually looked like they knew what they were doing, and objectively speaking, she looked good doing it.

And as the reluctantly appointed leader, she was the one leading the charge to the enemy compound, organising her little band using military tactics she’d probably lifted straight from Che Guevara. This was exactly why people shouldn’t cross history professors.

Expending the last of his lung capacity, Killian caught up with Emma’s splinter group, just in time to hear the electronic sound effect that signalled a direct hit to the man to his left.

“Six o’ clock,” Killian bellowed, diving for the cover of the nearest tree stump. Emma was already there, pinned down by two more red-vests advancing from the other side.

“Alright, Swan?” he asked, wiping at his forehead with the sleeve of his useless arm.

To his delight, she actually seemed to be enjoying this, her face aflush with activity, her grin wide. She turned his way, tucking a stray tuft of hair behind her ear. “Give us the the tools, and we will finish the job.”

Churchill. She was quoting fucking Churchill.

But as she heard her compatriots fall to enemy fire, he could see the enthusiasm in her eyes visibly dim with each electronic squeal. If they stayed here too long, Rambo and the lasses from Gender Studies were going to pick them off, one by one.

Someone had to do something, and quickly.

And that someone might as well be the eejit with the gun that didn’t bloody work.

Nudging Emma’s shoulder, he pointed to a pile of boulders a little way off. “You make for those, and I’ll cover you.”

Emma looked from the pile, back to Killian. “Are you crazy? That’s like twenty yards. There’s no way we’ll both make it.”

“Only one way to know for sure,” Killian said, rising from his hiding place, and giving her no choice but to follow his lead.

“Aargh,” she cried, scrambling to her feet, rifle at the ready. “You know I hate you, right?”

“Aye, Swan,” he said, swinging to face his aggressors head-on. “I know.”

It wasn’t a drawn-out death.

To Killian’s satisfaction, a few of them had turned and fled when they saw him stand up. But Rambo, the bearded leader of the opposition seemed clue-ier than his friends. He saw the diversion for what it was. And as Emma darted out from behind the stump, he set his sights accordingly. Might have gotten her too, if Killian hadn’t stepped into the line of fire.

“You do know the purpose of the game is not to get hit, right?” Rambo called after him.

But instead of replying, Killian merely slung his rifle up onto his shoulder and headed back to the holding area, humming a song under his breath.

In the end, Emma decimated them, as he knew she would. All but Rambo, that cocksure son of a bitch. He had military training, of that Killian was certain. Or at least a stint in the cadets. He was a little too at ease, in Killian’s view.

Still, Emma managed to hold her own, waiting the bastard out until the clock ran down.

A draw.

He thought he might shout Emma a drink for this. Something tall and refreshing. But as she emerged from the stand of trees, still aglow with near-victory, he saw she wasn’t alone. Rambo strode along beside her, the two of them getting on suspiciously well for people who’d just been trying to “kill” one another.

Killian shrank back, letting himself fall back into a crowd of archaeology professors, comparing aches and pains. They certainly weren’t of the Indiana Jones mould.

He wouldn’t say he watched them. He merely observed them, like any other dispassionate member of the fourth estate. And how could he not notice his subject’s pleasure at this man’s company? The way her gaze dropped downward as they shook hands, a rare show of shyness.

Emma liked him. Rambo. Whatever his name was. Even a blind man could see it.

As far as the project was concerned, this was good news. Emma Swan, single and ready to mingle? Hell, it was a boon. Not to say one’s social life never suffered from embarking on a new relationship, but it was a damned sight better than Emma staying home every night with her marking and her Netflix.

So why did the sight of Emma typing her number into the man’s phone suddenly make Killian feel queasy? This was a good thing.

He should be happy for her.

Getting home took a little longer than anticipated. Not least because he stopped by the Jingles on the way and emptied out their stores of Captain Morgan.

“Maybe you should call it a night, eh?” the bar man suggested, just around the time Killian’s vision started going blurry.

Recalling Liam’s last lecture about “unnecessary expenses” he walked the rest of the way home, taking a somewhat circuitous route through a few back gardens.

He struggled with the lock, frustrated to find his keys kept slipping from his hand. He almost had it when the door suddenly fell in, and Killian with it.

“What the-”

Who else but Liam stood over him, arms crossed in that same look of quiet disappointment he’d been wearing for years.

“Good night was it?” his brother asked coolly, reaching forward to help him up.

“Geroff me, you judgy git,” Killian scowled, rising to his feet perfectly well on his own, with nary a wobble. “Would ‘ave been fine, you hadn’t opened the door like that.”

Liam stepped away, hands held up in surrender. “If you insist.” And then after a moment, “Why do you look like you’ve been at the Somme?”

Killian looked down at himself, to the best approximation of combat clothes his wardrobe had to offer, now caked in mud to the knee, and streaked with dirt elsewhere.

“Laser tag,” Killian replied. “S’for work.”

“Hmm,” Liam hummed. “Let me guess, you weren’t on the winning side?”

If you wanted to get technical about it, it had been a draw. But deep down, Killian couldn’t kid himself on that front.

Whichever side he’d been on had definitely been the losing one.

And how were drinks with Rambo? KJ

Graham. His name is Graham. ES

So it is. Does that sharp rebuke mean that in addition to guerrilla warfare, the man also excels at scintillating conversation over cocktails? KJ

Has anyone ever told you you’re a shameless gossip? ES

Once or twice. Though I much prefer the term “indomitable busybody.” That’s my favourite. KJ

Gee, I wonder why. And for your information, it wasn’t terrible. ES

Coming from you, Swan, that’s almost a ringing endorsement. KJ

23 25-32-33-45 51-33-43 42-33-33-25 42-22-11-42 12-26-11-41-42 16-33-36 31-15. ES

23’31 41-43-36-15 23 22-11-44-15 32-33 23-14-15-11 45-22-11-42 5-33-43 31-15-11-32. KJ

Whatever you say, buddy. Good night, Killian. ES

Good night, Emma. KJ

#cs ff #cs au ff #FindEmmaSwanAFriend #cs au #here she is #the chapter without end #after two months in the writer's block wilderness #enjoy

80 notes · View notes

wickedchoices · 7 years

Note

GILEVIE FOR THE SHIP MEME LET'S GO

ULTIMATE SHIP MEME! // @warsraging

General:

How long will they last? - They’re soulmates. Apparently not even Evie being engaged to Ben in the newest verse is gonna stop them from falling in love.

How quickly did/will they fall in love? - In most verses, it doesn’t happen until Auradon. Even in the Isle dating verse, they’re pretty damaged and emotionally closed off, even if they’re not at like Mal levels, and they don’t really know what love is? They just know that they make each other happy and things are a lot more bearable together. But they connect relatively quickly which sets them up to fall in love faster than expect.

How was their first kiss? - Probably really awkward and unsure. Like, Evie’s always been told that the dude is gonna lead and she’s just gotta go along with him and Gil’s always been taught to be boisterous and demand attention and they’re both just?? not sure about Those Lessons? So it’s way more tentative, probably not more than a peck that lasts for a few seconds. But they both pull back and they have the stupidest grins on their faces.

Wedding:

Who proposed? - Gil tbh, in most verses, cause he thinks Evie deserves a big extravagant proposal (or at least a display of affection she’d appreciate)

Who is the best man/men? - Harry, duh, and Uma is definitely his Best Woman. In the main Arranged verse, his best man is Ben and his other brothers are his groomsmen. Also you cannot tell me that Gil doesn’t ask Carlos and Jay to be groomsmen, you fucking can’t.

Who is the bride’s maid(s)? - Mal’s her maid of honor and Evie has no time for her whining about Uma being there too. Evie 10000000000% asks Giselle to be a bride’s maid.

Who did the most planning? - Evie in all verses except the arranged marriage verses, cause that’s mostly Belle and Adam and the castle staff.

Who stressed the most? - Evie. Hands down Evie. She just wants the thing to be super nice and perfect, is that so much to ask?

How fancy was the ceremony? - It goes from somewhat lowkey in regular verses to relatively extravagant in the arranged verses…well, in the arrange verse where Gil gets to step in for Ben cause I feel like, in the arranged verse where Evie’s still supposed to marry Ben? I feel like she and Gil just run away and elope tbh.Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? - Their biological folks. EQ who is gonna bitch about how Evie deserves a prince (or, in the arranged verse, a king like Ben)? Gaston, who would get drunk and make a mess of everything and just be really annoying? Not on the guest list, fuck off. Laurette is 10000000000% invited though, Gil’s mom loves Evie and she loves her mama in law.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? - I dunno tbh. Maybe one or two?

How many children will they adopt? - Tbh I see them adopting more. They both just??? Wanna help??? They’re gonna sneak back to the Isle and just adopt a bunch of kids.

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? - Gil. Evie is a lady goddammit, she doesn’t change diapers.

Who is the stricter parent? - Evie, just because she has more self control and is better at discipline in general.

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? - Gil probably cause he knows how dumb his kids are, if HE is their dad.

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? - Evie oh man, she’s such a doting mom??

Who is the more loved parent? - Evie. Fucking everyone adores Evie and their kids are no exception. Gil doesn’t even care tbh, he adores Evie too.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? - Are you kidding? Evie’s the PTA Mom™

Who cried the most at graduation? - Both of them, duh

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? - Gil just cause he totally would’ve done the same shit at their ages.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? - Evie’s better at it but Gil likes to help.

Who is the most picky in their food choice? - Maybe Gil in the arranged verse but I think in any of the other verses, where they were both raised on the Isle, they’re just like???? LOOKIT THIS GOOD FOOD I LOVE THIS GOOD FOOD EVEN IF THIS OTHER FOOD IS A LIL BETTER

Who does the grocery shopping? - They both go together because Gil just picks out junk food and a fuck ton of eggs if he goes by himself.

How often do they bake desserts? - I feel like this is a once or twice a week thing for them. It’s one of their bonding activities.

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? - Gil’s definitely a meat eater and I think Evie’s in the middle. Maybe more towards salads just cause she prefers healthier, fresher foods now.

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? - Gil’s more likely but that doesn’t mean Evie is gonna come home to a good, healthy dinner. Something will definitely be on fire and Gil’s just gonna grin like “Hey E, welcome home!”

Who is more likely to suggest going out? - Gil tbh cause Evie deserves all the nice things.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidentally while cooking? - GILLES NICHOLAS LEGUME IS A MESS IN THE KITCHEN WITHOUT EVIE THERE

Chores:

Who cleans the room? - Evie but she makes sure Gil carries his weight.

Who is really against chores? - I don’t think either of them tbh. Especially after growing up on the Isle, they’re like ???? clean???? things???? pls???

Who cleans up after the pets? - I feel like Gil is better with pets? So him I guess

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? - G i l

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? - Evie, oh my god, is that Evie

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? - Gil, and Evie hates it cause she cleans way more but he’s way more lucky about finding the spare change around the house. It’s bullshit tbh.

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? - Evie. Homegirl deserves to be pampered.

Who takes the dog out for a walk? - Gil, probably. He likes the fresh air and exercise just as much as the dog does.

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? - All the time tbh, Evie loves holiday decorating and her excitement is contagious

What are their goals for the relationship? - Just…be happy? Support each other?

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? - Gil tbh, hands down Gil

Who plays the most pranks? - I feel like Evie just because Gil would brush it off easier and Gil just?? Doesn’t wanna unintentionally hurt/upset Evie??

#messages #warsraging #((icb how much i love these two #fucking soulmates))#💞 ship » eye to eye our worlds collided (gil and evie)

2 notes · View notes

itispossibleihaveissues · 7 years

Text

This Night Chapter 5

TITLE: This Night AUTHOR: Mikimoo RECIPIENT: tristen84 PAIRING: JayDick RATING: Mature

WARNINGS: Off screen Non-Con, murder of innocent young people, violence

SUMMARY: The Red Hood and Officer Grayson are on the same case. A small misstep has far reaching consequences for them both.

Chapter 1, 2 3 4

An hour was a long time, and even having Dick within arms reach hadn't lessened Jason's anxiety about him. In some ways, it was worse, being able to hear Dick’s shallow breathing and knowing Wilson had his hands on him. He knew it was irrational – Wilson was helping them, and being as impersonal with carrying Dick as he had been when he tended Jason's ankle - but Jason felt the same way about it as he did about having the delicate bones of his foot resting in Wilson's big hand; like his skin was crawling and he was seconds away from violence.

It wasn't as though he himself hadn’t worked with Wilson before, albeit rather reluctantly, and he had been professional despite the somewhat extenuating circumstances. Jason felt his cheeks heat at the memory. He was going to studiously avoid thinking about that.

Luckily there was plenty to distract him from past embarrassments - they had done well making their way through the jungle, but ran into trouble within sight of the Jet. They approached from the west, and Jason held up a hand to stop Wilson in his tracks when he caught the slight glint of metal through the leaves. They were so damn close.

“What do you see, Red?” Wilson murmured, his soft voice making the hair stand up on the back of Jason's neck. He had dropped to a crouch, still holding Dick like he weighed nothing at all. For his part, Dick looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes focused.

“There are men surrounding your Jet. I thought it was supposed to be invisible or something?” Jason growled back at him.

Wilson gave him a look. “Only when its in flight. It’s invisible to radar, not the naked eye.”

“That's rubbish.” Jason grumbled as he edged forward. “I can't see how many there are. But I suspect too many for a frontal assault.”

Wilson carefully laid Dick down against a tree and came forward, gesturing for Jason to move back so he could get a look. Jason squashed the feeling of irritation at the gesture and moved aside, returning to where Dick was pushing himself upright with a grimace.

“How you feeling, Dick-face?” he asked, crouching in front of him and resisting the urge to lay a hand on his forehead. It was obvious just from looking at him that he was running a fever and he wasn't sure how Dick would feel about unnecessary touching.

Dick scrunched up his nose “Like I got beaten, shot and drugged to the gills,” he said.

“That's pretty much what you look like too. Not going to win any beauty pageants with that face on.”

“Fuck off, I can still rock it.” Dick told him, unconvincingly. Then he frowned. “The infection is spreading in my leg. If I don't get it looked at soon it could go septic.” He looked up at Jason with a touch of genuine fear. “I could lose it. That can't happen, Jay.”

Jason nodded, but if Dick's leg was as bad as he suspected it was, then losing the limb was the least of their worries - sepsis was no joke, and although he had given Dick what antibiotics he could there was no telling if the drugs in his system had caused any sort of interaction or lessened their effectiveness.

“We won't let it happen, Dickie,” Jason reassured him, but the truth was that if they didn't deal with it soon it was going to become a very real risk.

Dick nodded. “Do we have any more water?”

“No, but there's more in the plane.”

Dick ran a shaking hand through his sweaty hair, dislodging a collection of leaves and dirt. “I'm not sure I can be much help getting on board I'm afraid.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. But that's why we hired ourselves a supper efficient killer.”

Dick made a face at him, and Jason huffed. “Would it be better if I called him a soldier? That's kind of what he is in this situation. I don't think you can afford to take the moral high ground, here.”

“He doesn't have to kill them.” Dick complained.

Jason didn't think he sounded even slightly convincing, but it was enough to piss him off. “Right, so he goes easy on them, and it takes so long to get into the Jet you lose your leg. That what you want?”

Dick just stared at him. He looked guilty, which made Jason even angrier – this bullshit Bruce had indoctrinated him with was toxic - the idea that other people’s lives were more important than his own was problematic at best, but it was truly fucked up that this way of thinking was ingrained to such an extent, he couldn’t even feel justified defending himself and his body, if doing so meant the people who were trying to kill him might die instead.

Jason couldn't fathom it. It was a fucking no-brainier to that, in a situation when it was 'them or us,' you did what you had to in order to survive - sacrificing yourself to save civilians, innocents or those you cared about made sense. Dieing to save your would be murderer was fucking stupid.

“What about me, huh, Dick?” he said “What about if us going slow and easy and not letting Wilson take kill shots means I catch a bullet? That worth it?”

“Jay-”

“As interesting as this argument is getting,” Wilson interrupted “It's a moot point. I was paid to keep you alive, not them, and I intend to do that. If that means killing these people, so be it.”

“I could just not pay you,” Dick countered.

Wilson nodded at Jason. “If you don't, he will. And if he doesn't have the cash, then I guess he'll be in my debt.” He smiled, slow and wide. “More in my debt,” he added as he watched Jason's cheeks heat.

Dick shot him a poisonous look, but it was tinged with curiosity. Jason was hoping to avoid that conversation if at all possible. Maybe he could convince Dick the whole exchange had been a fever dream.

“If you two are done trying to glare each other into submission and would like to get on with being rescued, might I suggest paying attention to the militia attacking my plane?”

Jason flushed again. You would think running for his life for days though a jungle would have taken president over embarrassment, but apparently not.

“I hate you,” Dick said. It wasn't clear which one of them he was referring to.

“Do you have a plan then, Wilson?” Jason growled to cover his discomfort. “We're outnumbered and outgunned, even with you here.”

“A frontal assault is pointless,” Wilson agreed. “And Grayson here is useless.”

“Screw you,” Dick said from the floor. He was scowling, but his eyes were a bit unfocused again.

“You're not the only one - Red looks like he's on his last legs too.” Wilson continued.

“At least both my legs are working,” Jason said, in an effort to get a rise out of Dick, he didn't like how thin his voice was. “And I'm less likely to fall on my face if there's a stiff breeze.”

“Yeah?” Dick said, twisting his mouth into the parody of a smile. “Come over here and say that. I'll bite your kneecaps.”

Wilson had a look of infinite patience on his weathered face, but then again, he had known Dick since his teens. It must have been quite trying then, let alone now – time hadn't mellowed Dick's sharp tongue or terrible sense of humour any.

Wilson handed Jason one of his big guns. “I'm going to radio through to the girl on the plane to see if she can get it going and get the defences engaged. Then I'm going to see how many I can pick off before they notice.”

“She's hardly a girl, Slade.” Dick said.

“You need to get your priorities straight, kid. And for the record, anyone under fifty with less than a hundred kills to their name is a girl or boy in my book.”

“And then?” Jason said, hating to agree with Wilson, but also feeling the need to prioritise survival over arguing terminology with an assassin.

“Then you just hold your position and kill anyone who gets close.”

Jason nodded and hefted his new weapon. Dick looked at him miserably, but it was very easy to ignore that expression and he hunkered down to watch as Wilson disappeared into the jungle like a phantom.

“I don't feel good about this,” Dick said.

“I don't feel like I care.” Jason aimed his gun towards the armed men he could see through the trees, but he wouldn't shoot unless he had to. No point in giving away their position.

Suddenly the Jet roared to life – Jason was strung so tight he jumped, but avoided firing the gun still clutched in his hands. Behind him, Dick gasped in surprise.

The gathered militia began shooting at it, but the rounds bounced off like they were hitting an invisible shield. Now this was what Jason had been hoping for when Wilson said he had a Night Jet. All it was missing was some serious firepower.

As if in answer to his thought, flaps opened on the underside of the plane and started to spray the armed men with bullets. They screamed and fell, many running further into the jungle to escape. Jason assumed Wilson was coordinating things with Ruiz in the Jet and had got himself out of the line of fire. He and Dick were safe too, off to the side.

“We should get ready to run for it,” Jason told him, creeping back to where Dick was sitting, wide, eyed.

“What's happening?” He asked, and Jason realised he couldn't see from where he was sitting – he could hear the gunfire and the screaming though, so he should have had a pretty good idea.

“Officer Ruiz is shooting the shit out of the soldiers from the Jet. But I suppose its okay when she does it, her being a cop and all.”

Dick winced, but otherwise ignored Jason as he tried to struggle to his feet. Jason got one of his arms round his shoulder and heaved him up. They wobbled for a moment, like a pair of blood-splattered bowling pins, then Wilson materialised out of the trees nearly giving Jason a heart attack - he hadn't even heard him approach. Either he was losing his edge or Deathstroke was really just that good.

“Let’s get while the going’s good,” Wilson said, coming over to take Dick from him, but Jason was reluctant to let him go.

“Slade,” Dick said, settling back into Wilson's arms - he looked pained and uncomfortable, but Jason still hated that he used the man's first name with such familiarity.

The short run to the plane felt like an eternity with a target strapped to his back, but no shots were fired. Perhaps lady luck hadn't completely deserted him.

“Lower the doors,” Wilson barked suddenly, and Jason realised he must be speaking to Ruiz who had been controlling the Jet at his direction. The sight of the ramp descending filled Jason with such a feeling of profound relief he was almost dizzy with it.

Once inside Jason blinked in the harsh lighting. Ruiz strode up, and it looked for a moment like she wanted to beat the life out of the both of them. So much so that Jason was braced for a punch as she stepped towards him and he was downright shocked when she wrapped her arms around him in a tight, almost vicious hug instead.

“Your face, Jay.” Dick said with the shadow of a grin as Wilson put him down on one of the seats. “It's like you've never had a cuddle before.”

“It wasn't a cuddle, Grayson.” Ruiz told him, primly. “It was an 'I'm happy you're not dead' embrace.”

“I'll have to try that some time, when I want a cuddle.” The expression on Dick's face would have been impish if he didn't look like he was about to keel over and die on the floor of the Jet.

“Whatever,” Jason grumbled, while Ruiz gave Dick a much gentler hug. She looked exhausted, as they all did, but Jason could see under that was still the shadow of fear. He recognised much of it was concern for Dick, who probably looked even worse to her than he did to Jason. He wasn't sure how to offer her comfort without revealing his own anxiety to Dick. “At least we all made it,” he tried, awkwardly.

“Before we get too ahead of ourselves,” Wilson interrupted, “I would like to point out that we are four hours from the nearest hospital that we can trust has not been infiltrated, and Grayson's continued use of this leg might not last that long.”

“Can you help me?” Dick asked. He sounded resigned.

“If you want to keep it, then I'm going to have to do some field surgery, clean and drain the wound. It's not going to be pleasant, but it has to be done. It’s already putrid, I can smell it from here.”

Dick looked like he was going to protest. Jason could well understand why – it would leave him feeling exposed and vulnerable, far worse than being carried in the man's arms. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, before common sense and the will to survive won out and he nodded.

“I'm going to get the Jet into the air,” Wilson said. “Jason, you get the medkit out and start setting up. Officer Ruiz, you take down time and start thinking over what the hell you are going to tell your superiors that won't get you or Grayson fired.”

Ruiz frowned at him, but at Jason's nod she reluctantly took a seat and strapped herself in, leaving Jason to do as he was told and start setting up for surgery. He found a very well stocked kit – more like a mini emergency room, with drips, drugs and plenty of sterile equipment. There was even a stainless steel surface that flipped down to make a serviceable operating table.

As the jet rumbled to life again he made his way back to Dick who was barely able to stand. They took it slow, as Jason's own legs were wobbling alarmingly and his ankle was throbbing in renewed agony as the last of the adrenaline he had been running on seemed to fade. Despite his body's objections, Jason managed to haul Dick to the back of the plane and prop him against the table.

“You're going to have to take your pants off,” he said, suddenly realising the other reason for Dick's reluctance for Wilson to treat him. “And your shirt, it's filthy. We can get you a new one, and some clean underwear you can wear while he works on you.”

Dick nodded, he looked upset for a moment, but then his jaw tightened. “You're going to have to help me,” he said stiffly.

“Sure thing, Dick-face.” Jason said, determined to keep it as light as possible – not an easy task as Dick struggled to slip his pants over his hips, revealing the edges of yellowing bruises. Jason took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself and then helped Dick get his shirt over his head. His torso looked much worse in the stark light of the plane than it had in the cave. There was a number of cigarette burns clustered on one nipple and another deeper burn on the soft skin under his arm.

Dick avoided his eyes as Jason handed over a white t-shirt from the stash of clothes he had found with the medical supply's. Jason helped him get it on – they would deal with the more minor injuries after the leg situation had been debt with, and he suspected Dick would rather have as many clothes on as he could at the moment.

Kneeling down to help Dick take his boxers off was strangely difficult, as though the physical action had some sort of emotional significance he couldn't put his finger on. But from this new position, he realised that he could smell the wound too, and Wilson had been right – they had to act fast.

Dick stood away from the table, one hand clutching the cool surface for support and the other holding onto the pair of underpants Jason had handed him. Despite Jason's attempts to keep things as calm and impersonal as possible, he found he was really struggling – working the fresh pair of underwear up Dick’s bruised thighs and over finger shaped marks, was cruelly intimate in a way that was upsetting and confusing. Jason's own fingers were shaking, and though he tried to convince himself it was with fatigue he knew that it wasn't.

He had never faced this kind of situation with someone he was close to before, he couldn't wrap his head around having to treat Dick as a victim – especially knowing how Dick would feel about being labelled as such. Jason just couldn't bring his own turbulent emotions to bear; the feelings of impotent rage, of grief, guilt and doubt were just too overwhelming.

He remained on his knees for a long moment, trying to get himself together. He needed food and water, a couple of days of sleep. Everything felt worse in the kind of physical state they were all in, and practical things could make it better.

He stood awkwardly, and began rummaging in the other storage compartments, finding enough water and energy bars to keep them all going for another day or so at a push. He handed both to Dick who ignored the food in favour of guzzling more water. Jason didn't stop him, the moron knew he shouldn't drink too fast and if he puked it was his damn fault.

He stuffed an energy bar into his own mouth, suddenly really registering how hungry he was, and then took a selection to where Ruiz was sitting. She was asleep, her dirt-streaked face pinched with pain or bad dreams. Jason didn’t want to wake her so checked her breathing carefully - he figured she was just exhausted rather than unconscious so he left her where she was, with water and food by her side for when she woke.

As Jason returned to Dick's side, Wilson made his way up the plane towards them. Apparently the Night Jet had a trustworthy autopilot to go with those sweet guns.

“You ready, kid? this isn't going to be pleasant,” he said as he approached.

“Is it ever?” Dick asked, as Jason helped him back up onto the table. He looked somehow small and deceptively fragile sitting there in a loose t-shirt and ill fitting briefs. Wilson handed him a couple of painkillers and another bottle of water, which Dick took with out question.

Wilson started laying out the things he would need while Jason stood back, feeling uncomfortable. “I'm going to give you some local anaesthetic, but it’s likely to hurt like a son-of-a-bitch regardless. So, Red, you’re going to have to be ready to hold him down if needed.”

Jason grimaced, he hopped it didn't come to that for his sanity's sake.

Dick lay back on the table, his limbs loose and apparently relaxed, but the set of his jaw said otherwise. When Wilson set to work, Dick turned his face to the wall and stared at it fixedly, like it held the secrets of the world. Jason avoided looking at Dick as much as possible, unable to bear the thoughts swirling around his head. Instead, his eyes were drawn to Wilson, watching his reaction to the damage on Dick's skin.

His face was as calm and impassive as it had been when he tended to Jason's wounds, but Jason had been trained by the Bat. He could see the anger in the tension in his wrist, the slight twitch of his jaw. It was pretty damn obvious what had happened to Dick, just from the visible injuries – and Dick had to know that too. Having Wilson witness it had to be hard, despite whatever weird-ass relationship they had.

Wilson cut open the partially cauterized wound to help drain it, and the smell made Jason's gut twist. If he hadn't rescued Dick, he would have died from this. If Wilson hadn't come to their aid he would have died. It was pure fucking luck they had managed this intervention in time and had access to enough medical equipment they could start to fix things.

Dick was trembling with the effort of keeping still or not crying out, so Jason took his hand and Dick gripped it tightly. Neither of them said anything. There was no point.

By the time Wilson started to flush the wound with saline, Dick was barely holding it together, clinging to consciousness by pure stubborn will alone. His face was pinched with pain, and his cheeks were flushed with fever, but despite that and the bruises marring his skin he still looked beautiful. But then Jason suspected he would always find Dick Grayson beautiful, had done ever since the first time he got his ass kicked by him. His lips twisted up slightly at the memory.

“Nearly done,” Wilson grunted, he was inserting a drain and mopping up the mess his cleaning had made. “Got to take some more antibiotics and keep it clean.”

Jason wondered how long it had taken. Ruiz was still asleep, curled tightly in her chair, and Jason could feel the tug of pure exhaustion pulling him under too. He looked down at Dick, who was still clutching his hand. He was still awake, barely, a tiny sliver of blue showing under his mostly closed eyelids.

“Alright, kid,” Wilson said, his voice weirdly gentle. “Let’s get you to a proper seat. You've got three hours to rest.” Wilson scooped Dick up again, making him cry out softly, in pain or surprise. He also didn't let go of Jason's hand which made getting to the seats in the front of the plane a bit tricky, and nearly sent him tumbling face first under Wilson's boots.

Wilson looked amused as he lowered Dick to a seat and fetched him a warm blanket. Jason took the seat next to him and tried not to pass out in relief.

“You need me to give you a check-up too, Red?” Wilson asked.

“Nah, need sleep. You can fix me up proper when we land.” Jason shut his eyes for a second and when he opened them again, Wilson was gone.

“Welcome back,” Dick said in a quiet, hoarse voice.

Jason's whole body ached like he had been run over by the Batmobile. “How long was I out?”

“'About an hour,”

“You didn't sleep?”

Dick shook his head slightly. “Thought would be better to wait for you to wake. Then take my turn.”

“Moron. What's going to happen up here that wouldn't wake us both?”

Dick shrugged helplessly, wincing at the movement. “Just didn't feel right,” he admitted after a moment.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. You get some rest, I'll keep watch for you now, OK?”

“Thanks, Jay.”

Jason squeezed his hand, where their fingers were still entangled. “No problem, Dickie. I'll wake you when we get there.”

Dick's eyes were closed before Jason even finished speaking, and he finally let himself think about what would happen after. A lot of people were going to die for this, and he would make sure a few specific ones would fucking suffer before the end.

#dick grayson #Jason Todd #jaydick #Slade Wilson #this night #mik trys to write stuff #my fics #My writing

47 notes · View notes

bu-blegh-ost · 9 months

Text

The time has finally come, @girlsonlytreehouse !!!

Today I shall share with you the fruits of my work. But first, allow me to take you on a journey I myself have been through while counting all of this shit down.

First things first, I decided to count the rolls in the context of the characters rather than the people playing them, simply because the luck of the actual people could not be measured accurately if I only take Riptide into consideration (and also I thought it would be more fun). The guys have several different campaigns, some that I do not have access to, so I've decided to seperate all their Riptide rolls into characters they play instead, cause then we can clearly see which character is the luckiest. But ofc if you want this to be attributed differently, the data remains unchanged, so that way you all can interpret the results however you wanted and still have all the info you need on hand.

Another issue were the advantage/disadvantage rolls. When a character rolls at advantage, they roll twice and the only roll that counts is the one that was higher, while the other is discarded and the opposite goes for disadvantage. So for example if you roll at Disadvantage and you roll a nat 20 and a 2, that nat 20 technically doesn't matter. Despite that I decided to count each adv/disadv roll anyway, because despite the fact that it does not count, it was still physically ROLLED, which means it contributes to the character's overall pool of luck. I tried to separate them at first so you guys can make your own decision whether to add them or not, but in the end I decided against it cause it was insanely hard to keep up with. There were just too many and too often, which led me to believe that it was fair enough to count everything as long as they actually rolled a dice.

Which brings me to the last complication, which is of course Gillion's Prophetic Screwup. At the beginning of the campaign Gillion was able to exchange anything that he actually rolled into a nat 20, and in return the DM can change any roll he does afterwards into a nat 1. That way there was supposed to be an equal number of wild unrolled nat 20's and nat 1's to balance Gillion out back to 0, but it didn't turn out this way. In more cases than not, Grizzly would either forget or fail to find a good place to screw Gillion over, so the ability bacame much too unbalanced. So they changed it somwhere in the middle of Edison Kingdom Arc. From then on, if Gill rolled anything from 1-10 it would automatically become a nat 1, and if he rolled from 11-20, that'd be a nat 20 instead. Either way these rolls had nothing to do with luck, as he wasn't actually rolling anything, thus I decided not to count these 'artificial' nat 20's/1's. However I did keep track of them nonetheless and I'll still give you the number of those, just separately, and from then on you guys can make your own decision on whether or not you wish to count it.

OOOFFF ALRIGHT.

Without further ado, here are the nat 20's results (up to ep106):

Gillion: 52

Chip: 58

Jay: 55

Goobleck: 8

Surprised? Yeah I was as well. First things first I never expected this to be this close. And never in my right mind could I possibly predict that it would he CHIP of all people to have the highest score here. But I've seen it with my own eyes. And tell you what. Jay had this in the bag for most of the damn series. She would consistently roll good and always when you need a good roll the most. There were times when she would have such a massive lead it was unthinkable she could loose it. But then she would just kinda...stop rolling good for a bit and allow the other two to catch up. It just wasn't as visble if you don't pay much attention, but I thought it to be cute. It's as she was waiting for them <3 But she was still mostly leading. It was only the current arc that made Chip surpass her. After his terrible luck in Feywilde, he bounced back so strongly right after, that he managed to jump in front of the luck queen herself.

And now I bet you're curious about the other side of the coin. Give it up for natural 1's!:

Gillion: 55

Chip: 53

Jay: 52

Goobleck: 1

You see, I kind of expected it to be Gill, but I need you guys to know that this wasn't the case at all times. Jay? Yes. If there is one thing that's consistent is that she had the lowest amount of natural 1s at all times almost, but the person that was suffering from nat 1 curse for a long while was Chip. In the Feywilde Arc he would be so far ahead of everyone, that I was genuinely sure that there is no way anyone catches up to him. But then he popped off in the next arc with nat 20's and Gillion? Oh my gosh, Gillion didn't disappoint. I've never seen a man fail this much let me tell you XD He ended up with the least nat 20's as well, but I thought the difference would be much higher until he didn't roll 4 fucking nat 20s in ep 100 and then this double nat 20 attack roll in the Black Sea whduihdius AND HE CAUGHT UP AS WELL, more or less.

Idunno, maybe this is just how luck works, but it truly seems that the trio shares their successes and burdens almost equally. They support each other and in return fate has their backs as well. Honestly I couldn't have hoped for better results. Also can we give shout out to Goobleck, the true MVP? He's been on the show only for a while but look at this nat1 - nat20 ratio!!! Go goop man goo!!!

So now for the additional stuff that I also counted just for fun:

*Prophethic screwup nats:

Before the rules changed Gillion replaced 8 of his rolls into natural 20s, and in return Grizzly replaced 3 of his rolls into natural 1s.

After the rules changed he only got high enough number for 4 nat 20s, and a low enough number for 7 nat 1s.

So that together makes additional 12 nat 20s and 10 nat 1s from the prophetic screwup alone. I don't think they should be added, but the numbers are there so feel free to do whatever you want with them :)

Downs and death saves:

Throughout the campaign Gillion went down 14 times and rolled 8 death saves.

Chip went down 6 times and rolled 4 death saves.

Jay went down 4 times and rolled 3 death saves.

No shocker here, Gillion dies a lot XD

Knights:

In their journey Gillion knighted 4 people: Julien Booker, Clorton, Garrieth and Duke.

Corruption score:

Thus far each character has the following amount of corruption points (Black Sea):

Gillion: 0

Chip: 2

Jay: 3

Queen: 1

Gryffon: 2 (i think, unsure abt that one, may edit later XD)

Earl: 1

That is all I have for now. I may be clinically insane :)

Good day to everyone and I hope you found this data interesting. Take care <3

#jrwi riptide #just roll with it #gillion jrwi #chip jrwi #jay jrwi #gillion tidestrider #jay ferin #jrwi goobleck #math????#i guess #insane autistic person talks about statistics for a looong time #if anyone wants something else counted i' m right here fam #GIVE ME A REASON TO REWATCH ALL OF RIPTIDE FOR THE FOURTH TIME I DARE YOU

962 notes · View notes

daleisgreat · 3 years

Text

Mallrats

youtube

Last year I was alerted that Arrow Video was releasing a special 25th Anniversary BluRay of the 1995 Kevin Smith cult classic, Mallrats (trailer). I was not familiar with Arrow Video before, but after browsing their catalog, it appears they specialize in Criterion-esque special editions and restorations for films that may not receive the prestige critical acclaim the average Criterion release does. I remember seeing the “spot the sailboat” comic book ads for the film around its release but missed it during its brief theatrical run. It was not until catching the TV cut of Mallrats off ABC around 1997/98 that I was first introduced to Kevin Smith’s works. I already elaborated on my history with Smith’s films in my review for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot last year, so I will not drone on about that again except to say that both Clerks and Mallrats are my two favorite Kevin Smith films. I believe this will be my third time buying it on video. The original collector’s edition DVD received a lot of early buzz from DVD review outlets on how to nail a suite of special features and for having one of the best early DVD commentary tracks. I then upgraded to the 10th Anniversary edition DVD with a bonus extended cut and new anniversary interviews and other bonus content. This BluRay keeps most of the early bonus feature content and adds in a bunch more I will be detailing soon, but for now, I imagine you want to hear about the actual Mallrats movie.

The succinct way to explain it is how Kevin Smith does it in his four-word elevator pitch, “Clerks in a mall.” Essentially it boils down to the film’s two leads, TS (Jeremy London) and Brodie (Jason Lee), getting dumped by their girlfriends Rene (Shannen Doherty) and Brandi (Claire Forlani) in the opening scenes. The duo decides to recover from their sorrows by hitting up their favorite spots in the local mall, where they run into their exes and attempt to win them over with some help from fellow mallrats Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). Naturally, TS and Brodie have some opposition to overcome to win back their loves in the form of Brandi’s father and local bigshot, Svenning (Michael Rooker), and head mall security guard La Fours (Sven Thorsen). When I first saw this film on TV around 1997/98, it hit at the perfect time when I was in ninth grade, and I was likely within a few years of the last wave of kids where going to the mall was THE thing to do with friends when you asked: “Hey, want to go and hang out somewhere!?” Mallrats captures the spirit of killing time in the mall with nice little asides debating which food stands are really part of the food court, whining over the latest exhibit clogging up the showcase area of the mall, standing in line for celebrity autographs and gleefully beating up eagerly anticipating the Easter bunny.

When I first experienced the film around age 14, I had no idea what Jay and Silent Bob were talking about with their gratuitous weed jokes. Still, they had a hilarious demeanor about them as they delivered their lines, and they instantly won over 14-year-old Dale. Brodie seemed like the coolest cat with his countless wisecracks throughout the film. Jason Lee and Kevin Smith both went on to say in the bonus interviews that despite the film’s initial theatrical failure, Jason Lee’s performance caught a lot of eyes and opened the door for him to bigger and better roles. It would behoove me to acknowledge Mallrats has the best of the dozens of Stan Lee movie cameos. It is more of an extended cameo where Lee says more than his usual five-to-ten words of dialog and instead has a full scene with Brodie when he bestows his wisdom of true love to Brodie to motivate him to win over Rene. Lee is legitimately good in the scene, so much so that Marvel Studios had his Mallrats cameo referenced during Lee’s cameo in Captain Marvel.

Arrow Video did a bang-up job packing in a ton of extras in this two-disc BluRay set. There are now three cuts of the film included. The first disc has the original theatrical cut, while the second disc has the extended cut that released with the 10th-anniversary edition and now also includes the TV cut, which is full of a ton of awesomely bad overdubs of expletives. Smith recorded a new introduction to the TV cut highlighted with a fun story of why Mewes’s dubs are so godawful. I would recommend passing on watching the Extended Cut, as it mostly restores the film's original opening, which features a series of longer opening scenes where it takes a while for Brodie and TS to get dumped, and for the movie to eventually find its way into the mall. Instead, I would recommend watching the hour-long archival bonus of the deleted scenes that has Smith and Vincent Pereira explaining why the scenes did not work and have a good time on why they remained on the cutting room floor. I did make sure to re-watch the original DVD commentary track again with Kevin Smith, Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Jason Mewes, and Scott Mosier. They are all nonstop entertaining throughout, remembering their time with the film while Fargo was also filming down the street and how Team La Fours fought to get credited in the movie. It is probably up there with UHF being my favorite commentary track, so make sure not to skip over it! New extras for this BluRay are highlighted by a new 12-minute intro from Kevin Smith retelling his highs and lows of the production. My Mallrats Memories is a new 30-minute interview with Smith recollecting his time on the film and how he assembled the cast and crew, and what lead to landing Stan Lee in the movie.

Mr. Mallrats: Tribute to Jim Jacks is Smith’s eulogy to his recently deceased producer on this film, and he gives a loving history of how Jacks went from movie fan to having a successful career in the business. Blunt Talk is a new ten-minute interview with Mewes recounting his early acting career and how he did not consider himself an actor until people started recognizing him from Mallrats. Hollywood of the North is a new ten-minute animated doc with periphery crew members who have many production stories about shooting in the Eden Prairie Center Mall and dealing with complaints from the mall owner. There is a physical blueprint insert which is a perfect recreation of Jay’s blueprints shown in the film of how he plans to take out La Fours. Also new are two hours of raw dailies compiled together. I did not watch it in its entirety because the quality is very raw, like worse than VHS SLP raw, but it was still fun to jump around in bits throughout it and see the cast and crew chatter before and after filming. I didn’t mean to deep dive this much into the bonus materials, but I believe I have covered almost all of the new content, but trust me, there is a lot more bonus archival content from previous DVD releases, so rest assured View Askew fans that there are several hours of extras to sink your teeth into. Every time I watch Mallrats every several years, I cannot help but get clued in better to some of the jokes and dialog that went right over my initial viewing as a teenager. Thankfully, the film has aged well, and I enjoyed it as much as I initially did in the 90s. I have a good feeling if you’re a View Askew fan or mostly a fan of Smith’s earlier works, then you probably already have this Arrow Video BluRay in your collection. However, for others on the fence wondering if this edition is worth upgrading to, I can safely vouch that Smith and Arrow Video spared no expense to ensure this BluRay is packed to the gills with new (and archival) content to make sure you get your money’s worth!

Other Random Backlog Movie Blogs 3 12 Angry Men (1957) 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown 21 Jump Street The Accountant Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie Atari: Game Over The Avengers: Age of Ultron The Avengers: Endgame The Avengers: Infinity War Batman: The Dark Knight Rises Batman: The Killing Joke Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Bounty Hunters Cabin in the Woods Captain America: Civil War Captain America: The First Avenger Captain America: The Winter Soldier Christmas Eve The Clapper Clash of the Titans (1981) Clint Eastwood 11-pack Special The Condemned 2 Countdown Creed I & II Deck the Halls Detroit Rock City Die Hard Dredd The Eliminators The Equalizer Dirty Work Faster Fast and Furious I-VIII Field of Dreams Fight Club The Fighter For Love of the Game Good Will Hunting Gravity Grunt: The Wrestling Movie Guardians of the Galaxy Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 Hell Comes to Frogtown Hercules: Reborn Hitman I Like to Hurt People Indiana Jones 1-4 Inglourious Basterds Ink The Interrogation Interstellar Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Jobs Joy Ride 1-3 Justice League (2017 Whedon Cut) Last Action Hero Major League Man of Steel Man on the Moon Man vs Snake Marine 3-6 Merry Friggin Christmas Metallica: Some Kind of Monster Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpions Revenge National Treasure National Treasure: Book of Secrets Nintendo Quest Not for Resale Payback (Director’s Cut) Pulp Fiction The Punisher (1989) The Ref The Replacements Reservoir Dogs Rocky I-VIII Running Films Part 1 Running Films Part 2 San Andreas ScoobyDoo Wrestlemania Mystery Scott Pilgrim vs the World The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Shoot em Up Slacker Skyscraper Small Town Santa Steve Jobs Source Code Star Trek I-XIII Sully Take Me Home Tonight TMNT Trauma Center The Tooth Fairy 1 & 2 UHF Veronica Mars Vision Quest The War Wild The Wizard Wonder Woman The Wrestler (2008) X-Men: Apocalypse X-Men: Days of Future Past

#Mallrats #Kevin Smith #ben affleck #jason lee #jason mewes #jay and silent bob #silent bob #random movie #shannen doherty #claire forlani #michael rooker #sven thorsen #jeremy london

6 notes · View notes

frootware · 4 years

Text

Breaking In: From lurking the shadows to being employed

For anyone that follows me on Twitter, or knows me from The Many Hats Club, you’ve probably heard that I recently started a job in the information security industry - after three years of what I think of lurking on the periphery and being interested but no idea where to start.

With that being said, a friend of mine recently said that he had been watching how I’ve interacted with the security community online and in person, so he can do similar when he’s ready to try to enter the industry in a professional capacity. I’m not entirely sure that I’ve done much of anything, but I figured writing a piece on what I know I’ve done might help other hopefuls figure out their path.

The core of my advice can be put as follows:

Get stuck in! Interact with people, be friendly, be open to learn

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something.

Don’t max out your credit card going to conferences, but try to attend some if you can afford to and are able to.

Take a chance - you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t try.

Twitter

I started, like many young hopefuls these days, with Twitter. I had an old, barely used Twitter account that I pivoted the interests and the people I was following to be security-focused. At the time, my Twitter handle was “ChrissiTheFroot”, but that quickly changed to the frootware handle that most know me as now.

I started out by following people I knew of from documentaries I had watched (Mikko Hyponnen), and people from the news (MalwareTech). My first interaction was “Notice me senpai” to MWT, which is something I look back on and ask myself why.

Over time I talked to people about the fact I was interested in security, but didn’t know where to start or what I wanted to do in security. Two of the best people I met in those early days were Wesley McGrew and Rox. Through their advice, I started my journey. Wesley initially started by hearing me out about what I was interested in, what interested me within security, and offering advice about wha to look at, as well as giving me some tips on improving my CV. Rox advised me to look for groups local to me on MeetUp.com - a website that offers a range of groups that meet regularly for various interests or just social activities. Through that, I found Manchester Grey Hats, and met some of my early mentors in security.

Communities

As mentioned above, the first security group I joined was Manchester Grey Hats, where I met Jay and Saskia, and several other wonderful people who are kind and encouraging and welcome newcomers as much as they welcome seasoned professionals. They nurtured my interest and gave me the opportunity to try new things within security in a safe environment where I could ask questions (though... I never really did), and a community of friends who could guide me and support me as I figured my way out through this.

I still fondly remember sitting in a speakeasy-styled bar in Manchester with Jay and another member of MGH, outright saying a sentiment that I’ve carried since I started looking at security as a career: “I feel like I’m having to play catch-up with everyone else”. Jay gave me some of the best advice possible in response - It’s impossible to know everything.

That’s never stopped me from trying though.

Through interactions on Twitter, I got the opportunity to talk to Stuart Peck about my weird and wonderful career history - I’ve tried to be an author, a rockstar, a lawyer, and a chef, all before I tried being a hacker. Following that, Stu invited me to The Many Hats Club and I found another home within security very quickly. I spent a lot of my time in the Discord community as a mod there, and I’ve made a wonderful group of friends who stand by me, and I do my best to offer them the same.

Conferences

Sitting in the break room of my helpdesk job in the summer of 2017, waiting for my shift to start, I saw on Twitter something that made me experience FOMO like I never had before: a conference, barely an hour away from where I was. BSides Manchester 2017. Specifically, I was seeing photos of Andy Gill speaking and thought “that’s where I’d rather be right now”.

The following year, 2018, I spent almost all of my paid leave going to conferences. I also maxed my credit card funding that. I sort of regret that small fact, but overall I think it was worth it. Through going to conferences, I met so many wonderful people and learned so much. I took the opportunity to speak to people, ask questions about what they did, and figure out what sounded fun and interesting.

By the end of 2018, I had attended probably 10 conferences. It was a lot of work by the end of that year, and through a combination of Seasonal Affective Disorder and the amount of effort I was exercising in trying to get into security ASAP (I’ve never been good at waiting...), I was burned out. However, I knew what I wanted to do by then. Thanks to Black Hoodie, a women-focused conference dedicated to reverse engineering, I realised that malware analysis was where I wanted to be. I’m still working on getting there, but at least I had the end goal, and could work out the steps I needed to get there.

Career History

When I first wanted to come into security, I was a first-line support analyst in a helpdesk call centre. I tried to get a penetration testing internship, but wasn’t successful due to concerns that my technical skills weren’t quite ready - a fair assessment: the year before I’d sworn off IT completely and was edging my way back in because of my interest in security.

From there, after a short stint at KFC to pay bills, I worked a software engineer for a year. That company and I parted ways recently, as they felt that it would be better to let me focus on finding my way in security rather than keeping me in a role more focused on development, something that has never really been my strong suit. The very first job I saw on LinkedIn was a security role, and I took that as a sign from the universe that, whether I felt ready or not, it was time for me to try entering security.

And now... now I’m officially a “cybersecurity analyst” but more accurately, I’m a SOC Analyst. Through the grace of the universe, and a tweet complaining about a junior role requiring CISSP certification, I’ve broken in. By building myself a network of people who believed in my skills and potential (even more than I did for a long time), I was able to make it.

And I believe you can too. Get stuck in, talk to people. Show people who you are just as much as you show them what you know. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something, or ask people to explain what they mean by something. You’ll get there.

#landing the job

0 notes

asfeedin · 4 years

Text

You’re the breadwinner in the relationship. Now what?

Welcome to The Broadside, a careers newsletter for professional women.

Every month, this newsletter will share advice as well as a bulletin of job postings, conferences, workshops, and other opportunities to boost your career.

If you’re getting this email, you’re likely already part of our Broadsheet community.

We hope this newsletter will support women who are leveling up in the workplace. If you would like to opt out of future Broadside emails, just click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of this email.

Here’s what to expect in the latest edition of the newsletter.

Broadside writer Kristine Gill offers advice from financial planners about what you should keep in mind regarding finances if you’re the one in the relationship making the lion’s share. Then, scroll on for job opportunities from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Everlywell, Paylocity and more. (Many of them are remote positions!)

Notorious B.I.G. was onto something when he said that bit about more money leading to more problems. Until recently I would have disagreed, but during the COVID economic fallout, I’ve felt more pressure to earn more with side hustles and spend wisely as the breadwinner in my relationship.

It’s not just me. Millennial women are twice as likely than their mothers to be out-earning their partners, according to career news service The Ladders. Today’s mothers are increasingly becoming the breadwinners of their households, according to research by American Progress.

For heterosexual relationships in particular, many women who earn more than their male partners find themselves sparring over the gender dynamic. No wonder money is 20 times more likely than sex to be the biggest source of conflict in marriages.

If you’re the one in the relationship making more than your partner—especially if your partner is a man—you’re not just bucking the trends of yesteryear. You’re also navigating uncharted territory as women take charge of their family’s financial futures.

I figured I’d ask the money experts what you should keep in mind if you’re the one bringing home the smoke-flavored tempeh.

It pays to get with an expert.

Molly Ward, a certified financial planner and advisor, experienced a transformation of her own after going through a divorce and being forced to take a more active role in her own financial future.

“I saw the value of a financial planner, how much value there is in that,” she said.

“It’s imperative that women get their financial planning done because if she’s busy at work and busy at home with the weight of the world on her shoulders but doesn’t have that planning in order, then it’s like a house of cards,” she added. “One perfect storm can just waylay that family.”

While they aren’t marriage therapists, talking with certified financial planners can usually help a couple navigate difficult money talk and pursue common goals in life and work. (For those of you looking for your next high-paying gig, by the way, check out Fortune‘s latest on writing a killer bio for employers.)

Ward goes over a checklist with her clients. It’s a list of expenses couples should discuss now, each month, and each year to inform progress made toward savings goals and debts.

Andres Garcia-Amaya, who leads a financial advising firm, recommends clients to write down goals and compare notes. Many couples don’t discuss money before marriage. If partners disagree on financial ambitions or plans to, say, buy a bigger house or send their kids to private school, couples can find themselves sparring over key expenses.

Attending meetings together is key, too. In fact, research shows that financial decisions made by couples are less risk adverse than those made by individuals.

“There’s always one person who is more eager to hire the financial planner, but we always encourage that other person to participate,” Amaya-Garcia said. “And after a few meetings even if they say, ‘Oh I’m not interested in that,’ they realize they do have an opinion.”

Talk it out.

Garcia-Amaya tries to coach clients and couples with his own experience in mind.

Years ago, when Garcia-Amaya was still in business school, his wife Jenny came home from a normal day at the office and set her bag down, letting out a sigh. Garcia-Amaya had been going to business school for a few months at that point, and the two-year stint meant that while he was busy with classes, he wasn’t earning income.

It also meant he had time to prep for a random weeknight costume party with friends as part of a networking event.

“It was like 9:30 p.m. when she came home, exhausted,” Amaya-Garcia said. “And she looked at me, and I said, ‘Does this shirt look like it’s from the ‘80s?’ And she was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

Despite their best efforts at establishing a fair balance of responsibilities, Jenny could feel at times that being the breadwinner meant shouldering her family’s wellbeing and all of the household chores.

“The tension usually arises if either spouse expects the man to be the primary breadwinner,” Garcia-Amaya said. When finances reverse, gender roles might cause issues: She might both bring home money and do the dishes, and he might feel resentful of the situation. “The best way to go about it is to have those conversations at the beginning of a relationship. Like, ‘What if I am the breadwinner?’ And it can alleviate a lot of issues.”

In the end, the Garcia-Amayas agreed that business school was a worthwhile endeavor. And they divided household chores for the duration.

“My wife was going to be the breadwinner and I was not going to make a penny for about two years,” Amaya-Garcia said. “We basically made sure both of us was confident with the decision for me to attend, and then how I could pull my weight with the household if she was going to be the breadwinner.”

The couple also followed up with each other to see how things were working. It was during these checkpoint meetings that they recalibrated household chores for times when one person was getting tired of their responsibilities, or when another needed help following a schedule change.

“Just because we agreed at the beginning doesn’t mean you don’t need to recalibrate throughout,” Amaya-Garcia said. “Because she said it was fine, but then here I am dressing for an ’80s party not really being conscious of what she’s feeling.”

Now that they’re both back to working full-time, they’ve shifted their household responsibilities for a better balance.

Think about protecting your assets.

For some couples, the financial imbalance is long-term. In those cases, if you’re about to get married, Shann Chaudhry, an estate planning attorney, says it might be worth considering a prenuptial agreement.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions about prenups,” Chaudhry says. “We’ve all seen things in the media like with Jay-Z and Beyonce’s prenup, but it’s so far away from what regular people need.”

instead, Chaudhry says prenups are best for people who have inherited money or assets, have been running a family business, or have started their own practice and want to maintain those assets in the event of a divorce. Millennials are more likely than their parents to be keen on signing a prenup.

“We’re seeing a lot more professionals who are getting later in life, and if you see a doctor with her own health practice, and she gets married at 45 or 50, she wants to be able to protect her practice,” he says. “Sometimes it’s about reframing what the agreement is. In Texas, it’s called a property characterization agreement, which sounds a whole lot less confrontational than a prenup.

“People should come at it from the angle of, ‘I want to make a plan and let’s talk about what this is going to look like and how we’re going to make it fair,’ instead of, ‘I want you to sign a premarital agreement,’” he said.

Keep in mind each partner will need their own lawyer to draft one up, which could run between $3,000 and $5,000 per spouse. Not terrible, considering Chaudhry says a divorce can cost about double.

If you didn’t get a prenup before “I do,” there’s still time. Chaudhry says there are such things as post-marital agreements, which can be signed after the fact and still stipulate who gets what in the event of a divorce.

— Kristine Gill

Source link

Tags: breadwinner, Relationship, Youre

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3cJ0cxm via IFTTT

#IFTTT #WordPress #Asfeed.in #asfeed #asfeedin #asfeed blog

0 notes

salfordelim · 4 years

Link

Neil’s Reflection

This Sunday we will be looking at the second half of the first chapter in Acts 1:12-26. Luke begins to tell the story of how the earliest church navigated really strange times, when they were led from one adventure into another by the Spirit.

But he begins this story by explaining how they found another apostle who would be able to take Judas’ reflecting on the consequence of Judas explaining how the leadership question dealt with that. Luke’s story begins by reminding the reader of the failure of one of those who was called by Jesus. Maybe a strange way to begin a story.

This is an imagined email from the editor to Luke and Luke’s response:

The Book of Acts – First Draft

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

2:37 PM (2 hours ago)

Dear Luke

Thanks for the chance to see your first draft of this second installment in the story of Jesus. We still think it’s a great way of giving people a chance to see the impact Jesus had and it’s an exciting story. I think it’ll be great and we expect that people will be reading this for thousands of years. We think it’ll be a best-seller.

So, taking that into account do you mind if I raise a few problems we have with the way you have begun the story?

In particular, it’s the way you choose to remind people about the problems you had with Judas.I mean it’s fine – it’s just not very encouraging. We feel our readers would want something more encouraging, something that is a bit more upbeat, less … I don’t know how to put it, really … honest I guess.

I mean I know that what happened with Judas was traumatic, tragic even. But I don’t think people want to be reminded of things like that. We know it happened, but do we need to air our dirty linen in public? I don’t think so.

As I see it at this stage, there are two basic problems with what you have written:

1. People want strong leaders. They don’t want to be reminded that leaders fail, that they are the same as us, that they go wrong as much as any of us do. They want to believe that they are so very different that they never face the same temptations. They want them to be perfect, they need them to be perfect.

So could you put more of a heroic spin on your stories?

2. I’m really unhappy about how you describe the selection of Matthias as the 12th man. To be honest, it makes it seem like the rest of them have no succession plan at all. I know that it needed to be someone who’d been with Jesus, but a ballot? Come on, it makes them look weak, uncertain, dependent. Could they not have interviewed people and done some psychometric test to see who would be most suited. (I can’t feel that had Jesus used a StrengthsFinder test or something else he would have weeded Judas out much earlier.)

In brief, I don’t think you are telling this story the best way. It’s giving the impression that the early church was built around people with flaws, people who struggled, people like us. That’s no way to begin a great story!

I look forward to hearing back from you with proposed changes.

RE: The Book of Acts – First Draft

From: [email protected] To: [email protected]

3:37 PM (1 hour ago)

Thanks for your email and the comments. You are right. It’s no way to start such an exhilarating story. And we might need heroes. The problem was, there weren’t any – not really.

It was just us.

And God… that was the difference!

The story stands.

Luke

Interview

You might be aware that this week the BBC launched a series of education programmes for children at home, BBC Bitesize. One of the people really involved in getting all this off the ground is Jo Wozencroft. I had chance to interview her a couple of weeks ago about what life is like for her at the moment. I hope you enjoy watching it.

News

1. Sunday Gathering

The link to this Sunday’s Gathering is here:

Join our Sunday Zoom meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/836810848 Meeting ID: 836 810 848

This will be the same link we will use up to 10 May.

We are going to be working our way through the Book of Acts. These are great ways of getting an overview of the whole book:

2. Inviting Others

During these strange days, we want to stay growing as church. You might have friends and family who might be interested in staying in touch with us as a church. Ask them to fill out the form on our church website and we will add them to our mailing list.

This may be an easy time to invite friends and family to our Gatherings, after all they can be with us from the safety of their own homes. You have nothing to lose, they have a lot to gain!

3. Home Groups

On Thursday evenings from 7.45-9.00 we have three small ‘home’ groups that meet. If you haven’t been part of a group in the past but would like to explore it, you will be very welcome to come along.

The groups are continuing The Prayer Course, so before you come along, make sure you have watched the 7th session. It’s all about listening to God.

Join our Home Group Zoom meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/998857193?pwd=Ni9ZY2pSSWdQcWRvellMWXJYbG5rZz09 Meeting ID: 998 857 193 Password: 820084

4. Friday Prayer Group

The Prayer group continue to meet on Friday mornings. Corinne sends a text around to people with prayer requests so that people can pray at the same time. If you would like to be part of that, contact Corinne directly or Neil.

5. Giving

Thanks for all of you who give to the church as part of your worship. One of the changes that has happened since we can’t meet together is that those of you who used to give to the church on Sunday mornings in the baskets haven’t been able to give. So, this is what you can do:

You can send us a cheque. Make them payable to Salford Elim Church and send them to Bev Walsh, 47 Moorfield Road, Salford, M6 7EY.

You can save it all up and give it to us when you can.

OR ‘Ta da!’ there is another way: You can use your smartphone.

Elim have joined up with Givt, the company that created this solution. First, download the Givt app. Now you can give in the same way you would if you gave cash on Sundays. This is what you need to do:

Open the app.

Choose the amount you want to give.

Choose the third option, give from the List.

Enter the name of the church in the search bar.

Tap ‘give’ at the bottom of your screen.

Finally, press Next to complete the donation. (There is also an option to use the QR code – if you know what that means!)

If you want more information about any of this, do get in touch with Bev Walsh or Neil.

6. You’re not alone

If you need prayer, or to talk, don’t hesitate to contact folks in your WhatsApp group, or Neil – his number is 07771 558058.

Prayers we prayed on Sunday

It was really touching to see all the prayers that were shared on Sunday. We wrote them as we listened to this song.

eople asked if we could let you see them again. You will probably want to say ‘Amen’ to many of the comments, and some you may want to hear as a word of the Lord to you.

Here they are:

Morag Peacock: ‘Can a nation be changed? Show yourself to everyone. Revival – that’s my prayer.’

Emmanuel & Jumi: Yahweh The All Sufficient One

Jill Reynolds: Feel God is making us into pearls – the product of irritation and frustration which is somehow something beautiful. God is going to bring out the ‘worst’ in us, things that we’ve accepted as part of our character, in order to break its power over us. Prov 10:11

Jay and Martha: A prayer for safety – for many of us, we are much safer in our homes currently, but pray for those whose homes aren’t safe. Those in abusive situations, those are stuck with family members who they cannot be themselves safely around, those vulnerable to this illness that are living with key workers who are exposed. May God provide protection.

Emmanuel & Jumi: Be still and know that I am God

Constantin Zabo: I think God is telling us to pay attention to the times and the events around us. And you have to know everything has changed

Helen & Betty: To be open to the Spirit and to be willing to receive the courage and strength to respond.

Hannah Maylor: Good things are coming!

Nev & Lorna Plura: As we go out fill us with your Spirit. I can do nothing without You Lord.

Ian Peacock: I echo Morag’s prayer but also would ask God what he wants us to change as a result of this time. I don’t want us to lose what he is asking of us. Not just us as Christian but for us a society; the principle and gift of Sabbath rest, the refocus on community and relationship above work and money, the relief for the creation God asked us steward…..

Janet Downs: to step out in faith-filled with courage

Nicole Seddon: I pray for peace and that my children/ family (and populace) will feel safe and secure

Jill Reynolds: Also feel that God is moving the boundary stones – the border between races, the border between nations, the borders between ‘I can’ and ‘I can’t’, the people we choose to associate with and those we shun. He is expanding our territory.

Yvonne Simms: to trust Him and be obedient to His calling for me

Adam, Emily & Evelyn: a prayer for peace in the unknown

Steve & Claire: That this enforced “Pause” in life for so many, is an opportunity re-calibrate life and see what is important

Esther Tregilgas: Thank you God that you are in control and have the victory, we can put our trust in you.

Phil Lockett: come Holy Spirit make us bold that we may dare to share the good news and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ

Charlie and Kate Blundell: Go and fish. The seas are all now stirred up, the fish are ready to be caught. Go and fish; they are ready now, but will return to complacency when the waters settle.

Ann Salter: I am reminded constantly that God is a very present help in trouble he is not distant but here with us although this is new to us it’s not new to him who knows the end from the beginning

Gill Oldham: as I have been listening, I was reminded of the report of the spies who went to look at what was there when God was leading them to the promised land-a land flowing with milk & honey-but they didn’t all see the good things, some only saw the giants, but there were also good things there to focus on

Jo Wozencroft: That people will find community and friendship even amongst the isolation. That in the wake of a period of overwhelming division that we find a unity in this.

Jill Reynolds: This will be a time when we set up a memorial – like the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river in Joshua 4 – we will look back on this time and marvel at how far God’s brought us.

Julius Oluseli: It feels , it is a time of Life , we all NEED TO LOOK INWARDS. What is the spirit saying ….

Emmanuel & Jumi: I pray that we will remain Christ-focused and not be distracted by what is happening around us. Amen

Sunita Bih: In my quiet time this morning, I was reading from Luke 24 (road to Emmaus)…one thing that God imprinted on my heart is He is concerned of the physical ails but more our spiritual health-His death and resurrection did more that “restore the nation of Israel” as the disciples had hoped, He made away for us to be reconciled to the Father, for death to self and sin and defeat of the enemy. again in today’s reading, they ask about restoration of Israel and Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, about being His witnesses…hmmm. our “spiritual health” is more important than our ‘physical health’

Jill Reynolds: Thank you God that we are planted in our society for such a time as this! AMEN!

Constantin Zabo: He wants us to live in the changes of this new time close to him and following his direction. All hearts are ready to receive the good news of Jesus. We have to preach it.

Emmanuel & Jumi: I pray we will remember to appreciate the precious gift of time

Clare and Julian Gittings: that we will be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world

Fay Lowe: Someone asked on a programme last night “is the NHS the new religion in Britain, offering hope where the church has failed” I got the question, but it felt so so wrong, the church has a huge potential to bring God’s kingdom on earth. We need to listen for God’s guidance on how best to do this for our community.

MuNatsi’s iPhone: May the Lord make us instruments of His Peace in this time of uncertainty and be the hope that we all need.

#Salford #Elim #Church

0 notes

ulyssessklein · 6 years

Text

Gregg Allman – The Midnight Rider Crafting Music His Way!

By: Arlene R. Weiss

The legendary Gregg Allman – photo credit: Patricia O’Driscoll

Legend, music pioneer, and amazing blue-eyed soul stylist Gregg Allman can proudly lay claim to being one of the all time great, influential, landmark artists in rock history.

After some forty five years making music with his esteemed Allman Brothers Band, the ABB retired last October 2014 after playing an acclaimed slate of finale shows at New York’s Beacon Theater.

Allman, however is one exuberant musical road warrior and has no plans whatsoever to ever retire.

In keeping with his storied musical roots, Allman, much like the many venerable blues and R&B artists he has performed with and been influenced by, is busier than ever crafting new and exciting music projects.

Allman is a supreme solo artist who has written, recorded, and performed some of his most stellar craftwork on his own. He has enjoyed a highly successful solo career since 1973, launched by The Allman Brothers Band’s rejection of one of his most nuanced and emotionally rich songs, the enigmatic “Queen Of Hearts”. That rejection spurred Allman to go into the studio and cut his own debut solo album, the R&B and soul imbued, deeply personal “Laid Back”. He’s since released numerous acclaimed gold and platinum solo albums and toured with his solo groups, simultaneously while writing, recording, and performing with The Allman Brothers Band.

Gregg Allman -photo credit: sidneysmithphotos.com

These days, Allman now very much looks forward to dedicating all of his time towards songwriting, recording, and performing with his new eight member solo band. The current lineup, which Gregg expounds as the best ensemble he’s assembled yet, includes bassist Ron Johnson, drummer Steve Potts, keyboardist Ben Stivers, saxophonists Jay Collins and Art Edmaiston, Dennis Marion on trumpet, former ABB percussionist Marq Quinones, and Musical Director, guitarist Scott Sharrard.

Gregg lights up the stage with his band, while eloquently strumming his acoustic guitar, crafting richly nuanced textures on his beloved Hammond B3, and singing out his heart with sublime phrasing and soulful, purposeful emotion.

Last year some of music’s most esteemed artists honored and paid tribute to Allman at a special January 10, 2014 concert held at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theater. That concert, which featured Vince Gill, Jackson Browne, Robert Randolph, John Hiatt, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Trace Adkins, and Dr. John was released as the sterling CD/DVD All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs & Voice Of Gregg Allman.

Allman is especially proud and exuberant discussing his new live CD/DVD, Gregg Allman Live: Back To Macon, GA, recorded and filmed live at Macon, Georgia’s Grand Opera House, which will be released August 7, 2015 on Rounder Records.

The recording showcases dynamic live performances and interpretations of some of Gregg’s most stunning solo repertoire including “Queen Of Hearts” and “I’m No Angel”, and Allman’s superb readings of friend Jackson Browne’s “These Days”, Wilson Pickett’s “I Found A Love”, and Ray Charles’ “Brightest Smile In Town”. Allman Brothers Band signatures “Melissa”, “One Way Out”, “Midnight Rider”, “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’”, “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”, “Midnight Rider” and “Statesboro Blues” receive Gregg’s solo band’s interpretations, re-arranged and orchestrated featuring his band’s own musicality and its horn section to reflect an R&B groove.

“They really make things swing”, as Allman joyfully relates about his band’s virtuosity, and his ABB songs “have a sway to them now, and I enjoy that.”

Allman is also proud to be highlighted as a very special guest of Lynyrd Skynyrd, performing “Tuesday’s Gone” on their new double live CD/DVD, Lynyrd Skynyrd – One More For The Fans, coming out July 24, 2015, which was also filmed and recorded at Atlanta’s Fox Theater.

Allman is currently enjoying his 2015 U.S. and European solo tour which includes July 26’s Ramblin’ Man Fair in Maidstone, U.K., July 31’s Gathering Of The Vibes in Bridgeport, CT, August 13’s Peach Music Festival in Scranton, PA, September 20’s Blues and Brews Festival in Telluride, CO, and culminating on January 21, 2016 with The Rock Legends Cruise IV departing Fort Lauderdale.

Gregg also has plans to record more solo albums, which will showcase his own songwriting, with the possibility of collaborating again with Don Was who served as Musical Director and bassist for “All My Friends” and also with T-Bone Burnett again, who produced Allman’s 2011 critically acclaimed blues album, Low Country Blues.

For Gregg Allman, the road does indeed go on forever, and he exuberantly wouldn’t have it any other way, looking forward to writing, recording, and performing his dazzling and sublime soundscapes, continuously into the future. Just like the elder statesmen rock and blues artists and friends that Allman has spent much of his life collaborating with from B.B. King and Eric Clapton, to Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker.

Gregg Allman, the legendary blues brother and “Midnight Rider” graciously took time during his many 2015 summer show dates to fondly discuss his solo career, tour, and upcoming CD/DVD releases.

******

Gregg Allman playing his Gibson SG at The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA on New Years Eve – photo credit: sidneysmithphotos.com

Arlene R. Weiss: Hi Gregg, how are you? Congratulations on your solo band’s 2015 tour, and on the August 7, 2015 release of your new live CD/DVD, “Gregg Allman Live: Back To Macon, GA” recorded and filmed live at Macon’s Grand Opera House. What resonated about this particular performance and music venue for you, that made you want to release this show? What are some of the fond, creative highlight musical moments of that night that are captured in the release?

Gregg Allman: First off, let me say how proud I am of this album. We found a groove early that night, and it took off from there. We smoked it, boy! I listened to it a few weeks afterwards, and it passed the test with flying colors.

Macon is a place that holds many, many special memories for me, and I always look forward to playing there. The Opera House is a wonderful venue. The sound is incredible, man. Highlights? Everything we played was a highlight!

Arlene: Now that The Allman Brothers Band have retired, you can now concentrate and channel all of your artistic energy, time, and songwriting towards your solo career. In what ways does being able to now focus all of your creativity towards your solo career and music, inspire and affect your live performances with your solo band, your future plans to record your solo material, and especially your songwriting?

Gregg Allman: Well, I’ve had a solo career since 1973, so that hasn’t changed at all. The only thing that is different is that I don’t have to bounce back and forth between bands anymore.

I couldn’t be happier about how the Allman Brothers wrapped it up. We went out on top, man, and we’re all proud of that. Forty five years is a long, long time for any band to be together and play as well as we did. As for my solo band, things are great. There is only one cook in the kitchen, if you know what I mean, so there is no drama at all. We’ve developed real chemistry and I’m really enjoying what I’m doing now.

Gregg Almann – photo credit: sidneysmithphotos.com

Arlene: As a songwriter, over the years, how did you decide which of your songs you wanted to record and perform with The Allman Brothers Band, and which ones you wanted to record and perform as a solo artist? Was it a matter of your own choice, circumstance as in the ABB rejecting some of your songs, or some of both? Are there any songs of yours that the ABB didn’t do, that found a special place in your heart and in your solo career? Which of your songs are you proudest of and why?

Gregg Allman: A little bit of both, actually. You see, my solo career was launched by rejection. We were working on Brothers and Sisters, and I brought in “Queen of Hearts,” a song I had been slaving over.

I thought it was pretty good, but I couldn’t get anyone to pay attention to it. Finally, I pressed the issue a bit, and I was flat-out told the song didn’t say anything. Boy, that was all it took. I headed right into the studio and I started working on what would become “Laid Back”, my first solo album.

That rejection turned out to be the best thing that could have happened, and that is why “Queen of Hearts” is so important to me. As for other tunes, I’d say “Midnight Rider” is the song I’m proudest of in my career, and “Melissa” is special because it was the first song I wrote and kept, and it was my brother’s favorite.

Arlene: Your wonderful All My Friends CD/DVD which was filmed and recorded January 10, 2014 at Atlanta’s Fox Theater, and released last year featured some stellar artists in a tribute concert honoring you. You also were a very special guest of Lynyrd Skynyrd last November, also at Atlanta’s Fox Theater where you performed “Tuesday’s Gone” for their upcoming Lynyrd Skynyrd – One More For The Fans double CD/DVD coming out July 24, 2015. How did you become involved with these two projects and what were your emotions and creative experiences having so many of your peers tip their hat in praise to you and jamming with you?

Gregg Allman: I got involved with both of those projects through Michael Lehman, my manager. All My Friends was a true highlight of my latter years, no doubt. There was so much talent up on that stage it was unbelievable, man.

People were there from all stages of my career, and it is something I’ll never forget. The Skynyrd thing was very cool, as well. The original band was a special bunch, and they really loved and respected my brother.

The Brothers toured with the current Skynyrd line-up several times over the past ten years or so, and both bands had a lot of fun together, so I was honored to be part of the Skynyrd tribute. “Tuesday’s Gone” is a great tune, man, and it was the perfect song for me to sing. And with both shows being at the fabulous Fox, who could ask for more?

Gregg Allman – photo credit: sidneysmithphotos.com

Arlene: I watched a clip of you performing my favorite solo song of yours, “I’m No Angel” from your live CD/DVD. You’re in wonderfully vibrant and stellar form and your vocals are just supreme. Do you practice or do warm up exercises to maintain your legendary, soulful singing voice?

Gregg Allman: As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to take care of my voice. I put my vocal chords through a lot of abuse when I was younger.

Best thing I ever did was quit smoking. Man, smoking will just destroy your voice. I tell anyone who is a singer to never smoke, and if they do, to quit right now. I gargle in the shower with hot water every day, but nothing helps your voice more than a good night’s sleep. A long, deep sleep does wonders for your throat.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Arlene: Your solo band performs a blend of both Allman Brothers Band songs and songs from your solo catalogue. How do you arrange and orchestrate your ABB songs differently to reflect the different musicality of your solo band?

Gregg Allman: The biggest difference is that I have a horn section with my band, and they really make things swing. It’s more of an R&B groove, so I’ve re-arranged some of my Allman Brothers songs to better fit that sound. Songs like “Statesboro Blues,” “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’” and “Whipping Post” have a sway to them now, and I enjoy that.

Arlene: What are your future creative plans and projects?

Gregg Allman: I would like to do an album made up of solely my compositions, which I’ve been thinking about for some time now. The most important thing is that I plan on playing music for a long, long time. I can’t stop now, man.

0 notes