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tales-of-sweets · 2 years

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Tales of Graces F Playthrough Thoughts Pt.2

Under the cut, as usual!

-Firstly, I love and adore Malik and would give my life for him, he's totally precious. Dumb, soft, dad vibes.

-Asbel is so ridiculously emo, like I feel bad for him but I kinda wanna pick on him too (affectionate). Also like everyone hates this dude. Like I get what he did hurt a lot of people and they don't have to forgive him but Cheria has been so insensitive and Hubert is so cruel now that it's almost a little comical.

-Sophie is precious as always, I wanna give her a big hug. She continues to be my favorite, I want nothing but love and support and happiness for her.

-I really love how much Asbel has been treating Sophie like she's his child or little sister or something. The dynamic is definitely different than all those years ago but it's clear he still cares about her very much, even if he's uncertain if she's really the same Sophie. -And on that note... seriously guys? Like, I know it was years ago so maybe they can't picture her perfectly but how many other girls with purple pigtails, amnesia, super strength, and clothes that make her look like she came from space are hanging around the meadow? Who else could it possibly be? (now watch me be wrong somehow lol) -Despite how she treats Asbel rn I still like Cheria. I heard they get married eventually?? I think they're a little bit cute, I'm rooting for them!

-Richard.... good lord, I am so in love with this man. His appearance, his personality, his voice. But he, on the other hand, seems to be in in love with (or at least quite obsessed with) Asbel, especially since he has now saved his life twice. He won't stop telling him how happy he is to see him, how he's the only person in the world that he trusts, how Asbel was able to make him laugh for the first time in a long time, how when he was in danger again this time he wished Asbel would somehow show up to rescue him again (despite not seeing him for 7 years), and saying things like "I know you, you [would/wouldn't] do something like that" as though the two of them hadn't only hung out for a collective few hours 7 years ago lol. He seems like a very lonely and untrusting man so I can understand how their brief friendship really impacted him all this time.

-Pascal... DO NOT LIKE. The way she treats Sophie makes me very uncomfortable, especially when Sophie is always cowering behind Asbel because she's so scared of being touched by her. I know she's just excited about her research (though she also implied that she thought Sophie had a crush on Richard and that that made Richard her rival so idk...) but I still feel really bad for Sophie. I really wish I could like her because her personality reminds me of Magilou who I love and adore but ehhhh 😬 I dunno, maybe I'm too sensitive or maybe I love Sophie too much or something but I don't find this running gag to be funny or charming. If they don't keep this going the whole game and she eventually drops it I'll probably like her a lot more since I think she's funny in the very few moments where she's not doing that and her design is my favorite so far.

-Now on to the big thing... what the FUCK is going on with Sophie?? Her image in that weird machine??? Richard acting strange/afraid when he's around her? The black smoke things that happened when he touched his hand before? Both of their chests hurting in those catacombs? And then of course... her coming back to life in the same place she was originally found and at the same age she was when she died but... somehow with amnesia again??? I don't really care much about the main plot with the war and all that, I'm just dying to know what the heck is going on with these two. -And lastly, if one more person (Asbel... we know I mean Asbel...) says something about protecting someone or the words "7 years ago" I think I might go berserk and trash the city.

#jun plays graces #tales of graces #asbel lhant #richard of windor #sophie lhant #cheria barnes #pascal (tog)#malik caesar

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toonytoodles · 3 years

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Random fun fact time! Ft. OCs! (Repost because I added more/ edited a lot of stuff)

Avery -

- Sneezes like a kitten, and most of the time she accidentally uses her fire breathe when she sneezes, so watch out

- Sleeps on a rock

- Is made uncomfortable by actual dragons, it's just... too weird for her...

- Has a strange and inexplicable extreme fear of eels

- Reacts to fear by singing/humming/speaking very loudly, and also by running and screaming (basically, how markilpler acts when playing horror games? yeah that)

- At least once a week her dad has to help her brush through her hair, he says they should get it cut but she absolutely refuses

- Owns a few pairs of gloves- most of which look nearly identical. Some are for different days, some pairs are for bedtime, and some are for special occasions, but she also has some different types and styles of gloves for different events

- Loves the holidays, dislikes the weather that comes with it

- Absolutely hates people touching/messing with her tail, even if it's by accident she gets kinda mad. That's hers- don't touch it. (Emma's the only exception to this simply because it can't be avoided- although Emma does try to touch it as little as possible)

- Slightly allergic to pollen

- She has a clicking-like purr

- If you scratch under her chin she'll purr and relax, but if scratch a certain spot on her neck she'll sleepily fall over

- Adopted as an egg and raised by her human father and fairy mother

- Has a Scottish accent

- Works as a Glazier (glass blower) and makes potion bottles, also helps with making the potions, and occasionally costumer service and boring stuff like stocking/inventory

Emma -

- Plays with hoodie strings and/or hair when upset or nervous (it happens often, her hoodie strings are sorta worn out)

- She's a big fan of animals! Especially bears, puppies, and unicorns, she thinks they're adorable! When she was younger she used to like dragons quite a bit too

- She's a protective friend and big sister, and she's a little over protective over people she cares about

- Tends to read into things; if your tone or demeanor is slightly different she begins worrying that something's wrong or that she did something. She also tends to believe that no one actually wants to be her friend or wants to be nice to her, but that they're only being nice because they're afraid of her or pity her.

- LOVES HUGS!!! Absolutely loves them, hugging other giants, hugging people smaller than her, getting hugs, giving hugs, she loves hugs

- Once accidentally ate a fake candy cane decoration, off someone's front lawn, because she thought it was real gigantic candy, left out for giants (she was like four, so it made sense to her then, but she still gets made fun for it a bit by her family)

- Loves snow and winter

- Her favorite color is probably blue

- Is surprisingly good at sneaking up on people, for someone 30ft tall she's quiter than most borrowers

- Is the second oldest of five kids, her older brother Rory is 23, her younger brother Richard is 15, and her youngest sisters Aroura and Tiana are 6 and 8, and they're all pretty close

- Her dad is a size shifter, and so are Richard and Tiana, the rest of the family are giants

- She's ambidextrous

- Very cautious of her surroundings

- Hates surprises/being scared

- Bi-romantic and ace

Sofia -

- Can write without looking at what she's doing

- Only wears slip on shoes or shoes with Velcro/zippers, she never learned how to tie them, she couldn't figure out what to do with her head or look at what she was doing

- She's an artist! She likes to paint!

- Has a hard time saying "no," so when she says it, she means it

- Hates surprises and people sneaking up on her

- Has a pet python named Albert

- Probably the only person on the planet who has worse anxiety than Emma

- Don't call her "Soph" or "Sophie," and she gets mildly annoyed when her name is misspelled

- Typically uses right arm to carry head and left hand for everything else

- Has a weird sense of humor

- Has a million stuffed animals, has like 20 on her bed, but Rupert the blue bunny is her favorite

- She has an enchanted scarf that allows her to wear her head when needed, she doesn't usually use it because she's not used to it & it gives her anxiety (she's scared of the scarf falling off/being taken off unexpectedly) but she has it and uses it on occasion, mostly at home

- She doesn't let anyone else hold her head, it seriously freaks her out, her dad is the only exception, but Avery held her once for a group photo (her body took the picture)

-She loves singing and has a soft beautiful voice but is too shy to sing around anyone 🎶

- She was bullied when she was younger and doesn't like to talk about it, she already gets emotional easily and those memories hurt

- She loves Avery's jokes and has a bit of a weird sense of humor

- She's adopted, she lives with her human father (another fun fact, her dad is one of Avery's parents best friends!)

- Unlike Avery, she wasn't adopted as a baby, she was about 6-7ish when she was adopted

- Loves vegetables

- Gets embarrassed easily

- Doesn't go out of her comfort zone, she only does stuff when Avery basically forces her to

- She really likes Emma, but is also sorta scared of her sometimes, she's just scared of people and being looked at, so she can be a little overwhelming without meaning to be, it's nothing personal and she knows Emma wouldn't hurt a fly, she's just scared of people and sometimes Emma is a lot of person

- Doesn't want Emma to hold her (Emma respects it, although sometimes they work it out to where Emma can give her a gentle hug)

-Her favorite season is fall

-She loves rabbits and frogs, but won't admit she loves horses (there's a stereotype that all dullahans love horses, she won't give in)

-Hates confrontation

-Loves vanilla cake

-Hates strangers and people she's not comfortable around being anywhere near her

- Pansexual

- Sorta has a voice claim, but it's weird and sorta difficult to explain?

Andie -

- Has a French accent (picked it up from dad)

- One of my only OCs to have a voice claim

- Plays the flute

- Mean, selfish, and self centered, but somehow also a good person

- Sings sentences sometimes

- Scared of turtles

- Works as a bard/waitress at the family tavern

- Unfortunately she is heterosexual

Andy -

- Somehow didn't pick up their fathers accent

- One of my only OCs to have a voice claim

- Plates the lute

- Genuine and kind hearted, but also a bumbling moron

- Dreams of being a song writer, wants to be a professional musician

- Works as a bard/waiter at the family tavern

- Bi, but prefers women

Clementine -

- A book worm

- Likes to sing

- Practices magic, knows a few interesting spells

- Sometimes her and Avery fight over magic usage vs. potion usage (they know it's a dumb fight, but they don't care, at this point it's a joke)

- She's a white tailed deer

- She has great hearing, and is usually very aware of her surroundings

- She wants to be a magic professor as an adult

- Demisexual, pan, but prefers men

Pond-

- Elementals don't really have gender, she chooses to present as female and use female pronouns

- Can't "see," but rather senses vibrations, since she's made out of water she doesn't have eyes, but based on other senses she can get around just fine

- She can't smell either

- Doesn't care for romance

- Has 4 pet fish she keeps with her, named Karl, Frank, Phillip, and Fish

- She has a baby sister, Brook

- She's odd and can be off putting unless you know her pretty well, then her weirdness is sort of endearing

- She can tell her friends apart by the way they walk and their gestures, and of course their voices, but really has no idea what any of them look like, she knows their species and the normal traits of those species, but not much outside that

- She doesn't eat or drink

- Smart, but sorta reckless

- Sorta hard to hug :( but the others still try

Sapphire -

- Has minimal size shifting abilities, but prefers to be her true size, she loves sitting on her husband's shoulders or in his pockets (She's about 5ft in her bigger form)

- Used to be an adventurer, at one point she was a pirate

- Met her husband on one of her adventures

- Has a Scottish accent

- She has a sword her size (no it's not a toothpick or a toy or anything, she has an actual tiny sword) 🗡

- Makes potions for the shop and deals with customers

- Grew up outside of Tradeskeep, her and Kal retired from their adventuring career and settled down there

Kalvin -

- Used to be an adventurer/ mercenary

- Huge, ripped, has all kinds of scars, but his 4" tall wife is scarier than he his, he's basically a teddy bear

- Makes potions, does restocking, inventory, and doesn't as much anymore, but makes potion bottles

- Has scars/tattoos from various adventures

- Used to have dragon scale armor, he once saved a village from a dragon, but has sold it and no longer tells the story, he now claims it was a bear

- He's a great dad ❤

- Loves ale & meat, but not as much as his girls

- I cannot overstate how much he loves his family, he LOVES his wife and daughter, like a LOT, it pretty much defines who he is, he's a family man

- Met his wife while on a quest

- He used to be a nomad while adventuring and getting paid for jobs, he'd wander from town to town, until he settled at Tradeskeep and put up a shop

Ok so i know that's a lot, but it's there for anyone who's interested in all that ❤ I have other facts too, so if you wanna know any more just look around on my blog or send an ask, Q&A for OCs are open, and I'm open to art/writing requests/ideas! ❤

#toonytoodlesocs #avery trowbridge #amelia mcconnel #sofia hodges #clementine moores #pond the elemental #sapphire and kalvin #andie & andy

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themackenzies · 4 years

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Thoughts on Outlander 5.05 - ‘Perpetual Adoration’

Time is a lot of the things people say that God is. There’s the always preexisting, and having no end. There’s the notion of being all powerful—because nothing can stand against time, can it? Not mountains, not armies. And time is, of course, all-healing. Give anything enough time, and everything is taken care of: all pain encompassed, all hardship erased, all loss subsumed. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Remember, man, that thou art dust; and unto dust thou shalt return. And if Time is anything akin to God, I suppose that Memory must be the Devil. — Prologue, A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Wow, I loved this episode, and for the first time this season I’m excited to sit down and write about Outlander. The 1960′s flashbacks, Roger and Bree hashing things out, adorable Adso (I am a dog person, but geez that’s a cute kitten)...this episode felt nostalgic, and good, and right. Material from the books was adapted really well and didn’t feel shoehorned in. To be honest, after last week’s ‘The Company We Keep’, I was considering abandoning the show because I was so disappointed by the writing and characterization of Roger. But, after Episode 5? I’m excited to see the rest of the season!

There’s a lot to unpack from this episode, so I won’t touch on everything, or this will get too long, but here are my thoughts.

Since the title card for this episode is taken from the flashbacks, I’ll start my episode review by talking about Claire, Joe, and Bree in the 1960′s. Claire’s voice over of the prologue from A Breath of Snow and Ashes gave me goosebumps, as did Bree’s line, “Man, I guess you never really know what’s coming, do you?”

It’s so great seeing Joe again, even though it makes me sad that we never got to see Roger or adult Bree interact with him on the show. I smiled at the reference to the romance novel The Impetuous Pirate from Voyager.

The lounge wasn’t empty. Joseph Abernathy sat in one of the rump-sprung stuffed chairs, apparently absorbed in a copy of U.S. News & World Report. He looked up as I entered, and nodded briefly to me before returning to his reading. The lounge was equipped with stacks of magazines— salvaged from the waiting rooms— and a number of tattered paperbacks, abandoned by departing patients. Seeking distraction, I thumbed past a six-month-old copy of Studies in Gastroenterology, a ragged copy of Time magazine, and a neat stack of Watchtower tracts. Finally picking up one of the books, I sat down with it. It had no cover, but the title page read The Impetuous Pirate. “A sensuous, compelling love story, boundless as the Spanish Main!” said the line beneath the title. The Spanish Main, eh? If escape was what I wanted, I couldn’t do much better, I thought, and opened the book at random. — Chapter 18, Voyager

The 60′s costumes, sets, and hair were on point. Man, I really miss the 60′s-70′s stuff (and wish there had been more of Roger and Bree in that time in Season 4 - flashes back and forth like they did with Claire and Jamie in Season 3 would have been awesome). I also liked how the flashbacks connected with the 1700′s story lines. It wasn’t until I rewatched that I even really listened to and absorbed Claire’s voice over throughout the episode about God and the spiderweb:

“I wonder, is time God’s eternal web, silk strands stretching through time, the mildest touch setting off vibrations that echo through the eons? ... Is God the spider, embracing us through our death and resurrection, or is he simply the spinner of the web, watching as the silk shimmers and vibrates through the cosmos, awakening the real spiders, the ones lurking deep within the recesses of our own natures? ... God the infinite, God the merciful, God the eternal. Someday, I will stand before God and I will receive answers to all my questions about everything in his universe, and I do have many questions. But I won’t ask about the nature of time. I’ve lived it.”

There was something about the spiderweb metaphor that sounded really familiar, but I couldn’t recall if it was taken from any of the books or not. So, I did a search for “spiderweb” in The Fiery Cross, and found a couple of passages that I’m still mulling over. There’s this bit from Chapter 37:

“Brianna. What do you want? Do you want Stephen Bonnet dead?” She glanced at me, then away, looking out the window while she patted Jemmy’s back. She didn’t blink. Finally, her eyes closed briefly, then opened to meet mine. “I can’t,” she said, low-voiced. “I’m afraid if I ever let that thought in my mind … I’d never be able to think about anything else, I’d want it so much. And I will be damned if I’ll let … him … ruin my life that way.” Jemmy gave a resounding belch, and spit up a little milk. Bree had an old linen towel across her shoulder, and deftly wiped his chin with it. Calmer now, he had lost his look of vexed incomprehension, and was concentrating intently on something over his mother’s shoulder. Following the direction of his clear blue gaze, I saw the shadow of a spiderweb, high up in the corner of the window. A gust of wind shook the window frame, and a tiny spot moved in the center of the web, very slightly. “Yeah,” Brianna said, very softly. “I do want him dead. But I want Da and Roger alive, more.”

And also this bit from Chapter 73:

She had begun to realize, listening to the talk in the Sherstons’ parlor over the last few weeks, that the Colony was a vast spiderweb. There were innumerable strands of commerce along which a few large spiders—and a number of smaller ones—made their delicate way, always listening for the faint hum of distress made by a fly that had blundered in, always testing for a thinning strand, a broken link. The smaller entities glided warily along the margins of the web, with an eye out always for the movements of the bigger ones—for spiders were cannibals—and so, she thought, were ambitious men. Her father’s position was prominent—but by no means so secure as to resist the undermining effects of gossip and suspicion. She and Roger had talked about it before, privately, speculating; the fracture-lines were already there, plain enough to someone who knew what was coming; the strains and tensions that would deepen into sudden chasm—one deep enough to sunder the colonies from England. Let the strain grow too great, too quickly, let the strands between Fraser’s Ridge and the rest of the Colony fray too far … and they might snap, wrapping sticky ends in a thick cocoon round her family and leaving them suspended by a thread—alone, and prey to those who would suck their blood.

Back on Fraser’s Ridge...

That pillow talk scene between Roger and Bree is the best romantic chemistry I’ve seen between them this season (yes, even better than their wedding). Sophie and Richard acted their scenes, most of which were adapted from Chapter 6 of The Fiery Cross, extremely well.

She was an only child, as he was; she knew the yearning for connection and closeness—but hers had been gratified. She had had not one loving father but two. A mother who had loved her beyond the bounds of space and time. The Murrays of Lallybroch, that unexpected gift of family. And most of all, her son, her flesh, her blood, a small and trusting weight that anchored her firmly to the universe. But Roger was an orphan, alone in the world for such a long time. His parents gone before he knew them, his old uncle dead—he had no one to claim him, no one to love him for the sake only of his flesh and bone—no one save her. Little wonder if he hungered for the certainty she held in her arms when she nursed her child.

My one complaint is that I wish Bree hadn’t stayed silent after Roger asked, about Jemmy’s paternity, "In your heart, what do you truly believe?” That discussion was very heartbreaking.

Thankfully, Roger returns to Bree in the morning, apologetic, after his heart to heart with Claire.

“Oh I wish I had a bit of a husband’s intuition.” “You haven’t been married very long. Intuition comes with listening and time.” “I have time in spades.” [...] “Roger, don’t be careless with the time you have together.”

Perhaps Roger is remembering what he told Jocasta in Episode 1: “I may not have any property or money, but I have time. And I will give it all to Brianna and Jeremiah.”

Everything comes full circle at the end of the episode when Jamie returns home, and Claire shares what’s on her mind:

“Do you know what I finally realized after all these years? Just how much I owe him. His death had a profound effect on me, so much so that I took a leave of absence from work, and went to London with Brianna, and that was where I learned of Reverend Wakefield’s passing. Had we not attended that funeral, we would never have crossed paths with Roger or...or found you.”

A few final, stray thoughts:

I know the priest’s line, “No one’s lost who’s not forgotten” is about Claire remembering Jamie...but, Stephen Bonnet haunting Brianna is what popped into my mind. Brianna has forgiven Bonnet, but hasn’t forgotten him.

Lizzie being present during Kezzie’s surgery and blushing/smiling when he had to drop his britches was funny and cute. They’re clearly laying groundwork for Season 6 (or maybe Season 5?).

I love the sunshine and verdant trees in this episode. It was pretty and refreshing.

Even though I loved Roger in this episode, I haven’t forgotten how poorly he was written in the first 4 episodes and in ‘The Company We Keep’ in particular. I’ll leave that rant for another post, though.

I’m still puzzled by Roger and (maybe?) Bree wanting to back through the stones. On thelitforum.com, Diana said something about the writers, in the first episode, establishing that Bree promised Roger they would go back. But, if Bree made a promise like that, we haven’t heard about it on screen. I don’t understand why that would be cut, because it’s important context to have.

I don’t really have anything to say about Jamie in this episode. I’m bored by the Regulator story line, and am anxious for us to get to Alamance, so all of that can finally be put to bed.

Based on the preview for Episode 6...it looks like Jamie and Claire will be going to Jocasta’s wedding by themselves, while Roger and Bree stay on the Ridge. Interesting.

Roger’s scruff was perfect. Crossing my fingers he stops shaving for the remainder of the season.

“Women will do anything for trinkets, coins, jewels. Anything at all. They’re yours for a pretty penny, or a diamond, or a ring.” “My lass is more concerned with words and deeds.” Bonnet makes me want to vomit, but I loved Roger’s response about pragmatic Bree.

I love how naturally God and religion are being woven into this season. It makes me wish the show runners had the guts to do it in earlier seasons.

#outlander #perpetual adoration #episode review #season 5 #show talk

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aceofwhump · 4 years

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Okay I think enough time has passed that I can post this now. Here are my thoughts on Outlander 5x08

MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT!!!!!

LIKE A LOT

I SPOIL SO MANY THINGS SO PLEASE KEEP SCROLLING IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED!!

So I am both disappointed by and incredibly happy with Outlander 5x08. Mostly pretty happy. It’s a weird contradiction but I'll try to explain.

The Disappointments:

We only got like a minute of them saving Roger and that was it. PLUS it was told via silent film style. Which mean it was quick, in black and white, and SILENT.

I’m so utterly pissed off over the fact that they included my favorite Jamie/Roger line BUT IT WAS SILENT!!! Jamie told Roger, with a hand over his heart, “You’re alive. You’re whole. All is well” BUT IT WAS SILENT! I DIDN’T GET TO HEAR JAMIE SAY IT TO HIM!!!! I’M SO MAD ABOUT THAT!!! I WANTED TO HEAR IT SAID OUT LOUD SO BADLY!! I LOVE THAT LINE!!!!

I also really wanted to see the life saving surgery Claire performs on Roger and it was all shown via silent film style and I did not like that at all. I feel like it really took me away from the moment and as a whump lover I desperately wanted to see this moment in all of its brutal glory.

We didn’t see any of the 3 months of recovery!!!!!! Absolutely none of it!!! Not one second!!! I'm SO pissed!!!

Honestly that was pretty much it. I was so severely disappointed as a whump fan that those scenes didn’t happen and that we cut straight to 3 months later. So fucking pissed we never saw Claire take care of him or how afraid Bree was to leave his side for fear he’d die. That we never saw Roger want to tell them what happened to him but be unable to because of his voice and his hands. Jamie talking to him or how his words were an anchor for him when he woke up. I’m so mad we got none of that. UGH!

Oh I with there had been more moments with him and Jemmy because the book had Jemmy has a big reason why he works on his voice and begins to heal and in this episode Jemmy was kinda nothing to him.

The Happy:

This episode was entirely focused on Roger!!!!! I was so worried it wouldn't be because his story is often set aside for other stupid things but this episode was all Roger baby!!! THE FOCUS WAS ON ROGER FOR A MAJORITY IF NOT ALL OF THE EPISODE!!!!!!!! That’s what he deserved and I am beyond thrilled about it!!!

Roger teaching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE SAW OXFORD PROFESSOR ROGER WAKEFIELD AND I DIED!!! He’s an amazing teacher and I loved seeing him as a professor.

Richard Rankin portrayed Roger’s trauma and ptsd so incredibly perfect I have no words. The way that man is able to portray Roger’s fear, sadness, loneliness, and despair without saying a single word is a true testament to his acting abilities. His eyes spoke volumes

I got so emotional every time we saw Roger alone because that’s how he feels. He’s lost and scared and alone and I just wanted to hug him. I think the most poignant moment for this, for me was the dinner scene where there was an empty chair, Roger being conspicuously absent during that scene only for us to see that he's actually alone in the cabin trying to sing again and having flashbacks. It's so freaking heartbreaking!!!

Each flashback Roger had throughout the episode. I loved that not only were these moments throughout the whole episode but they were shown through Roger's eyes. I loved that the feel of the burlap bag sent him into a ptsd induced flashback, how Marsali kept pulling the Hanged Man card for his tarot reading and it gave him flashbacks, the nightmare and the flashback he had by the cliff. All so emotional and all wonderfully showed how deeply scarred Roger is by this trauma.

Roger crying. Look I love whump and emotional whump is my favorite thing in the world so every time Roger let some tears loose I loved it. When he cried hearing Brianna sing Clementine to Jemmy and then when he let one tear drop while Bree told him to fight I LOST IT OKAY I LOST IT AND I CRIED BOTH TIMES RIGHT WITH HIM

The astrolabe. I absolutely loved how it was included in the episode and how Ian used it to calm Roger after he had a nightmare. Amazing. "Wherever you thought you were, we're both still here" UGH MY HEART

Lord John Grey and Bree. I love their friendship and how at ease they are with each other and their scene was so cute and perfect.

IAN! YOUNG IAN IS BACK AND I LOVE YOUNG IAN AND HE WAS SO GOOD IN THIS EPISODE

The scene of Marsali playing with the tarot cards with Roger was cute until it was sad. I thought it was cute that she was taking time out of her day to sit with Roger and play cards with him and just be with him. She thought about how alone he must be and decided to keep him company. And then it all went to shit when she pulled the Hanged Man card twice and Roger had a flashback and then I cried a lot.

The paper airplane. That was a wonderful way for Bree to connect with Roger. It wasn’t demanding or aggressive. It was sweet and open and full of meaning for him. I loved it.

Claire worrying that Roger plans on killing himself and voicing those concerns to Jamie. Any time we get Claire worrying about Roger makes me happy and now we got Jamie worried too and yes! LOVE IT!

This episode was a great discussion of how Bree and Jamie and Roger all deal/dealt with trauma differently. Jamie got lost for a while like Roger. Brianna had to fight and act normal and be normal. Roger is lost and broken. People respond to trauma differently.

Sophie’s singing!! She sings so beautifully! It was so nice to see her singing to Jemmy but then I got sad because Roger could hear it and he started fucking sobbing because he’ll never be able to sing to his son again and I thought about the promise he made and now i’m gonna cry

The moment when Roger returns from the surveying trip and finally speaks to Bree and tells her what he’s been going through. God it was hard to watch but so so good!!

Honestly the whole trip with Ian to survey the land was perfection.

THE END CREDITS!! ROGER/RIK AND BREE/SOPHIE SINGING CLEMENTINE TOGETHER!! PERFECTION

I liked that this episode really showed how Roger’s voice is his identity, his strength, and how lost and afraid he is without it. This whole season has been trying to show how Roger fights not with his hands or with a weapon but with his words. He talks to people, he sings to them and we’ve seen the effect it has. Without his voice Roger is utterly lost. His whole identity is shaken and hes afraid. What will he do now?

Was Disappointed by At First but Came To Love by the End:

The silent film flashbacks.

I'm really very conflicted about the flashbacks. I hate it because it took away from my whump but I also thought, by the end, that it was the PERFECT way to show Roger's flashback episodes because when you have a trauma related flashback like that it really can be just specific scenes playing over and over in your mind. And for Roger this is just how it happens. Silent, jarring, and disjointed. Silent film style was kind of the perfect way to encapsulate that feeling inside of Roger for the audience.

As I thought on it more and more I think showing it to us only as silent film only to show the whole hanging scene in all of its technicolor glory was fucking brilliant because not only were the silent film parts showing us how its seen in Rogers head but when we see it in full is the moment Roger is able to take a step forward in his recovery. He sees it all clearly for the first time and is able to accept it and begin to move forward and I think that amazing.

So even though I still wish the saving wasn't in b&w silent film style I do love the use of it throughout the rest of the episode. They could have done the Claire surgery part in normal and throw in the silent film flashbacks between moments and the continue to use it for the rest of the episode like they did. It would have made Roger seem to be coming in and out if consciousness, seeing his hanging and then jumping into the tracheotomy and back to silent film hanging and then bam its Brianna whispering for him to open his eyes then bam hanging silent film and zap Jamie is speaking and end with a fade out and then fade into the 3 months later. That's how I'd have done it i guess.

The changing of the first time Roger speak

I was so pissed that they didn’t have Roger say Brianna’s name after he shouted at Jemmy to not touch the hot stove but it made the moment when he does say her name after returning from the surveying trip so much sweeter. And at the time, he was still really broken and scared to speak so saying her name at the time wouldn’t have been right. I liked that even though he said something he was still broken and not ready. It was the right time for it in the books but not for this episode.

Ian coming back early

I had a feeling Ian was returning when I saw that promo pic of Claire and Jamie smiling with Jemmy and I was soooooooo worried he was going to overshadow Roger but he didn’t! Even when he arrived and killed the boar I was like oh god was that all of Roger we're gonna see now that hes back!? But that didnt happen at all!! In fact, they were great parallels to each other and helped each other heal in a way that was so much better than the book. And I loved that Roger was the first to hug Ian and he tried to thank him and speak but couldn’t and sort of ran away. It was great. the actors worked so well together

Roger's surveying trip

I was mad at first that they shoved Ian in with Roger on his what is supposed to be a personal healing journey because I was worried this would take away from how healing this job becomes for him. He uses this surveying job to find his way again and I didn’t want putting Ian with him to disrupt that. Roger’s story hasn’t been treated well so I get worried a lot that his time is gonna be taken by someone else. But this was an amazing idea and the whole trip was remarkably better than the books. I hated the whole fire and seeing Fanny Beardsley thing that went on in the books so I’m very glad it happened like this. This was way better. Ian and Roger were able to help each other and I loved that Ian was kind of looking after Roger during the trip. I wonder if Jamie or Claire asked him to do that. It must have been really hard to film those scene with only Ian being able to talk but the two of them were amazing together. I loved it.

So even though I didn’t get a lot of what I wanted to see I think I'm really happy with this episode. We got some incredible ptsd related emotional whump from Roger, everyone worrying about and trying to help him, and Richard is so amazing I think I can be okay with not seeing some of those book scenes I wanted to see. Still gonna be disappointed by it cause that's quality whump I not getting but god this episode was so damn good it's okay. I love the changes they made and the acting was phenomenal. There were some really heartbreaking moments and I love it. Really, it was a great episode.

#Outlander spoilers #spoilers #outlander thoughts #Outlander 5x08 #outlander #5x08 famous last words #roger mackenzie #not whump but kinda whump related #mod's thoughts #mod post

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aurantia-ignis · 4 years

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Track 09: Raise the Curtains

Tales of Graces Anthology Drama CD Summer 2012 (Rough translation)

(Listen)

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, "The Princes of Heaven and Earth" will soon begin. Please make you way to your designated seat.

Cheria: It's about to begin...

Sophie: There are so many people in the audience!

Malik: Chancellor Eigen has come to observe, too. Everyone, I'm counting on you.

All: Yes!!

Asbel: I couldn't have made it here alone. Thank you, Lambda.

Lambda: Hmph. That goes without saying.

Asbel: Well then! Let's go!!

---

Richard: "How cold! To think that our country's political situation has fallen this far... And to think that the fault lies with none other than my own father! It torments me! Is there no way to solve this... Unless I seek the power of the Goddess, like the Jesters said..."

Asbel: "Does the prince think only of political problems!? That's why the commoners are always suffering."

Richard: "Who are you?"

Asbel: "Because of her illness, my Wife cannot walk. The poor have no means to seek doctors. If this goes on... If this goes on! We will be... cast... cast... um..." What was it again...

Lambda: Argh, change over! Leave this to me!

L!Asbel: "I can no longer rely on this country! I will face all the trials, attain the power of the Goddess, and save my Wife!"

Richard: Hmph, not bad, Lambda. "Then we become enemies! Though I did not wish to fight you, we say farewell!"

Asbel: Thanks a lot, Lambda!

Lambda: No need. The next scene is beginning. Return to the wing.

Asbel: Yeah!

---

Barry: "Bring the man onto the execution stand!"

Asbel: "I wanted to save my Wife, but I have caused her suffering instead. Is this the retribution for the foolish me?!"

Barry: "Executioner, forward!!"

Barry: What's wrong...?

Barry: "E-Executioner, forward!!"

Barry: What's going on? Where's Raymond gone?!

Asbel: Wha-- A monster!?

Hubert: What... What's happening!? This isn't in the script!

Raymond: Let's see how that blockhead deals with this, eh? It'll be entertaining~~

Hubert: Cousin Raymond! This was your doing!?

Sophie: What do we do? I want to save them, but... the play will be ruined!

Asbel: Damn it! I can't loosen the ropes! At this rate, even the audience will---!!

Lambda: Leave it to me. I'm borrowing this body for a while.

Asbel: Lambda...

L!Asbel: "Do you think you can pass judgement on me? Step down!!"

Barry: The monster... collapsed...

Lambda: Looks like this one has my blood... I will not allow it to run amok.

Lambda: I've taken the power of this monster. Your body has been burdened, however. Can you stand?

Asbel: Yeah. I'm fine.

Lambda: As usual, your body is your only strength. At least that foolishness and sturdiness will keep you stubbornly alive...

Asbel: What are you talking about?

Lambda: Nothing... It just means... that Protos Heis won't be left alone like that...

Asbel: ？

Richard: Lambda... He didn't just save Asbel, he was smart enough to avoid ruining the play, too...

Sophie: Lambda!

Raymond: Dammiiiit!! My plans have failed again!!

Pascal: Sophie, Richard! It's almost the climax scene! Get ready!

---

Sophie: "I was already prepared to become human for you! Are you going to leave before me?!"

Richard: "Goddess... My... goddess... Let us go... together... Will you take me... to heaven..."

Sophie: "Prince... Prince!!"

Malik: Right! The rain effect, now!!

Pascal: Got it!! Hm? How strange, it's not moving... Ah! Could it have been broken by the monster just now?!

Malik: What!? If we don't have the rain effect here the story won't be resolved properly!

Pascal: Even if you say that!

Sophie: Why... He really looks like he's dead... No... no... I don't... I don't want that!!

Pascal: What's this?

Cheria: It's beautiful...

Asbel: I see! Are these Sophie's tears?!

Richard: It's all right. I'm not dying yet.

Sophie: Richard...

Richard: It's not just me. Asbel too. Everyone else. We can't die until we make many, many more memories with you, Sophie.

Sophie: Richard!

Richard: Now, it's the last scene! Let's do it together!

Sophie: Yes!

---

Malen: "The Prince and the Goddess ascended to Heaven. The remaining Prince of the Earth looked up to the skies, and made them a vow."

Asbel: "He has not gone! The Prince is in Heaven, watching over us, with the Goddess by his side! Now! Let us stand and face the future! For the sake of this country! For the sake of those we love!"

---

Asbel: We're done...

All: Good job!!

Asbel: Everyone!

Richard: You concluded it really well, Asbel!

Asbel: Nah, I was nowhere near as good as you two. Sophie, you did wonderfully well!

Sophie: Thank you! And Lambda? Did he enjoy the play?

Asbel: What do you say, Lambda? Huh? Wha... Lambda?

Richard: What's wrong?

Asbel: Seems like he's gone to sleep again.

Sophie: No... I wanted to talk to him more...

Asbel: He'll wake again. When he does, we'll find something even more fun to do with him!

Sophie: Okay!

Pascal: Hey! Everyone, listen! Chancellor Eigen says he was really moved!

Malik: From now on, they won't scrimp on support for the troupe. You've all done a great job! On behalf of Fendel, I thank you!

Pascal: And so, they're asking us to sign on the wall of the theatre as a memorial! Well then! The three leads, go ahead!

Asbel: Me too?! That's kind of embarrassing...

Richard: Why? If you think of us all as a play, you're definitely the lead in the center of us all.

Hubert: That's right! Don't hold back, write your name big and proud!

Asbel: Right! Then, I'll write here...

Richard: I'll take the spot beside you. Here, Sophie, you too.

Sophie: Ah, okay. Like this..? So...ph...ie

Asbel Somehow... Doing it this way reminds me of our Friendship Pact.

Richard: Right?

Sophie: It really does!

Asbel: Oh! In that case...

Richard: This is...

Sophie: La... mb... da? Lambda! Asbel, it's Lambda, isn't it!

Asbel: Yeah. Because he's the fourth main lead, and our friend!

Richard/Sophie: Yes!

Pascal: Heyyy! They've brought the drinks for a toast! Grab one, everyone!

Malik: Right then, Asbel! You give the toast!

Asbel: Ah, okay! Let's do it the Windol way! To a bright future and exciting growth for the Fendel Theatrical Troupe, and to everyone's happiness! May the wind guide our blades!

All: May the wind guide our blades!!

#Happy birthday Artpharos #I'll sub it properly when I come back from Japan #so this is just a rough translation

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flyingfish1 · 5 years

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Charlie and Charlie: one character arc, two genres

AU as genre difference

Original Charlie is the (disillusioned) heroine of a quest/adventure story. AU Charlie is the (disillusioned) heroine of a romance novel.

“I was raised on Tolkien, man. … Where are my White Walkers and my volcano and magic ring to throw in the damn thing? Where -- where's my quest?” - 9x04

“Sam, before all this, I was just a programmer at Richard Roman Enterprises. I lived with the love of my life…. She owned a bakery outside of Chicago. Cupcakes. It was like something out of a storybook.” - 14x06

First of all, I am so, so happy that Steve Yockey seems to be picking up where Robbie Thompson left off. Almost all of Robbie Thompson’s Charlie episodes explored stories and storytelling to some degree, from one-off lines like 7x20’s “The really evil [villains] always need a special sword” to the fully-fledged Wizard of Oz fanfic of 9x04 and 10x11, and everything in between. Yockey taking up the “meta madness” storytelling theme in his first Charlie episode is a delight.

But the direction he takes it in is especially cool. It closely links the two Charlies and helps the audience (or at least me :p) understand how AU!Charlie relates to Original Charlie’s narrative. It also takes pains to differentiate the two characters, so we don’t feel like the show is pushing AU!Charlie as a replacement for the original Charlie we loved. AND it plays around with the AU worlds in an interesting way: alternate universes as different genres of stories!

So, our original Charlie’s story is all about exploring what it is to be a hero in an adventure story. First she runs from the idea, then she embraces it, and then she’s slapped with all the horrible downsides, and she has to grapple with what it all means for her. AU!Charlie’s story, meanwhile, seems to be focusing on what it is to be a romance heroine: at first she isn’t looking for love, then she finds it and embraces it, and then she loses it in the most horrific way, and now she has to figure out how to approach human connection. The same (or close enough) story beats filtered through two different genres.

When we first meet our Charlie in 7x20, she’s willing to do what she can to stop everyone around her from getting eaten (“What kind of douchebag stands by for that?”) but she wants nothing to do with the final boss battle or with monsters and hunting: “Never contact me again, like, ever,” she orders Sam and Dean. “Good luck saving the world.” When she comes back in 8x11, as soon as she realizes that monsters are involved, she plans to blow up her life and disappear again: “What I care about is not getting my other arm broken, or dying. So I'm dropping my sword and walking off the stage, bitches.” She’s purely in self-preservation mode until she realizes that she can’t just stand by and let people get killed “on [her] watch.” That’s when she starts to embrace the identity of “hero.” Dean reminds her that she’s already a hero for helping defeat Dick Roman, and then...

Gilda: I can't break free from the spell, myself. A hero must take my master's book of magic and destroy it, breaking the spell.

Charlie: Gilda, my name is Charlie Bradbury, and I am here to rescue you.

After that, she’s all about seeking out adventures. She starts hunting and she yearns for a quest like the ones in the fantasy books she grew up reading. She leaps at the chance to hunt with Dorothy and journey to Oz (“Wicked Witch, a key, a quest? Let's do this”). But she turns herself into a killer during that quest, and she sustains a lot of psychological damage in the process, as represented by the spell that rips her into two halves of herself. Her dark side can only sneer about adventures, and her light side sums up, “It was awesome. Until not so much.” Once her whole self is back together again, she admits, “I think we have all the adventure we can handle right here.... I just got to keep moving forward (10x11).”

She’s experienced both the wonderful and the awful sides of being a hero, and she has to think about what that means for her life as a hunter.

Charlie: You know, I haven’t been a hunter for very long, but it feels like this is the life. Mostly ends in Sophie’s choices, death, or tears. Usually, all of the above, huh? How did this become my life? I mean, I was gonna own my own start-up, marry ScarJo, invent something cool. Now I’m just… I’m just happy to be alive (10x18).

This is where we see the biggest overlap between the Charlies.

AU!Charlie: I hate hunting.

Sam: Really? ‘Cause I gotta say, you’re kinda awesome at it.

Charlie: Yeah, well, when it’s that or die by angel kill squad… [trails off suggestively]

Sam: Right.

Charlie: I mean, no offense, but who wants to be a hunter? This job—just a lot of tears and death.

Sam: Huh. Funny, you said something like that to me once long ago, about hunting—not you. Sorry. Our Charlie.

Charlie: Well, she was right (14x06).

And how did this Charlie get to that point? Well, in a pretty similar way, really. “I wasn’t looking for love,” she says, just like the original Charlie wasn’t originally looking for adventure. But then she met Kara and it changed everything. “She always smelled like peaches, and her smile was just....” They lived together blissfully in a life “like something out of a storybook” until the Apocalypse hit and it was all ripped away from her: “When the food ran out, people got mean. Mobs started forming, stealing whatever they could get their hands on. A lot of people died. Kara died.”

She experienced the best and the worst of love and of interpersonal relationships. Her faith in society -- in people relating to people -- is deeply shaken: “People are always the same when things go wrong. They lose it. ... It’s a fact about society. It all falls apart.” And now she just wants to get “Away! From monsters, from—people. I’ll go live on a mountaintop or something.” She wants to run away from what she sees as the problem -- other people -- so she doesn’t have to deal with any of it anymore.

But Sam insists, “People need people.... If we help people then maybe they’ll help people, and all that—and that’s worth it. Even with all the tears, and death. It’s worth it,” and Charlie concedes, “I’ll think about staying.” She’s still going to have to grapple with relationships. I’m really looking forward to seeing how she handles it :)

It’s a really interesting way of approaching the character -- of both characters -- and honestly, even speaking as somebody who was massively wary of AU!Charlie because I was worried about original Charlie being replaced or forgotten, I love it. And I like her. The genre difference is a clear dividing line between the two characters (along with the dialogue, obviously: “She ain’t me!” etc.) even as the similar story beats link them together.

The genre-bending also, imo, shows something interesting about the ways Supernatural itself has shifted genres over the years. In season eight, when Charlie’s ties to the heroic quest narrative were first established, the show was taking a lot of cues from action/adventure stories like Indiana Jones (Robert Singer said at the time that season eight was ‘our "Raiders of the Lost Ark" year’ [link]). All those tablets and Trials. Now, the show’s narrative seems to be leaning in a more relationship-centric direction. It isn’t a romance story -- Dreamhunter and Mary/Bobby subplots aside -- but it shares with romance stories an emphasis on interpersonal relationships as a primary source of drama. Feelings, too. For example, Cas’ deal with the Empty appears to hinge 100% upon his emotional state. TFW’s relationship with Jack is a big plot-mover in various ways. And so on.

It’ll be fun to see how it all develops, for Charlie and for everyone else, too.

#Charlie Bradbury #AU Charlie #spn meta #CharlieBradburyAW #ignore this if it's too weird #does it count if it's AU Charlie? :D Well it's both of them really #Jeez I've been meaning to write this for weeks #I'm glad I had something to motivate me thank you :)#my meta #my thoughts #spn #spn 14x06 #mainly #spn 10x18

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jbuffyangel · 5 years

Text

Outlander 4x08 Reaction: “Wilmington”

To say I go through an emotional roller coaster watching “Wilmington” is an understatement.

Let’s dig in...

Roger found Brianna! That was a seriously awesome reunion hug. REWIND TIME.

Roger’s face when Brianna says, “I wanted to call you but I didn’t know how to tell you I love you” is worth a permanent freeze frame.

I know its been months and months and they’ve traveled through time, but we are not doing Brianna’s first time in a shack. No sir we are not. Zip it up Roger. Down boy.

“We’re not engaged. That seemed to be very important to you.” You’ll find that when it comes to men Brianna things that are very important become less important when presented with the opportunity to have sex because sex is most important 99.999% of the time.

Marriage is still important to Roger. We have just hit the .001%. Take a gander Brianna. This doesn’t happen often.

“Well then you have all of me.” WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE’RE GETTING MARRIED? YEAH!!!!!!!!!

I guess all a guy has to do to convince Brianna to marry him is to travel across time and risk life and limb. It’s so much simpler just to say yes when presented with jewelry girl, but do you I guess.

Seriously, I think Roger is going to burst from happiness. He’s a golden retriever with a Scottish accent.

“How can I say no to a man who pursued me for 200 years?” Facts.

Roger and Brianna are using an 1800s loop hole so they can have sex. I love this show.

We’re still not doing it in a shack kids.

It’s a hernia bro. Those ain’t pretty and it’s not going away with time.

Every time Claire is sent with “the wives” Jamie gives her a look like, “Sorry about the 1800s misogyny babe.”

“That’s Colonel George Washington.” I audibly yelled, “WHAT?” and then I fangirled along with Claire.

“Chopping down cherry trees.” HAHAHA!

Jamie and Claire are actually boozing and talking politics with friggin George Washington. AMAZEBALLS.

Every time Jamie doesn’t know something about American history I’m all, “Come on Jamie. Read books!” and then I remember none of it has happened yet for him and I feel dumb.

Only Outlander can make a wedding & sex in a shack romantic as hell.

Jamie & Claire and Roger & Brianna are all in the same time and place but don’t know it. I am ready to pull my hair out.

Whoa. I guess Jamie and Claire aren’t going to be the only ones with hot love scenes.

“If I take you now it’s for always.” Holy shit Roger. I’m gonna faint.

Roger and Brianna’s pillow talk is adorable. Annnnnd they’re going again!

This play is terrible though right?

Jamie just ruptured a man’s hernia so he could save Murtagh. I SHIP ONE BROMANCE.

Jamie is hitching a ride with George Washington. Love it.

Just do what Claire says. Those are the rules of Outlander if you don’t want people to die.

Be grateful we have anesthesia now.

“No need of you. The lady has it in hand.” Damn right she does.

Murtagh you are gonna get your Scottish ass arrested again fool.

There isn’t a speck of blood on that white dress.

Jamie sent Fergus to save Murtagh!!! I just want all the characters to go to Jamie and Claire’s house for a pint and play some checkers or something. Is that so much to ask?

OMG OMG OMG OMG I FORGOT ROGER KNEW AND DIDN’T TELL BRIANNA. THIS IS BAD. SHE IS GONNA BE SO PISSED.

Roger: What could you do?

Brianna: This.

All the reasons Brianna is listing for why Roger should have told her also apply to Frank. Is she just not going to address that her father knew and did nothing too? Is she even angry at Frank? Or is she just throwing all her anger at Roger? Brianna has a right to be angry at BOTH men but it feels like she’s only holding Roger accountable. Well, he’s also the only one out of the two who is alive so that might have something to do with it Jen. I just did a whole thing there in my head.

Sophie Skelton’s acting improves dramatically when she’s opposite Richard Rankin. This gives me great hope.

Yeah, pulling out the “you have to listen to me now because you’re my wife” isn’t the way to go Roger. *hands him a shovel*

Children you are married. You don’t get to cut and run when things get rough. Put your big boy and big girl pants on now.

“You’re acting like a child.” Sorry Roger. Team Brianna on this one. Should have told her dude. I told you to tell her but did you listen to me? Nooooo.

“No one is stopping you.” Ouch.

So are they married? Not married? Just saying the words so they can bang but don’t really mean them? Get it together Outlander Next Generation.

I’m having a very difficult time believing Roger would leave Brianna unattended at night during this time. I have a very difficult time believing Roger would leave Brianna unattended at night in present day. He literally traveled across time because he thought she might die or get hurt. They have one fight and he peaces out? Come on writers.

“Washington’s day will come.” Yup, he puts a boot up your ass. It’s fantastic!

DON’T. GO. WITH. HIM. BRIANNA.

Oh my God he rapes her???? I hate this damn show sometimes.

Oh holy freaking hell. This is why Roger leaves because Brianna can’t get raped if he’s around! I really don’t like the writers right now.

Wait a minute. Did they marry Brianna and Roger in this rushed wedding just so her first time wasn’t rape? And since she slept with Roger then it is open season on Brianna? She’s not a virgin anymore so now they can introduce the rape storyline???? It’s not appropriate to rape any woman at any time - virgin or not. But the timing of all of these events feel especially messed up. I’m sorry. I’m just really angry and upset right now. What the fuck? *walks away from computer to eat my feelings*

Still processing, but I’m eating a cookie so maybe things will look up soon. Damn this show is hard to watch sometimes. It’s just one horrific thing after another. Merry friggin Christmas, writers.

I just want to cry because everything Claire says to Marsali about being unable to protect your child from all the awful things in world became true for Brianna. But Claire doesn’t even know she’s here in this time or what happened.

Just tell me Jamie gets to kill Bonnet. No, tell me Roger gets to torture Bonnet for hours culminating in cutting his dick off and then Jamie gets to kill him. No, scratch that. Roger tortures, Brianna cuts off the penis and Jamie kills him. I’m very much invested in this being a father, daughter and son-in-law activity. Claire can come too. She probably has ways to keep him awake during procedures.

Well I guess Brianna and Jamie get to bond over their mutual traumas. That’s just swell Outlander. They couldn’t have bonded over their mutual love for math or something?

I just wanted Brianna to go to Fraser’s Ridge, meet her father and have tea and biscuits with her parents. Yes, I know that it doesn’t sound dramatic to you writers but sounds like a friggin dream come true for me!

Ugh. Everything is awful. I need more cookies.

And Brianna is just going to “solider on” because she wants to save her mother. She is going to bury her trauma like Jamie because she’s a Fraser through and through. WHY DOES THIS SHOW HATE ME? WHY ARE THEY DETERMINED TO EVISCERATE MY SOUL? WHYYYYYYY?

I’m still really ticked off. This is a horrible thing to do to Jamie’s daughter after everything he went through with Black Jack Randall. The writers can control the story. Can we stop with all the rape?

I don’t know you guys. This episode was so wonderful and so awful all at once. I’m so sad and angry. I’m gonna watch Love Actually.

#outlander #outlander season 4 #outlander season 4 reviews #outlander 4x08 #brianna randall #roger mackenzie #roger and brianna #jamie and claire #jamie fraser #claire fraser #outlander season 4 review #outlander reaction

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artpharos · 5 years

Text

Adrift among the Stars

Hi guys Rays gave us Lambda and main graces ending so I wrote self-indulgent Sophie and Lambda interactions because I am desperate for content of any kind

ao3 link here

The night air was cold. A brisk breeze tousled his hair and brushed against his skin, and the sound of waves, crashing rhythmically against the beach, echoed in his ears. It was otherwise quiet, without a peep of life or sound. Up above, the half-moon hung low in the sky as it continued its crawling descent into the sea. And the stars, bright and beautiful, glistened down from above. Were his host to describe it, no doubt Asbel Lhant would have called it peaceful.

The word was as foreign to him as the rest of this world.

Lambda bit back a sigh. Deep in their shared mind, Asbel was cocooned by warm dreams and oblivious sleep. The boy didn't even realized that Lambda was awake; that he had been, for several days now. Asbel certainly didn't know that his every action and thought had been scrutinized by the monster he chose to share his body with. Didn't sense the unease that had sat with Lambda since he had woke, nor even stir when the creature took his body out into the night.

But though he had escaped Asbel's detection and could escape into the woods should he so choose, Lambda... hesitated.

It was why he stood now, staring out into an unfamiliar landscape. Everything he knew— everything he had grown up with for centuries— was gone. His world, his purpose. Even the stars, his constant guide through the centuries, had been replaced by mirrored illusions. His entire existence had been overturned. Nothing made sense, and he had nothing to fall back on, save the delusional idea of peace that Asbel had promised him.

For the first time in a thousand years, Lambda didn't know what to do.

Then his ruminations were interrupted when he heard a sharp intake of breath behind him— and a soft voice he could never mistake.

"Lambda."

Lambda closed his eyes. He breathed, counted the beat of Asbel's heart. And when he turned, she was there.

"Protos Heis."

Even in Tir na Nog, she was just as he remembered. Purple hair, small frame. Her stance was relaxed, arms askew as she watched him. But he could never mistake her composure for calm— not with such a hateful glint in her eyes.

She sized him up, her gaze as firm and uncompromising as ever. She probably sensed he was awake and followed him. No doubt she'd be ready to leap at him if he so much as made a move... or would she? Asbel Lhant was precious to her, after all. Just like Richard had been.

Richard... Lambda swallowed, dismissing the flash of sadness that passed through him. It was only Asbel's memories of his friend that brought about such sentimental notions, after all. And he couldn't afford sentimentality; not with Protos Heis.

"Where's Asbel?" she demanded.

"Asleep," Lambda responded curtly. "Fear not. He is safe, for now." His lips curled when Protos Heis flinched. Was it his voice through Asbel's lips? Or perhaps, his gaze through Asbel's eyes? Regardless, for the first time since he had woken, he had found something familiar— even if it was nothing more than the old steps of their usual hostility.

Falling into tandem, Protos Heis stepped towards him. "If you hurt him—"

He snorted. "What would you do?" He shook his head. "You'd have to hurt him to hurt me. Destroy yourself; to destroy me."

She faltered. Her eyes lowered, her hands tightening into fists. "I don't want to," she finally answered. "When Asbel spoke to you, you felt... different. Like you weren't going to harm anyone else."

He let out a short bark. "So, do you truly believe I've changed, simply because of what this boy said? That I won't destroy him, just as I destroyed Richard?"

Her expression shifted. Faster than his eye could follow, she lunged at him. The action caught him by surprise— he hadn't really thought she'd dare attack Asbel Lhant— but before he knew it, she had knocked him onto the ground, her gauntleted fist pressing his neck against the sand.

"How could you?" she demanded. "You were almost taken over by Phantom, and Asbel tried to help you! To protect you!"

A chill ran down his spine. His memories since he entered this world had been fuzzy, but he remembered a presence holding him down. A dark voice in his ear, as pain lanced through his body. The desire to scream, followed by the realization that he had no mouth, no voice. Someone grabbing on to him, feeding off him, using him—

And through the darkness and pain, there was someone else. An outstretched hand, and warm blue eyes.

Lambda snarled. "I don't need protection," he reminded her. "Not from him, or from anyone else."

Protos Heis glared at him. "Then let go of him, Lambda."

Lambda's eyes narrowed. "That would be your greatest wish, would it not? For me to return your friend to you, and cease to exist?"

Her expression hardened, and she pressed her arm tight against him.

"Why couldn't you leave us alone, Lambda?" she yelled. "Why did you come to this world? I didn't have to fight you, and Asbel and everyone else was with me! I have school, friends— I was happy! So, why did you have to come here?!"

Her vehemence that caught him off-guard. Or perhaps it was the despair in her voice, the yearning for a life that Protos Heis shouldn't have wanted.

Once more, Lambda hesitated.

She swallowed, but her grip didn't let up. She leaned in, her voice controlled and low. "I don't want to hurt Asbel. But I will, if it means saving him from you. So tell me, Lambda.

"What are you trying to do?"

Purple eyes, determined face. She was the one familiar thing in his life that had stayed even more constant than the stars. But even she wasn't the same Protos Heis that had hunted him down without reservation any longer. That thought brought about a twinge of sadness that Lambda didn't care to explore.

"Why?" he grit out. "Why do you even care for my reasons? You never did before!"

She balked. One blink, then two. Tentatively, she responded, "Because Asbel wanted to give you a chance. To live."

He glanced away. With a soft breath, he sighed.

"I do not know."

Her grip lightened briefly, before pressing against his throat once more. A choked gasp escaped him, and he glared at her. But instead of the cold hunter he remembered, there was confusion in her eyes.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Exactly as I said," he replied. "I have no plans. I have no purpose. I have no reason to fight for, Protos Heis, without a core to live in. Everything that I was— everything that I longed for— was taken from me the moment I was exoflected to this world.

"I do not even have the strength to live without Asbel Lhant to host me. And even then—" Lambda lowered his gaze. "He only saved me to save you. To spare you from... killing us both."

He heard her sharp inhale, the tremble through her arm.

"That's not true."

"Is it not?" Lambda let out a dry laugh. "Why would anyone choose to host me, Protos Heis, with naught to gain for their own?"

"Because Asbel wanted to save you."

Her voice faltered. Hesitantly, the weight around his neck lifted.

She moved aside, and Lambda pulled himself up. Still, she remained kneeling at his eye-level, her hands on her lap. She was watching him, but her eyes didn't seem quite so clear. Not so full of hate.

"He didn't just do it for me." Biting her lip, she continued, "Don't you remember? He wanted you to live, too."

Live. "Why?" he barked out. "What point is there in living? Why do these insects, these humans, insist that I live, when my life has nothing worth living for!?"

He expected Protos Heis to spew one of Asbel's platitudes. But instead, she watched him with an unfamiliar expression. Hesitantly, her hand reached out and stroked the side of his cheek.

He flinched. But the motion was gentle. Peaceful. Warm.

"Stop that," he snarled, but he couldn't bring himself to shake her hand away.

"You're wrong, you know?"

He glared at her. But her expression was unfazed.

"My greatest wish wasn't to see you gone," she said softly. "You're with Asbel now, and I don't want to hurt him. I... I wanted us to live together, side by side, without having to hurt one another. Where both of us could be... happy."

With a sigh, his shoulders sagged. "How foolish," he bit out, but somehow he couldn't muster his usual venom. He glanced at her. "Do you truly believe that is possible? Us? Living together in peace?"

She chewed her lip. Her hand dropped to the side. "I don't know," she answered finally, "but it's a nice thought, isn't it?"

"No." The idea of happiness had always just been that— and idea, a notion told to him by countless humans. The sensation of peace was just as foreign to him. The idea that he could have both— that he was being offered both... it had to be a lie.

Still, something tugged at him. A sense of longing for the warmth that so cocooned Asbel Lhant's spirit; that had kept him rooted here, not far from camp, instead of the dark forests where he could escape to. Where he had been captured and torn apart.

He sighed. "What is it like, Protos Heis? To live in this world? To be alive?"

She frowned. Sitting back on her heels, she was quiet for a moment, before she responded, "It's nice. Mileena and Ix are good people. When they exoflected us, they were just trying to save their world. Everybody wants to help them.

"Farah's a good cook, and Jude's always watching out for me," she continued. "Lloyd is bad at math, but he's always the first one to help when I can't reach the sweets on the top shelf. Everyone's from different worlds, but they work together to make this one a better place."

She shifted, ducking her head. "I know what you've experienced in Tir na Nog isn't the same as what I've experienced, and I'm sorry. But if you give this world a chance— I'm sure you'll find a place where you... belong."

Lambda didn't know what to say. It sounded idealistic, compared to the tortures Mercuria had made him endure. Compared to everything he had ever known. But even so...

"I cannot go back to our world," he said at last. "But neither have I a place to be. A place I can be. I am... stuck here, Protos Heis, whether we both like it or not."

Protos Heis took in a deep breath. She studied him for a moment, but gone was the hateful glint in her eyes. Finally, she fixed him with a serious stare. "Then, as long as you do not harm Asbel, you'll have a place here. I promise."

She didn't smile. But then she held out a hand, and he saw her eyes brighten ever-so-slightly, and the softening of the corners of her mouth.

Without a word, he took her hand and she stood, pulling him up with her. Standing there, his hand in hers— Lambda could never have imagined such a day would ever pass.

"It's almost dawn," she remarked, her head turning upwards. Glancing back at him, she added, "we better get Asbel back before he wakes up."

"Indeed," Lambda rumbled.

She smiled. It was a soft one, much like the streaks of rose and orange permeating through the lightening sky.

The waves still crashed unceasingly against the shore, and the quiet solitude of the night had yet to pass. This world was as unfamiliar as ever, as strange and off-putting as when Lambda first awoke.

But a strange calm quietly stole over him as Protos Heis led him back to camp, and Lambda wondered. He still had no purpose; no reason to live. But for the first time in his life, he didn't have to run. Didn't have to hide.

Perhaps this sensation of peace would be brief. False, just like everything else in his life. Perhaps Protos Heis would turn on him the next day, or the next week. Perhaps Asbel Lhant would reject him, just like everyone else eventually did. Perhaps this was just an illusion that he had finally succumbed to, wishing on a hope he knew would eventually betray him.

But perhaps, just for a moment, he could finally rest.

#tales of the rays #tales of graces #sophie #lambda

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briangroth27 · 6 years

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Tomb Raider Review

I had a lot of fun watching the latest Tomb Raider! Having never played the video games and barely remembering the two movies starring Angelina Jolie, I essentially went into this one fresh and thought it was a solid start to what will hopefully become a new franchise. I'm a big fan of pulpy treasure hunter movies, and this certainly hit the spot!

Full Spoilers…

Alicia Vikander is excellent as Lara Croft and she’s the strongest element of the film. The script gave Vikander a lot to work with, showcasing Lara as a charming smartass, a brilliant puzzle-solver, a badass survivor, an orphan determined to survive on her own, and a daughter grappling with the apparent death of her father Richard (Dominic West). I thought Lara not signing the papers that would declare her father dead and secure her inheritance because it was his money, not hers, was an interesting and unique spin on the billionaire orphan trope (of course her reasoning was also—if not moreso—about not wanting to admit her father was dead, which played really well for me). I liked that they didn’t have her immediately turn to his money the moment she got in trouble with the police, which legitimized the idea that she wouldn’t use it even if she absolutely had to. Had Ana (Kristin Scott Thomas) not shown up to bail her out, it seemed Lara was content to be fined/jailed for the illegal street race she participated in and for me, that defeats the “fake poor” criticism I’ve seen online: Lara wasn’t just acting poor until it became inconvenient. The early scenes do a great job of showing Lara knows how to handle herself and has a likable, winning way about her despite her tragic family history, making her a captivating action hero and lead. What really sold me on the action hero part (aside from Vikander’s clear dedication to the physicality of the role), however, is that the film takes time to show Lara getting winded and hurt by her incredible feats and fights, both of which clearly take a physical toll on her; she isn't an invulnerable superhero. Vikander is great in those moments and even better when the movie takes the time to show Lara's reaction to killing someone for the first time. That desperate fight to kill or be killed was extremely powerful and it made me wish other action movies would take more time to deal with the gravity of their heroes taking lives. Lara's connection to Richard was strong, but I wish we'd seen more of their relationship than him constantly leaving her in flashbacks (though that does connect nicely to their role reversal at the end of the film and as I’ve seen pointed out elsewhere, each flashback ends with her being self-sufficient after he’s gone, which is a cool touch). In addition to the gamut of emotions Lara gets to show off and the thrilling spectacle of the gauntlet she's put through once she reaches a secret island, the film is very clear about how smart she is and I loved that she had to use her intelligence just as much as her fists. Vikander makes a meal out of all of this, playing every aspect of Lara to the fullest, and is clearly having a blast. I hope she gets to come back to this role in a sequel.

Lara's search for Richard (and ultimately, her journey towards letting him go) was a good through-line for the film and I liked what West brought to the role. Seeking out the supernatural as a way to reconnect with his deceased wife was an interesting and understandable motivation. However, we didn't need to hear about the legend of Himiko twice and eliminating Richard’s opening narration would've held the mysteriousness of the island of Yamatai until Lara finds out about it. The film doesn’t really gain anything by putting the audience so far ahead of her and I didn’t need to that hook to keep me interested. I did like that Richard’s madness on Yamatai involved seeing visions of Lara reappearing to him after he'd abandoned her all those times in search of the island, but I wish that madness had been turned into a stumbling block for Lara at some point instead of just something he talks about. He could’ve seen “Lara,” only to have it be an illusion that puts him in danger; the fact that he’s apparently cured of his madness as soon as Lara finds him felt too easy.

Daniel Wu as solid as Lu Ren, Lara’s expedition partner whose father went missing with Richard. I would've liked more to Ren finding out Mathias Vogel (Walton Goggins) killed his father; there seemed to be a lot of untapped potential there. That Lara didn't actually lose her dad could've been seen as unfair in Ren’s eyes too. Why not use Ren being such a parallel to Lara's orphan arc to create some drama and possibly division between them? I also found it movie-convenient that Ren wasn't killed for inciting a worker rebellion that lets Lara escape; even with the justification that he'd be a useful slave, he'd been shot and wasn't at full strength anyway. There really isn't a plot purpose to his being around after freeing Lara from Vogel’s work camp either, so while I liked his character and Wu’s performance and certainly didn’t want him to die, I wish there had been more justification to such a ruthless villain not just executing a problem-causer beyond "he's the co-star." I did like that Ren and Lara kept saving each other, though, and would be up for him joining her on her further adventures. I wouldn’t mind a romance blossoming between them at some point, but I also liked that this movie makes no attempt to even suggest that Lara needs a guy to swoon over.

I thought Vogel not wanting to be separated from his family for the entirety of his search for the tomb was not only a clever parallel to Lara, Ren, and their fathers, but gave him dimension most villains in these films don't get. Instead of wanting to rule or destroy the world—or even just getting a big payday—his biggest concern was finishing the job so he could go home. I didn't sympathize with him—obviously his methods were horrid—but I was glad he had that human quality instead of being some monstrous caricature. Vogel is also used exactly as much as he needed to be (except when it comes to the potential fallout of having killed Ren’s father); he has enough presence to be a threat, but he isn’t overwhelming and felt like the cog in a larger machine he is.

I liked that the film fleshed out several facets of Lara’s life with human connections; friends (Hannah John-Kamen), coaches (Duncan Airlie James), gym rivals (Annabel Wood), coworkers (Billy Postlethwaite and Roger Nsengiyumva), and even a lovestruck customer (Antonio Aakeel) on her delivery route gave the sense that she had a full life (despite the hole her father's vanishing left in her) with a lot of history. Even if they only briefly appeared, it was great that the movie took the time to include them rather than limiting Lara’s interactions to plot-centric dealings with Ana and Croft Holdings. I hope to see many or all of these connections continue in any potential sequels: their reaction to Lara's wealth alone, to say nothing of her new day job, would make for some great stuff. Can she keep her normal friendships and be a globe-trotting archaeologist billionaire? Will she find that she’s become more comfortable without the Croft money? Will she need those grounded connections to keep herself level? Would she bring her friend Sophie along on an adventure?

The film reveals an overarching villain and that felt fresh for a treasure hunting franchise, if not Hollywood's affinity for sequels. One thing I found kinda cool about this setup is that Lara probably won’t be raiding tombs for museums (taking artifacts away from their cultures just because), but she’d be negating dangerous potential weapons, which seems more altruistic in a modern context. I liked the reveal of Ana's true motives for wanting Lara to sign off on her father's death, which convinced me of the viability of evil entity Trinity being at least somewhat run by Croft Holdings. I wonder if Richard's search for the supernatural was the basis for Trinity and if he'd been unknowingly feeding them information until his disappearance. If her father inadvertently started/fueled it, that would make Lara's quest to stop them even more personal. Maybe he reached out to those nefarious connections out of desperation on purpose, which could create an opportunity for Lara to see her father as a flawed man, not just the idealized figure whose only sin was that he was always leaving. I'm interested to see what Trinity wants to do if they get their hands on supernatural (or just very dangerous) artifacts; I hope they're not going to be cliché "take over the world" villains. I also wonder about keeping the size of Trinity as an organization to a scale Lara can stop on her own, but that's an issue for a potential sequel.

I've seen criticisms online that the film is clichéd, and while I'll grant that it doesn't have the most distinctive voice in terms of "action movie dialogue," I still found it engaging and thrilling. It's very solidly of the treasure hunter genre and though it doesn't subvert those kinds of tropes often, it executes them very well. A boat crash, river/plane adventure, and fight through a decrepit tomb were all very exciting sequences. I loved the death trapped-tomb and thought the film's spins on classic traps were fun (as was the minor trope subversion that they were in place to keep someone in, not out). I have zero problem with these kinds of pulpy movies embracing the supernatural elements at the center of their mythical legends—in fact, I usually prefer it—but the more grounded approach worked very well here, honoring the supernatural while maintaining a sense of realism and danger. Even without playing the video game this is based on, I'm a casual enough gamer that I caught homages to modern adventure games, like Lara monkey-barring over a destroyed walkway and stealthily sneaking through the villains' camp. Honoring those source material bits didn't pull me out of the movie at all and I liked those nods to the games. On the other hand, Lara getting her iconic twin guns did feel a little more like fan service than a natural evolution of her character (she never seemed to need guns on her adventure and mostly seemed to favor a bow to picking up dropped guns), but that may also be my unease with what felt like a slight glorification of guns (though granted, this wasn’t anywhere near the gratuitous glorification of AR-15s in Thor Ragnarok). Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a little fan service and Lara can have a different opinion of firearms than I do without me disliking her character. That brief throwaway nod to the games didn't sully the film for me or anything.

The action throughout the film was solid and surprisingly brutal. The only sequence that I thought felt extraneous was Lara's chase after—and then flight from—a trio of muggers in China, but it was a well-structured chase and did include a moment of Lara hesitating to leap off a dock after them, showing some early limits to her derring-do. That chase also coincidentally leads her to Ren, and he could've been introduced as belligerently drunk (entertainingly so, for sure!) to Lara by herself without having to scare off the thieves. Otherwise, the action was great and had a really nice variety to it. There were only four or five shots where the CGI was noticeable; in the other action sequences it was totally convincing (if there at all). The sense that they were doing practical stunts (even if they weren't) and the danger in Vikander's expressions definitely helped sell the impact of the injuries Lara sustained as she narrowly escaped death over and over.

Despite a few missed opportunities for greater interpersonal conflict among the heroes and perhaps a need to punch up the dialogue beyond what's expected of this genre, Tomb Raider is a blast! The mystery is cool, the action is great, and Vikander is outstanding. I'd definitely follow her on another adventure and absolutely recommend this one!

Check out more of my reviews, opinions, and original short stories here!

#tomb raider #alicia vikander #lara croft

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cathygeha · 4 years

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REVIEW

Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor

Cavensham Heiresses #6

What if your parents decided you should marry someone you did not want and that did not want you?

What if your husband openly and truly loved another woman but had to beget an heir?

What if you were verbally abused and sent away to live alone?

What if…

Well, Avalon was married off to a marquess and though she had position and access to money she was never happy as Richard’s wife. Ten years after she was widowed, with her young son beside her, she had made a good life in Thistledown. She had respect, loved the villagers and was loved in return, had a purpose, was solvent and perhaps a wee b it lonely.

Devan Farris is a Man of God with a wicked reputation. He is gorgeous, kind, likes to tease, smiles readily and loves to stir the woman he calls “Lady Warlock” up. His life’s path was determined by his eldest brother and though not the course he had hoped to follow he did make the best of it. When he ended up in Thistledown to spy on Avalon and Tutor her son Thane, well, sparks did begin to fly.

What I liked:

* Avalon: she had grit, vision, determination and managed to make the best of a bad situation.

* Devan: friendly, likable and a whole lot more than surface charm.

* Thane: a son who knew what was best for his mother and went about acquiring it

* Mary Bolen: a strong woman that loved deeply and did what s he had to to make a living

* The possibilities for stories about Henri (ladly’s maid), Devan’s three brothers,

* Sophie (Avalon’s sister) finding Marcus

* The tying up of Penelope’s story

* Side stories about the women who benefited from Avalon’s organization

* Pretty much all of it except…

What I did not like:

* Richard, Marquess of Warwyk – understood him but did not like the way he treated Avalon

* Penelope – though I finally understood her a little bit better after a few things were made known

* Renford – you will understand when you read the book

* Avalon’s parents – ewww

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

Wild, Wild Rake, the next sweeping, emotional, witty, and sharp romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from beloved author Janna MacGregor.

Her first marriage was an epic fail.

Lady Avalon Warwyk never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry—that is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.

Can he convince her to take another chance at happily ever after?

Devan Farris—charming vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian—is reluctantly sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with a vicar with a wild reputation—even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside—a good, true soul looking for its other half. But how can prove that he wants to love and care for her. . .until death do they part?

EXCERPT

Excerpt from Wild, Wild Rake by Janna MacGregor

Avalon read the first line in the letter from her son’s guardian, Gavin Farris, the Earl of Larkton. By all appearances the words resembled something innocuous, purely designed to lull a person into thinking it contained real concern with a touch of whimsical affection.

My dearest lady, I do hope this finds you and your intrepid son well.

“Avalon, did you hear the news?” Seventeen, on the cusp of eighteen years of age, Avalon’s sister, Lady Sophia Cavensham, looked up from her embroidery and smiled. Her gaze darted to her friend Miss Penelope Rowley, the one and only niece of the wealthiest gentry landowner in the shire. Though she was two years older than Sophia, Penelope had become somewhat of a fixture at Warwyk Hall over the last six months since she’d moved to her aunt and uncle’s home. The two women were inseparable.

Penelope let out a dramatic sigh then collapsed in a swoon across the pink-and-gold brocade sofa. In the process, she kneed the table, upsetting the delicate pink china cup and saucer. “Oww.”

Avalon tried to ignore their chatter. The Earl of Larkton’s correspondence had increased in frequency over the last several months. The weekly letters were turning into biweekly posts. Each one wanted more and more control over the Warwyk estate and more decision-making control over her ten-year-old son, Thane Pearce, the Marquess of Warwyk. She doubled her concentration on the letter as she read the entire first paragraph.

The purpose of my correspondence is to inform you that I’ve appointed a new vicar for the village of Thistledown. The man comes with impeccable standing and experience. In addition, his educational training is second to none. He’s a protégé of Lord Bishop Marlowe.

“He’s extraordinary.” Sophia’s dreamlike whisper floated through the air like a dandelion seed.

“He’s . . . simply exquisite.” Penelope’s voice joined Sophia’s in a chorus of dazzled fascination.

My dear Marchioness, it’s my pleasure to announce that my brother—

Avalon swallowed the sudden onrush of bile that marched up her throat. It couldn’t be. Fate was not that hateful.

“Mr. Devan—” Sophia sighed.

“Farris.” Penelope finished the sentence and slowly drew her hand against her forehead as if saying his name caused her to faint.

“No. Not him.” Avalon murmured the words aloud. The sanctimonious prig had arrived to make her life a living hell. Avalon grimaced to keep from casting her accounts. Now she was just exaggerating like the girls. She wasn’t really physically sick, but the news could make a person ill. “When did he arrive in the village?”

Clueless as to how the news affected her older sister, Sophia scooted to the edge of the crimson-and-white striped club chair that sat adjacent to Avalon’s matching one. “Two days ago. Penelope and I just happened to be walking in front of the vicarage when we saw the Earl of Larkton’s coach arrive. The new vicar followed behind on horseback.”

Penelope nodded vigorously as if Sophia’s story needed affirmation.

Avalon wanted to roll her eyes. The two women “never just happen” to do anything. They orchestrated and connived everything from shopping to men. God save anyone who crossed their paths. If one of the girls took a shine to any of the ton’s marriageable men, then London’s finest would soon understand what it meant to be hunted.

As the girls continued their chatter, Avalon devoted her full attention to the rest of the letter. Better to finish the horrid task, then take a long walk through her gardens. Though it was January and bitterly cold outside, a brisk hour of exercise would help Avalon clear some of her unease at the news that Mr. Devan Farris had invaded her village.

I’ve considered your request that the young marquess continue his studies at home, but at the age of ten, his interests would best be served by attending Eton sooner rather than later. That’s where boys turn into men. Your suggestion that he attend Harrow won’t do. His father had insisted that I promise he attend Eton. However, since his Latin skills are somewhat lacking, I’ve decided to hire my brother, Mr. Farris, to tutor him in the subject.

Her blood simmered at the words. The earl’s declaration was nothing more than gilding the lily. Everyone within fifty miles of London knew that Devan Farris sought to marry an heiress. Until he found one, the fortune-hunting vicar thought to use her son’s marquisate to pay double for his services. Since her son’s estate paid for the vicar’s wages, Mr. Farris would receive another wage from the coffers for tutoring lessons.

But what really brought her blood to boil was that the smug vicar would be nosing into her business, and that wouldn’t do at all. She and only she ruled the parish with a fair and impartial hand. No one, including Devan Farris, would upset her world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She is the author of the Cavensham Heiresses series, which begins with The Bad Luck Bride. Janna credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs.

Buy this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250296016

Author website: https://www.jannamacgregor.com/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/JannaMacGregor

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JannaMacGregor/

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jannamacgregor/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15613220.Janna_MacGregor

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts

SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

#Janna MacGregor #Cavensham Heiresses 6 #St. Martin's Paperbacks #SMP #Macmillan publishing #NetGalley #Historical Romance

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ramajmedia · 5 years

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Veep: 10 Hilarious Amy Brookheimer Quotes That Were Just Plain Vicious

Amy Brookheimer was a complicated character. She had no illusions about the game of politics and could play it as well as the next person. She had a moral compass. She didn’t always follow it, but it was there. Mostly, though, she had no time for incompetence, idiocy, or anything that didn’t forward her goal of putting Selina Meyer in the Oval Office.

She did not suffer fools gladly. Unfortunately for her, fools surrounded her. She spent so much energy trying to save Selina from her own worst instincts, she didn’t have any left to prevent her from being brutally honest with those around her. This led to some truly wonderful rants and insults.

RELATED: Veep: The 5 Best Episodes (& The 5 Worst)

10 “You are like an earlobe. You’re just there, just wobbling.”

One of the most incompetent people on Team Meyer was Communications Director Mike McClintock. Aside from Gary he’d been with Selina the longest, but he’d never been particularly good at his job. In the episode “Catherine”, he avoided making an announcement that he knew would be met unhappily. His continual reluctance drove Amy crazy. They finally laid down a concrete event where he had to make the announcement but when asked if he had informed people, he was still avoiding it, not wanting everyone to be angry at him. In the end, everyone still yelled at him, including Amy.

9 “Dan is a shit… He’s a massive and totally shit. When you first meet him, you think surely to God this man can’t be as big a shit as he seems, but he is.”

Amy and Dan dated before Selina hired him in the first episode. Before Selina hired him, she wanted to find out more about him, so she asked Amy what she thought about him. Amy let her know immediately what she thought of Dan and held nothing back.

RELATED: Veep: 10 Selina Meyer Quotes That Represent All Of Us

Amy continued, “Because like if there were a book with covers made of shit, you’d think, ‘That’s intriguing. I wonder what’s in this book that they saw fit to give it covers made of pure shit.’ And then you open it and… shit.” Despite Amy’s vivid descriptor, Selina still invited Dan to join the team, and he more or less proved Amy right.

8 “You’re not even your mother’s favorite Jonah, Jonah.”

With the amount of abuse he took in the show, Jonah would almost be a pitiable character. Instead, with everything he does and says, he just makes himself worthy of the bile thrown at him. The sole reason he worked at the White House is because his uncle Jeff owned the New Hampshire vote. But he acted as though he was the most powerful person in Washington.

As the White House liaison to the VP’s office, Selina’s team had to deal with him. But they didn’t have to like it. So when Jonah enters the office with, “Look who it is, everybody. It’s your favorite Jonah,” how else can Amy respond.

7 “Hello Leon. It’s always good to see the most left-swiped face on Tinder.”

Amy tried to play nice with the press. She knew that staying on their good side was the smart thing to do. The one person she couldn’t really manage that with was Leon West. Working for the Washington Post, Leon had a huge audience. But he was also an enormous pain in the ass of Team Meyer. He always lurked, trying to catch them out on something.

Leon ambushed Amy in the grocery store, trying to get her to spill which of Selina’s staff members had called her a c***. (It turns out it was everyone, with the exception, of course, of Gary.) When he approached with an insult, she had to respond in kind. She couldn’t help herself.

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6 “She’s offering you vice president, you monument to vaginal dryness.”

In the final season, Amy left Selina’s staff after being offered a better, more challenging job as Jonah’s campaign manager. Her years in Washington had taken any idealism she had left and ground it into a pulp. She didn’t believe in anything Jonah stood for, but she knew if she managed to have him be a real contender for president, her credentials in Washington would go way up.

Managing Jonah was an arduous task. He wouldn’t listen to anyone, he insulted everyone, and his most heinous ideas always took off with his base supporters. But he did have a strong base, which, in order to secure the nomination, meant that Selina had to offer him VP to get his numbers. But Jonah, as always didn’t understand what was going on, leading Amy to snap at him.

5 “You have three kids by two different men. Maybe your last word should have been, ‘no’.”

Possibly the most contentious relationship in Amy’s life was that with her sister, Sophie. Other than sharing parents, the only other thing they had in common was an attraction to Dan. Very occasionally they got along for a short amount of time, but it always ended with them sniping at each other.

When their father had a health scare, Amy went to the hospital even though it’s during the mid-term elections. It turned out to be nothing, and Amy was frustrated that her sister made it seem like their father was dying. In their argument, Sophie accused Amy of always needed to have the last word. Amy certainly did in that fight.

4 “Gary, your inner child needs to grow an outer man.”

For the most part, as long as they didn’t threaten her position in Selina’s administration, Amy got along with the rest of Team Meyer. That included Gary, who many others made fun of or ignored. Of her whole team, with the exception of Mike, they were with her the longest and were the closest to her. That being said, occasionally she would be frustrated with his meekness. When he avoids telling Selina about a painting that he had moved, leading to problems with Native Americans, Amy and Sue both tell him that he has to just do it.

3 “Were you sent from the future to destroy me? ‘Cause it’s working! ‘I think that each candidates has merits and demerits, and I don’t know my left butt cheek from my right butt cheek, but I believe in listening to both butt cheeks and farting out my asshole mouth.’”

Amy never hated anyone the way she hated Karen Collins, an old friend of Selina’s who joined the campaign as advisor. Karen was infamously indecisive, never coming down on one side or the other. As Selina’s campaign manager, Amy kept trying to get Selina to make firm decisions, but she’d be swayed by Karen each time. Finally, when Doyle dropped out as Selina’s running mate, Amy tried to get her to ask Tom James as his replacement. Selina asked Karen’s opinion, and as always she equivocated.

Amy continued, “That’s not even bullshit. Bullshitting takes talent. You have none. You’re just a blah-blah-blah bitch.” An excellent take-down and something everyone had wanted to say.

2 “You are not Michael Jordan. You are a seven-foot-seven, goony-looking Lithuanian who’s going to drop dead of Marfan Syndrome.”

Again the target of some of Amy’s most poisonous bile was Jonah. But he set her up perfectly. In Nevada, Amy and Dan tried to get a recount of the presidential votes as Selina lost by a very narrow margin. They were forced to take along Richard who had in depth knowledge of Nevada’s voting system, as well as Jonah, who had been regulated to Richard’s assistant. Jonah, of course, chafed at that, saying, “You guys have Michael Jordan sitting on the bench here, but you’re starting Hakeem Olajutwat.” Never has a Jonah insult been more deserved.

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1 “You have achieved nothing apart from one thing. The fact that you are a woman means that we will have no more women presidents because we tried one and she f***ing sucked.”

In the same scene where Amy took down Karen Collins, she also turned on Selina. The fact that Anna Chlumsky didn’t win an Emmy for this scene alone was a travesty. For years Amy offered Selina sound advice only to have it ignored and then be blamed when things went wrong. She’d finally had enough and told Selina exactly what she thought of her on her way out.

The lead-in to the above quote was just as good. “You have made it impossible to do this job. You have two settings – no decision and bad decision. I wouldn’t let you run a bath without the Coast Guard and the fire department standing by, but here you are running the country. You are the worst thing that has happened to America since food in buckets. And maybe slavery.” Brilliant.

NEXT: Best Reaction Memes To Stranger Things Season Three

source https://screenrant.com/funny-amy-brookheimer-quotes/

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jenbrookmodel · 7 years

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Walter’s Wardrobe: Ruffles & Ready

We’re now five events into Walter’s Wardrobe, with the creaky doors opening in no less than one abandoned Victorian theatre, one gothic castle and three stately homes from various periods. But what really happens behind the wooden doors? As ‘Ruffles & Ready’ took the stage this April, I thought it was about time I explained what goes on within the Wardrobe...

Who is this elusive Walter character and what’s with his Wardrobe?

Walter is my big black tom. Hand reared from weeks old, but born to a farm cat stray, his questionable manners and anger management leave plenty to be desired. Yet there is something irresistible about him. He owns my heart, like my passion for fashion and no matter how much stress he causes, he has an innate ability of sucking me back in. Always.

As for the wardrobe; the concept derives from the imagination of C.S. Lewis and his magical knotty pine that endorsed my childhood. As the wardrobe doors open, photographers are invited to step through the doors of reality, wade past the fur coats of normality and straight into a new kind of Narnia, shooting models in couture costume at alluring locations.

How did Walter’s Wardrobe begin?

The thing with the Wardrobe, is that it was never meant to be. I’m a qualified writer turned model, now working in a 9-5 office occupation. Hosting fashion shoots for photographers, was never my original agenda. Yet, as I tried to leave, I found myself bathing in reluctance.

I knew gorgeous models, great makeup artists, exquisite designers, fascinating locations...and a persistent desire to be involved. I don’t want to be a photographer, but I do want to make photographs.

Walter’s Wardrobe represents a natural progression; from wannabe model, to wannabe stylist and event planner. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Ruffles & Ready

After 2016′s autumn production, House of Two Halves, it was set to be a comfortable six month break for Christmas...or so it would seem. The final cracker had barely been pulled before location scouting began once again. Plans for April were imminent; Ruffles & Ready was coming.

The venue needed to follow my strict criteria: an essence of opulence, a bit of baroque, ornate with an abundance of history. Locations with whispering walls are the places that call to me...and this one, most certainly did.

Haunted by the ghosts of the past, once again I stumbled across this location through the tragic historical stories that consume my imagination. This time, entranced by the story of two nineteenth century female photographers, who twirled in front of a lit fireplace. I learned that their creole dresses accidentally caressed the naked flames in the library...and they burnt to death, where they’d danced with nobody watching. A harrowing tale of such heartbreaking coincidence, this story could not remain a secret from the photographers within Walter’s Wardrobe.

Not only this, but the tale of Disraeli’s parrot was a key influence in the styling of the titled production ‘Ruffles & Ready’. The exotic bird was gifted to the Lady of the house by our former Tory Prime Minister of the 1870s. Presumed male, he was a finely feathered masculine beauty....until the day she laid 23 eggs in 24 days and promptly dropped dead in her cage. Although considered another tragic tale, the dark comedy of this story became me - yet another example of how life imitates art. I had to have this venue.

You may have recognised her taxidermy body, as the ‘save the date’ notice:

Her sorry story influenced the creation of the below image, captured by Richard Wakefield, featuring the 23 eggs that sorely killed her.

So the hunt for yellow ruffles began - not a common colour inline with my usual themes, but one that undoubtedly had to pay homage to our 137 year old deceased feathered friend.

With the tale of the two girls and the long perished parrot in my mind, inspiration and planning was freshly underway. So when I explained the story behind the search for yellow, to one of the hardest working designers I know, Mishi May kindly offered to create a brand new design especially for us. The addition of Mickey Mouse inspired ears to this outfit, was a cheeky nod to my upcoming birthday; a fortnight in DisneyWorld Orlando in no less than a dozen days from now; paid for entirely by the attendees of 5 Walter’s Wardrobe events, allowing me to reach a lifetime goal of 5 year old me. The Mickey ears remain one of my favourite looks for this reason - a commissioned product produced by Donna Graham.

A loose rendition of 1950s/Wes Anderson bellboy inspiration, en pointe with makeup and hair by Sophie Battersby (left edit by Znapps):

Nicky Mouse, better known as Nicky Phillips, working the Hollywood look:

Image above by Richard Wakefield (MUA: Sophie Battersby).

Nicky looked equally as fabulous on day one, sporting an oversized Sia homage head bow, designed by Donna Graham, with hair and makeup by Livvy Morewood. Short fashion film below by Laurent Baumann:

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Following hints of bird-like Nicky, the animal theme was continued by model number two, Jodi Lakin; loosely labelled our ‘Silver Fox’ for her natural beauty reminiscent of actress, Rachel Weisz, and the heavily embellished metallic design of her dress.

Likeness uncanny. Left image of Jodi, by photographer, Panikos Hajistilly:

Like most of the looks featured in this production, this dress was a brand new addition to the latest Mishi May collection - made especially to meet our request dates, with an additional ruffled sleeve to fit the theme. I cannot express how hard Mishi May has worked on each and every stitch, ruffle and embellishment to create such jaw droppingly incredible designs at such short notice for us - designs that we were so lucky to shoot before anybody else. I highly recommended her on every level of talent and professionalism, plus genuine loveliness to top it off.

Basking in the light. Image by Znapps:

Next, we had our ultimate ruffle wonder look, (nicknamed ‘Dirty Duck Egg’ due to its colour) worn by supertrooper, Victoria Coutts. Victoria is a full time model and actress who recently completed a three month job costumed in a gut constricting corset. Unfortunately, the traditional female attire left her ribs fractured at the sternum some weeks later. So what did we dress her in? Another corset! Fearless Victoria assured us she was ok to work, however regular top ups of painkillers behind the scenes depicts what absolute superstars Walter’s Wardrobe models are - dedicated to the moment without complaint, every time.

Victoria’s look is inspired by the theme of the event ‘Ruffles & Ready’ and really was the showstopper of this production. £11.5k worth of layered tulle dripping from her tightly cinched waist, was without a doubt a wow moment, as it took 3 pairs of hands to transport this gown from set to set for the photographers.

Victoria in the library with a book...image by Bentham Imaging:

‘Dirty duck’ was accompanied by a further nod, this time to the current season. Sporting Easter bunny ears on day one, the look was accompanied by inspirations of gothic bride millinery; classic of Donna Graham’s unique sense of style, collaborated with the ethereal pale pastels that I adore, on day two. I don’t think I have a favourite between the two looks for the two days and that is why I love working with Donna!

Silvery tones make a picture perfect palette, image created by Jo Rutherford:

Finally, came the simplest, but my favourite look of all: our sugar plum puffball, Polish princess - Kamila.

Puffball moodboard (fact of the day - I modelled at the location featured top left, by Tim Walker, for one of Brooke Shaden’s brilliant UK retreat events...yes, I did stroke the walls):

Heavily inspired by works of the iconic Tim Walker, Kamila’s look leant itself to the surroundings of nature, with hints of the seasoned cherry blossom/magnolia trees, plus the available theme of extensive ruffles. Her long slender legs created an ideal of the look I was aiming for - complemented by pom poms situated on her toes.

Height was everything for this look, wonderfully captured by Jo Rutherford, with china doll-like hair and makeup, by Abigail Pulleyn:

One of my favourite things about the Wardrobe, is that it’s not a workshop - there is no teaching, so there’s no style to replicate and most importantly of all; no egos to please. Yes, the model/makeup/costuming/location is provided, but each photographer creates their own series, meaning everyone comes away with their own shots.

A visionary treat; creative creation by photographer, Mark Legge:

I’m not sure if I can claim the event to be a success just yet, I guess you’d have to ask the photographers about that. What I can say, is that the event went better than ever expected and I am extremely happy with the results. If that’s considered a success, then so be it!

A huge thank you goes out to all those who stepped within the Wardrobe this time, making it another sell out event. If you would like to join the next production in July, join the Walter’s Wardrobe Facebook group for first access to information here. You can also follow the work of the photographers here.

All credit to the outstanding team of Walter’s Wardrobe:

Models: Nicky Phillips, Jodi Lakin, Victoria Coutts and Kamila Nowak.

MUAs: Olivia Morewood, Sophie Battersby and Abigail Pulleyn.

MUA Assistant: Rachel Doig.

Designer: Mishi May.

Millinery and assistant stylist: Donna Graham.

Behind the Scenes Cinematographer: Richard Wakefield.

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BTS Video by the brilliant Richard Wakefield.

Email me to join the mailing list: here

#walters wardrobe #fashion #fashion photography #amazing locations #Model #modelling #jen brook #fashion shoot #photoshoot #group shoot #makeup #video #stylist #milinery #MUA #designer #mishimay

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eduardowarman3-blog · 6 years

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Cheap Holidays - a Person I obtain The Most For My financial?

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blancagriswold · 7 years

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Real Wedding: Rachel and Richard by Sara Beaumont

Happy Friday Cwtchers!

Oh I have so been looking forward to showing off this gorgeous wedding of Rachel and Richard. Richard got in touch with us because he was so overwhelmed with how all of the suppliers they had had the pleasure to use, had been. We were so taken by his enthusiasm, we had to find out more.

When we discovered they had used the likes of Rachel Burgess Bridal Boutique, Sweet Peony, Laura May Bridal and Pencoed House (to name but a few), weren’t in the least bit surprised that they had had received such a wonderful service.

To top it off, their photographer, Sara Beaumont, took the most wonderful images of the couple and their friends and family, telling the story of the beautiful day.

So I will stop rambling on, and hand over to the couple to tell you all about it…..

Rachel and Richard

What was your budget?

We were really lucky as both sides of our family wanted to contribute financially to our wedding. With some of our own savings we were able to splash out on some luxuries that we wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. As most of our guests were travelling we wanted to make sure that we made them feel welcome and showed them a good time so we decided early on that the food, drink and music would take priority.

Where something came in higher than expected or wasn’t part of our original budget we tried to make up the difference from our monthly income rather than take from “the pot”.

How would you describe your wedding theme?

Thanks to his Dad, Richard spent most of his childhood, teenage years….and adult life playing cricket so this featured quite heavily in our day.

Otherwise, we wanted to keep the decor fairly simple. The hall at Pencoed House is beautiful so all we needed were some flowers to brighten the place up. Rachael at Sweet Peony was a godsend.

She understood the style we wanted straight away and gave practical advice of how to achieve it without spending a fortune. The night before the wedding I popped into the shop and was blown away by the gorgeous scent and all the lovely blooms. I couldn’t wait to get hold of my bouquet!

What was your favourite part of your wedding?

I wouldn’t say I’m a shy person but walking down the aisle in front of 100 family and friends was not my idea of a good time. The night before the wedding we had a quick rehearsal at the church with the bridesmaids and ushers. Even with just a few people there I hated it. But on the morning of the wedding something clicked and I couldn’t wait to get to the church (our guests will find this surprising given how late I was!) I loved every second of my entrance and was overwhelmed by all the lovely faces smiling back at me.

But the best moment for the both of us has to be the car journey between the church and the venue. This is the first (and only) moment we had alone on our wedding day, the first as husband and wife.

I know nothing about cars but have always had a soft spot for jaguars. The MKII we chose was so elegant and offered a little bit of isolation on a very busy day.

Tell us about your Wedding Dress

I’m an incredibly fussy shopper and after spending every spare moment googling wedding dresses I concluded that the magical “dress moment” was not for me. As soon as I walked into Rachel Burgess’ Bridal Boutique I knew that was not the case. The boutique is like a little bit of heaven. Rachel only stocks dresses that she loves, designed and made in Wales by wonderful local designers. I left my first appointment with three dresses I would have been absolutely thrilled to wear. After 3 appointments (Rachel was very patient) I had chosen The One: Mable by E&W Couture. Sophie at E&W creates such beautiful dresses with really luxurious fabrics. I loved the way the tulle moved when I turned and I couldn’t stop prancing around the boutique! Rachel suggested I try a champagne slip instead of ivory which gave the dress an elegant vintage feel which was just perfect.

As each dress is made to order Sophie tailored the dress exactly as I wanted it. My wedding was in April so I added some sheer sleeves and I simplified the cowl neckline to make sure my Mum’s pearl necklace stood out. It was magical to see my dress evolve from a basic calico mock up to the beautiful gown I would wear down the aisle. Sophie and Rachel went above and beyond for me arranging as many appointments as I needed to feel comfortable and advising on everything from underwear to how to hold my bouquet! Sophie gave me off-cuts from my dress to use elsewhere. I decided to wrap a little bit of the tulle around the button-holes for my groom and Father-of-the-Bride as a first insight to what they could expect (which was obviously lost on them!) Unknown to me my Mum also approached the girls for some extra silk to make a beautiful cushion to surprise me with on the morning of the wedding. It was so unexpected and incredibly thoughtful.

Who did you pick as your bridesmaids &/or best man and why?

My sisters have always been my best friends so having them next to me on my wedding day was non-negotiable but when I started to think about who I wanted to have around me on the morning of the wedding I knew I couldn’t do it without my pals Kate and Laura.

Just 6 weeks before the wedding, we found out that the girls’ dresses had never been ordered! Luckily they pulled through and thanks to the amazing girls at Laura May Bridal new dresses were lined up and ordered within 48 hours. I didn’t need to lift a finger. From that moment, I knew that no matter what went wrong on the day, as long as I had my friends around me, all would be well. For Richard, there was only one choice for best man, his best friend Charles. He came up trumps on the day!

Why did you choose your venue?

When we first arrived at Pencoed House we fell in love with the way the long driveway felt like we were travelling down to our own little intimate hideout in the woods. We wanted somewhere which had somewhere for us to stay with our immediate family at the end of the night and the elegantly decorated cottages were just the perfect place to rest our heads after a good old party.

But the venue itself had to be the main attraction. The tall trees and the stone walls were the perfect backdrop to our reception. The hall was full of character and didn’t need any further decoration to bring the place to life.

Tell us about your photographer

I first met Sara Beaumont when she photographed my sister’s wedding in 2013. Sara lives in Worcester but her passion for South Wales means that she is more than happy to make the trip for the wedding. It was important to us to have a photographer who made us feel at ease. What we loved about Sara was her calming effect and her wicked sense of humour. She is able to boss around unruly family members when needed without causing a fuss and the results are incredible (which is lucky as she only had 5 minutes to capture our group shots before the wedding breakfast!)

How did the proposal happen?

Poor Richard had to think up two proposals before he was able to pop the question. I am absolutely obsessed with decorating the house at Christmas so his original plan was to propose whilst helping me decorate the tree, substituting a bauble with the ring. Sadly for him, I was just too impatient and insisted on putting the decorations up before he had been able to collect the ring! He had to turn to plan B. We were travelling home to Wales for Christmas when Richard took a detour to Stratford-upon-Avon where we had spent a lovely weekend at the beginning of our relationship. I had been moody all day and instantly felt guilty that he had arranged such a lovely surprise. He told me that he wanted a quiet night with just the two of us before we got home to a house full of family and friends. We walked through the town centre looking at the Christmas lights and ended up on a bridge over the river where we had taken a boat trip 5 years earlier. I first started to suspect something when he stopped to “take a photo” in the dark. As soon as the bridge was clear he dropped down on one knee and presented me with the most beautiful ring. I spent the rest of the night watching it twinkle in the Christmas lights completely gobsmacked that he would still propose after how miserable I had been all day!!!

What was your first dance & why?

We chose 80s classic, Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen. It took me about 4 years to convince Richard to watch Dirty Dancing with me but in the end he loved it! We are not the best dancers so we wanted to pick something which would encourage others to join us on the dance floor.

In hindsight, was there anything you would have done differently?

Even though we knew exactly who was coming to the wedding, seeing everyone together was completely overwhelming and I wanted to thank everybody individually for coming to celebrate with us. Getting around everyone is so hard, the day speeds by and there are always people you don’t get chance to speak to. I would have liked more time to speak to everyone but then I wouldn’t change a single second of the day.

Do you have any advice for future couples?

Make the most of your friends and family. We had amazing support from some really special people: my old school teacher and long-time family friend married us; Richard’s brother played the piano as I walked down the aisle and our friend Andy provided the musical entertainment whilst we signed the register. Uncle Robert was MC for the day, a family friend provided Yorkshire wool for Richard’s suit and my brother, Matthew designed the invitations and the order of service.

Utilising the talents and enthusiasm of those around us not only helped us save on the costs of a professional but also added an irreplaceable personal feel to our day.

What’s the best piece of marriage advice you received?

When we first got engaged, my parents sent us a card with a quote from Audrey Hepburn: The best thing to hold on to in life is each other. We have both grown up surrounded by strong marriages and understand that it’s not all a bed of roses. This card was a reminder of what it’s all about and that as long as we are a team, we can get through anything.

What was your favourite thing about planning a wedding?

Spending time with family and friends was one of the best bits of planning the wedding. My dress appointments were the perfect opportunity to go home and spend time with my Mum and it was really nice to get together with my bridesmaids for dress shopping and the hen party.

The Suppliers

Photographer: Sara Beaumont Photography Videographer: Silk Wedding Films Ceremony Venue: St Mary’s Catholic Church Bridgend Reception Venue: Pencoed House Estate Bride’s Dress: Rachel Burgess Bridal Boutique Bride’s Shoes: Rachel Simpson but found on ebay! Bride’s Headpiece: Britten Weddings Bride’s Jewellery: Mum Groom’s Outfit: Carl Stuart Bespoke Tailor Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Laura May Bridal Bridesmaid’s Accessories: Etsy Cake: Marks and Spencer Flowers: Sweet Peony Floral Hair: Rachel Mann (friend) Make Up: Louise McCarthy (friend) Band: Classic Soul Dogs Stationery: I Do Designs Caterers: E J Catering Transport: Nev and Stella Padfield (now retired) Other: Wool for Richard’s suit was provided by family friends, W.T.Johnson & Sons Limited

The Wedding Album

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Real Wedding: Jenny and Thomas’s Edwardian Manor House Wedding

Jenna And Carl’s Rustic Romance Wedding Photographed By Lloyd Williams

Real Wedding: Tony and Natasha’s winter wedding at Pencoed House, Cardiff

Lizzy And Tom’s Travel Inspired Wedding By Victoria Tyrrel Photography

The post Real Wedding: Rachel and Richard by Sara Beaumont appeared first on Cwtch The Bride.

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