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hellostarrynightblr · 2 years

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It took me four months to write this post even though i used to do it monthly. The last post was for January, this one includes films watched between February and May 2022. Eighteen films in total. I used to watch twice as many films per month. The war took its toll, I guess... 1. Favourite movies: Smilin' Through (1932), The Batman (2022), Scandal Sheet (1952), The Big Combo (1955), Rebecca (1940) 2. Decent movies I liked / appreciated but not loved: Woman in Hiding (1950), Lost Horizon (1937), The Thrill of it All (1963), The Blob (1988), Sleepy Hallow (1999) 3. Best scenes: the flashbacks (Smilin' Through, 1932); the car chase / Bruce and Alfred at the hospital / goodbye between Batman and Catwoman (The Batman, 2022); the final shootout / at the opera (The Big Combo, 1955); the final boss battle (Uncharted, 2022); explaining what happened to the builders in The Thrill of It All (1963); confronting Maxim (Rebecca, 1940). 4. Favourite genres: romance, drama, fantasy, noir. 5. Favourite directors: Matt Reeves (The Batman, 2022); Joseph H. Lewis (The Big Combo, 1955); Tim Burton (Sleepy Hallow, 1999); Alfred Hitchcock (Rebecca, 1940). 6. Favourite actors: Johnny Depp, Chritina Ricci (Sleepy Hallow, 1999); Doris Day, James Garner (Move Over, Darling, 1963; The Thrill of It All, 1963); Norma Shearer, Fredric March, Leslie Howard (Smilin' Through, 1932); John Derek, Broderick Crawford (Scandal Sheet, 1952); Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Zoe Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Paul Dano (The Batman, 2022); Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte, Jean Wallace (The Big Combo, 1955); Tom Holland (Uncharted, 2022); Ida Lupino (Woman in Hiding, 1950); Ronald Colman (Lost Horizon, 1937); Lawrence Olivier, Joan Fontaine (Rebecca, 1940). 7. Least favourite performances: Armie Hammer (Death on the Nile, 2022). Not only was it incredibly uncomfortable to watch him due to his off-screen behaviour but the performance was so over-the-top I couldn't take it seriously at all. It was really hard, close to impossible. 8. The most wasted cast: everyone was okay at least. If I had to choose, I'd say Death on the Nile (2022) but it's not a bad film in itself. Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Kenneth Branaugh, Russel Brand (random...), Letitia Wright, Emma Mackey, Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot, Rose Leslie, Ali Fazal, Rosie Dwyer. 9. The best wasted premise: Repeat Performance (1947). It's one of the films with the most wasted potential, and all due to an endless series of stupid decisions. Had the protagonist been smarter and less melodramatic, the film would have been a gem. 10. Best premise: The Big Combo (1955); The Batman (2022); Rebecca (1940); Sleepy Hallow (1999). 11. Favourite cast: The Batman (2022). Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard. On a smaller scale, it's Smilin' Through (1932) with Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard and Fredric March (a small three-man gem of a film) and The Big Combo (1955) with Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Jean Wallace. I'm just finding out how amazing Richard Conte was as an actor and it's glorious! 12. Favourite on-screen duos: Norma Shearer x Leslie Howard / Norma Shearer x Fredric March (Smilin' Through, 1932); Robert Pattinson x Andy Serkis / Robert Pattinson x Zoe Kravitz (The Batman, 2022); Doris Day x James Garner (Move Over, Darling, 1963; The Thrill of It All, 1963); Cornel Wilde x Richard Conte x Jean Wallace (in any combination) (The Big Combo, 1955); Joan Fontaine x Laurence Olivier (Rebecca, 1940). 13. Favourite on-screen relationships: Batman + Catwoman (The Batman, 2022). They do them so much justice in this film that there's barely any competition. Lt. Leonard Diamond + Susan Lowell / Mr. Brown + Susan Lowell (The Big Combo, 1955). Both relationships are more than a little dysfunctional but so fascinating to watch! Steve McCleary + Julie Allison (Scandal Sheet, 1952). It's fun and easy to follow, and a bit cheeky. Moonyeen + Sir John Carteret (Smilin' Through, 1932). I liked Fredric March in the film, too, but it's obviously about the undying love between these two that makes the film as touching as it is). Maxim de Winter + Mrs. de Winter (Rebecca, 1940). 14. Favourite characters: Batman, Catwoman, Alfred, The Riddler (The Batman, 2022); Lt. Leonard Diamond, Susan Lowell, Mr. Brown (The Big Combo, 1955); Steve McCleary, Julie Allison, Mark Chapman (Scandal Sheet, 1952); Deborah Chandler Clark (Woman in Hiding, 1950); Maxim de Winter, Mrs. de Winter (Rebecca, 1940). 15. Favourite quote: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. (Rebecca, 1940). 16. Favourite fact discovered in 2022: Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace were married when making The Big Combo (1955) and Ida Lupino was married to Howard Duff when he played her abusive conniving husband in Woman in Hiding (1950). I've also just found out the director of photography for Rebecca (1940), George Barnes, was married to Joan Blondell between 1933 and 1936. That's random... 17. The most overrated film: I think every film is pretty deserving of the reputation it has really. 18. The most disappointing film: Repeat Performance (1947). Just because had they made some smarter decisions it would've been a classic, and a really unique classic at that. 19. The biggest surprise: The Big Combo (1955). It's very tense, seductive, maniacal and powerful film. I miss those. 20. Best cinematography: John Alton (The Big Combo, 1955). It's absolutely marvelous! Greig Fraser (The Batman, 2022); George Barnes (Rebecca, 1940); Emmanuel Lubezki (Sleepy Hallow, 1999). 21. Best set design: Rebecca (1940), The Batman (2022). 22. Best costume design: Irene (Rebecca, 1940); Don Loper (The Big Combo, 1955). 23. Best music: Rebecca (1940). 24. Best prooduction choice: casting Robert Pattinson in The Batman (2022) and Richard Conte in The Big Combo (1955); practical effects in The Blob (1988). 25. Worst production choice: the script in Repeat Performance (1947) and the uncomfortably revealing Death on the Nile (2022). 26. Film of the month: The Big Combo (1955) and Rebecca (1940).

#filmstoremember #remember2022 #february #march #april #may #months #highlights of 2022 #moviechallenge2022

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mitchbeck · 8 months

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NEW YORK RANGERS & HARTFORD WOLF PACK MOVES

By: Ales Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced a series of transactions today.* The Wolf Pack have loaned forward Sahil Panwar to the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones.* The New York Rangers have reassigned goaltenders Talyn Boyko and Olof Lindbom to the Cyclones from the Wolf Pack.* The Wolf Pack have released the following players from their professional tryout agreements (PTO), returning them to the Cyclones: defensemen Matthew Cairns, Billy Constantinou, and Steven MacLean, and forwards Luka Burzan, James Hardie, and Michal Mrazik.* The Wolf Pack released defenseman Chris Cameron from his professional tryout agreement (PTO) and returned him to the ECHL's Indy Fuel.* The Wolf Pack released forward Peter Laviolette III from his professional tryout agreement (PTO) and returned him to the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers.* The Wolf Pack released defenseman Ryan McCleary from his amateur tryout agreement (ATO) and returned him to the WHL's Swift Current Broncos.In addition, New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has assigned forward Brennan Othmann to the Wolf Pack.Othmann, 20, split the 2022-23 season between the OHL's Flint Firebirds and Peterborough Petes. With the Firebirds, Othmann scored 24 points (11 g, 13 a) in 16 games and served as club captain. He was traded to the Petes on November 13th, 2022.With the Petes, the native of Pickering, ON, scored 43 points (18 g, 25 a) in 40 games. He tacked on 25 points (8 g, 17 a) in 23 OHL Playoff games, helping guide the club to an OHL Championship and berth in the Memorial Cup.The Wolf Pack training camp roster now has 17 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders for 28 players.About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more.ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

#AHL #AmericanHockeyLeague #HartfordWolfPack #IgorShesterkin #NationalHockeyLeague #NewYorkRangers #NHL #OakViewGroup #XLCenter

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dollycas · 1 year

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#FlashbackFriday - The Ivy Tree - An Avalon Romance by Carolyn Brown #Review / #Giveaway

On Flashback Fridays I will share with you the books I was not able to review when they were first released that have been screaming at me from my To-Be-Read bookshelf. In my quest to complete the Literary Escapes Challenge this year, I pulled this book from my huge Kindle TBR shelf.

The Ivy Tree Contemporary Women's Fiction / Romance Setting - Oklahoma Montlake Romance Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0803494661 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0803494664 Paperback ‏ : ‎ 158 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 147783169X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1477831694 Kindle Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DTTW5SE

After his rodeo accident, Truman James was just going home to his grandmother’s farmhouse to stay a few weeks while his broken leg healed. He surely didn’t expect to be awakened the first morning he was there by a snaggle-toothed kid and his sassy Irish mother, who’d moved right into the house with him. Allie McCleary wouldn’t have ever consented to move to Dougherty, Oklahoma, if she’d known Truman had the freedom to use the house, too. And she sure didn’t expect Truman James to be the magic she’d been searching for since her husband was killed five years before. The rest is what happens when you cross a handsome-beyond-words bull rider with a mostly-Irish lass with a temper to match her rich chestnut brown hair and mossy green eyes. It’s the story of an old ivy-covered elm tree in the corner of the yard, sitting in dormancy like Allie’s heart and rooted deep in the rich ranch soil, like Truman’s soul. Will they realize that the real fight lies within their hearts? Although they’re as mismatched as oil and water, they have fallen in love. Can either of them admit it? Dollycas's Thoughts Allie McCleary lost her husband, Taylor, five years ago and she really lost herself as well. Her grandmother Emma, and her friend, Bert thought relocating may help ease her pain and help her move on. So Allie and her seven-year-old son Linc packed up and moved to the country, Dougherty, Oklahoma, into an old farmhouse owned by Bert. Truman James has been on the rodeo circuit for many years but was thrown off a bull, the bull rolled with him, and "a couple of tons of weight landed on his leg" and broke it. Out of commission for at least 6 weeks he decides to visit his grandmother's farm knowing there is plenty of work to keep him busy and her meals would surely help him to heal up faster. He never expected that his grandma wouldn't be home and that a bossy Irish woman and her kid would be living in her house. They both called their grandmothers and were basically told "suck it up buttercup". Then both women packed their bags and left on a cruise. These characters were very engaging. Allie is a strong woman and had her guard up not wanting to get hurt again. She hopes a new man much like Taylor will come along in his three-piece suit carrying his briefcase and sweep her off her feet. Until then she will keep painting her coffee shop pictures and focus on her son Linc. Linc is a normal seven-year-old kid bursting with energy and talking a mile a minute. He loves living on the farm especially after Truman arrives with his horse. Truman is more laid back and he sure likes to push Allie's buttons. He may settle down someday with a quiet country girl that is a "short little blonde who comes just up to his shoulder and will make a whole house full of kids just like him". The banter between Allie and Tru was entertaining and their attraction sparks right from the start. I really liked the way Truman did things with Linc, telling him stories, taking him horseback riding, and teaching him how to care for the horse. He even gives the little boy a very special gift. The ivy tree was such a great theme throughout the story. Allie is drawn to the tree and sets aside the flower paintings that are sold in coffee shops to paint the tree and it wasn't easy. She wants to get the squirrels that live in the ivy-covered elm just perfect and the ivy needs to be just right. Later she wants it to carry the memory of a special day. Then one day she has an epiphany realizing that the tree symbolizes her life. Truman has one as well. I am not sure exactly what year the author set this story in but the fact that the characters did not have cell phones and that Garth Brooks and Billy Ray Cyrus' early hits were mentioned along with some of the fashion choices I would say the late 80s or early 90s. The Ivy Tree is a heartwarming feel-good story where the characters realize what they need is right before their eyes. A quick read with a delightfully happy ending. Ms. Brown's books are always a nice little escape.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Carolyn Brown is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly and #1 Amazon and #1 Washington Post bestselling author. She is the author of more than 100 novels and several novellas. She’s a recipient of the Bookseller’s Best Award, Montlake Romance’s prestigious Montlake Diamond Award, and also a three-time recipient of the National Reader’s Choice Award. Brown has been published for more than 20 years, and her books have been translated 21 foreign languages. When she’s not writing, she likes to plot new stories in her backyard with her tom cat, Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, who protects the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, locusts, and spiders. Visit her at www.carolynbrownbooks.com.

Also by Carolyn Brown

Click Here to find more books by Carolyn Brown

I am giving away 1 Kindle copy of The Ivy Tree! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The Contest Will End March 17, 2023, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form *This book was purchased and is part of my personal collection. Read the full article

#CarolynArnold #ContemporaryWomen'sFiction #MontlakeRomance #Oklahoma #romance

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janeofcakes · 3 years

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Soulmate: How John Met Sherlock...Again Chapter 2

Hello, my friends! I come to you today knowing there is but one burning question in your minds today: What will Gracie and Olive get up to next? Okay, maybe two: When the hell will John and Sherlock meet, Jane? Tell me. Tell me now! Haha. Patience, my lovelies. You know I can't write a story without stringing you along for a while first. I am very firmly on the naughty list and like our dear friend, Martin Freeman I cannot abide being on anyone's nice list. Mwahaha.

I also wanted to say that the next few chapters are not as long as the first. There was so much to get through in that one. I hope you aren't disappointed. The good news is my typing and editing are going well so I should be able to keep my weekend schedule. Hooray!Happy reading. Jane

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Gracie casts a side look at Olive from where she sits on the jungle gym. It is afternoon break and the two girls just climbed frantically up the poles and bars to sit at the top for a rest after running themselves ragged all over the playground pretending to be Nancy Drew and George Fayne solving a mystery. Every day since Monday has gone more or less the same way. They play together for morning break, talk at lunch and play again in the afternoon. They write notes on one another’s notebooks during lessons, but manage not to disrupt class or miss instruction. It has been a truly amazing first week of school, better than Gracie could have ever imagined.

Gracie looks at Olive again and feels her throat swell. It’s like she has known Olive forever. They seem to always understand each other and be in perfect sync. Gracie has talked about nothing else at home and has even dreamed about playing with Olive each night. Olive has told her all kinds of things about London and its history. Tower Bridge, London Bridge, the National Theatre, but what Gracie is most interested in seeing is the Tower of London. She asked her father just last night if they could go sometime to see the old castle and the crown jewels. She can’t wait to see and do everything, and it would be even better if Olive could come along for some of it. London is much more exciting than Bath ever was, hands down!

“Gracie,” Olive begins in a lazy tone, “how do you feel about bees?”

Turning to face her friend fully, Gracie furrows her brow and frowns. Olive does not react to the movement and continues looking at something in the distance, or perhaps at nothing at all. Gracie says nothing at first, wondering if Olive had been talking before and all Gracie heard was the bee question. The taller girl finally turns her head and fixes the blonde with an inquisitive gaze. Gracie frowns as she considers the question. She is not really partial to any insect, nor is she upset by them.

“They’re all right, I guess,” Gracie shrugs. “They make honey, so there’s that.”

“Mm…” Olives hums in approval. “True.”

Gracie raises her brows, every inch of her face asking ‘What are you on about?’. Olive blinks and seems to realize she was lost in her own mind, leaving Gracie with absolutely no context for the question.

“That’s what my dad wants to do when he retires,” Olive explains. “Beekeeping. In Sussex, probably.”

Oh no. This can’t be happening. Gracie just met Olive and had the best week of her life and now she’s going to lose her to bees?!

“You’d leave London then?” Gracie chokes on the words, not even trying to hide her distress.

“Yeah,” Olive answers absently, playing with the end of her long braid. “He says they’re fascinating.”

Gracie’s whole body tenses and her stomach roils. She feels sick and a bit dizzy when she glances away from Olive to a girl laughing wildly on the swings. It’s like a bad dream spiraling out of control to the soundtrack of that girl’s mad laughter. Gracie bites her lip hard to ground herself and looks back at Olive.

“Is he close to retiring?” Gracie forces out, beads of sweat beginning to collect at her temples.

“What? No,” Olive huffs a laugh and looks at Gracie again. “He’s definitely old, but not ancient. He has too much fun working anyway. Hey, are you okay?”

“Fun?” Gracie asks incredulously, ignoring her friend’s inquiry. “At a crime scene?”

“Oh, yeah, he loves it,” Olive laughs, seeing Gracie begin to relax. “He loves a good mystery. Locked room murders are his favorite.”

“Wow,” Gracie mutters, only half understanding what that means.

“He used to have a partner, you know,” Olive adds with a grin. “He loved it even more then.”

“So he had his own Clue Crew?” excited energy vibrates through Gracie’s body as she pictures a grown up and male version of Olive with a man and woman posed behind him like on Charlie’s Angels. Gracie’s dad loves old shows and movies, so she has seen her fair share. James Bond is his favorite. She makes a note to ask Olive if she has ever seen any of them.

“Not a crew,” the brunette corrects. “Just the one partner. They solved all kinds of cases together. They were best friends.”

“Like us?”

“Yep, exactly like us,” Olive says with a flash of teeth. Gracie grins too and is about to ask about Bond when something else pops to the forefront of her mind.

“Oh! It’s like my dad’s bedtime stories!” Gracie blurts eagerly. “Sam Williams and Dean Jensen. They’re best friends and solve crimes together. That’s how I got started on Nancy Drew in the first place. Dad’s read some of the old ones to me.”

“Really?” Olive cries. “Oh! Oh! Mystery of the 99 Steps?”

“That’s my favorite!” Gracie shrieks, her hands flying to her cheeks.

“Mine too!” Olive gasps.

“Girls,” the teacher on duty calls up to them from the ground below. They look down at her, all wide eyes and smiles. “Time to go back inside.”

They climb down as the teacher walks away to tell other kids. The two girls bound towards the school, slowing to a walk as they get closer. Gracie feels something brush against her hand and glances at it just in time to see Olive’s longer fingers wrap around it. She shifts her wide eyes to her friend’s, barely able to contain her joy.

“We should get our dads to read us the same old Nancy Drew book, a chapter each night,” Olive tells her conspiratorially. “Then we can compare notes the next day and see if we can solve it before Nancy.”

“That’s the best idea!” Gracie crows. “We can figure out which one during library time.”

“And then you check it out,” Olive says decisively. “Mrs. Hudson has all of them. I can borrow it from her.”

“Ok,” Gracie agrees, already knowing so much about Olive’s godmother that she doesn’t even question the woman would have the whole series. Honestly, Gracie wants to meet her almost as much as she wants to meet Olive’s detective father.

The two girls giggle for a moment at their new plan and then skip into the school building.

***

Saturday afternoon finds Gracie hand in hand with Candace McCleary, a nanny John handpicked while Gracie was still in Bath. They met the day after Gracie arrived last week and she instantly fell in love with Candace, much to John’s relief. Candace would not be a live-in nanny, but is employed like one. John needs her to get Gracie from school and stay with her until he gets home in the evenings. He also needs her to be available at a moment’s notice for when an emergency, like the birth of a baby, arises. John had warned his daughter after Angela Taylor’s check-up on Wednesday that he thought the baby would come early and probably at a most inconvenient time. Sure enough, he received the call just as he started lunch. Gracie was disappointed that her first trip to Hanover Gate Children’s Playground in Regent’s Park would be without her father, but was still over the moon when Candace was happy to take her. She had been looking forward to it almost all week.

“Oh my gosh!” Gracie exclaims as she and Candace approach the playground. There is equipment everywhere to climb and swing on and slide down. Gracie immediately decides the sandpit is first on her list. A tall tree stands in its center with wooden bridges and walkways built all around it. Rope ladders and nets offer admittance and there is even a hammock to sit on. “Candace, this is amazing! This is the best park ever!”

“Why don’t you jump right in?” the woman laughs. “I’ll just be right on this bench if you need me.”

Candace points to an empty green bench as she speaks and starts heading for it before someone else claims it. Gracie calls out her agreement and makes a b-line for the nearest rope ladder. She is up it in seconds and running across a bouncy bridge, laughing all the way. She runs the whole course, turns right back around and does it again. There are quite a few kids in this part of the park, but it’s still easy to work her way around them. After a few more laps on the equipment, a small group of kids asks Gracie to play tag. She recognizes them from school and accepts.

A good hour later, two of the kids have to go home and Gracie is exhausted. She begs off, having had her mind set on playing in the sand since she and Candace got there. Plopping down in a shady spot, she plunges her hands beneath the beige and brown grains. The sand is cool and dry and feels soft in between her fingers, not like the rough sand that is sometimes used in parks. It’s like the white sand from a beach. She has half a mind to pull her shoes off and let her feet sink into its depths. Gracie closes her eyes and wiggles her fingers, feeling the sand move around them like a favorite blanket. She opens her eyes as she curls her fingers around the tiny grains and watches them slip through when she lifts her hands.

Gracie does this again and again until she grabs a stick and begins to drag it through the sand like a plow. At one point, she makes a short trench and plants sunflower seeds and raisins from the snack baggy in her pocket. She pats the sand with satisfaction after covering them and looks toward the bench where Candace sits. She waves and her nanny waves back. Gracie giggles and gets to her knees, but stops when a figure just sitting down on the hammock suddenly blocks her view of Candace.

“What the…” Gracie mutters, her mouth falling open in disbelief. She gets to her feet and runs straight for the rope hammock and its occupant, who hears her footfalls and looks up with blue-grey eyes.

“Gracie!” Olive cries in surprise as her friend trips in the sand and drops face-first next to the hammock. “Gracie?”

“I’m okay,” the blonde girl declares, pushing herself up and standing quickly. The two girls lock eyes and start laughing. “What are you doing here?”

“We come every weekend,” Olive replies, pulling Gracie onto the woven rope. “Our flat’s just that way.”

“Really?” Gracie gasps with a delighted squeak. She points in the opposite direction. “Mine’s that way.”

“No way!” Olive shouts with glee. “That’s amazing! I had no idea we lived so close.”

“I know right,” Gracie exclaims, beginning to rock the hammock a bit. Olive unfolds her legs to hang them down and help push. “What are the odds?”

“Well,” Olive considers, adopting her contemplative face. Gracie knows instantly that a deduction is coming. She giggles and her smile widens as she watches her best friend. “Since we go to the same school, it seems fairly likely that we would live close together because it’s usually based on geography. However, it’s a bit different with public school. Kids can come from all parts of London as long as they have the money to pay.”

“Oh my god,” Gracie can barely contain her excitement and she stamps a foot on the ground a few times. “We could play here every weekend! I’m sure I could get Dad to bring me.”

“Yes! Let’s set it up now,” Olive sits up straight, ready to jump off the netting. “Is your dad here?”

“No, he had to deliver a baby,” Gracie rolls her eyes. Olive makes a dismissive noise that sounds like she just opened an air-tight container and sinks back into the hammock “Exactly. I mean, babies are important and all, but now he has to wait another week to see all this.”

Gracie swings her arms out wide and tilts her head skyward before flopping unceremoniously onto her back. Olive lets herself tip backwards as well and they soon lie side by side, looking up at the clouds. Gracie points out one that looks like a panda and proceeds to tell her friend all sorts of facts about pandas.

“I even have a panda,” she finishes.

“You do?” Olive asks, her eyes widen with wonder.

“Since I was three,” Gracie nods. “She’s my favorite stuffie. She’s called Pandy and I sleep with her every night.”

“I have a bee,” Olive says without hesitation. “I call him Wellington, sometimes Wellies for short.”

“Do you like bees as much as your dad does?” Gracie is curious because Wellington might have been a gift like Pandy was, but it certainly sparked her interest in pandas.

“I don’t think anyone could like them as much as Dad,” Olive huffs a laugh, “but yeah, I definitely like them too. It’s amazing how they make honey and their whole society and all.”

“Wow. Would you tell me?” Gracie fixes her with a serious gaze and licks her lips. “I loooove honey.”

“Sure, and you can tell me more about pandas,” Olive grins and points to a medium-sized cloud. “That one looks like a catapult.”

Gracie cocks a brow and follows her finger to a cloud that, amazingly enough, does resemble a rudimentary catapult.

The afternoon passes as the two girls tell each other stories and make up new games, their favorite being pirates sailing their hammock boat across the sea to a mysterious island. They leave their spot at this point to explore sandy beaches, nearly being vanquished by a giant hippo and almost losing Olive beneath quicksand. Gracie keeps her head about her and is always within Candace’s line of sight, and it’s a good thing too because the two girls are interrupted as tea time nears.

“I knew I’d find you here,” a low rumble of a voice comes from behind Gracie where she sits facing Olive. They have just dug up a treasure of sunflowers and raisins, a very valuable find on the sea. Their eyes grow wide as a menacing laugh fills the air around them. Gracie swallows hard and turns slowly to see the towering silhouette of a man in a billowy black coat. She shields her eyes, but with the sun behind him, she cannot make out his features. He probably has an eye patch and everything.

“What are you doing on my island?” the man demands as he steps closer. Gracie gasps and pushes herself backwards toward Olive to get away from the dark figure only just coming into focus.

“Hi, girls. Is everything okay?” Candace McCleary asks from the right and Gracie glances at her gratefully. Her trusty companion must have bolted from her park bench as soon as the giant appeared. Now she stands alert as though ready to pounce and Gracie breathes a sigh of relief. She hadn’t even seen this man until it was too late. Gracie grits her teeth and silently berates herself as her father’s words about being observant come to mind.

“Uhhh…” Gracie finds her voice, but it comes out as a meek croak. Meanwhile, Olive leaps up next to her and runs for the figure with open arms. Gracie gapes, sure she is about to see her friend eaten before her very eyes.

“Daddy!” Olive cries, launching herself into the man’s arms. Gracie blinks and it is like a cloud has moved from where it had covered the sun. The giant, no longer in the shadows, transforms into a tall man wearing a nice suit with no tie and a long coat. Gracie finds herself marveling at the fact that he doesn’t appear to be hot in the slightest and momentarily wonders if he has ice in his pockets, but stops all speculation when she sees his face. Angles and cheeks like Olive, dark curls and the same grey eyes that seem to change from green to blue and back. The corners of Gracie’s mouth turn up and a sense of ease washes over her.

“Is it time to go already?” Olive is speaking at a mile a minute. “We only just started playing pirates. Can Gracie come home with us? We’re having Thai for dinner. I bet she’ll like it.”

The tall man chuckles at his daughter and the sound is like a really warm blanket, soft and comfy. He glances at Candace and settles his gaze on Gracie. She bristles for a moment at those all-seeing eyes. It’s true they are like Olive’s, but much wiser. Gracie has the feeling he is learning much more from just watching her than anyone else can. She’s not entirely sure how she feels about that, but supposes it’s why Olive is so perceptive and she loves her. Besides, this is her dad. Gracie feels like she knows him already after all the stories she has heard.

“Ah, so this is the infamous Gracie,” Sherlock says surreptitiously with a look in Olive’s direction. The girl smiles broadly and nods while Gracie smiles a little timidly. His chin dips in greeting. “I’ve heard a great deal about you.”

“I know a lot about you too,” Gracie replies as she rises, finding her tenacity again.

“Of that, I have no doubt,” Sherlock answers. He turns his attention to Candace, who still looks a touch uneasy. “And this is your friend?”

“Yeah,” Gracie confirms enthusiastically. “This is Candace.”

She jumps up and grabs Olive’s hand, pulling her toward the young woman.

“And this is Olive,” she exclaims.

“Oh,” the last traces of suspicion vanish from Candace’s eyes and she gestures at the girls. “Of course. You’re Olive. Gracie has been telling me about you all week.” “And this is my dad,” Olive introduces. “Sher…”

“William,” Sherlock interrupts, offering his hand. Candace steps forward and takes it in a firm shake. “Will.”

“Nice to meet you,” Candace replies, not noticing the quizzical look on Olive’s face, but Gracie sees. She also sees Sherlock glance at his daughter and communicate something that clears the confusion from Olive’s mind in an instant. Gracie tilts her head in thought, considering this new information. She and John can do that sometimes too. It makes her that much more certain that Olive is meant to be her best friend.

“It’s quite a coincidence them meeting in the park like this,” Candace is saying when Gracie emerges from her thoughts. “Do you live around here?”

“Yes, just on Baker Street,” Sherlock answers politely, but with a tinge of the tone Olive has when she mutters that something is obvious. Gracie lets out a quick giggle.

“Oh, right,” Candace nods with a friendly smile. “That’s not far at all. Maybe we’ll see you here again.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Sherlock looks down at the two girls, both of which are very excited. Olive is almost dancing in place and Gracie would swear she needed the toilet if she didn’t know better. “We’re here every Saturday just after lunch.”

“Perfect,” Candace says. “That’s about when we arrived. I’ll let her father know too. He’ll usually be the one who brings her.”

“He had a baby to deliver,” Gracie supplies. “He’s a doctor.”

“So Olive tells me,” Sherlock tells her with a certain mirth in his tone. “I would very much like to meet him, especially now that I’ve met you.”

“He’s wanted to all week,” Olive exclaims, giving Gracie’s hand a squeeze. “Ever since the first day.”

“I just can’t believe we ran into each other like this,” Candace declares, still a little dumbfounded.

Gracie doesn’t hear Sherlock’s response because Olive leans in close to whisper in her ear how great it will be when their fathers meet. The blonde nods her head vigorously and they laugh together quietly.

“Oh my, it’s nearly tea time,” Candace says to her watch. “I have to get her home. Are you ready, Gracie?”

“I guess so,” the girl pouts. She throws her arms around Olive in a huge hug. “I can’t wait to see you on Monday.”

Gracie gasps and looks at Olive with wide eyes, her hands still clamped around her arms.

“I’m going to write you a special note tomorrow and make a comic with my favorite markers,” she announces with glee. “They smell like strawberries and grapes and stuff.”

“Oh, wow!” Olive hoots. “I’ll make one of my maps for you.”

“It could be of this park!” Gracie shouts as Candace’s mobile sounds. She pulls it from her pocket and glances at its screen, pressing the surface to turn off the alarm.

“We really have to be going,” Candace says apologetically. “It was so nice to meet you both.”

“And you as well,” Sherlock dips his chin in farewell as Candace takes Gracie’s hand and leads her away.

“Bye, Gracie!” Olive calls, waving madly.

“Bye!” the blonde shouts back.

Olive waves for a good thirty seconds and then turns to face her father with her arms crossed over her chest. She raises a brow expectantly and Sherlock knows precisely why, but says nothing.

“Let’s go, shall we?” he begins walking toward home, knowing she will follow. “I believe Mrs. Hudson is making fresh biscuits.”

“What was that about, Dad?” Olive asks in disbelief, already matching his steps. “Why William?”

“You know I use aliases at times,” Sherlock replies without looking at her.

“Yeah, for cases, but these aren’t criminals,” Olive insists. “These are my friends.”

“I know, love,” he turns his head to see her earnest expression looking up at him. “I just don’t want to prejudice Gracie’s father.”

“What’s prejudice?” Olive furrows her brow as she repeats the word.

“Well, you know my profession can be dangerous,” Sherlock begins.

“Yeah…” Olive says slowly, eyeing him curiously.

“A lot of people know that because they see my name in the media,” he explains. “I don’t want Gracie’s father to hear my name and assume Gracie will be in danger. I’m concerned he will get the wrong impression and feel uncomfortable about you being friends.”

“Oh,” Olive says flatly as if she hadn’t considered that. They walk in silence for a moment until she speaks up again. He knew she would. She is too smart and inquisitive not to have follow-up questions. “So what are you going to do when we’ve been friends for months and it’s time to tell them your real name? Say ‘By the way, my name is really Sherlock Holmes.’?”

Sherlock gives her a withering look and says nothing. Her jaw drops and she shoves him lightly.

“Dad! You can’t NOT tell them,” Olive insists. She bends at the knees slightly to emphasize the word not. “It’s dishonest. Dad, it’s lying.”

“Sometimes we lie for the greater good,” Sherlock tells her curtly.

“Now you sound like Mycroft,” Olive sneers and that stops Sherlock dead in his tracks. He turns to face her, dropping into a squat and meeting her eyes.

“I would do anything for you, Olive,” he says sincerely, resting his hands on her shoulders. She curls the corner of her mouth and cocks a brow.

“Dad,” Olive begins matter-of-factly, “I know that and I would do anything for you too, but you told me I couldn’t lie.”

“Yes. Yes, I did,” Sherlock sighs and then continues resolutely. “You’re right. I’ll introduce myself properly when we meet Gracie’s father. Okay?”

“Okay,” Olive grins and they walk again, hand in hand.

“Olive?” Sherlock says, glancing her way. She looks up at him in answer. “Don’t compare me to Mycroft again.”

Olive lets out a quiet chortle and tightens her grip on his fingers.

“Desperate measures,” she replies more than a little pleased with herself. Sherlock puffs a quick breath through his nose and smirks as they walk on. Like father, like daughter.

---

What the hell, Jane?? I know what you said at the beginning, but this is unfair. Gracie and Candace get to meet Sherlock, but not John?! I want the boys to meet again! NOW! So sorry, my friends, but you'll have to wait a bit longer. Worry not, it will happen. Eventually. (insert evil smile, cruel chuckle and holding of fingertips together like Mr. Burns) Love, Jane

@johnlock-rocks

#Sherlock Holmes #Sherlock #bbc sherlock #john watson #johnlock #sherlock loves john #John loves Sherlock #Johnlock fanfic #Mystrade

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kitweewoos · 4 years

Text

50 Day Fic Prompt: Day 26

It was you the whole time.

Jemma/Daisy

1.7k

[read on ao3]

Jemma had had a pen pal since she was sixteen, a girl who called herself Skye and lived in America. They met on a forum about their favorite show, Quantum Mechs. Fitz hated the show, so she hadn’t had anyone to discuss it with until Skye. Skye liked the fight scenes, and the way main character Clara McCleary looked in her tact gear outside of her mech. Jemma loved the way the science was accurate, and the fact that Clara was openly queer. They’d exchanged email addresses, starting to talk about the show first and then the conversation moved past that into their lives.

Jemma could tell Skye anything, everything from her insecurities and her dreams to her favorite sweets. They talked for years, updating each other on boyfriends and girlfriends, on moves, on promotions. They didn’t use specifics, though. All Jemma knew is that she went by the name Skye, that they were close in age, that Skye was an orphan who had aged out of the system, that she had never known her parents.

I’ve never really had a family. All of my foster homes were temporary, weigh stations for my flaws. They checked me out, saw I was unworthy, and sent me on down the road. I can’t remember the last hug I was given. How saw it that? Skye had written once after Jemma had told her about her older brother James and his annoying habit of only referring to her as Wee One.

Well, I’d certainly give you every hug you’ve missed out on. I’ve been told I give the best hugs. I’ll wrap you up in my arms and bury my face in your neck because you’re certainly taller than me – everyone is – and we’ll stay like that for as long as you need. You deserve that, Skye, and I’d give that to you if you needed, Jemma had replied.

Years passed, and despite how busy they were, Jemma always found time to write to Skye. She never told anyone, not even Fitz, about Skye’s emails. He would probably say that Skye wasn’t who she said she was, that she was probably some middle-aged man who was trying to get something out of her. But Jemma trusted Skye. She’d never asked for anything too personal, had always respected her privacy. Jemma had signed her emails with a J and that was enough for Skye. She never demanded Jemma’s name or location, or any photos of her. It was good. It was steady.

I was asking to join a field team for some research, and L is hesitant but I want to see the world, not just the inside of the lab. I want to find the ways theory meets reality, step into the practical, see the real-life cause and effect. I’ve almost got him convinced. It’s thrilling to imagine, though, me out doing practical science out in the world. Maybe we’ll cross paths if I’m not hiding away, she’d written the day Coulson invited them onto the team.

Please be safe, Skye had written in an uncharacteristically short response.

Jemma had never imagined that she would meet Skye in person, not really. She was content with their anonymity. When she met Skye, the hacker Coulson had tapped for the team, it hadn’t crossed her mind that Skye the Hacker and Skye the Pen Pal could be the same person.

Besides, Skye continued to email Jemma, and hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort so they must be different people. Skye the Pen Pal would surely tell Jemma if she’d joined a team and was saving the world.

I made a decision recently, and it’s changing my life for the better. I can’t imagine my life before this, even though it was a few short weeks. Some days are harder than others, some decisions nearly impossible. I wish you were at my side sometimes, so I could hear your thoughts. You’ve always been a brilliant source of inspiration and calm for me, J. I won’t what you’d think about this new life I’ve found myself in. It’s nothing like what I’ve done before. I hope you’d be proud of me. You’re the one constant I’ve had all these years, and I hope that that continues no matter what, Skye wrote.

Jemma, on top of this friendship with Skye the Pen Pal, was becoming quite close with Skye the Hacker. Skye was sweet, and funny, and had an attitude like barbed wire. She wasn’t usually Jemma’s type, but really, “types” were comfort zones she was trying to avoid these days. Comfort zones hadn’t done anything for her yet.

Fitz and Ward both had eyes for Skye, which wasn’t a surprise. She was beautiful, and bright like summer sunshine, just as warm and relaxing. She made Jemma laugh, and she felt safe with Skye. It was unusual that she felt comfortable with someone so quickly. Even she and Fitz had taken forever to get to know each other but once they had, it was permanent. That’s what she hoped Skye would become, a fixture in Jemma’s life.

What do I do with a crush? I made a crush recently and she’s so good to me. She’s never mocked me or made me feel weird about being intelligent. Most people get defensive when I’m smarter than them, but not her. No, she smiles at me and encourages me to keep talking, even if she doesn’t understand what I’m talking about. She’s never minded my tangents or digresses. She treats me much like I imagine a lover should. Oh, just like to me, Skye. I have a small crush on a friend, and I should like some Jane Austen character fretting over if the man she’s betrothed to will treat her well. I’ve felt quite dramatic these last few months, with so much change. I wish I could tell you everything, but I’m under contract not to say, Jemma wrote one night after spending a long evening with Skye in the Bus's lounge. She wanted to wax poetic about Skye for hours, but decided this would do.

She got a reply when she checked her email the next morning, sent an hour after her own.

I know how you feel, actually. I met this amazing friend, you’d like them, and the more time I spend with them, the more I'm convinced I shouldn’t be anywhere else. They’re amazing, J. I’ve never felt more seen than I do at their side. I accidentally held their hand last week when we were watching a scary movie together, and it was the best twenty minutes I’ve ever had. If I kissed them, I might die. If I die, my collection of Quantum Mechs merch is yours, Skye replied.

Jemma, following nearly dying, curled up in her bunk with Quantum Mechs playing. Skye tapped on the door, and peered in at her.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Jemma replied. “Well, no, but I will be. I’m alive, and I’ve got my favorite show here, and Fitz brought me tea.”

She held up the thermos that Fitz had brought by and smiled. There was still an ache to her chest and limbs, but she was getting better with every hour.

“Quantum Mechs?” Skye asked, looking at the screen in Jemma’s bunk where Clara was climbing into her mech suit to go to battle.

“Yeah,” Jemma said, trying not to sound defensive. Everyone thought that it was too cheesy or two unrealistic, but considering the Avengers existed and was made up of aliens, super soldiers, and science experiments gone wrong, Jemma could look past realism.

“I love Quantum Mechs!” Skye squealed. “Can I join? I haven’t had time to rewatch in years.”

Jemma grinned and scooched over in bed so Skye could sit next to her. She threw her blanket over Skye and they settled in together during the Battle of Spirits.

“I’d marry Clara McCleary,” Skye breathed.

“She was the first queer character who was so badass that I couldn’t feel weird about my own queer-ness.”

“Wait. What?”

“I know that sounds silly, but I didn’t know any other queer women until I went to uni and joined SHIELD. Clara was the first in-canon, openly queer character I’d seen, and it made me feel less alone.”

“I just thought – I didn’t know you were queer.”

“Oh. Yes. Almost exclusively.”

“Huh.”

Skye put her hand on Jemma’s and smiled.

“Me too, for what it’s worth.”

“Worth a lot, actually,” Jemma whispered out. They settled in again and when Jemma fell asleep, Skye stayed to fend off her nightmares.

She woke up alone, and stretched, feeling infinitely better than she had in days. She was rested and hopeful. Skye fancied women, which meant there was a larger chance that Skye would fancy her specifically.

Skye liked Quantum Mechs, and Clara McCleary, and girls.

Jemma paused as she dressed, and then the pieces of the puzzle that had been staring her in the face slotted together. She finished dressing and hurried out of her bunk. She checked Skye’s first, but she wasn’t there, so then she checked the lounge, and finally, she found Skye in the lab with Fitz.

“Are you SkyeWriter?” Jemma asked without preamble.

“What?”

“SkyeWriter, the girl I met on a Quantum Mechs forum twelve years ago, who likes Clara McCleary and recently made a decision that changed her life. Are you her?”

There was an unexpected tear that escaped from her eye, which she swiped away.

“Yeah. You’re not – you’re J. You’re J.”

“Yeah. I am.”

“What is happening?” Fitz asked.

“Holy shit,” Skye said, standing up and circling the lab table, heading straight for Jemma. “It was you the whole time.”

“It was me.”

Then, Skye was kissing her, her jaw cradled in Skye’s beautiful hands. Her lips were soft, and tasted like the sugar cereal she and Fitz fought over in the mornings. Jemma held her hips, stroking over her hipbones with her thumbs, small strokes following the curve of them.

“What is happening,” Fitz repeated. Skye broke away with a laugh.

“I’ve wanted to do that for years, J.”

“Me too.”

“Was it worth the wait?”

“I’d wait forever for you, Skye.”

Skye nudged her nose against Jemma’s, and Jemma kissed her again, soft and quick.

“You don’t have to, I’m right here, and I am never going anywhere, J. You are my family, and you have been for longer than I’ve known anyone else. I am yours, and I have been since that first message.”

“I am yours,” Jemma echoed.

#agents of shield #aosficnet2 #skimmons #bioquake #jemma simmons #daisy johnson #50 day fic prompt

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allthecanadianpolitics · 5 years

Text

Where the NDP could win:

…and hence where you should absolutely vote NDP and not fear ‘vote splitting’ or ‘handing the election to the Conservatives.’ Ridings where the NDP are incumbent but behind have to be considered at least plausible.

(working from this great breakdown from @Historian_Matt on twitter, using projections (not polls) from 338 and riding history from wikipedia)

Newfoundland & Labrador - swept by LPC, time to take it back. St. John’s East: won by Jack Harris in ‘08 &’11, Harris is running again. Two way race between NDP & LPC on 338. St. John’s South—Mount Pearl: won by Ryan Cleary in ‘11, 338 doesn’t like the odds. Nova Scotia - Some lost territory to regain, CPC not a huge factor. Dartmouth–Cole Harbour: won by Robert Chisholm in ‘11, Emma Norton is an ‘Our Time’ endorsed environmental activist. Halifax: won by the excellent Megan Leslie in’08 and ‘11, previously won by former leader Alexa McDonough, this is a two-way race and this should be an NDP riding. Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook: won by (the now-disgraced) Peter Stoffer in six consecutive elections, currently a three-way race. New Brunswick - Acadians rise up. Acadie—Bathurst: won by Yvon Godin six times between ‘97 and ‘15, two-way race against incumbent LPC Serge Cormier. Quebec - NDP not looking good, but the CPC is even lower most places. Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou: Enormous Northern riding held by the retiring Romeo Saganash. 338 has this split between the Bloc and LPC, but with the NDP not far behind. The Tories are a non-factor.

Abitibi—Témiscamingue: Currently held by retiring Christine Moore, another tight one between LPC/BQ/NDP. Beloeil—Chambly: Currently held by Matthew Dubé, the last-standing member of the McGill 5. 338 has him well behind the LPC and BQ. Berthier—Maskinongé: Currently held by Ruth Ellen Brosseau (the notorious REB) and one of the few Quebec ridings that the NDP can be said to be leading in. It would be ludicrous to vote Liberal here, it’s REB or the Bloc. Drummond: Currently held by Francois Choquette, 338′s breakdown somehow puts him 4th. Hochelaga: Currently held by retiring Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, now allegedly a LPC/Bloc battleground. Fuck ‘em both, vote NDP. Jonquière: Currently held by Karine Trudel, who, like Choquette in Drummond, is improbably in 4th. Laurier—Sainte-Marie: The site of the retiring Hélène Laverdière defeating Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe, and a Quebec riding where the NDP are second to the LPC. Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques: Leadership candidate Guy Caron’s riding, which he won in ‘11 and ‘15. 338 has him behind the Bloc and LPC. Sucks to that. Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie: NDP Deputy Leader Alexandre Boulerice isn’t going anywhere. Currently ahead. Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot: Currently held by Brigitte Sansoucy. Salaberry—Suroît: Held by the retiring Anne Minh-Thu Quach. Sherbrooke: Pierre-Luc Dusseault is now 28 years old after two full terms in office, unfortunately Sherbrooke is yet another Quebec riding now being contested between the Bloc and LPC. Trois-Rivières: Another of the 2011 pickups that weathered 2015, incumbent Robert Aubin being given a disrespectful 8.9% on 338. Ontario - Big yikes of a province, but traditional ridings could hold. Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing: Carol Hughes has represented this rural riding since 2008, currently polling well. Brampton East: Raj Grewal left the LPC amid a particularly spicy investigation into his gambling debts. Canada’s only majority South Asian riding, its provincial analogue is held by Jagmeet’s brother. 338 lists it as safe LPC even so. Beaches—East York: NDP has been a strong performer in this riding and held it in the past, it’s a two-way race between them and LPC. Davenport: Won by Andrew Cash in 2011, he’s back and trailing slightly. Essex: Tracey Ramsey won this riding in 2015, this is a rare NDP/CPC race and Tracey’s leading but she needs your vote. Hamilton Centre: The retiring David Christopherson is the only MP this riding has known (created in 2004,) Our Time is endorsing his replacement, Matthew Green. He’s leading, according to 338. Hamilton East—Stoney Creek: Previously held by Wayne Marston from ‘06 to ‘15, and a race between the LPC and NDP. Hamilton Mountain: Historically always a LPC/NDP battleground, currently an orange seat for Scott Duvall. London—Fanshawe: I don’t generally approve of dynastic politics, but the retiring Irene Mathyssen’s daughter Lindsay is vying to replace her in London and is currently ahead of the LPC. Niagara Centre: Malcolm Allen won this riding in ‘08 and ‘11 and is trying to avenge his 2015 defeat in what now looks like a three-way race. Nickel Belt: Traded between LPC and NDP for decades, singer-songwriter Stef Paquette is in yet another close race. Oshawa: Not sure I agree with the detective work on this one. Yes, Ed Broadbent used to rep Oshawa. Literally thirty years ago. Candidate seems like a good one though. Ottawa Centre: Also repped by Ed and the late, great Paul Dewar. Currently held by the duplicitous Catherine McKenna, the NDP are polling 2nd in this used-to-be stronghold. Parkdale—High Park: Once the riding of powerhouse Peggy Nash, another two-way race. Check out Paul Taylor’s specs. Sault Ste. Marie: Strong NDP results historically, held by Tony Martin among others. NDP candidate Sara McCleary really laid it all out when she was nominated. Scarborough North: Previously held by Rathika Sitsabaiesan in 2011, NDP currently polling 3rd. Scarborough Southwest: Strong LPC district, though Dan Harris won this riding in 2011. Whoever you vote for here, maybe don’t vote for Bill fucking Blair. Spadina—Fort York: downtown Toronto, previously the riding of Olivia Chow. Climate activist Diana Yoon in tough against incumbent Adam Vaughn. CPC a non-factor. Sudbury: LPC/NDP battleground, with the Liberals on top pretty solidly in the polls. Thunder Bay—Rainy River: Close race between incumbent LPC and the NDP. The late John Rafferty represented the riding between 2008-2015. Thunder Bay—Superior North: Contest is a three-way between aisle-crossing GPC Bruce Hyer, incumbent LPC Patty Hadju and the NDP’s Anna Betty Achneepinsekum, former Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Timmins–James Bay: Say what you will about Charlie Angus, the wannabe-Pat Martin is not in any particular danger of losing this race. Toronto—Danforth: As matter of principle the NDP should not have lost Jack’s riding in 2015, and as this is essentially a two-way race between them and the LPC, documentarian Min Sook Lee should absolutely have your vote. Windsor—Tecumseh: Big NDP riding, incumbent Cheryl Hardcastle should be able to hold a riding the party has held all millennium. Windsor West: Similarly, Brian Masse has represented Windsor West since 2002. It’s his to lose. Toronto Centre: I mean, imagine unseating Bill Morneau. Liberals have a big lead here, the CPC are a non-factor and Brian Chang is an excellent candidate. University—Rosedale: Still unhappy that Jennifer Hollett lost out to Capitalism with a Human Face Chrystia Freeland, and further unhappy that Freeland seems a shoe-in for re-election. NDP are second, for what it’s worth. York South—Weston: Won by the NDP’s Mike Sullivan in ‘11, something of an LPC stronghold otherwise. Again, NDP are second in a very Liberal riding. Manitoba - well, it’s not all bad news. Churchill—Keewatinook Aski: Yeah, Niki Ashton’s sticking around. It was close in 2015, but this is her 4th rodeo. Elmwood—Transcona: aka, the Blaikie dynasty riding. Again, I don’t care for that sort of thing but I do hope Daniel Blaikie holds on here. Currently 2nd behind the CPC. Winnipeg Centre: I feel like the good people of Winnipeg, who dumped Pat Martin for the Liberals in 2015, should be real disappointed with Ouellette. 338 has this one pretty tight with the NDP, and Leah Gazan is an incredible candidate. Winnipeg North: Historically a strong NDP riding despite disappointing results this decade. Saskatchewan - The LPC is almost completely absent, the NDP trail the CPC everywhere. Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River: Currently held by Georgina Jolibois, tight race with the CPC here. Saskatoon West: Currently held by deputy NDP leader Sheri Benson, and apparently another tight one. Regina—Lewvan: Oy. Currently held by former-NDP Erin Weir, who is thankfully not running. Seems like a loss incoming, CPC leading the NDP. Saskatoon—Grasswood: Safe CPC territory but with decent NDP numbers. Saskatoon—University: Oh gods, Brad Trost’s riding. The NDP are the second choice overwhelmingly here, but the Trostlodyte seems entrenched. Alberta - Let’s keep this short. Edmonton Strathcona: Linda Duncan, who won this seat in 2011, is retiring. Her would-be replacement Heather McPherson has a real uphill battle against… Alberta, conceptually. BC - The Greens are beginning to become a problem. Burnaby North—Seymour: Svend Robinson is back. Despicable CPC candidate Heather Leung has been removed (but remains on the ballot.) LPC incumbent Terry Beech has made wild claims about the necessity of defeating the Conservatives. I wanna bet on Svend but it seems like a hard one, especially with a strong Green 3rd place. Burnaby South: If the NDP lose this riding we’ve learned a very important and painful lesson. CPC Jay Shin has disturbingly high numbers. Cowichan—Malahat—Langford: Alistair McGregor won this riding in 2015 and looks ahead of the pack in the rare 4-way race. Courtenay—Alberni: close CPC/NDP race with incumbent NDP Gord Johns looking okay but not exactly strong. Greens in a close third place. Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke: On the island, NDP incumbents like Randall Garrison are in real danger of being run-over by the Greens – he’s currently polling third, behind the GPC and CPC. Kootenay—Columbia: NDP incumbent Wayne Stetski is in a close race with the CPC, they’re the only two parties relevant in this interior battle. Nanaimo—Ladysmith: Paul Manly won a spring by-election for the Greens, taking the riding from the NDP. Every expectation is they’ll hold it, and the NDP seem to be fighting the Conservatives for 2nd. New Westminster—Burnaby: Peter Julian has represented the NDP from a variation of this riding since 2004, his biggest rival here is the LPC. North Island—Powell River: Incumbent NDPer Rachel Blaney barely leads the pack of 4, edging out the CPC. Needs your help, for sure. Port Moody—Coquitlam: part-man part-shark Fin Donnelly, having finally realized his legislative goals of banning shark-fins, is retiring. The NDP are thus in tough against the CPC for the fate of Po-Mo-Co, with the LPC not super far behind. Skeena—Bulkley Valley: Everyone’s favourite NDP MP Nathan Cullen is retiring and this enormous riding is sadly thus in play, a race between the NDP and CPC. South Okanagan—West Kootenay: Incumbent NDP Dick Cannings, avian biologist extraordinaire, is in a rare Interior three-way with retired tennis pro Helena Konanz and an unusually strong LPC in third. Surrey Centre: LPC seem likely to hold, the NDP are well-back in 2nd. NDP have a history of doing well in North Surrey. Surrey—Newton: I don’t think the recent scandal involving former MP Jinny Sims is going to help the NDP in this riding, but they are the 2nd choice to the incumbent LPC. Vancouver East: Never in doubt. The NDP have repped East Van consistently since they were the CCF, going all the way back to the thirties. Two brief interruptions in the 70s and 90s, otherwise 75 of the last 84 years this fortress of leftism has held. Vancouver Kingsway: My riding. Don Davies has done well by us for more than a decade. The Liberals attempting to gain this riding by parachuting in TV presenter Tamara Taggart kinda makes my blood boil. I’m good with Don. He’s got a healthy lead but it’ll be closer than I’d like. Northwest Territory At-Large: Three way race, could be a vote splitter. Nunavut At-Large: Three way race, could be a vote splitter. Sure would like to see them dump Leona. Mumilaq Qaqqaq is a fascinating candidate for the NDP.

–

Submitted by @omegatheunknown

#NDP #submission #cdnpoli #canada #canadian politics #canadian news #canadian

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ao3feed-scorbus · 4 years

Text

I'm not jealous

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2BT0Hbj

by Written_prose_things

Every year, sixth years who take elective Charms go through a difficult first week. Professor Pinnock teaches them a temporary legilimency charm. Teenagers, secret crushes and mind-reading. The result is obvious. However, Scorpius doesn't think about that. He wants to know how peoples' minds work, what makes them tick. In his haste to learn the spell, Scorpius botches it up. The school healer gives him a week before the effects wear off completely. Now, he can hear someone's mind constantly whispering about how soft his hair is, how cute his smile is and how smart he is. Scorpius wants to share his first admirer with his best friend. But Albus has been keeping him at arm's length since the beginning of this episode.

Words: 1269, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 4 of hundred prompts for thousands of pairings

Fandoms: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Scorpius Malfoy, Albus Severus Potter, James Sirius Potter, F. McCleary (OMC), Penny Longbottom, Professor Pinnock (OFC)

Relationships: Scorpius Malfoy/Albus Severus Potter

Additional Tags: Jealousy, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining, Idiots in Love, Oblivious Scorpius Malfoy

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2BT0Hbj

#ao3feed #fanfic #scorbus #harrypotter #scorpius #albus

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