#this uniform is vintage and funky and I am here for it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cwnerd12 · 4 years

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“Meteor Showers” David and Jack sleep curled up in bed. Morning light shines over them, and outside their window, Shiloh wakes up. David opens his eyes and looks out over the scene. He takes it in for a moment, and then turns to Jack. He kisses him gently on the forehead. Jack opens his eyes and looks up at David. David grins at him, “Good morning.” Jack grins back, and kisses David on the lips. They enjoy a long, slow kiss, and David moves to get on top of Jack. There’s a knock at the door, and David rolls off. Thomasina’s voice, “Sir, you have a meeting in ten minutes!” David rubs his face, “Okay, thank you!” He looks back over at Jack, “Sorry. I have to go do king shit.”

David pulls a sweater over a button-down shirt and a clean pair of blue jeans. He adjusts his collar as Jack looks on. David, “Not the most kingly outfit in the world, but it’ll have to do until I get some fancier clothes.” Jack, “Sexy!” He smack’s David’s ass. David laughs and looks at Jack for a moment. He goes over and kneels down so he can be eye to eye with Jack, “I really wish I could do to therapy with you today like we planned.” Jack, “Okay.” David, “Listen, if you need me, don’t hesitate at all. I’ll come to you, no matter what else is going on.” Jack, “Don’t worry.” David kisses Jack’s forehead, “I love you.”

Thomasina waits outside the door. The door opens and David steps out. Thomasina, “Good morning, your majesty.” David, “Oh, Jesus, don’t call me that.” Thomasina, “It’s your title. You should get used to it.” David, “Sorry.” Thomasina, “Don’t apologize, either.” David, “S- I…” he sighs in defeat, “Okay.” Thomasina, “Ms. Hatch, Rabbi Levinson, General Mendoza, and Ms. Broadnax are in the council chamber, waiting for you, as you requested.” David, “Thanks.” Thomasina, “Is there anything else you need?” David, “Uh, I’m good, I-” he thinks for a moment, “Well, I… There’s one thing.” Thomasina, “Yes?” David, “I have to be able to take care of Jack. I mean, he’s going really well with his recovery, but… he needs me, sometimes. I need to be able to go to him. No questions asked, just drop everything and go to him.” Thomasina, “That can be tricky, but it can be done. King Silas would do the same when Princess Michelle was sick.” David, “Good! That’s great! I’m really glad!” He smiles brightly at Thomasina, and she gives him a small smile back. David, “I really appreciate this. I mean, scheduling a coup can’t be easy, but you’re doing it.” Thomasina, “I’m serving my country, sir.”

David goes into the council chamber, wearing a sweater and blue jeans. The gallery is empty, except for Rose. Abby, Asher, Shay and Monique sit around the center table, all dressed rather casually. David, “Good morning. Uh, I know I should probably be dressed a little bit nicer, but uh, the only nice suit I have right now is my uniform, and it’s starting to smell kinda funky.” Monique, “First of all, that’s what dry cleaners are for, and secondly, I already have a team of tailors set to work.” David, “Oh, sweet. So, what’s on the agenda?” Asher, “We need to fill the rest of the ministry positions.” David, “What else is there to fill?” Asher, “Minister of defense, Minister of health, Minister of infrastructure, Minister of education, Minister of Treasury, Minister of communications, minister of agriculture, minister of land, minister of energy, and…” he pauses, “There’s the whole issue with Joel.” David, “Okay, well, I guess I don’t need to fix what isn’t broken, so set up meetings with the old ministers from under Silas, if I think they’ll do good, they can keep their position.” Abby speaks up, “There’s also this.” She raises a remote and turns on a TV. The old Minister of State, Claude Sorenson, talks on a news channel, “NEPOTISM! I’ve diligently served Gilboa for nearly twenty years, I have negotiated countless deals and treaties for King Silas and King Linus, and now, suddenly, I’ve been replaced by a little girl with almost no experience!” David, “What? That’s bullshit, I wouldn’t have appointed any of you if I didn’t know that you’re good at what you do. And, I don’t know this guy, I have no relationship with him, he doesn’t know how I work or what I want, but Abby does!” Monique, “The minister of communication would be the one to say all this.” David, “Do you want to be the minister of communication?” Monique, “I can’t run two ministries at once, and I’d rather be in arts and culture.” David sighs heavily, “Okay, well, I guess that’s the first position I’ll try to fill.” David looks back up at Sorenson on the TV, and sighs, “Can I also say that with Gilboa being almost constantly at war for over twenty years, Sorenson was doing a pretty shitty job?” Rose speaks up, “You don’t want to use those exact words, but you can say as much, easily.” David looks up at her, eyebrows raised in surprised. Rose goes on, “And you’re right to choose Abby over Claude. He’s a moron.” David, “Thanks.” He turns back to everyone else, “Okay, what’s next?” Shay speaks up, “How the fuck are we gonna integrate the AFG into the army?” David, “Ooooh, yeah, that’s gonna be tough. I guess we should put our AFG veterans as priority number one, until everything’s integrated, at least. I want AFG vets given preference in leadership positions.” Shay, “We’re gonna get a lot of bitching from old army soldiers if we do that.” David, “Well, they shoulda thought about that when they stayed on Silas’s side!” Rose, “Do not say that.” David sighs, “Well, am I wrong for not wanting the army to lead a coup?! My AFG soldiers have stuck with me through some shit, I want to reward them for that.” Asher, “Rewarding loyalty is a quick way to ensure that everyone just gives you what they think you want rather than what you need.” David, “This is different, and you know it is. You know what the AFG’s been through, what we’ve sacrificed. And…” he sighs, “It won’t be straight-up favoritism. If the old army officers can prove that they deserve their positions more than my AFG officers, they can keep them. But I’m not bad for not wanting a coup, okay?” Shay, “Okay, that’s fair. It’s still gonna be a bitch of a job, but I’ll see what I can do. Is there anything else you want me to cover?” Asher, “I think just focus on filling in those minister positions.” David, slightly hesitant, “Actually… I do kind of have an idea about who to appoint as minister of defense until Jack can take it over.” Asher, “Who?” David, “Caesar Reinhardt.” Asher, “…Are you serious? David, “I know it seems crazy but… I did kind of get to know him when we were roomies, okay? He’s actually smart, and he knows what he’s doing.” Shay, sarcastically, “Yeah, what were you saying about not wanting a coup? No way Reinhardt doesn’t try to kill you two weeks after you appoint him.” David, “It’s temporary! Like I said, it’s only until Jack is recovered enough to take the job over!” Asher, “When is recovered enough?” David, “I don’t know, Dr. Hussein said that we should have an idea of what his abilities will end up being at about a year after the injury, so another six months?” Abby, “David, recovery can take years. Dr. Hussein also said that his recovery can stop at any time. We don’t know how much he’s going to recover.” David, “Well, as long as he’s still making progress, I intend to give him that position, okay? You all know that he’d be good at it! In the meantime, Reinhardt, at least, I know respects me, and will be respected by the old army men, and can maybe even help us end both of these wars without a complete surrender.” Asher, Abby, and Shay exchange looks. Asher, “You’re the king, man.” David, “I’ll talk to him, at least, okay? Is there anything else to discuss right now?” Asher, “What are you going to do about Joel?” David, quietly, “I don’t know. I’ve still got to think about it.” He looks up at Thomasina, “Schedule appointments with Reinhardt and all the old ministers, I’d like to talk to them today and tomorrow, if that’s doable.” Thomasina, “Right away, sir.” Abby, “Shaw wants to talk to you today.” David, “What?” Abby, “Shaw wants to talk to you. If you’re serious about the whole peace with Gath thing, you need to talk to him.” David, trying to push his anger away, “Alright, alright. I’ll talk to him. What about Warner? Does he want to talk?” Abby, “I think he’d rather just keep fighting. We’ll probably have to be the ones who insist on talking.” David, “Okay.” Thomasina, “You have some coronation gifts you might want to take a look at, and there’s someone you should meet today.” David, “Who?” Thomasina, “You’ll know who they are when you meet them.”

In the palace garage sits a shiny, bright red vintage convertible. David enters with Asher and Thomasina. Immediately his eyes widen in delight, “YES!” He runs up to the car, “Oh, this is nice!” Thomasina, “It’s a coronation gift from Dwight Garner.” David hugs the hood, “I like being king!” Asher sighs disapprovingly, “David, this is a bribe.” David shoots up, “No! This is too nice to be a bribe!” Asher, “You have to give it back.” David, “NO!” Asher, “If you keep it, it’ll look like you’re for sale.” David, “I’m not for sale! I just like getting nice cars!” Asher, “So when Dwight Garner asks you for a political favor, are you going to say no?” David, “Of course!” Asher, “Are you sure?” David, “I’m sure!” Asher, not convinced, “Give it back.” David, “I deserve a nice car! I’ve earned it!” Asher, “Give it back.” David, “Oh, come on! Please?!” Asher, “Give it back.”

Thomasina leads David down into the dungeons. David looks around and shudders, “Ugh, I remember this place.” Thomasina, “There’s someone in here for you to meet.” She unlocks the door to Vesper’s cell. David goes in, and stops when he sees Vesper, “Oh, shit.” Vesper, “Hello, your majesty. Do I need to introduce myself?” David points at him, dumbstruck, “You’re the guy I was talking to when I was in here.” Vesper smiles, “I seem to remember a certain young man bravely facing his death. I knew that if I ever spoke to him again, he would be king.” Bewildered, David sits down, “I knew I’d have to deal with some weird shit being king, but I honestly had no idea how weird.” Vesper, “I promise you, it only gets weirder from here.” David sits and stares at him. Vesper, “Do you play chess at all?” He moves the board towards David. David, “I know how to play but I’m not that good.” Vesper, “You out-witted both Silas and Linus, I’d venture to say you’re good.” David, “Silas killed himself so Shaw wouldn’t kill him, and Joel Bronikov was the one who got Abner. I didn’t do any of that.” Vesper, “Don’t fool yourself, David, none of that would have happened if it weren’t for you.” David, chagrined, “A lot of awful shit wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me.” Vesper, “I’ve had fifteen years to sit in a cell and ruminate over my bitterness and regret. I have a lot more things to regret than you, so believe me when I tell you, dwelling on a past you can’t change won’t do you any good.” David, “I’ve inherited Silas’s war with Ammon, and it’s not going well.” Vesper, “The night I arrived here, I warned Silas that Warner won’t rest until Carmel is his. Kings are inherently greedy bastards. Warner’s self-righteousness only makes him worse.” David, “Yeah, no shit.” Vesper, “The things you learned about me in school were true: I was an absolutely terrible king. I believed I was doing God’s work, but I ended up doing things I can only describe as unholy. I can’t tell you what to do, but I can tell you what not to do. Silas seemed to take heed of the advice I gave him, but, you saw what happened to him.” David, “I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing. At this point, even bad advice is better than nothing.” Vesper, “Well, then, you know where I’ll be.” David, “I’m gonna send my minister of state in to talk to you. I think she’ll have a better idea of what to do with you.”

David walks down a hallway, mulling over what just happened. He reaches a door, opens it, and goes into the waiting area outside of the king’s office- now his office. Liam and Adam are waiting for him. They both stand up. Liam, “Your majesty!” David smiles sheepishly at him, “Yeah, that’s what people are calling me these days.” Liam, “Come on, man, we’ve kind of earned the right to say it.” David, “Yeah, okay, you have. Let’s talk in… well, fuck, now I guess it’s my office.” He opens the door and leads them in. Nothing has been touched since Abner last stepped foot in it. David goes over to the desk and sees the papers still stacked there, “Ah, fuck, someone’s gonna have to sort this shit up.” Adam looks up at the skull on the book shelf, “Is that thing real?” David looks up, “Uh, yeah, actually, it is. It’s not just real it’s Nicholas Achison.” Liam, “Are you fucking kidding me?” David, “Silas was a sick fuck, what can I say?” Liam, “Wonder what he did with Vesper Abbadon.” David, “Trust me, you don’t want to know. Anyway, sit.” He sits down at the desk. Liam and Adam sit across from him. David wiggles the seat a little bit, “Shit, this is still really weird. I spent plenty of time in you guys’s spot, and when I was there, I honestly never once thought that I’d be sitting on the other side.” Adam, softly, “What are we here for?” David gets a little bit more serious, “Look, I’ve got a lot of positions that I’ve gotta fill, and I honestly have no idea who’s gonna fill most of them. However, when I started thinking about who should be working where, right away, I knew who my first appointments would be. Adam, I want you working as my spokesman for the army. My old job.” Adam, nervously, “Seriously?” David, “Yeah. Liam, You’re gonna be doing something similar, except instead of speaking for the whole army, you’re gonna be speaking for the AFG.” Liam, “Yeah, I can do that!” Adam, “Wait, what- what is this job, and why do you want us to do it?” David, “Like I said, it’s my old job. You go in front of a TV camera, you represent the army, tell people what’s going on.” Adam, “Like, on TV?” David, “Yeah. You don’t have to do it, but… it’s a good fucking job. I mean it. I’m not just putting you guys there so you can be there indefinitely, it opens you up to connections and possibilities you didn’t even know were out there. I mean, fuck, look what it did for me.” Liam, “I’m in!” David, “Awesome!” Liam, “I just got one question, why does Adam get the bigger job?” David, “Well, if I have to be brutally honest, Adam has a few more hero points. He did blow up a tank, right? That seems to be the biggest qualifier for this job.” Liam laughs, “Yeah, okay, man, sounds good.” David glances at Adam, “What do you think?” Adam, “It’s… a lot.” David, “You don’t have to decide right away. I can give you a week or two to think it over.” Adam, “No, no, I appreciate this. I really do. This is a huge favor for me, and It’d be really stupid of me to turn it down.” David, “Hey, I just thought you’d be a good fit because the hero shit made you pretty popular. If you don’t want to do it, I can easily find you another really good job you’re better suited to.” Adam, “No, I- I’m willing to do this. I can do it, I just…” David, “What?” Adam, “I’m not gonna have to lie to people, am I?” David, confused, “What? No. All along, I’ve said that I won’t lie like Silas did. You’ll probably have to report some difficult stuff, but, it’ll be the truth.” Adam nods apprehensively, “Okay.” David, “But, hey if you want something else, it’s no problem.” Adam, “I’ll do it. I’m glad to serve my king.” David grins ear to ear, “You have no idea how happy that makes me. Really. I wanted something good for you guys, and this is it. This is gonna take you to amazing places. Just don’t end up trying to overthrow me, okay?” He stands up. Liam and Adam both stand. Liam, “It’s an honor!”

David leads Liam and Adam out of his office. Reinhardt sits in the waiting room. Adam sees him and halts, his smile faltering. Liam spots him, too, and says to David, “What the fuck is he doing here?” Reinhardt, “Nothing like a warm welcome.” David, “Don’t worry about it, I’m just exploring some possibilities, okay?” Liam, “Seriously, man?” David, “You guys don’t have to worry about it, okay? I’ll see you later.” Liam and Adam exchange glances, shrug, and the leave, saying, “See you.” Once the door closes, Reinhardt says, “So is this a job interview, or am I on trial?” David, “We’ll talk about it in my office."

Int he office, Reinhardt sits down across from David, “You’re gonna re-decorate, right?” He glances over at a framed photos on the desk: one of Emma and one of young Silas and Abner as buddies in the army. David grabs the photos and stuffs them into a drawer, “Yeah, but, I’ve kind of got a few more pressing issues to deal with.” Reinhardt, “You keep saying that, you’ll never get around to changing anything.” David, “You’re aware that I have a lot of people saying you should be hanged, right?” Reinhardt, “Yes.” David, “I don’t entirely disagree with them. It’d be kind of fucked up if you get away without consequence.” Reinhardt, “Is that’s why I’m here? You wanted to give me a death sentence in person?” David, “I’m not handing down death sentences. All citizens of Gilboa are going to be guaranteed the right to a fair trial.” Reinhardt, “So am I charged with anything, then?” David, “I’m gonna give you a chance to redeem yourself.” Reinhardt, “Oh?” David, “I want you to be my minister of defense, at least until Jack’s recovered enough that he can take it over. If you go a good job and help me get out of Silas’s wars… I’ll let your past slide.” Reinhardt, “Seriously?” David, “This government’s killed enough people. I don’t want to keep spreading misery.” Reinhardt, “Well, you’re king, and your word is law.” David, “So, will you take the position?” Reinhardt, “Can’t really turn it down, can I?” David, “I guess you can’t.” David’s phone buzzes. He takes it out of his pocket, sees the call is from Abby. David, “I should probably take this.” Reinhardt, “Go ahead.” David answers, “Yes?” Abby, outside of Vesper’s cell, “VESPER FUCKING Abbadon?!” David, “Okay, first of all, this is Silas’s fault, and secondly, can we use him as leverage?” Abby, “You could have at least fucking warned me before you sent me to talk to a genocidal psychopath!” David, “I’ve talked to him a few times, and he’s actually kind of chill?” Abby, “What part of genocidal psychopath did you not understand?!” David, “It’s your job to figure out what to do with him.” Abby, “No, fuck you, you are not passing this off on to me! You’re the one taking on Silas’s problems, and this is a massive fucking problem!” David, “I’m giving it to you because you’re the one who’s going to know what to do. If we want to get out of war with Ammon without handing over all of Carmel, we should consider using him as a bargaining chip.” Abby sighs and rubs her face, “Oh, fuck.” David, “You didn’t actually think this whole minister of state would be easy, did you?” Abby, “No, but it would have been nice to at least have gotten a fucking warning before you sprang this shit on me.” David, “I didn’t get a warning, either.” Abby, “All right, I’ll talk to him, try to figure something out. Are there any other weird Silas secrets that I need to know?” David, “Probably, but I don’t know what they are, either. I’ll talk to you later.” He ends the conversation. Reinhardt, “Oooh, you just found out about Abbadon, didn’t you?!” David, “What?” Reinhardt, “Right after I rescued all those soldiers, Silas invited me up to the residence for some drinks, and he ended up telling me a bunch of shit that he probably shouldn’t have. That was when I knew that he liked me.” David, “He invited me up for drinks once, but he just ended up yelling at me about art, and then made me play the piano.” Reinhardt, “Ha, see, he didn’t like you.” David, “He brought me out to meet Seth. Did he do that with you?” Reinhardt, “Seth was still an infant when I was going through my hero phase, I don’t think he’d let anyone meet him at that point.” David, “Yeah, sure, you keep telling yourself that.” Reinhardt rolls his eyes, “Is there anything you want me to get started on as your minister of defense?” David, “I’m meeting with Shaw in a little while. Might be a good thing if you were there.” Reinhardt, “All right.”

David stands out on the back balcony of the palace, looking out over the landscaping, deep in thought. Abby approaches. He looks over at her, “Hi.” Abby leans against the wall, “I’m officially terrified of what else Silas might have been hiding.” David, “I told Thomasina to take Auclaire’s skull out of my office. I couldn’t do any work with it staring at me.” Abby, “I’m sure Shaw would love to have it back. We just can’t act like we’re desperate to get rid of it.” David, “Good idea.” He leans his head back and sighs, “I’ve been dreading this meeting.” Abby, “You already faced Shaw at Council. This we can at least do over video conference.” David, “I know, but it doesn’t get any easier. I listen to Jack speaking, and I know he wants to tell me things, but he can’t. He gets so frustrated, and when I see it, all I want to do is make Shaw pay.” Abby, “Well, considering Gath is currently kicking Gilboa’s ass, he kind of has the upper hand.” David, “He’s gonna rub it in our faces, too. He’s nothing if not petty as fuck. Which is kind of why I want Reinhardt for minister of defense. Shaw hasn’t hurt him, he can’t pick at him like he can with me.” Abby, “You’re king, David. You can do whatever you want.” David, “I want to take Jack and get the fuck out of this place, that’s what I want to do.”

David, Abby, Shay, and Reinhardt sit in the council chamber, video conferencing with Shaw. They’re all exhausted, and the sun is going down outside. David, with his fingers pressed against his forehead, “CrossGen is not going to resume manufacturing in Gath!” Shaw, “And why not?” David, “Because you fucking shot the person who owns it!” Shaw, “You say you want a peace agreement, and these are my terms.” Reinhardt, “If you think that just because we want peace, we aren’t willing to fight, you are very mistaken, Your Excellency. I’ve been on the wrong end of the Army of Free Gilboa before, and believe me, you don’t want to be there.” Quietly, without being noticed, Rose enters. Shaw, “If you wish to keep fighting, that’s your decision.” Abby, “I know you’re willing to make compromises, otherwise you wouldn’t be speaking to us. I’ve made deals with you before, and I can do it again. I know being able to put Premier Auclaire properly to rest means an awful lot to you and your family, and we very much want to give that to you, but we need something in return.” Shaw, “I’ve waited twenty years. I can wait longer.” David leans back, “Oh, for fuck’s sake, stop being such a dick!” Rose hurries up behind David, “Good evening, Gerald. I know how much you love dragging these meeting out, but it’s getting late, and I have dinner waiting. I’m afraid we’ll have to pick this conversation up again later.” Shaw, “Coming to the rescue, Rose?” Rose, “Consider yourself lucky that David believes in peace more than he wants revenge, because he’s not the only person in Gilboa who’d love to see your palace in flames. David doesn’t owe you a single fucking thing, and to act like you’re the one holding all the cards is simply absurd. We’re going to go to dinner now. Good night, Gerald.” She turns the TV off. She looks down at Shay, Reinhardt, and Abby, “You all go home. Abby, I know Michelle is waiting for you.” They all look at David. David, “She’s right, go home. Get some rest.” Shay, “All right. See you tomorrow, David.” Reinhardt, “When are you going to make an announcement about my position?” David, “I dunno, whenever I can. I still need a minister of communications.” Reinhardt, “I’ll be back tomorrow, then.” He leaves. David turns to Abby. Abby, “The fact that nobody’s crying is a good thing. We actually did okay today.” David, “Yeah, I hope.” Abby gives him a big hug, “You really are doing good.” David, “Thanks, Abby.” She steps back, “Go enjoy your dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.” David, “Okay, see you.”

Rose and David stand in an elevator together. Rose, “You have to shut Gerald off, or else he’ll drag things on forever.” David, “Yeah, I’m starting to realize that.” Rose, “He’s difficult to contend with, but not impossible. Right now, he’s looking for your weaknesses.” David, “He knows my weaknesses. He saw what happened at Council.” Rose, “All the more reason to know when to cut him off.” David, “Do I get to call him Gerald?” Rose, “You can, but Silas did it because he wanted to insult him." The elevator dings open, and they go into the residence. The furniture that was once in their apartment has been moved in, but lots of things are still packed in stacked boxes. Jack sits in the kitchen with a large pizza on the table. He smiles up at David, “Hey, babe.” David, “Oh my god, pizza sounds so good right now.” He kisses Jack on the cheek and then reaches for a slice. David and Jack chow down on pizza while Rose eats a salad. David, “How was speech today?” Jack, “Good.” Rose, “Jack’s making good progress. His therapist says there’s reason to be optimistic.” David, “Finally, some good news.” Jack gestures around to the space behind him, “Stuff came.” Rose, “Everything’s been shipped over from the apartment.” David, “I spent two months building us the perfect apartment and you only got to spend one night in it.” Jack struggles to say what he’s thinking, “Stuff… here.” David, “Yeah, we’ve still got the stuff, but the apartment had a nice open concept and great acoustics.” Rose, “You’re the king. You can knock down a few walls.” David, “Most importantly, I had everything custom-designed to be assessable for Jack. This place has an upstairs and a downstairs, and he can’t handle stairs yet.” Jack, “I will.” David, “Yeah, I know, but I still want to at least get an elevator installed.” Jack, annoyed, “Don’t need.” David, “Yes, you do, even when you can walk again, you still get dizzy spells, remember?” In frustration, Jack tries to change the subject, “You?” David, “What?” Jack, “Your day.” David, “Oh,” he sighs heavily, “It’s been a long one.” Rose, “It’s not going to get easier.” David, “I know. Leading the AFG never got any easier, I don’t expect leading Gilboa to be any different.” Rose, “I know you think the last six months were the worst months of your life. I’ll tell you right now, you’re wrong. The next six months will be. That’s how it was for Silas.” David, “Can I at least enjoy my pizza before you get into how miserable I’m gonna be?” Rose, “You need to hear it.” David, “I know, I know.” Rose, “You need to look out for yourself. You need to know when to say no. You need to know when to lean on those who love you.” David, “Laura said as much to me when I met her.” Rose, “She was right.” David, “I spent all afternoon talking to Shaw. I can’t look him in the face without feeling like I’m back there on Mt. Gilboa…” he drifts off, and then changes the subject, “Sorry. I should probably talk about this with my therapist instead of you two.” Rose, “We both know what happened. There’s no use in pretending it didn’t.” David, “Doing the right thing absolutely fucking sucks.” Rose, “Gerald is testing you, and you stood up to him. He knows that you’re serious about peace, but you won’t just capitulate to his demands.” David groans and rubs his face, “Yeah, I stood up to him today, but it’s not gonna be the last time I have to deal with him. My confirmation Council is coming up.” Rose, “If you’re scheduling things, already, you should decide who you want to do your first interview as king.” David, “What?” Rose, “Journalism is the first draft of history. You have reporters lining up to be the first to interview you, many of whom work for news outlets willing to pay you quite a good bit of money.” David, “I have money.” Rose, “And a palace living space that needs remodeling.” David thinks for a moment, and then says, “Do you want to be my minister of communications?” Rose, “Pardon?” David, “I need one, and you seem to understand this whole being royal business pretty well. Would you be up for the job?” Jack, “Do it!” Rose, “I don’t want to be in the business of flattering you.” David, “I don’t need someone who’s just gonna flatter me, I need someone who’s gonna be able to say what I need to say. You get to be the one who acknowledges it when I fuck up.” Rose, “You can’t fuck up when you’re king.” David, “Silas fucked up plenty of times.” Jack, “Plenty!” Rose, “I’ll consider it.” David, “Well, hurry it up, will you? I need to be seen doing shit.” Rose, “Fine. I’ll take the job.” Jack, “Yes!” David, “It’s good to know I can get at least one thing done.” Rose, “I will take the job on the condition that when I give you advice, you actually listen to me.” David, “Are you gonna be giving me orders?” Rose, “Advice, not orders.” David, “So what more advice do you have?” Rose, “Plenty. I know you’re the self-sacrificing type. You always put yourself last. You won’t last a month as king if you keep doing that. You have an entire country that depends on your well-being, so now you have to take your well-being seriously. Be selfish and know when to step away.” David, “Is it a bribe if I accept a really nice car as a coronation gift?” Rose, “It’s not a bribe if you pay for it.”

A fake press podium is set up on a set draped with AFG flags. An announcer, “And now a word from King David of Gilboa…” The comedian version of David steps up to the podium, and the TV audience cheers with unbridled enthusiasm. Comedian David raises his hand and the cheering stops. Comedian David, “First of all, I would like to apologize to Queen Laura of Moab, you are no longer the hottest North American monarch.” Curled up with David, Jack laughs. Davis makes a face of displeasure, “Jesus, that’s so sexist.” Jack, “Funny!” David rolls his eyes. On the table beside him, his phone buzzes. David, “Shit!” He grabs it and looks at it. Jack, “What?” David, “Oh, it’s nothing. The Perseid meteor shower starts tonight. I set a reminder because I wanted to go watch it with you.” Jack concentrates, “Don’t…” He tries to say the next word, but it doesn’t come. He sighs with frustration. David pulls the cover over the keys, “I’m tired. Are you ready for bed?” Jack, “Yeah.” David gets up, goes over to Jack, and helps him get up, “Let’s get you in there, then. At least we can sleep in our own bed tonight.” Carefully, he leads him towards the stairs. Jack clutches the railing and leans his weight on David as, slowly, shakily, one by one, they mount each step.

David and Jack lay in bed together, Jack curled up in David’s arms. David sticks his nose into Jack’s hair, and strokes his head. Jack puts his hand on David’s arm. David, softly, “Things would be a lot better if I’d at least had a little bit of time with you. Joel could have at least waited a couple of weeks to kill Abner.”

Thomasina once again waits outside David and Jack’s door, this time joined by Abby. The door opens and David comes out. Thomasina, “Good morning, sir.” Abby, “I’ve outlined an entirely new foreign policy towards Gath, you need to look over it.” David, “Did you get any sleep last night?” Abby, “I’ve only been outlining a policy towards Gath in my head since I was twelve.” Thomasina, “Premiere Shaw is ready to speak with you.” David, “Already?” Thomasina, “He hates waiting. General Mendoza and Minister Reinhardt are already speaking to him.” David, “I kind of have a few people I’d like to talk to this morning.” Abby, “Talk to them. With my new policy outline, I can bullshit Gerald for hours!” David, “You do that, then. I already have someone waiting for me.”

Out on a balcony, Jessie sips a cup of coffee and looks out over the city skyline. The weather is grey and overcast. A door opens, and David steps out. Jessie looks over and sees him, “Hi, baby!” David, “Hey, Mom.” He goes over and hugs her. Jessie, “I just got this cup of wonderful coffee.” David, “Yeah, they have good stuff here. I can get those whenever I like.” Jessie laughs, “It’s good to be king!” She looks out over the city, “This view is incredible!” David, “Not many people get to see it.” Jessie, “Thank you so much for inviting me up here!” David, “Hey, Mom, I um, I wanted to ask you something.” Jessie, “What is it?” David, “Do you think you’d like to live here?” Jessie, “Oh, don’t kid with me like that. Me? In a palace?” David, “No more ridiculous than the idea of me in a palace. There’s an empty apartment where Emma Abner used to live, I want you to have it.” Jessie, “I really am fine where I am.” David, “Yeah, well, my security team isn’t. And besides, the king’s mom can’t live in a tiny crappy apartment by herself. You can visit me every day. Have lunch with Jack. I know he’d enjoy that.” Jessie, “That does sound nice. But what would I even do here? You know how much I hate having nothing to do.” David, “The palace needs a hostess. Used to be Rose’s job, but she’s gonna be minister of communications now. You can be in charge of all the fancy dinners and greeting foreign leaders.” Jessie, “Oh, you know I’d be terrible at all that stuff. I’m the least fancy person in the world!” David, “Yeah, but, you’re my mom. Trust me, that earns you a few fancy points.” He smiles. Jessie has to laugh, “Am I going to have to wear a tiara?” David, “Only at state dinners and formal galas.” Jessie, “Are you serious?!” David, “Oh, yeah. Michelle explained it to me a long time ago, there’s a whole protocol for wearing tiaras.” Jessie laughs some more, “You know the last time I wore a dress was the day I married your father.” David, “We’ll have to get you a stylist. Trust me, between Monique and Jack, you will always look good.” Jessie laughs some more, “Oh, David.” She gazes adoringly at her son. David grows more serious, “Besides, I feel awful about everything I put you through. This doesn’t come close to repaying it, but it’s a place to start.” Jessie, “You don’t have to repay anything.” David, completely serious, “I want you to live here, Mom.” Jessie leans against David’s arm, “Okay.” David, smiling, “You will?” Jessie, “Yes, I will.” David, “Oh, thank god!” Jessie, “Can I have lunch with you today?” David, growing serious again, “Uh, I’m busy today. Jack has therapy in the morning and in the afternoon, but I think you can grab some lunch with him. I’ll have Thomasina set it up. Jack will actually be really glad to hear you’re moving in.” Jessie, “What’s got you so busy today?” David, “I, uh- I’m negotiating a cease-fire with Gerald Shaw.” Jessie, “Oh, baby.” David, “It’s okay, Mom. I talked to him yesterday, and I sat across from him at Council. I can handle it.”

Joel sits in David’s office. The door opens, and David enters. He sits down across from Joel without saying anything. Joel, “So am I off the team, or what?” David, “You betrayed my trust. It’s really hard for me to get around that.” Joel, “You want an official resignation, or are you dismissing me?” David, “No. What would I even be dismissing you from? Nothings’ really official yet.” Joel, “So why am I here?” David thinks for a long moment, and says, “Gilboa needs a declaration of rights. It’s one of the most basic things I’ve promised. I don’t know how to write one. I don’t know anyone else who knows how to write one.” Joel, “The University of Shiloh has plenty of legal experts.” David, “Yeah but… none who have fought next to me.” They exchange looks. David, “The Minister of Justice is going to be the most important position in my government. You’re going to be in charge of the police, and the courts, and the prison system. You’re gonna be the one who tells me what I can’t do.” Joel, “David, the only time you need someone telling you no is when you’re standing in front of a tank. You’re a fundamentally good person, and even if someone tried to corrupt you, the’d end up disappointed.” David, softly, “You could have at least waited.” Joel, “I really wish I could have.” David, “I want to see a draft of your declaration of rights, and your ideas on the first legal reforms that need be made.” Joel, “I can do that.” David, “If you ever disobey my orders again, it will be bad for you.” Joel, “I won’t disappoint you. I swear.” David, “I’m gonna try to believe you.”

Shay waits for David outside of a conference room. David approaches, “Sorry I’m so late, I had a few things I had to take care of.” Shay, “Abby’s in there having the time of her life. I honestly think even Shaw’s getting tired of her. If you want a break, she can go for hours.”

Another exhausting afternoon of arguing with Shaw. Outside, the sun is beginning to set. Abby argues passionately, “It’s absurd to demand more territory, you already have the borderlands Silas gave you and the Port of Prosperity, if we gave you any more land, we’d be handing over Shiloh!” Shaw, “If you want peace, you have to pay the price!” David, “The peace itself is the price! Gath and Gilboa won’t lose any more lives over, god, I can’t even remember what the hell this war started with.” Shaw, “Silas demanded I give him your head, and then you ran away before I could give it to him.” David, “Then why the hell are we fighting? This is just war for war’s sake, it’s absurd! How much more suffering are we going to inflict on our people?” Shaw, “It’s funny how quickly war becomes absurd when you’re the one losing.” David, “Fuck this! You don’t want want peace, you don’t want to settle, you just want to argue and make everyone miserable! I’m ending this, and I’m not speaking to you again until you’re ready to make an actual deal! In the meantime, as I don’t want Auclaire’s skull in my office, and as you clearly don’t care about getting it back, I’m going to order it destroyed and disposed of!” Shaw, “Wait! I didn’t say that I didn’t care about it, I just said I was willing to wait for it.” David, “Well I’m not going to let you wait. You either make some sort of deal right now, or I’m having it destroyed.” Shaw takes in a deep, angry breath, “I’ll agree to a cease-fire. It’s not peace, just a cease-fire.” David, “Good. I will return Auclaire’s skull to you when you come here for my confirmation council, after you’ve confirmed me without causing any drama.” Shaw, “You said you wanted peace.” David, “This is part of it. I’m still the one who owns the skull.” Shaw, “Fine. I’ll confirm you.” David, “Good. I will see you then, and I don’t want to see your fucking face until then.” He turns the video feed off and mutters, “Fuck.” Abby, “You just got Shaw to agree to a cease-fire, that’s a fucking diplomatic miracle.” Shay, “We really needed this cease-fire, too. Now I can actually try to integrate the AFG without just throwing everyone into combat together.” Reinhardt, “I have to admit, I’m impressed.” David, “Yeah, we’ll see how long this cease-fire lasts. Go home, get some rest.” Shay, “Can’t, we’ve got a cease-fire to implement.” David, “What do I need to do?” Abby, “You gave the order, we’ll do the work.” Reinhardt, “Go have dinner.”

David enters the residence. Jessie is making dinner while Jack watches TV. Jack, “Hey, babe!” Jessie, “I hope you’re hungry for meatloaf!” Jack, “Hey, babe!” David, “Thank you, Mom. Are you gonna be eating with us?” Jessie, “No, of course not! I want the two of you to have some time together. You need it.” David, “Are you sure?” Jessie, “Are you kidding? I get to order from the restaurant for free! I’m having lobster tonight!” She goes over to David and kisses his cheek, “This is for you and Jack. I want you two to have a nice home-cooked meal. You’ve got a very hard job ahead of you, and you need to be relaxed and well-nourished” David, “Thanks, Mom.” Jack goes over to the dining table. Jessie, “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.” David, “Okay, see you then.” Jessie leaves. David goes over to the table and sits down across from Jack. He looks out at the meal spears out before them, “I guess there’s a few things I still get to enjoy, huh?” They both laugh. David begins serving himself. David, “How have you been?” Jack, also serving himself, “Good.” David, “Great. I promise you, some time soon, I'll be the one making us dinner. I’ve just got so much stuff going on, it's hard to know what’s gonna happen from one day to another.” Jack, “Busy.” David, “Yeah, I know, but when I’m not busy.” Jack, “Always.” David sighs and thinks for a moment. Suddenly he says, “You know what? Fuck it. Eat your dinner, and when you’re done, I’m taking you out. I want to do something fun.”

David and Jack sit in the back seat of the fancy vintage convertible, snuggled up and watching meteors streak across a brilliantly clear country sky. David, “The meteors are what was left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet. They’re called the Perseids because they go in the same direction as the constellation Perseus.” Jack, “Nerd.” David, “What? This shit’s fascinating!” he points up to the sky, “See, there’s Perseus. He had to deal with a lot of king bullshit, too.” Jack, “King bullshit?” David, “The only way that I know how to describe what both Perseus and I have been through is king bullshit, okay? His grandfather, a king, had this oracle about being killed by his grandson, so when Zeus got his daughter pregnant, he tossed them both in a crate into the sea, and then they got rescued by a fisherman whose brother happened to be another king. The brother king was an asshole who made Perseus go out and bring him back the head of Medusa. So Perseus goes out and kills Medusa, and on the way back home he rescues Andromeda from this terrible sea monster and then marries her, and then he gets back home and accidentally kills his grandfather and becomes the king of Mycenae.” Jack looks at him, confused, “What?” David, “Fuckin’ Greeks, man.” Jack, “Nerd.” David, “Shut up!” Jack lays his head on David’s shoulder, and they watch the meteors in silence for a moment. David strokes his arm and kisses his forehead, “Having you around makes this king bullshit a lot easier.” Jack smiles brightly, and David kisses him. Jack looks up into the bright meteors up above him.

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kentonramsey · 4 years

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Summer’s Simplest (But Arguably Best) Outfit Recipe

I can basically get through summer wearing nothing but some variation of this uniform: 1 part denim shorts, 1 part white shirt. Which denim shorts? Which white shirt? That’s the magic part. Start with whatever’s in your closet, and get creative.

That’s what I did here, in collaboration with two of my denim-shorts-and-white-top-wearing friends, Samra and Patricia. To come up with our ideas, we dove into conversations with you on Man Repeller’s Thoughtline and explored the comments from this personal shopping story. Here, our best bets for styling these two summer staples.

Make it Short and Sweet, by me (Elizabeth)

A vintage white blouse is one step more stylish than a plain, white tee—and it requires fewer accessories to pull everything together. I recommend a vintage cotton option with fun embroidery or other detailing. When buying a vintage blouse, check your material! Breathable linen or cotton will treat you best in hot weather. The sleeves will stay rolled-up far better than, say, silk, when it gets too hot to have your arms fully covered.

I paired my cotton shirt with a pair of casual cut-offs to tone down the top’s sweetness. I’ve had these shorts for many years; to keep them soft, I wash them minimally and let them have some time in the sun—giving them a bit of a fade, which I like. For a pair that’s a bit more fun, I very much love these $55 upcycled shorts from Studio One Eighty Nine, which come in size XS to XXXL.

See All 5

Samra Michael Embraces Length

I tucked my white sleeveless mock-neck top into my black denim Bermuda shorts, offsetting the casual combination with a pair of white loafers. I kept my accessories simple yet fun by mixing a pair of silver abstract earrings, a gold watch, and my favorite funky rings.

Bermuda shorts have been a staple in my wardrobe because I find them to be figure-flattering and also pair nicely with crop tops and cute kicks. You could say this is my summer uniform. I am also really just a sucker for longer-length shorts in general: linen, denim, low-rise, high-rise, distressed, I’m here for all of it. As for the top half: I paired the long shorts with the sleeveless top because I enjoy the little-top-big-pants aesthetic.

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Patricia Nygaard Deconstructs The Basics

Here’s the simple approach: I was inspired to mirror the knots on my favorite white knotted sandals. White button ups feel really proper to me, so having a deep open-neck and wearing it braless is a fun play on a classic look.

To take it a step further, I tied the sleeves around my chest and tucked away the ends of each sleeve. From there, I brought the tails of the shirt around the front to my waist.

The tube top inversion creates an easy canvas for accessories, so I’m wearing all my staples: jewelry passed on from family and given to me by sweet friends. The fan is a summer essential from Glazed NYC’s 2019 “Follow Me” collection, created by my friends Shelby Macklin and Banna Nega, and it paired perfectly with these vintage gold foil and lucite heels.

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How do you wear your summer uniform? Any additional summer market requests for us? Pop ‘em in the comments below!

The post Summer’s Simplest (But Arguably Best) Outfit Recipe appeared first on Man Repeller.

Summer’s Simplest (But Arguably Best) Outfit Recipe published first on https://normaltimepiecesshop.tumblr.com/ Summer’s Simplest (But Arguably Best) Outfit Recipe published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

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bairbreinspirationhandbook · 5 years

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INSPIRATION HANDBOOK Bairbre Connolly

IDEA

For my inspiration handbook, my creative idea is recreating the soundtrack for the movie Carrie (1976) using modern-day music.

I chose this theme for the handbook because for me, career-wise, I am interested in selecting the music to accompany a TV advertisement. I have always been interested in how a song can enhance a visual. So i’ve always been passionate about movies and music videos.

I had the idea of focusing on the movie Carrie as it is my favourite movie, even though I don’t think the soundtrack is highly memorable. It suits the film in the sense that it’s a relatively low-budget 70s horror movie, but I was intrigued by the idea of giving it a more contemporary feel.

The purpose of the handbook is varied. It could be for a re-release of the movie with a whole new soundtrack, perhaps for its 50th anniversary, which would be the year 2026. Artists could contribute music to the project which would act as an interesting new platform to showcase their music to a new audience. Some of the scenes I believe could be highly effective ad campaigns. I can imagine the scenes being projected across a large room filled with people, maybe at some sort of outdoor event, which I feel would be a very artistic idea. I would love to have my favourite movies, music videos and live performances played in the bar I work in.

I think that for people who aren’t overly familiar with the movie, it may be beneficial to first of all watch the original scenes with their original music. Then you can really appreciate the difference when the new songs are played instead.

I have focused on 5 key scenes from the movie, and edited them all together in one video. I hope the video, even though it is just 5 scenes and with no dialogue, will tell the story of the movie. I have included the video as a youtube link.

INSPIRATION

One of my sources of inspiration for the project is Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic Psycho. The iconic shower scene showcases the power of music and sound in setting a scene. Hitchcock had originally intended for the scene to have no music, but composer Bernard Herrmann insisted he try his composition. Herrmann created an all-string soundtrack composed of screeching violins and violas titled “The Murder”. He felt that the single tone colour of the all-string soundtrack reflected the black and white cinematography of the film.

For me it’s the perfect example of how the movie soundtrack really sets the atmosphere of the scene. The shrieking of the violins almost mimics the sound of Marion, played by Janet Leigh, as she is murdered in such a terrifying manner.

Carrie’s director Brian de Palma was heavily influenced by Hitchcock and Psycho in particular. Musically, this is evident in the violin motif that is played whenever Carrie uses her telekinesis powers, in a nod to Herrmann’s score. De Palma even named Carrie’s highschool “Bates High School” in reference to, of course, Norman Bates.

It is this impact of the shrieking violins that inspired me to explore how the music used in a film can really altar the overall atmosphere of the scene. For my handbook I decided to focus on some of my favourite scenes from Carrie as it is my favourite film. I feel like the overall soundtrack for the film sometimes doesn’t do it justice. Pino Donaggio’s score is beautiful but the other music used throughout the film isn’t always as effective. Of course it was made in the 70s with a low budget, so the music will reflect this, but I thought it would be interesting to reinvent the soundtrack using modern-day pop music.

Another film that inspired me is Drive (2011), as I think it has one of the slickest soundtracks. The music is so captivating. James Verniere of the Boston Herald graded it an A, stating, "The cool crowd isn't just watching Drive; they're listening to it, too ... The Drive soundtrack is such an integral part of the experience of the film, once you see it, you can't imagine the film without it." the music in Drive is so integral because the film uses very little dialogue. The main character, played by Ryan Gosling, is simply named “The Driver” in the end credits as his character says so few lines and gives away so little information in the film. This influenced me in the sense that it showed me the importance of music in film and how it can really enhance the film itself. I adopted this influence in my reboot of the spinning dance scene from Carrie. I took the song Under Your Spell from Drive and put it over the dialogue, hoping to recreate the same effect.

Visually, the film is quite stylish and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The soft blur of the retro 70s style has a vintage feel while also being fashionable today due to the vintage revival.

The songs I have chosen all have a similar vibe. They are essentially pop songs but feature an electro or 80s feel, evoking a sense of nostalgia that compliments the visuals. This means they fit in with the images of the film, while also bringing it up to date.

I have always had an interest in soundtracking TV advertisements /TV shows/films, and I think the results i got are really interesting. I feel like my some of my results could be used as an ad campaign, or even as a trailer for the film, perhaps the release of a new anniversary DVD.

As Carrie is my favourite film, I have watched and researched it many times over the years. My real passion is music, and I found that certain songs would remind me of Carrie when i listened to them, or evoke the thought process of “this song would sound good in Carrie”/”this song captures how I think the character of Carrie would have felt at this moment”.

This idea for my inspiration handbook is one that I’ve had in the back of my mind for years but never had the opportunity to utilise. Originally I had an idea a long time ago to remake the soundtrack or even the film using only music from the 1960s. The romantic lyrics and melodies from some of these songs inspired me further to want to recreate the soundtrack in a different style. I decided against using 60s music for my handbook as I think more modern-day music sounds far more interesting and it’s a more new and exciting idea.

Link to 60s playlist:

Carrie 60s Soundtrack

Another source of inspiration was a magazine photoshoot Lana Del Rey did where she was styled as Carrie; wearing a prom queen tiara and had trickles of blood down her face. This appealed to me as Del Rey is an artist I really admire. So this inspired the idea of merging this old movie with modern day artists and music. And the fact that it was my favourite singer dressed up as my favourite movie character made it feel personal.

FIVE SCENES

https://youtu.be/8rJz9KHmGO8

Scene 1. The detention scene. Song: Started Out - Georgia

For me this is one of the most memorable scenes as I love its energy and colour, as well as the fashion element. It is quite aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The students’ gym clothes are very on trend, and the focus of the camera on Miss Collins’ Reebok trainers mean it could almost be used as an advertisement for the brand Reebok, or for a shop such as Urban Outfitters which could sell clothes similar to the gym uniforms and of course the retro Reeboks.

The song I chose to accompany the scene is “Started Out”, released in 2018 by London artist Georgia. The song was was created using 909 drum machines and analogue synths, which gives it an 80s feel while still sounding fresh. I feel that its energy compliments the girls’ exercise routine really well. The “Not working out” lyric is effective because it mirrors what is happening on-screen.

Scene 2. Carrie and Tommy arrive at the prom. Song: Slumlord - Neon Indian

This scene has such an energetic and exciting feel, the sparkling stars and soft retro blur of the colours can make us feel like we’re really there at the prom. The song I’ve chosen here is Slumlord by electro chillwave band Neon Indian. I think it really goes well with the sweeping overhead crowd scenes.

This scene in particular I think could be used as a music video for the song. There isn’t too much going on on-screen that it takes away from the song, so you really hear and appreciate every detail of the audio.

Scene 3. The spinning dance scene. Song: Under Your Spell - Desire

This is probably my favourite scene from the movie, as it captures a really lovely intimate moment between Carrie and Tommy. Originally soundtracked by Katie Irving’s I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me, the scene is mesmerising. The crew set up a circular dolly track and the camera travelled around the pair in the opposite direction. The result was a dizzying feeling, much like Carrie’s whirlwind of emotions but also with a sense of unease.

The lyrics obviously reflect how Carrie feels about Tommy, so it’s quite heartwarming and romantic, yet at the same time suggesting that something sinister is stirring.

I heard this song in the movie Drive and it’s always reminded me of Carrie’s character, so for me this could absolutely be used as a music video.

Scene 4. Carrie and Tommy win prom king and queen. Song: Safe and Sound - Justice

This track really captures the pandemonium that is unfolding in front of our eyes. The intro of the airy vocals could be sung by the crowd, and when the bass groove kicks in carnage ensues. Carrie’s epic prom-night revenge is in full swing. I think it really works because the music is so upbeat and funky, while the scene is intended to be horrifying, especially the look on Sissy Spacek’s face throughout.

I think a good creative use for this scene would be to have it on television or a projector in a bar, clothes shop, or record store. In the latter, it would be an interesting way of promoting a song and a movie, potentially resulting in sales of said CD and DVD.

Having it on in a bar would just be something different so I think customers would find it interesting.

Scene 5. Carrie returns home after prom. Song: Let it Happen (Soulwax Remix) - Tame Impala

The soulwax remix of this Tame Impala banger has a mildly spooky feel, putting us on edge and anticipating what further antics Carrie is about to get up to. Its beat is infectious, drawing us in and making us anxiously wait for the beat to drop.

Again I can imagine this being displayed in a bar, it’s more authentic and cool than a normal music video that people have seen before.

Bairbre Connolly

[email protected]

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fashiontrendin-blog · 6 years

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I Asked 10 Women to Show Me Their Ultimate Summer Look

https://fashion-trendin.com/i-asked-10-women-to-show-me-their-ultimate-summer-look/

I Asked 10 Women to Show Me Their Ultimate Summer Look

omething I really like about summer is how the weather provides an occasion to really get dressed where there might not ordinarily be one. Despite temperatures and humidity levels that might reasonably demand basic, sweat-wicking materials, it seems like people really take advantage of the vacation-like energy that appears magically in June. Maybe we’re nostalgic for the time in our lives when summer meant no school, no homework, no obligations. Maybe we’re just that sick of utilitarian coats. Either way, at least around New York, summer seems to have a way of encouraging us to add an extra earring or try out silhouette we normally wouldn’t. It provides an excuse to wear only swimsuits or break out the thing we’ve been saving, because if not when the sun is shining, then when? As a result, even in the least amount of clothes, everyone appears so much more fully dressed in June, July and August. And it’s so much fun to look at.

Because I can’t get enough, I asked 10 women to show me their Summer Looks, capital S, capital L — the outfit they keep wearing over and over because it so perfectly captures who they right now — plus what inspired them, how they feel in them and, for very important context, their go-to summer drinks.

Senior Market Editor at The Cut, @chupsterette

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Be Mistaken for the Art Teacher, or Most Likely to Be Twinning With My Art Teacher.

Why is this your Summer Look?

I HATE summer about as much as I hate wearing color, which is to say: a lot. I can’t imagine myself in bright floral prints, off-the-shoulder tops or any other warm-weather trends — it doesn’t really suit my personality or style. Instead, I’ve figured out that I like a uniform year round. It always centers around something avant-garde looking, usually by a Japanese brand. If it’s a top, I’ll wear it over jeans or trousers, and if I’m in a crazy skirt, I’ll tuck in a camisole or sleeveless turtleneck. And no matter what, I always choose comfortable shoes.

This outfit ticks all of the boxes since the Pleats Please top feels like something an extremely hip Tokyo grandma would own in triplicate. The Tibi culottes are a really old pair of pants that have held up well and have enough volume to strike a balance with the tank. I would normally wear flats, but I had to run around today to a few appointments, so I swapped in these low-heeled Céline mules that play off the black-and-white palette.

If I weren’t in this, I’d most likely wear a (probably black) Comme des Garçons skirt with pleats or crazy ruffles, coupled with a camisole and Nikes or sandals. It’s mindless but still looks like I put in effort.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

Winter is my favorite time of year since I love a good turtleneck, snowboarding and feeling perfectly climate-controlled. Come summer, my only goal is to wear the least amount of clothing against my body without feeling like I’m over-exposed. Also, I really hate anything that clings to my figure — it only serves to add to the sweat levels! So I’m always trying to figure out how to do that and still look like I work in fashion. I’ve discovered that choosing stuff on the fringes of whatever is currently trendy helps me do that and also keeps my budget in check. I can rewear this over the next three years and it won’t look outdated, which makes it worth the price tag.

I always joke that I want to become Rei Kawakubo, especially as I get older. I really hope this is a step closer in that direction. She’s so damn cool.

How does it make you feel?

Like I can survive the next two months? I just need it to be snowy and dark!

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Iced coffee with oat milk during the day unless I’m being super fancy and indulgent, and then it’s a milk tea with grass jelly, pudding AND boba. If it’s nighttime, then all I want is an orange wine that’s super funky and turns off most people around me.

Illustrator, @Jennymwalton

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Get Detention for Showing Too Much Stomach.

Why is this your Summer Look?

It’s my summer look because it’s so comfortable, but it still feels fun.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

From wanting to combine all of my most comfortable pieces and then style them in a way that still felt fun and not boring. To do that, I knotted the top and added a fun statement earring and a cute bag to match the striped shirt.

How does it make you feel?

Like I could go from the beach to a party! (Even if I’m just going from walking my dog to picking up a salad.)

What’s your go-to summer drink?

I think I overdid it on Campari last summer, so now I’m onto the Cappelletti Spritz instead. But I’ll still have a plain Campari soda every once in awhile. It’s so simple that it’s hard to beat.

Founder, Man Repeller

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely To Be Worn on the Way Home From a Long-Winded Meditation Retreat So As to Demonstrate Without Having to Say Every Twenty Minutes That You Are Now an Enlightened Individual.

Why is this your Summer Look?

This dress isn’t necessarily my summer look so much as the color (or lack thereof) palette is. I find that I’ve been gravitating towards combinations of white and ivory in whatever form they want to take. The majority of the time, they’re cotton shorts and linen button-down shirts, but sometimes they’re dresses or drop-crotch pants or T-shirts. My guess is that I am after simplicity — a lack of complexity in what I wear that does not suggest I am “simple,” but rather, it highlights the multidimensionality of being human. Whoa, I stopped thinking for a second and just let my fingertips type, tbd on whether that actually makes sense but we are going to go with it for now.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

Nazareth.

How does it make you feel?

Put-together — like I showered this morning, even though I haven’t showered since last week. Like I have time to stop and smell the roses. Like the luxury of ordering coffee “to stay” is one I take for granted because I am afforded its stillness so regularly.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Oat milk over ice. I feel like I was sleeping when Oatly blew up, so I’m doing my part to make up for the time I missed.

Glossier Editor, @minamigessel

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Make Her Own Almond Milk.

Why is this your Summer Look?

The sleeves are linen, so it’s breezy and keeps me cool. Sneakers, because comfort.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

German milkmaid discovers comfortable sneakers that make her look taller than she actually is.

How does it make you feel?

It makes me feel cute and sexy.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Shake Shack’s watermelon basil lemonade with a dash of Sprite! Hella fresh.

CEO & Creative Director of The Apārtment Global Group (arva, The Apārtment & Fole Studio) Personal Instagram: http://instagram.com/abimarvel The Apārtment Instagram: http://instagram.com/theaptmt The Apārtment Website: http://theaptmt.com arva instagram: http://instagram.com/arvastories arva website: http://arvastories.com Fole Studio instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folestudio/

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Be Underestimated.

Why is this your Summer Look?

It’s comfortable, and I think it’s also quite casual, but I guess due to the color palette and accessories, it can also be worn in pretty formal environments too, making it perfect for most occasions, which is great because most of my days take random turns.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

I recently spent lot of time in Majorca, Spain, and everything from the overly relaxed way of life, which encourages neutrals and comfort, to the sunny weather, which inspires light and soft fabrics, to the fun and entertaining side of the culture, which probably led me to explore wearing more jewellery than I typically do, has made me gravitate towards pieces that represent how my time there made me feel.

How does it make you feel?

I know I keep saying comfortable, but it really does make me feel comfortable! But alongside the comfort and practicality, it makes me feel mature, confident and ready for wherever my day takes me. Plus, with the jewelry, I feel quite fancy — probably because I never wear this much!

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Aperol spritz slushie!

Editor at ZEITmagazin and founder of C’est Clairette

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Get Denied Access to an Italian Cathedral.

Why is this your Summer Look?

This summer has been the most incredible I’ve ever experienced in Berlin – we’ve basically had sun and heat for three months straight. I’ve been in a swimsuit the whole time because sweating doesn’t feel gross in it. Plus, you’re always ready to join a pool party or dip into a fountain. The dress I found in a lovely vintage boutique during a work trip to Florence is the result of my newly developed passion for Italian style — you know, the beautiful patterns, the feminine dresses, the fun-loving atmosphere around it. There’s something equally effortless and over-the-top about the way Italian women dress. I’ve worn this outfit during aperitivo hour on my balcony and buttoned it up to go outside (society here in Europe requires me to do so).

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

I think it came from a fantasy. I’ve been picturing myself lounging in an olive garden in Puglia all summer, probably because I’m actually (finally!) going there in September (after seemingly everyone has been on vacation except me). And if a swimsuit paired with a Missoni dress and hoop earrings isn’t the perfect outfit for this kind of setting, I really don’t know what is.

How does it make you feel?

It makes me feel so free! Not only because it’s basically just a swimsuit and a shirt and takes me five seconds to put on, but also because it offers a way to let my thighs breathe without having to put them in shorts or denim cut-offs (which I love on everyone except me).

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Daytime: homemade ice tea (made from Earl Grey, lime juice and a few drops of maple syrup). Evening: Campari orange, always and forever.

Managing Fashion Editor at Nordstrom, @preetmasingh

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Make a Comeback.

Why is this your Summer Look?

I’ve been on a mission to streamline my life this summer, and my closet has been a big focus of that. I wanted to stop thinking, “I should keep that in CASE” … I wanted my closet to be things I could pull together almost at random that could work for the majority of places I go on the regular. Basically, I wanted to front load the effort so I can be lazy about dressing but still look polished enough. A denim pencil skirt and polo with a low-heeled sandal and crossbody bag is that boiled down to its essence: kind of casual, kind of dressy, kind of classic, kind of trendy, very easy. Looking for classic pieces with unique details is an easy hack to get there.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

This is how I dressed in high school! I loved denim pencil skirts, I loved polos, I loved a thong sandal — and I still do! There are some pieces that are part of your style DNA and I feel like I’m (re)discovering those in the great closet purge of 2018. Some things you just always feel good in.

How does it make you feel?

Good! But seriously, I feel like I don’t have to fuss or worry about something being out of place, which is paramount. I get really fidgety and anxious otherwise. The Sagittarius rising in me also feels like I could be spontaneous in it — like I could go to a nice dinner on a whim or to the beach…or just to work, which is most often the case.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Rachel’s Ginger Beer in Seattle makes delicious coconut dark ‘n’ stormy slushy drinks. They are dangerously yummy and strong.

VP Design, Proenza Schouler, @elizabethgiardina

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Obviously Knocked Up.

Why is this your Summer Look?

Because I am pregnant and I seem to feel the happiest in a bikini or a caftan.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

Necessity. And I don’t like maternity clothing. Also I love the colors of this Kanga cloth.

How does it make you feel?

Like I am channeling my inner earth mother.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

Club soda with bitters and lime. Damn I miss a stiff drink.

Digital Talent (Instagram), @slipintostyle

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Be ET’s Date at the Leopard-Themed Senior Prom.

Why is this your Summer Look?

It’s my summer look because it’s super easy to get in and out of and I can wear multiple versions of it with different tees and different wrap skirts every single day and no one one will ever notice, I promise.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

During summer, it’s too hot to wear long sleeves, but at the same time, I need to protect at least one part of my body — my legs in this case — from mosquito bites, so a T-shirt and a midi skirt sounds like a good compromise.

How does it make you feel?

It makes me feel all sorts of ways: glamorous because the skirt is silk, cool because I’m wearing a “Space Cowboy” T-shirt and a bit like a modern-day Marie Antoinette because of the big velvet bows on my silver mules.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

A creamy and thick piña colada with a pink umbrella and pink sugar on the edge. It’s the only way to make me feel like I’m really on summer vacation.

Model and Student, @musegold

If you had to give this outfit a high school superlative, what would it be?

Most Likely to Ruin My White Top by Lunchtime! (I love white but am terrible at keeping them clean.)

Why is this your Summer Look?

My summer look will always be a tee-and-mom-jeans combo. A silk scarf material keeps me cool in the summer. The straw tote has been a staple this summer — my favorite trend of the year! As for my shoes, sneakers are always in and comfortable for a long day of meetings and running around the city.

Where did the inspiration for this summer look come from?

Comfort! I’m inspired by things that make me comfortable and are versatile. I like wearing something that I can dress up or dress down depending on what I’m up to that day.

How does it make you feel?

Beautiful! You always feel good when you find jeans that fit, right?! Pants that fit me in all the right places can make me feel like I’m on the moon.

What’s your go-to summer drink?

I make a mango smoothie every morning! I love smoothies because they reminds me of summer and they’re refreshing. I’m also an iced coffee addict and proud. French vanilla or caramel are always a good idea.

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