#Elizabeth Goodwill

[longlistshort]

One of the two Creative Liberties spaces in the Limelight District

On the second Saturday of every month artists from the Sarasota Studio Artists Association open their studios around Sarasota, Florida. One place to stop is the Limelight District where you can find Creative Liberties, Palmer Modern, and The Bazaar.

Founded by artists Barbara Gerdeman and Elizabeth Goodwill, Creative Liberties opened its first location at the end of 2021 and the second in February of this year. Along with the artist studios, the space hosts exhibitions and classes for children and adults.

The exhibition space and tables from a finished class from September 2023

If you go make sure to also check out the delightful Free Little Art Gallery. Created by artist Judy Robertson and modeled after the Free Little Libraries, you are encouraged to take a piece of art, leave a piece of art, or sometimes just admire what’s been donated. There is one for work by adults and for children’s art work.

Paintings by Lisa DiFranza

Paintings by Adrienne Watts

Paintings by David Sigel

Photography by Henry Martin

Work by Sandra Wix

Paintings by Cheryl Taub

Work by Susan Hurwitch

Paintings by Ava Young

Work by Creative Liberties founder Barbara Gerdeman

Work by artists Traci Kegerreis and Sandy Koolkin

Artist Craig Palmer opened Palmer Modern, right next door to Creative Liberties, in March of this year. He has a studio in the space, as well as a gallery and studios for four other artists.

Pictured above- Palmer Modern, the gallery space with work by Craig Palmer, and Sam Wuerfel’s studio

Close to the gallery spaces is The Bazaar (pictured below), an indie indoor market filled with an eclectic range of items that also has live music in their outdoor space.

Work by Teresa Stone at The Bazaar

All three of these venues offer a great way to meet and support local artists and makers.

[whaleiumsharkspeare]

I saw this painting at work today

And I was like “this reminds me of something”

[trexalicious]

Fun Queen Elizabeth II find at Goodwill...

[sableleatherywingsopeninthe711]

63 bitch

here u go!

(send me a number(s) 1-100 and ill give you the song(s) that correspond on my wrapped!)

[aimeedaisies]

The 75th Birthday of HRH The Princess Royal

Commemorative • The Princess Royal

The Princess Royal

Born on 15 August 1950 during the reign of her grandfather, George VI, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal is the second child and only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Her Royal Highness has tirelessly performed her royal duties since she was 18 years old and The Princess Royal has a deep affection for humanitarian work.

For more than 50 years, she has been heavily involved with the global charity Save the Children and is a patron of more than 300 organisations. Today, she is married to Sir Timothy Laurence, a former Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, and has two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, from her first marriage.

A Lifetime of Service

The Princess Royal is a title that British monarchs customarily award to their eldest daughters and there have been just seven Princesses Royal in British history. In 1987, Princess Anne, the daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was bestowed with the title of The Princess Royal.

Alongside her regal titles, she also has a myriad of military accolades to her name that span all three major defence organisations. Having risen through the ranks of the Royal Navy, she was named an Admiral in 2012 and was awarded the titles of Chief Marshal of the Royal Air Force and British Army General in 2020.

Princess Anne in the Olympics

In 1976, The Princess Royal became the first member of the British Royal Family to compete at the Olympic Games. Riding her mother’s horse Goodwill, she competed in equestrian at the 1976 Games held in Montreal.

Throughout the 1970s, The Princess Royal also had an impressive record outside of the Olympics and won numerous equestrian medals. In 1971, she was named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, an accolade matched by her daughter Zara in 2006 that made them the first mother–daughter duo to do so. In 2012, Zara also became an Olympian and went on to win an equestrian silver medal.

A Passion for Sport

Building on her Olympic legacy as a competitive athlete, The Princess Royal was made President of the British Olympic Association in 1983. Five years later, she was appointed as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1988. She has also served on the Eligibility Commission, the Nominations Committee and the IOC Members Election Committee.

The Princess Royal was heavily involved in bringing the Olympic Games to London in 2012 and since 1986, she has served as the patron of Scottish Rugby Union and frequently attends their matches. The connection to rugby union also extends to her son-in-law Mike Tindall, one of England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winners.

The Perils of the Public Eye

Whilst The Princess Royal is famed for her love of sports, she is also a fan of fashion and has graced the covers of magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Life in the public eye has also proved dangerous for Her Royal Highness as in 1974, an armed kidnapper attempted to abduct the princess as she was travelling to Buckingham Palace. Fortunately, The Princess Royal’s bodyguards along with brave passers-by thwarted the assailant. In 1983, Her Royal Highness candidly recalled the events during an interview with Michael Parkinson in which she detailed how she defiantly resisted the assault, displaying her formidable resolve.

An Affinity for the Arts

In addition to her love of sport, fashion and charity work, The Princess Royal has been known to be a staunch supporter of the performing arts. From 1972 to 2001, she was President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the main theatre at BAFTA’s headquarters in Piccadilly was renamed The Princess Anne Theatre in her honour.

As president, The Princess Royal presented several awards to deserving winners such as Charlie Chaplin, Ronnie Barker and Julie Andrews. In 1993, Her Royal Highness even received one herself when she was awarded BAFTA’s Special Award.

The Princess Royal Portrait

The first official UK coin celebrating The Princess Royal’s 75th birthday features an official photographic portrait supplied by Buckingham Palace. Recreated for coinage by renowned Royal Mint coin designer Thomas T. Docherty, using state-of-the-art technology, the design has been personally approved by Her Royal Highness and includes her official Coat of Arms.

The portrait was taken by John Swannell, a fellow of the prestigious Royal Photographic Society and one of the biggest names in British photography. In addition to portraits of the Royal Family, his portfolio includes a wide variety of images ranging from landscapes and fashion photography to theatre posters and album covers.

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Do you think it would put W&K in a bad position or hurt their image?

What would? Harry coming back or patching things up?

I don't think so. William has his own court with KP and has positioned his office, family, and work to be separated from Clarence House and the larger BRF. As a result, the Waleses are pretty insulated from much of the CH antics. As long as William is able to keep KP out of the fray when the mud starts slinging and continues to maintain his distance from Harry, they'll be okay. KP will get some blowback, everyone will, but William and Kate have pretty high polling numbers, they're very well-liked by the public and around the world, and they're the future of the monarchy. They'll bounce back quickly because their image and brand is strong enough. (And remember, their brand is essentially what we saw in the September 2024 video, centered on family and the core relationship of William and Kate, rather than based on the crown.)

The bigger question is what kind of impact would Harry returning have on the monarchy. I don't know. We know that Harry will sell everyone out for the right payday, which is incredibly dangerous to the monarchy, which makes me think he's going to be held back at arm's distance so he can't sell them out again (especially if Meghan is back too), so the impact should be minimal/minimized. But will Charles heed that concern or will he prioritize giving Harry what he wants?

Either way, once William has the crown and the monarchy becomes more synonymous with Brand Wales, I think the Waleses will be able to repair whatever damage Charles, Andrew, and Harry caused in time. In time is key - it'll take time to get back to the kind of numbers or goodwill we saw under Queen Elizabeth pre-Meghan, if those kind of numbers are even possible today.

[mxphanes]

Final Words

Four years of ferrying those who died at sea, and the captain of the Flying Dutchman still hasn’t gotten used to this macabre voyage.

As Bill Turner manned the helm, William watched as souls climbed aboard the Dutchman, their wraith hands grasping onto her barnacled wood like claws. Souls would roam, some would ask questions, others knew the stories, and some stood at the railing, watching as they made their voyage to the afterlife. It was a long and otherwise boring voyage. There was not much to see through the endless stretch of souls who died at sea.

Nonetheless, Will joined his father and rested his elbows on the port railing, looking out into the eternal waters of the in-between.

“You’ll get used to it one day, William,” Bill Turner muttered in his son’s direction.

“How long will it take, I wonder?” Will questioned. He cast a glance at his father and quipped, “You’d think I would be a natural at this, being the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner.”

Bill chuckled. “Everything takes time, son. And we have an eternity.”

William nodded and turned to face the Dutchman’s deck. His father was always full of prickly wisdom.

He turned to the open deck of the Dutchman. It swam with souls, yet it retained a certain quiet and serenity. William used to bid hello to every soul boarding the Dutchman, take in every soul’s condition, age, and stature. Not anymore. All souls were the same. To William, every soul was equal to another.

But one soul caught his eye, drawing William by a sheer sense of familiarity. Tension knotted his brow, and he wondered who of his loved ones he would be ferrying. As if I have any loved ones beyond Elizabeth, William thought.

As he neared the port ladder, he saw that, clamoring onto the deck of the Dutchman, was none other than Commodore James Norrington. Wig askew, uniform disheveled, and chest gaping with a long, red streak where his heart once was beating.

William gave the Commodore space to orient himself and become familiar with the finality of things. Clearly, Norrington was facing a difficult time at that.

Norrington slowly spun around, taking in his surroundings, the sound of chattering souls, the cool mist that hung above the eternal waters––and the familiar faces that stood behind him. 

In a flash, the Commodore lunged at the captain of the Dutchman, aiming to grapple and charge him to the deck. But the poor soul fazed through the captain, and Norrington fell sprawling on the deck of the Flying Dutchman, a grunt escaping him as his shoulder impacted the ship’s hull.

Bill descended the stairs, leisure and amusement in his every step. “Not bad for a lost soul who faced Jones with nothing but the sword that killed the Dutchman’s successor.” He extended a hand to James, who was turning on one elbow.

“Get away from me, pirate,” James growled, distancing himself from Bill Turner.

Bootstrap shrugged and turned away. “The least I can do for you,” he said. “But looks like you’re no man to accept goodwill from pirates.”

James collected himself and stood warily.

“Commodore,” William greeted James cordially.

“Turner,” James said, breathless. Gazing around, he asked, “Are you dead, too?”

William stepped closer to Norrington, shaking his head. “Yes and no.” James’ confusion beckoned William to elaborate. “I’m captain of the Flying Dutchman, now.”

“So it was actually you who felled Jones in the end,” James muttered.

William sauntered to the stairs, making his way to the helm. “You seem surprised,” he called out over his shoulder.

“Hardly,” James responded. “If Jones were to die, it should have been by your hands.”

Bootstrap cast an amused glance at his son before he busied himself with shipwork.

“Ferrying souls to the afterlife. I’m sure Elizabeth must be proud seeing you come home every night,” James jeered.

Silence stretched between them as William thought on his next words. He was the captain of the Flying Dutchman, and whatever words left his mouth would have no consequences. But he was still an honorable man, and he couldn’t lie to the Commodore, not before his passage to the afterlife. He fixed his gaze on the endless horizon and addressed James, “Cannot step foot on land but once every ten years. That’s my curse as captain of the Flying Dutchman. Or perhaps you already knew that, Commodore?”

James’ head snapped to the captain of the Dutchman, his eyes incredulous and his lips parted with heavy words. He swallowed and said, “I suppose we’re both doomed to be tantalizingly close to her, but never close enough. How long has it been?” He asked finally.

“Four years,” William returned.

James cast his gaze down, appearing crestfallen, or perhaps ashamed. He stood still, like a statue aboard a ghost ship. William left him there, standing, thinking, and watched as the Commodore took off his wig and wrung it in his hands. James stumbled over the railing and gazed out into the eternally stretching waters and souls of those who chose the sea. Blinking slowly, wringing the wig in his hands.

“What has become of Elizabeth?” He asked. He wasn’t sure the captain heard him.

“She’s safe,” the captain responded. “Beckett’s gone. We ambushed him.”

“Good.” The word left James’ mouth before he could think of it. “I chose my side.” He gave the wig one last glare before he came to throw it overboard. He stopped himself and turned to face William for the captain’s permission.

“Do as you please,” William affirmed. “The waters are an illusion, anyway.”

James threw the wig overboard, releasing a breath of relief. “Where are we going?” He asked, keeping his gaze out to the waters.

“To the gateway,” Bootstrap responded. James turned to face him, amicably beckoning him to elaborate. “To the next life. You’ll have to see it with your own eyes. It’s beautiful.” He turned to face William at the helm before adding, “Many a soul whispers a prayer before they step into it. It’s a privilege for any pirate to see.”

“A privilege to be ferried by he who showed care and respect in every aspect of his life,” James said over his shoulder to the captain.

Though he was not conscious of it first, a sensation of relief passed over where William’s heart was. He nodded a smile to Norrington. Quietly, he sailed his course, watching as James gazed out into the open waters where souls drifted and climbed aboard.

James wondered how many souls the Dutchman could carry at once; how many voyages back and forth the Dutchman had to make; did William get any time away from this dreadful and hefty job? All manner of thoughts drifted in his mind, but he felt no connection to them. He was aboard the Flying Dutchman, being ferried to the afterlife. Nothing else mattered. Perhaps, not even Elizabeth. He caught himself thinking that uncharacteristic thought and remembered who Elizabeth was: she was a pirate.

“Say, Turner,” James turned and called out to William, “Did you happen to get married?”

William grinned, “Aye. Married mid-battle with the Dutchman. Barbossa married us, too.”

James cackled, spreading mirth and lightheartedness across the dreary atmosphere. “What a wedding it must have been. Would have loved to see it.”

Time was a fable in this liminal space, and in the blink of an eye, or perhaps the swath of an eternity, a low, and distant gushing sound heralded the gateway.

Bill Turner joined James Norrington at the railing and said, “We’re here.”

James and many of the souls aboard the Dutchman turned to face the source of the booming sound. As the Dutchman drew nearer, James could make out the form of a waterfall, stretching immortally on either side.

It was a lofty waterfall, of which one could see no beginning. Water crashed against water in a display of awe and tranquility. Tears made it behind Norrington’s eyes. “Is that it, then?” he asked, his voice coming out broken and shaky.

William stepped to him, whispering, “Aye. This is it.”

Souls made it into longboats, and Norrington hesitated to join them.

“You can’t stay here forever, mate,” William said behind a grin. “Many have tried.”

Norrington still didn’t move. He merely gazed at the waterfall, taking in the gateway's grandeur and splendor.

“I could take the ship down into the waters if you please,” William playfully threatened.

Norrington faced William, finally whispering, “There’s no need for that.” He made his way and stepped into the longboat among his fellow departed souls.

The sheer force of the fall’s water should have crushed the boats, but they glided through, peacefully unharmed. James stood up on his feet as his boat approached the gateway. Water crashed on him, washing away blood, dirt and all manners of material things. A smile made its way onto his lips as the waters bathed him, disintegrating his soul and reintegrating it with the eternity of the fall.

(bonus Bootstrap gif cuz I love him)

[apenitentialprayer]

Christ came in the flesh. God did not send a messenger to communicate His goodwill towards us. Rather, God took on our flesh and came to dwell among us. This consecrates all that we are and all that we do, for it means that we do not have to reject our humanity to be like Jesus who embraced humanity and made it a full expression of God's love.

Rev. Jude Winkler, O.F.M. Conv.'s commentary on Hebrews 10:5-10

Through Our Smallest Words and Actions, by Elizabeth Wang

[keepthedelta]

https://www.tumblr.com/keepthedelta/789145352021344256/hasnt-grace-kelly-suffered-enough-her-son-is?source=share - hi! Can i ask who or what you're talking about?

charles's girlfriend alexandra wore a knockoff version of a dress grace kelly wore in a film and like. it's not her fault. it's not really about her. really. i do think that it's kind of tacky and on the nose to wear an actual replica of grace kelly's dress while dating a monegasque celebrity who is trying so so so hard to be a media darling but that's not her fault. she is but a symptom of the disease that is a chronic lack of originality in pop culture and a desperation to gain credibility by copying someone else who actually had it.

she copies grace kelly because kim k and sabrina carpenter are copying marilyn monroe and kim is also copying elizabeth taylor and lauren sanchez is copying sophia loren. and they're all doing that because it's easier to copy a message that's been said before or an image that's been done before than to come up with their own. and they desperately want love and credibility but aren't willing or capable of actually working for it so they just latch onto someone else, all the better if they're dead because then that person can't call them out or own their own image and reputation, to try and leech off of their reputation and goodwill.

and i'm sure it's not actually that deep with alexandra but at the same time i'm so fucking bored of it all. bored of the knockoffs and the remakes and the sequels and the total unoriginality of modern culture that pervades every aspect of life

[theroyalhouseofwindtsar]

The Offical Portrait of the Royal house of windtsar

The reigning monarchy of the Kingdom of Windenshire. Known for its deep-rooted traditions and strong sense of duty, the House of Windtsar symbolizes continuity, national identity, and public service.

At its head is Queen Elizabeth, a respected and beloved monarch who ascended the throne following the death of her mother, the late Queen Alexandra. She represents stability and modern leadership, guiding the nation through a new era of unity and grace.

Supporting her is Princess Mary, Duchess of Windenshire, a compassionate royal deeply involved in charitable work. Her husband, Prince Pios, upholds ceremonial and military duties with dignity, and their sons, Prince John and Prince William, represent the future of the monarchy.

The Queen’s niece, Princess Regina, brings elegance and warmth to the family’s public engagements. She and her husband, Prince Julius, serve as envoys of goodwill and modern diplomacy within the realm.

Together, the Windtsar family reflects a legacy of honor, service, and national pride — standing as a symbol of hope and tradition for the people of Windenshire.

[dionysiaproductions]

Today at Pemberley, the 15th of October

The news of Miss Georgiana Darcy’s intent to participate in the hunt which had hitherto evaded Miss Caroline Bingely’s knowledge came to her attention today. It reached her ears by way of an innocent comment from her sister, Mrs. Jane Bingley, who no doubt did not expect Miss Caroline’s harsh reaction.

Miss Caroline Bingley went immediately to Mr. Darcy demanding that he forbid Miss Georgiana from participating. As he defers to his wife’s good judgement in all such matters, he would not act against Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy’s plans.

When Miss Caroline stormed out of the house, walking deep into the surrounding forest with seemingly little intent of ever coming back, attention turned to Mr. Bingley who was expected to furnish a reason for his sister’s behavior. He spoke quite elegantly about goodwill toward others and the need to protect those we love while delivering sum zero practical information.

Mrs. Louisa Hurst eventually stepped in for her brother, explaining that during her girlhood, Miss Caroline lost a dear friend, almost a second mother, when she was thrown from her horse during a hunt.

Previous days at Pemberley here

[thewardenisonthecase]

6 17 + 26?

hawke and li asks

6. What is the LI reaction to Carver/Bethany's fate?

I think Fenris would feel a little bad for Carver. Not that he loved the guy but damn, that must suck, right? He was a fine warrior too. And also like, he sees the way Elizabeth is suffering due to that, so he does feel sympathetic about it.

17. Does Leandra know about their relationship (or at least, about Hawke's feelings?). If so, what is Leandra's opinion on their LI?

Leandra learns of the relationship only after it ends because she sees Elizabeth crying about it and Eliza tries to get some comfort over the heart break from her mom.

At first, Leandra is a little wary of Fenris but she has a better opinion of him when he starts dropping off Hawke in the estate when they're out doing stuff (kinda like oh he's keeping my daughter safe (its just that fenris and hawke live so close to each other he might as well walk her home)) but after the breakup? All that goodwill is goneeeee.

Too bad she doesnt live long enough to see them makeup.

26. How does their LI react to the Hawke being the Champion of Kirkwall? Does their new title change something in their relationship?

Fenris is Worried TM. It's bad enough that now everyone knows Elizabeth's an apostate, she's now one of the most important people in the city. He's also worried about her getting more and more entangled in this whole templar/mage thing and he really just wants her to be safe.

I dont think it changes anything drastic in their relationship but its certantly something that kinda hangs over them? Like they can't go out as much because they both like their privacy and because elizabeth is such a public figure, they dont want people to see them together as to avoid gossip and such, but in their actual relationship, nothing much changes.

[sophiebernadotte]

Opinion piece: It may appear as if she is selling something that is not really hers

The interest and the money are there because she is her father's daughter.

Photo: NTB

Modern royalty is not easy to define. This is partly because it is full of paradoxes.

On the one hand, being royal is deeply personal. It binds a Royal Family together in a way no other families [can] experience. It also means that the royals have to live with a significant interest in who they are and what they think and feel. Who they fall in love with and marry. How they raise their children.

On the other hand, being royal is something very impersonal. You have not become King, Queen, Prince, or Princess because you have achieved something. It's a role you've been assigned through a genetic lottery, and it's a win that brings disadvantages as well as advantages.

Patrick Jephson, who was Princess Diana's private secretary for many years, has written several books about royalty. In his book on Meghan Markle, he points out the importance of distinguishing between the fame you've worked for and the fame you've been born into or married into.

A princess, writes Jephson, will always be listened to. She can say obvious things from a podium, and the applause will faithfully follow. It can be challenging to accept that this goodwill is not really personal. It would be there for anyone who filled the royal role dutifully and kindly.

Jephson's point is relevant to the debate about young royals in general and [around] Princess Märtha Louise in general. There was a reaction when it became known that the Princess and Durek Verrett had sold the rights to their wedding to Netflix and the celebrity magazine Hello.

The two are far from the first famous couple to make such a trade. When movie star George Clooney and lawyer Amal Alamuddin married, they sold the rights to the wedding photos to the British Hello and the American People. The couple made it known that the money would be donated to charity. So did former spouses Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie when they sold their wedding photos to People.

By emphasizing that the money would not go to themselves, the couples also gave the impression that they were selling the rights primarily to retain control over publicity and avoid paparazzi in the bushes rather than to get even richer. Not all brides and grooms with similar deals have been equally generous.

Artist Nick Jonas and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra also sold their wedding to People. In addition, they received so much sponsorship from commercial actors that their wedding was mockingly called "sponsored content" on social media.

But it causes a stir differently when a Princess does the same thing as movie stars. It has to do with the impersonal part of her position. Unlike the other celebrities, it can appear that the Princess is selling something that is not hers.

The interest and the money Hello is willing to pay are ultimately there because she is her father's daughter.

In the Norwegian royal context, the Märtha case is unique. But in Great Britain, there is a comparable example. When Peter Philips, Queen Elizabeth's eldest grandson, married Autumn Kelly in 2008, he also sold the image rights to Hello.

The Queen was not informed in advance. When she realized what had happened, she must have intensely disliked it. The Daily Telegraph later quoted a source at the Royal Court as saying, "It will never happen again. In retrospect, it should never have happened in the first place."

Princess Märtha Louise is far from the only European royal who creates challenges for her family. Heirs to the throne across Europe have rebellious brothers and sisters who feel they spent their entire upbringing conforming, enduring a distressing attention to many of them.

Several of them, such as British Prince Harry and Danish Prince Joachim, have reacted strongly when they feel that the institution is still trying to control them after they become adults. This is understandable. But like the Norwegian Princess, the royals learn that the gold dust from the castles cannot be completely washed off.

It is not difficult to sympathize with the young royals who experienced growing up under tremendous pressure. The celebrity press can be harsh and harsher in many countries than in Norway, and the style was more invasive in the nineties than today. However, in addition to the disadvantages, royalty brings significant advantages.

Princes and Princesses grow up in a family financed by the public. They experience doors opening for them and invitations pouring in. They regularly have personal meetings with men and women who are changing the world. And they always carry with them something extremely marketable, something many people want a piece of.

This is part of the art of being a modern royal if you don't have a throne waiting. It is a matter of discretion. It's about seeing which doors you can enter and which you should leave closed if you don't want to provoke reactions and make people wonder if this monarchy thing was really such a good idea.

Translation and editing for clarity by me of an opinion piece by Inger Merete Hobbelstad for NRK, published Aug. 30, 2024, at 13:40.

[cookiesupplier]

Every Rose Has Its Thorns - Part Fifty-One

pairing: Ricky Olson x ofc x Chris 'Motionless' Cerulli

warnings/tropes: slow burn, soulmates, strangers to enemies to lovers, betrayal, angst, fluff, smut, language, online bullying, panic attacks, stalking, mental health issues, conspiracy theories.

summary: In a world where soulmates inexplicably receive a tattoo that will match that of their soulmate the moment they turn eighteen years old, being famous and covered in very visible tattoos can make finding your true soulmate a questionable fate. For everyone involved.

author’s note: Unbeta'd, on we go!

To read from the beginning, check out the Masterlist Here!

If you would like to be added to this tag list please see THIS FORM

tags: @faceless-mirror @missduffsblog @tamtam-elizabeth @witchyweeb34 @tearfallpixie

@wild-child-7747 @shilohrosechicken @lacktoesandtoddlerants @blackveilomens @valiantroeagleangel

@bngurngheart @dominuslunae @collapsedglasshouses @miamore0570 @emmmm127

@sunsshinesunny @spicywhenspeaking @dontdiganothergravetoday @chick-from-nz @latenightmusiclover

@anameunmusical

Talia moving was easy, well no, not really. If you thought about it technically she hadn’t officially moved all in completely yet despite being there for almost two weeks, because she wasn’t the one doing all the hard work. Every other day, either Ava or her got a call from Bea or Kyle and Jordan about the apartment that they were packing up for them. In the process of packing, they decided that the furniture that they weren’t just going to leave with the apartment, they’d donate to goodwill. There were some things that they both wanted to keep, some important parts of their lives they didn’t want to part with that they’d ship across the state, but other than that, it was just the little things. Packing up the clothes, and personal items they left behind. Jordan, Kyle and Bea, they knew their lives inside and out, somehow better than they did, in some ways it seemed, from this move. Things that Talia hadn’t even considered came up when they called.

Yesterday Jordan had called her about a mug, a mug, it was the most stupid silly, ridiculous mug in the whole world. It was one of the few items she had managed to hold on to from when she was young, from when she was a kid, she’d made it herself for her grandmother before she passed. It wasn’t one you could drink from, not unless you wanted to poison yourself with something toxic from the paint, she’d made it in preschool, but it reminded her of her grandmother every time she saw it. She hadn’t even thought about it… Talia knew she would have fallen apart when she realised she’d lost that in the move if they’d left if behind. God. That was when she considered that maybe she should fly home and let the guys deal with helping Ricky move on their own.

It was the morning that she called Ava and mentioned to her about booking a flight back, asking her if she had anything she needed her to do specifically at their old apartment, that she got the call from Kyle. She was scrolling on her phone, hoping to figure out if getting a cheap flight was even feasible before she talked to Chris and Ricky about going for a few days, when her phone was ringing. When she saw the caller ID, Talia sighed, knowing it was another call about packing up the apartment, and so she answered, dodging the call wasn’t going to help matters any. Of course, as soon as she did, she didn’t even get one word out before Kyle’s voice was on the other end of the line:

“No.”

Wait, what? No? Just No? Not another question?

“Well, hello to you too, Kyle, how are you?”

“Hello darling, I’m fine, how are you?”

Hearing one of her best friends, whom she’d been missing, both of them all the more dearly the more she talked to them with this whole moving business. The more Talia thought about not going home, she just knew it was going to be so painful not going to be able to see Kyle and Jordan whenever she wanted to now. While she knew of course, there were Skype calls and Facebook, they would keep in contact, she knew that of course they would, they had too much in between them to just let things drop. Then again, they had the kind of friendship that even if they didn’t talk for weeks, or months, they could just pick up and talk as if not a day had gone by. All of her friends meant the world to her, and nothing would ever change that. Nothing. 

“Fine, what do you mean, no, no what Kyle?”

Sitting down on her bed, she had been considering starting to pack a bag, if she was going to leave she wanted to do it today, maybe tomorrow at the latest, sooner rather than later.

“You are not getting on a plane and coming home, you aren’t, we don’t need you.”

Talia just scoffed at him for that, 

“Oh that sounds real nice Kyle, thanks!”

She could almost hear Kyle rolling his eyes on the other end of the line, she knew him that well, picturing him when he was at his nurse station. Talking to a difficult patient or family member on the phone, and smirked at the thought. 

“Listen here, little girl, you are not coming back here to help us pack, only just to get onto a plane to fly right back and have to unpack everything all over again.”

“You know, Kyle, that's called moving house, people do it all the time, and I can too.”

Hearing the frustrated sigh on the other end, she just sighed, knowing that he wasn’t really that annoyed with her, if he was, he wouldn’t have called, he was just trying to help. She loved that he was doing this… Talia just wanted to be there with him, helping, not here, in another state, feeling useless. 

“I know T, I know, but you are going to have enough on your plate, darling, you are helping Rick move too aren’t you, and not to mention not only will you be unpacking all of your things, his things, you’ll be starting a new job next week. Come on. Jordan and I have this. And we can wrangle Bea. I promise.”

Sighing, she just… she was so worried that this was all going to fall apart, and she was nervous as hell about it, okay. Not just the moving, but living with Ricky and Chris. Yes, she’d lived with Ava for years, but living with Ava was different with living with someone she was in a relationship with, let alone two, and they were her soulmates. Their relationship was so new as well, she didn’t know how Ava had just done it, jumped into a relationship and moved in with Vinny, almost just straight away. Not even almost, she went right on tour with him, in a cramped tour bus, how was that not living with him? Living and working for that matter!

“To top it off, I have it on good authority, that Ava plans on surprising you and taking you for a spa day tomorrow. Something about wanting to celebrate you starting your new job.”

She smiled just a little at that, what had gotten into her brain, she was over doing it after what had happened. As much as Talia hadn’t been happy with her after what had gone down, and she really hadn’t been, she did understand what had happened. Maybe it was because Ricky was giving her the semi-silent treatment over it, it didn’t help that Ava was still being just as harsh sometimes with him for what he’d done to her, despite Talia’s forgiveness of him.

“You did not hear that from me…”

Sighing, Kyle was definitely laying it on thick. Fine.

“Okay, okay! I won’t get a flight.”

“Good, you’ve seen reason, my job is done… well… half done, more work to do, now I have to go, save Jordan from Beaaa, love youuuu!”

Letting him go, she hung up the phone, setting it down on her bedside table with a sigh, well, guess she should head over to Ricky’s to help him then.

“Do you really think she bought it?”

Chris watched as Kyle hung up the phone apprehensively, now, having only overheard one side of the conversation between them, it sounded like it had gone well, but he knew Talia well enough that she could be stubborn. If she thought for a second they were trying to pull something over on her, she might just say okay, and then turn around and leave to go anyway. That was why he had hoped, that waiting for Kyle and Jordan to arrive off the plane this morning and getting one of them to call her, as if they were still at her apartment, might work. That might way lay the situation a little better than trying to convince her himself.

When Ava had called him this morning in a panic, she’d been the one helping him with his planning! While the surprise party was technically for Ricky, he was arranging for Kyle and Jordan to be there too because one, he wanted to meet Talia’s friends, and two, he knew how much she was missing them. Besides, this year, he’d missed out on celebrating both of their birthdays technically. Talia because he basically met her on her birthday and that had been when everything had hit the fan, and Ricky, well, his birthday had come and gone with all the stalker insanity. No one had really been in a celebratory mood, least of all Rick, so he hadn’t wanted to force anything on him.

But now, now he was planning a party for him, well, almost for both of them, but technically it was a belated surprise birthday party for Ricky, with a few guests that just happened to be Talia’s friends. Chris hoped her friends could become their friends on some level, well, at least friendly, he wanted to get to know them, which was why he invited them. 

“Yes, for now, if the party wasn’t tomorrow, you might have a problem. Ava better make sure her story is straight for the salon tomorrow, because she is going to have to be tight-lipped, so bad.”

Argh, he’d made sure she knew. Chris had not gone to all of this trouble planning this surprise for Ava to trip it up at the last moment. He knew she still felt guilty about basically kicking Talia out of Vinny’s. Ava had been overcompensating, just a bit, all week as she helped with the move from Ricky’s, and him with his planning to get Jordan and Kyle here without Talia knowing. Chris was going to have to stress to her, no tell her about Jordan and Kyle coming for a visit, not now, not about the party, not anything.

“Thanks for this Kyle, and it's great to meet you again, much better circumstances. Maybe by the time you go home, we’ll even get your boyfriend’ll come around to being a fan.”

Smiling as the other man laughed at that, the boyfriend in question walking over from checking in at the front desk of the hotel.

“Kind of doubt that, Chris.”

“Doubt what?”

Chris chuckled at Jordan’s confusion as Kyle just patted his soulmate’s shoulder, lightly accepting his bag from him with a knowing smile.

“Anyway, I’ll text you once Ava has picked up Talia, and Vinny is going to be wrangling Ricky, and then the coast is clear for you to head over, I’ll see you when you get there.”

Chris gave the two men a slight wave as he said goodbye before he turned to go, heading out the door. He was so glad that Talia had friends that were so supportive of her that they were willing to come all this way for her, well, both her and Ava. Even Kyle, who had such an intensive job, had apparently put in for leave awhile ago, knowing that something might pop up like this. Maybe not something like a birthday, but when two of his closest friends found soulmates in another state, one of which had a history like Talia’s, Kyle had told him he knew something could happen. He hadn’t wanted to take a chance he couldn’t be there to help if he was needed, when he told Chris that, he had respected him immediately. 

His phone in hand, time to call Ava, make sure she was ready for tomorrow. Probably should make sure to check in with Vinny too, those two were just as bad as each other… probably why they were soulmates. Kind of perfect, really.

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

[saintmeghanmarkle]

The Hill: In Colombia Harry and Meghans harmful smoke and mirrors faux-statecraft by u/Von_und_zu_

The Hill: In Colombia, Harry and Meghan’s harmful ‘smoke and mirrors’ faux-statecraft Serious political criticism of Harold and his wife's faux royal tours.​https://ift.tt/54nCxIt is a bit of it.Their four-day holiday in Colombia might have served the business and public relations interests of the Montecito couple well. But it risked doing great disservice to the foreign policy of the United Kingdom — and by extension that of the national security of the U.S. Official royal tours, like U.S. presidential visits abroad, are intended to advance the foreign policy interests of the UK. Beyond high-level meetings and glitzy receptions, these high-stake diplomatic undertakings are measured by the bi-lateral nation-to-nation deliverables expected of them — and of their lasting positive impact.Harry and Meghan could not deliver that.Other than D-list celebrity, the oft-whinging duo had nothing to offer Bogotá long-term. Photo-ops, media hype and sugary goodwill are fleeting. Absent Whitehall purpose and oversight, there is little to be gained by either Colombia or the UK.Sussex Inc., however, arguably had a lot to gain, and therein lies the rub. Not-so-private worldwide tours masquerading as royal tours are undoubtedly valuable from a business branding and marketing standpoint.Cashing in on faux-statecraft really should be beyond the pale for the son and daughter-in-law of the reigning king of England and head of the Commonwealth of Nations. Harry, especially, knows better. His grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, set the global gold-standard for duty, country and public service.https://ift.tt/dIDgOXq post link: https://ift.tt/QTXa1n0 author: Von_und_zu_ submitted: August 20, 2024 at 02:11PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[pessimisticpigeonsworld]

Rhaenyra and Feminism

I find it so funny how TG stans go on and on about how Rhaenyra wasn't a "feminist", when they're supporting team male progeniture. Like sure, Rhaenyra wasn't out there reading/writing feminist literature and manifestos against the patriarchy, but who was? Definitely not their beloved Alicent, their rapist king, or their misogynistic kinslayer/war criminal.

Let's do a quick history lesson, shall we? Queen Elizabeth I, the second ruling queen of England and one of the greatest rulers of that country. One of her most famous acts was the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. Does that make her an evil person who is a sign that her father and the other supporters of the patriarchy were right, that a woman isn't fit to rule? Now, we also have no records of Elizabeth interfering with the succession choices of her lords or making laws that women should be treated equal to men. Does this mean her reign was meaningless or even harmful to the feminist movement?

The answer to both these questions is fuck no. Elizabeth simply ruling was a huge step for the feminist movement. She showed that a woman could rule just as well if not better than a man.

Now a greenie could argue that Rhaenyra wasn't a good ruler, to which I answer, she never had a chance to properly rule. Had Rhaenyra ascended undisputed there would have been no need for any of her unpopular decisions (i.e. the heavy tax, Nettles' execution, etc.) Her reign would have set a precedent that a female heir is acceptable and the change would ripple out from there, much like it did with early female rulers in the real world.

As for why Rhaenyra didn't support Baela and Rhaena, that wasn't her decision, it was Corlys'. Corlys had decided that Driftmark would pass through Laenor's line not Laena's and he rejects any of Rhaenys' suggestions to the contrary in the show. Lucerys had been accepted by Laenor, Corlys, and Viserys as Laenor's legitimate heir, so that's the end of it. Corlys even had the chance to name Baela or Rhaena heir after Luke's death, but instead he chose Addam and later Alyn, two bastards who were, supposedly, of Laenor's line. Now, am I saying that I agree with Corly? No, in fact I really don't like him, but who his successor would be is his decision.

For Rhaenyra to step in and force him to change his mind would not only destroy what's left of any goodwill between the Targaryens and Velaryons (which her father put the responsibility of on her by forcing her to marry Laenor) but also would make the lords of Westeros a reason to revolt. Aegon I allowed the lords to exercise almost the same amount of power they did before the Conquest, part of that is the choice over who would succeed them. As for Luke being heir, Rhaenyra never forced Corlys to acknowledge him and affirm him as heir, that was, once again, his choice. He could have chosen to speak out against her and declare the boys bastards, with the support of Rhaenys, which would force Viserys to either remove Rhaenyra as heir or at least remove Luke from the line of succession. Or a much easier move would have been to remove Laenor as heir to Driftmark and give the position to Laena, yet Corly never did either of these things.

Yeah, Rhaenyra chose to embrace the opportunity this gave her, why wouldn't she? That's a political move that strengthens her claim in the face of the Greens' constant undermining and plotting. Literally every ruler in Westeros does shit like that, that's how the world works, if you want to rule, you need to play political games of some kind.

And before any of the greenies try to bring up the time when some lords brought a question of succession before Rhaenyra during the Dance, let me cover that real quick. Rhaenyra was in the middle of a war and knew full well that most of the lords would be willing to turn on her quickly, something she couldn't afford. So yes, she chose to support the male heirs over the lords' daughters, because she knew that was what the lords wanted and she needed their support. Again, had she not been at war, she wouldn't have had to make this choice and we can't know what she would have done.

Now, to conclude this rant: Rhaenyra wasn't a modern or suffrage era feminist, but that doesn't make her an anti-feminist tyrant. She would have been the beginning of a shift in the misogynistic ideals set so steadfastly in Westeros as her reign would set a precedent for future ruling queens. How could she have our ideals of feminism when the roots of them had barely begun to develop? That's an impossible expectation to put on her and the most hypocritical argument anyone could have. TG usurped Rhaenyra because they wanted to further uphold the patriarchy and none of them cared about the women of the realm or even the people. Maybe you should look at your precious team before you try to defame the rightful queen.