#ed/vcm

[lexstellaris]

more lord greg au ed/james shenanigans stuff idek

(previous)

Ed walked. Needed to clear his head. He didn't like his choices, but Lady Victoria was right. He had all the money in the world and zero opportunities to use it. Well, no, that wasn't true. He could spent it anywhere he liked. He just didn't have the same opportunities to get more. Not as easily, anyway. But that came with scamming the ones who held all the power and access. It could be taken away if they decided you weren't welcome. That had been made plainly clear to him that fateful night.

He didn't want to admit she was right. His pride was still sore and he didn't really have enough of a plan to retaliate with anymore. Not yet, anyway. He just had a feeling things weren't over yet, not with James. He'd make things worse if he went away and disappeared again, leaving him all alone again. James wasn't alone, but that wasn't the point. It would still look like he'd just left again, abandoning him with a letter and nothing else. He'd hurt him enough to not do that again.

Did he find himself at Regent's Park again? Of course he did. He didn't go anywhere near the house, just hung out nearby at a distance, able to look at the house and it's dark windows, and imagine what had gone on in there. He knew James the best of the people in that house, but he had no reason to think he was in any danger. He was just glad he'd found a good place. James deserved that.

A drunk couple walked into him from behind, and it was enough to shake Ed out of his reverie. They laughed, and Ed's anger softened as he saw the two looking apologetic. He sighed, and reassured them he was fine. But it was a sign he should probably go home. No good would come from staring at James' window all night.

-

He wasn't proud about searching up Lord Greg on his laptop once he got home, as if he just couldn't stop prying. But he needed to know more about him. He needed to know more than that he was a man with a good reputation. Clearly he was a complicated man if he was a peer as well as a kinkster, and he'd garnered some kind of sense of him from Lady Victoria talking about him. He just had to reassure his heart that James was taken care of. Then he could rest.

-

He'd fallen asleep on his couch at some point during the night, waking in an awkward position with a leg flailed over the back of the couch. His head hurt, but whether it was from the alcohol or the late night or both, he didn't know. He lay there a while, gathering his thoughts. How late was it? He didn't know. Didn't care right now. He had spent a long time reading about all of Lord Greg's productions, and not finding much else on him apart from that. Which did make sense. It's not like he'd want his private life posted all over the internet. How he'd avoided any particular scandals was pretty remarkable, but maybe he was just careful.

Maybe he'd ask Victoria tonight. See if she could enlighten him on the more private aspects of his life that he clearly didn't talk about much to outsiders. He wasn't prying! He didn't need to know the details. He was just curious. That world wasn't one he walked in. He'd had kinky sex, of course, mostly with Lady Victoria, but it wasn't like, full on leather and handcuffs and whips and such. It wasn't his place. They weren't his people.

He lay there until his back yelled at him to get up, and he relucantly sat up and rubbed his temples. He'd need to clean himself up before tonight. He couldn't go to a posh poker tourney stinking like booze and feeling like shit. With great effort, he got to his feet, and went to shower and eat and make himself look and feel decent.

-

He left his flat early. Ruminating on his messy research notes, half of which he couldn't read anymore, was not a good use of his time. He headed out into the city instead. He could ruminate out there instead as he waited for Lady Victoria to meet him. He was staunchly avoiding thinking of himself as a whore, even though that word really just pummelled itself into his heart. That's what he'd always been for her. But it hadn't felt like that when there were scams and long cons and other business going on. But now, it was all he had. And maybe he was being forced to face that now, and how few opportunities were left to him.

It wasn't the money, it really wasn't. But his revenge plot was scuttled now, and his primary motivation in life had vanished. If he was perfectly honest, he wasn't sure what he had planned to do if he'd succeeded. But that wasn't the point. He was listless, and on his own. At least Lady Victoria still wanted him.

-

"You're here early," Chris noted as Ed arrived at the bar.

"Meeting a friend," Ed said. He pressed some cash into his hand. "Get me the usual, yeah?"

"Of course, head right in," Chris said.

Ed nodded to him, and went to find his table. It was just after 5pm. How drunk should he get in the time before Lady Victoria arrived? Part of him wanted to get plastered. She'd come in, see him, and ditch him, and then he'd be free. But he sipped his drink when it arrived, and tried to remind himself how to play poker instead. He'd brought a deck of cards with him just to keep his hands busy. It wasn't the deck of cards he really wanted, but some bitch had stolen them in France, and all he had left was the packet, all scrunched up, torn, and held together with tape. He was still bitter about it all these years later.

James' notes that he'd written on the inside weren't particularly helpful, but he wasn't interested in card tricks anyway. He wasn't being asked to play. But he might sit in a hand or two, depending on how Lady Victoria wanted to play it. He ended up playing solitaire instead, an alternative to buying more drinks. This was how Lady Victoria found him when she arrived a little before 6pm.

"Are you really that bored, Ed?" Lady Victoria said.

"It's this or drink, and I decided you wouldn't want me to drink," Ed said.

Lady Victoria smiled. "Good boy. Come on, the car's outside."

Ed gathered up the cards and put them away, shoving the deck into a pocket. "Of course, lead the way, my Lady."

-

"How do you want me to behave tonight?" Ed asked.

"Oh, just be yourself. You know the routine, right?" Lady Victoria said.

"So we're actually trying to screw someone over? Or are you just horny and missed me? How did you even know I was back anyway?" Ed said.

Lady Victoria laughed. "Oh, I always knew where you were, Ed my dear. I must look after my assets. I did want to see you again, but if we can have a little fun and be a bit distracting, then maybe I can clean up a little more than I would on skill alone. It's all for fun, anyway."

Ed did look concerned at that, but knowing what he did about her, that did make sense. "If anyone would have been able to track me, it'd be you."

"Don't worry, I never told anyone. I just wanted to know you were safe and alive, that's all," Lady Victoria said. "Your mother never recovered, you know, once it all came out. Awful, awful stuff."

"I know, don't remind me. I still get angry messages from her when she remembers. I wasn't trying to hurt her, just take back what was my birthright. But I guess that's all over now. I lost out. I'm nothing. He won," Ed said.

"Families can be like that, yeah, especially our kinds of families. At least you still have me. Not much, but well, we take what we can get," Lady Victoria said.

"You know full well they'd never let me come back on your arm," Ed said.

"No, of course not. But I can still sweet-talk the right people for you if you need me to. I'm not totally useless," Lady Victoria said. "I'm good at collecting favours for later."

"Of course you are, you wouldn't be in your position without that kind of skill," Ed said.

"Just follow my cues tonight, and we'll be fine, alright?" Lady Victoria said.

"Of course, that was my plan. I had no other plans, but that was my plan anyway," Ed said.

She laughed. "Oh, you silly boy. I have missed you very much."

[panelshowsource]

yes on the 28th!! i'm excited because ALISON HAMMOND!!! every day i'm like whyyy do we not have her on more panel shows she is everything!

victoria spoke about it on her episode of taskmaster the podcast :)

all i know is she's been looking fly as ever — like always! but if she's changing things up a lil then good for her 😌

i would like to anon but they didn't rly have that many moments together on the show, like of substance that make a good gifset 😩 i did do these two! do you have another moment in mind?

omg YES LMAO

richard is so hilariously subtly shady, i love when someone makes the most wrong guess ever (usually during tablet games like the rich list and i'm terrible at dating) and richard does a very obvious scoff-chuckle and goes "yeah? [raises eyebrows knowingly] well [stifled laughter] you never know! let's see if that's right [stifled laughter]" like it just cracks me up — because somehow he's not smug at all despite being mr big brains and someone who teases others a lot

one thing i love about hog is how much richard loves hog — like, that's his baby, he loves doing that show, and he is so obviously having the most fun every single week, which makes it even more fun for us imo!

wow great question!

i have a lot of nostalgic love for comedy world cup — i love david tennant, he's so affable and very funny and a lovely host, and i think that format had legs even if it didn't make it in the end. also from around that time i remember liking mad mad world on itv, which was suddenly cancelled mid run? with paddy mcguinness, rhys darby, rufus hound... —

sorry to digress for a second but remember on some recent podcast ep when sam campbell was like "what's rufus hound up to" and i think it was ed gamble who laughed his ass off lmaooo i feel like there's rufus hound tea out there but idk what it is. anyways

— ...i would love to check it out again but i can't find it! i'll work on that 🤔 then, of course, you have been watching hosted by charlie brooker. it would not have been as strong a format if it wasn't for charlie writing the show and clearly having many topics & rants he wanted to go in for, but i loved that series and saw quite a few comedians/personalities, including vcm, josie long, holly walsh, and peter serafinowicz, there for the first time :')

looks like i had a lil trip down memory lane!

i think it's great! i'm not crazy about dylan llewellyn — i am not super into derry girls, and i felt, at times, his acting was lesser than the others' in a distracting way? is that just me? — but it hardly ruined the show or anything. the cast has GREAT chemistry and jon pointing is a standout (though he doesn't pass for his 20s at all lmao), and i love seeing izuka hoyle who i loved in boiling point and is so(!) gorgeous. tv comedy lives and dies on its editing, and big boys really understands its structure and its beats. i'd also say it strikes a rare balance in its absurdity and its sincerity, which is some of my favourite ever kind of film & tv. god, i just love sad boi comedy. or sad anything. i'm a "let's watch this and cry🤩" kind of person no matter my mood LOL

btw did you see victoria coren mitchell also loved big boys?

sure anon i put it on google drive here :)

i'm not going to host this one but you can request it here and someone will definitely have it to share with you asap! sorry for the inconvenience but lmk if you have any questions :)

—————

PANEL SHOW WATCH LINKS / NON-PANEL SHOW WATCH LINKS FAQ / TAGS / ASK

[saggiosguardo]

Arriva il tanto atteso Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM, il secondo della serie ibrida con vocazione video

Dopo una lunga attesa, Canon è pronta a svelare uno degli obiettivi più richiesti dai suoi clienti di full-frame mirrorless. Nell’era del mount RF mancava ancora all’appello un 35mm serie L ed è esattamente quello che viene presentato oggi, con un paio di twist interessanti. Il nuovo Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM è il secondo obiettivo ibrido per RF, affiancandosi al già presente RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS…

[natb00]

Cirugía General

Nubia Torres, 60 años

Antecedentes personales: Patológicos: hipertesión pulmonar, hipotiroidismo Farmacológicos: riociguat 2. 5 miligramos cada 8 horas, macitentan 10 miligramos cada 24 horas, esomeprazol 20 miligramos cada 24 horas, levotiroxina 75 miligramos cada 24 horas, furosemida 40 miligramos cada 24 horas, rivaroxaban 20 miligramos cada 24 horas. Quirúrgicos: niega Alérgicos: niega Toxicológicos: tabaquismo pasivo

MC y Enfermedad actual. Paciente de 60, con antecdente de hipertensión pulmonar e hipotiroidismo, quien recientemente le diagnóstican un adenocarcinoma papilar de mucosa gástrica con sospecha de compromiso hepático, óseo (columna dorso lumbar) y pulmonar. el día de hoy consulta por un cuadro de 5 días de evolución de dolor abdominal localizado en epigastrio, de caracteristicas difusas, asociado a nauseas sin emesis.

Analgesia actual: Morfina 3 mg cada 6 horas + rescate Dipirona 1 gramo intravenoso cada 8 horas Hioscina 20 miligramos cada 8 horas

Paraclinicos: 18/08/2023 ALT 5 AST 16 BT 0. 52 BD 0. 28 Cr 0. 74 BUN 7. 5 PCR 5. 39 Hb 9. 6 Hto 29. 1 VCM 85. 5 CHCM 33. 1 Leucocitos 7900 plaquetas 298000 N 69. 1% L 18. 8% E 1. 3% TP 12 INR 1. 08 TPT 47. 5

Imagénes: ** 26/07/23 EDS: gran masa ulcerada y de aspecto sucio, con severos cambios de su patron glandular, que ocupa desde el cardias hasta el cuerpo sobre curvatura mayor **24/07/23 TAC abdomen: multiples lesiones hepaticas sugestivas de metastasis, signos de hepatopatia cronica, lesiones liticas en columna dorsolumbar, altamente sospechosas de ser secundarias, nodulos pulmonares izquierdos **24/07/23 TAC torax: masa en fondo gastrico que sugiere lesion primaria, adenopatias periastricas s ligamento gastrohepatico y hiliar hepatico y en el retroperitoneo para aortico, secundarias. **04/07/23 EcocardioTT: VI tamaño normal, contractibilidad miocardica global y segentaria, FEVI 67% valvula mitral, aortica normal, TAPSE 27 mm, tricuspide con insuficiencia leve, valvula pulmonar con insuficiencia moderada.

Examen fisico Aceptables condiciones generales, consciente y orientada en las 3 esferas, sin signos de dificultad respiratoria Cabeza normal, pupilas isocoricas normoreactivas, mucosas humedas y rosadas, escleras anictericas Torax normal, expansion simetrica, murmullo vesicular conservado Abdomen blando, depresible, doloroso a la palpacion en hemiabdomen superior, sin irritacion peritoneal, murphy negativo. Extremidades sin edemas, pulsos conservados, sin lesiones.

Paciente de 60, con antecdente de hipertensión pulmonar e hipotiroidismo, quien recientemente le diagnóstican un adenocarcinoma papilar de mucosa gástrica con sospecha de compromiso hepático, óseo (columna dorso lumbar) y pulmonar. El día de hoy consulta por un cuadro de 5 días de evolución de dolor abdominal localizado en epigastrio, de caracteristicas difusas, asociado a nauseas sin emesis. En el momento se encuentra estable hemodinamciamente, afebril, alerta, orientada, con dolor parcialmente modulado, sin signos de irritacion peritoneal. Paraclinicos no evidencian una elevación marcada de rectantes, sin otras alteraciones. Considero que el dolor presentado por la paciente es secundario a su reciente diagnóstico y a su esqema de analgesicos ambulatorio. Ya fue valorado por dolor y cuidados paliativos quien optimiza manejo, en el momento sin indicación quirurgica o imagenologica adicional. se explica al paciente quien entiende y acepta.

[beastlyanachronism]

1. Dara O'Briain, Mike Wozniak, Victoria Coren Mitchell and Katherine Parkinson.

2. I would be on a team with Mike and VCM. I think I would get along well with Victoria and Mike would bring a spontaneity and athleticism to the team, as well as his infectious affability. The team games would feel like a grand day out. Meanwhile, in dramatic contrast... can you imagine Dara dealing with the ineptitude of Katherine? The imagination boggles but I know it would be worth watching. It would be like the Ed Gamble and David Baddiel moment, but in every team task. Priceless.

3. I would try to be competitive, but my real goal at all times would be to minimise my risk of humiliation and failure. I would be afraid of Greg and would only argue with him if I had a really sound argument prepared. I feel I might subconsciously mimic Alex's mannerisms and way of talking during the tasks. It would be awkward but harmonious.

4. I would wear a tracksuit in the design of a historical military uniform, e.g.

I think that would be the right combination of kind of cool but also totally ridiculous, and would give me freedom of movement.

5. I should be best at puzzle-based tasks. I wish I'd been on that cryptogram task in S12, I would have solved it much quicker than VCM and wouldn't have needed any of the clues. I like to think I'd have spotted the Morse code in the balloon task but realistically I wouldn't have seen it in the heat of the moment.

6. I would be terrible at open-ended timed tasks where you have to think up something funny and/or do a performance of some kind. I shudder to think of the panic I'd feel when I read the task and my mind went blank.

7. I would do badly at prize tasks, I'm afraid. I would find it hard to get in Greg's mindset and predict what he would appreciate. His whims are inscrutable. I would have my arguments prepared well, but I would probably fall into the trap of trailing off nervously if he wasn't seeming receptive.

8. For the "most underestimated thing" task, I would bring in an egg and I would explain that the underestimated thing was the membrane under the shell. Because if that wasn't there, the shell would go everywhere whenever you cracked an egg in a bowl.

9. Live tasks... well I would have lost the Wow monster one. Noises are not my forte. I think I could have won Horse or Laminator - I made almost all the same guesses as Jo Brand did that time she went psychic. Also the one in S8 where they had to keep naming birds. If there's one thing I can do, it's name a lot of birds.

10. I came fourth and didn't mind because Katherine Parkinson bore the brunt of the humiliation across the series. And Dara would have won and would have been such fun to be around in the studio.

Taskmaster ask game - you're on Taskmaster

Choose four people as fellow contestants (either past contestants or people who haven't been on but you would like to have on with you)

Would you rather be on a team of two or three? Who is on your team?

In general, what are you like as a contestant? Competitive? Here for fun? - what is your dynamic with Greg? Alex? Your other contestants?

What outfit are you wearing for filmed task days?

What type of filmed task do you do best at? Physical, creative, logic, time-based etc.

What type of filmed task do you do worst at?

How will you do at prize tasks in general? How do you present them?

Choose a previous prize task from the show and say what you'd bring in for it and how you'd describe it.

Live tasks - choose an existing live task that you'd have won, and one you would have lost

It's the end of the show - where did you place 1st to 5th.

[off-menu-moments]

Ep 17: Victoria Coren Mitchell, 9:46

V: [to dinner parties] I don’t mind—I will take sandwiches in a bag. J: Yes. V: Because if it’s something—you don’t want people to feel awkward, and you just stuff them in, and go— E: And do you feel fine in saying to them, “I’m not going to eat this tongue, I’m going to eat these sandwiches I brought with me,” or do you go into the bathroom to eat them? J: Yeah, where do these sandwiches come into play? V: Luckily, usually, on most social occasions my husband is there, who is the politest person in the world, E: [laughing] V: He’s so much more well mannered than me, so he would, honestly, he would eat the fork if you said it was a part of the meal. Anything, rather than put someone out, he would literally do it. So I can be there, going oh, his picky wife, because if you’ve got both of us at least one of us is gonna have had the meal and gone “Thank you, that was absolutely lovely.” I mean he would—as he were stretchered to the ambulance, he would be shouting “that was lovely!” as he went out. E, J: [laughing] V: So I feel like there’s—I could kind of balance it. J: But you’re eating sandwiches at the table? With everyone else? V: No! I’d take the sandwiches in the loo, ’cause I’d be hungry, and no, I wouldn’t eat my own food in front of people,

[meneatyoghurt]

Bit bored, thought I would gather some of my Alex Taskmaster quotes together.

[radioprune]

next season’s taskmaster lineup..... yes <3

[otticafotobenzi]

Nikon Z 70-200 F/2,8 Vr S

Tieniti sempre pronto. Grazie alla gamma di lunghezze focali di 70-200 mm, alle ottiche avanzate e a una protezione completa delle condizioni atmosferiche, questo luminoso obiettivo mirrorless a pieno formato copre tutti gli utilizzi di base. A prescindere che lo utilizzi per riprese sportive, di eventi reportage, la struttura eccezionalmente compatta ti consente di andare lontano. PROFESSIONALE 70–200 MM   DIAFRAMMA FISSO F/2.8   TRATTAMENTO ARNEO   QUALITÀ S-LINE   DISPLAY OLED   Pronto per qualsiasi missione  Indipendentemente dal fatto che tu stia acquisendo l'azione con immagini fisse o con un video, l'obiettivo NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S sarà sempre all'altezza. La messa a fuoco è fluida, veloce e silenziosa e tutti i componenti della scena vengono resi con una nitidezza eccezionale. Puoi controllare i parametri di ripresa direttamente dall'obiettivo. Inoltre, la struttura è sufficientemente robusta da resistere all'usura dell'uso professionale quotidiano.    Bellissimo effetto bokeh L'ampia baionetta Z-Mount e l'apertura costante a 9 lamelle circolare f/2.8 consentono prestazioni entusiasmanti in qualsiasi condizione di luce. Questo teleobiettivo zoom ti garantisce anche un effetto bokeh dall'aspetto naturale, uniformemente sfumato ai bordi del fotogramma.   Oltre la nitidezza La nitidezza è eccezionale in tutto il fotogramma, anche durante le riprese alla massima apertura o a distanza ravvicinata. La distanza minima di messa a fuoco è di soli 0,5 m all'estremità più ampia della portata dello zoom e di 1 m all'estremità del teleobiettivo.   Addio alla luce parassita dell'obiettivo Il rivestimento Nano Crystal Coat e quello ARNEO contrastano gli effetti dell'immagine fantasma e della luce parassita. Le lenti ED e SR di Nikon contrastano l'aberrazione cromatica. Inoltre, la lente SR compensa la luce blu, più difficile da controllare. Di conseguenza, avrai immagini più nitide e con un contrasto migliore.   Pronto per il video  Se la tua storia necessita di un video per comunicare al meglio, sarai certo di ottenere un controllo preciso sulle riprese. Il pannello informativo dell'obiettivo presenta una scala della profondità di campo, per consentirti di determinare con facilità la distanza minima e quella massima in corrispondenza di qualsiasi valore f/. La variazione della lunghezza focale è sempre presente e il controllo uniforme e stabile dell'apertura segue le modifiche naturali dell'esposizione in tutta la scena.   Caratteristiche tecniche   Tipo Baionetta Z-Mount di Nikon Formato FX/35 mm Lunghezza focale 70-200 mm Apertura massima f/2.8 Apertura minima f/22 Schema ottico 21 elementi in 18 gruppi (inclusi 6 elementi obiettivo ED, 2 elementi asferici, 1 elemento in fluorite, 1 elemento obiettivo SR, elementi con trattamenti Nano Crystal Coat e ARNEO e un elemento obiettivo anteriore con trattamento al fluoro) Angolo di campo Formato FX: 34° 20'–12° 20', formato DX: 22° 50'–8° Scala delle lunghezze focali Graduata in millimetri (70, 85, 105, 135, 200) Sistema di messa a fuoco Sistema di messa a fuoco interna Distanza minima di messa a fuoco Posizione dello zoom da 70 mm: 0,5 m, posizione dello zoom da 85 mm: 0,63 m, posizione dello zoom da 105 mm: 0,68 m, posizione dello zoom da 135 mm: 0,8 m, posizione dello zoom da 200 mm: 1,0 m (misurata dal piano focale) Massimo rapporto di riproduzione 0,2x Riduzione vibrazioni Sì. Decentramento ottico con motori voice coil (VCM) Numero di lamelle del diaframma 9 (apertura circolare del diaframma) Dimensione attacco filtro 77 mm (P = 0,75 mm) Diametro x lunghezza (estensione dall'innesto dell'obiettivo) Circa 89 mm di diametro massimo x 220 mm (distanza dalla flangia di innesto obiettivo della fotocamera) Peso Circa 1440 g (con il collare del treppiedi), circa 1360 g (senza il collare del treppiedi) Autofocus Sì Messa a fuoco interna Sì Messa a fuoco Auto, Manuale Accessori in dotazione Tappo dell'obiettivo LC-77B (tappo anteriore), tappo dell'obiettivo LF-N1 (tappo posteriore), paraluce HB-92, custodia per obiettivo CL-C3               Read the full article

[trashvideofinland]

Sokea kauhu / See No Evil (1971) VTC-Video Ab, Oy / VCM https://www.videospace.fi/release/sokea_kauhu_vhs_vtcvideo_ab_oy_vcm_finland 'Nuori, sokea, puolustuskyvytön - ja yksin murhaajan kanssa. Murhaajan, jolla on neljä julmaa murhaa tunnollaan...Varaudu vertahyytävään jännitykseen...Sarah (Mia Farrow) on nuori tyttö, joka on tullut sokeaksi pudottuaan hevosen selästä. Hän asuu yhdessä perheensä kanssa englantilaisella maatilalla. Hän on sopeutunut elämään ja tulemaan toimeen sokeudestaan huolimatta.Nuori mies, jonka saappaat opimme elokuvassa tunnistamaan, pitää maatilaa silmällään. "Saapasmies" kadehtii ilmeisesti perheen rikkauksia ja hänen vihansa johtaa koko perheen kauhistuttavaan joukkomurhaan - kaikkien paitsi Sarahin...Teurastuksen aikana murhaaja pudottaa käsirenkaansa. Sarah löytää sen vaeltaessaan talossa täysin tietämättömänä siitä murhenäytelmästä, joka on juuri tapahtunut. Murhaajalla on vain yksi ajatus - hänen täytyy palata maatilalle etsimään kadonnutta rengasta...Tästä alkaa järkyttävä takaa- ajo - sokea tyttö, jota mielipuolinen murhaaja ajaa takaa. Tytöllä ei ole mitään mahdollisuutta - kaikki näyttää olevan häntä vastaan.Sarah pakenee murhaajaa - jota hän ei pysty edes näkemään, saatikka tunnistamaan.'

[lexstellaris]

someone left a comment on one of my lord greg au fics, ashes to ashes, and i've spent the past two days reading back through those fics, and how that ed/james story arc never really got any proper closure, and like the attempt i made at a part three just never felt right and i know it's been like 5 years LMAO i know don't expect anything more than this atp, but I have at least written Something set after Ed's POV fic, House of Memories so. idk if this is going anywhere? but it's something.

idk i just kept thinking about how atp it's kind of reversed where james has the good life with greg and alex and ed's floundering and how to make them meet in the middle somewhere and bring their relationship to a close somehow.

Ed hadn't necessarily chosen to go back to his old favourite whisky bar, but in his defence, he'd been close by, and he'd missed it. That was enough for him. He definitely wasn't drowning his sorrows, no, definitely not. After delivering that letter to Greg that James may or may not ever read, he'd hung around his flat for three days, listless and miserable. Why had he even come back anyway? What was he going to do? He couldn't swindle his father's peers anymore. What was left for him?

Not needing to work had been terrible for his brain, if he was honest. He was very good at wasting time and doing nothing at all. And, if he was quite honest, he could do that in southern Spain. He didn't need to come back here at all. But, well, something needed sorting that he couldn't just get his lawyer to deal with, so. Here he was. Stuck in a city with nothing to do.

He slipped the waiter a tip as he brought him his usual glass of whisky, and sat back at his table, watching the rest of the guests. God, he was so bored.

-

He was so bored that he didn't notice who exactly had sat down in the chair opposite him half an hour later until she spoke.

"I did wonder when you'd come crawling back to London."

Ed turned to see Lady Victoria accepting a glass off a waiter as she looked him over. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't need to be."

"You hanging around? Or you going to disappear again? Can't say I wouldn't blame you if you did though. God, the place has turned to shit since you left," Lady Victoria said.

Ed sighed. "I dunno, not sure."

"I take it that's a no, then, or you'd have been long gone by now," Lady Victoria said. "You know you're still not welcome in many places around here, don't you?"

Ed sat back in his chair and shrugged. "Their problem, not mine."

"Well, you did con them out of a lot of money, are you really surprised?" Lady Victoria said.

"Not really. We know they hold long grudges. Like I said, I wasn't planning to stay," Ed said.

"And yet you're still here. Sicily is very nice this time of year. You should be drinking wine on a sunny beach, not drinking whisky in a dingy club like this," Lady Victoria said. "Unless you ran into James, of course."

Ed made a face. Looked away. Idly ordered another drink. "I don't want to see him, if that's what you're asking."

"I wasn't asking anything, but I think we both know that never resolved itself well. It's unfinished business. You're just too stubborn to do anything about it," Lady Victoria said.

"It's just difficult. He's..."

"I know how he is. I've seen him many times. He's fine. Thriving, even. But how are you?" Lady Victoria said.

"Just peachy," Ed said through his teeth. "Are you here for any particular reason, or are you just here to wind me up?"

Lady Victoria sat back, smiling. "There's a high stakes poker tournament tomorrow evening. You interested?"

"I dunno, I haven't played poker in years. I doubt I'm good enough for a tourney," Ed said.

"Oh, no, I don't need you to play. I just need your body, if you know what I mean," Lady Victoria said. "And don't worry, no peers, just rich friends in from LA."

"I'm just here to be your whore, aren't I? Am I nothing else to you?" Ed said.

Lady Victoria stood up as she finished her drink. "500k if you're in. Meet me here, I'll take you to the venue. I mean, it'll be a better night out than what you've got going here, right?"

Ed finished his drink and stood up. "What if I say no?"

"What else are you doing, really? Besides, I don't think you quite understand just how many doors are now closed to you. You need me to get anywhere these days. Now, are you in or not?" Lady Victoria said.

"Fine. I'm in. What time?" Ed said.

"Meet here at six o'clock. I'll pick you up," Lady Victoria said. "Formal attire, please. And if you do well, there'll be more than enough pleasure in it for you."

"I'll be there," Ed said, cursing himself for agreeing, but she was right. What else was he doing here except wallowing in his own shit? At least this would be one way to earn a bit more cash, even if it did mean whoring himself out. God, how was this what he was reduced to?

He watched her go. He took another drink at the bar before leaving, not wanting to stay anymore. Tomorrow would be tomorrow, and at least it was only for an evening. He'd worry about James later.

[ssyikzzkiyss]

done emcee-ing for today’s Introduction to PETRONAS Surfactant Laboratory to customers. phewww been awhile, eh no, scratch that, been yearssss since i last emcee-ed an event, i think masa zaman2 VCM dulu. hoping for brighter and exciting future for InTech and PCG and PETRONAS 🌸🌸🌸

[trashvideofinland]

Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (1981) Lentävät tappajat (VTC-Video Ab, Oy / VCM) "Kuolema iskee yllättäen pienellä lomasaarella. Yksi toisensa jälkeen osanottajat saavat surmansa sukelluskursseilla. Kun heidän ruumiinsa löydetään, ne ovat kammottavan näköisiä. Mikä ihmeen eläin on mahtanut saada aikaan sellaista jälkeä?Surmat on aiheuttanut kokonainen kalaparvi, piraijat, jotka ovat ihmissyöjäkaloja ja pystyvät syömään ihmisen muutamassa minuutissa.Eräässä vanhassa hylyssä on kehittynyt uudenlainen petokala, lentävä piraija. Yhtä kuolettavan vaarallinen niin merellä kuin ilmassakin. Kukaan ei ole enää turvassa edes maalla"Lentävät tappajat" on vertahyytävä kauhujännäri."