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ucflibrary · 3 years

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The national celebration of African American History was started by Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian and the founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, and first celebrated as a weeklong event in February of 1926. After a half century of overwhelming popularity, the event was expanded to a full month in 1976 by President Gerald Ford.

Here at UCF Libraries we believe that knowledge empowers everyone in our community and that recognizing past inequities is the only way to prevent their continuation. This is why our February Featured Bookshelf suggestions range from celebrating outstanding African Americans to works illuminating the effects of systemic racism in our country. We are proud to present our top staff suggested books in honor of Black History Month 2021.

Click on the link below to see the full list, descriptions, and catalog links for the Black History Month titles suggested by UCF Library employees. These books plus many, many more are also on display on the main floor of the John C. Hitt Library near the Research & Information Desk.

A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross In centering Black women's stories, two award-winning historians seek both to empower African American women and to show their allies that Black women's unique ability to make their own communities while combatting centuries of oppression is an essential component in our continued resistance to systemic racism and sexism. Berry and Gross prioritize many voices: enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law. The result is a starting point for exploring Black women's history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

A Bound Woman is a Dangerous Thing: the incarceration of African American women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland by DaMaris B. Hill For black American women, the experience of being bound has taken many forms: from the bondage of slavery to the Reconstruction-era criminalization of women; from the brutal constraints of Jim Crow to our own era's prison industrial complex, where between 1980 and 2014, the number of incarcerated women increased by 700%. For those women who lived and died resisting the dehumanization of confinement--physical, social, intellectual--the threat of being bound was real, constant, and lethal. From Harriet Tubman to Assata Shakur, Ida B. Wells to Sandra Bland and Black Lives Matter, black women freedom fighters have braved violence, scorn, despair, and isolation in order to lodge their protests. DaMaris Hill honors their experiences with at times harrowing, at times hopeful responses to her heroes, illustrated with black-and-white photographs throughout. Suggested by Megan Haught, Student Learning & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Be Free or Die: the amazing story of Robert Smalls' escape from slavery to Union hero by Cate Lineberry Cate Lineberry's compelling narrative illuminates Robert Smalls’ amazing journey from slave to Union hero and ultimately United States Congressman. This captivating tale of a valuable figure in American history gives fascinating insight into the country's first efforts to help newly freed slaves while also illustrating the many struggles and achievements of African Americans during the Civil War. Suggested by Dawn Tripp, Research & Information Services

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans Fearless, funny, and ultimately tender, Evans's stories offer a bold new perspective on the experience of being young and African-American or mixed-race in modern-day America. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Black Fatigue: how racism erodes the mind, body, and spirit by Mary-Frances Winters This is the first book to define and explore Black fatigue, the intergenerational impact of systemic racism on the physical and psychological health of Black people--and explain why and how society needs to collectively do more to combat its pernicious effects. Suggested by Glen Samuels, Circulation

Deacon King Kong by James McBride From James McBride comes a wise and witty novel about what happens to the witnesses of a shooting. In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .45 from his pocket, and in front of everybody shoots the project's drug dealer at point-blank range. McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it, the white neighbors, the local cops assigned to investigate, the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon, the neighborhood's Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. As the story deepens, it becomes clear that the lives of the characters--caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York--overlap in unexpected ways. When the truth does emerge, McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden, that the best way to grow is to face change without fear, and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the unfinished Black tennis revolution by Cecil Harris Harris chronicles the rise of the Williams sisters, as well as other champions of color, closely examining how African Americans are collectively faring in tennis, on the court and off. Despite the success of the Williams sisters and the election of former pro player Katrina Adams as the U.S. Tennis Association’s first black president, top black players still receive racist messages via social media and sometimes in public. The reality is that while significant progress has been made in the sport, much work remains before anything resembling equality is achieved. Suggested by Megan Haught, Student Learning & Engagement/Research & Information Services

His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the power of hope by Jon Meacham John Lewis, who at age twenty-five marched in Selma and was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, is a visionary and a man of faith. Using intimate interviews with Lewis and his family and deep research into the history of the civil rights movement, Meacham writes of how the activist and leader was inspired by the Bible, his mother's unbreakable spirit, his sharecropper father's tireless ambition, and his teachers in nonviolence, Reverend James Lawson and Martin Luther King, Jr. A believer in hope above all else, Lewis learned from a young age that nonviolence was not only a tactic but a philosophy, a biblical imperative, and a transforming reality. Integral to Lewis's commitment to bettering the nation was his faith in humanity and in God, and an unshakable belief in the power of hope. Meacham calls Lewis as important to the founding of a modern and multiethnic twentieth- and twenty-first century America as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and Samuel Adams were to the initial creation of the nation-state in the eighteenth century. Suggested by Richard Harrison, Research & Information Services

Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick by Zora Neale Hurston An outstanding collection of stories about love and migration, gender and class, racism and sexism that proudly reflect African American folk culture. Brought together for the first time in one volume, they include eight of Hurston’s “lost” Harlem stories, which were found in forgotten periodicals and archives. These stories challenge conceptions of Hurston as an author of rural fiction and include gems that flash with her biting, satiric humor, as well as more serious tales reflective of the cultural currents of Hurston’s world. Suggested by Sandy Avila, Research & Information Services

Race, Sports, and Education: improving opportunities and outcomes for black male college athletes by John N. Singer Through his analysis of the system and his attention to student views and experiences, Singer crafts a valuable, nuanced account and points in the direction of reforms that would significantly improve the educational opportunities and experiences of these athletes. At a time when collegiate sports have attained unmistakable institutional value and generated unprecedented financial returns-all while largely failing the educational needs of its athletes-this book offers a clear, detailed vision of the current situation and suggestions for a more equitable way forward. Suggested by Megan Haught, Student Learning & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Real Life by Brandon Taylor A novel of rare emotional power that excavates the social intricacies of a late-summer weekend -- and a lifetime of buried pain. Almost everything about Wallace, an introverted African-American transplant from Alabama, is at odds with the lakeside Midwestern university town where he is working toward a biochem degree. For reasons of self-preservation, Wallace has enforced a wary distance even within his own circle of friends -- some dating each other, some dating women, some feigning straightness. But a series of confrontations with colleagues, and an unexpected encounter with a young straight man, conspire to fracture his defenses, while revealing hidden currents of resentment and desire that threaten the equilibrium of their community. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change. Her prose is incisive, unflinching, and lyrical, reflecting struggle but ultimately offering messages of hope. Suggested by Emily Horne, Rosen Library

The Privileged Poor: how elite colleges are failing disadvantaged students by Abraham Jack College presidents and deans of admission have opened their doors--and their coffers--to support a more diverse student body. But is it enough just to let them in? Anthony Jack reveals that the struggles of less privileged students continue long after they've arrived on campus. In their first weeks they quickly learn that admission does not mean acceptance. In this bracing and necessary book, Jack documents how university policies and cultures can exacerbate preexisting inequalities, and reveals why these policies hit some students harder than others. Jack provides concrete advice to help schools reduce these hidden disadvantages--advice we cannot afford to ignore. Suggested by Peggy Nuhn, UCF Connect Libraries

The Sun Does Shine: how I found life and freedom on death row by Anthony Ray Hinton, with Lara Love Hardin In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in Alabama. Stunned, confused, and only twenty-nine years old, Hinton knew that it was a case of mistaken identity and believed that the truth would prove his innocence and ultimately set him free. But with no money and a different system of justice for a poor black man in the South, Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution. He spent his first three years on Death Row at Holman State Prison in agonizing silence, full of despair and anger toward all those who had sent an innocent man to his death. But as Hinton realized and accepted his fate, he resolved not only to survive, but find a way to live on Death Row. For the next twenty-seven years he was a beacon, transforming not only his own spirit, but those of his fellow inmates, fifty-four of whom were executed mere feet from his cell. With the help of civil rights attorney and author Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015. Suggested by Lily Dubach, UCF Connect Libraries

This is Major: notes on Diana Ross, dark girls, and being dope by Shayla Lawson Shayla Lawson is major. You don't know who she is, yet, but that's okay. She is on a mission to move black girls like herself from best supporting actress to a starring roles in the major narrative. With a unique mix of personal stories, pop culture observations, and insights into politics and history, Lawson sheds light on the many ways black femininity has influenced mainstream culture. Timely, enlightening, and wickedly sharp, Lawson shows how major black women and girls really are. Suggested by Glen Samuels, Circulation

We Want Our Bodies Back by Jessica Care Moore Over the past two decades, Jessica Care Moore has become a cultural force as a poet, performer, publisher, activist, and critic. Reflecting her transcendent electric voice, this searing poetry collection is filled with moving, original stanzas that speak to both Black women’s creative and intellectual power, and express the pain, sadness, and anger of those who suffer constant scrutiny because of their gender and race. Fierce and passionate, she argues that Black women spend their lives building a physical and emotional shelter to protect themselves from misogyny, criminalization, hatred, stereotypes, sexual assault, objectification, patriarchy, and death threats. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

#ucflibrary #featured bookshelf #black history month #reading list #booklr #libraries #tumblarians

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annastrxng · 2 years

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✍ You don't have to, but I'm curious how you'd write Ben!

Resignation scorches the subtlest curves of his cheeks. His teeth clamp down with such force it is a miracle they do not crack into a million pieces. Azure eyes no longer resonate with an air of vacuous indifference as he is chewed out for the failure of the Ring. Their short comings, no doubt, reflected poorly upon himself.

"I did not think, sir." Ben mumbles miserably. If anyone was to own the blame, he must. He was always to be held accountable for the information brought to their illustrious leader. The betrayal of his own heart titter-tatters fiercely against tightening ribcages. Tension squares his shoulders hard, and fumbling fingers drift across the parchment.

False bravado gathers in the undercurrent of his tone as he offers one more phrase. "I assure you this will be rectified. It won't happen again." While he did not cherish having to be the battleax towards his friends, they were fighting a war. A war they presumably wanted to win. In that spirit, they would have to forgive his curt chastisements.

_--------------------------------

--___________________________

Even his astute mind could not have predicted this outcome! Astonishment colors his eyes as he studies Newt and his brothers as they turned coat. Though he dare not relish the act, nor savor he the taste of betrayal, a part of him could understand the terror motivating them towards the brink of insanity.

If Washington was truly lost as the officer in the woods reported, their fate would be sealed regardless. Swallowing down his own dread, he ventures to make his own entreaty. "Evan," he imparts, feeling the name quavering over his parched lips. "You're making a mistake." He is careful not to let the accusatory words carry with it a sharpened vitriol. It would be unwise given he found himself at the armed man's mercy. Instead, he employs a tone he might have were he motivating Samuel to stay a steady course of action. A trembling hand is outstretched in an effort to get the lad to drop his weapon.

Major General Scott beheld no such mercy. His words were laced with venom, promising severe reprisals.

Tallmadge inhaled sharply, finding himself bristling against his every effort to remain calm and rational. The longer he stared upon the Pennsylvania boys, the worse his stomach began to roil. This couldn't end well. It wouldn't end well...

His mouth moves to make yet another entreaty. But it's too late...

Tallmadge's own controlled thoughts are swallowed by the thunder of a lone gunshot, followed swiftly by several more. In the batting of an eye a remediable situation spiraled without mercy, hurdling off towards one that even a good lawyer could not rectify.

#answered ask #honorhearted #have two fragments of unrelated events #I'm so bad at writing men it's not even funny XDD

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evansfm · 3 years

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𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 , 𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍'𝐒 𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 ; 𝓭𝓪𝓭𝓭𝔂 𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓾𝓮𝓼 ›› 𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐍 + 𝐄𝐕𝐀𝐍

a week had passed . for the most part , both of them had made it out unscathed . kieran finally replied to his father , finally talked to liv . they’d settled on a time and a place and any chance he’d had to talk evan out of tagging along was long gone . she spent a few days working from his apartment , and much to conan’s VOCAL dismay , she spent a few days wasting time at disclosure . ziggy was happy enough and hardly even noticed the change of location–– . . . especially since there were TWO people to fawn over him in manchester . every night she went to sleep tucked into kieran’s side ; every morning she woke up to a sleepy smile . the weight of what was to come didn’t full settle in until saturday rolled around and with it came a dinner reservation for three . evan found herself to be nervous . . . not because she was meeting his father , not because she was afraid of what might happen to them , but because she liked knowing kieran would be OKAY . and in this situation , she had no control over that variable . that was up to samuel walsh , and he was a fucking wild card if she’d ever seen one . . . showing up out of seemingly nowhere and claiming he’d changed , wanting a relationship with a son he never cared to love . if it was up to her , samuel wouldn’t have gotten the chance to lay eyes on kieran let alone back him into a corner and catch him off guard . but it wasn’t up to her , and she’d promised to be on her BEST behavior . the last thing she would be was another stressor . she exhaled , blowing at a curl that had gotten loose from the half of her hair that was pinned back . “ well , ” she called from the bathroom , staring at her reflection in a sky blue dress –– the same color that she’d been given to wear in paris –– dressed down , “ if not’ing else comes of tonight , at least we know somewhere in the city wren is resting easy and satisfied after having gotten to play dress up wit’ the bot’ of us . again . ”

turning on her heel , she waltzed over to the doorframe , leaning one shoulder against it as her arms folded over her chest and her ankles crossed one over the other . she watched him for a moment as he sat at the edge of his bed , ziggy sat at attention just behind him . a small smile toyed at the corners of her lips , and in that look there was no reflection of underlying worry . she looked at him like she always did : like she was hopelessly and IRREVERSIBLY in love . “ you look handsome , ” she said softly before she pushed off of the doorframe and began to cross the room , “ kieran , you don’t look half bad either . ” her gentle smile grew into something a bit brighter as she reached for the pup’s ears , giving him a thorough scratch before sending him off with a quiet command that resulted in his little legs leaping from the edge of the mattress and scurrying off to find his own bed . evan’s gaze followed him for a second before shifting back to kieran . “ hm , i’m willing to bet he’s better trained t’an ruairi ever will be , ” she tucked a tuft of curls behind her ear before side stepping directly in front of him . slowly , carefully her hands slipped into his , preventing him from continuing to button up the front of his shirt . instead of merely holding them , though , she stepped closer still , in between his legs before moving to sit on his lap . in comfortable quiet , nimble fingers made quick work of the rest of the unbuttoned spaces . “ you know i’m going to ask you before we leave anyway . . . ” her voice was just above a whisper . nothing more , nothing less . she let the empty preface hang in the way for a moment as she finished the buttons and let steady hands smooth over the fabric of his shirt . across his chest , over his shoulders , until her arms were wrapped around his neck and her fingers clasped behind his head . she always asked because she always cared , and this time , she suspected the answer wouldn’t be as GLOWING as it had been that night in berlin . . . or even at the pub in manchester when she found him a few pints in . “ baby , ” she began , the word as sweet as ever passing her lips . it sounded almost as gentle as his name did on her tongue . probably because at times , they seemed interchangeable . she leaned forward slightly , just enough for her forehead to rest against his , “ where’s your head at ? ”

#𝓮𝓿𝓪𝓷 + thread .#....... i realize what i've done here

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doubleattitude · 3 years

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24/7 Dance Convention, Pittsburgh, PA: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

Sidekick Solo

1st: Penelope LeMieux-’I’d Rather Go Blind’

2nd: Harper McCarey-’I Can Go The Distance’

3rd: Aleah Blair-’Heartbreaker’

3rd: Ava Edmonds-’Let ‘Er Rip’

3rd: Brynley Brett-’Let Me Entertain You’

4th: Elliana Macioce-’Dreamer’

5th: Ella Kirchoff-’VK Mashup’

6th: Gabriella Pallozolo-’Name Game’

7th: Cora Baney-’Work For It’

8th: Layla Bajek-’Free Little Bird’

Mini Solo

1st: Kensington Dressing-’Distant World’

2nd: Emily Polis-’Bloodthirsty’

2nd: Mya Lanigan-’Halo’

2nd: Avaleigh Mackaron-’On A Clear Day’

3rd: Channing Embry-’Blackbird’

3rd: Emmie Whyte-’New York, New York’

3rd: Lexus Natalie-’Shelter’

4th: Kendall Bruce-’Swing Phenomenon’

4th: Jordan Officer-’Wash & Set’

5th: Aili Joyce-’Hurricane’

5th: Giada Reino-’Nature Boy’

6th: Lily Tompkins-’Angel Standing By’

7th: Ava mcLendon-’Ready For War’

8th: Mia Bianco-’Business of Love’

8th: Ava Cutchall-’Wings’

9th: Kylie Pecoraro-’Every Season’

9th: Elyse Rost-’Love Is’

9th: Addie Changoway-’Variation of Don Quixote’

10th: Mia Rossa-’Arms Of The Angel’

10th: Charlize George-’What A Feeling’

Junior Solo

1st: Cameron Voorhees-’Unplugged’

2nd: Sean Detwiller-’Ain’t No Sunshine’

2nd: Caitie Polis-’Fallen Angel’

2nd: Adina Rooney-’Inhale Exhale’

2nd: Maura Matuska-’LJ’

2nd: Bella Rose Penrose-’Spine’

3rd: Julia Chavez-’Everything I Do’

3rd: Ella Way-’Glory’

3rd: Londyn LeMieux-’Human Touch’

3rd: Ivy Gang-’Stutter’

3rd: Joelle Cherry-’Through Water’

3rd: Shayla Blair-’To Be Free’

4th: Bria Burnett-’Lung’

4th: Fallyn Kauffman-’Marathon In Roses’

5th: Isabella Ginevra-’Fight Song’

5th: Avani Agrawal-’Spindra’

6th: Holly Miller-’After The Rain Stops’

6th: Brooklyn Corbett-’Feeling Good’

7th: Paige Borg-’Otto’

7th: Lauren Hudach-’You Are A Memory’

8th: Colette McIvor-’Cold Hearted’

8th: Penelope Ciminieri-’Connected Colors’

9th: Caroline McGowan-’I Love You Always Forever’

10th: Peyton Langworthy-’Ashes’

10th: Tessa Mattina-’Nature of Daylight’

Teen Solo

1st: Ying Lei Pham-’Empty Space’

2nd: Camila Cordero-’Fhantom’

2nd: Tatiana Hagee-’Harvest Moon’

2nd: Sarah Georgiana-’Lungs’

2nd: Isabella Pinkston-’Speaking Of The End’

2nd: Calico Reyes-’Trust In Me’

3rd: Beth Anne McGowan-’Heart Is As Black As Night’

3rd: Isabel Reese-’Inside’

3rd: Olivia Martin-’Smile’

3rd: Jeremy Powalowski-’You Worry Me’

4th: Ava Carroll-’Are You Sure’

4th: Elyse Wingertsahn-’I Cry For Daylight’

4th: Samantha DeFabio-’Multiple Self’

4th: Illiana Victor-’New Memory’

4th: Tori Shaner-’Youth’

5th: Zoey Schneiter-’Do You Feel Real’

5th: Maeve McCormack-’Maybe We’ll See’

6th: Taylor Strilesky-’Dynamite’

6th: Alaina Scabora-’Empty Spaces’

6th: Emily Yap-’Farewell’

6th: Kayle Shaner-’No Rights, No Wrong’

6th: Louise Hindsbo-’Reactor’

7th: London Mitchell-’Bitter Earth’

7th: Samuel Evans-’Coming To An End’

7th: Camryn Lanigan-’Fall Creek’

7th: Hailey Keaveney-’Listen Within’

7th: Shay Kaminski-’Once Upon Another Time’

8th: Isabella Klink-’Gemini Feed’

8th: Jocie Slesinski-’Illness as A Metaphor’

8th: Piper Embry-’No Middle’

9th: Maddie Enright-’Alps’

10th: Maggie Anzells-’Let Me Go’

10th: Taylor Higgins-’Ready’

Senior Solo

1st: Clara Thiele-’Opposing Truths’

1st: Gionna D’Allesandro-’Wish You Were Here’

2nd: Anna Miller-’Godspeed’

3rd: Raegan Stafford-’Villain’

4th: Jocelyn Wynn-’Ego’s Detached’

4th: Cassidy Reigel-’Musical Theatre’

5th: Sarah Beth Lentz-’I Remember Her’

5th: Julia Strasburg-’Never Go’

5th: Trinity Malgay-’Something Short & Sweet’

6th: Keira Fleming-’Oscillating In Time’

6th: Emmalyn Mackaron-’Sans Toi’

6th: Abby Griffith-’The War’

6th: Tori Stewart-’This Woman’s Work’

7th: Madelyn Gaba-’Enough Of Our Disease’

7th: Dana Miller-’Sad Day’

7th: Brooke Cheek-’The Beginning and the End’

7th: Mia Stockle-’Tumbling Lights’

7th: Kylie West-’What A Little Moonlight Can Do’

8th: Emma Girdany-’Flickers’

9th: Katrina Oschmann-’Polly’

9th: Ashley Veverka-’Right As Rain’

10th: Lila Bierman-’Cleo’

10th: Mackenzie Stephenson-’Come Back’

10th: Brooke Kosinski-’La Vie En Rose’

10th: Abbey Barron-’Once I Was Loved’

10th: Megan Kovach-’The Swan’

Sidekick Duo/Trio

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Fly Me To The Moon’

2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Beat’

3rd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Candy Girls’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Gallows’

2nd: Stars Dance Studio-’Rescue’

3rd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Dr. Beat’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Rhythm’

2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Exiles’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Dancing In The Dark’

3rd: Middletown Dance Academy-’Jilted’

3rd: Studio 412-’Nature Boy’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Lash Out’

2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Still Life’

3rd: Middletown Dance Academy-’Ninjaness’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’The Come Down’

3rd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Wheel’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Dance Mechanics-’Bills, Bills, Bills’

2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Enemy’

2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Because of You’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Let’s Fall In Love’

Sidekick Group

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Bon Appetit’

2nd: Evolving Artists Dance Studio-’Rainbow In Your Eyes’

3rd: Evolving Artists Dance Studio-’Trickle Trickle’

Mini Group

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Undertow’

2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Mambo No. 5′

3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Quake’

Junior Group

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Charge Up’

2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Hope There’s Someone’

3rd: Studio 412-’Afraid To Go’

Teen Group

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Debut’

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’My Tears Are Becoming A Sea’

2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’We Rise We Fall’

3rd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’

3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Don’t Worry’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’If You Went Away’

Senior Group

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Go Home’

2nd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Runaway Baby’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Senorita’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Smoke Signals’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’So Many Signs’

3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’That’s Life’

Sidekick Line

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Can You Feel It’

2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Reflection’

Mini Line

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Steam Heat’

2nd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Straight To Memphis’

3rd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Little Red’

Junior Line

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Better Days Ahead’

2nd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Ice Ice Baby’

Teen Line

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Are You Even Real?’

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Cruelest Month’

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Pump It Up’

2nd: Dance Spectrum-’Shining Star’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Remember When’

Senior Line

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Fancy’

2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Hallucinations’

3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Misunderstood’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Cha Cha Heels’

2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’B.E.P’

3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Wash’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Impacto’

2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’More Than Friends’

3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Coming In Hot’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Sidekick Jazz

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Can You Feel It’ 2nd: Evolving Artists Dance Studio-’Trickle Trickle’

Sidekick Tap

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Bon Appetit’

Sidekick Lyrical

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Reflection’ 2nd: Evolving Artists Dance Studio-’Rainbow In Your Eyes’

Mini Jazz

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Mambo No. 5′ 2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Quake’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Louder’

Mini Tap

1st: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Straight To Memphis’ 2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Big Band Sound’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’HSKT’

Mini Contemporary

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Undertow’ 2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Let The River Run’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’You’ve Got A Friend’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Ludovici Dance Academy-’A Safe Place’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Steam Heat’

Mini Specialty

1st: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Little Red’ 2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Ramalama’

Junior Jazz

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Charge Up’ 1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Cha Cha Heels’ 2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Trust’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Makes Me Feel’ 3rd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Burlesque’

Junior Ballet

1st: Dance Spectrum-’Brazilian Rose’

Junior Hip-Hop

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’B.E.P’ 2nd: Dance Spectrum-’Ice Ice Baby’

Junior Tap

1st: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Love Myself’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Canned Heat’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Crazy In Love’

Junior Contemporary

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Better Days Ahead’ 1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Hope There’s Someone’ 2nd: Studio 412-’Afraid To Go’ 3rd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Hope’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Yours’ 2nd: Dance Spectrum-’Fly’ 2nd: Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’

Teen Jazz

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’More Than Friends’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Breakin’ Dishes’ 3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Step On Up’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’I Want You to Shake’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Love Is Fire’

Teen Ballet

1st: Dance Spectrum-’Bataille’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Impacto’ 2nd: Dance Spectrum-’Coming In Hot’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’What’s The Dillio?’

Teen Tap

1st: Dance Spectrum-’Shining Star’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Remember When’ 2nd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’ 2nd: Dance Spectrum-’Don’t Worry’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Seven’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’My Tears Are Becoming A Sea’ 1st: Evolve Dance Complex-’Debut’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Are You Even Real?’ 2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Pump It Up’ 2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’We Rise We Fall’ 2nd: Evolve Dance Complex-’Cruelest Month’ 3rd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’If You Went Away’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Dance Mechanics-’Volcanic’ 2nd: Dance Spectrum-’We Choose’ 3rd: Studio 412-’Beautiful Mess’

Teen Acro

1st: Dance Spectrum-’I Just Wanna’

Senior Jazz

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Fancy’ 2nd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’That’s Life’

Senior Tap

1st: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Runaway Baby’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Senorita’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Superstition’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Go Home’ 2nd: Center Stage Dance Studio-’Smoke Signals’ 3rd: Dance Mechanics-’As It Was’ 3rd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’Night Run’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’The End of the World’ 3rd: Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’I’m Rising’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Center Stage Dance Studio-’So Many Signs’ 2nd: Ludovici Dance Academy-’The Last Goodbye’ 3rd: Dance Spectrum-’Station’

11 O’Clock:

Sidekick

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Can You Feel It’

Mini

Center Stage Dance Studio-’Mambo No. 5′

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Steam Heat’

Evolve Dance Complex-’Undertow’

Xtreme Tumbling and Dance Center-’Little Red’

Ludovici Dance Academy-’Straight To Memphis’

Junior

Ludovici Dance Academy-’Love Myself’

Studio 412-’Afraid To Go’

Evolve Dance Complex-’Better Days Ahead’

Center Stage Dance Studio-’Charge Up’

Dance Spectrum-’Crazy In Love’

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Trust’

Teen

Dance Mechanics-’Final Goodbye’

Dance Spectrum-’Shining Star’

Evolve Dance Complex-’Debut’

Center Stage Dance Studio-’Impacto’

Studio 412-’A Broken System’

Ludovici Dance Academy-’Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself’

Senior

Dance Mechanics-’As It Was’

Ludovici Dance Academy-’Runaway Baby’

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Fancy’

Center Stage Dance Studio-’Senorita’

Studio Showcase:

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance-’Fancy’

Ludovici Dance Academy-’Runaway Baby’

Evolve Dance Complex-’Debut’

Dance Spectrum-’Shining Star’

Center Stage Dance Studio-’Impacto’

#24/7 #2021 #dance #pittsburgh #pensylvania

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longitudinalwaveme · 3 years

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Longitduinalwaveme Reviews Old Comics, Part 3

Next up is a comic that isn’t actually part of the main DC Universe: The Super Friends #17 (1979): “SOS From Nowhere”. Written by E. Nelson Bridwell, drawn by Ramona Fradon, and inked by Bob Smith, the main reason I bought this comic is because it had the Mirror Master on the cover.

The comic stars a wide variety of heroes, including Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Aquaman, but its focus is on the Super Friends-exclusive heroes the Wonder Twins.

The story begins with the Wonder Twins, whose cover story is apparently that they’re foreign exchange students, eating with some of their classmates. They’re apparently living with Professor Nichols (a long-time supporting Batman character of the era) and use studying as an excuse to leave to answer their Justice League signal. Apparently, someone is robbing the Gotham Plaza Hotel. Jayna turns into a crow, while Zan turns into a block of ice that she flies off with. (Poor Zan-he always got the short end of the stick.) They fly to the hotel, Zan changes into costume, and then go inside to see that...nothing appears to be wrong! Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman are equally puzzled by the fact that the Wonder Twins never showed up at the hotel. Clearly, something strange is going on...especially since the mystery thief seems to be able to teleport (though the giant reflective surfaces would be a pretty good hint as to the mystery thief’s identity even if he wasn’t on the cover.)

We then cut to the Mirror Master (who is, of course, Sam Scudder, as Evan McCulloch wouldn’t be created for another ten years). He’s used his tech to trap the big-name superheroes in another dimension, leaving him with only the Wonder Twins to fight. Since they haven’t met him, he’ll have a distinct advantage....which he plans to use to steal their powers for himself!

The people in the hotel seem unfamiliar with the Justice League, puzzling them, and things get even weirder when the Flash shows up....and starts stealing from the hotel’s safe! (He’s probably a mirror duplicate created by the Mirror Master, but it’s also possible that this is an alternate universe Flash.)

Meanwhile, the real Flash calls the Wonder Twins, asking them why they aren’t helping the other Super Friends. They explain the fact that nothing seemed to be wrong at the hotel and that the other superheroes weren’t there. They have, however, found a trouble alert telling them to go to the Hall of Mirrors...and this, combined with the fact that the Gotham Plaza Hotel has a lot of mirrors, allows Barry to deduce that the thief is the Mirror Master. The computer gives them the lowdown on the Mirror Master’s powers (and his full name, Samuel Joseph Scudder), and Barry warns the kids to be careful, since the Mirror Master will probably come after them now that he’s trapped the Super Friends in what appears to be an alternate dimension.

In the Mirror Universe, the Super Friends have worked out that they’re in an alternate universe where the Flash is a supervillain. (This seems to be a reference to the Flash #174 (1967), where the Mirror Master and Flash both traveled to a mirror world with a heroic Mirror Master and a villainous Flash.) The heroes escape by vibrating enough to follow the energy trails they created to get into the mirror, allowing them to return to the real world. Barry tells the other heroes that he thinks that this was all an elaborate plan by Mirror Master to capture the Wonder Twins, and that both the twins and the Mirror Master are at the House of Mirrors.

The twins, for their part, traveled to the amusement park as a sparrow covered in dew, then sneak into the House of Mirrors as a stream and a tadpole. Unfortunately, Mirror Master’s sensors detect the water and start using heat rays to evaporate it, forcing them to return to their true forms. Then we see a reference to the cover of Flash #105 (1959), with Mirror Masters in every mirror....which are then revealed to be mirror images created by the Mirror Masters, who of course are planning to capture the twins so Sam can steal their powers. Luckily for the twins, the Super Friends arrive, beat up the mirror duplicates, and break the mirrors they emerged from. Sam decides that this means it’s time to head for the hills and straps on his mirror jetpack (another nice reference to an actual device used by the Mirror Master in the canonical Flash comics)...only for the Wonder Twins to prevent his escape by turning into a bug and frost, respectively; using the intense cold to crack the mirror.

As goofy as the Super Friends is, this was a surprisingly good story. The writers had clearly done their research on the Mirror Master, and I loved all the references to older Flash comics. It’s actually almost too bad that this isn’t canon, because Sam and the Flash are on point in this story. Even the Wonder Twins are surprisingly good here, and the idea of Sam wanting to steal their shape-shifting powers makes a lot of sense for a master of illusions like him.

#flash comics #super friends #dc comics #flash rogues #mirror master

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love-msj · 3 years

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You Sent Me Flying

INVOLVED: Mercedes Jones & Samuel Evans TIME FRAME: Saturday, February 23rd, 2021 LOCATION: -: New York City, New York NOTES: Valentine’s Day.

Mercedes eyed her phone as she typed out a response to her assistant, she tried to stay as still as possible as the woman before her completed her makeup for the night. She almost opted out of this event, for obvious reasons but at the last minute she chose to attend it. She was a highly requested guest, which wasn’t a shock, however she had caught wind and a usually invite for one turned into an invite for two. This would be their first public appearance as a supposed couple in the NYC high fashion nightlife. She was scared as hell even if she didn’t show it, her heart had been pounding her chest all day. However part of her felt that this would be a great practice run, right? Or they possible end up looking dumb ass hell in front of four maybe five hundred different notable celebrities and people alike. Exhaling softly she looked up at herself in the mirror and then towards the double doors that lead into another extended part of their Presidential Suite at the Pierre, Taj Hotel where Samuel occupied its space.

Samuel sat awkwardly in the director’s chair. "Can we?" He said, turning the chair so he could see his profile in the mirror. The barber worked effortlessly to shape his stringy mass of blond locks into something respectable. They wanted it all off. He wanted a half an inch trim. They compromised and landed as something just to his broad shoulders. A win for both sides by his reckoning. Now he sat stiffly backed, as the stylist moussed his hair, placing it into a low man bun. Satisfied with his reflection. “Thank you.” He grinned kindly as he got to his feet, nervously rubbing his hand down his sides. "Umm.." He offered his hand to the stylist, a show of gratitude, wondering if a tip was in order. "You're welcome the barber said with a flamboyant giggle. Pointing Samuel to the bed, his clothes were neatly arranged for him. "Did you need anything else?" The barber asked, with a long thirsty look. Samuel shook his head no. Moving over to the bed, he looked down at the suit, eyebrows raised. “This is mine? I mean for me-” He questioned as if there was a mistake. The barber and his assistant's puzzled nods answered his question. Without waiting for the audible confirmation, the blurted out another “Thank you. Then waited on the room to clear so he could get dressed.

Mercedes looked away from the door, her eyes balls themselves the only thing moving as she looked back down at her phone. She hoped that watching the child wouldn’t prove to be too much for her assistant but so far so good. She trusted the woman, it was the child she feared. The thought made her smirk widely “sorry” she said quickly to the woman as she straightened up. Hopefully she didn’t give the young girl a run for her money, and with that she locked her phone and looked up again at her hairstylist began to style her hair, for them they chose something big. Loose curls and extremely full hair, which was a change from her usual silk straight hair styles she pushed for or even her usual bob. She looked at her nails, her eyes taking in the engagement ring that had finally come in. her hands were almost unrecognizable with it on, it left her feeling a series of emotions all the time and she didn’t know why. Maybe because it wasn’t real.

Samuel took his phone from his pocket and dropped down on the bed Facetiming his sister. He fingered the suit idly waiting for the girl to answer. “Hey! Are you at least trying to behave yourself... “ He could tell she’d just put her fist on nonexistent hips. “I’m always good. So you asking me that question is really about you.” Samuel snorted, beginning to wonder what the hell his sister's IQ was. “Whatever… but you know the drill. Happy V-Day and don’t stay up all night.- Nope.. I said what I said.” He countered, before she could raise the objection. “And I don’t care if tomorrow’s a school holiday.” He added, quickly. Addy sighed scowling at the man. “Send me a picture of Mercedes. She’s going to be the prettiest woman there.” Addy said glowing. “Will do.” Samuel said, looking towards the closed adjoining door. “I’m jealous. You don’t want a picture of me?” Addy rolled her eyes, “No… boy’s clothes are boring” Samuel stood, turning the phone so she could see his outfit. “Woah... “ Addy exclaimed, eyes wide. “That suit is pretty.” Samuel turned the camera back around to face himself. “You like it?” he said shocked. “You have no style Sam. God.” She said, hanging up on her brother.

Mercedes watched the woman lightly curl and tease the wig on her head and she shifted only slightly as the makeup artist applied the red lipstick on her lips. She had another assistant on standby always, life was easier that way. When the girl walked over and showed her the shoes she had picked out the three the woman offered her a thumbs up. “I like those” she said through her teeth before she asked for the time and when the girl gave it to her she said “thanks” softly. Her makeup was applied and naturally she looked herself over in the mirror she smiled a little making sure no lipstick was on her porcelain teeth. Her pearly whites glistened and she closed her mouth, making sure she liked the work she continued to look herself over. She stayed still as her makeup artist covered her face slightly with her hands and allowed the hairstylist to spray tons of hair spray. When she was finished she curled a few pieces in the back of the woman’s head, before she allowed Mercedes to stand. Mercedes did so and they all looked her over in the mirror. She turned around to check her hair out a bit, there she stood in a strapless bar, and one too many pairs of spanx. “I like it” she told the girl softly.

Samuel was still chuckling as he stripped off his overpriced tee shirt and jeans. Everything was new about him, but his soul. He could take comfort in that blackened stain still being intact. Sliding into a suit that he knew cost more than his entire neighborhood shouldn’t be easy. But it was. "Roses?" He mumbled, shaking his head. "I am going to look like a walking flower." He stepped into the pants, toeing into the shoes as he did. Then pulled the shirt over his lean rippled frame. Not eating regularly had benefits, soon he would need to put in some gym time to maintain his slender yet muscular frame. He whistled with appreciation, as he picked up the red faced watch. Now this he liked. He fastened it to his arm, admiring himself in the full length mirror. One final adjustment to the waistband of the pants, then put on the belt. He wasn’t sure who the man in the mirror was. It was certainly someone more worldly than he would ever be. He shook off his doubts about this whole evening as he grabbed the matching jacket. "It will be fine." He told himself… then repeated it again “There is nothing to worry about.”

Mercedes moved over towards the gown hanging up and with the help of the young girl she began to get ready, getting into the gown. Her assistant pulled it up over her hips and she allowed to rest off Mercedes’ shoulders as it should. She zipped it up for the woman, placing her hair in front of her shoulders as she did. Once she did, she bent down and rubbed the woman’s legs down with a combination of lotion and baby oil. After that, the girl helped Mercedes into her shoes, zipping them up and tying the ties of them eloquently. When the girl was finished, Mercedes walked in the shoes towards a full length mirror, the girls were pushed up far more than she activated but hey, what could she do? She looked herself over, before her assistant walked over with thousands of dollars in jewelry, the girl placed the 100+ thousand dollar necklace on her neck, her 50+ thousand dollar studs in her ear, the matching tennis bracelet, and her watch on her wrist. The woman was dripping in millions the girl thought as she looked at the woman in the mirror. “You look stunning Mrs. Jones” she complimented just taking her in fully. Mercedes looked at the girl and hid the happiness behind her lips and eyes. “As I should right?” she asked the girl brushing her off, she had to say stuff like that it came with the territory. “I just need our invitation to the after party of the party” she said with air quotes “and my phone in my clutch” she told the girl. She picked up the almost thousand dollar bottle of perfume and sprayed her neck and then her wrist, tapping both together. “What time is it?” she asked again, “I know a photographer wants to photograph me and Samuel” she told the young girl. “Yes he’s waiting near the water fountain, security is in that area. He’s going to snap a few photos and then you guys should proceed to the party. It’s 9:15” she told her thereafter. “Okay” she said “can you see if he’s ready” she asked the girl as she moved to the sitting area where a bottle of wine sat. She needed something to take the edge off a little.

Samuel opted for the director’s chair. Feeling a bit like a kid trying not to get dirty before church. He licked his lips idly scrolling to his YouTube feed. There had to be something worth watching. Nothing stood out to him. He rubbed at his temples, trying to massage away the tension headache that was building behind his eyes. They had pulled their ruse off once. Mercedes was a lot more convincing them him, but he’d done a respectable job. Right? His eyes moved to the adjoining door as it slid open. He rose slowly, “Is it time to go?” he asked, putting his iPhone in his pocket.

Mercedes’ assistant looked at the man, she looked like a totally different person. He cleaned up far better than she expected, she shook her head looking away from him and nodded sheepishly. “She’s ready to go, um, they want to take photos of you two first” she said, tucking hair behind her ear as she looked back up at him longingly before she stepped away. She rested against a wall by the door as she waited for Mercedes to return from the next room. Mercedes poured a full glass of red wine, and she downed it no less. Never really taking a break once her lips touched the glass, thank God for matte lipstick. She fixed another glass full, this time taking it down a little slower before she sat the empty glass against the table trying to calm her nerves. Once she’d inhaled and exhaled a few times, closing her eyes and really settling down. She walked away from the glass and back into the room, she brushed her dress of a little in front idly as she reentered “okay, I am actually ready now” she spoke allowed as she looked at her shoes and the dresses skirt taking them both in, as she stuck her leg out through the split.

Samuel eyebrows rose and fell at the woman’s odd behavior. “Okay…” He said, easily striding forward. He stepped over the threshold, still puzzled by the assistant's weird behavior. That was until he saw Mercedes. His mouth went completely dry and his stomach twisted into a knot. Addy’s words ring too loudly in his ears. The red of the dress, hid and hinted, while in places completely told a story, he’d envy any man for reading. She was an absolute goddess. He felt awkward and unworthy to be in the same room with this woman. At the same time he wanted her more than any person he’d ever laid eyes on.

Mercedes looked up and took Samuel in, damn, he looked really good. She didn’t know how the hair thing was going to work out but she didn’t hate it, which said a lot. She took in his suit that was tailored to perfection and then took in the watch resting against his wrist. Beauty, she thought to herself. She tried not to show an obvious smile as she said “good looking” a bit playfully for her. “Uh” she said awkwardly as she looked at the young girl “my clutch” she said clearing her throat a little. “Here you are,” the girl said, rushing to hand the rose sculpted bag to her. Mercedes nodded and grabbed the bag making sure it’s chain was actually on the inside of it, she simply wanted to hold the bag as is in her hand. “Okay” she said again, looking at Samuel and gesturing with her head towards the door as she picked up some dress material walking towards the door. “You can drop everything off to my home, we will leave the other party and go straight there” she said looking back at the girl quickly before she opened the door to walk out of it.

Samuel stood stunned in the middle of the room. Mercedes had given him a compliment he did not really hear. She then rushed off, moving on with things like the world could continue or should be normal. “Wait…” He said, shaking himself awake. “You look..” He tossed around the average words in his mind that couldn't and won't ever be enough. He recalled a word from his sister’s latest vocabulary test and said it without any further hesitation. “Exquisite. Like you stepped from a dream.” hands gesturing openly to the woman still in awe of her.

Mercedes turned to the man and she nodded her head, a silent thank you. Again, he was just saying that, they all felt compelled to do so she wasn’t stupid. Did she think she was ugly? Heavens no. But compliments hardly reached her heart. She never knew a difference from people’s truths or lies when it came to her and this business. As she walked out into the hallway, she dropped the dress and allowed it to flow making her way towards the elevator so that they could meet the photographer.

Samuel lowered his eyes, hand rubbing at the back of his neck. He was not sad he’d said what he had. He meant it. But Mercedes' knowing dismissal meant something. This was business. He cleared his throat and left the suite, getting to the elevator just in time. The doors opened and, as his custom, he moved to the side, holding the door back so she could enter.

Mercedes walked in as Samuel held the door open, she picked the dress up and made sure she was fully inside before she dropped it to the ground again. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, pressing the L button moving to the side. She looked down at her clutch as she gripped in her hands, long nails sparkling under the light. She shifted on her heels as they rode the elevator down and she touched her chest delicate, resting it against the many diamonds she was sporting.

Samuel stepped into the elevator and stood beside the woman, hand clasped in front him. She was distracting him. How the fuck? His mouth water, as her perfume found his nose. Jesus… He needed to get a handle on himself for the love of God. For the first time a simple truth came to mind, it had been weeks since he’d gotten laid and right now, his fiancé.. Boss… business partner… was a twelve course meal, and he could eat.

Mercedes placed some hair over her shoulder as she waited for the doors to open, watching the numbers descend as they moved downward. She looked over at the man for a moment before she looked away and shifted on her heels gently. As the doors opened she picked her dress up gently and moved out of the elevator in the direction that her assistant told her to go, to meet the photographer. When she walked out the building towards the waterfall she said “hi” to the man as he approached with his hands stretched.

Samuel nodded to the elevator attendant, swallowing hard. He moved behind Mercedes exiting the elevator, slipping one hand into his pocket, and rested the other on his stomach. He kept his gate at a cool, casual, pace that easily matched the short woman’s purposeful stride. She seemed so professional to him despite the softness of her appearance. He moved up beside her as they approached the photographer, nodding to the man.

“Hi Ms. Jones, it is a pleasure. My name is Daniel” the photographer said “and you are a special guest tonight so I was just instructed to take a couple photos of you and you plus-one” he said thoughtfully. “I thought right over here before the waterfall would be amazing” he told her with a smile. “It couldn’t possibly compare to your beauty but it will be a nice background view” he said gesturing where he wanted them to stand.

Mercedes nodded her head at the man, releasing the dress “of course” she said to him as she moved before the waterfall. She held the clutch with both hands and she looked towards the man. She wasn't one for photos, she actually hated taking them if you asked her. But they were necessary at certain points of time, this she knew, and unlike most photos taken of her around New York in this moment she couldn’t just ignore him and let him do his ‘work’ she must engage.

Samuel shifted but understood what it meant. A smirk came to his lips as he moved to stand near the waterfall. The man was correct. The backdrop didn’t compare to her beauty but just as before she didn’t even respond to his words, just agreed and moved to stand near him. He fidgeted, but moved in just over the woman’s shoulder awkwardly, like a boy at his first prom. Truth be told. It was.

The man looked at the two with a raised brow as they stood there, awkwardly. He ushered them to pose “maybe you could” he said gesturing to the other man as he held the camera up looking at the two through the lens.

Mercedes offered the man a small smile as he held the camera up, she moved closer to Samuel upon the man’s suggestion. She dropped one of her hands, holding the clutch and looking directly into the lens. Adjusting her hair she looked to the man once more as snapped several pictures of them both.

Samuel nodded, catching on to the looks they were really after. As Mercedes moved in closer, had no choice but to place his arm around her waist. With that he tightened his grip, looking down on the woman. He wasn’t going for love. That would come off as fake. He went with what was nature in this moment. Lust.

Mercedes felt Samuel’s hand and she swallowed hard, she wanted to look at him but the heat rising on her cheeks wouldn’t let her. So instead, against her wishes she actually smiled brightly, showing off her pearly white teeth for a change. And when the man told them he was done, she looked up at Samuel innocently for a moment before she looked away. “Thanks” she told the man as she pulled away from Samuel and began to walk towards the direction she knew the party was being held. Walking past a multitude of bodies, that seemingly parted the red sea for her as she made way.

In the last moments as the camera shot away, using lust died away for Samuel. It happened the moment Mercedes smiled. It was genuine and bright. The look of her all a glow, gave him a directive for the evening, keeping that smile on her face. He grinned at the photographer as if he and the man were in on some private joke. He did not rush to catch Mercedes, her short steps could not take her far. He took her arm as she moved, parting the crowd. He slid his long finger down her perfect skin and then intertwined her fingers in her. “Slow down.” His whispered leaning close to her ear.

Looking at him she nodded her head “I didn’t realize” she said sheepishly to him, looking away as he laced their fingers. It felt so good to be touched by a man, even if it were just a touch of the hand she thought in her mind. Or was she desperate? Walking towards the entrance of the massive ballroom, she looked around at everyone and turned to the woman standing at the door that gave her a single rose. She offered the woman a small smile as she walked into the room further, a few people watched, others took in Samuel. She for the first time felt like a fish out of water, she any other day never even saw half these people in the room. They nothing more than ass lickers, but today they were in her shoes and she in theirs.

Samuel chuckled lightly going back to his full height. “Is tonight business or a kind of pleasure?” He asked, raising his eyebrow. He nodded to the rose lady. His face fell a bit, as he noted the quick glances or in most cases open stares. “From the looks on everyone's faces, I’d assume you don’t often attend these kinds of shindigs.” He said, tugging at his suit jacket.

“A little of both, some of these events I get paid to attend, while well it is a Valentine’s Day affair” she replied back to him still looking around. “No, I don’t. Especially not with a man” Mercedes replied through her teeth and she smiled at another Fashion Mogul as she passed them by.

“A little of both…” Samuel mouthed, nodding his head. He chuckled, looking down at the woman. “Can you drink and dance at these things or not?” He asked curiously. The idea that you could get paid to party too much was unbelievable. “ooOh… I see.” he said remembering their conversation from before. Not bitterly but as a simple matter of truth. “Well,” He grinned. Lifting her arm he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. “Let’s give them something to talk about.”

“Of course” Mercedes said looking at him “they expect me to be my normal self, though I guess my normal self doesn’t really dance with people that much” she said more so to herself. “People pay to ‘party’ in the same room with me” she shrugged. “Though mostly I have a few drinks then leave, I never stay longer than 15-30 minutes” she told him. As he lifted her hand and kissed it she looked up at him, trying to keep her shock and amusement at bay as she processed his statement. “How so?” she asked curiously, as she swallowed hard. Though he’d proven his point considering the bright flashes from photographers nearby.

Samuel eyebrows climbed as she matter of factly said, yes to his question. Now that was some rich people shit. “Wow… Just to be in your presence.” He whistled low under his breath, gazing into her lovely hazel eyes. He leaned in close to her ear an excuse to breathe her in, “By having a good time with your fiancé.” He stood back, and raised a challenging eyebrow at the woman.

Mercedes smirked at him a bit, she didn’t think about it that way often she just knew people were opportunist however factually what he said was accurate. As he leaned his close she held her breath thinking he’d steal a kiss, he didn’t which she was left to decide if it felt her longing for one or happy he hadn’t. At his words she nodded slowly another smirk forming on her lips and she said “of course” back to him. She was going to need a drink or more, along with a cold shower before the night was over.

Samuel looked around the well dressed crowd, “Now where is the bar? Or are they bringing around drinks on trays like in the movies?” He asked, staring to move through the crowd again. “So, My next question is can you dance or is it just a choice not to?”

“I am sure there are servers somewhere” Mercedes replied back to him as she gazed across the way, seeing someone that was utterly revolting to her head for her and Samuel. “Choice, by choice always” she said quickly to him as she clutched his hand tightly. “Heather” she said before the woman could speak her name first, she looked her up and down and smirked. “So nice to see you out” she lied.

Heather Radcliff approached the only woman on the planet she despised at this present time in her life. “Mercedes” she said in unison with the woman stepping in line, she chuckled a champagne glass in her hand. “I could say the same about you hermit” she said wickedly as her eyes left the woman and looked the man up and down. Taking him in “Heather Radcliff, Editor in Chief of Marie Claire magazine” she said formally introducing herself as she held her hand out “you must be Mercedes’ assistant?” she asked him next.

Samuel grimaced in confusion, “Huh?” He asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. As the woman came into frame, Samuel tensed. His face darkened at the set of insults that the woman managed to hurl in under five seconds. He gazed down, seizing Mercedes’ eyes with his own, while he let Heather’s hand linger in the air. In a tone steep in southern charm, “If she asked me to be. That could be arranged.” He said, thumb caressed the back of her hand again, and he was glad he’d chosen the one with the huge rock on it. After a moment, he reengaged the Heather woman. Smiling, he took her hand brushing a light kiss just above her knuckles. “I’m Samuel. Mercedes has graciously agreed to be my wife.” He said, letting the woman's hand fall away.

Mercedes eyed the woman slightly as she threw a question at Samuel that made her nostrils flair and caused her to squint her eyes. When the man answered for them she loosened her grip on his hand a bit, calming down a little now though she wished to get away from the woman. Seeing a tray she took an opportunity and grabbed two glasses, offering him “here sweetie” she said lovingly with a smile before she looked back at Heather. “And your-”

“Husband is home, with our two beautiful children” Heather said without looking at the woman instead she examined Samuel a little more before she said. “Something you know nothing about” left her lips as she fixed the fabric on the woman’s shoulder before she walked off. “Enjoy your night” she said cutely as she moved towards another group of party guests.

Samuel accepted the glass from Mercedes, with a mouthed, “thank you,” and a smile. His face dropped into an angry scowl as the woman said her last piece to Mercedes cuttingly, and walked away almost as quickly as she had arrived. “She’s a bitch.” He said, turning to look at the woman on his arm. “You okay?” He asked sincerely.

Taking a sip from the glass in her hand Mercedes offered the woman a knowing smile, as she finished her sentence and threw another insult at her. Her eyes followed the woman as she left before she turned to Samuel “yes she is” she told him. “I’m fine, it’s nothing” she shrugged her shoulders lightly before she said “would you like to find a seat?” curiously.

“So… Did you steal Heather’s man or something? She’s bitter.” Samuel grinned. Craning his neck a bit looking for an empty table. “Come on. I assume there are a pair of nifty little cards with your name on one of these tables.” He asked as they moved on further into the ballroom.

Mercedes chuckled, shaking her head, “hardly” she replied to him “just her job” she admitted. “I couldn’t help it, I am better at it than she is,” she told him. “She’s probably over there telling them I am lying about my engagement” she said looking back. At his words she nodded again taking another sip from her glass as she followed him.

Samuel laughed out amused by her statement. “That’s what she gets.” He’d considered that. “No doubt.” He agreed, “It will be fine.” he offered, trying to be convincing in a way that would sound genuine. He knew she was looking in the Heather woman's direction, it’s what all women did. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on her forehead. “We got this. “

As he kissed her forehead she smirked at him “okay” she said as they approached the tables, seeing a few seated guests she looked at them as they passed them by. “Mercedes!” a voice rang out happily behind the two. Mercedes turned to see the red head “hi, Pamela” she said to the woman as she approached she and Samuel. “Your seat is at my table, yours and your guest” she said looking over at Samuel taking him in. “Great” Mercedes said just playing the part at this point she found none of these people to be friends or even associates really. They all just shared the same industry.

Samuel offered the woman a lopsided grin, raising his eyebrow in challenge to the less than believable ‘okay’. “Say it with your chest.” He said, doing a quick impressions of Kevin Hart. He covered his laughter as a new woman approached, taking a drink from the wine in his hand. The constant head to toe looks made the skin between his shoulder blades crawl. He sighed deeply, lowering the glass, then placed his hand in the small of Mercedes back guiding her towards their table.

“You look amazing by the way” the woman said to Mercedes, it wasn’t a lie by any means it was the truth. “I would ask you who are you wearing, but I can just about guess that” she chuckled as she walked with the two. “Oh, pardon me, I am Pamela Nelson” she said to the tall fellow “and you are?” she asked him curiously.

“Same as you,” Mercedes said, nodding her head at the woman though she was in fact wearing something from last season. That made Mercedes' skin crawl but she said nothing of course, that wasn’t her business after all. They made their way to the table and she smirked “Samuel Evans, my fiancé to answer your real question” she said taking a sip of wine. “Ladies, gentlemen” she said to the other people at the table as she stood before her assigned seat. “Oh please don’t stand up” she waved the people off.

Samuel took the time as they moved to admire Mercedes. Smirking as the newcomer echoed his early comment. “Doesn’t she.” he added, taking down the rest of his wine in a final gulp. Thinking movies were good trainers. He moved in behind Mercedes and pulled out her chair standing near it as he waited for her to take a seat. Now his nervous rose in the pit of his stomach. Short conversations in passing were one thing, but now they were cornered. Here goes nothing he thought swallowing his nerves.

Pamela chuckled at Mercedes brushing her off “oh Mercedes you are such a jokester” she told her as she sat down next to her husband. “So, tell us everything! How did you two meet? I mean I didn’t know you were even dating you are so darn busy Miss” she said.

Mercedes looked to the woman and smirked, though she wasn’t at all joking. She sat down and looked at Samuel with a smile “thanks” she said before she sat her glass on the table. “Well” she said with a chuckle, they’d talked about ideas but only one stuck. “A art gallery, Samuel is an artist” she said to them smoothly.

Samuel nodded to Mercedes, unbuttoning his jacket as he moved to take his seat. He pulled at his collar lightly clearing his throat as Mercedes spoke his profession into existence. Mechanic would have been a more truthful route but when in Rome. “I wanted to draw her, but she wouldn’t let me.” He said, with a chuckle.

Vivian’s eyes glinted as the handsome pair approached. “Mercedes… What a pleasant surprise.” She greeted, in a voice husky and rich. “Down Pamela. Let her breathe a bit. It’s clear she's been using her time… Wisely.” She grinned giving Samuel a proper once over. Even taking a moment to chuckle at his little joke. “You do look radiant Mercedes. I’ll attribute that to you. I suppose.” She said, all eyes on Samuel.

At his words Mercedes looked at Samuel yet again chuckling him off, for the, she didn’t know how many times now tonight already. “He’s always joking” she said brushing hair over her shoulder as she looked across the table. “Yeah, well it is love day and it's all in the air” she gestured back to her.

“That’s small talk” Pamela said back to Vivian, “when is the wedding, I mean. Where will it be? Milan? Paris?” she listed before she gasped “Hawaii?” she listed further.

Samuel relaxed slightly as the table collectively laughed at his little joke. He sat back in his chair, tapping his foot under the table.

“Everyone needs a little humor in their life.” Vivian said, rolling her eyes tiredly at Pamela. She was interested in the answers to the woman's questions but thought a bit of tack was a better approach. “You’re an artist? Has your work been displayed anywhere? Mercedes has such impeccable taste. You must be wonderful.”

Mercedes looked to Pamela and she took a sip from her glass before she sat it back down. “He haven’t decided yet,” she told her respectfully. She looked at Vivian again and smirked at her compliment as she wondered what answer he would give the woman. Did he even know enough about art to pull this off? Probably not and then they both will look like jackasses for sure. Great.

Score one. Mercedes shut down the questions about when they were actually getting married. Good thing too, because even he didn’t know the answers to those questions. His eyes shifted to Mercedes as he sat up clasping his hands in front of him. “I hope my work impresses her. But sadly, not yet. I’ve always been a great admirer of the works of Cecile Gray Bazelon and the late Joyce Pensato. Right now I'm working with Harvey Dinnerstein. He is preparing for a showing, hopefully I should be able to showcase one or two of my pieces. Hopefully.”

Vivian rested her chin on the back of her hands, smirking at the young man. Her eyebrows furrowed at the names he dropped. Not her type of artist to be sure, but names she’d heard before. “Impressive. You’ll have to let me know. -Or we’ll have to schedule time to get together. Honestly, I thought you were a model.” She smiled, still admiring the man. “You should let him immortalize you, Mercedes. Let see how good he is good with his hand.”

Mercedes looked at Samuel and tilted her head “I am far too impressed with clothes I assume” she joked as she looked at him again. As he began to list off people she squinted slightly taken back Joyce maybe, the rest were actually out of her league. At his last words she plastered a smile and looked away from him, now that was a huge ass shoe to fill and gap to cover. “A mode” she repeated “he is amazing to look at isn’t he” she said looking at Samuel, that wasn’t a lie. Looking at Vivian “you know I am just so darn busy with Vogue… I am shocked we get as much time together as we do. Me sit still longer than an hour?” she chuckled.

Pamela smirked eyes bouncing from person to person, “I know” she agreed with Mercedes. The lady schedule didn’t add room for much, they all assumed she’d be alone with her thousand dollar jewels and furs forever, or maybe she just thought that. “Wow, a marriage” she said shaking her head again “you know what comes next, a baby carriage” she sang out. “You a mother Mercedes, how iconic! A mini you strutting NYC, we have to see it” she said nodding her head.

Samuel chuckled, biting his lip, “You said it not me. He told Mercedes, reaching over he stroked her bare arm lovingly, “However, I’ll let it slide. At Vivian’s compliment he grinned, the tips of his ears to darkening. “You’re kind. I’m just a man who likes to work with his hands.” he told the group looking down at his finger. “We’ll have to see. Fingers crossed Cecil like me pieces. “Mercedes is going to be a great mother. When the time comes. My sister already adores her.” He said reaching for the woman’s hand. Beaming as he told the absolute truth for the first time tonight.

Vivian eyebrow rose. She’d actually been thinking escort. Mercedes was too driven to find anyone. It was the idle joke of everyone in the fashion industry. ‘I never kind dear. I’m direct. If painting doesn’t work out. I’d be glad to take some test shots of you. As a matter of fact.” she reached in her pocket and handed the man a card. “I insist on it. Not many men could pull off that suit.” She exhaled, and uncrossed her legs, “I could see it. Didn’t think our Ms. Jones wants it. But one never knows.” she said, asking a question of Mercedes without saying the words.

Mercedes looked at Pamela, “well you know” she said with a heavy sigh “I’ve already given birth to my career” she said to the woman matter-of-factly. “It was a hard push and pull,” she exclaimed. “However, yes we do have a tiny tot we take care of” she chuckled. “And one day who knows, I may have a child who knows” she shrugged “32 is up there….” she said, looking at Vivian.

Samuel chuckled as Mercedes dismantled the small jabs of the other woman at the table with grace. He only wished Mrs. Heather had been around. Samuel reached the card, tucking it into his pocket. “I’ll think about it.” He told Vivian with no intentions of ever doing so. “She is joking. I think adding at least two more kids would be great. I want a big family.” He interjected, watching Mercedes face for a reaction

“Vivian, do you always keep business cards on you?” she asked slyly, before she looked at Samuel. She shook her head and chuckled “and wreck this figure?” she asked him jokingly. “I’m only kidding,” she added, looking to everyone else. “Once things are finalized and we really get to planning. Building our dream home” she said lying through her teeth. “We will, you know, venture into those neck of the woods…”

Vivian grinned at Mercedes, then chuckled. “For the right person… Of course.” She answered a wiry grin on her face. “Mercedes, Mercedes… My, my I must applaud you.” She said raising her glass, “To the new Ms. Jones.”

Samuel held Mercedes eyes, peeling back layer after layer for her clothes, “That could never be done.” He said, seriously. Then chuckled with the rest of the table, as Mercedes went on laying out a life of lies. He exhaled feeling guilty. She really did need a family. Better yet she deserved one. No matter what she thought.

Pamela looked to the couple, oh the gossip she would tell from this conversation. By the end of the week all of NYC will know that Mercedes lucked up with a real man is actually going to marry him. Shocking. She raised her glass and smirked to herself before she took a sip. She still had plenty of questions however, but she guessed those could wait.

Mercedes looked at Samuel, eyeing him another blush hidden behind a playful eye roll. “You mean to the same Ms. Jones, but future Mrs. Evans” she corrected with a smile. The bitch, what did she mean new Ms. Jones? Men didn’t make or break her, wouldn’t move or shake her. What the hell was wrong with these women?

Samuel raised his glass, smirking at the expression he’d put on Mercedes' face. “To Mercedes Jones.” He said in unison with the table. His eyes shifted to the woman beside him now she was laying it a little too thick. There was no way in hell, she’d ever take his name. Even he thought the idea was laughable. “Ladies if you’d excuse us. Mercedes promised me a dance.” He said rising to his feet, he turned and offered the woman his hand.

Mercedes sat her glass back down avoiding the actual sip, before she looked over at Samuel. At his words she smirked a little and said “excuse us” as she moved to stand up from the table. Leaving her clutch and rose behind on the table as she maneuvered with the gown. “Thank God, I was nearly sick of them….”

Samuel nodded to the collective, smiling as he pulled Mercedes away from the table. “Wow… that was worse than meeting my first girlfriend's dad.” He said, weaving his way through the guests. At the edge of the white and black tile dance floor, Samuel turned the Mercedes and brought her flush against his form, wrapping his hand around her waist, beginning the waltz seamlessly. “Jesus. I needed a timeout…” He breathed whispers in the woman’s ear.

“They are so annoying, judgmental pricks” she said as she looked back at the table. Mercedes followed the man’s lead and when they reached the dance floor, her breath hitched a bit as he pulled her to him. Feeling his hand on her waist she looked up into his eyes as he began to carry her, again following his lead she moved in time with him. Chuckling, she said “thanks for being a trooper” kindly. “Before you know this will all be over and you are free to do whatever your heart desires….”

Samuel moved effortlessly around the floor. His face fell when Mercedes spoke of the eventual end of their entanglement. HIs eyes rose, finding different faces in the room. Heather, Pamela, Vivian. The thought of any of those women turned his stomach. “Who says I’m not doing what my heart desires right now.” He said, eyes going back to her. He smiles, spinning her out then pulling her back to him.

Mercedes eyed him, looking over her shoulder before she looked at his face again curiously. At his statement, she squinted lightly at him before he spun her suddenly and pulled her back. She looked at him, she didn’t believe him at all, he was just saying that. Why she didn’t know however. Usually she would have had something witty to come back with but, right now, no. After a moment she finally spoke and said “because I know”.

Samuel chuckled, “You know nothing Ms. Jones.” He said, shaking his head. “Aside from the interrogation. I’m having a pretty okay time.” He said conversationally. “Come on. You were enjoying yourself just a little over there. Admit it.’

“I know all things Mr. Evans” she challenged a little, listening to him she glanced at a couple who passed by. “Is that so?” she asked him, “it’s not a bad night” she shrugged lightly. “I’ve been to better parties, but none involved a comedian like yourself Mr. Evans. Two kids?” she asked, brow furrowed a smirk on her face.

Samuel bowed his head in conceit. “If you say so.” He pursed his lips, “I am not sure. You tell me.” He said, a twisted smile on his lips. He stretched his eyes, “That wasn’t a lie. I actually want two kids. Or more. Speaking of… Are you really going to take my name?”

“Best of luck to that lucky lady” Mercedes replied without thought. At the question he posed she chuckled lightly “why wouldn’t I?” she asked before she corrected “why wouldn’t I take my future husband’s last name?” curiously. “Do you think I am that shallow… or self absorbed?” she asked him. “You know it’s every woman’s dream to find her Prince, marry him, and in turn become the Princess…”

Samuel laughed, “That is cold. You don’t want to have my babies.” He said, a mock hurt on his face. He shrugged, shaking his head. “I never said any of that. I just thought I’d take your name.” He chuckled. “Well, then that settles it. I have to take your name because God knows ain’t nothing prince or charming about me.”

Shaking her head Mercedes licked her red painted lips, she hadn’t a clue why he had to joke around so much. There was no harm it however it could be tiring sometimes, but she assumed that was just his nature. “You are too much…”

Samuel stared down at the woman turning his head. “I am.” He agreed. But this was really him taking the liberty to be free. Something he rarely got to do. He bit his lips face going still, “I want you to accept something for me. Would you do that?” He asked her seriously.

She continued to move in time with him before she asked her something that made her very uneasy. However, she brushed it off and said “okay, sure” a little hesitancy in her voice still. Despite herself Mercedes couldn’t help but to look into his eyes as she waited for his remark.

Samuel rubbed his thumb over the bare skin of Mercedes back. A personal gesture, but perfect for the eyes of the multitude of onlookers in the room. “For tonight stop blowing off complements. You really are the most stunning woman here tonight.”

At his words she looked off before she looked back at him “okay” she said quietly, Mercedes really didn’t understand why he cared or why that bothered him so much. “That’s easy I guess…”

Samuel looked down at the woman. She had everything, -was more than he’d ever be. Yet, she was humble. Why? “Thank you.” He said holding her just a little closer as they glided peacefully into the next song.

#samcedes rp #thread.#thread: you sent me flying

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invisibleicewands · 3 years

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Staged's Anna Lundberg and Georgia Tennant: 'Scenes with all four of us usually involved alcohol'

Not many primetime TV hits are filmed by the show’s stars inside their own homes. However, 2020 wasn’t your average year. During the pandemic, productions were shut down and workarounds had to be found – otherwise the terrestrial schedules would have begun to look worryingly empty. Staged was the surprise comedy hit of the summer.

This playfully meta short-form sitcom, airing in snack-sized 15-minute episodes, found A-list actors Michael Sheen and David Tennant playing an exaggerated version of themselves, bickering and bantering as they tried to perfect a performance of Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author over Zoom.

Having bonded while co-starring in Good Omens, Amazon’s TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, Sheen, 51, and Tennant, 49, became best buddies in real life. In Staged, though, they’re comedically reframed as frenemies – warm, matey and collaborative, but with a cut-throat competitiveness lurking just below the surface. As they grew ever more hirsute and slobbish in lockdown, their virtual relationship became increasingly fraught.

It was soapily addictive and hilariously thespy, while giving a voyeuristic glimpse of their interior decor and domestic lives – with all the action viewed through their webcams.

Yet it was the supporting cast who lifted Staged to greatness,Their director Simon Evans, forced to dance around the pair’s fragile egos and piggy-in-the-middle of their feuds. Steely producer Jo, played by Nina Sosanya, forever breaking off from calls to bellow at her poor, put-upon PA. And especially the leading men’s long-suffering partners, both actors in real life, Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg.

Georgia Tennant comes from showbiz stock, as the child of Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson. At 36 she is an experienced actor and producer, who made her TV debut in Peak Practice aged 15. She met David on Doctor Who 2008, when she played the Timelord’s cloned daughter Jenny. Meanwhile, the Swedish Lundberg, 26, is at the start of her career. She left drama school in New York two years ago and Staged is her first big on-screen role.

Married for nine years, the Tennants have five children and live in west London. The Lundberg-Sheens have been together two years, have a baby daughter, Lyra, and live outside Port Talbot in south Wales. On screen and in real life, the women have become firm friends and frequent scene-stealers.

Staged proved so successful that it’s now back for a second series. We set up a video call with Tennant and Lundberg to discuss lockdown life, wine consumption, home schooling (those two may be related) and the blurry line between fact and fiction…

Was doing Staged a big decision, because it’s so personal and set in your homes? Georgia Tennant: We’d always been a very private couple. Staged was everything we’d never normally say yes to. Suddenly, our entire house is on TV and so is a version of the relationship we’d always kept private. But that’s the way to do it, I guess. Go to the other extreme. Just rip off the Band-Aid.

Anna Lundberg: Michael decided pretty quickly that we weren’t going to move around the house at all. All you see is the fireplace in our kitchen.

GT: We have five children, so it was just about which room was available.

AL: But it’s not the real us. It’s not a documentary.

GT: Although some people think it is.

Which fictional parts of the show do people mistake for reality? GT: People think I’m really a novelist because “Georgia” writes a novel in Staged. They’ve asked where they can buy my book. I should probably just write one now because I’ve done the marketing already.

AL: People worry about our elderly neighbour, who gets hospitalised in the show. She doesn’t actually exist in real life but people have approached Michael in Tesco’s, asking if she’s OK.

Michael and David squabble about who’s billed first in Staged. Does that reflect real life? AL: With Good Omens, Michael’s name was first for the US market and David’s was first for the British market. So those scenes riffed on that.

Should we call you Georgia and Anna, or Anna and Georgia? GT: Either. We’re super-laidback about these things.

AL: Unlike certain people.

How well did you know each other before Staged? GT: We barely knew each other. We’ve now forged a friendship by working on the show together.

AL: We’d met once, for about 20 minutes. We were both pregnant at the time – we had babies a month apart – so that was pretty much all we talked about.

Did you tidy up before filming? AL: We just had to keep one corner relatively tidy.

GT: I’m quite a tidy person, but I didn’t want to be one of those annoying Instagram people with perfect lives. So strangely, I had to add a bit of mess… dot a few toys around in the background. I didn’t want to be one of those insufferable people – even though, inherently, I am one of those people.

Was there much photobombing by children or pets? AL: In the first series, Lyra was still at an age where we could put her in a baby bouncer. Now that’s not working at all. She’s just everywhere. Me and Michael don’t have many scenes together in series two, because one of us is usually Lyra-wrangling.

GT: Our children aren’t remotely interested. They’re so unimpressed by us. There’s one scene where Doris, our five-year-old, comes in to fetch her iPad. She doesn’t even bother to glance at what we’re doing.

How was lockdown for you both? AL: I feel bad saying it, but it was actually good for us. We were lucky enough to be in a big house with a garden. For the first time since we met, we were in one place. We could just focus on Lyra . To see her grow over six months was incredible. She helped us keep a steady routine, too.

GT: Ours was similar. We never spend huge chunks of time together, so it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At least until David’s career goes to shit and he’s just sat at home. The flipside was the bleakness. Being in London, there were harrowing days when everything was silent but you’d just hear sirens going past, as a reminder that something awful was going on. So I veered between “This is wonderful” and “This is the worst thing that ever happened.”

And then there was home schooling… GT: Which was genuinely the worst thing that ever happened.

You’ve spent a lot of time on video calls, clearly. What are your top Zooming tips? GT: Raise your camera to eye level by balancing your laptop on a stack of books. And invest in a ring light.

AL: That’s why you look so much better. We just have our sad kitchen light overhead, which makes us look like one massive shiny forehead.

GT: Also, always have a good mug on the go [raises her cuppa to the camera and it’s a Michael Sheen mug]. Someone pranked David on the job he’s shooting at the moment by putting a Michael Sheen mug in his trailer. He brought it home and now I use it every morning. I’m magically drawn to drinking out of Michael.

There’s a running gag in series one about the copious empties in Michael’s recycling. Did you lean into lockdown boozing in real life? AL: Not really. We eased off when I was pregnant and after Lyra was born. We’d just have a glass of wine with dinner.

GT: Yes, definitely. I often reach for a glass of red in the show, which was basically just an excuse to continue drinking while we were filming: “I think my character would have wine and cake in this scene.” The time we started drinking would creep slightly earlier. “We’ve finished home schooling, it’s only 4pm, but hey…” We’ve scaled it back to just weekends now.

How did you go about creating your characters with the writer Simon Evans? AL: He based the dynamic between David and Michael on a podcast they did together. Our characters evolved as we went along.

GT: I was really kind and understanding in the first draft. I was like “I don’t want to play this, it’s no fun.” From the first few tweaks I made, Simon caught onto the vibe, took that and ran with it.

Did you struggle to keep a straight face at times? AL: Yes, especially the scenes with all four of us, when David and Michael start improvising.

GT: I was just drunk, so I have no recollection.

AL: Scenes with all four of us were normally filmed in the evening, because that’s when we could be child-free. Usually there was alcohol involved, which is a lot more fun.

GT: There’s a long scene in series two where we’re having a drink. During each take, we had to finish the glass. By the end, we were all properly gone. I was rewatching it yesterday and I was so pissed.

What else can you tell us about series two? GT: Everyone’s in limbo. Just as we think things are getting back to normal, we have to take three steps back again. Everyone’s dealing with that differently, shall we say.

AL: In series one, we were all in the same situation. By series two, we’re at different stages and in different emotional places.

GT: Hollywood comes calling, but things are never as simple as they seem.

There were some surprise big-name cameos in series one, with Samuel L Jackson and Dame Judi Dench suddenly Zooming in. Who can we expect this time around? AL: We can’t name names, but they’re very exciting.

GT: Because series one did so well, and there’s such goodwill towards the show, we’ve managed to get some extraordinary people involved. This show came from playing around just to pass the time in lockdown. It felt like a GCSE end-of-term project. So suddenly, when someone says: “Samuel L Jackson’s in”, it’s like: “What the fuck’s just happened?”

AL: It took things to the next level, which was a bit scary.

GT: It suddenly felt like: “Some people might actually watch this.”

How are David and Michael’s hair and beard situations this time? AL: We were in a toyshop the other day and Lyra walked up to these Harry Potter figurines, pointed at Hagrid and said: “Daddy!” So that explains where we’re at. After eight months of lockdown, it was quite full-on.

GT: David had a bob at one point. Turns out he’s got annoyingly excellent hair. Quite jealous. He’s also grown a slightly unpleasant moustache.

Is David still wearing his stinky hoodie? GT: I bought him that as a gift. It’s actually Paul Smith loungewear. In lockdown, he was living in it. It’s pretty classy, but he does manage to make it look quite shit.

#Michael Sheen #David Tennant #Staged #Staged 2 #Georgia Tennant #The tidy corner #we noticed it #Staged2 #SwedishFishAL

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ofmanyworldsarchived · 7 years

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chord overstreet instagram livestream [x]

#chord overstreet #chord overstreet gifs #idek #i should stop #he's just so pretty #[ reflection; samuel evans ]#[ original content ]

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nightcoremoon · 4 years

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this is probably not gonna be a popular post but uuuhhh saying that eminem & tarantino are actively and harmfully antiblack racist is kinda accusing people like dr dre, rza, snoop dogg, nate dogg, xzibit, royce 59, 50 cent, lil wayne, rihanna, kendrick lamar, beyonce, jamie foxx, pam grier, chris tucker, and samuel L jackson of being race traitors since they're colluding with allegedly racist content creators just to turn a profit.

of course all white people are racist, we can't escape our benefits of white privilege and the contributions we make to it through our daily microaggressions, and any and all media we create is going to reflect that in some way or another- which I have to mention or else the 12-year-olds will froth at the mouths, and now that I have mentioned the 13-year-olds will dog me for pandering for woke points so welcome to tumblr where everyone's opinion is wrong enough to warrant being suicide baited- and I'm not trying to dispute that aspect. but there is a significant and marginal difference between subconscious systemic racism, and the KKK.

so yeah technically saying that eminem and tarantino are racist is, well, correct, /I guess/. same way as chris evans or wil wheaton or dolly parton or kris jenner or mark hamill or me. every white person or white celebrity is equally racist. this is a correct statement to make.

but as for the "he's a white man profiting off of black created entertainment", well... did you all know that eminem is just a dr dre side project? that dr dre is responsible for a good 50-60% of the marshall mathers lp, the slim shady ep, the eminem show, etc, and another 5-10% is from other black artists from their contributions to the music, and marshall himself has discussed this countless times in interviews and benefit concerts and donations and SONGS? by saying that eminem is racist BEYOND any other white person, you are calling into question decisions made by every single black person he's ever worked with in his career, which edges into the hundreds.

and "tarantino wrote the script for pulp fiction just to put his character in so he got to say the n word" except he wrote the script to play lance the drug dealer so you don't know what you're fucking talking about, clearly. plus, it's ACTING. you think sam l jackson would stay a constant member of tarantino's casts if he were violently antiblack racist?

now, if a black person has the opinion along the lines of how a rich black person has more in common with a rich white person than a normal black person, just like the clusterfuck that was the oj simpson trials, and that it doesn't matter if nicki minaj or dj khaled or jay-z or will smith or whoever collaborated with a white person because since they have money they can break through the class gate and have white passing privilege and escape the racist treatment in our society, or something, that's one thing. you're entitled to that opinion because it's a subject that directly affects you and you've had more education on it than anyone who isn't black.

I am directly aiming this post at the dumbass discourser white kids who stir up cyber-drama because they don't know how to speak to real humans, and try to get a gold star with takes like "stupid is an ableist slur" and "bitch is a misogynist slur" and "my dude is just another way for white people to say my n*gga" and shit like that. they're the same people to ignore the facts that eminem and tarantino acknowledge that they got where they are today because of the creations of black people (and japanese & latine, in the latter's case, since a lot of his shit concerns samurai/kungfu, hispanic culture, etc) and continue to find work today with the black artists who seek them out and continue to try to collab with them constantly. you, idiot kid on tumblr who sends death threats and suicide baits through anon because they like steven universe or kpop or something, do not have the authority to speak over, for example, dr dre, let alone ANY black person. these shit memes are not funny, and only serve to dilute legitimate claims of racism when they happen and are required. like the massive amounts of fetishism towards black people in the kpop community. nobody is taking that seriously AT ALL, and it is highly concerning especially considering that korean entertainment in general has a HUGE racism problem that's rapidly reaching the same levels as early 00s disney (the crows :/ ).

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ellywritesnonsense · 4 years

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Loaf of bread and a pint of milk

Resting his worn callus-welcoming palms on his sweaty forehead, Samuel wondered if he was starting with an infection. Sighing, he extended his legs from the armchair and unzipped his winter coat, removing it from his chest and placing it on the chair arm. No. He was not ill. He had just overheated with layers the evening before, when he thought his bones were going to catch a chill.

His chest wheezed in response to the dust in his living room, as he clambered over jumpers and odd socks scrambled on the floor, to reach the kitchen. Samuel had already decided not to get dressed today – the water meter was on low. He would save it for a bath for Little Sammy to have later, perhaps he would enjoy blowing bubbles in the water. Samuel opened the kitchen cupboards, and as usual, was greeted with an empty shelf. The yellow light in the fridge greeted and responded to Samuel’s grumbling stomach.

The corner shop wasn’t far from Samuel’s flat. It was early morning, and the sky blended perfectly from a deep blue to a cinnamon orange where inky cauliflower trees stood, like that of a watercolour artist’s painting. As he walked, he felt the bitter breeze whisk around the tips of his fingers and attack his chest, as if placing an icy stone there. As he shuttled along, he noticed the tarmac was lavished with disrespect; chewing gum and saliva lumps were formed on the pavement. He went past a row of semi-detached houses, and as he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a window, he hung his head. He was too young for this life. He hated walking to the shop everyday when he had just the right change – it was embarrassing, and certainly, very lonely. Unlit Christmas decorations placed on brown, slightly bent, utility poles, showed absence of festive spirit on the street. Samuel kept walking, though his feet hurt, the balls of his feet burning as if he was walking bare footed across Tarmac made of sandpaper. On the corner at the end of the road, was the shop, just about to open.

Pulling on the door and out of his lethargic state, Samuel entered the shop. Joe, the shopkeeper, clocked eyes on Samuel as soon as he saw him. His fingers, though his eyes had not left Samuel’s gaze, immediately grabbed for the cigarette shelf as his eyes never lied. Sovereign Blue, he knew it. Samuel’s eyes, though, started to adjust to the bright shop lights and the black and white patterned laminate flooring which fuzzed together made Samuel’s eyes go funny. He blinked and reached into his torn pocket of his joggers to see what spare change would make the cut today. Instead, his hands wrapped around no bronze coins – he simply had no money. What would he do? What could he do? Little Sammy needed to eat, even if it was just an egg with some soldiers. His feet picked up as his mouth went dry and the shop keeper looked him in the eye.

“I have a loaf of bread and a pint of milk in the back, you can keep it on a tab and pay me when you have the money.” Keep it on a tab, I bet he has loads run up at the local pub, Joe the shopkeeper thought to himself.

In a predicament, Samuel didn’t know what to do. He hesitated and his voice broke, and at last, the starvation outweighed his pride.

“T-t-hat would be great, thank you.” Samuel’s mouth tugged for a smile, and Joe responded instantly.

“No worries, I’ll just go get it for you.”

Samuel stood in the shop, at the counter, like a child waiting to be reprimanded in the headteacher’s office.

Meanwhile, in the back office, Joe turned to his colleague who was flicking through Instagram on their IPhone 11, and said “Proper crackpot, this one. Believes he has a kid to take care of. No wonder he never takes off his scruffy coat, I bet his arm is just one big track mark.”

The colleague laughed in response to Joe, as Joe reached for the bread, which was unravelled. He then proceeded to take the milk out of the fridge, which had its seal taken off.

He walked through the door and saw the state of Samuel. How dare he tarnish society like this when he is here running a business. Samuel took his chin from the floor and smiled up at Joe, beaming that he would now have food and drink for him and Little Sammy for the rest of the week. He did not realise that the bread was unopen, but it wouldn’t have mattered to him anyway.

“Thank you so much, it means so much. Little Sammy will be so chuffed with some fresh milk.” Samuel beamed at Joe, as Samuel exited the shop.

Joe shouted for his colleague “see I told you he’s a nut job.”

The walk home for Samuel was tough. The wind wrapped around his chest and made it hard for him to breathe and he felt like his fingertips were going to fall off from the cold as they clutched the loaf of bread for dear life. Once he got home, he counted the slices of bread and noticed some liquid residue on his fingertips, shrugged and thought that it must recently have been defrosted. He put the pan of water on the hob, switched it on, took out his cold and damp teabag and proceeded to make a pot of tea with the milk he had been given. He had some margarine in the fridge and decided to butter two pieces of bread. The cup of tea was marvellous – it heated up his body and warmed his bones. He spent the rest of the day helping Little Sammy with his homework. Sat at the table, there were talks of times tables and long division – something that had always confused Samuel. In the afternoon, Samuel felt himself getting hot and sweat pricking at the back of his neck. He hoped he wasn’t getting the flu. His stomach was hurting – so much so, that it felt like he had two fists opening and closing on the inside. What hurt the most though, was his head. A constant pang of headache and a dull pain behind his eyes, starting and spreading from his eyebrows. He felt in a haze. His eyelids drooped. He couldn’t fight this. He couldn’t stay awake.

Samuel woke to the sound of tyres screeching outside and a car door banging loudly. He could hear Little Sammy playing with some toy cars upstairs. In a state of confusion, Samuel thought he heard his door being knocked through, but he couldn’t move. He was collapsed on the floor – his eyes stuck staring at the wall, saliva running down his chin, and his joints stiff and robotic.

“He hasn’t been in my shop for at least a week, and he’s a regular.” Joe was saying to the paramedic carrying the SATS machine. “I thought I’d better phone the emergency services to see if he was okay, I know he has some problems.”

The paramedic turned to his colleague and said “Samuel Evans, 43, diagnosed schizophrenic. Suspected overdose.” At this point, Joe smiled to himself. That would teach him for being a lazy, scruffy man of society and not paying for his loaf of bread and pint of milk.

#creativewriting #creative writing #writing #write #creative #literature #prose #prose writing #writing prompt #mentalhealth #student #english #creativewritingpieces

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yourlovejones · 4 years

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No Sleep

INVOLVED: Mercedes Evans and Samuel Evans (briefly; Kelly Simpson and Joshua Miller) TIME FRAME: Monday, March 23, 2020 LOCATION: Music Studio; Hotel; Australia SUMMARY: Mercedes and Samuel take time in-between shows to record a song for their upcoming joint album.

Mercedes sat in the Australian music studio bobbing her head to the beat of the music as she rolled her tongue over her lips. She was so tired. They were in between tour dates right now. They had finished a show yesterday and had another tomorrow but she was pushing through; after all it was her idea to record an album while on tour. She bounced Sanaa in her lap gently as she looked over the music sheets. “What do you think?” she asked her husband.

Samuel sat next to Mercedes licking his lips and he swayed back and forth, he was honestly pumped full, of what, he didn’t know at this point of time. Whatever his assistant could get his hands on drug wise he used because traveling limited what could and couldn’t get through the airway. Licking his lips, he sat with a cup that had a little codeine and sprite in it and he sipped it down. “I like it,” he told her easily, a drug filled Samuel was a known confrontational and focused Samuel. All he ever wanted to do was work, fuck, and keep his mind busy and this happened to help him with doing so.

Mercedes nodded slowly as she lifted her head to look at her husband. She eyed him slowly, taking in his eyes and his demeanor. She nodded a bit more before she looked down at Sanaa, her hand on the girl’s stomach, tickling her gently. “You like it mama?” she asked sweetly, chuckling as Sanaa cooed and clapped her hands. “Like, like, like,” she chanted. Mercedes smiled and picked Sanaa up, standing her up in her lap as she kissed Sanaa’s cheek. “Well let’s record it then,” she said speaking to Samuel now. Turning in the chair some, she looked back at Sydney and Sebastian as they laid asleep on the couch.

Samuel looked to their daughter, a small smirk on his lips as he gazed at her with hazy eyes. Samuel drunk down some more of the concoction before he sat it down against the soundboard. He looked to her, “okay,” he said easily to her as he moved to stand up but not before he downed the rest of the drink finishing it off before he sat the cup back down.

Mercedes handed Sanaa over to Kelly easily. “Can you take them back to the hotel?” she asked Kelly. “We might be here for a while,” she said knowingly. Turning back to her husband, she watched him drink down the rest of whatever was in his cup and she pursed her lips. At this point, he was always high off of something. It didn’t matter what. He just needed to get his fix and truthfully, he scared her. She was afraid she was going to find him overdosed one day but trying to get him help failed every single time. Now, she didn’t know what to do anymore. She watched Kelly collect their children and leave before she looked to their one tech. “We’re ready,” she said as she moved for the booth.

Samuel looked to their kids lovingly as Kelly moved to gather them, waking them up and collecting their things. He made it his business to kiss all three of their foreheads before he turned to his wife and he followed her into the booth where he picked his headphones up and placed them over his ears.

Moving into the booth, Mercedes took a seat on the stool that was pulled up to the microphone, grabbing her set of headphones and pulling them on. She looked down at the music sheet on the stand before them and glanced over the lyrics for reassurance. She had no idea why. They had written the song themselves; she knew it by heart. “Ready?” she asked her husband as she sat up straight against the stool adjusting the microphone just a bit.

“Yeah,” Samuel said, looking at her with a pleasant smirk, he looked down at the lyrics becuse he didn’t remember a damn thing right now. But as long as he had some, he was good honestly. He looked to the man behind the glass and said, “turn me up a little,” as he adjusted the headphones. He couldn’t deny that despite killing himself, he made damn good music when he was high and out of his right mind, his last album contested that. “I see you in the morning,” he sang out, warming up a little, finding his voice, before he cleared it a bit.

Adjusting her headphones a bit more, Mercedes nodded at her husband and she looked to their tech as he turned Samuel’s headphones up some. She was quiet before she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth at Samuel’s strangled voice. He did not sound great. Licking her lips, she reached for one of the bottles of water sitting there and she opened it up, taking a quick sip to lubricate her throat some.

Samuel squinted slightly as he scratched his neck idly. “Okay,” he said to himself as he looked up. “Okay, I’m really ready,” he told them before he stuck his hands in his pockets. As the track played from the beginning Samuel waited for his time, counting in his head, “I see you in the morning,” he began to sing softly, “feel your fingers in my hair,” he read off from the paper before them. “Sometimes I still pretend you’re there,” he sang out into the microphone.

Sitting the bottle back down, Mercedes’ eyebrows furrowed a bit as she watched her husband. She said nothing, not wanting to rush him as he got himself together and as he spoke out, saying he was really ready, she sat up once more, prepared. As he sang the first few lines, much clearer and soulful this time, she smirked slightly before she leaned into the microphone a bit singing, “it hits me without warning, your reflection walking by,” softly. “But I know it's only in my mind…” She took a breath before she broke the first line of the pre-chorus “Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missin'?”

Samuel looked at Mercedes, licking his lips gently as he watched her closely, he looked back down at the lyrics and said, “won’t you give me the part of myself that I can’t get back?” questionably. “Will you show me the piece of my heart I’ve been missing?” he sang out anticipating her voice as well as they sung this line together. He breathed in softly and continued, “cause I’d kill for you” he sang a little forcefully, there was much truth in that line. “And darling you know that,” he sang in his high falsetto.

Mercedes took a breath, leaning back some giving Samuel some room as he sang. She nodded her head along to the music and Samuel’s voice before she leaned forward, singing the lyrics in time with him, their voices meshing perfectly together. “Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missin'?”

“So I’ll light up a cigarette” Samuel continued, “I’ll drink it down ‘til there’s nothing left,” he sang into the microphone, his hands still in his pockets. He stepped back looking down at the lyrics as he anticipated his next line while waiting for her to sing hers.

“‘Cause I sure can't get no sleep,” Mercedes sang out into the microphone, closing her eyes as she rubbed her hands up and down her thighs, “and Lord knows there's no relief.” Opening her eyes, she looked at her husband, taking in his demeanor as he stood there with his hands in his pockets.

“You held my heart in your fingertips,” Samuel sang, emphasizing ‘tips’ as he tilted his head up a bit, still reading from the paper. “So now I drown in my bitterness,” he belted “Oh, I can’t get no sleep,” he sang, closing his eyes for a moment. “And I sure won’t, find no peace,” he sang with her. “No peace,” he added at the last minute before he fell silent.

Looking him over, Mercedes’ heart broke slowly. She truly didn’t know what to do or how to help him. She clearly never did if in the end of all came to this. Sometimes she wondered if she had ruined him to the point of no return. Biting her lip, Mercedes let out a breath before she sang out with him, leaning into the microphone. “And I sure won't, I sure won't find no peace.” Closing her eyes, Mercedes allowed Samuel to sing his next line, staying quiet as the music played a bit before she sang her own. “All that I am askin' is for a little clarity,” her voice was tender and low in tone, before she grew a bit with some power, “that's all that really matters to me.”

Samuel nodded his head a bit at her as she sang, he sang out nothing that was audible out, all matching her runs and carrying the song. “In and out of focus,” he sang sweetly, “tears are in my eyes” he said looking at the paper. “We’re burning down the bridges,” he said harshly “this time,” he belted out into the mic again as his voice carried before he inhaled sharply.

Rocking from left to right on the stool, Mercedes hummed along giving the song undertones as her husband sung and she took a breath before she sang out, “Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missin'?” her voice growing even stronger as her hands gripped the cloth of her sweatpants.

“Oh,” Samuel sang out, “won’t you give me the part of myself that I can’t get back?” he said sadly, a soft tone leaving him. “Will you show me the piece of my heart I’ve been missing,” he sang out again with her. “‘Cause I’ll kill for you,” he sang out more powerfully than the last. He breathed in after his runs and said, “and darling you know that” looking to Mercedes and then the sheet. “So, I’ll light up a cigarette, I’ll drink it down ‘til there’s nothing left,” he emphasized left with a small run.

Mercedes began to gently bounce her knee to the beat of the music and the melody of their voices as she sang out with him, “Will you show me the piece of my heart I've been missin'?” Her body moved to the music easily, rocking and knee bouncing as she listened to Samuel, looking at him as he looked at her. She licked her lips slowly, her body arching with the words as she sang them out. “'Cause I sure can't get no sleep and Lord knows there's no relief,” she let a run linger a bit on the last word before she began vocalizing for Samuel.

“No sleep,” Samuel echoed into the microphone, “you held my heart in your fingertips,” he sang out next, emphasizing tips again. “So now I drown in my bitterness,” he said, spatting the last word as his voice rang out. “Oh I can’t get no sleep,” Samuel sang softly, “and I sure won’t, I sure won’t find no” he said breathing deeply. “I used to find comfort in your arms” he carried on breathing in deeply again.

Knee bouncing a bit harder now Mercedes looked at her husband, watching him and letting his voice wash over her as he sang. She took a breath bobbing her head some as she sang out, “caught up in the wonder of your charms,” slowly raising her voice higher and higher in register.

“Oh, I’ll cry for you,” Samuel challenged, belting out into the microphone as he looked at her, watching the way her knee was bouncing. “I'd lie for you,” Samuel pressed his voice ringing out forcefully as he coolly stood with his hands still in his pockets. “But I don’t even know you anymore” his voice carried.

Eyes closed once more; Mercedes rocked her body to the gruffness in Samuel’s voice. “I'll lie for you,” she sang right after him, pushing higher and higher until she was brushing her falsetto and switching into her head voice, “so I'll light up a cigarette, I'll drink it down till there's nothin' left,” she belted out with him now, her voice strong but still soft. “'Cause I sure can't get no sleep and lord knows there's no relief.” Opening her eyes, she looked over at her husband as they sang together. “You held my heart in your fingertips so now I drown in my bitterness, oh, I can't get no sleep, and I sure won't, I sure won't find no peace.”

“So I’ll light up a cigarette” they sang out together “I’ll drink it down ‘til there’s nothing left,” they repeated in unison. “Cause I sure can’t get no sleep,” Samuel said, keeping up with her, their voices melting into one as he watched her. “And lord knows there’s no relief” he sang out after a deep breath. “You held my heart in your fingertips so now I drown in my bitterness,” he inhaled “oh, I can’t get no sleep. And I sure won’t, I sure won’t find no peace,” he sung out. He carried inaudible tunes into the microphone as the song came to its closing. “Will you give me the piece” he sang softly as he closed his eyes. “Will you give me the piece of my heart” he finished the statement. “Will you give me the piece, will you give me the piece of heart” he sang softer.

“Sure won't find no peace” Mercedes sang out finessing and hitting her vocal peak on find no peace, before she lowered her tone, meeting Samuel back down in a softer, lower key, “no, no.” As they sang together, finishing the song, Mercedes reached out, placing her hand on Samuel’s arm, “Will you give me the piece, will you give me the piece of my heart?” She took a deep breath before singing the last lines with him. “Will you give me the piece, will you give me the piece of my heart?”

Samuel looked to Mercedes and he smirked politely, patting her hand before he pulled his headphones off. “Good?” Samuel asked through glossy eyes.

Mercedes looked at Samuel as he patted her hand and she pulled it away slowly. Wow. Looking at their tech through the glass, she nodded as the man gave them a thumbs up before she took off her headphones and hung them up. Standing from the stool, she moved out of the booth and asked, “can we hear the playback?”

Samuel placed his headphone down as she spoke, he rubbed his tired eyes, how were they managing he didn’t know? They should have been in their hotel sleeping, lounging, and preparing for yet another show but here they were. He took something to wire him up for all of this and then there had to be something to bring him back down. He had a doctor giving him something to keep him energized through the day and right now he could very much use something to put his running mind to rest.

The tech nodded, taking a few seconds to pull up the playback before he adjusted the levels and allowed the music to fill the room. Mercedes sat down on the couch, listening to their voices as they had sung the song and she closed her eyes. One take. It was what they were known for. “Sounds good,” she said, licking her lips as she listened.

Samuel sat down in his previous chair looking at his empty cup before he looked at his wife nodding his head. He was starting to feel the cocktail he had made earlier. He leaned back against the chair a little bouncing in it as the song played back and he closed his tired eyes gently.

“You can stop it,” Mercedes said, she had heard enough. “Thoughts Sam?” she asked him, knowing he was pretty opinionated about the music she made and more specifically about the music he made. She sat there, watching him closely. He was so high.

At her words Samuel opened his eyes slowly and he chuckled. “You heard it for yourself,” he said with a wide grin. “I like it,” he told her honestly, low eyes moving to the other man in the room. “I think it's good how it is,” he said as his head rolled back against the seat and he bounced once more. “I would tell you if it was shit,” Samuel said, scratching his neck again.

Nodding slowly at Samuel’s words, Mercedes looked to their tech and said, “it’s all yours for editing and processing,” she hummed out as she stood up, grabbing her purse. She looked at the time and sighed out. It was late enough, they needed to get back to the hotel ASAP and get some rest. “C’mon baby,” she said nodding towards the door.

Samuel bounced, his eyes closed before she commanded him to come and he moved to his feet. Picking up his empty cup he looked to the men, slapping hands respectfully as he moved to leave with his wife.

Mercedes moved out of the studio and down the hallway towards the elevator. She was quiet as she pulled her sweater from her purse and pulled it onto her shoulders. Reaching the elevator, she hit the button, the doors opening immediately.

Samuel walked out of the door with Mercedes, following behind her. He blinked a few times before he licked his lips. As she pressed the button for the elevator, he rested against the wall, his back pressed into it and his head resting on it as well as he closed his eyes. “I’m tired,” he breathed. The only thing that was tired was his mind, his body was on go.

“Me too,” Mercedes mumbled as she stepped into the elevator. She hit the lobby button and then the close door button as she leaned against the wall of the metal box. As they traveled down, Mercedes text with their driver and Joshua, who had been waiting for them. As the door opened, Mercedes stepped off the elevator and moved through the pretty empty lobby swiftly as she pulled sunglasses from her purse. She quickly put them on before they stepped outside, despite the nighttime and she moved for their ride.

Samuel followed behind her in the elevator as it closed and they began to ride it down. He rested against the elevator; eyes closed. As they got off of it and moved through the lobby, he stepped out the door taking in the fresh air around them as he moved their car. He didn’t know how his feet were carrying him now. He was too far gone to even be capable of this kind of energy. “Joshy,'' he exclaimed happily handing the man the empty cut. “I am tired” he told the dude, speech slurring a bit. “Tired then a motherfucker,” he mumbled climbing into the car.

Mercedes slipped into the car as Joshua opened the door for them and she slid over, giving her husband room to get in as well. She sighed out tiredly, leaning against the SUV before she looked at her husband as he spoke to Joshua, handing him the empty cup. She shook her head before she looked out the window.

Joshua took the cup from Samuel, holding it idly as he clapped his freehand on Samuel’s shoulder. He helped the man into the SUV before he closed the door behind the couple. He moved to throw the cup into the trash before he hopped into the passenger seat. Immediately the driver pulled off, heading towards the hotel.

Samuel looked to Mercedes and he grabbed her hand, holding it in his as he kissed the back of it gently. He rested his head against the seat, “can you at least sleep next to me tonight?” he asked her curiously. “I don’t know why you aren’t in the first place, what have I done? I thought we were on good terms?” he asked her seriously.

Mercedes looked at her husband as he grabbed her hand and she let out a sigh as he kissed it. She scooted a little closer to him at his question and she nodded as she rested her head on his chest gently. “I will…” she whispered. At his next question, Mercedes closed her eyes inhaling a deep breath. “We are okay,” she said quietly. “You… you haven’t…” she shook her head. “Let’s talk about it later,” she said knowingly Joshua and their driver were listening.

Samuel looked to his wife and he fell silently nodding at her words, he didn’t press further. He just sat there closing his eyes again as they rode. He didn’t say anything at first, he knew that she loved to be close to their children and he didn’t mind it considering all they had lost. But he did miss his wife and he needed her every now and again too. He didn’t think he had to beg, but maybe he did, and he was okay with doing so.

Mercedes nodded slightly as Samuel fell quiet and she did too as they rode the rest of the way to the hotel. When they arrived, Mercedes sat up slowly, gathering her purse as Joshua got out the car and opened the door for them.

When they arrived, the motion of the car stopping woke Samuel out of his near comatose sleep. He sat upright and climbed out of the car behind his wife as Joshua opened the door and he moved to their large hotel, walking through the lobby, his feet dragging as he moved for an elevator.

Mercedes climbed out of the car tiredly and she yawned into her hand as she looked back at her husband waiting for him to get out too. Slowly but surely, she moved into the hotel lobby, Joshua not far behind them. She pressed the button for the elevator and stepped inside as the doors opened. She pushed the last button, taking them up to the top floor. Stepping off the elevator, she moved in the direction of their room, taking out the keycard from her purse. She swiped it quickly, entering the penthouse suite. She looked back seeing Joshua enter his own room before she closed the door behind herself and Samuel.

Samuel continued their trek to the room they were in behind her. As they finally made it to the room, he walked in and shrugged his coat off. He tossed it on the large couch before he stepped out his shoes. Samuel moved for the space he occupied away from everyone else and he licked his lips slowly as he pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it onto the bed. Samuel ran his hands through his hair and he unzipped his pants and tugged them down his legs slowly putting them aside as well before he climbed into the bed tiredly.

Mercedes made sure to lock the door behind them, sliding the chain and setting the alarm for the room as well. She looked back, seeing Samuel as he moved for his part of the suite and she sighed, biting her lip as she reluctantly moved behind him. Entering the room, Mercedes pulled her shirt off and laid it aside before she stepped out of her shoes and sweatpants. She climbed into the bed behind her husband, sliding under the covers as she did.

Samuel stretched his long limbs and he covered himself with the covers provided by the hotel, he closed his eyes once more. Samuel wrapped his arm around her as she joined him as he asked her to. His breathing began to even out as he fell asleep once more beside her quietly.

#thread #thread: no sleep #thread with: samuel dwight

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