#Eco-theatre

[suchananewsblog]

An artiste shares her experience of a theatre production, Tara, Compass Crow, which hopes to create environmental awareness in young audiences

As a little one rising up in the Potala Palace (Lhasa, Tibet), the Dalai Lama would usually run up to the roof and practice his telescope upon herds of yak being taken to market. On seeing them, he would race to a shrine room, sequester some of the choices, instruct a palace employee to purchase all the herd and liberate them. It is that this highly effective spirit of direct motion that…

[invisibleicewands]

Please come and see me because I’ll be dead soon’: how Michael Sheen got sucked into a forever chemicals exposé

An opera-loving member of high society turned eco-activist who was forced into police protection with a panic button round his neck. A Hollywood actor who recorded said activist’s life story as he was dying from exposure to the very chemicals he was investigating. Throw in two investigative journalists who realise not everything is as it seems, then uncover some startling truths, and you have “podcasting’s strangest team” on Buried: The Last Witness.

On their award-winning 2023 podcast Buried, the husband and wife duo Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor dug into illegal toxic waste dumping in the UK and its links to organised crime. This time, they focus on “forever chemicals”, specifically polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and set out to discover whether one whistleblower may have been decades ahead of his time in reporting on their harmful impact.

“It’s amazing how big the scale of this story is,” says Ashby, as we sit backstage at the Crucible theatre, where they are doing a live discussion as part of Sheffield DocFest. “With this series, we don’t just want it to make your blood turn cold, we want it to make you question your own blood itself.”

It all started when Taylor and Ashby were sent a lead about the work of former farmer’s representative Douglas Gowan. In 1967, he discovered a deformed calf in a field and began to investigate strange goings on with animals close to the Brofiscin and Maendy quarries in south Wales. He linked them to the dumping of waste by companies including the nearby Monsanto chemical plant, which was producing PCBs.

PCBs were used in products such as paint and paper to act as a fire retardant, but they were discovered to be harmful and have been banned since 1981 in the UK. However, due to their inability to break down – hence the term forever chemical – Gowan predicted their legacy would be a troubling one. “I expect there to be a raft of chronic illness,” he said. He even claimed that his own exposure to PCBs (a result of years of testing polluted grounds) led his pancreas and immune system to stop working. “I’m a mess and I think it can all be attributed to PCBs,” he said.

However, Gowan wasn’t a typical environmentalist. “A blue-blood high-society Tory and a trained lawyer who could out-Mozart anyone,” is how Taylor describes him in the series. He would even borrow helicopters from friends in high places to travel to investigate farmers’ fields. Gowan died in 2018 but the pair managed to get hold of his life’s work – confidential reports, testing and years of evidence. “I’m interested in environmental heroes that aren’t cliche,” says Ashby. “So I was fascinated by him. But then we started to see his flaws and really had to weigh them up. My goodness it’s a murky world we went into.”

The reason they were able to delve even deeper into this murky world is because of the award-winning actor Michael Sheen who, in 2017, came across Gowan’s work in a story he read. He was so blown away by it, and the lack of broader coverage, that he tracked him down. “I got a message back from him saying: ‘Please come and see me because I’ll be dead soon,’” says Sheen. “I took a camera with me and spent a couple of days with him and just heard this extraordinary story.”

What Gowan had been trying to prove for years gained some traction in 2007, with pieces in the Ecologist and a Guardian article exploring how “Monsanto helped to create one of the most contaminated sites in Britain”. One was described as smelling “of sick when it rains and the small brook that flows from it gushes a vivid orange.” But then momentum stalled.

Years later, in 2023, Ashby and Taylor stumbled on a recording of Sheen giving the 2017 Raymond Williams memorial lecture, which referenced Gowan and his work. Before they knew it, they were in the actor’s kitchen drinking tea and learning he had conducted a life-spanning seven-hour interview with Gowan before his death. So they joined forces. Sheen isn’t just a token celebrity name added for clout on this podcast; he is invested. For him, it’s personal as well as political. “Once you dig into it, you realise there’s a pattern,” he says. “All the places where this seems to have happened are poor working-class areas. There’s a sense that areas like the one I come from are being exploited.”

Sheen even goes to visit some contaminated sites in the series, coming away from one feeling sick. “That made it very real,” he says. “To be looking into a field and going: ‘Well, I’m pretty sure that’s toxic waste.’” Sheen was living a double life of sorts. “I went to rehearsals for a play on Monday and people were like, ‘What did you do this weekend?’” he says. “‘Oh, I went to the most contaminated area in the UK and I think I may be poisoned.’ People thought I was joking.” Sheen ended up being OK, but did have some temporary headaches and nausea, which was a worry. “We literally had to work out if we had poisoned Michael Sheen,” says Ashby, who also ponders in the series: “Have I just killed a national treasure?”

The story gets even knottier. Gowan’s findings turn out to be accurate and prescient, but the narrative around his journey gets muddy. As a character with a flair for drama, he turned his investigation into a juicy, riveting story filled with action, which could not always be corroborated. “If he hadn’t done that, and if he’d been a nerdy, analytical, detail-oriented person who just presented the scientific reports and kept them neatly filed, would we have made this podcast?” asks Taylor, which is a fascinating question that runs through this excellent and gripping series.

Ashby feels that Gowan understood how vital storytelling is when it comes to cutting through the noise. “We have so much science proving the scale of these problems we face and yet we don’t seem to have the stories,” he says. “I think Douglas got that. Fundamentally, he understood that stories motivate human beings to act. But then he went too far.”

However, this is not purely about Gowan’s story – it’s about evidence. The Last Witness doubles up as a groundbreaking investigation into the long-lasting impact of PCBs. “We threw the kitchen sink at this,” says Ashby. “The breakthrough for us is that the Royal Society of Chemistry came on board and funded incredibly expensive testing. So we have this commitment to go after the truth in a way that is hardly ever done.”

From shop-bought fish so toxic that it breaches official health advice to off-the-scale levels of banned chemicals found in British soil, the results are staggering. “The scientist almost fell off his chair,” says Ashby. “That reading is the highest he has ever recorded in soil – in the world. That was the moment we knew Douglas was right and we are now realising the scale of this problem. The public doesn’t realise that even a chemical that has been banned for 40 years is still really present in our environment.”

To go even deeper into just how far PCBs have got into our environment and food chain, Ashby and Taylor had their own blood tested. When Taylor found 80 different types of toxic PCB chemicals in her blood it was a sobering moment. “I was genuinely emotional because it’s so personal,” she says. “It was the thought of this thing being in me that was banned before I was even born and the thought of passing that on to my children.” Ashby adds: “We’ve managed physical risk in our life as journalists in Tanzania and with organised crime, but more scary than a gangster is this invisible threat to our health.”

In order to gauge the magnitude of what overexposure to PCBs can do, they headed to Anniston, Alabama, once home to a Monsanto factory. “As a journalist, you have an inbuilt scepticism and think it can’t be that bad,” says Ashby. “But when I got there I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I hate to use words like dystopian, but it was. There is a whole massive school that can’t be used. There’s illnesses in children and cancers. It truly was the most powerful vignette of the worst-case example of these chemicals.”

It’s bleak stuff but instilling fear and panic is not the intention. “Obviously, we’re really concerned about it,” says Ashby. “And although the environmental crises we face do feel overwhelming, it is incredible how a movement has formed and how individuals are taking action in communities. The lesson to take from Douglas is that the response doesn’t have to be resignation. It can be agency.”

[pilcrow00b6]

Granite Falls Rec Center

50x50 | type: recreation center

There's literally nothing to do in Granite Falls so I made a rec center. Both kids and adults will find something to enjoy here. There's a cafeteria, board games, kids area, a small gym and a puppet theatre. Outside there's a small playground and a sauna. You can also find some wild rabbits roaming around.

You can find it on my gallery - ID: littlepirate213 or download tray files (link below). Place with bb.moveobjects on.

Requires:

EP: Horse Ranch, Growing Together, Highschool Years, Cottage Living, Snowy Escape, Eco Lifestyle, Discover University, Cats&Dogs, City Living, Get Together, Get to Work

GP: Werewolves, Dream Home Decorator, Jungle Adventure, Parenthood, Vampires, Dine Out, Spa Day, Outdoor Retreat

SP: Paranormal, Laundry Day, Toddler Stuff, Kids Room

No CC used

DOWNLOAD (Simfileshare)

@sssvitlanz

[raenavolante]

Some Velvet facts:

-he’s the youngest of (at least) three siblings

-he’s 5”10.5 but rounds up to 5”11

-he prefers cameras to be mirrored

-his brother and sister-in-law live in Virginia, so back when ant lived there they’d drive over to visit

-he went to a private Christian school and got in a lot of trouble there

-iirc he was suspended at least once for a ‘lick me’ sticky note

-MAJORRR theater kid

-started as a theatre major, swapped to stats major, then dropped out

-had a 4.0 gpa and was always really smart

-watches political videos from both left and right wings regularly

-is currently banned on reddit (he is missed dearly)

-he’s actually a pretty quiet person when he’s not making a joke

-he has glasses he never wears. I’ve tried to hint he should show us to no success

-ant says he looks cute in his glasses

-his sister has a cat (cous-cous)that him and ant have babysat before

-he’s very cuddly with all 3 of his pets

-he’s been high at least once during ppsat

-he respects bbh a lot, and they talk often off stream

-he hardcore repressed the Gay in school

-ant is his first relationship (unless you count a fourth grade gf)

-owns a red car

-gets very passionate about things he’s interested in (taco bell, hearthstone, politics, etc)

-he always asks chat questions and waits for us to answer

-he’s not overly tech-saavy (ant has had to rescue his stream a few times)

-he didn’t like dream much when they first met

-he’s not as experienced in the kitchen as ant, but often brings ant dinner if he is busy streaming

-he is not afraid to shout things like “penis” out in public

-he doesn’t watch twitch very often

-unironically hole in the wall is his favourite mcc game

-his birthday is one day before Valentines

-he uses light mode on everything

-he only has one monitor

-regrets a lot of what he did in middle/high school

-he occasionally refers to ant as “my antfrost” which is very sweet

-is very aware of the velvet-egg dsmp theory. He’s encouraged it and implied it’s canon despite not being on the server

-does voices while reading fanfic

-went camping a lot as a kid (and still does)

-despite all his joking, he’s very sweet and soft about his love for ant

-he and ant have mentioned having kids in the future

-he did plenty of research to learn about celiac and ants allergies, he even has an app that lets you know if a restaurant has gluten-free options

-he has some eco-jars as well as some fish

-the pets prefer velvet over ant

-he does a scary accurate trump impression

-keeps a comb on his desk

-he is very appreciative of his community despite not really knowing why we stick around

-he actually doesn’t like red velvet cake that much

-he hates mashed potatoes

-had a dog named Calvin most of his life (rest in peace)

-he always uses chat members full usernames, no matter how often he reads our messages

-he’s an introvert

-he’s excited to marry ant one day

[solar-sunnyside-up]

Okay okay I can't find it again (plz message me if you know who it was) but someone was talking about ppl migrating between winter and summer to different places. In particular, deeply dense housing to more rural and spread out housing during summer. And I just haven't stopped thinking about it. a) We have different mobility, energy, socializing, and labor needs during different seasons. ex. During winter we need more indoor work/social/learning spaces. During summer we have more mobility outdoors and require different transportation and infrastructure and need more shade and outdoor gathering spaces. b) Our diets should change with the season and thus would require different preparation, storage, and distribution system.  c) our education system could work with different things for different times. Art, theatre, lit, and theoricial stuff could be done during winter months. While summer could be focused on home eco, building, agriculture, and other outdoor things. Idk the idea of Lunar cities filled with lots of color and soft glowing lights and transit systems built to get you to the sewing club, hanging out in the communal kitchens. With underground or covered paths to protect from environment, with communal or multigeneration living connected to other houses. With the world moving slower so it's denser. The idea of solar towns with different roads and plants. With smaller houses that are less focused on entertainment and more like a hobby house filled with crafts and stuff for projects, with a cellars for your food when your not going to communal Bbqs and fire pits, large playgrounds for all ages and accessability, and less lights bc so little of the time is spent in darkness. And finally the idea, that over a few weeks as the weather changes and the seasons change ppl start getting ready to go on these journeys to their other seasonal homes, connecting with different neighbors and family for different places.

[sleekervae]

Past Lives [0.6]

Masterlist

A/N: Mmhm. I went indulgent with this one. Oooh boy, like full detail, full emotion

Also, this is the playlist I listened to while writing this, highly recommend

Warnings: smut ahead

Dinner was delicious, little alcohol was consumed because they both agreed dealing with a hangover in the morning wasn't favourable for either of them. They said goodbye to their friends at the end, none of them the wiser of what was transpiring between Austin and Jade. Florence herself was too drunk to even notice Austin waiting in the shadows.

They started walking, where to they weren't sure really but it was in the general vicinity of Jade's hotel. The city was still abuzz with traffic, both foot and on the road, though there was a glow lacking from the shops. It was peaceful, however. Jade and Austin fell into step with one another, the silence thick but comfortable.

Her mind was half lust now, half sadness and she kept glancing at the scenery around them to distract her. Every now and then she'd meet Austin's eyes or -- better yet -- catch him observing something on the block with some inquisitive excitement and it pushed her further towards the idea of letting go. Their kiss, however brief it felt, had made her heart race again, everything else but his deep scent and the burn on her waist fading away.

"Are you a cat or a dog person?" Austin asked, effectively snapping her attention back to him.

"I'm sorry?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"I don't think we ever talked about it. You strike me as a dog person," he laughed.

"I don't know, we had a dog when I was younger. I always wanted a bunny, though," she grinned back.

"A bunny?" he chuckled.

"Yeah! They travel well, they love to play. And they're pretty eco-friendly, too," she replied.

"I see," he nodded, looking her up and down, "Yeah, yeah you strike me as a bunny person,"

"A bunny person? What's so bunny-like about me?" she asked, becoming more and more intrigued.

"I don't know," he simpered, blushing as he continued to babble on, "You travel well, you like to play, and I assume you recycle too,"

Jade smirked, "Play in what way?" she giggled.

Austin chuckled sheepishly, "Never mind," he replied, "You think you might want to adopt one now?"

"Maybe," she shrugged back, "I also always wanted a horse when I was younger -- said every little girl ever,"

"A horse might be a little bit harder to squeeze into an apartment," he said, "You ever ride?" he winked.

"A horse? No," she sighed, the desire to tease him building. She raised her eyebrow and watched him, "Can't say the same for some significant others,"

Austin swallowed hard, laughing under his breath. Her lips were pouty as she smiled at him confidently, lashes fluttering softly.

"Tell me something you haven't told me yet," he drawled.

Jade simpered, "Aside from all the other embarrassing stuff I've told you?" she asked, her head rolling back to look up at the sky.

"Give me one,"

"... I think Marvel is stupidly overrated," she declared.

"Very valid," he laughed.

"I've trained myself to get good at sleeping on planes. I'm on them enough. And..." she started to laugh nervously, "I um -- I was taking pole classes for a while,"

Austin raised an eyebrow, "Pole classes? As in...?"

"Pole dancing," she giggled shyly, "It's really good cardio!"

"Interesting," he noted in a way that only made her speak quicker to ignore his smirk.

"And I really dug your performance in The Iceman Cometh..." she admitted.

Austin nearly tripped over himself at her declaration, his chest warming again, "You came to see the show?" he asked, almost incredulous to the notion.

"Well... I was on tour. But a friend went to see it and she filmed some parts. I know, it's a taboo in a theatre, whatever," she simpered, "He sent me some of the clips and you were just phenomenal,"

"Thank you," he smiled, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Why didn't you come and say 'hi' at Coachella?" she queried in response, feigning insult.

Austin nodded sheepishly, "Ah, very fair," he mumbled, now worried he had offended her.

"You know I don't hold that against you, right?" she asked, "I'm just playing,"

Her assurance put him at ease, he rolled his eyes, slinging his arm around her shoulders, "I think a bunny would suit you very well," She gasped happily at the notion.

"Okay, it's your turn," she decided, "Something you haven't told me yet,"

"Hmm," he looked up at the sky as he racked his brain, "I taught myself how to play drums,"

"Really?"

"I mean -- I'm not great at it. But I can carry a tempo," he said.

"So, if I ever needed a swap in for my band?" she smirked.

"Just give me the time and place," he simpered back, "Lemme' see... I once lost a bet and I had to sit through a Saw marathon,"

She gasped, "Nooo!"

"Yep," he nodded regretfully.

"All in one sitting?"

"I've never fully recovered," he admitted.

"What an asshole friend!" she exclaimed, "Even I'm not that mean!"

"You still like horror movies?" he asked.

"Not the super gory ones. The one I did with Flo was fun, but I've been kinda' growing out of it," she shrugged, "I think that means I'm fearless now?"

He laughed jovially, "Well, great! That means you can protect me!" he decided.

"Nay, fair squire! Doth shall never know thy terror of a poor budget slasher film when in my presence," she teased back.

He pulled her closer to him, partially to keep out the chilly nip in the air, but also just because he could, "My knight in shining armour,"

Jade allowed herself the luxury of staying in his embrace, no matter how fleeting it may be. She was endeared by his consistent humility, and how easily it was to make him go red. He couldn't help but smile back at her elation, fighting the urge to corner her against the wall again.

They slowed down as they approached Jade's hotel, the doormen had retired for the night and the hedge lights dimmed low. Jade had done many a foolish thing in her life, too many for her to count on one hand. Bringing Austin back to her hotel may count as another bullet on her list.

She still wasn't sure how they'd gotten to his point, all rational thought fleeting when they'd agreed to have one last night cap. The hotel bar was closed and the night clerk didn't give them a second glance as the pair slipped into the elevator, acting as orderly as they could muster.

They stood on opposite sides of the elevator, and Jade tried to focus on anything other than Austin: the buttons on the door, the ceiling tiles shining down, the mirror reflecting themselves back at them. Austin leaned against the wall, watching her intently, he could sense pick off how rigid and tense she'd become, her gaze pinned to the floor as he tried to meet it.

He let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair, his teeth biting the inside of his lip and he shut out thoughts of Jade he perhaps shouldn't have been. The silence between them was thick and unbearable, they both recalled how unorderly they'd been again. Unorderly, inappropriate, deliciously fun...

Austin couldn't stand the silence now, the complete contrast of the street, the vast opportunity for so much to be said and done was being confoundedly wasted by their won reluctance to cave. His self control and his attraction for her were battling it out hard. He stared at the panelled ceiling above their heads, his shoes, and then he found her face again, drawn to her features like a magnet.

"Jade..." he sighed. She graced him with a stare, her fingernails digging into her palm in a clenched fist as she processed her self control slipping away. They ascended floors slowly, time dragging out for the inevitable.

And then, what little of his self control had left vanished, and Austin strode forward to close the gap between them, her back pushed against the wall. His hands found her face without apology, the curve of her jaw slotting perfectly into his palm and though she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze for fear she may combust, she leant into it so naturally, so comfortable. Jade's gaze shifted between her hands pressed into his chest to his eyes, the cool, shadowing blues she found melting her entirely and she had just about managed to catch her breath before Austin's lips were on hers, stealing away every thought with the way he moved them.

Her body thrummed with electricity, caught off guard, fluttering on the edge, her brain telling her how wrong it was but her heart pulsating at the speed of a bullet train. His hands slipped down to the sides of her neck to keep her close, instantly needing more form her, and he was willing to give it all in return if she let him. Her lips tasted like wine, ginger and decadence and he allowed himself as much as he could possibly get, so lost in her and yet so aware of the moment slipping away beneath his finger tips.

He then suddenly remembered who he was, who she was, and what he was doing -- and he flinched away abruptly, regretfully leaving her lips empty. His fingers trembled at her neck, his brows creasing with a look of genuine concern, terrified he'd crossed her boundary again.

"Fuck, I'm sorry," he huffed, puffing for breath, his forehead coming to rest against hers, "I'm so sorry," he repeated, not having found the strength to let go of her.

His lust contradicted his rationality over and over, he needed more of her but he knew the risks should he spend another moment with his mouth on hers. Jade let out a small laugh, making his heart thrum in a way it shouldn't.

"It's okay," she assured, though her voice was shakier then she intended. She tried to process the fact that his lips had been on hers again for the third time in twenty-four hours, how good it had felt, how familiar it was and how she didn't want him to stop.

"We're really not good at this responsibility stuff, are we?" she giggled, trying to lighten his mood.

He managed a comforting smile, "No. No we are not," he nodded, "But I don't want to spook you again, Jade,"

"I don't want to spook you!" she laughed incredulously, "And I don't want you to think I have any expectations of you,"

"I understand," his hands dropped to his sides, "You know that saying, right? Right person, wrong time?" His gaze was intense, cool sky blue, wide, searching for some sort of answer in her sweet face.

"It rings true," she said, "But... the time could be right, just for tonight?" her lips curled with an illicit joy, her heart pounding in her ears.

Austin stared back at her blankly, eyebrows twisted in confusion, as though he hadn't heard her or he'd blacked out entirely.

"Are you sure?" he asked tentatively.

Her whole body trembled with fear of the unprecedented, though she didn't waste a second longer revelling in her insecurities. Instead, she nodded confidently as she propelled herself forward with her desire and brought his lips down hers.

It took a moment for Austin to react, though when he did he moved against her with fervid determination. He'd tried his best to resist this, but right now he was too tired to try. He was so fed up of wallowing in second thoughts and guilt and his own depression, he had spent an entire year locking himself away and Jade was releasing him again. He could give in to his desire fully without fear of consequence. He shuddered against her as one of her hands found its way to the back of his neck, her long nails scratching along the shorter hairs and the sensitive skin. That shudder made her all the more ravenous for him.

His hands found her hips again, digging tightly into her to pull her against him, needing her beyond closer. Their kiss was hungrier now, open mouthed and desperate. His tongue danced effortlessly with hers, his breath hot at the back of her throat as he clutched at her dress, already torturing himself with the idea of what she looked like beneath it. Austin was unable to collect a single thought, form a simple sentence, find some string of words that could summarize the complexity of what he was feeling for her.

They only stopped to catch their breath when the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, beholding the hall to Jade's floor. Jade was completely enthralled with the dazed look in his eyes, becoming addicted to the bashful giggle shuttering against her mouth as he pecked her lips again. His thumb brushed under her lips, swollen from the intensity of their kiss.

"Are you sure?" he mumbled again, no fussing made as her hands pushed to slide his jacket off.

She nodded confidently, caught on the darkness of his faze before she managed to reply with a breathless, "Yes,"

Austin nodded in relief and disbelief, his shoulders slouching with the need for her, the idea of having her a way he never could've imagined suddenly so tantalizing and so delicious, the notion was threatening to tear him apart. He kissed her once more, smiling like a fool before stepping back so he could follow her trembling figure into the hall.

Jade was only thankful her room wasn't too far from the elevator, each step feeling like she would slip at every movement with how jittery she was. Rummaging through her bag for her key was a struggle to say the least, with Austin cornering her against the door and splaying gentle kisses across her neck. She gasped triumphantly when she finally found her keycard and opened the door, pulling Austin inside and flicking the lights on without missing a beat.

He squared his hips against hers, following her every step and maintaining his touch on her somewhere at all times. They tossed their jackets aside, Jade fumbling backwards towards the bed as Austin suddenly tripped over the corner of her suitcase. She caught him before he could take a fall, laughing amusedly against his lips as her fingers curled around his neck to hold him near. Their heartbeats thudded against each other.

Austin felt as though he had the wind knocked out of him, suddenly falling back and landing bottom-first onto her bed. Only then did he take a moment to breathe, to take her in as a whole. Austin's eyes had completely clouded over with lust, his senses overwhelmed by her and it must've shown in his expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked, a swarm of nerves still biting at her, her eyes were wide and curious.

"Yeah Jade -- I'm fine," he sighed, though he had to question the reliability of his own answer as he pulled her down into his lap and took her in another kiss; her nimble fingers beginning to unbutton his shirt. Her own lips moved to his jaw and descended down his neck, her warm hands now free to roam his toned chest for the first time. He helped in pulling his shirt off his shoulders and down his arms, tossing it aside in some miscellaneous corner of the room.

He was annoyed with her dress being in his way, pulling the long material over her thighs and up her waist. She gathered the material, pulling her dress and her grey long sleeve over her head so she was sitting in just her underwear; a simple black t-shirt bra and sleek red panties complimented by the plethora of floral and dainty tattoos.

She carefully studied Austin's face for the reaction she craved, some his nod of approval more important to her than she'd realized. Her fingers grazed across his jaw, she watched his eyes flutter softly as he ran his hands over her olive skin; long fingers traveled up her sides, stroking down her stomach, squeezing her thighs, slowly processing her before him. He wanted to kiss every inch of her, cherish her, assure her how incredible she was to him.

He fumbled to undo her bra, the soft fabric revealing more skin. It took longer than he'd have liked out of sheer nervousness, any cocky confidence he'd had quickly dissipated into smoke now that he'd found themselves here. Jade held her breath as he brought the straps down her arms, biting his lips at the sight of her perfect breasts. He cupped them gently, thumbs smoothing over the sheeny kin. Jade let go of Austin's chin to steady herself on his firm shoulders, her eyes slipping shut as he skimmed her nipples. He flicked them back and forth, rolled them, taking his time to ensure he could enjoy everything about her.

She let out a raspy sigh, her head lolling to the side and her fingertips squeezed his shoulders, "Shit..."

No stranger to teasing back, she slipped her hand into his pants and under his boxers, stroking over his head. She moved her fist slowly up and down his shaft, hiding her face in the crook of his neck as his breathing became erratic.

He was becoming obsessed with the way she responded to his touch, how she her touch was addicting, her hums and his sighs of pleasure more dizzying than any alcohol he could consume.

"How bad do you want this?" he drawled.

Her smile turned coy, answering his question as he took one of his hands and placed it on the inside of her thigh, "You tell me,"

Austin took her on it like a challenge, slipping his fingers higher up her smooth skin and tentatively stroking over the soft silk of her panties. She couldn't hold back her shudder as he stroked her over and over, the heat from her body was intoxicating and she smelled so heavenly that Austin never wanted to let her go. She lifted herself up so he could slide her underwear off, fully vulnerable before him, but the nerves dissipated as he swiped his middle finger up her slit. A small moan slipped from her throat, inhaling quickly.

"Fuck," he breathed out, "You're absolutely beautiful," and he continued to tease her, pushing into her little by little while he thumbed at her clit. Her hips undulated over him, matching his pace and wishing he move a little faster.

"And you're overdressed," she whispered, her chest unable to keep a steady pattern of breath.

He was taken off guard for just a moment, glancing down at his slacks with a dark chuckle. His fingers withdrew from her clit, much to her chagrin as she mewled in protest.

"How rude of me," he shifted so she would sit on the bed. She watched him stand and push down his pants, eyes traveling over the clear outline of his bulge inches boxers, her head beginning to spin. Jade was desperate, wanted to level the playing field a little. She reached out to touch him, smoothing over the warmth radiating off his skin and teasing the hem of his boxers with her finger, slipping underneath the fabric and snapping the elastic back. He simpered, amused with her toying, determined to wipe that smirk off of her face if it killed him.

His boxers were the next to go, though he waited for a moment as he took her in. Austin couldn't wrap his head around how beautiful and sweet she was, even when her expression and intentions were less than such. There was a split second of insecurity, he thought. A short moment of hesitation when he could see in Jade's eyes, she was thinking of covering herself. But she kept her shoulders square.

"What?" she laughed softly, bringing a knee up to cross over the other.

"Are you sure about this?" he cleared his throat, "Because we can stop if you want,"

Her chest tightened a little, her subconscious wondering if maybe he was having second thoughts, "I don't. But if you --"

"I don't," he assured, "I just -- I just don't want you to think I just want sex from you --"

"Austin," she chuckled, "I'm not asking you to marry me, I just want you to fuck me. It's okay,"

She was so brazen and yet so promising. He nodded slowly, taking a mental snapshot of the way she was shaking her head at him, her teeth biting down on her lip to keep back her bashful giggles, "Maybe you should take a picture?" she joked.

"Maybe I will?" he crawled over her, pressing searing kisses across her chest and down her stomach.

"Do it, and I'll kill you right here," her voice was airy, and he took it an ask ask to please hurry up and do... something. To push her legs wide open with his hands gripping under her thighs. She was wet and slick under his fingers, smooth and soft, he couldn't help but reach out and give her a taste. Her butt fit perfectly in his palm, his fingers tickling across her hips and up her side to fondle her breast. He wanted to absorb her into him and lick her dry, that was for his own satisfaction more than hers.

Her back arched as he pressed his tongue into her clit, her squirming stilled as he held her down by her hips. Her nails carded through his hair, scratching pleasantly in time to her hips rocking into him, she whimpered impatiently when he slipped a finger inside her.

It had been so long since Jade had felt this way, taken care of and treasured, and she tried to savour the moment, trying to calm herself so she wouldn't come too quickly. Had he always been so good at oral? Did he figure it out on his first go or did he work his way up? Jade's thoughts rattled off like ping pong as she watched him, the arm holding her open tense and she could pick out every freckle, every muscle rippling.

"Jade," he leaned back a little to kiss the inside of her shaking thigh. He took a deep breath, "Don't come yet," he lips brushed across her folds and his tongue dipped into her again. She squeezed her eyes shut, fingers clawing at the sheets to grasp for some stability. This wasn't fair.

"Austin," she tried to move but he held her down.

"Wait -- just a minute," and he sucked -- oh, God yes.

"Austin --"

"One minute,"

"I can't --"

"Yes you can,"

"I hate you,"

"No you don't," she really wished she did.

His voice ruined her, raw and husky, and edging on possessive. And he pumped his finger faster within in and she wanted to scream so badly. He devoured her wholly, flickering hard and fast against her clit and stroking just right in her channel. She lost her own battle as a sharp, tingling pleasure shot up her spine and down to her toes, the air knocked out of her chest as she was coming in airy moans and slow, strong contractions. Austin's chest tightened; he wanted to fuck her so badly, but he also could come from just watching her. He wanted to make her do that again; and he would have too if she didn't push him gently back so she could regain her self composure.

His sullen glance of compliance was replaced with rabid desire as she pulled him up. She was probably thinking the same as he had, never the less settling his weight on his forearms as he kissed her hard.

It was then she realized she was still wearing her stupid ankle socks. How lame, she thought to herself, praying that Austin hadn't noticed. But he was kissing her so good and she couldn't make herself care enough as she was still so sensitive, and it felt so nice to kiss him like this.

"Can I have you?" he chuckled, teetering on impatient. The smile playing on his lips made her heart skip a beat. Her head fell back against the sheets.

"Can you?" she pushed his hair out from his eyes, admiring his accentuated hairline, the smooth curve of his ears, the patched of stubble he'd missed when shaving, the crinkles around his eyes and all of the little details that made Austin so unequivocally handsome.

"Yeah," he muttered, hands squeezing her butt, "I want you,"

"Well, since you asked so nicely..." she giggled, feigning nonchalance with a shrug.

His fingers tickled up her sides and linked with hers, his body weight over her was heavy and he was so warm. He could feel his heart pounding at rapid speed as he aligned himself to her, rocking his hips to tease, nudging his head against her opening, and slipped inside of her.

They both exhaled. Austin brushed the tip of his nose across hers, smiling gently.

"Hi,"

"Hi," she smiled back.

Jade felt pliant, it didn't hurt but he wasn't too much for her. He felt just right; rocking into her at a steady rhythm and eliciting the most incredible sensations within her. He groaned into her neck, his entire body trembling with tension, so overwhelmed with how good she felt around him.

She bit down on his shoulder, sweltering under his abdomen, the echo of his breathing in her ear blaring like an alarm. He kissed her collarbone, lips brushing across the flower tattoo there, moving up to bite gently at her ear. She shivered beneath him, her walls contracting, squeezing him to keep him hard within her. In the span of just a few seconds his thrusts went from shy, exploratory, to quick and all-eclipsing. His hand slid into the small of her back, lifting her into him as he filled her again, and again, and again, rubbing deliciously inside of her. Pleasure reverberated up her spine.

"Is this okay?" he mumbled against her ear, making no measure to slow himself. She felt too good for him to initiate any self control.

She couldn't answer at first, nothing past a sharp gasp as pressure built within her.

"Jade --" he rasped.

"Yes," she cried out, her hips inclining up and she clenched around him, "Austin -- fuck yes!"

And with that, the last of his control fizzled out. A crude noise left his lips and he shuddered, pumping hard and breathing fast against her skin. Jade felt his orgasm searing within in, a scalding pleasure filling her as he trembled on top of her.

His hand came down on her hop to hold her into the mattress as he silently gathered all the energy he had left, kissing her with a ferocity she hadn't experienced before. Her walls fluttered as he delivered a series of hard, drawn out and sloppy thrusts, so sensitive and sore against her but he wanted to feel her come around him.

And then she couldn't hold out any longer, breaking their kiss as she fell into the elation of her own orgasm, the sensation she'd chased worth the wait. Austin slowed his thrusts to a halt, holding her close as she shivered beneath him.

His head fell against her shoulder, a heavy groan leaving him and he gently kissed the clammy skin. Her own whimpers were soft and fragile, strands of hair plastered against her forehead and he was gentle as he pushed them back. He pressed another kiss to her forehead, shifting onto his back to settle down.

She slowly turned her head to meet his gaze, one hand still interlocked with his but her free one she massaged through his hair, laughing to herself, "You don't know how much I needed that,"

He chuckled back and shifted closer, his muscles tired and sore, but he felt deliciously satisfied as he muttered back, "Me too,"

[hercorrupterofwords]

what were my 2023 favourite books?

[tagged by @girldante <3]

the first man - albert camus

camus's last, posthumous, and incomplete novel. a moving masterpiece, blocked forever in its chrysalis-like stage (due to the sudden death of its author). it's an autobiographical work (though the names of the real life characters are changed by camus), and it shows such a deep, almost desperate, love for life, for the world, for its people. camus annotated, while writing: "the book should have a big weight of objects and flesh". and... it does. this book has such profound colors; such raw scenes; such warm sparks of life. i was weeping while i read the last pages

the name of the rose - umberto eco

everybody knows it. a delightfully dark and intoxicating novel. eco moves freely in the middle ages like a native to that time period, weaving an intricate yet captivating mystery. i loved the setting, i adored the characters and i surprisingly had so. much. fun. i remember how i was going through my day just waiting to have a few hours for myself to continue reading the name of the rose. i was quite addicted to it and i'm quite fond of it now...

ada or ardor - nabokov

i loved this book. i also hated it. it's such an intricate (yet intriguing) novel, with a unique, dense (yet gorgeous) language and it took me quite long to finish it. i love how nabokov writes. i also hate it. in ada everything is double, everything is ambiguous, everything has a shadow, a reference, a reflection. as i went on i struggled to keep at nabokov's pace, but the moment i caught his rhythm i found myself lost in marvel. it's an extraordinary novel and some bits of it struck me as unparalleled beauty. while frustrating at moments, as someone else said: "[ada] demands a lover patience". i couldn't help but falling a bit in love for this perverse yet extraordinary book.

the mountain giants - luigi pirandello

i don't know what was with me, 2023 and unfinished works, but the mountain giants is pirandello's last, posthumous and incomplete play. to me it's one of pirandello's most charming works. a reflection on theatre, but also on art itself, on its truthfulness, on its means, on limits. the finale, even if only sketched, is haunting (i think i would do anything to read what pirandello actually intended to write in the last act). i don't know how to describe the sheer wonder that I felt going through this play.

tags: @iluz @transaeneas @penteoo

[adventuressclubamericas]

Flat Phryne's journey to Miss Fisher Con in New Orleans continues! This month, she's in Salem, OR! First stop, Phryne went to the A.C. Gilbert House to see where the famous erector set was invented. It's a children's museum now. While there wasn’t any polonium in sight, Phryne was able to see the Gilbert Children's chemistry sets that once came standard with uranium. Later found her visiting the Eco-Earth Globe along the Salem waterfront to chart her next world adventure. The globe is a collective art project between professional artists and 125 students from high schools all over the city. Originally a 26-foot-diameter steel acid storage ball, it was converted into an art installation as part of the downtown revitalization and is made up of over 86,000 individual tiles. Phryne's next stop was the state capital building to "enjoy the view" of the golden statue at the top. Phryne's always enjoyed a strong, interesting man; despite the scaffolding, her enjoyment of the 22-foot talk, "Brawny Woodsman," as he's called, did not disappoint. The hollow statute is made of bronze and coated in 23-karat gold leafing. With that level of polish and an axe at hand, he's just the kind of 'old friend' Phryne seems to attract. Then it was off to the historic Thomas and Kay Woolen Mill to see if she could find some skeins of yarn for Dot (and most likely stumble upon another factory murder). Now known as the Willamette Heritage Center, it teaches about the mill's strong ties to the world-famous Pendleton Wool Company, life as a laborer in the Willamette Valley, and preserves the classic fiber crafts established historically. Finally, she finished her adventure by visiting the Historic Elsinore Theatre (named for the castle setting in Hamlet). Built in 1926, the theatre was a popular location for silent films, live plays, vaudeville, and many other performances. The interior is styled after a Gothic castle and features painted murals of scenes from Shakespeare's play. Phryne hoped she'd be treated to another private recitation by Jack — perhaps something a bit more romantic than Hamlet. Where will Flat Phryne turn up next? Stay tuned…

[form-sweet-form]

DRAMAtical Murder Flashback Goods on Animate Online!

Wanted to put all the updates in one spot since I kept reblogging it to help share the updated information.

Originally all the goods were only available in theatre and at Animate (Akihabara store) and SHIBUYA TSUTAYA B2F " shibuya 2.5d " corner Store.

For all Online Animate updates, I'll keep it to this post! You can see the post for the physical store goods here.

I personally use Zenmarket to proxy ship to me from Animate and it works really good. Just go to your account page and copy/paste the Animate Item's URL into the prompt from the "+ ADD A SHOP OR AUCTION ITEM URL" link. You'll then get the page on their site translated and see the "buy now" button.

Shipping within Japan is 594 yen plus the 300 yen zenmartket fee (per item.)

Animate Online will be adding all the goods for pre-order from:

TODAY To Sunday June 11th 23:59 (11:59pm JST / 10:59am EST)

Shipping will be late July.

■ Mail order site:

Animate mail order

We have decided to sell flashback performance goods for the brain crash drama "DRAMAtical Murder" at Animate mail order. Random acrylic stands will be sold on a made-to-order basis, and other performance goods will be sold while supplies last. Also, as a new item, orders for Aoba's (Naotake Tsuchiya) acrylic stand have also been decided! Please take this opportunity to purchase.

■Products handled

Performance pamphlet: 2,800 yen (2,546 yen excluding tax)

All 12 types of solo bromide: 600 yen each (546 yen excluding tax)

Aoba A is Naotake Tsuchiya, Aoba B is Seiichiro Nagata.

Random couple bromide all 7 types: 300 yen (273 yen excluding tax)

BLIND BAGS

Aoba will be Seiichiro Nagata.

14 types of random clear cards: 300 yen (273 yen excluding tax)

BLIND BAGS

Aoba will be Seiichiro Nagata.

Eco bag: 2,200 yen (2,000 yen excluding tax)

T-shirt: 3,300 yen (3,000 yen excluding tax)

Size Large Only.

■ Ordered products

Random acrylic stand 14 types: 1,200 yen (1,091 yen excluding tax)

BLIND BAGS

Aoba will be Seiichiro Nagata.

・ Acrylic stand Aoba (Naotake Tsuchiya) All 2 types: 1,500 yen each (1,364 yen excluding tax)

* You can choose the pattern.

[thenightling]

Well, now that I've updated my favorite Christmas songs list. Here is my list of favorite Halloween songs. Note, this list is subject to change based on my mood.

Bonus: Locked Within the Crystal Ball by Black Moore's Night. It's not actually Halloween related but it has a very elemental magick feel to it so I felt it was worth a mention.

Also bonus mention for Queen's A Kind of Magic.

25. Witch's brew by Omnia. The lyrics are directly taken from Shakespeare's MacBeth but because the play is considered to be cursed the song may be cursed. The story goes that the scene with he three witches was based on an encounter Shakespeare had with some actual witches and as punishment for making them characters in his play, the play was cursed. Now actors and theatre crew consider it bad luck to say the name of the play. It's often referred to as "The Scottish Play" and the only time its name can be said is when you are talking specifically about the character. So because it might be cursed, I put it very low on the list.

24. Lost in the Shadows from the Lost Boys soundtrack. This is an old favorite as I used to watch that movie every summer but I associate it more with summer than Halloween which is why I put it so low on the list.

23. The Master's song, sung by Renfield in Dracula the musical by Frank Wildhorn.

22. Life after Life from Dracula the musical by Frank Wildhorn and sung by Dracula and Lucy.

21. Anything can happen on Halloween sung by Tim Curry for the TV movie version of The Worst Witch.

20. Hex Girl from The Hex Girls for Scooby Doo and The Witch's Ghost. From the Wiccan Eco Goth equivalent of The Spice Girls.

19. Touching old Magic AKA The Halloween song from the Halloween door episode of The Real Ghostbusters animated series. Surprisingly good for a song from an animated series from the 80s.

18. Halloween by John McCutchen. This was a pain to track down. I heard it on Halloween radio and liked it and it took me a while to find a decent recording of it.

17. Halloween by J. P. Ashkar. This song was a Tiktok hit last Halloween and the full (longer) version of the audio can be found on Youtube. It's really very catchy.

16. Creepy Crawlies by Scary Bitches. This song was (for many years) the unofficial theme song to the Spirit Halloween store. The first time I heard it was on the radio in a Spirit Halloween store.

15. Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) by David Bowie. Not quite Halloween related but it plays on Halloween radio and so does Magic Dance (which is listed under this one). The album Scary Monsters (and super Creeps) inspired Danny Elfman during his Oingo Boingo days.

14. Magic Dance by David Bowie for the movie Labyrinth. Sung by Jareth, The Goblin King, and his goblin minion, to entertain a human baby.

13. The Witches are back to the tune of the similarly named Elton John song, from Hocus Pocus 2.

12. One way or Another. The Hocus Pocus 2 version sung by Bette Midler.

11. I put a spell on you. Bette Midler's cover from Hocus Pocus.

10. Horror in Action by Kayak. For some reason this song makes me think of Cain and The House of Mystery horror anthology comics by DC.

9. You won't survive by Count Crow. A parody version of "I will Survive" sung by Dracula to his victims. I just think it's darkly funny.

8. Fright Night from J. Geils Band. This is the title track for the movie Fright Night from 1985 starring the late Roddy McDowall as a hasbeen horror actor who is dragged into the world of the supernatural when teenager, Charlie Brewster, believes his neighbor to be a real vampire. Peter Vincent must overcome his fears and becomes the hero he always pretended to be. Roddy McDowall's voice is even sampled briefly in the song.

7. Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. How can I not love this classic? But my favorite version of it is a recording I actually only heard relatively recently. Vincent Price's cover from the 1970s.

6. Thriller by Michael Jackson and Vincent Price. I mostly love it for the iconic dance but most especially for Vincent Price's poem / "Rap" and of course his iconic cackle at the end of the song. My friend Sarah used Vincent Price's cackle from the song as my ringtone on her cellphone for many years.

5. Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. This one is a childhood favorite. The title track to the original Ghostbusters movie and the theme song for The Real Ghostbusters animated series. The animated series inspired me to study parapsychology and made me want to be a parapsychologist when I was thirteen.

A recent interview with Ray Parker Jr. revealed that he loves the song because it always makes people smile. No one is ever crying when the Ghostbusters song is playing. He said how even little kids will answer "Who you gonna call?" with "Ghostbusters!" And that's what he likes about the song, it brings people joy. There's no negative emotion attached to the song. And I realized he's right. It's just a fun song.

4. Pet Sematary by The Ramones. Deliberately misspelt, this song was the title track for the movie of the same name, based on the novel by Stephen King. I actually like the song more than the movie. The song is from the point of view of someone who doesn't want to be raised from the dead. In role playing games I always made this the favorite song of my original character, Shelley.

A cover of the song was performed by Plain White Ts for the soundtrack of Tim Burton's remake of Frankenweenie (he was remaking his own short film but as stop motion). I actually prefer the original Ramones version. Though I do love it's use for a Frankenstein story.

3. Weird Science by Danny Elfman / Oingo Boingo. I love the song for it's bouncy nature. Yes, it's "Mainstream' but so what? Oingo Boingo fans who refuse to like any of their "mainstream" songs are (in my opinion) kind of pretentious. Yes, it was written for a cheesy teen comedy that later became a 90s teen sitcom on USA Network. But so what? The song is from the point of view of a scientist / sorcerer or alchemist attempting to create life. It's heavily inspired by Bride of Frankenstein and the version used in the opening of the Weird Science TV series samples clips from Bride of Frankenstein.

In role playing games I often made this the favorite song of my "therapist for monsters" character Percy Van Helsing.

2. Dead Man's Party. This song will now always remind me of a wonderful time I had with my cousin and soul sister, Jessica Louise Conroy and her son, Joey, at Six Flags last Halloween season. It played a lot over the speakers there and was already a Halloween favorite of mine. It's by Danny Elfman from when he was the lead singer of the rock band Oingo Boingo. And it makes reference to the scary story "Room for One More." Today Danny Elfman uses it as his encore performance at the end of his Nightmare before Christmas concerts but between 1996 until 2015 he did not perform it live. Now it's tradition that he adds it to his annual Nightmare before Christmas concerts. And the song became the basis for Six Flag's Halloween stage show of the same name, "Dead Man's Party."

1. This is Halloween. Written by Danny Elfman for Nightmare before Christmas it finally reached the Billboard Top 100 for the first time this year. My favorite recording of it is the demo version sung by Danny Elfman himself because it sounds like Jack Skellington is giving you a tour of his home town.

Another Bonus: I also love Halloween Bash by Irving Fink. I didn't put it on the list before because I couldn't remember who recorded it. I knew it as "Monster Bash" from Halloween Radio, a song I heavily associate with my dearest friend Lorie Pringle

[pers-books]

FIRST NIGHT | THEATRE

Octopolis review — Jemma Redgrave excels in a tangled, tentacled tale

Hampstead Theatre, NW3

Jemma Redgrave as a recently widowed animal behaviourist in Marek Horn’s Octopolis. Photo: THE OTHER RICHARD

★★★☆☆ There is a third character in Marek Horn’s unabashedly cerebral two-hander who lurks in the background, forever invisible. Her name is Frances, and she is an octopus who lives in a large tank in the residence of a recently widowed animal behaviourist who treats outsiders with much the same suspicion as a cephalopod. But instead of firing jets of inky fluid, George — superbly played by Jemma Redgrave — takes refuge behind thorny bands of words, some sweary, some scholarly.

Horn mentions his admiration for Tom Stoppard in the programme notes, and like a typically over-padded Stoppard offering, this play enjoys teasing the audience with arch dialogue and nuggets of arcane insider discourse. “I think I’m losing the thread of this slightly,” complains Harry, the young anthropologist who is trying to get to grips with George’s obsession. I know how he feels. There are moments in this 100-minute drama (with no interval) where Horn and the director Ed Madden lead us down one cul-de-sac too many.

What holds your attention, even when the narrative seems impossibly tangled, is the incandescent energy of the performances. Redgrave is all fire and ice as an academic weighed down with grief who has channelled every ounce of her existence into studying the aloof creature in the tank. Ewan Miller is equally acute as Harry, who finds himself drawn into a relationship that turns on more than a theoretical dispute about whether an octopus could possibly have a soul. Anisha Field’s skeletal set and Jamie Platt’s lighting pull us in too.

Horn’s last play, Yellowfin, was a futuristic eco-drama about the ransacking of the oceans. By the end of Octopolis, you can’t help wondering whether the marine metaphor is being pushed to breaking point and beyond. I had a moment of déjà vu when Harry began to expatiate on the glories of razor clams, as there was a similar scene in this studio space just a few months ago in another two-hander, Gareth Farr’s Biscuits for Breakfast.

Still, bursts of songs by David Bowie provide much-needed jolts of visceral energy. As George and Harry begin to bond, tunes such as Sound and Vision provide a language they can both understand. As it grows less and less self-conscious, their dancing expresses an intimacy beyond words.

To October 28, hampsteadtheatre.org.uk

[flintism]

books read - 2023

novels & short stories 

the tartar steppe, dino buzzati

the art of joy, goliarda sapienza 

my brilliant friend, elana ferrante 

the story of a new name, elana ferrante 

those who leave and those who stay, elana ferrante 

the story of the lost child, elana ferrante 

the fifth season, n.k. jemisin

the obelisk gate,  n.k. jemisin

the stone sky, n.k. jemisin

foucault’s pendulum, umberto eco

men we reaped, jesmyn ward 

a memory called empire, arkady martine

a desolation called peace, arkady martine

babel, r.f. kuang 

bouvard et pécuchet, gustave flaubert (/r)

salvage the bones, jesmyn ward 

quand tu écouteras cette chanson, lola lafon

assassin’s apprentice, robin hobb (/r)

royal assassin, robin hobb (/r)

assassin’s quest, robin hobb (/r)

fool’s errand, robin hobb, (/r)

the golden fool, robin hobb (/r)

fool’s fate, robin hobb (/r)

fool’s assassin, robin hobb (/r)

fool’s quest, robin hobb (/r) 

assassin’s fate, robin hobb (/r) 

the waves, virginia woolf (/r) 

a moveable feast, ernest hemingway 

offenses, constance debré 

la dame aux camélias, alexandre dumas fils

the great gatsby, f. scott fitzgerald 

tender is the night, f. scott fitzgerald 

the beautiful and damned, f. scott fitzgerald 

musiques de la frontière, lea silhol (/r) 

hanami sonata, lea silhol  (/r) 

romaji horizon, lea silhol (/r) 

hangul express part 1, lea silhol (/r) 

hangul express part 2, lea silhol (/r) 

la sève et le givre, lea silhol (/r) 

la glace et la nuit volume 1, lea silhol (/r) 

avant l’hiver, lea silhol (/r) 

masshiro ni, lea silhol (/r)

possession point, lea silhol 

les liaisons dangereuses, laclos (/r)

la glace et la nuit volume 2, lea silhol

la glace et la nuit volume 3, lea silhol

theatre & poetry 

love and other poems, alex dimitrov 

uncle vanya, chekhov (/r)

[boozuru]

Ghostic - Exorcism 4

⇠  chapter select  ⇢

(NOT JP PROOFED)

Season: Autumn

Yuzuru: Strange... Why was everyone gone from the practice room?

I thought for sure that they would continue practice, but clearly that is not the case. Was there a change in plans while I was resting?

I cannot contact anyone either, I’m worried.

Maybe they are unable to use their phones - like for example if they were in a different practice room… even though I checked and they weren’t.

…

Could it be that something is happening at the haunted house...?

No, surely not… But that is the only reasoning I can come up with.

I hope everyone is well…

This sound...

...A call from Young Master?

I’m so glad. Young Master, where are you right now? I checked the practice room, but saw no one, so I’ve just been wandering around ES.

???: "..."

Yuzuru: Young Master, can you hear me? Young Master?

???: "..."

Yuzuru: The call... ended...?

Oh goodness… Did something happen to him…!?

I'll come over right away... Please stay safe!

<Return to present time>

Tori: ...

Yuzuru: Young Master! Young Master....! Please, stay with me!

Oh, what is happening... If I had been more cautious about the haunted house, this wouldn't have happened...!

Eichi: So you're here too now, Yuzuru.

Yuzuru: Eichi-sama... Something is wrong with Young master. Please call an ambulance!

Eichi: Actually, I would like you to calm down and listen to what happened.

Yuzuru: …?

Eichi: While you were resting, we were doing our last rehearsal for the haunted house -- AKA, "ceremonial groundbreaking".

Something strange happened in the middle of it, you see. The staff here also reported strange things happening.

Yuzuru: Strange things...?

Eichi: Yeah. I was starting to suspect something, and asked the construction contractor to look into the cause.

And when they did, some scary facts came up.

Just like you said, there was something yet unknown lurking in the haunted house.

I only now learned of this. Please, listen to me carefully.

Yuzuru: Y-yes...

Eichi: The truth is-

Wataru: -Amazing! Who would have expected that the building materials in the ES Haunted House had properties that disrupt radio waves!

Yuzuru: ....What?

H-Hibiki-sama, where were you hiding?

And what do you mean by disrupting radio waves, I don't...

Eichi: It's true. I, the supervisor, will explain it to you.

Just like I've told you guys before, the haunted house is using eco-friendly building materials, but...

It doesn't allow radio waves to go through itself.

After using our poltergeist mechanic, it seems like for a while it caused special electromagnetic interference because of crosstalk.

The contractor said that there had been tests on how the building materials affect human bodies, but they didn't realise to look into how it would affect electronics.

As a result, there were disturbances in smartphone calls, along with silent calls and seemingly private number calls.

Wataru: And now, since we had some spare time during the contractor's research, we wanted to practice our expressions for Ghostic Treat House, resulting in our current “dead eye pratice” just now.

This is a theatre technique called Greek chorus ♪ Mr. Butler, was this your first time seeing it in practice? (As the loanword for Greek chorus is コロス, korosu, which is a homophone with the verb "to kill", Wataru might be making a distasteful pun, but that's just a theory rather than something outright confirmed. It's in-character for him to talk about theatre though, and the chorus in this scenario means him and Eichi.)

Yuzuru: …Erm, in all honesty, I have not digested all this information yet.

But, does this mean that Young Master losing his consciousness was just…

Tori: ...Ehehe.

Hey, did I scare you? Up till now, I’ve just been acting!

You really fell for it, didn’t you Yuzuru~? If you get scared by the haunted house cast too, then it might get so bad for you that you can’t sleep tonight~?

Yuzuru: …

Tori: Yuzuru? Wait, did I actually worry you…?

Yuzuru: I’m fine. Now it feels like all of my concerns have been answered. I’ve had to do some light pondering to figure out things.

The truth is, when I went to retrieve Young Master’s phone last night, there were many calls from a private number.

When I tried to call back, no one picked up. I thought it was highly unusual.

Tori: So that’s what happened… I’m sorry, it must have scared you.

I think it was Hibiki-senpai calling to try and make it easier to find, but due to radio wave interference things got weird on your end.

Yuzuru: Don’t apologize. The fault lies with me for the misunderstanding. If anything, I’m perfectly calm now that all questions have been answered.

I can now wholeheartedly believe that ghosts and psychic phenomena don’t exist in this world… That is enough to make me incredibly happy ♪

Tori: Okay…?

But seriously, I’m glad. That you feel better now.

We should be able to restart practice soon, right? ♪

Yuzuru: Yes. The humble Fushimi Yuzuru shall guide everyone into the world of ghosts.

I believe that there’s a good expression I can now make precisely because I know fear on a personal level… ♪

[binzento]

I met Dr. Jane Goodall in 2013. 10 years later I was thrilled to hear her lecture again last night, where she talked about encouraging young girls to become scientists, how her lifelong research on animal cultures and just like humans we need to preserve their habitat and eco-system, we are all human beings no matter of race, color, and gender and we breathe the same air, and we need to make peace with our planet because the window of opportunity to fix things is getting smaller and smaller. A 3rd Roots & Shoots chapter in USA programmed by the @janegoodallinst is happening Tampa, FL to empower young people to be the change in their communities. Her message: “As you all know, we are living in dark Times. We need these peace doves 🕊️ flying around the world. We need young people with a different vision of the future. We need to bury the guns.... we need to bury the guns…The young people of today. The young people are shouldering the burdens that we have laid upon them; we got to help them; we need to help them. We must help them and we must get together and create a more peaceful, a more just, a more sustainable planet." It was an amazing because we got to celebrate Dr. Jane Goodall’s 89th birthday 🎂 together and sang happy birthday to her on stage😭🥹 . . . . . . . . . . . . . #drjanegoodall #janegoodall #janegoodallinstitute #drjanegoodallinspires #rootsandshoots #tampa #fl #florida #lecture #sustainability #ecofriendly #wisewords #peace (at Tampa Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaayXDso00/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[digitalusmarket]

25 Creative Ideas to Craft With Newspaper

Newspaper crafts are popular for adults and kids as we all know very well that newspapers are readily available, a usable medium to use, and inexpensive. Also, newspaper crafts are environmentally friendly, so most people like to recycle them rather than throw them away. Newspaper crafting is best for those that like to make creative things and are passionate about eco-friendly methods.

Many people associate paper Mache with crafting newspapers, but you can also make more from recycled paper. It is possible to make wall decor, clothing, or furniture from newspapers. In the below section, we have rounded up some creative crafts from recycled newspapers that will truly amaze you.

Recycled Newspaper Flowers

These flowers of the recycled newspaper are a perfect craft for especially kids. This craft project is best for an ordinary weekend afternoon. In order to make this craft, all you need is a newspaper and some watercolor paints to make these beautifully layered flowers.

Newspaper Decoupage Letter Wall Decor

To make this DIY letter, you will need a premade woodblock letter or paper Mache from your local craft store. Transform it into pretty wall decor with newspaper, decoupage medium, and black paint. Add a few decorative nameplates and elements to the design for a festive initial that is best for the kid’s room.

Also Read: 10+ DIY Wall Organizers to Help Clean Up Your Space

Paper Mache Food Props

Faux food from paper Mache is fun to create, and this replica turkey will have your friends hunching if it’s edible. Faux food is also best for use as props in theatre productions. Once you have tried making this, you can easily create a whole faux feast by creating other fruits, meats, and vegetables.

Sew a Newspaper Dress

It’s possible to make clothing from newspapers. Substitute the newspaper for clothes, and you will end up with an unusual outfit. This newspaper dress takes almost eight hours to create and looks elegant. So start making it for Halloween or for some special occasion.

Wedding DIY: Homemade Newspaper Toss Bouquet

This homemade newspaper toss bouquet is best for the bride that wants an effective alternative to cutting flowers and to save money on her wedding day. The floral paper toss is made from only two papers.

Shredded Newspaper Lantern

This shredded newspaper lantern tutorial adds new life to an old or plain lantern. To do this craft project, you need to attach small pieces of newspaper onto the lantern with a decoupage for an immediate upgrade.

Newspaper Home Decor

Give your dining rooms a newspaper decor upgrade. It costs nothing to revamp areas. For an instant avant-garde design in your home decor, cover a few lanterns and a newspaper tablecloth.

Recycled Newspaper Pots

Expensive peat moss is used in pots for your spring seedlings, but the paper works just as well. When you are ready for planting, place the complete newspaper pot with the seedling into the ground. The newspaper will disintegrate with time and not misuse your seedlings whatsoever.

Also Read: 15 Best DIY Luggage Tags Ideas to Make

How to Make a Bag Using Newspaper

Make a bag or purse from rolled newspaper stripes. This elegant-looking paper bag is fun and artsy. Also, it’s perfect for those that like their apparel to be different and one-of-a-kind.

Recycled Newspaper Envelopes With Liners

If you learn how to create these recycled newspaper envelopes, you will always have an envelope again. Just fold the newspaper into an envelope and then add a brown kraft paper liner. These special envelopes will make you happy and bring a smile to your face.

Turn Old Book Pages Into Bags

These delightful stamped bags are created from book pages, but there is no reason you could not use the newspaper. You can choose to include a washi tape, a black stamp, and a clothespin to your paper bag to add some more beauty and pizzazz.

Fox Painting on Newspaper

Young children will like this fox painting craft project. A newspaper sheet is scanned and then printed onto computer paper. A fox outline is drawn with a marker and is then filled in with paint. The newsprint spiked through the face. Also, this project is adorable and best for use in the classroom.

Rolled Newspaper Lamp Shade

This rolled newspaper lampshade completely looks like it was skillfully made. It is created from rolled newspaper strips cut at various types of lengths and attached to a lamp figure with glue. This light would be amazingly painted white with high gloss varnish-you would never have any idea that this design is created with newspaper.

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Recreation

Lee Kyu-Hak is a Korean artist who trains in recreating popular paintings using woodblocks wrapped with colored newspaper. Please take some inspiration from lee Kyu-Hak and try to make some newspaper art recreations of your own.

Life Size Building Blocks

When your kids are bored, make some memories with this delightful, thrifty, and impressive newspaper craft. Try to make an intense fort for your kids from life-size building blocks, and then they can enjoy hours of fun with their imaginations.

Snow White Mirror

If you have space on your wall needing a mirror, skip the high-priced piece from your home goods store and try to make one from a newspaper instead. To create this snow-white mirror project, you have to paint, roll, and glue newspaper coils around an inexpensive circular mirror. It makes a fun addition to your wall decor.

Newspaper Hats

Go old school with these elegant newspaper hats. Almost everyone remembers creating newspaper hats as a kid. This simple and classic papercraft always remains the same.

Shredder Chic Furniture

Students Nusa Zupanc and Peter Plantain have proven it’s easy to make furniture from a newspaper. They both designed a paper chair with finely shredded newspaper. Also, they recycled foam boards held together with glue made from water and flour. Also, you can make one for yourself with the help of instructions or tutorials.

Recycled Cubox Table

This recycled Cubox table is another perfect example of functional upcycled furniture. The newspaper also doubles as an element of design, and the wood pieces come from recycled crates of fruit.

DIY Roman Blinds Out of Newspaper

Make a statement with your home windows with these roman blinds of DIY from rolled newspaper strips. They look incredibly plain, but you can also paint them reddish-brown to replicate bamboo. Add a gloss finish, look over the paint, and then people will never suspect your blinds are built from the newspaper.

Newspaper Polar Bear Craft

This newspaper polar bear card or wall hanging is easy and cute to make. Kids and mothers will surely have fun while crafting this adorable newsprint bear together. Also, this fun winter kids’ craft is the best compliment to an arctic animal learning unit at school or your home.

Durable Handmade Paper Beads

We love this bracelet made from newspaper beads. Add sparkly glass beads to finish the bracelet, and then get ready to receive good compliments about your project. Everyone will surely love your handmade jewelry item.

DIY Paper Mache Nesting Bowls

These DIY paper Mache nesting bowls are artwork that you will display in your home. In order to make them, you will begin by creating a paper Mache bowl and then spray painting it black on the outside and gold on the inside. To draw a floral pattern look on the outside of the nesting bowl, use a white oil-based marker.

Paper Mache Cupcake Sculpture

Sometimes you want to make a paper Mache cupcake sculpture. The complete tutorial of this project will show you how to create a giant-sized paper cupcake using newspaper, cardboard, and pool noodles.

Newspaper Wall Map

Try to make a world map from the newspaper and then decoupage it on your wall. This paper project looks elegant, and you can add a few pins to show where you have traveled and where you would want to go next.

Also Read: 10 Ideas for a DIY Clothes Rack

Conclusion

Newspaper crafts are an interesting way to develop their motor skills. Moreover, newspapers are simple or easy to work with, allowing your child to unleash and experiment with their creativity. So if you want to make paper crafts, we have rounded up some best craft ideas from recycled newspapers that you can make with your kids.

Source:https://hariguide.com/newspaper-craft-ideas/