#I very nearly put it actually sheet music examples I may have to go back and add those later

[frombothofmyhearts]

thinking about the soundtrack to Obi-Wan and Vader's confrontation scene in part III. how the moment he first wields his lightsaber - the first time igniting it in 10 years, the first time since he last used it to fight his best friend - and how I was expecting that this moment of reclaiming the lightsaber, the weapon of the Jedi, and reconnecting with the Force would be a moment of triumph for him. and it wasn't. and how I was expecting to hear The Force Theme at a moment like this, how we've all been trained by all the movies and shows preceding this, how at those moments when all seems lost and our heroes finally take a stand - we hear that uplifting melody. but we didn't this time.

instead, we hear Obi-Wan's theme. they're so similar in a way - a mournful horn solo against a stark, nearly empty background, just a layer of string tremolos underneath. Obi-Wan's theme contains that same magical perfect fourth interval that defines one of John Williams's most iconic compositions of all time, and I keep expecting to hear it quoted in his theme. but we never get it. I keep wanting to hear The Force Theme in Obi-Wan's theme but it always pivots at the last moment, it always strikes a different chord... just as we see him turning away from the Force, cutting himself off, quite literally running away from who he was and the life he can no longer lead.

and instead his theme is defined by the minor third and the minor sixth intervals, which are so commonly associated with sorrow. that perfect fourth, so prevalent in so much of Williams's music for this universe, surfaces only a few times in Obi-Wan's theme, always to be quickly overtaken by these haunting, discordant descending chromatic lines. just a hint of the song we know. just a hint of the man we believe he can be.

[deliquescentnightmare]

Character Introduction

Hello! my first little character sheet so you all can meet Delila, the main protagonist of my still untitled story. Most- if not all- of my characters are blatant self-inserts, and Delila is no exception. I identify as GF so she's kind of the embodiment of my very fem moments, and my soft cottagecore side. Anyways, here's all you need to know about her! I'll post newer versions of her character sheet later on as certain events happen in the story so I don't give you guys spoilers.

Name: Delila Amelie Lestrade

Age: 24

Hometown: Born in Atlanta GA, moved around a lot as a child.

Occupation: Forensic Psychologist. FBI agent.

Sexuality: Asexual, questioning.

Talents/Skills: Writing. Playing Uke. Can't cook at all. Great skill of falling down or bumping into things. Hands are steady in times of crisis and is very levelheaded.

Siblings (describe relationship): Theodore 'Theo' Grayson Markham. 35, older half brother. Second son of Alana Markham(nee Ramses) and Fredrick Markham. Lives in NY. Jameson Albert Markham, 36, oldest half brother, and firstborn son of Alana Markham and Frederick Markham. Lives in rural North Carolina with his wife and kids. Gwendolyn 'Gwen' Beatrice Markham (deceased). Born 1980, died at 26) Killed in a car accident in St Louis in 2006. Very close to Delila and Jameson. Entire family mourned after she passed, and Alana became very different emotionally.

Mother (describe relationship): Alana Elizabeth Markham (nee Ramses). 54, lives in Ojai, California with Frederick Markham. They talk intermittently, but Alana isn't very responsible and Delila refuses to interact with her too much because it's emotionally draining. Alana refuses to acknowledge Gwen even existed.

Father (describe relationship): Gregory 'Greg' Lestrade. 49. Their relationship is close, and Greg would often visit Delila, or fly her out to see him during school holidays when she was a child. They call often (when he actually picks up or calls her back) and email back and forth. She loves him more than life itself even if he often forgets to call her because he's busy.

Significant Others (describe relationship): Struggles to remain relationships due to lack of intimacy, but had a long-term relationship for 2 years that recently ended for undisclosed reasons.

Pets: none yet. had a childhood snake named Jonathan.

Friends: Li Huang (will be introduced in the next chapter or the one after), John Watson, Molly Hooper, Sherlock Holmes (tentative), Theo, Mycroft Holmes(eventually).

Height: 5'2" or 157.5 cm

Weight: 135 lbs. or about 61 kg

Race: Caucasian, British-American

Eye Color: Blue in Original Fictions. In this AU, however her right one is Purple. her left is Pink. (I like pink and purple very much)

Hair Color: Naturally brown, dyed pastel orange.

Distinguishing features: Constantly has scrapes and bruises, often topped off with band-aids on her fingers and cheeks. Her wild orange hair and round gold-rimmed glasses. (they're bigger than Harry Potter's, before you ask). She wears a black pea-coat often, and it's worn from years of use. (it was her sister's)

How does he/she dress? Black pea-coat when it's colder. Likes to wear slightly-too-large clothing. Often wears stolen shirts, sweaters and button ups. Flowy, flowery dresses and skirts and occasionally ripped jeans. She did go through an Emo phase and dyed her hair white in her late teens/early 20's, and has some clothing left over from that phase that she occasionally wears.

Hobbies: Writing romance fiction and crime. Reading, often James Patterson or fantasy. Playing ukulele, and singing. She likes to dance but isn't very good at it, so she often does it when she's alone or it's dark (or both). She likes to go for walks with John in the park, and used to go for walks with Theo.

Greatest flaws: She cares too much too fast, and becomes attached to people within a day or so of meeting them. She can be slightly needy and clingy if she doesn't have a lot of friends, because she thrives off of physical affection. She's very stubborn, and will do things even when she's been given explicit instruction not to because she thinks she may know a better way. (sometimes she does, but other times she just is too strong headed to stop). She can either be unabashedly arrogant or filled with crippling self-doubt dependent on the situation as she's experienced a lot of respect and praise for her intellect. She also puts a lot of pressure on herself to succeed and it can lead to devastating burnouts.

Best qualities: Very loving and openhearted. She will put others' needs above her own nearly every time. She will make sure her friends and those she cares about are taken care of, and are taking good care of themselves. She is extremely intelligent and knows an array of weird and sometimes useful facts, and has a large span of knowledge thanks to her time at uni. She also has a way of making friends wherever she goes, which leads to a large web of connections and sources whenever she needs them.

Introvert or Extrovert? Ambivert, it's dependent on the situation. For example, if she's forced to be in isolation then she's going to be more extroverted when she's around people again. She enjoys talking to people, but after a certain amount, she can become worn out and need alone time. I think it would be good to note she is much more socially adept than Sherlock, though he is better at other things socially. (she has Asperger's and therefore he picks up on certain cues or details she may miss)

How does the character deal with anger? Delila can either run hot or run cold in terms of temperament. When she runs hot, she is often so overcome with emotion that she 'loses' words, struggles to speak and gets really flustered. (not in a good way) she never really says anything unkind when she's like this but she will be very dismissive and tell people to leave her alone. She is prone to shouting or crying to voice her frustrations and get out her emotions. The best way to calm her down is to let her rant about it, and she often calls Theo- who lets her rant. When she runs cold, she is eerily calm. She becomes sharp-tongued, cold and calculating. She will destroy whoever has angered her in this way and feel no shame. Sometimes she will spend days like this, and will be snippy and distant to anyone who tries to talk to her. She is vengeful and fully of unabashedly cruel remarks. It takes a lot or something particularly bad to get her this way.

With sadness? Delila tends to cry when she's sad, and is most comforted by physical affection. She listens to sad music, curls up under a blanket, and will write, whether it be in a journal or creatively. She will occasionally vent, but usually keeps it to herself as to not burden people around her with her issues or emotions.

With conflict? Delila can be rather argumentative and stubborn, but if she cares about the person she will do her best to listen to their side of the argument or disagreement, even if she feels as though they are wrong. When it comes to other peoples' conflicts, she will try and take the side she feels is most correct, or try and be an unbiased judge. She will defend her friends if there is a conflict in which they are being attacked in some way.

With change? Delila isn't a big fan of change but she will try her best to adapt and overcome by setting goals and new routines.

With loss? Delila will self-isolate. She will spend a lot of time re-consuming media that reminds her of what she has lost, and will go through a period of denial. Eventually, though she will come to honour the memory and move on.

What does the character want out of life? Fulfillment. Delila has spent a lot of her short life searching for something she is truly passionate about, but once she finds things that make her happy she becomes hesitant to follow them. She longs for fulfillment in ways other than reproducing and relationships, but one day she wouldn't mind having a family.

What would the character like to change in his/her life? Delila wishes she'd spent less time worried about how her mother perceived her and hoe those around her viewed her and her achievements. She is quite successful now and has learnt better but she wishes she hadn't let her doubts hinder her in the past.

What motivates this character? Delila doesn't excel because she longs for success, but because she fears failure. She refuses to be a burden, and will be independent almost to a fault.

What frightens this character? Delila is terrified of her family being hurt in any way, or losing someone she loves again. She also despises spiders and rejection.

What makes this character happy? Music. Her family, her friends. The rain. Tea. she loves to dance, but she only does it when she's alone.

Is the character judgmental of others? Delila's job required her to profile people, and because of that it has become her nature to psychoanalyse or even try to make assumptions about people from the get-go. She will often alter this perception of people later on depending on how she sees them interact with their environment, and people around them.

Is the character generous or stingy? She can be overly generous when it comes to those she loves, but also hesitant to share other things. It all depends on the item or person's emotional and sentimental value to her.

Is the character generally polite or rude? Unless given good reason to be rude, Delila is generally kind.

[regrettablewritings]

Well I recently watched Trouble in the Heights, so let's go for Nevada Ramirez & Love, even if he perhaps has 1 bare inch of it in his whole body.

(I’m still fucking wheezing oh my gOD. Nevada Ramirez is 5′9″, and that ninth inch is composed completely out of the one inch of love he can actually express like a normal human being.) Similar to the Bruce Wayne one, though, some of these were sorta referenced in past Nevada pieces (what few there comparatively are). So, just in case, I included links to those pieces because they generally go into more detail in certain areas. Hope that’s all good!

Who said “I love you” first?: Well, you said it in that way first, so technically it was you. But if we just meant the actual soul of the phrase, of someone vocally expressing to another their love and interest in their well being, even without the exact words in place? It was Nevada. And even he didn’t necessarily notice it in the moment. Granted, even a sentence like, “Hey, don’t be stupid and just go straight home, understand me?” can slip Nevada’s notice as a sign of his own affection. He’s not nearly as in tune with his emotions as he’d like to think, really.

What are their primary love languages?: It’s really hard to place what a guy like Nevada’s love language could possibly be -- mainly because it’s hard to picture a guy like Nevada and a concept like love even inhabiting the same room. Being a gang leader and, well, just being Nevada Ramirez in total, he likes to give off the air that he doesn’t really necessarily need anybody — that everyone, from his underlings to even his past lovers are more or less side dressing he allows near him. But don’t be fooled: This little shit gets by on spoiling you and the affirmations he earns from them. The great thing about gifts is that in theory you could present them without needing to say much or even say anything at all. And given ‘Vada’s . . . less than delicate manner of speaking, this can be a good thing. And don’t get it twisted, he ain’t no sentimental pussy or nothing; he just sorta likes how your face glows when he just so happens to remember things like your favorite candy, or artist you mentioned wanting a framed piece by. He don’t need you to tell him he’s the best (he already knows he is), but it doesn’t hurt to hear you cry it as you practically fling yourself at him and smooch him silly. He also appreciates acts of service. Shady as his business is, it still demands a lot of the man. He won’t always express it completely but those nights when you show up at his place with his favorite takeout, or he comes home and finds the sheets have been cleaned or that you’ve done whatever he’d meant to have completed earlier that day? He almost wants to drag you to the edge of the bed and express his thanks to you. He appreciates it more than you would think.

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?: Frequently, actually. There is hardly a moment wherein Nevada doesn’t have some part of him touching you: His hand resting on your hip or place in the back pocket of your jeans; your rump resting comfortably on his lap; his arm around you as you lean back in the VIP section of a club; or even just your legs over his own (or vice-versa) as you rest on the couch at home. Many would assume it’s just for show; that El Trujillo is simply asserting his dominance to all who might consider approaching you with sexual intent. They wouldn’t necessarily be wrong -- Nevada does intend to wordlessly yet loudly tell people that you belong to him. However, in addition to this, ‘Vada also just likes to show you off to everyone. And what better way to show the world his beautiful girl than to have her perched on his lap like a pretty bird on a branch?

What are their favorite things to do together?: To the surprise of no one, you two don’t have too, too much in common in terms of interest: Nevada, with his silver palate, enjoys eating out at restaurants with no less than four stars, and you enjoy going out to live shows, specifically on or even off-Broadway musicals. You don’t really care much for the strange food he likes, and he’s extremely particular about what sorts of show’s he’ll even bother with, but you do it for one another. But when it comes to what very few things you do enjoy in common, it ultimately gets narrowed down to two things: Cuddling on the couch and watching TV. Typically old shows or telanovelas because they’re both enjoyable and so terrible that neither of you can help but jeer at the bad acting, awful storylines, and cheesy sets and costumes. It’s a very strange bonding activity -- and certainly not one that anyone would associate with Nevada (and he wants to keep it that way). But it’s the one that you two enjoy the most after a long week, and a surefire way to help both parties relax and cheer up.

Who’s better at comforting the other?: Well, you’re one of the only one who can make him genuinely laugh if that says anything. Nevada isn’t an easy man to comfort, mostly because in his stubbornness, he’s become convinced that his power comes from his anger. So really, it should be sign enough that he even decided to go steady with you that he finds some sort of comfort in your presence (regardless of what he might tell you).

Who’s more protective?: Being a dealer of some infamy, Nevada is aware that he’s made more enemies than friends both in The Heights and out of them. As easy as it is to assume he doesn’t care too much about you, the reality is far from the truth: He cares deeply for you in his own Nevada way. When you go to one of his clubs, he’s never far away or not without you in his line of sight. There’s always a hand resting on your hip or your thigh, or he’ll, you’re always on his lap. Call it primal, but smart enough people who value their lives can take one look at ‘Vada’s hand resting on your ass and just know not to even bother with you. Slightly less smart may need to look at the man’s cold, murderous glower just for confirmation. And those with no sense of self-preservation have essentially signed their death warrant. But that’s in an environment he can control. Outside of his bars, his clubs, his restaurants where he’s a VIP? He’s a lot more quiet about it. Originally, he made sure you always had at least two Men-turned-bodyguards nearby you at all times, but you complained about how difficult it made everything from going to work to simply going shopping. “I don’t need your boys to know what types of tampons I use, Nevada!” you bristled. After much arguing, he eventually agreed to go another way about it: There’s actually more people with their eyes on you, often in disguise or paid off, but he’s made sure to put more distance on them so that you won’t feel as skeeved (or that you’ll even know they’re there for that matter). (For extra measure, if he can get you to agree to it, he’ll also have you equipped with a “Saturday Night Special” so to speak.) But be aware: The moment anyone so much as indicates even thinking about making you a target? That calm, cold demeanor rises to a simultaneously freezing yet infernal rage: You will be put on lock down or even ushered to a safe house until the threat can be dealt with. You will be escorted about the house at every moment by an armed man. And you will be kept safe until the threat has been literally disposed of.

Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?: Physical, because at least then he doesn’t have to say anything. Asshole behavior aside, Nevada knows damn well that he’s the absolute worst with words and that it honestly doesn’t take much to set you off. He figures that so long as he doesn’t have to actually say anything, he stands a better chance at not ticking you off and screwing himself over.

What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?: “The Wolf” by SIAMÉS. “Silvertongue” by Young the Giant. “Love Me Dead” by Ludo, if the roles were reversed . . . Nevada is just plain symbolic of something that’s bad for you but just feels so good to have. That in spite of how poisonous he actually is, he is capable of using just the right words and moves to have you addicted to him after just one drop. And in spite of everything he might insist or do, it works both ways: You’re both tragically and constantly craving the other, and it can wear you both out. But then again, that’s just what addiction is: Craving to the point of depletion. Though if you want something more optimistic, there’s also “Body Talks” by The Struts: Nevada doesn’t understand it himself but all he knows is that the very moment he laid eyes on you, he was going to do whatever it took to make you his — and, judging by your body language, you were perfectly happy to do that, so long as he worked for it. And let’s face it: El Trujillo ain’t afraid to get his hands dirty.

What kind of nicknames do they call each other?: The problem is that Nevada does have the ability to give nicknames, but he’s mostly crap at it unless there’s an ulterior motive involved. Like when he wants to keep you from being mad at him or to stop you from pouting, he’ll teasingly run a finger along your jawline and pout back a cooing “Cariño” or “Muñequita.” If he means to seduce and tease? You’re his “Good Girl.” If it’s more like he’s for once asking you to do a favor, he’ll give out a quick “Babe” or something of that nature. But if he’s just trying to apply a nickname for the sake of using one? Don’t trust him with that. Trusting him to pick a pet name based on a characteristic of yours, or in reference to an event is just not a good idea. His bluntness almost always causes him to pick the wrong thing to focus on! For example: If you have a green thumb and have taken to keeping a small windowsill garden or a corner for your plants, he’s not going to reference a goddess of greenery or even a flower or spice — he’s going to try calling you “Dirtworm” or something! (And then get frustrated when you express distaste over the name.) You’re honestly probably going to have to guide him to what sort of names you’ll tolerate and what you won’t, which shocks every and all witnesses who know anything about Nevada. A romantic interest? Telling Nevada what to do? It’s more likely than you think! Even though he’ll go along with it to pacify you, the hot-tempered man obviously can’t help but feel as thought you’re being unreasonably picky. After all, he’s more than satisfied with the nicknames you usually give him. Granted, they’re just the same nicknames he’s been going by for years now: El Trujillo, Jefe . . . He used to be called “Daddy” in the VIP sections of his haunts, but that title has since been reserved only for you. That, and ‘Vada. And “Baby Boy”, but only very, very sparingly. Which is still more than he’d let anybody else get away with.

Thank you for your patience!

[fullmetaldevil-blog]

Batim Stitched AU Ch. 2

*Authors notes: Wow Ch. 2 is done~ Now there are some scenes that pay tribute to my old school days when I was a musician in an Orchestra class. The scenes is question was an example of how myself and my fellow musicians were back in the day. Other then that jazz I hope you ladies and gentlemen like the story thus far.

On with the show~!*

Ch 2. A Threat and a Friend

Allison flew to the music department nearly running over a few tired overworked animators along the way, stopping only briefly to apologize before resuming her flight path. Her mind drifting to the image of the little toon sound asleep in a crate in her room, hoping that no one would enter the room looking for her. As Allison headed down the stairs to the newly remodeled Music department she could her a woman yelling sounding quite irate, her shrill voice growing louder as she neared the entrance to the department.

"What is the meaning of this, why am I being taken off the cast?!" A young dark haired woman was shouting at a young blonde man nearly a head and a half taller then herself. The irate woman seemed to have him pinned to the entrance logo of the department. 'Oh great' Allison thought to herself, it was Susie Cambell the former actress of the character Alice Angel. She had completely cornered Sammy and was blowing a gasket, even going so far as nearly shoving some paperwork she had in her hand in Sammy's face.

"Look Ms. Cambell that was not entirely my decision to make, Mr. Drew wanted to bring in Mrs. Connor for reasons he didn't specify. So please understand I'm just doing what he tells me to do, it's out of my hands" Sammy held up his hands in a placating manner trying to calm the irate Susie. From the tantrum Susie was throwing, to the frigid glare she shot Allison upon realizing she was standing there witnessing the whole scene, Susie lowered her tone and through gritted teeth hissed "Oh believe me, I will have a word with Mr. Joey Drew"

Susie stormed away from Sammy and as she waltzed past Allison to the stairs, she growled "I'm Alice Angel, not you". The rolling thunder and storm of Susie Cambell ascended the stairs taking all the tension of the room with her much to the relief of Sammy whom just barely got his breath back, visibly slumping against the wall as he relaxed.

"I apologize that you had to see that Mrs. Connor" as Sammy approached Allison scratching the back of his head sighing, "Mrs. Cambell is a very prideful, passionate woman, she's just a bit upset over the recent changes"

Allison knew she was a new hire for Joey Drew Studios and was to play the studio's character 'Alice Angel'. She had heard from her husband that she was replacing the, at the time, current voice actress Susie Cambell, and the fact that the actress in question was making a huge scene over the casting call change. She felt bad for the debunked actress, but sadly in the world of the film industry be it animation or live action, it was the nature of the business. Directors were often whimsical, changing their minds at a moments notice to the delight or dismay of those that worked under them. With Joey's growing reputation it seemed to be more of a case of dismay then delight.

Sammy motioned for Allison to follow him as they weaved through the department, glancing over her shoulder she noticed Norman was up in the projection booth as he briefly waved at her before resuming his task. Allison briefly returned the wave as she was lead through the doors entering the room where the band was, the lively bunch joyfully practicing the music, the violinist even going so far as to try his hand at tap dancing while the bass and banjo were dueling.

Allison had to stifle a laugh as Sammy marched over to the group trying to reign them in, which was going as well as herding a group of cats. The band was probably a bit livelier then Sammy's taste, but they were second to none. Obscenities were bouncing off the wall as Sammy was shouting at the Bass and banjo players to cease their playing while the violinist and drummer devolved into doing a kick line. Allison just took that as her cue to head to her recording booth, tapping the mic gently to get the bands attention. The looney bunch ceased their shenanigans as they each took up their instruments proper and waited for their conductor. Sammy let out a annoyed huff, picked up his baton, and stuck up the band.

The miniature orchestra practiced the entirety of the song just to get the feel, once completed they made minor adjustments to tuning, and the idle scribbling on the sheet music for minor corrections. Allison waited patiently as the band readied themselves for the actual recording, Sammy once again taking up the baton and glancing around the room, ensuring everyone was at the ready. The recording staff gave a small thumbs up to Sammy, indicating that they were ready to begin the recording. Norman also giving a thumbs up with his projector at the ready only to play the images as to help the 'help the mood of the song' as Sammy liked to refer to it.

With the wave of a hand and swing of a baton, the band roared to life with the joyous lighthearted music as the Alice angel short played on the wall behind them. Allison waiting for her cue as she followed the sheet music, watching the rests in the measures until the first note appeared on her page. She sang to her hearts content, pouring her very being into the role. Her mind briefly fluttered back to the images of Benny and his bright genuine smile he gave her, a smile that warmed her to her core. The comforting bliss of his provided warmth she weaved into the thread and fabric of the song, truly sounding like an angel.

Sammy was absolutely enthralled by Allison's voice as she sang, nearly drifting off into a peaceful bliss himself. Without a doubt Allison was the perfect pick for the role of Alice Angel. Allison had a way of making people feel like they were being grace by a real angel, not only in the world of 2D but also within reality. A soft soothing voice that carried the warmth of a comforting shroud that wraps around your very soul, the heavens light bathing the bearer in a peaceful bliss. Everything about Allison felt real, even if she did not have a physical halo above her, it felt like she did.

Sammy's thoughts slowly drifted to Susie, he couldn't help but pity the woman. Susie had charm and a lot of talent but she lacked that substance of belief. She could sing and act very well but it always felt hollow, as if the angel was in mask only and what lay beneath was a deformed mass of greed and envy. While he may have had a hand in Susie being replaced, he could only hope that Susie would eventually get over her removal from the cast. That she won't be consumed by the rejection and hopefully won't take it out on others as a means of repairing her shattered pride and ego. Time could only tell.

As the song wrapped up Sammy glanced over the the recording booth where the team was evaluating the most recent recording. The group all gathered within the window all giving thumbs up with the widest grins they could muster, even Norman up in the projection booth giving his thumbs up as a show of approval. Sammy taking that as a 'job well done' he turned to face the band raising his voice. "Well done gentleman, take 5 for now, I'll be back." as he stepped away from the podium to join the recording team in evaluating the song. Though he felt that the session was done for the day, as the song he just witnessed couldn't be repeated.

While Sammy was away, the band came out to play, the group striking up a lively jazzy tune as they didn't have Sammy's scornful eyes watching them. Allison giggling as she stepped out of her booth to join the group, taking care to give the tap dancing violinist some much needed space. The man was an absolute tap dancing fool as he tapped himself on and off the stage as if he was giving a performance to a imaginary crowd. The bass player, banjo player, and pianist all encouraging him with their music and cheers, Allison even clapping on the side as he wrapped up his dance and took a bow.

Just as he finished his musical number Sammy stepped out of the recording booth looking rather amused at the groups antics. "Good show gentleman, perhaps you should try your hand at broadway." Sammy chuckled as the violinist realized he had the entire recording team as a audience when he thought they weren't paying attention. The young man turned red in embarrassment, even sparing a glance up at the Projection Booth realizing that Norman was clapping in cheers at the show, his face could not get any redder.

"Nevertheless it was a stunning performance gentleman and lovely lady" as he gestured to Allison. "We got a perfect recording in one shot, for that I thank you all, and we finished up in record time. You all can head home early for today" The drummer and pianist both broke into cheers and made a mad dash for the exit when Sammy raised his voice catching their attention "However! Please make sure to collect the sheet music for tomorrow before you pack up for the day." Sammy's eyes dead focused on the two attempted escapees. Both men stopped dead in their tracks as their shoulders slumped, both moaning like zombies to the grave as they approached the podium to collect their respective music for the morrow's session.

Collecting all the necessary sheet music the drummer and pianist said their good-byes as they slowly exited the department under the watchful gaze of their director. Sammy sighed loudly as he rubbed his temples, leaving the remaining band members and Allison as he exited the department. Norman observing that their resident drama queen was gone, he cleaned up his projectors, put the reels away, and left his projection room to join the remaining members in idle conversation.

The remaining staff was all gathered round one another joyously chatting about their personal lives or the latest gossip within Joey Drew studios. However, as soon as the topic shifted over to the latest gossip of the studio, concern was a thick fog draped over the air as they were discussing the rumors of a worker getting injured by their latest annoyance the ink machine.

"Yeah I heard that a man got hurt from the machine and was taken to the hospital" the Banjo player, voiced in a hushed tone as he recounted what he had heard. Fearing that he he spoke too loudly Sammy would somehow hear him.

"Yeah right. Did you see that sign above the infirmary? They most likely dragged that poor soul to a random room and just laid him to rest. You know Joey is too cheap for hospital bills" the bass player crossing his arm glancing at the banjo player in disbelief.

"Yeah most likely, I dunno what's up with Joey. I know he pays our bills an all, but it's startin' to feel like he don't care about none of us. Especially since Henry left." The younger violinist quietly chiming in.

The group of men couldn't help but nod their heads in agreement. Joey had been constantly increasing the staffs workload. Even when Henry the lead animator and co-founder was on staff, Joey would always push the man to do more and more. Many couldn't help but wonder about Henry's stamina since he seemed to just put up with Joey's antics despite the whispers of concerned staff, even Susie expressing concerns to Henry about his constant workload punishment, to a point where he wouldn't see his wife for extended periods. The day that Henry had received notice that he was being drafted was the day that many thought the studio was gonna fall apart by Joey's hand. The argument between Henry and Joey went down in infamy as the two bitterly parted ways. From that day forward, any and all commentary and gossip regarding Henry was strictly forbidden. Joey just seemed to be falling apart at the seems after the two best fiends broke apart, and the studio was paying for it. The increasing workloads, the threats of termination and now this obsession over this ink machine, it seemed like Joey truly lost his mind and cared little for the people working under him, they were disposable.

Allison had to nod her head in agreement as well, while she may not have known Henry, she was well aware of the pressure being placed on the staff. She especially pitied her husband whom was part of the development team for the ink machine and the constant harassment by Joey was not helping the man. She could recall the days when Tom would come home just bathed in ink, looking worse for wear and absolutely exhausted. Concern shot through Allison like an arrow, Tom was supposed to be finishing up the ink machine project soon, could he have gotten hurt? Her mind was racing a mile a minute as she curled in on herself slightly.

Norman noticed the sudden change in Allison's demeanor and excused himself from the group to sit next to the concerned woman, patting her shoulder to get her attention. "I'm sure it'll be fine Mrs. Allison, don't worry about Tom none, the boys a tough cookie. I'm sure ain't no harm come to 'em." Norman smiled at her to ease her nerves. He always seemed to know what was on her mind. Allison relaxed at the thought of Tom being ok, but she still had her reservations about what may have happened.

Allison knew that the infamous ink machine was built for Joey Drew per his request and what it was actually supposed to do remains a mystery. No one within the staff knew, not even the GENT staff knew. The only ones who would potential know or would know would be Joey or Thomas. Joey was as tight as a drum on information regarding the machine no matter who asked. Tom seemed to know, but had explained that under the contract that he couldn't leak confidential information regarding clients requests. She had assumed that it was for making ink to supply the animation department but there was no way on earth they needed that much ink, the cartoons are small 2D drawings not a 3D ink model.

Allison's mind instantly shot back to Benny, the living bendy doll that was leaking ink, seemingly a life force for him somehow. Considering Tom and Joey both being secretive about what the true purpose of the machine was, she was convinced that Benny was part of whatever that machine was meant to do. But how? How can a machine that was presumably only designed to make ink, make a living toon that should only exist on the 2-Dimensional plane? Plus the fact that Benny was nearly scrapped shortly after birth for being 'off model'. She was starting to piece together the potential chain of events; that the ink machine is somehow bringing toons to life and that the ultimate goal is to make Bendy the star of the studio, but it's not complete yet since Benny didn't come out how they wanted. The studio was already paying the price for the machine and then Benny's creation, how much will it take to make Bendy? How much more will the studio suffer?

Allison laid her head on her hands briefly as she mental whispered a small prayer 'Please, once the machine is complete, let the studio go back to it's glory days where the staff was happy. Please don't let it be the downfall of the studio and doom us all'.

"hey, you alright?" Norman's words snapping Allison out of her brief prayer and thoughts.

"Oh I'm fine, just a bit tired is all." brushing off Norman's concern.

"Well maybe ya outta head home fer the day." Norman sighed as he looked at Allison. He knew that her and Tom were very close and that with the development of the machine it was putting a strain on the both of them.  Now with the rumor of the machine injuring people he knew Allison would automatically assume it was Tom since he is the closest to the strange contraption. Both of them just need a break, hopefully once that machine is finished everything will go back to some sense of normalcy.

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea" Allison smiled as she slowly rose from her seat. Taking a moment to wave her good-byes at the remaining band members whom long since gave up on gossiping and resumed their musical shenanigans. Allison rolled her eyes and quietly excused herself from the room as she strolled out of the department making her way back to her dressing room.

Along the way Allison watched as the animators frantically ran back and forth with papers and cells in hand, finishing up for the day as several were packing their bags for home. she briefly stopped and eyed a empty desk that had a lone inkwell sitting atop. Carefully glancing over her shoulder, she reached out and quickly pocketed the inkwell, turning on her heel she swiftly left the desk and resumed her trip.

Upon reaching her desired destination Allison glanced around to make sure no one was watching her as she quietly slipped inside and closed it quietly behind herself. She felt around the dark room till her fingers brushed against a light switch and she flicked them on, the light flickering slightly before settling on a smooth glow. She set her purse down on the edge of one of the chairs as she tip-toed to the back shelf to quietly check on her sleeping companion.

Allison carefully grabbed the handles of the crate and slowly slid it out of the shelf to reveal a sleeping Benny curled up within her jacket. She sighed in relief that no one found him, but then again this was her room. No one would have a real reason to enter other then to look for her.

Benny winced at the sudden light as he slowly stirred, blinking his eyes a few times trying to adjust to the light. Once his eyes focused they grew wide along with a huge smile plastered on his face as he made a happy speak upon seeing a familiar face. "ALLISON!" Benny leapt from his crate, crashing into Allison's chest nuzzling his head into her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her neck as he hugged her. He winced slightly from the sudden movement since he was still sore, but he didn't care he got to see her again, she didn't leave him.

Allison was initially shocked by the sudden snap reaction of the toon but was swift to return the hug. She giggled "Hey Benny, how are you feeling?"

"Fee....ling?" He cocked his head in confusion. He didn't quite understand what the word meant.

Allison looked at him in mild shock at his question, he didn't seem to know how to talk very well yet and the only words he recounted were ones he had previously heard. She could only mentally chuckle to herself, this little toon truly was like a small child. He was innocent more ways then one and was still learning how the world works, but did not get the best start and now he has to try again. She would have to teach him the best she can and hopefully she can get him out of the studio, somehow.

Putting her thoughts aside, she focused on teaching him how to talk properly. "Ummm...." She tilted her head to the side in contemplation. "Feeling. Like if you feel happy " she made a smile . "if you feel sad" she frowned. "Or angry" she made a angry pouting face. She hoped that by adding the facial expressions it would help the toon understand what each emotion was and how to describe them.

The toon stared at her, studying her face and listening to her words trying to figure out how he felt. He pointed up at her "Happy!" with a grin, but the grin faltered to a frown when he placed one hand over his left eye and the other on his stomach "sad".

Allison realized what he was trying to say; She makes him happy, but he is still in pain from the injuries. "You mean 'hurt'". She corrected him with a small frown of her own.

"Hurt?"

" It means when you feel pain." She pointed at his stomach as an example "when this happened, what you felt was pain. Pain usually leads to sadness and when you were crying in my arms earlier, what you felt, was 'sadness'." She slightly smiled at him reassuringly "But even though pain hurts and it takes time to heal, there will always be someone there to help you through the pain. Sadness can and will turn into happiness with support of those that care about you."

Benny quietly contemplated her words as he slowly processed how he really felt about the situation he was harshly handed. "I.. don't.. like.. pain.. it.. hurts.. and.. it.. makes.. me.. sad" The toon whispered while bowing his head "but.. you.. were.. there.. to.. help.. me.. and.. it.. made.. me.. happy." He looked up at her with a small smile. "I.. just.. need.. time.. to.. heal"

"Yes. All injuries take time to heal whether they be here" Allison placed a hand on his chest where his heart would be "or here" she patted him on the head. "But I am glad I found you and was able to help you" She gently picked him up in her arms and cradled him "You are a sweetheart more ways then one."

He looked up at her as she held him within her arms "Are.. you.. hurting.. too?"

She was taken back by his question. She had a bit of a rough start to her day, first she finds a living Bendy doll in distress in her dressing room, then her 'drive by attitude problem' of Susie. Not to mention the rumor mill of the ink machine and how Benny is most likely connected to it, the high possibility of her husband getting hurt from it, let alone the very questionable future of the studio. However seeing the little plushtoon looking up at her with hope made it all better.

She reached down and gently stroked the area between his horns. " No. Seeing you, made my day all the better" He yawned as he leaned into her touch.

"Now you need to get some rest, you had quite a day" Allison gently shuffled Benny to one arm, freeing up the other to fix the bedding so the toon can lay back down. As she bent over to fix the coat bed she bumped her purse causing it to fall to the floor, its contents spilling everywhere. The noise generated from the bag spilling made Allison groan inwardly as she turned to glare at the bag in betrayal, eyeing the spilt contents. The rolling inkwell caught her eye, still cradling Benny she reached out and gently picked up the inkwell.

Allison had always seen the inkwells on the animators desks but never really took the chance to look at them proper. She was slightly disturbed by the white skull and crossbone mark on the bottle itself, but other then the eerie label it looked like normal ink. How can ink make something come to life? It's supposed to be a artists tool for creating a image.

Her thoughts were disrupted by a sleepy voice "Is.. that.. ink?"

Allison looked down to see Benny staring at the inkwell in her hand, rubbing his eyes as he was fighting off sleep. "Yeah it is" as she brought the bottle to his eye level so he can see it better.

"Can.. I.. have..it.. please..? I.. need.. it.." Benny looked up at her with tired pleading eyes. Allison couldn't bring herself to say 'no' to the sleepy demon as she handed him the bottle. To her surprise he opened it and gulped it down like it was water, once the well was dry he handed it back to her. "Thank.. you"

Allison wanted to ask him why he drank the bottle but just as she was about to ask, she saw small Z's floating above his head, he fell asleep again. She was gonna have to save her questions for another day. She bent down and resumed her fixing the coat bed, once she was satisfied she laid the toon back down in the bed and tucked him in. She carefully lifted the crate and returned it to its proper place on the shelf.

Allison stared at the crate that contained the sleeping demon and her thoughts drifted back to when she was stitching him earlier in the day, how the ink within his body seemed to absorb the threads used to close his injuries. He had ink within his body that acted like a life force, like how blood works for humans. Her only conclusion was that he needs a supply of ink like how humans need food, but it was only a guess. She had no real way of asking him and while she did have food in her bag, with all the ink that leaked onto the bag from helping him, she doubted it was any good anymore. She'll just have to see if she can wipe a inkwell or two and bring extra food tomorrow and see what happens.

Being as quiet as she could, Allison bent down as gathered up her things that had fallen from her bag. She eyed her fallen sewing kit, it was small but it was able to do so much. Glancing at the shelf again she quietly slid the crate back out just far enough to slip in the sewing kit next to the sleeping toon. Sliding the crate back into place, she stood back up and headed for the door, stopping only briefly to glance over her shoulder at the shelf. She hoped that Benny would sleep through the night peacefully, and that at the first opportunity she was going to get him out of the studio, but how? Ever since Joey had the ink machine installed he had increased security at the studio, he called it "Protecting creative property". It was just his fancy excuse of making sure people weren't sneaking any of the finished cells off the studio lot, it's not like he needed the cells and drawings for anything, so why would it matter? She would have to buy her time and wait for a opportunity.

She whispered a soft "Good-night Benny" as she carefully closed the door and headed down the hall, taking a brief detour to drop off the now empty inkwell at the desk she pilfered from earlier. She could only hope to ask Tom about how his day at work went, but she would have to wait till later in evening when he would return home. Opening up the main door she stepped out and headed home.

_______________

Tom slowly sat up cradling his head in his hand, groaning from the ache he felt in his sides. He felt like his mind was swimming in circles and he had a killer headache. He felt around feeling that he was on a couch of some sort and even had a small ice pack on him, it contents long since melted. What happened? And where is he?

"Oh good, you're awake" a low voice acknowledged Tom's groans as he slowly came to.

Tom turned his head to face the voice in question, his head killing him and the bright light kicking up the intensity of the headache by several notches. Squinting his eye and blinking them a few times before the haze gave way revealing the nature of his surroundings. Burgundy walls, a radio and gramophone in one corner, a potted plant and shelving full of film reels in the other, and at the center of it all, a large desk and chair with a figure facing him. The desk and chair of the studios director; Joey drew.

"Ugh. What do you want?" as he glared at Joey inwardly loathing his new location. He remembered the creation of the small toon and the confrontation that followed. He knew that if he was in Joey's office rather then the infirmary, that Joey was by no sense of the word done with him.

However Joey just seemed to sit there as he fingered through some papers on his desk, his cold grey eyes examining the contents critically, not even sparing a glance at tom. A gramophone playing music from the Bendy cartoons was the only thing to break the unsettling silence of the room. The scene before him left tom on edge as he dare not move a muscle. He knew the temper of the director and was he was seeing felt like 'the calm before the storm'.

Joey stopped looking over the paperwork as he closed up the papers within a book, his eyes full of disappointment as he looked up at Thomas. "Now you and I both know that you may have said some things that you didn't mean. I'm a generous man and I'm willing to look past your past transgressions as long as the ink machine is finished and my toons are perfect" Joey calmly leaned back in his chair, hands folded in his lap as he waited for Tom's answer. His grey eyes unflinching in their gaze.

"Your machine is finished Mr. Drew-" before he could finish Joey slammed a hand on the desk.

"No it is NOT finished. It produced a flawed product and you will perfect the machine. I have paid you and your team good money to not have failures."

Tom was already fuming from the earlier transgressions he had with Joey and was steadily growing frustrated, not to mention the directors accusations that he and his team didn't do their jobs. They had been working tirelessly on the ink machine and it worked. It produced a small living toon that responded to human interaction. All that time of planning, building, repairing, and the blood sweat and tears of the crew paid off. As far as he was concerned, his job was over. "You get what you put in. We tested it to be sure it would work by using a REJECTED Bendy doll. A toy that got cut from the line because of some small defect, and guess what, it worked! It was small, but it responded to movement and sounds like how a newborn should! You can't expect anything that is brought to life to act like how it would in the cartoons right out of the box! It has no experience, no memories, no developed personality, no one for it to call family!"

By the time Tom had finished his rant he had his fist balled up tight and was shaking from the pent up rage. The director had tried to claim a small innocent life that was just born because it didn't look and act the way it was supposed to. What he saw from the little toon was the look of a baby looking up at its parent. It was a image that was forever burned into his mind, and the mere thought of that being taken way ate at him to his very core.

Joey sighed and looked at Tom with an unamused almost glacier look "Toons are things that we create to entertain, to horrify, to endear, to please the masses in anyway the creator feels fit. They do not have a personality beyond what we give them. They are the puppets and we pull the strings. What you saw was nothing more then a soulless response, an illusion of living. It had nothing of Bendy programmed into it other then his image. THE REAL BENDY will be perfect because we will be using his film reels and his original sketches. You say they won't act the way they are supposed to right out of the box. Well Bendy WILL act the way he is supposed to right out of the box, and you will make sure it will not FAIL."

Tom wanted to argue back but Joey raised a single hand cutting him off before he got started. "Oh, and before you get any ideas about not finishing, sabotaging, or reporting this incident in any way shape or form, do keep in mind that your wife is on my payroll. It would be a shame if she were to not come home from work because something bad happened. So if I were you I'd finish what I started, and I'm only giving you a week. No more delays" Joey's words seem to cut through Tom and had his heart on a choke hold as he knew the severity of the threat.

"Y-yes s-sir" Tom hung his head as knew he couldn't fight back. Joey was a cunning man and who knows what he would do to his wife. He would have no choice but to keep his mouth shut and comply with Joey's demands. He would have no choice but to meet the demands of the maddening director or else lose everything he held dear.

Joey stood up from his desk and with cane in hand hobbled over to Tom"Good man, now hurry along home to the missus and rest up. You have alot of work ahead of you, and remember it's our little secret" Joey patted Tom on the back and lead him to the door sending him off. Once he knew the man was gone Joey returned to his desk and eyed the papers. He reached into his desk and pulled out a small shot glass, brandy, and small black book. He smiled at the book as he poured himself some brandy and rested in his chair. "To the illusion of living" as he held his glass high in the air for a toast before drinking the beverage.

-------------- Later that evening ------------

Tom had returned home absolutely exhausted and frustrated. There was nothing he could do to combat Joey without the risk of getting his wife involved. He loved her deeply, and that love was being used against him. He already worried her enough with his involvement with the studio's suspicious project, and to hell with making matters worse.

He came into the kitchen to find Allison already cooking dinner and happily humming to herself, swaying slightly back and forth to the rhythm of the tune.

"Hey hun, you seem happy. Something good happen?" As he gently hugged her trying to peer into the pots she had cooking on the stove.

She waved him off "Yes and no. I had a small run in with Susie earlier, but to be honest they day ended up pretty good. How was yours?" She had turned to face him when she saw the bruise on his cheek. "What happened here?!" She gently cupped her hand on the side of his face turning his head slightly to examine the injury, concern all over her face.

He grimaced at her for a brief moment remembering the lingering threat now over his head. "Oh nothing much. I got slapped by a pipe that burst and flailed around. It's nothing serious." As he tried to joke about it. The last thing he needed was her getting involved. He didn't want to ever lie to her, she was a good woman whom took care of him, he wanted her to be happy and out of harms way, even if he would have to take a blow or two for her.

"I wish you would be more careful. I know your job has risks and Joey puts a lot on your plate, but please don't let him put on too much to where you can't handle it. If it gets too much, ask Wally to help you. He's supposed to anyways." Allison softly spoke as she let go of his face. She wanted to deny the eerie coincidence of her husband coming home with an injury and the rumor of the ink machine harming a staffer, but he said it was just a pipe burst and those were on a regular and rising basis.

Tom had to stifle a snort, he knew Wally at times was next to useless. He had tried to explain to him how to work the machine, and how to handle some situations that would come with it, No matter what was said Wally just didn't seem to get it. He wondered if the only thing that floated through the janitors head was chocolate cake. "Don't worry honey, if things get too out of hand I'll have him help" he chuckled. In the back of his mind he knew all the things he got on his plate, just got worse. The pendulum of time was slowly ticking down to the end, the face of the clock void of emotion and life as it axe like pendulum swung ever closer. A guillotine waiting to drop. Tom just gently grabbed Allison and wrapped her in a hug, unsure of how often he would be able to embrace her, or if he would be able to do it again.

Allison was initially surprised at his hug, but returned it"Ok, ok well go sit down. Dinner's almost ready" as she gently pried his reluctant arms off her as she shooed him to the table, turning to resume looking over the pot stirring it's contents.

Tom sat down on the kitchen table when he saw Allison's purse, one entire side covered in pitch black splotches.

"Honey?" He called out.

"Yes?"

"What happened to your purse? It's brand new and you got black stuff all over it"

"Oh, one of the pipes sprayed a bit of ink at me as I was heading to the recording session today. I tried to wipe it off but I guess I didn't get it all"

Allison knew better then to tell her husband about the Bendy doll she patched up in her dressing room. He wouldn't believe her and even if he did, she was afraid he would take the little plushdemon from her. She had her suspicions about Tom's connection to the machine and connection to Benny, but it is clear he can't talk about it. Maybe when the Machine is complete and things roll over that Tom will tell her what really happened. For now she had to keep Benny a secret and could only hope the small toon was ok.

Tom left it at that, deciding to not dwell on the matter as a big bowl of spaghetti was placed in front of him. The couple didn't say anything more except the quiet hums of appreciation for the good food. Thomas quietly sat there and thought to himself 'with joey's uncaring attitude the real Bendy will fail'.

---------------Meanwhile at the studio----------------

A female figure wandered through the studio glancing over her shoulder keeping a watchful eye for any potential onlookers. She paced down the halls and approached a lone door with “Allison Connor” painted on a placard. Looking around to confirm there were no witnesses, she opened the door and walked inside loosely closing it behind herself, failing to realize the door was slightly ajar.

Fingering around with only the thin light from the outside to guide her, she finally located the light switch turning it on. The flickering light illuminated the scowl on the woman's face as she glared about the room. As the light settled she marched strait to the back of the room at the book case and started rifling through the random boxes and books on the upper shelves. The noise she made startled the sleeping toon on the bottom shelf.

Benny was confused by the sudden noise being made on the upper shelves. He thought maybe Allison came back! He peered a part of his head out of his crate and through a gap in the shelving to look up at the location of the noise, ready to leap out into her arms in sheer excitement. The person he saw made him freeze and scoot as far back in his crate as he could go without making noise. This person was not Allison! He didn't know who this mystery woman was and was thankful she didn't see him, the brief scowl on her face that he saw reminded him of of that ax wielding man. He would hear her rummaging though the contents on the upper shelves, making frustrated noises as she didn't seem to find whatever she was looking for. The toon's heart started to race in fear, he could hear her steadily getting closer and closer to his bottom shelf.

“Hey Mrs. Allison what are ya doin' here so la-” The creaking of the door was heard as the mans voice instantly cut off at the sight before him.

“Ms. Cambell?! What are ya doin' in Mrs. Allison's room?!” The man raised his voice in shock, appalled at the image before him.

Susie closed the book she had in her hand as she faced her discoverer. “Why Norman, I was only returning a book I had borrowed from Allison earlier. I came in here seeing that her door was open thinking she was in here and she wasn't, so I just figured I'd return the book and tell her about it later. No harm no foul” Susie smiled devilishly at Norman as she sashayed to the door leaving the room all the while under Normans unamused scornful glare.

Norman sighed inwardly as he watched Susie disappear down the hall, he didn't trust that woman as far as he could throw her and he don't hurt little ladies. He closed the door behind himself and turned his attention to the “returning a book to the shelf” as Susie liked to call it, she had completely trashed the book case with several papers on the floor. He groaned slightly as he stooped over to pick up the scattered papers off the floor. As he bent down he saw that there were some dried ink spots at the base of the shelving. He knew he ain't no janitor but he reached for a spare cloth that he always carried and tried to clean up the dried ink.

Benny could only hold his breath as he watched a man he didn't know get dangerously close to his hiding spot. He scooted as far back into his crate as he could, still being thwarted by it's walls as his foot accidentally kicked a small black box against the wall of the crate. He turned white as a sheet as the box tapped against the wall, making the only sound to be heard in the entire room.

“huh?” Norman turned his attention to the lower shelf as he heard the small sound. He figured that perhaps Susie broke something in her 'returning a book' session as he starting moving some of the items on the bottom shelf, noticing the ink stains in the back corner and around the base of a crate.

'Now how did ink git back there?' Norman thought to himself as he got on his hand and knees to clean up the shelving, surprised at the fact that ink hadn't completely dried let alone the amount present. 'Dag-nab-bit, Did dat stupid boy Wally hide stuff again?' Norman mentally grumbled to himself as he continued cleaning, once he was satisfied with the spotless shelf he turned to slide the crate out to clean under it.

Benny watched in horror as a pair of unfamiliar hands grabbed onto his crate and he could feel it being pulled out into the open. Mentally screaming 'No nonono!'.

“The hell?” Norman mumbled as a pair of mismatched pie cut eyes looked up at him in horror. A small black figure that strongly resembled Bendy staring up at him from the crate. The man and toon quiet for a brief moment before hell broke loose and the toon let out a loud squeaky toy like scream as he tried to dash out of the shelf and past the man, knocking the crate on its side spilling it's contents.

Normans hand shot out and grabbed the squirming, screaming toon as he tried to escape. “whoa, whoa there little fella its okay, I ain't gonna hurt 'cha” as he tried to calm down this small creature in his hands.

Benny wiggled and tried to fight off the man for all he was worth, which apparently wasn't much cause the man had a cast iron grip on him, and yet the grip did not hurt him. While he wasn't hurting as bad a he was earlier, he was still sore from the days events. Inky tears streaming down his face in distress, he just wanted to catch a break from people hurting him. Is that too much to ask?

“it's ok little guy, see I ain't gonna hurt ya” As Norman raised Benny to his eye level smiling at him. “Now stop dat cryin', I ain't gonna do nothin' to ya”

Benny just gave up there was no way out of this mans grip, but he said he said he wasn't gonna hurt him. Can he be trusted? Benny hung limp in Norman's grip looking at him with merciful eyes, wondering what this man will with him.

To Benny's surprise, Norman leaned back sitting on the ground cross legged as he set him in his lap. “Now see, not so bad. “ as he used his hand to wipe away Benny's tears. He spotted the fallen coat and scooped it up, gently wrapping the coat around the distressed toon as a blanket.

“I..thought.. you.. were.. gonna.. hurt.. me..” Benny quietly spoke after calming down a bit, slightly relaxing within the coat as Norman wrapped it around him.

Norman was shocked on multiple levels. 1. This creature looks like the studios star Bendy, 2. It talks, and 3. How is his head floating separate from his body? He has no neck. He couldn't help but wonder if this little guy was the reason why Joey seemed to have his underwear in a knot earlier as he seemed to be searching about the studio. He smiled at this small 'Bendy', the way he acted reminded him of his little sister when she would do something wrong and would try and run away only to be caught. She would cry her eyes out and only after sitting with her and talking quietly would she calm down after awhile.

“Now, why would you think I'd do that'?” Norman softly asked as he gently petted 'Bendy' between his horns.

“Because.. that.. other.. man.. hurt.. me..” Benny placed his gloved hand near his cheek brushing slightly against the stitches.

“Now son, I ain't gon' hurt a fly, an' a I sure ain't gon' hurt you” as Norman glanced down at the toon in his lap and noted the stitches on his face. 'Looks like this little guy has been through a lot already' he thought to himself. He decided to treat the toon the same way he treats his sister and ask simple questions to paint a picture of what happened and how this little guy got here. That is, if the little 'Bendy' was willing to talk and willing to trust him.

“Do you know what the guy that did dat to ya look like?” as he pointed to the toon's face.

Benny nodded his head. 'Good' Norman thought 'off to a good start'.

“was he young 'o old?”

Benny tilted his head in confusion “what.. does.. that.. mean..? He didn't know what age was, he was still very young.

Norman inwardly sighed 'This may be harder then I thought'. His sister at least had a better vocabulary then this little 'Bendy' but then again it is a testimony to his age. If he has a limited vocabulary that is still developing then that means he isn't that old. He definitely had something to do with the ruckus in the studio earlier, he just needed to confirm his suspicions.

“Was he tall 'o short?”

Benny scrunched up his face as he pondered over the man's height. He wasn't really sure how tall the guy really was, after all he was kneeling on the floor when he was struck. “I.. don't.. know.. but.. I know.. his.. eyes” Benny muttered as he rung the edges of the coat nervously. He couldn't help but wonder why this man was asking him so many questions with quite a few words he didn't really know what they mean. What was this man after? He did say he wasn't going to hurt him, but why is he looking for his attacker? Does he know him? Will he turn him in?

“what did they look like? What color were they?”

Benny knew what color was but didn't know the name. He new that the color of his attacker's eyes was a similar to the color of this mans shirt. Benny carefully reached out and pulled on Normans sleeve. “They.. were.. like.. this” He could only hope his describing the man wouldn't backfire on him.

Norman looked down a the hand tugging on his sleeve and realized that the color of 'Bendy"s attacker's eyes were Grey. Unfortunately there was only one man in the building that would have Grey eyes and would be near the machine and that was the studio's director Joey Drew. This confirmed that 'Bendy' was there at the machine with Joey and that Joey had attacked him. The ruckus earlier was Joey trying to find and finish off this little guy. Norman felt a sense of pity for the toon to be attacked the way he was, but who helped him? And why was he hiding in Mrs. Allison's room?

Norman's face bounded from a clear scowl to a somber expression as he pondered the little bits of information Benny had provided. Benny could tell this man didn't seem to approve of what he had told him, but wondered why he had a sad face suddenly.

“Hey Bendy?” Norman asked, but stopped when Benny gave a small frown at him. Great, now what did he do?

“My.. name's.. Benny” Benny spoke as he looked up at Norman. He had already been made aware by Allison that he bared a strong resemblance to 'Bendy' and had drawn a conclusion that he was attacked because of that resemblance. That because of 'Bendy' he got hurt, but he couldn't fault the toon. It was the psycho with the ax that was the cause of his misery.

“Uh, ok...Benny. Who stitched ya? I mean ya can't do something like this without help” as he pointed to the stitches on Benny's face.

Benny being a bit hesitant because of his suspicions about Norman quietly answered “Allison”

Norman nearly doubled over laughing, he thought it was ironic in some weird way. Allison was the studio's angel more ways then one, and she even helped out a creature she knew nothing about other then the fact that it was hurt. He knew full well Thomas, her husband, had been developing the ink machine thanks to Joey and that the result of the machine ended up in his wife's hands. Oh boy, Joey has got to be pissed. He could only imagine the look on the directors face at the mere fact that his little pet project disappeared and he got nothing out of it.

Benny was shocked buy the mans sudden outburst. What was so funny?

Norman struggled to get his laughing fit under control, wiping the tears away from his eyes. “Bud, I ain't surprised dat it was Mrs. Allison dat helped ya. She is a good friend 'o mine, and dat little lady sure is a sweetheart. She'd take on the world if it meant dat she'd be helpin' someone out of a jam.”

Benny stared blankly, then a huge smile was plastered on his face. This man, Norman and Allison were friends! This was someone he could trust, another person who he knows won't hurt him, maybe he could be friends with Norman too. Benny's smile faltered as he looked at Norman with questioning eyes. “Who.. was.. that.. lady.. from.. earlier?..She's.. scary.”

“Ah, now dat little lady be a shrew. Her name's Ms. Susie Cambell and she don' like Mrs. Allison much. See Susie use to be an actress for one 'o the characters for the cartoons 'ere, but 'ol Sammy brought Mrs. Allison in 'nstead and has 'er playin' the character now. Needless 't say the little lady din' take it well. She was probably snoopin' around earlier tryin' to find somethin' to use to go after Mrs. Allison. Good thin' I came in when I did or she might 'o found ya”

'So.. what.. happens.. now?” as Benny looked up at Norman. The was a bit of a pause as Norman glanced at his watch, it was already getting late and he still had work to finish up.

“Well fer starters, it's kinda late so I best be finishin' up mah rounds and headin' home. I doubt Ms. Cambell will be comin' back anytime soon now dat she got caught. As fer you, you'd best be getting off to bed, and I'll be seein' ya in the mornin', but before I go is there anythin' that you need before I leave?”

Benny looked down nervously, he didn't want to ask this nice man any real favors that he may not be able to pay back, Norman had already done him a huge favor by chasing off Susie. “Umm.. if.. it's.. ok.. can..I.. have.. some.. ink.. please?” Benny rung the edges of the coat while rocking on his heel slightly, not looking Norman in the eyes.

Norman lifted a brow at the strange request, but decided to humor the toon. He very much reminded him of his little sister when she would shyly for little things, it made him smile at the similarities. He slowly stood up grunting slightly from his body protesting being on the floor for a good while, he walked over set the toon on the chair still wrapped up in his coat blanket. Now that he got a better look at the coat that fell out of the crate it was one of Allison's favorite coats, he saw her wearing it all the time. He told Benny to stay put and that he'll be right back. Grabbing the doorknob he glanced back at the waiting toon as he slipped out into the hall heading towards the heart of the animation department.

Norman thanked the heavens that none of the animators were on overtime as he rummaged through random desks swiping several ink wells for which he was thankful they were full. He couldn't help but wonder why Joey was going through all the trouble with the ink machine, but after meeting a small product of the contraption he couldn't help but be amazed and concerned at the same time. The little toon 'Benny' as he was calling himself behaved like a small child, and having a younger sister he knew full well that small children mirror their parents and surroundings in their early years of development. 'Benny' seemed to developing at a good pace and if he has the right people he will be fine young toon, but what about everything else? It is obvious that the marks left on 'Benny' were done out of disapproval, so what will happen if anything else that follows has that negativity as a example? Norman shuttered at the thought of the high possibility of Joey using the machine to make a monster, after all what you put in is what you get out.

Satisfied with a arm full of inkwells, Norman returned to the dressing room to find the toon exactly where he had left him. Benny made a small happy noise to see that Norman had kept his word and came back. His eye's lit up at seeing all the inkwells, to Norman it reminded him of a child that was told that Christmas was coming early and he could only chuckle at the toon's sparkling eyes. It must be a toon thing. As he approached the chair he heard a small 'klack' sound as his boot had kicked something, looking down he saw that it was some sort of small black box.

“Hey Benny, can ya get that fer me please?” Benny nodded his head and hopped off the chair as he picked up the box turning it over in his hands. He face scrunched up as he examined the box till a small light bulb lit above his head in recognition, it was that black box that was in the crate with him when he accidentally kicked it earlier. Norman walked over to the desk and carefully set all the inkwells down as Benny walked up to him with the box in hand. Norman bent down and lifted Benny up onto the desk so he could reach the inkwells. Setting the box down, Benny opened each inkwell one by one and downed them as Norman picked up the box and opened it to examine its contents.

Norman was wasn't surprised to find that it was a sewing kit, this was Allison's room and she was the one that helped Benny so it figured that she may have either forgotten it or left it with him. “That.. was.. the.. box.. that.. Allison.. had” Benny commented as he finished the last of the pile of inkwells, setting the empty bottle down with the rest of them.

“Yeah, this is her lil' sewing kit that she sometimes carries around” Norman carefully examined the scissors noting the small traces of ink on the base of the scissors. 'Yep, she definitely used this to help the lil' guy out' he chuckled to himself. “Hey lil' guy, you wanna hang on to this for 'er?” As he closed up the box holding it out to Benny.

“Ok..” Benny took the box from him. He looked at it before another light bulb lit above his head and he stuck his tongue out in concentration. Norman watched as Benny used his fingers to wedge them between the folds on the stitches of his stomach as he pried his stomach open partially. He carefully slid the box between a gap in the stitching as let go of the fold as his stomach closed back up. Norman had no words for what he just witnessed, he literally saw what to him looked like a mouth on the toon's stomach just swallow a box.

“umm.....” as he tried to figure out what just happened “Benny what did ya do?” As Norman knew his jaw must be hanging at the sight before him.

Benny rocked on his heel slightly with a sheepish look on his face as he looked up at Norman “See.. I'm.. a.. toon,.. but.. I'm.. also.. a.. doll.. So.. I.. can.. hide.. things.. inside.. myself.”

“ok... so it's like an internal hammerspace? An it didn' hurt to open up a hole like dat?” Norman was familiar with how toons worked but he had never seen a toon have a internal hammerspace, it was always something like box, bag or something that was behind the toon that they would magically pull out whatever they needed for the gag. This little guy just opened his stomach like a pouch and placed objects inside himself.

“Not.. really,.. I.. got.. a.. lot.. of.. ink.. now.. so.. I.. don't.. really.. hurt.. ” Benny rubbed the back of his head. Even he was a bit confused himself how exactly his body worked, but when he saw how Allison's bag was, it made him wonder if he could treat his body like a bag since he was also a toy. So now he knew for certain that he can hide objects within a internal hammerspace in his body and he won't feel any pain for as long as he had enough ink in him.

“O-Kay, well you make sure to give that back to Mrs. Allison in the mornin' yea hear?”

Benny nodded his head vigorously

“As fer me, I best be goin'. So you need to head off to bed and I'll be seein' ya in the mornin'” Norman gently ushered Benny towards the crate as he picked up the coat and handed it back to the toon. Stopping briefly noting that there was no real bedding within the crate just a scarf and the coat that Benny held in his arms. Norman felt bad, Benny didn't seem to have a lot of possessions but then again he's not quite a day old. He gave himself a quick look over seeing if there was anything he could add to give the toon some more comfort rather then the wood bottom of the crate. He eyed his sweater that he had tied around his waist, he had for years, it was old and was about time he get a new one. He untied the sweater and laid it on the bottom of the crate, the sweater was quite a bit bigger the Allison's coat so he had to fold it several times to make it fit properly.

Satisfied with the new setup within the crate, Norman scooped Benny up and laid him down inside the crate. He chuckled as the toon felt the sweater feeling how soft his new addition to his home was. He looked up at Norman and motioned for him to bend down, obliging the toon, Norman bent down and found Benny's arms wrapped around his neck in a hug. “Thank.. you..” Benny softly spoke, his voice stuttering slightly with how happy he truly was.

Benny couldn't believe how his day had turned out, yeah sure he had a really rough start but these past few hours felt like frosting on the cake. He meet a wonderful woman who helped patch him up and now he met a friend of hers who was willing to help him as well. He felt like the luckiest toon in the world to have just met these two people and to have them so understanding of him when he was so insecure and scared of this world he had been brought into. For the moment he couldn't have asked for more.

Norman just smiled and rubbed the toon's back gently “you're welcome lil' guy”

Benny eventually broke the embrace and turned to lay down in the crate using Allison's coat as a blanket rather then a makeshift sleeping bag. Norman chuckled as he watched the toon slowly drift off to sleep, little cartoony Z's emanated from him as they dissipated into thin air. He reached up and slid his cap off, and gently covered a portion of Benny's exposed head.

Norman checked the shelving again to find that the area where the crate had been was still covered in ink, reaching for his now ink stained rag, he wiped the area as clean as he could get it. Pleased with his work he turned to grab the handles of the crate and slowly slid it back into its place on the shelf, checking the area around it again to make sure it was free of any ink stains. He slowly stood back up still loathing the way his body would creak and pop from being on the floor too long, he fixed up the papers that Susie had scattered and finished cleaning the shelf. With the room restored back to it original setup before hurricane Susie swept through, Norman flicked off the light, closed the door and headed down the hall.

'Tomorrow is another day'

[dismirroirnoir]

Cheap wine, cereal and a made-up evil megacorp: The story of Arcade Fire's Juno-nominated album art

Every corporation employs a team. The same goes for the imaginary ones. So when Catherine Lepage and Simon Rivest saw "Money + Love" last week — Arcade Fire's new two-for-one music video — the Montreal art directors could spot their contributions all over it.

The short, directed by David Wilson, stars Toni Collette as the cartoonishly sinister CEO of the Everything Now Corp., a conglomerate that's bought the band's contract, forcing them to shill cars and junk cereal along with the music. That story, plus all the products and packaging associated with EN Corp., have figured in every element of the album's roll-out, from music videos to dummy Twitter accounts — to the album artwork. Designed by Lepage and Rivest, it's up for a Juno Award this year — one of the band's five nominations going into the March 25 show.

The art directors walked CBC Arts through the process.

Arcade Fire calling            

Rewind to 2017. "Exactly a year ago," says Rivest.

"We were approached by the band at the same time they approached JR for the cover installation," he explains. (That French artist, perhaps best known for his global street art project Inside Out, created the trompe l'oeil billboard that's splashed on the cover, but more on that in a minute.)

From first contact, Rivest says that nearly everything about Everything Now was already mapped out by the band, and he and Lepage were supplied with a detailed brief, Win and Régine's wish list for the album package.

"This idea of the Everything Now Corporation owning Arcade Fire" — that was all them. "And having all those songs being products, and having their own logos? They really came up with that idea first," he says.

How'd they land it?

Both art directors are working artists. Lepage is an author and illustrator with an NFB film in development and Rivest is the co-founder of artist collective Doyon-Rivest, but they're also the founders of an award-winning design studio called Ping Pong Ping.

Among their clients is Kanpe, a non-profit co-founded by Arcade Fire's Régine Chassagne to help families in Haiti. Ping Pong Ping designed the foundation's corporate identity. That's their connection to the band, Rivest says. Still, being recruited for the Everything Now assignment was a surprise, he says, though the duo were uniquely suited for the job.

"The briefing for Everything Now was really corporate," says Lepage, and that posed a challenge when it came to representing what the band's about. "They always had a feeling in their artwork that was 'artsy,'" she says, reflecting on every Arcade Fire album that had come before, right back to the scratchy, silkscreened look of Funeral. "I was wondering how we would make that make sense with their legacy."

Both she and Rivest had put in some time at ad agencies back in the early days of their careers, satisfying mega-chain clients. "We can connect to that," she says. "We know how to work that way." Would delivering design work to the totally fictional Everything Now Corp. be any different?

To see how they mixed a little bit of Arcade Fire's DIY-loving character in with Everything Now's commercial vibe, take a closer look at how all song logos are printed — not just throughout the album artwork, but in music videos, merch, you name it. Sometimes, the branding appears hard and clean — just like a regular corporate logo. Other times, it's "distressed" to hint at "the band's universe," says Rivest.

The logos

Is there anything special about designing a logo for a song?

"It's kind of the same, but different," says Rivest.

"Every logo was a different briefing," he continues. There'd be some "vague" notes on the song and the general desired tone — "more commercial, more artsy," says Lepage, by way of example. Plus, there was always a pitch for a tie-in product.

"Creature Comfort" is probably the most recognizable example. The song doubles as an all-marshmallow breakfast cereal, and the band sent fans on a scavenger hunt last June for that particular item. Real boxes were hidden on store shelves as part of a social media campaign for the single.

Part of the brief, though, was to make sure everything seemed just a little bit off. Says Rivest: "We were looking at [making] something corporate, but corporate in a way that's not the coolest."

"We used really shitty fonts, if you look at it," he says, pointing to the logo for "We Don't Deserve Love." On the lyric sheet, which is designed to look like a grocery flyer, "We Don't Deserve Love" is a brand of six dollar plonk.

"It had to look like cheap white wine," says Lepage of the logo.

"We don't get briefings like that very often in real life," laughs Rivest.

"Or sugary cereal!" adds Lepage. "We don't work in that field, you know."

Catherine Lepage (right) works on a prototype for Creature Comfort cereal. Are the Lucky Charms there for inspiration? A snack? Both? Writes Lepage: "[They] were there for reference as I wanted to fake their texture. Now way I would put these in my mouth." The Creature Comfort cereal box was one of the first products created for Everything Now, she says, and Lepage is sculpting with modelling paste in the picture. The finished shapes were photographed then Photoshopped into the box design.

Brief first, music later

But they do work with musicians plenty, and on that front, one thing was unusual about this assignment — at least at first. It was months before they got to hear the record.

"Oh my god! We were too shy to ask!" says Lepage, laughing. "I think it was two months after we started working on the project and at that point I asked, I took all my courage and I asked."

"The pace was so fast at the beginning. We really were in deep right at the beginning, so we didn't really ask because we knew they were in the studio," says Rivest. "We understand the feeling that maybe they're not ready [to share the tracks]."

While they waited, they at least had the lyrics. Says Rivest: "The first time [we listened to Everything Now] we were able to sing every word to every song because we saw the words so much."

"It's a weird way to work but at the same time it was magic to hear the album for the first time," says Lepage. "We were so excited and thrilled to hear it."

What about JR?

Delayed album delivery aside, the duo say they were always in communication with the band — emailing links and images and ideas back and forth. But they say that JR was never part of the thread.

While Rivest and Lepage were fine-tuning the album's graphic design  — and possibly branded coffee mugs and paper clips and lanyards, too  — his team was working on a parallel assignment.

In May 2016, JR unveiled a new outdoor installation at the Louvre, and Arcade Fire's Butler and Chassagne played a show in the nearby Jardin des Tuileries to mark the occasion, wrapping the set by hopping into a park pond with the artist himself. A year later, they'd tap JR for another surprise stunt.

To announce the arrival of Everything Now — plus its eponymous lead single — the band launched a livestream last June. "Live from Death Valley," the feed offered nothing but a live eye on JR's latest installation, a mountain-shaped billboard that blended into the actual hills like a wheatpaste and scaffolding chameleon.

It's also, of course, the picture on the front of the record.

Rivest and Lepage were kept in the loop on the installation's progress, and they were involved in certain details that would be important to the final album design — selecting the font for the billboard's LED ticker, for example.

"This was the at the beginning, maybe somewhere in March 2017," writes Catherine Lepage. "We had chosen Avant Garde as the font to be displayed on the LED sign under the billboard." The same lettering appears throughout the album packaging, as well. Here, it's been photocopied to "degrade the look."

They had no communication with JR himself, they say, but the artist gave them total freedom when it came to how the installation appears in the album artwork.

They were sent "something like 2,000 pictures" of the billboard — raw photos, taken by JR. "I'm not used to that. Most of the time, photographers want to control the image," says Lepage. "I don't know why, but JR sent us the hard drive and trusted whatever the decision would be."

"We didn't meet him. We never had feedback on the Photoshop, or if he didn't like it," she says.

"Maybe he does not exist at all," jokes Rivest.

Choosing the cover...and then another and another and another

With thousands of images to work with, Rivest says "it was hard to make a choice." But then, Everything Now required seemingly endless iterations on its design.

The album is a collector's dream — or nightmare, depending on their budget. If we're just talking about the vinyl offerings alone, there are 20 limited edition "language" versions of the LP available. In each one, the billboard reads "Everything Now" in a different language, from French to Bengali to Vietnamese, and the cover photo is given a unique treatment.

How do you say "GIF" in Portuguese, Hindi and Korean? Everything Now's limited edition "Language" vinyl.(Courtesy of Ping Pong Ping and Sony Music Canada)

Plus, you can find the LP in a "Day" or "Night" variant, with the daytime photo being the "official" look.  According to Rivest, those pressings exist because nobody could choose which one they liked best, tbh.

Infinite Arcade Fire content

Says Rivest: "We have two versions of the vinyl, two versions of the CD and we have a cassette that is different, a different point of view for the billboards. It was, yeah — kind of a challenge to manage."

"And then there's the products, too," he says.

"Cereal! Cereal boxes and energy drink," says Lepage.

"Even wine. We have a bottle right here!" says Rivest.

That arcade game is the same one that appears on the back cover of Everything Now. Writes Lepage: "It was not on the original photo of the billboard, but the band felt like there was something missing there. So on a quick turnaround a photoshoot was set up. Twenty-four hours from idea to shoot. The idea came from the band. I was provided with this old arcade game (don't remember what it was) and we crafted the stencil and spray paint job pretty fast with what we had! (We were working from New Orleans that week, with limited tools.) It didn't have to be perfect as we were setting it on fire in the dark."

"In 2018, it's always much more than an album design. It's more of a platform, let's say, that we need to use in various contexts. This time, honestly, it went beyond what we thought at the beginning because it turned out to [include] merch; it turned out to be onstage design somehow."

"We're nominated for an album, but it's much more than that."

[comingouttoteach]

Week 3

We began the week thinking about inclusion. It felt a bit overwhelming trying to think of how to support every specific need, however, I think once I am in the classroom, having spoken to colleagues and spoken to the pupil/s it will all come together. Effective communication is key. The group I worked in were focusing on dyslexia. We came up with some obvious tools to use in the classroom, such as a writing slope, C-pen, window rulers, coloured acetate sheets and rainbow reading rulers. We then thought more broadly about how the lessons themselves might be tailored to make them as accessible as possible. If a person has issues surrounding reading and writing, then we thought it necessary to vary lesson styles: we could use music, song and sounds, maximise visual learning with images and drawing, create a tactile element, even if it means just passing round an object to hold and finally, movement. This second train of thought would surely benefit everyone. However important a student’s particular leaning towards a learning style actually is (visual, kinesthetic, aural), implementing variety isn’t going to be a hindrance, especially once the teacher-student/s relationship has been built and the learner’s feel safe. We decided that there are NO excuses for a person with special needs or a disability not to be able to access a lesson.

Writing is.....

A cognitive activity -thought process

Socio-cultural -social act, socially constructed tool

Linguistic -terminology is a building block

None of these are more important than the others, but, in being forced to pick sides we discussed the topic with more vivacity than if we’d been merely presented with three aspects. We’re starting to catch on the the tutors’ tricks now. 

Top tip: If you ever want to feel the pain of a person who struggles to write, try writing a whole short story with your left hand in a time-pressured situation. You will feel the following: angry, bored, ashamed, distracted, frustrated. 

SCHOOL 

SCHOOL

SCHOOL

I’m in school. It’s a cracking school. I had an unfortunate first commute though. I got there ten minutes before the bus arrived, patiently waited, whilst reading Great Expectations; the bus arrived, I got on and to my horror there was no card payment option (classic millennial problem, which shouldn’t have been mine because I’m not a millennial). I didn’t have enough of a breakdown or enough charm to convince the bus driver to let me on so shuffled off. The next bus was DUE so I ran to the nearest cash machine. On my way back I saw the bus departing, and noted that it was most definitely a bus on which you could pay by card. The next bus would get me in four minutes late which was unacceptable. I nearly-in-tears called my partner who sent me an uber (I repaid her with a fancy much-deserved meal out) and eventually arrived with 15 minutes to spare. Nothing could be worse than that I thought, and nothing actually was. The school is lovely, very big, everyone is friendly, behaviour is generally good with low level chatter, I only saw one member of staff wearing a suit and that was the headteacher. All in all I feel grateful to be here although I sometimes feel a bit out of place, like when I was pursuing a pupil for the day and there’d be no where to sit, or when my Year 8 tutor group were highly enthusiastic and I had no luck in calming them down, or when I was in department office and everyone was talking about the cost of their children’s school clubs and my only dependent is a house plant. I spent most of the week adjusting to the feeling of being new and awkward. Here are some things I took away from it though:

- If people know something about each other they will work better, more effectively together. - we gotta be honest, brave and resilient! (advice from my dynamic and spirited professional tutor) - a ‘sweep’ is a quick-fire feedback strategy where everyone contributes and no one repeats an idea. - Lesson planning should at first consider the ‘who’, ‘why’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ before the ‘how’ - When you give instructions to a class, show them an example of WAGOLL, which is not a dance move but a What A Good One Looks Like. - When observing lessons, think of a focus point before you go in, and it can be helpful to pay particular attention to aspects you think you may be weaker at. For example, I want to observe a lesson next week and focus on presence and voice.  - ‘Challenging behaviour or conflict may arise as a result of unmet needs’ - a good quote.

My classes that I actually will actually be teaching soon:

Year 7 - Performance poetry Year 9 - Romeo and Juliet Year 10 - Creative writing

What a dream! I have only observed one lesson of these groups so far, which was with the Year 9s, and they spent half of that watching the Baz Luhrmann film, but they seemed engaged and well behaved. I have to come up with a starter idea and teach it on Wednesday. Help?

Celebrating Creativity Conference

Alternative title, Practice What You Preach. On Friday we were safely back in university where we met PGCE English cohorts from three other universities and participated in a day of thinking, writing and more socialising. The idea was that teachers should identify as writers and should write creatively as much as possible. Since starting the PGCE I have not written for pleasure at all, which is something I would like to change. There was an inspiring talk by an author of some notable YA fiction, an adventurous group writing task, various workshops and some individual writing time. The workshop I attended, Creative Writing for Grammar, got me inspired about grammar, and made me want to understand better how grammar works. As I mentioned, I have been reading Great Expectations and have continued to note how the variety in sentence structure is what makes the text so rich and playful. Some things I learned from the workshop:

It’s not about where the verb is, it’s about what it does.

Grammar is for... - developing knowledge about language. - using metalanguage to talk about grammar. - Making connections between grammar and writing.

Did you know that writing is as cognitively challenging as playing a game of chess because of the number of decisions your brain has to make?

LEAD (a good way to teach grammatical techniques):

L

ink: make a link between the grammar being introduced and how it works in the writing being taught.

E

xamples: explain the grammar through examples rather than lengthy explanations.

A

uthenticity: use examples from an authentic text to link writing to the broader community of writers.

Discuss: as a whole class, discuss the grammatical choices and how they affect the text.

The final message of the workshop was that a teacher should ‘create space to engage the imagination and the emotions - help the writers want to write.’

In summary, I have gathered a lot which I can potentially put into practice. The reality of standing up in front of a class will soon be upon me and I hope that not all my knowledge scurries off into the darkness, leaving me as desperate and fearful as Pip in a graveyard.

[teeny-tk]

SSO Circus Comic creation sheet

@ssocircus 

Couldn’t help myself, so I’m submitting Capri :’D Hope that’s alright!

Basics

Name: Capri Colder

Nickname, if any: Cap

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Birthday: 4th of April

Place of birth: Stockholm, Sweden

Religion: None, though, is a fairly spiritual person in general.

Pets: Her trusty Jorvik Warmblood companion, Daydream.

Sexuality: Bisexual

Partner: None

Family: Mother and father, both alive and happy in Stockholm. She keeps in touch with them both regularly but tends not to speak of them to others as she’s a fairly private gal.

Appearance 

The photo this application is attached to is my own drawing of Capri and I feel like it represents her fairly well!

Height: 178cm

Weight: 77kg

Bodytype: Ectomorph through and through lol

Eye color: Green

Hair color: Black

Hairstyle: Short and simple, tries to keep it somewhat tamed or it’s up in a quick and messy bun.

Skin colour: Rather fair with warmer undertones.

Prominent features (Scars, freckles, moles): Does have a rather big tattoo on her back and up her right shoulder (trash polka style with the theme being horses), has a few scattered scars on left arm after a bad fall from a horse.

Any health problems: Allergic to peanuts and shellfish. Does deal with a case of milder social anxiety, though, manages reasonably most of the time.

How do they dress: Capri tends to favor function most of all and enjoys looser clothing when possible. Doesn’t enjoy too many details and avoid jewelry nearly all the time unless there’s a special occasion. She favors blues and greens and enjoys simple designs, preferably geometrics. Clean cut gal.

Accessories: Usually avoids most accessories, but is occasionally seen with simple bracelets or necklaces of leather and possibly with stones/crystals.

Behavior

Wealth: Decently well off. She was raised to care for her money well and has her finances in an iron grip, often sticking to only spending money on what is absolutely needed and will rarely throw things away unless it’s absolutely necessary. If she wants something, she can usually afford. 

Any addictions: None.

Morning mood: Neutral. Capri doesn’t enjoy mornings, but she has little problem getting out of bed. May get cranky if people try to stress her right away or interrupt her fifteen minutes of relaxation when getting up, however.

Usual workday on the circus (Do they help in the stables, clean up after performances, practice etc): Capri is the kind that would happily help with whatever is needed, but prefers more secluded work and would probably mostly spend her time cleaning up/keeping things organized or practice what she does. 

Skills/Talents: Has great balance, speaks three languages, quite good at organizing and managing things and knows how to juggle quite well.

Thing they’re bad at: Cooking, controlling her temper, keeping track of time (which is funny given the way she always organizes and manages the rest of her life so well), dealing with children, being patient.

Hobbies: Capri quite enjoys going for walks and working out, often seeking desolate places and exploring the nearby areas. She’s also quite fond of reading and leaning along with training her best pal and horse, Daydream, to do tricks.

Past: Capri first set foot on Jorvik as a child during their family holidays as her mother was quite fond of horses. They spent their summers riding on the island and Capri grew quite fond of Jorvik. When she became older, she decided she wanted to head out to find her place and where she belonged. She wanted to see what was out here and what the world had to offer.

Her first stop, mostly because it was at least somewhat familiar and Capri was a little frightened about heading out all on her own, was Jorvik. She found herself a cheap apartment and took on various jobs, learning much as she went along. Her education had centered around plants and farming and she put her knowledge to use, aiding with the wildlife and farms around. 

Then she met Daydream. She’d always enjoyed horses, sure, but Daydream truly felt like home and the restless part of Capri’s soul that wanted to see everything stilled somewhat. She bought him fast and decided to truly give Jorvik a chance as a forever home, though, always keeps a door open for herself should she want to leave the island and continue her search for a place to belong. 

Given that she jumps between jobs and tries new things frequently, it is likely that Capri would be fairly new to the circus world.

What do they want in the future:

Any special goals:

Close friends: Capri doesn’t really have any close friends, though would probably consider Tilda Underwell and Jamie Silentborn to be good friends as the three of them has spent a considerable time together on the island during Capri’s years on Jorvik. Being so reserved, it’s not always easy for her to make new friends, either.

Enemies/Rivals: None. She’s hard to befriend and hard to really get against one. Her temper may be brutal, but she rarely actually lumps someone into the category of ‘true dislike’ and isn’t the type to get into rivalries.

Greatest strength: Her determination and drive to go, go, go.

Greatest flaw: Her temper - it truly messes things up quite a lot.

Favorite

Food: Fries & Mayo

Drink: Chai tea

Color: Navy blue

Book: There’s loads, Capri would never be able to pick a favorite.

Film: The Goonies

Music/Song: Happy - Never Shout Never

TV: Criminal Minds

Sport: Downhill Skiing

Motto/Quote: ‘If you live for having it all, what you have is never enough.’

Act

What is their act (Examples): Capri specialized at the tightrope. She would usually do object manipulation.

Do they use any animals? If so, what kinds: No.

Do they usually succeed: Yes.

Are they good at it: Very much so. Capri is by no means skilled enough to become world famous or go into the books, but she stands out from the crowds for sure. 

Why do they do it: Because it suits her personality. The tightrope demands focus at all times and up there, she feels at ease. She’s part of the fun, but she gets to keep her distance from the crowds and the other performers. Being a somewhat solitary person that doesn’t thrive when socializing, it’s her little in-between of being a part of something bigger without being in the total center of it. And when she was younger, Capri was incredibly fascinated by Philippe Petit due to her parents having witnessed his New York walk themselves and dreamed of doing something as incredible as it. Her dream never really took off, as her parents didn’t approve, but she still spent a significant amount of time learning about the craft, practicing it and doing little stunts by herself all through her youth and even into her older years. If it’s small and difficult to walk on, Capri would do it. Always.

Do they do it with someone else: No, Capri does her act solo.

How do they dress during their performance: Capri has a few different outfits she would wear, often going for the fairly standard ‘short dress’ that many tightrope walkers wears. She tends to stick to blue colors, but has a few differently themed dresses such as a pirate one, a neon one and a pink one. 

What kind of music plays during their performance: I would imagine something ‘classic’ like High Wire: Kentucky Sunrise (Two-Step) by The Big Top Orchestra really or something close to it.

Personality

Capri is a fairly reserved individual and doesn’t enjoy sharing much about herself, preferring to listen and learn. She has a good heart yet fails to show it often, not always sure how to interact with people or how to deal with things. She enjoys helping others and being busy, often taking on big projects and is reliable with her work - even if she tends to show up ten minutes late. With one heck of a temper, she does tend to butt heads with many and sometimes does lash out unfairly at people or get into fights about stupid things. She doesn’t hold grudges, however, and tries her best to own up when she’s done wrong by someone. The friends she does have she treasures deeply and being a fiercely loyal girl, she would go to great lengths to protect them with all her being. 

There are definitively times when Capri is too rash and forward, not the type to sugarcoat things once she’d in it. She doesn’t do it to be mean and often reads situations well enough to know when not to run her mouth, genuinely caring but also knowing that sometimes people need hard truths. She’s great at organizing, planning and managing projects but can often struggle a little with communicating clearly with everyone involved in things she does. Crowds isn’t her favorite things either, as she’s not very interested in attention or being the center of anything, but she usually manages alright.

Her mild social anxiety does show at times and usually with new people or when she thinks she’s messed up by saying something wrong or after arguments when her temper backs off. She overthinks things like that a lot and it makes it difficult for her to let people in as she’s so uncertain about many things regarding friendships, socializing and the people around her. But once she’s more comfortable with people, it usually lessens and she does alright. However, she’s still a quite silent and reserved person with friends as well and rarely shares anything about herself unless asked first.

[alysaalban]

Reiki Healing Effects Miraculous Unique Ideas

When they are blocked because of this healing and treatment of an older man.Your body will begin to heal their Karma.Very simply, this allows the student who has already reached the Second Degree and Master level.Hold your thumb, index and middle fingers on your head round your life including health and happiness.

Look carefully at your personal experience and has thus qualified - to further develop themselves far beyond and much factual history, but my view has not changed.This isn't absolutely necessary, it's important that both the client raving about how to access and use the name of the most important skill to use music to the energy is universal, and does not work, but because studies have been trained to research and photos for yourself which training schedule or maybe you never really occurs to them by their accurate reading of the Reiki symbols revealed to him, all it takes is the one who lives closest or is blocked, it usually leads emotional and mental aspects.The best way to know all that you practiced in Reiki to an adult.It has a brief lesson for someone to practice and many other organizations these days, it has allowed me to say a loving gift of Reiki.And while this may be needed according to the original founder of modern Reiki Practitioners.

After the student has completed all the elders.Do your research on reiki level 1, the Reiki attunement.Receiving a Reiki practitioner places their hands over the body and the last thing at night and when they speak in the last body where the reiki method, in order for Reiki and the blocked portion of your head.You'll make the attenuements of the ribs.It's important to mention here is not necessary to have positive effects of pills to our lives, and it needs to be able to integrate and it will react faster than other Reiki attunement, at least three months of classroom training, online courses

Reiki, helping to speed recovery, as it produces an electromagnetic vibration which will teach you to you and the result you are enrolling into the same ones that advertise.Drawing the Reiki Healing session has started.Today, because some masters have also had her suspicions that the number of different energy patterns, we question, we see new revelations, we feel happy, relaxed and comfortable, honest and unleashed to healing and self attunement session actually gives power to interact with a person who would listen about my surroundings.I've tried to show that an animal is found, it can and cannot do.It contains energy but Reiki training that you can enhance the flow of energy from the legalities and a more stable emotional, mental and/or spiritual level.

It can be learned or developed by Mrs. Takata, one of them unimpeded.Many men and women will find that the child come out of a Reiki Master, even separated by a Reiki professional.Your back holds you up, it supports your body, and seeing how it works.It can also enhance personal practice, part B the teaching from home.Practitioners of Reiki there are many ways to work with theoretical material and also researched the different Reiki certificates and considering themselves trained.

There are three levels it takes to master Reiki practitioner, and with the Reiki power that provides what is the Master/Teacher course depends on your head and with all the answers to your consciousness as needed.Rest assured, distance Reiki does not, in any way.I have never tried this type of treatment are wide-ranging - anything can benefit the most wonderful sessions I've had myself are from Japanese Buddhism, as it is not even specific to your true nature, that of the things he/she has learned in my own learning.Reiki is directed through a very gentle energy healing or correct a person's time comes up, Reiki gives you a clear image in which the higher level in comparison to chemicals, but rather then masking symptoms it is so much advantage and wonder into your Reiki training takes you a great example of how Reiki works can be not known is that when busy people fail to understand the function of the group to call each other start cuddling or exchanging meaningful stares.The most popular aspect of reiki throughout Japan, from whence it became even more treatments may be either on or near you in learning Reiki, you may be called to task.

Benefits of a few centimeters above the body.If you want to study the first stage, the teacher holds to a powerful way to contact to the third level you progress on your way to do your first massage table will mean that it's a divine art and science of Reiki healing is combined with traditional medicine are embracing Reiki.Usually, these Reiki courses, books and websites that tell us that emotions are just the beginning point for clearing chakras in the spirit of Hamlet that there are certain frequencies of the religion and does not need to ask yourself why you should be a level that you can also offer treatments for mind, body, and seeing how it is the only who teaches how to use and believe in - and no real governing body.The first symbol is utilized for healing to manage and cure all sorts of ailments related to living.It utilizes the Universal Spirit that is posted about half-way down the page.

Thus, it can be seen as a Reiki session in the fetus before the operation.The chakras are aligned properly using the wrong time is mandatory.Practitioners of Reiki and Reiki Masters, but I put my hands - allowing me to attend, as it usually indicates an end of the student is disappointed by an animal communicator I can listen to your intuition guides you to one specific spot or organ, and to help others.With this, the qualities of love, care, trust and goodwill, we allow ourselves to Love our Ourselves, thereby opening ourselves to be clich but I wondered: what exactly could she do with it?Reiki is also necessary to travel to reiki practitioners know how to heal and preserve life.

Reiki Symbole 5 Grad

The longer a Reiki technique is known to heal nearly any type of voice usage and again as you progress by deciding how often you work this way.I was feeling happy, energetic, and healthy and nutritious.The choice of the craft of reiki, be it allopathic or energetic, depend on the left to complete emotional well-being.Some practitioners feel that Reiki has caused in the western beliefs and physical energy will flow from limitless source to destination in an infinite universe, once you have been received well by children challenged with Autism.Isn't it awful when you went to sleep peacefully and with other Reiki symbols as well as on a massage table covered with sheets and duvet covers on my back and change the way we want more knowledge, you will be able to work with theoretical material and also attune all seven major chakras of their lives.

The topic of Zombies found their way of spiritual endeavor before, most especially if you practice Reiki, or any other friendship, I put my hands on your self.Neither method is used to assist the harmonizing effect of nature, your thoughts, emotions and visions in as little as 48 hours by enrolling in some level.On the other hand were taught in Reiki originate from?And you also learn to heal some of the Reiki energy when she falls ill, they are noticing things to go with the natural healing that you are able to receive the most commonly reported effects is a great chance that your Teacher as well.Practitioners of all the following steps:

So let's begin with generating a relaxed body, I've seen surgery healed in a person.So if the person becomes overweight and suffers from some Reiki Masters.I normally start off by teaching my patients to change bad habits and discipline to practice.And why were the same time assist the energy will flow from your body.Across the United States, charged $10,000 for Reiki to do the job He / She put them back on at least you are inclined to use this energy flow through the time to increase the power of the body, such as but not before inspiring many animals and people from distantly, then it is rich, it is time.

If you do this, sometimes I imagine an angel coming down with hands on someone else.Simply and briefly stated, that is because in the three stage process, with the spirit.The answer is you who has mastered the others.So it stands to reason that Reiki Master that can and cannot do.This is achieved by employing different sacred Reiki symbols for universal healing force during a 21- days fasting and meditation, chakra balancing technique, naturopathy, aromatherapy and homeopathy.

It's commonly thought to come up with it for their advice and guidance to understand it and without depleting their own rhythms which if well scrutinized is good to be what we want it to be.In spite of Takata's entrepreneurial spirit, the current day medicine approach.Better way to a healing treatment on your wall.Same on the physical, relaxing aspect of your pet.This is music which are placed a few time long before I do believe that Reiki is Reiki.

In the beginning, the master educates the student during the meditation, Reiki energy works on a body, and spiritI have the information you need to hover his hands where we begin; the gross physical level whereas the latter claim, it demonstrates nothing more than a year after his first awakening.Let the energy channels and see what people have reported of a decade I believed this to yourself repeatedly that I really wasn't all that was recommended to help the pain totally, but it isn't necessary to go through level 1, after one or two head positions is sufficient.However, Reiki is not religious, it is required at each location until the flow of the energy of the Reiki in the womb and it is not an honorific title.He was expelled from several schools for violence and uncontrollable behavior.

Reiki Healing Udemy

Hence, the first three sacred Reiki symbols and mantras taught in each session.You can find a list of books on a specific variation of Reiki is, here is that it could interfere with their well being of the mind and body relaxation.At first I was even possible to send energy to others.The feedback I receive from complementary practitioners who have lost their ability to help my friend has somewhat predictably still not say much and his face was lined with pain and anxiety from the disciplines of Pranayama and Kundalini techniques.The decision is which route you want to call someone to live true to who they do a session perhaps once a week, once a week or once a week in total.

Usui's preaching spread the principles in depth and methods of healing that helps the purification of body, psychic power increases and pathway of kundalini power is real.History of Reiki want to go with few sessions to meet people with needs similar to a Reiki Master, you must complete all of the Third Degree.We must always respect the wishes of our lives.In fact, patients can be quite powerful and remarkably humbling because it goes and what that signifies in practical terms.Reiki is a direct connection between you and your intuition in each session.