#Lent 2019

[lentenletters24]

I directed my life for myself before and during that time was mainly miserable and entirely unstable; giving my life to God has taken so much pressure off of me and leading me to a more relaxed, healthy way of living.

[darknight3904]

Every Breath You Take

Chapter Fourteen- The Red Arm Chair

Summary: Tucked away in Lincoln, Joel watches over you from the comfort of a red armchair. Together, you bond over late-night reading

Warnings for this part: Canon typical violence, themes, language, gore, and horror.

Word Count: 3.4k

Previous Part / Series Masterlist / The Last of Us Masterlist

Spoilers for the first few chapters of Game of Thrones by GRRM.

2019 Lincoln, Boston 

Bill and Frank’s home was quite possibly your favorite place to be. Sure, the food was great, so was the conversation, but the real star of the show was upstairs; the shower was 95% of the reason you made the ten-mile hike out here. Hot water, real hot, not shitty QZ hot, plus a pretty porcelain tub that sparkled when the sun hit it. Much better than the dismal standup shower that was in your apartment back in the QZ. 

You were careful with the hot water privileges, turning it off when you were shampooing and letting your conditioner soak, and of course, making sure the faucet handles were correctly shut off when you were done, lest you encounter the wrath of Bill. 

The beds were a plus too, soft and always smelling like happiness. You towel dried your hair, sitting at the foot of your bed as you appreciated the softness of the rug beneath you. You’re beat, the long walk here was made even worse by the pouring rain that had forced you, Tess, and Joel to take cover for an hour while it passed over. The soft knock of a hand at your door has you turning. 

Joel pushes the door open, his own hair damp, slicked back to his head. 

“Hey.” He grunts 

“Hey.” You greet 

The two of you stare at each other, as if he’s forgotten why he’s here. 

“You uh, just wanted to check if you were doin’ okay,” He says, “You have everything you need?” 

“Yup, all good…just like always.” You say, reminding him you’d been here many times, enough that Frank made sure your favorite sheets were on the bed each time you showed up. 

“Right.” Joel nods, staring at you like he doesn’t know what to do next, his hands resting on his hips.

“Do you have everything you need?” You ask stupidly, like you’d have the courage to ask Bill for anything Joel might want. 

“Uh, yeah. M’ good.” Joel nods, like he’s trying to convince himself instead of you 

Silence falls over the two of you as you stare at each other. He’s got more grey hairs than you realized, it makes sense he’s nearly 51, birthday just a few months away. You make a mental note to scrounge up some form of present for him. 

“Did you need something?” You ask 

“No…” Joel says, “What uh were you gonna do with your night?” 

“Well, after I’m done drying my hair off, I was gonna read, Frank lent me this book.” You say, gesturing to the book that sits tangled between your turned-down sheets 

Joel nods, fiddling with his fingers like he’s nervous about something, “Could I uh…do you mind if I sit in here? I won’t bother you or nothin’ got my own book actually.” 

Joel holds up a well-worn copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 

“Yeah, that's fine.” You say, “Is that armchair fine or did you wanna share the bed?” 

Joel settles into the plush red armchair that sits next to the bed, “M’ fine here, you can have your bed to yourself.” 

The two of you sit in silence for twenty minutes, each of you reading your own books. At one point, you look up from yours, taking a break from Dany and her strange brother Viserys, only to find Joel already looking at you. 

“Are you even reading?” You ask breathily, not expecting his eyes to already be on you 

“Can’t focus.” Joel sheepishly admits, “Got alot on m’ mind I guess.” 

“Is it Tess?” You blurt out accidentally. Fuck you hadn’t meant to do that. Shit now he was probably gonna shut down, give you a glare and stalk off to do Joel things somewhere else. 

Joel gives you a look before suddenly speaking, “Yeah, it is actually.”

“I thought things seemed off between the two of you the past few weeks.” You admit, “Kinda hard to ignore you sleeping on the couch now.” 

Joel gives you a pity chuckle, “Yeah, we ain’t gettin’ along the way we used to.”

He just means they’re not fucking anymore. At least theres less of a chance of you coming home to the two of them fucking over the kitchen table again, after that incident you hadn’t been able to look either of them in the eye for a week. It’s been four months, and you still shudder thinking about it. 

“You don’t gotta worry though, business s’ stayin’ the same. Can’t fuck up a good thing over stupid shit that don’t matter. We all need cards, so nothing's changing. 

You nod slowly, trying to discern the look on his face. Joel was always a hard one to read. It wasn't always like this but since Sarah you never knew what he was thinking. Thinking quickly you decide to change the subject, catching him off guard. 

“How’s Narnia?” 

“Honestly, I haven’t read a single word.” Joel admits sheepishly, he nods to your book in your lap, “How’s uh, Game of Thrones.” 

“Pretty good. These sibling dynamics are kinda odd though.” You admit 

Joel nods, kicking his feet up on the side of your bed, sock clad feet standing out against the light blue blankets, “Read it to me.” 

Normally you’d tell a person asking you to read to fuck off. They could pick the book up themselves and read it on their own. But, this wasn’t just anyone, this was Joel Miller. Stick up his ass, I hate the world, Joel Miller. God only knows when you’d get a chance like this again so you turn the page and start reading all about Daenerys Targaryen and the Dothraki. 

The next time you open your eyes, your book is gone from your lap, pillows propped up under your head and blankets up to your chin. Snores that aren’t your own fill the room. For a moment it feels like Tommy has reappeared, turning on your side you half expect him to be in bed with you. Instead, Joel Miller is slumped in the armchair beside you, head lolled to the side, mouth open as he sleeps and snores away. His arms are tucked across his chest, making his biceps look bigger as your eyes scan his sleeping form. He looks peaceful like this, dark hair messy atop his head, curls falling over his forehead. Sporadic freckles line his face, something you’ve never seen before; they’re probably from the many hours he spent in the sun as a contractor. Tommy had them too. In a certain light he’s actually kinda handsome, if you’re into the total hardass grump vibe. 

Joel scares the shit out of you when his eyes fly open and he jumps back. 

“Shit.” You gasp, staring at him with wide eyes.

He glares at you, like you shouldn’t have even been looking at him in the first place. 

Joel glances around like he can’t remember how he got to where he was. He surveys the room like you’re keeping him captive. Standing up briskly her mumbles something about the bathroom before disappearing into the suite. You heave a sigh, there goes whatever touching moment the two of you had last night. 

You meet Frank downstairs, the scent of eggs and bacon wafting out of the kitchen while Bill’s music plays from the player they keep on the kitchen counter. 

“You slept in.” He greets, pushing a steaming mug of coffee towards you 

“Stayed up late reading that book.” You say, “Fell asleep partway through King Robert’s arrival at Winterfell though.” 

“Oh, is that the only reason you were up late?” He smiles 

“Uh, yeah.” You blink at him unsure of what he’s trying to say 

The day is filled with boring yard work. Bill needs help with a section of the fence so he and Joel are off, digging holes and rolling out wire while you and Tess help Frank with the gardening and the chickens. 

Frank can’t do as much anymore; whatever he was sick with was weakening his limbs. Instead, he did the easier stuff, verbally directing you and Tess when it was needed. You’re pretty sure the reason Bill is working on the fence is because he knows they’re vulnerable like this. Most of 

the time it was just the two of them here, and with one of them slowly losing mobility, they were prime targets for raiders. 

You watch out of the corner of your eye as Joel and Bill argue about one of the fence posts, both of them pointing and tossing their arms up in the air, god, they were such old men. You kneel in the dirt, pulling carrots up and placing them in the wheelbarrow beside you. 

“So, you talkin’ to Tommy still?” Frank asks 

“Not much.” You say 

“He upset you?” Frank asks 

You roll your eyes, you know exactly what game he’s playing, asking about you and Tommy like he’s captain of your relationship or lack of with the younger Miller brother. 

“No we just, we’re done y’know. I mean it’s nice to know he’s alive and all but I don’t need an update every time he radios, that’s Joel’s thing anyway.” You shrug 

Frank lets out a huff, tossing his shovel down. 

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” Tess asks, concerned at the way the older man’s brow pinches together, a deep frown on his face, “Should I get Bill?” 

“No, no. No pain. I just thought you two would get married. Could’ve had some ceremony here in Lincoln. Was hopin’ you’d pop a kid out I could chase around while my legs still work.” Frank sighs 

Ah, there it was, honesty from your favorite Lincoln resident. 

“Yeah well…shit happens. Fireflies ruined any chance of that.” You say, squirming at the thought of marrying Tommy.

 It was an idea you used to entertain, especially after you realized how long the two of you had been together. Instead, you’d watched him pack his stuff and leave, off to try to save a broken world that couldn’t be fixed. 

The rest of the day goes by in a haze. You work in the garden, help Frank into the patio so he can paint for a bit, then you and Tess feed the chickens and shovel an immense amount of shit. Seriously they were so small, how did they poop that much? Bill must have been slacking, letting it all build up for you to clean up. 

Before you know it, you’re freshly showered again, legs tucked under the blankets as you read to Joel, who sits in the red armchair, a dark green t-shirt with grey sweats to match. Water drips from his hair to his shoulders, the shirt deepening in color as he looks at you. 

“Hold the phone.” Joel stops you, “Ain’t they siblings?” 

You skim the page, “Uh yeah, twins actually.” 

“And they’re fucking…in an abandoned tower?” Joel’s eyebrows look like they’re about to shoot off his forehead 

“Yeah…I guess so.” You say, eyes taking another glance at what you’re reading about Jamie and Cersei Lannister. 

“Jesus.” Joel grunts 

“Yeah, they could probably use some of that…” You joke

Joel doesn’t give you a reaction beyond shaking his head and crossing his arms across his chest, “Keep goin’.” 

You continue, voice filling the quiet as Bran is confronted by Sir Jamie. Needless to say you and Joel are both shocked when Jamie tosses Bran from the tower. 

“Well shit, I think that’s overkill.” You grumble, turning the page to find Tyrion’s name at the top of the page. Oh great, more Lannisters, hopefully this one’s better than the incesterous twins. 

Joel puts his hand up, stopping you before you can even start. He stands up slowly, approaching the window with quiet steps before inching the curtains apart. 

“Is something out there?” You whisper, shutting the book slowly 

Joel is squinting into the night, his hand still raised as his back is towards you. Then, all at once he’s spinning around and getting in your face. 

“Get your gun and knife. You stay here, stay hidden and quiet, lock the door after me, and turn the lights off.” Joel orders 

“I can handle infected, Joel.” You whisper, standing up and grabbing your gun from the dresser, “Have a million times before

“It ain’t infected,” Joel says sternly, turning on his heel.

Joel disappears down the steps, quiet as a mouse as he goes off to grab his own gun and probably Bill who has access to the whole armory you know is beneath the house. He can deny it all he wants, you know he’s got enough guns for a small army down there. 

You think about locking the door, listening to Joel and sitting in the closet til’ he comes back for you. But then, Frank crosses your mind. Defenseless Frank who takes muscle relaxers before bed so he can sleep at night. He’s the most vulnerable here right now, not you. 

You tiptoe down the steps, gun ready and safety off. Joel, Bill and Tess are nowhere to be seen and the house is dark and quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Down the hall is Bill and Frank’s room, you don’t even get the chance to knock before it inches open, Frank peering at you through a space of two inches. 

“You should be upstairs.” He whispers, pulling you into the room. 

Frank sits in a wheelchair, his eyes droopy and tired as he meets your eyes. 

“And who would protect your drug riddled ass?” You ask, motioning to his entire body.

“Fair point. Lock the door.” 

You and Frank hover in the corner of the room, the moonlight being your only source of light as you try to urge Frank into the closet. He insists on staying out here with you, behind the bed, gun pointed at the door. You're pretty sure he doesn’t have the reaction time to shoot anything right now. At least you knew all the damn pills you helped Joel and Tess with worked. 

The sound of creaking floorboards fill your ears, pushing Frank behind you, you keep your eye on the door, gun raised high. The knob jiggles for a second, a grunt from the other side, then a deep voice. 

“Why don’t you c’mon out? Make it easy on me?” 

You almost scoff but then you remember Joel’s line about shutting the fuck up. Perhaps he’ll think no one's in here, that this is just some locked-up room. 

The door flies off its hinges faster than you can process. A huge man stalks into the room, his gun firing before yours does. 

“Motherfucker!” You yell, falling to the ground as a bullet makes its home in your upper thigh, tears spring to your face as you grit your teeth, trying to shoot back to keep Frank safe. 

“An old man and a pretty girl. Must be my lucky day.” The intruder comments 

You can’t see much of him, dark clothes, a baseball hat on his head, bushy black beard, wild unhinged eyes. Whoever he is, he has awful plans for you and Frank. Your gun has disappeared under the bed, it’d flown out of your hands when you went to cradle your now injured leg. Blood oozes steadily onto the carpet as you grunt in pain. 

The man walks over, easily knocking the gun from Frank’s hand, cursing the pills now wishing they’d been placebos and that Frank would get his ass out of that chair and save you both. 

The sound of gunshots fill the air, followed by yelling. 

“Three people out there to defend all this?” He scoffs, “You were all askin’ to be attacked.” 

You’re hauled to your feet, a gasp leaving your lips as your leg burns, warm blood covering your shoes. You’re barely able to balance on your good leg, eyes darting around for a way out of this

“Is she your kid? You look old enough man.” The stranger addresses Frank 

“Let her go, take me instead.” Frank offers desperately from his chair

The man scoffs, “I’m not gonna fuck an old man who can’t fucking walk. Sides’ I ain’t a fucking fag.” 

The man’s rough hands turn you around, pulling his gun out from his holster. Grabbing your hands, he wraps them around the gun and then covers your hands with his bigger ones. He turns his head to you, bending down to whisper in your ear as his warm breath makes you squirm. 

“First you’re going to kill him, then you’ll lay down on the bed and be really good to me.” 

You shiver, scared out of your mind as you shake your head, “No.” 

A mean laugh tumbles from his lips, his hand landing on your uninjured leg, roughly slapping the wound, laughing at your pained grasp, “Go ahead, fight it, don't think you’re gonna be goin’ anywhere, shot ya’ real good.” 

He presses his lips to your neck as you twist in his grip wildly, trying to shove his body off you. Frank is yelling something, trying to get this to all stop. 

The man, breaks away from you for a moment, “Shut the fuck up old man and I won’t kill her when I’m done.” 

He cranes his neck to glare at Frank who falls silent, lips gaping as he’s torn between continuing to beg or hoping that the stranger keeps his word about keeping you alive. You  stare up at him and then you see it, soft flesh that pokes out from his dark clothes. His fucking neck. 

Your assaulter dips back down but before he can get close to your  face again, you lunge up, meeting him in the middle, sinking your teeth into his neck. You bite down, hard. A loud yelp leaves the man above you as you gather all your strength, using your good leg and arms you shove him off, gritting your teeth as you do and forcefully turning your head to the side. 

A loud thump sounds as blood covers your face. You’re blinded as you spit out the flesh you took from him. You stumble, landing on what feels like the bed as your hands scramble around your face and out in front of you. 

“Frank?! Frank?!” You call, pushing yourself up into a sitting position, unsure if he’s entire unharmed

“Here, I’m here.” Frank’s voice soothes you as you try to wipe your eyes clean 

A big hand cradles your face as you flinch, “It's me, it’s just me.” Frank whispers  

Frank wipes your eyes clean with what you can only presume is the bedsheets, “We’re safe, don’t worry.” 

When the metallic haze is gone from your eyes, you look down at the floor and at the still twitching body of your attacker. A hand is raised to his neck as he tries to keep his blood in from the gaping hole you’d created. He doesn’t even reach for his gun that sits on his belt, obviously too scared of dying as he wheezes, trying to get words out. 

The sound of footsteps as you sliding off the bed, a whimper leaving your lips as your leg continues to bleed. You scoop your gun out from under the bed, fixing it on the door, this time you’ll shoot first. 

But, instead of another raider, Joel enters, face sweaty and clothes bloody. Behind him is Bill and Tess, both of them equally dirty. 

“Joel…”You murmur, lowering your gun as your hands fall to your leg, holding it as your face scrunches up 

Joel glances at you and then the dead man. Probably putting two and two together as he looks at your face. You probably look terrifying right now. Bill flips the light switch, rushing to Frank’s side, a thousand questions on his lips. 

“Joel. She’s-” Tess’s voice fills your ears as you slowly blink. It feels like someone's stuffed cotton in your ears as you look at your bloody leg. Oh right, that’s a problem isn’t it? 

“Shit.” Joel’s deep voice fills your ears, he must be looking at your leg.

Joel eases you into the ground before ripping his belt off, “Bill, Bill we need medical supplies, now!” 

The last thing you see is Joel staring over you, his voice telling you it’s all going to be okay. Then, his belt wraps around your leg, and blinding pain fills your senses, overloading them one by one.

Next Part

This was barely edited...sorry for any typos.

Comment to be added to the tag list. This tag list is not chapter by chapter; I carry the tags over to each part.

@freythecrazyfae @rae-gar-targaryen @keseqna @eniepascal @jakecockley @aphroditesblunt @soberbabes @daisyhams

@h0neylemon @womenlover0 @ghostofseattle @endurexxsurvive

@ashhlsstuff @buzzbuzzlilbee

[pettirosso1959]

La stampa tedesca ha ricordato, un minuto dopo l'annuncio di Ursula von der Leyen del piano RearmEurope, alcune cosette della presidente UE quando era ministro della Difesa della Germania, dal 2013 al 2019.

Ha ricordato, per esempio, i controversi contratti per decine di milioni di euro sui quali è intervenuta la Corte dei conti federale tedesca che definì quegli acquisti «spese non necessarie».

Anche il parlamento della Germania, il Bundestag, ha indagato aprendo una commissione d'inchiesta per i contratti di appalti da miliardi di euro assegnati senza supervisione da Frau Ursula a Katrin Sauder, fisica tedesca che per 14 anni aveva lavorato in McKinsey&Company, società internazionale di consulenza in realtà struttura affaristica di congiunzione tra le multinazionali e gli apparati governativi. La disinvolta, troppo disinvolta Katrin Sauder, ricorda il quotidiano "Die Welt" , rispondeva unicamente alla von der Leyen e tutti gli appalti dell'era Ursula avevano una cosa in conune: assegnati in maniera diretta, senza gara.

Inoltre, la commissione d'inchiesta del Bendestag ha rivelato che Ursula von der Leyen ha anche assegnato diversi contratti a società di consulenza esterne, in particolare la KPMG e più ancora la Accenture tanto che, ha scritto il giornale "Spiegel" , dopo 4 anni di collaborazione con il ministero della Difesa guidato dalla baronessa Ursula, la Accenture aveva aumentato i ricavi da 460mila euro del 2014 a circa 20 milioni di euro del 2019, cioè un incremento di 40 volte. Ma c'è altro: l'inchiesta portò a galla l'amicizia tra la Sauder e un alto dirigente della Accenture.

La rivista "Spiegel" ha evidenziato come la commissione parlamentare d'inchiesta avesse dimostrato che i consulenti assunti all'attuale presidente UE avevano fatto il bello e cattivo tempo e documentato numerose irregolarità finite sotto la lente della Corte dei conti, la quale ha poi scoperto la bellezza di 182 contratti individuali con società di consulenza per circa 200 milioni di euro.

I danni maggiori della von der Leyen li scontò l'aeronautica: il fermo consigliato dai suoi strapagati consulenti per riorganizzare l'aviazione - cosa mai avvenuta - provocò un disastro: nel 2016 su 109 caccia Thyphoon a disposizione solo 42 erano operativi, su 89 bombardieri Tornado la metà era parcheggiata negli hangar inutilizzata.

Le cose non andarono bene neanche per l'esercito: nel 2016 dei 244 carri armati Leopard in organico, 105 risultavano «pronti all'uso» ma solamente 9 erano armati secondo i requisiti della NATO.

Alle truppe mancavano il 31% di fucili necessari e 41% di pistole e 3/4 dei preziosi visori notturni: insomma, soldati equipaggiati parecchio al di sotto degli standard minimi stabiliti dalla NATO.

E nelle caserme mancavano le autoblinde indispensabili per le esercitazioni: la Sauder le aveva sostituite con normali furgoncini Mercedes Vivio buoni per portare il latte.

Siamo davvero sicuri che sia lei, che in patria si è presa una denuncia penale per aver cancellato i dati dai suoi telefoni prima di consegnarli al ministero della Difesa, la persona adeguata cui affidare il futuro esercito della UE?

Nel 2019 un sondaggio pubblicato nel giornale "Bild am Sonntag" definì Ursula von der Leyen «la seconda persona più incompetente del governo tedesco». Per Martin Schultz, capo del partito socialista, addirittura «l'elemento peggiore».

Quando la von der Leyen lasciò il ministero per fare rotta su Bruxelles, il "Financial Times" riportò Il commento di un deputato cristiano-democratico compagno di partito di Ursula: «È una buona notizia per l'esercito della Germania che se ne stia andando, giacchè i suoi anni al ministero sono stati mortificanti per le forze armate tedesche».

È questa la signora che oggi chiede ai governi dell'Unione Europea, cioè ai cittadini, 800 miliardi di euro?

Lorenzo Benetton -------------------------------------------- Guardate, cosa stanno pianificando. E guardate chi vi investirà... https://www.fortuneita.com/2025/03/05/difesa-europea-perche-serve-una-banca-per-il-riarmo-secondo-il-suo-ideatore/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI2O25leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbyPTsSfN4rV8-tQYhqLsWdRDBgpGXKnhgoK8rKzZ2Y-wWM-h0X5bhjAgQ_aem_p0ZXz6k5tbhmrBHiw59YMg --------------------------------------------- Parrebbe che i giochi siano fatti, pensati già da tempo!

[mademoiselle-red]

I’ve finished my Yingdu ep 1-4 rewatch: more timely-wimey speculation:

“10 years ago” Cheng Xiaoshi’s parents disappeared and Qiao Ling’s parents lent him 10 years of rent on the photo studio, which he is supposed to start repaying once he grows up and reopens the shop for business

In 2019, Cheng Xiaoshi renovated the studio and reopened it for business with the help of Qiao Ling and Lu Guang (who “happens” to be walking by). Their first customer is the university anime club.

Since his official character profile says he is 21 years old in 2021 (during seasons 1 & 2) then we can assume he was 19 in 2019 and 9 in 2009, when his parents disappeared.

Lu Guang’s age is blurred out in his official character profile but Qiao Ling says he is younger than Cheng Xiaoshi in S1E1, and they are both university freshmen when they meet, so I’m going to assume Lu Guang’s body is 18 years old in 2019.

In the leaked clips from Yingdu Ep5, Lu Guang says that his dad noticed his special abilities when he was 7 years old, which is 11 years ago.

What if Lu Guang awakening his powers is somehow related to the disappearance of Cheng Xiaoshi’s parents?

Maybe Cheng Weimin also had special abilities related to photos and used them to help his customers at the photo studio. And Lu Guang’s dad walked in one day and was like: can you help my son?

Not sure why that would have led to Cheng Weimin going to Yingdu though…

[ali-and-novas-omposting]

Okay guys I need to be insane about the timeline again

All of these are assuming what Asmo says in NB Lesson 1-15 is true, that as of the start of NB, the brothers have only been in the Devildom for about a year. In OG lesson 5-12, it is said that Luke began baking for Micheal's sake about 300 years ago, but in lesson 6 of NB, Simeon says this:

The historical King Solomon is hypothesized to have been alive about 3000 years ago, and Barbatos and Diavolo are very aware of him already as of the start of NB 5000 years. They just kindof bring it up a lot

Then the 10,000 and >10,000 just bc I want to see if anyone reasoned that out And it can't be less than ~300 years because of that bit at the start of the OG where it's stated that Levi lent money to Mammon almost exactly 260 years prior. Alternatively it's possible that it couldn't have been less than ~900 years ago to account for the Trojan war implied by Helene and Asmodeus but I don't think it maps onto the Trojan war well enough for me to consider that undisputed canon to the timeline.

[smashwolfen]

I'm here to yell and love Okami all over again!!!! I LOVE OKAMI VERY MUCH AND AM SO EXCITED SHES COMING BACK BABEYYYYYYY!!!!!

(that okami case is in fact bought from a blockbuster its that old XD)

I didn't start playing Okami back when it released on the playstation but when it had come to the Wii I was instantly hooked. The artstyle, the story and just being able to run around as a DOGGO was amazing for my young teen brain!! It got me into looking up myths and legends when I was in school and now I love reading about them still to this day, its fascinating seeing what was used in the game and seeing other instances of the real myths in other games thanks to Okami getting the ball rolling for me! Then of course Okamiden came out and THAT IS THE ORIGINAL OKAMI 2 WE CANNOT FORGET ABOUT THE LIL OUPPY HIMSELF CHIBI!!! I'll admit I may have only played thru Okamiden once.... only because I HAD a complete file and lent the game for a family friend to play on... and they deleted the file and I had been so discouraged to replay it again, maybe with the new game being teased I may play thru it again along with OG okami as well to 100%

Back when I first played Okami initially, I managed to make 2 things just because I loved the game so so much, first being this old clay figure I made. Its missing a leg sadly but I'm still so dang proud of how well younger me managed to even get it so well shaped! Her mirror is a lil worse for wear too but its flames are hanging on by a thread (its removable too!)

Then I forget WHEN I made this but I think I just wanted to paint something small on this tiny canvas I found at the time, and tiny it was! Again probably to broaden my skills as a kid XD

And then in 2019 during one my sisters batchelorette outings we did for fun, we went to this ceramics cafe where we could pick something and just go buck wild and paint whatever we wanted on it. I decided to make the coolest mug ever, and of course did Ammy! Itty bitty Issun to boot XD

Now something cool folks may not have seen that I gots! I didn't use the internet like crazy as a kid so I didn't know about looking things up for games and whatnot, so how did young me even stumble onto Okami to begin with? Well with THESE two books right here!!

NINTENDO POWER BABEYYYYYY!!!!! Back when I had been getting a subscription, these were my introductions to Okami! The One with Sonic on it was the original one that had this section for Okami in the issue, and man when I saw the art for it I fell so hard in love adsfsgdhfj

LOOK AT THEM ARTS IMAGINE HOW COOL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO SEE AS A KID XD

Then the Kingdom hearts one was the one that told me about Okamiden!

I had to go digging for those when I remembered I had them at all, the only other cool things I owned that I didn't make or was the game themselves XD

I'm so hyped Okami is getting a third game and from the trailer alone it's gonna look amazinnnngggg. With how far graphics have gotten today, who knows how much stylization were gonna get that's essentially what they wanted from the original, how far can they push the Sumi-e now that we have the graphic capabilities? I can't wait for news and PRAY it comes to the next gen nintendo console, we got the other two for the nintendo, one being a DS exclusive, so it would be insane if it didn't come to nintendo again.

We must wait and seeeeeeee

Time to continue to be deranged and look at peoples pretty asf art, OKAMI RESURGENCE LETS FRICKING GO FELLAS!!!!

[dangerously-human]

Today, insisted on watching Little Women (2019) with my parents, because I lent them my copy several weeks ago and they still hadn't watched it (and tbh I wanted it back, it'd been, what, like a whole three months since I watched it last? Too long). Made my mom cry, which is NOT an easy feat. Reminded them that my mom had, on Christmas, promised a joint Lockwood & Co rewatch in the near future, and she asked me for the books. Huzzah! I've been trying for the last year to get at least one of them to start that read, and have finally succeeded at my quest. You might think, on this basis, that my mother is angling for the favorite parent, but it's simply a matter of taste: my dad is more likely to ally with me for Dune and Interstellar and Farscape and... yeah, pretty much all things sci-fi. They're both very good about investing in my special interests as a path to connection, which makes me feel loved.

[invisibleicewands]

‘Heart of Darkness’ Animated Feature Being Voiced by Michael Sheen, James Norton and Bill Nighy Lands ‘Loving Vincent’ Studio as Co-Producer

Joseph Conrad’s classic novella “Heart of Darkness” is being adapted into an animated feature, with Michael Sheen, James Norton and Bill Nighy having already lent their voices.

The project is being directed by Welsh-based BAFTA-winning filmmaker Gerald Conn using an animation technique he specializes in using sand on glass and will be the first feature-length sand animation. Described as a “close adaptation” of Conrad’s novella, first published as a three-part serial in 1899 and regarded as a scathing critique of Western imperialism in Africa, the film script was written by Mark Jenkins and Mary Kate O Flanagan.

The “Heart of Darkness” project was actually first announced in 2019, but after a period in limbo is now moving forward with BreakThru films, the Polish-based production company founded by Hugh Welchman on board as a co-producer. BreakThru was behind the Oscar-nominated 2017 animation “Loving Vincent,” directed by Welchman and Dorota Kobiela and the first fully-painted animated feature, made using thousands of individually illustrated paintings. The company followed this up in 2023 with an even bigger undertaking using the same technique, “The Peasants.”

“It’s great to be back on track with the film although it’s taken some time and with BreakThru Films we’ve found the perfect creative partner,” said Conn, who will be presenting “Heart of Darkness” at the London Screenings. Conn added that Conrad was himself Polish, so being joined BreakThru had extra cultural significance.

“Heart of Darkness,” a dark and brooding exploration of human nature and colonialism, tells the story of Marlow, an idealistic seaman captaining a steamboat up the River Congo — then under brutal Belgian rule — in search of a mysterious figure named Kurtz who had carved out a kingdom in which he has power of life and death over his native subjects. In the animation, Sheen is voicing Kurtz, Norton is Marlow and Nighy is a character known as The Manager. All three have already recorded their voices.

Conn won the 1998 Welsh BAFTA for animated short “The Comet’s Tale.” His BFI commissioned animated short “Inner Polar Bear” — which was released in 2022 and tells the story of an Arctic polar bear whose existence is threatened by climate change — won nine international awards including a recent London Directors Award as well as a Welsh BAFTA nomination.

[mirabellomonferrato]

A kezdet

Ez az első bejegyzés, a többi ilyen regényes nem lesz publikus, innentől csak a házak jönnek (meg az emberek) :)

A ház távol tartotta a kabócák hangos zizegését és döglesztő nyári napsütést. A falai még álltak, a tető is, de a födémnek csak a fa gerendái voltak meg. Ezeken ugráltam, gerendáról, gerendára. Hogy hol voltak a szüleim miközben ezt a hülyeségt csináltam? Ők a lakókocsiban aludtak, ahogy aludt az egész kis falu, ahol megálltunk a nagy olaszországi körút közben. 14 éves voltam, valakibe nyilván szerelmes, mert azt hiszem egész életemben szerelmes voltam, és a gerendán ugrálás közben azon gondolkodtam, hogy szabad-e arról álmodozni, hogy ez az én házam, vagy ez éppen olyan képtelenség, mint az, hogy Gulyás Csaba egy nap a szemembe néz, megcsókol és kimondja, hogy szeret. Lent, a szoba padlóján törmelék, újságpapír, lomok töredékei, festett fal és csempedarabok. Valami nagyon régi dolog nyomai, és én képzeletben régész voltam, felfedező, kalandor egy izgalmas életben. Nem lehet tudni, hogy az a ház, azok a gerendák vagy az utazás vagy a nyár vagy a kabócák rabolták el a szívem egy részét Gulyás Csabától, de örökre belém költözött a vágy, hogy egyszer nem csak utazó leszek Olaszországban.

Eltelt harminc év és csak utazó voltam, a felnőttség megtanított, hogy azt kell akarni, ami adódik, még azért is rengeteget kell melózni, a gyerekkori álmokból csak sóhajok lettek. Gulyás Csabát más férfiak sora váltotta, szerelmek, szexek, házasság, válás, más szerelmek, és én Portugáliában sétáltam az aktuális szerelmemmel és azon sóhajtoztunk, hogy milyen csodás a tenger, milyen jó is ez a mediterrán hangulat, milyen kár, hogy az ember nem itt él. Ha az „ember” már túl van azon, hogy egy férjnek és egy élettársnak is kimondja, hogy vége, akkor már tud súlyos döntéseket hozni. És a tengert bámulva rájöttem, hogy ez is csak egy döntés. Hogy akarsz venni egy lakást vagy házat egy másik országban. Ha akarod, megteheted, az álmokat nem kell letenni a határon. 2019 volt akkor, és nem volt egy fillérem sem. A gyerekeimet már hat vagy hét éve egyedül neveltem, megtakarításom annyi volt, ami vészhelyzet esetén pár hónap túlélést biztosít. De megszületett az akarás, a bizonyítási vágy, hogy meg lehet csinálni. Nekivágok az útnak, és meg tudom csinálni, mert bármire képes vagyok, hiszen lám, mennyi mindenen vagyok túl – egyedül. A Férfi kétkedően mosolygott, hogy na persze.

Az a férfi sincs már, csak a szerelem maradt és az elhatározás, hogy nem csak utazó leszek Olaszországban.

[stereopticons]

On This Day in Schitt's Creek: March 21

2018

better than all the rest [david/patrick, T, 2,014] by foxwatson

It’s not like this is the first time David has embarrassed himself for a loved one. aka this is a 4x09 reaction fic

2019

Apologies and Confessions of Love [david/patrick, NR, 927] by bombshellblonde

Just a short few scenes after Meet The Parents

occupying the same breath [david/patrick, T, 551] by @enablelove

After the tumultuous day, Patrick and David take a moment to relax in bed.

2020

All the Roads We Have to Walk [david/patrick, T, 23,561] by @meadowharvest4856

"I wonder what would've happened if we'd met in high school?" Patrick Brewer is ready to conquer the summer of 1999 at Camp Cedar Glade. He's in for a surprise, though, in the form of one David Rose.

Fools Rush In [david/patrick, g, 1,765] by @olrhys

“Well I don’t want to make assumptions,” David said, a teasing edge to his voice. “But it looks to me like you were doodling your first name and my last name together in our sales ledger less than a year into our relationship.” Or, David finds evidence that Patrick had been planning on marrying him a long, long time ago.

Pen15 is Mightier Drabble Challenges [multi fandom, E, 5,856, CW: harry potter] by BrandonStrayne

A random assortment of drabbles written for the Pen15 is Mightier weekly drabble challenges. Each chapter will be its own drabble and the title of the chapter will be the prompt for that particular challenge.

The Way We Were [johnny/moira, G, 1,920] by MadisonAvenue

Currently pregnant with Alexis, Moira laments on her life and her capabilities as a mother

2021

A Change of Plans [david/patrick, T, 718] by @rmd-writes

From his vantage point on the couch, David can see that Patrick is sulking. He’s sitting at the table staring at the laptop, beer untouched, his hand clenched in a fist on the table. He sighs and sips his wine, trying to assess whether enough time has passed that he can approach Patrick. Or David knows how to deal with Pouty Patrick

even doubt can be delicious (or moderately edible) [david/patrick, G, 9,686] by @lilythesilly

“My coffee, please. To go.” A to-go cup is slid into his line of vision, except when he takes a sip it’s not his coffee, it’s liquid death. “Um, what is this supposed to be?” He asks, looking up and startling when he sees a face that is not Twyla staring back at him. “You’re not Twyla.” The guy in front of him smiles, like he’s amused by fucking up his coffee order. “No, I’m Patrick.” An AU retelling of Season 3 where instead of going to work for Ray, Patrick gets a job at the cafe.

Excel-lent Excuse for a Celebration [david/patrick, G, 221] by @dazedwriter1

David and Patrick had saved a bottle of wine from opening day to be had in the future at an unknown date when a celebration was needed. Patrick found the perfect excuse. A short text message based fic.

Featuring the Patron Saint of Drag Queens [david/patrick, NR, 1,825] by TuttleAsHimself

Clint is very fond of his son-in-law, but it's rare that he and David find themselves alone in each other's company. What will they talk about while Patrick and Marcy are out hiking? Turns out they do have some common ground. Despite the title this doesn't actually have anything to do with drag queens lol. Maybe one day.

Grenada [david/patrick, T, 300] by Rosey_Peach

i might be a malady, thank god you're my galaxy (my sweet relief) [alexis/twyla, T, 1,581] by @turningtimeinthetardis

Twyla’s not sure what hurts worse, her embarrassment or her hangover.

the ex [david/patrick, T, 1,089] by @grapehyasynth

David has mostly done a good job of not letting himself think long-term commitment thoughts about Patrick, which is 50% of why it hurts the way it does when Alexis turns to the redhead she’s invited to their family barbecue and gasps, “Wait, *Patrick* is your *husband*?”

three o'clock [alexis/twyla, E, 2,914] by @schittyfic

“Oooh, Twy, three o’clock.” “Huh?” Twyla wrinkles her nose at Alexis in confusion, picking up her phone from the vaguely-sticky table and checking the screen. “It’s nine thirty-two.” “No-no, babe, like, three o’clock.” Alexis enunciates each syllable, widening her eyes and jerking her head dramatically. It’s still, like, totally subtle, though. She closes her glossed lips around the straw of her daiquiri as Twyla finally turns to look across the bar. “Oh,” Twyla breathes out, unknowingly mirroring Alexis’s pose, sucking her own straw into her mouth as they both stare. - Or: two tipsy girlfriends thirst over the hot, bearded guy across the bar.

To Hold You in My Arms [david/patrick, NR, 1,910] by TuttleAsHimself

After realizing David is part of THAT Rose family at Patrick's surprise party, Marcy's curiosity gets the better of her and she makes a painful discovery concerning David's past. (Warnings are in the tags just to be safe, but it's all briefly touched on and not at all graphic)

where we're headed for [david/patrick, M, 58,077] by stillicide_snow

“So did you start wearing all black because you’re an international cat burglar or did you base your career choice on your wardrobe?” Or, David used to be a jewel thief. Allegedly. He doesn't do that anymore. Patrick works in insurance, and he has a few questions about those recent break-ins... An AU in which David leaves Schitt's Creek for good at the end of season one, and then his past starts to catch up to him.

wish i'd known this feeling is coming [david/patrick, T, 670] by budd

Set after the events of "Pregnancy Test" and prior to "Girls' Night", David and Patrick cuddle for the first time at Ray's following a night of (silent) sex.

you'd rather lie than fall [david/patrick, G, 39,993] by @maxbegone

“Stevie,” he starts, tears brimming his eyes. “I can’t stay here. I... I should have seen it all coming. I should have known that—” A hiccup escapes him and he swallows, hard. “That everything good was just going to fall apart. It always does. Nothing works out for me.” “That’s not true, David. Look what you’ve created.” She throws a hand out in the general direction of the town. “You guys can...you can work through this. There are other options.” “Nope.” David is adamant, then, righting his face of any emotion. “Running away was what I did in the past, I can do it again now.” — David should have suspected it. Patrick was too perfect in all his neat and organized glory. He should have seen Rachel coming from a mile away. That was five months ago. There’s no rekindling that now. The other shoe drops and David really does leave Schitt’s Creek for New York, only to find that in a city of eight million people, it’s still very easy to be lonely. But bumping into the one person he never expected to on his morning coffee run might just lead to a friendship he never knew he needed.

2022

I Can Fix That [david/patrick, T, 1,733] by mallpretzles

The proposal is put on hold when Patrick injures his foot. This is the story of plan b.

2023

How Long Will I Love You? [david/patrick, E, 24,399] by @ficsfromabrokenchair

This is my first long AU, and my first fic inspired by a movie. While it’s not essential to this storyline, if you have a hard time wrapping your mind around time travel or need a visual of what I’m describing, I’d suggest watching About Time. Plus, it’s just a sweet film. Bill Nighy, anyone?! This work is my love letter to the idea that these two belong together in every universe. But their journey won’t be free of challenges.It’s an AU but it follows canon very closely… until it doesn’t. Then it does again. Stick with me. A huge thank you to the better half of my writing brain, Goodiecornbread, for navigating the mother of all timey-wimey plots with me and still wanting to be friends on the other side. This fic wouldn’t have made it out of my brain and into nine disorganized Google docs without you. You always handle my David-level spirals with grace.

Rain [david/patrick, M, 100] by @sspaz1000

David's making breakfast, when it starts to rain. Patrick is out for a run. What happens when David sees Patrick?

Stats:

No fanworks for 2017 or 2024 2018: 1 fic/2,014 words 2019: 2 fics/1,478 words 2020: 4 fics/33,102 words 2021: 12 fics/118,984 words 2022: 1 fic/1,733 words 2023: 2 fics/24,499 words Total: 22 fics/181,810 words

[pissvortex]

Tumblr user pissvortex. We met briefly in-person at a club meeting’s covert operation in college in 2019. To avoid doxxing, but provide proof, I will be vague with details concerning the event. Dry erase markers and Guantanamo Bay were involved. I lent you $5 to get a snack from a vending machine. When can I expect a return on my investment?

send me your venmo

[pagan-stitches]

velikonoční nádivka — Czech Easter Stuffing

I just couldn’t wait until Holy Week to make my first Easter stuffing. Stuffings and bread puddings are one of my favorite dishes, and like the hubník at Christmas, I know I’ll be making more than one batch of Easter stuffing.

Traditionally sekanice/velikonoční nádivka is made on White/Holy Saturday as a transitionary food from Lent into Easter. It was one of the foods taken to the church in an Easter basket to be blessed by the priest. It would have been made with lots of smoked meat and eggs and foraged spring greens like nettle.

I don’t actually have a lot of meats on hand right now (a serious grocery store visit hadn’t been made in a month) so I used a couple handfuls of crumbled bacon and made lyreleaf sage with a little purple deadnettle the star of the dish.

I rinsed my greens in water first and then soaked them in a vinegar water bath and rinsed them again.

I sautéed them before adding them to the bread mixture.

“Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata, cancerweed, lyre-leaved sage) is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family and native to the eastern and central United States. It may grow 1 to 2 feet tall, with leaves that originate at the base of the stem. Each basal leaf is lobed like a lyre, hence the species name, and lavender flowers occur in rings around the stem from mid-spring to early summer, attracting butterflies. The name Salvia is derived from the Latin term salveo, which means ‘be well’ and refers to the plant's medicinal properties.”

“It’s edible – the young tender leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked as a ‘pot’ herb cooked like spinach with a slightly minty flavor – even the older leaves. The seeds can be gathered, ground, and added with flour to make bread. It was considered a staple food traditionally by the Catawba and Cherokee peoples.”

“Salvia Lyrata is a medicinal and edible herb. As alternative medicine, it is carminative, diaphoretic, laxative, and salve. Lyre-leaved sage has some of the same properties of the other sages but is very weak. It is used mainly as a gargle in the treatment of sore throat and mouth infections. Medicinal salve made from root is applied to sores. Warm infusion of herb is taken as a laxative or for colds, coughs and nervous debility. This sage is not very strong tasting, and has a rather pleasant minty flavor, fresh young leaves are edible in salads, or cooked as pot herb.”

[waltfrasescazadordepalabras]

El fotógrafo Joe Neely capturó accidentalmente un momento que conmovió al mundo Dos abejas durmiendo juntas en una flor, mostrando un lado íntimo y delicado de la naturaleza. En la primavera de 2019, mientras viajaba con su pareja Nicole por el oeste de los Estados Unidos, Joe se detuvo en un campo lleno de flores violetas y naranjas en Colorado. El zumbido de las abejas era el único sonido en el ambiente, ya que casi todas las flores estaban ocupadas por estos pequeños polinizadores. Joe notó una abeja que parecía más lenta que las demás, cubierta de polen y claramente exhausta. Observó cómo buscaba una flor vacía, se acomodaba y se quedaba dormida. Poco después, otra abeja llegó al mismo lugar, miró alrededor y se unió a su compañera para descansar juntas. Fascinado por esta escena, Joe tomó fotos con una lente macro sin interrumpirlas, sorprendido por descubrir que las abejas también duermen en las flores. Este pequeño momento, lleno de pureza y conexión con la naturaleza, no solo capturó la atención de Joe, sino que tocó los corazones de millones de personas en todo el mundo, recordándonos la belleza y vulnerabilidad de los seres más pequeños del planeta

[haybalesblog]

Catholicism and Lent

A seemingly random topic, perhaps, but as previously stated, my interests are diverse. Recently, I've developed a significant interest in Christian history. While raised within the Protestant tradition, and still aligned with those beliefs, I've become increasingly intrigued by other Christian denominations. The Catholic faith, in particular, has captured my attention. Despite doctrinal differences, such as my perspective on the papacy, I find the cultural richness and historical depth of Catholicism profoundly compelling. Let's explore some of the areas I've been researching.

The Beginning of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church's history is a fascinating, and often debated, topic. While early Christian communities existed in Rome during the first century, the term 'Catholic' emerged in the second. What really piqued my interest is the idea that Jesus himself founded the Catholic Church. Catholics often cite Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says to Peter, 'And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.' Now, to my Protestant ears, that doesn't necessarily scream 'Peter, you're in charge!' But Catholics believe this moment designated Peter as the Church's first leader. They consider Peter the first Bishop of Rome, and thus, the first Pope. From there, the papacy continued through a line of successors.

I find this piece of history interesting, and although I don't necessarily agree with them on everything, I still find Catholicism very important to Christian culture, and that brings me to my next topic regarding Catholics.

Lent

Ash Wednesday and Lent have become my latest deep dive. It's funny, actually. My mom and I started participating in this Catholic tradition back in 2019, and initially, it was…well, let's just say our motives weren't exactly spiritual. We were looking for a diet hack, a way to justify cutting out certain foods. 'It's for God!' we'd say, to keep ourselves motivated. But something shifted over time. I found myself increasingly drawn to the deeper meaning of Lent. The idea of sacrificing something for Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us, is truly beautiful. And though I've been observing Lent for years, it's only now that I truly understand its significance. This year, I have a newfound, profound appreciation for this season.

Here is a brief history of Lent for those who aren't aware:

Lent, the 40-day period of reflection and preparation leading up to Easter, has roots that stretch back to the early days of Christianity. While the observance of a specific 40-day period solidified over time, the concept of a preparatory season existed from the very beginning.

Early Christians observed a period of fasting and prayer before Easter, primarily as a time for catechumens (those preparing for baptism) to prepare spiritually. By the fourth century, the 40-day period became more standardized, mirroring the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert as recounted in the Gospels.

Initially, the length and practices of Lent varied across different regions. However, by the Middle Ages, the practices we recognize today—fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—became more widely established. Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, became more prominent as a symbolic gesture of humility and repentance.

The 40 days, excluding Sundays (which are considered mini-Easters), represent a time for believers to turn inward, examine their lives, and strengthen their relationship with God. It’s a season of spiritual discipline, a time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and prepare for the joy of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Anyway,

In my effort to participate in Lent with greater authenticity, I've conducted extensive research. I've explored resources such as the Hallow app, which I've found particularly beneficial, and have also sought insights from various video presentations. Notably, an interview between Tucker Carlson and Jonathan Roumie, the actor portraying Jesus in 'The Chosen,' provided a transformative perspective on the purpose and significance of Lent. This interview illuminated the importance of fasting, the diverse methods of fasting, and the rationale behind the annual observance of Lent leading up to Easter.

In Conclusion

Alright, so there you have it – my deep dive into Lent and Catholic history. I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, and that's totally cool! As you know, this blog is now my hyper-fixation playground, and this time around, it was all about Christianity. I'm thinking I'll probably do a few more posts about Christian history, from my perspective, of course. But don't worry, this isn't becoming a religious blog! I'm super excited to see where this blog takes me and what other random rabbit holes I'll drag you all down. Who knows what's next? Only my ever-wandering brain knows. Anyway…

Love ya, Haybales <3

[sunbowmarvelarchive]

Six years ago, on June 11th 2019, I launched the Sunbow Marvel Archive website as a "digital library" for animation paperwork. Thank you to all those who have contributed material and lent their support. https://sunbowmarvelarchive.com

[warwickroyals]

Sunderland's Royal Jewel Vault (34/∞) ♛

↬ The Duchess of Sherbourne's Scroll Tiara

On their wedding day, it's customary for a royal bride to don a tiara. Anticipation and mystery surround the bride-to-be's wedding jewels just as much as her wedding dress. Throughout the twenty-first century, the opportunity to wear tiaras has dwindled. Royal weddings are one of the last remaining venues for a jaw-dropping tiara moment. When Shelby Elizabeth Sykes became engaged to Prince Henry of Sunderland in early 2019, speculation ramped up once again. Would the bride choose something borrowed from her future in-laws as previous royal brides have done? Or would she take the modern route and opt for something new as the Duchess of Woodbine had back in 2006? As the wedding day drew closer bookies placed their bets and eagle-eyed royal watchers zeroed in on St. John's Caphel. Shelby, a thirty-four-year-old marketing executive, was older than her sisters-law at the times of their weddings and many hoped she would wear a tiara with a bit more weight. Others argued that a smaller tiara was more in line with Shelby's personal style. Many predictions were tossed around but none were correct. Ultimately Shelby got a cross between something borrowed, old, and new. The tiara is an amalgamation of three anthemion and scroll elements from the jewelry collection of Queen Alexandra, which dates back to the 1870s. Following the wedding, the royal family described the tiara on their website: This diamond and platinum tiara was lent to the Duchess by His Majesty the King [ . . . ] The tiara is formed of three open-work scroll motifs which originally belonged to His Majesty's Great-great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra. The tiara was designed by Prince Henry and re-modelled by the Crown Jeweller. The jewels of Sunderland's longest-serving queen consort are major heirlooms and some have suggested that this was King Louis V's way of voicing his approval of his newest daughter-in-law. However, more critical commentators have suggested the recycled jewel might reflect Louis's changing attitude towards jewellery, and how it should be doled out. By 2019, two royal duchesses had left the royal family, one through retirement and the other through divorce. The position of Tatiana, Princess of Danforth, was also shaky following the death of her husband the previous year. Not giving the new Duchess of Sherbourne a substantial tiara from the vault ensures legacy tiaras won't leave the main family; while skirting the costs of commissioning a new tiara. It's been alleged that Shelby wasn't gifted her second tiara until the King and Queen were certain she had "staying power" a year after the wedding. In the years following her wedding, Shelby has worn her scroll and anthemion tiara consistently, but with mixed reactions. The tiara remains controversial among many royal watchers due to its cobbled-together profile. Over the years, criticisms from royal watchers have piled up on social media and online comment sections. Here is a selection of commentary from the online Forum Sunderland's Royal Tea:

The Duchess works so hard and frequently represents the family, it's a shame they still haven't given her a worthy tiara. She's such a classy and elegant lady. How on earth did she get saddled with this Franken? It seems a waste of priceless jewels to have them used so artlessly. Prince Henry is adorable, alas, like so many others in his family, he's inherited ye ol' tin eye when it comes to altering jewellery. Queen Anne was really the last of a generation. Unlike Courtney, the dignified Shelby did not voice any of the disappointment we would have all felt so she has my full respect. The lovely Princess Jacqueline had the best wedding ensemble of HMTK's children, with an excellent gown and a beaut tiara w/ family significance. Tatiana had a boring gown but also an excellent tiara. Courtney's dress and tiara were M-O-R (middle of the road). But poor Shelby, the only one with a happy, drama-free marriage, had a meh gown and a HEDIOUS tiara. I weep for her. RE: The lovely Prin . . . IMHO Shelby got the best deal of the four: a happy marriage with a loving husband who is alive and mentally sound (no smoking or drugs!!) + a sweet little girl w/ one on the way! RE: IMHO Shelby go. . . She kept her man and caused the least trouble, that's why she's our fav 😊

Regardless of the opinions on Shelby's wedding tiara, it remains her most worn tiara to this day. It is unlikely she will be granted another tiara in the near future.