#boxer Denmark

[alfredosauce50]

One More Night

[Boxer! Denmark x reader] 12 (draft)

Wordcount: 519

“Free?”

It wasn’t something he’d associate with a trip to Sin City because you either spent copious amounts of money or sold your soul, neither of which, he was willing to do.

The draft is on my Patreon ❤️

[digital999placebo]

@popmusik  ill never forget our shoujo girl denmark.. he is so dear 2 me

[noellawrites]

Souvenir - Yandere!Luca x reader

summary: Luca just can't let his rivalry with Carmy go, so he leaves a permanent reminder inside of you. afab reader but no specified pronouns.

warnings: smut, baby-trapping, condom sabotage, forced breeding

You weren't even supposed to go to Copenhagen. The trip was booked for Marcus when his mother took a turn for the worse. So here you were, the recipient of a non-refundable flight, standing in front of Denmark's most renowned kitchen. As The Beef's only waitress, saying you had a lack of food prep knowledge was an understatement. But with Tina and Ebra back in school, the task was left to you.

—

"Carmy taught me everything I know about good service. Really, I owe everything to him. I thought he'd boot me after taking over The Beef but thank god he didn't," you rambled.

"Sounds like he means a lot to you," Luca spoke quietly as he prepped an example dessert.

"He's the best chef I've ever worked with. Maybe not as intense as your rival chef, but he definitely challenges me. For example, sending me here with no experience," you laughed, picking up a tub of diced almonds.

"Seems like a real bond," Luca said simply. He reached across to the other side of you and his tattoos crossed into your line of vision.

"He's like my mentor, brother, work husband and hero all in one. Actually, that sounds stupid when I say it out loud," you laughed nervously.

"I know what you mean. To be so consumed by someone's talent that you just want to seep into their skin," Luca agreed.

A comfortable moment of silence hung between you both as you kept working. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see him staring at you with an unreadable expression before he turned away to grab some dough.

—

"Your lips taste better than any dessert," Luca whispered in your ear as he traced his fingers down your stomach. Pleasure tickled down your spine and he pushed down your shorts, reaching into your panties and tracing your clit.

"Ah--ahh, Luca!" you moaned, and he clamped a hand over your mouth.

Through the dark, you could just make out his pepper tattoo on his hand, which oddly enough reminded you of Carmy. Come to think of it, the patchy placements of his tattoos reminded you a lot of Carmy's. And his entire apartment was bare just like Carmy's was, too. Even Luca's intense expressions sometimes mirrored Carmy's.

I really shouldn't be thinking of Carmy when I'm about to have sex with this hot pastry chef, you thought.

As Luca started pulling his boxers down, you held your hand out to stop him.

"Do you have a condom?" you asked, sitting up and looking around.

"Dresser, top drawer," he said, sounding a bit irked. You handed him the small plastic square and laid back down.

You could hear him ripping open the package with his teeth and stretching the condom over his cock when he suddenly pulled your panties down the rest of the way.

You were lost in pleasure as he dove into your pussy, licking and sucking with his expertly trained tongue.

—

Luca held you against him with his strong arms as you both reached orgasm together, a mess of sweat and pleasure and moans.

"Oh shit Luca, did you just cum in me?" you gasped, wriggling away from him as post-sex clarity struck you.

"The condom must've broken," he said, but you pulled away from him too quick and managed to see what he was trying to hide: the empty, fully intact condom next to him. His hard cock pulled out of you, covered in a mix of your cum, no condom on him at all.

"What the fuck, Luca?!"

"Stay here. With me."

Luca's kind eyes had turned dark, an ulterior motive lurking underneath the surface. You didn't know what he was up to, but you knew it couldn't be good.

You quickly gathered your clothes from the floor and tried to yank your pants on. Luca stood, still completely naked, and moved to stand in front of the door leading outside his flat.

"Move, I need to go pick up Plan B. I'm ovulating, you fucking asshole!"

"You're not leaving. Not until your flight."

"Oh my god, this is so fucked up! I-I barely even know you!" you cried.

"You knew me enough to let me fuck you," he laughed, pulling on his boxers. As much as you hated to admit it, he had stretched you better than anyone else had before.

"I hate you, Luca."

—

You took a Plan B when you got back to Chicago, but by then it was too late. Not only did you bring back three desserts for The Bear's new menu, but you also brought back a tiny baby in your stomach. A little bundle of cells forever tying you to the British pastry chef. You sobbed as you told Carmy, who then gave you the entire story about how he and Luca had met. Rivals, but Carmy was clearly more skilled, more talented, more ambitious.

But now, Luca had finally bested Carmy at something. He left you a permanent reminder, a souvenir from your travels, a big 'fuck you' to his former rival chef.

part two

[hereallalong]

1963 Boxer SONNY LISTON, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Rubdown

[mikalame]

OMG I LOVE YOUR MANZINI ONE SHOTS COULD YOU MAYBE MAKE ONE WITH LIKE ... SMUT😘😘

Hope you like thx sm for the compliment ask if you want to be in the taglist

taglist: @oppopotamus @violentnewmarley

"Come on hurry up babe we dont have much time before the next scene" ___ whines "Im coming hun dont worry" Kristoffer answers. Both of them have been spilt up due to Kristoffer going away from Denmark for a couple weeks and them only being able to talk on the phone. This is the first week that Kristoffer had gotten back and ___ didnt want to miss out on the opportunity to spend time with him even if it did mean they might get caught.

Kristoffer closes the door behind him before he can even registor what is happening he feels a pair of soft lip pressed agaist his, he lefts out a groan deepening the kiss, moving his hands to ___ waist. Taking a couple steps forward making ___ land on the kitchen counter. "mmh krist need you now" ___ moans into the kiss wrapping her legs around his waist and arms around his neck pulling him in closer.

He moves is hand from her waist to the zipper of her jeans slowly undoing them "jump" Kristoffer says moving both of his hands to the waist line of her jeans, ___ jumps a bit and Kristoffer quickly pulls down her jeans on leaving her in her underwear.

He moves his kisses down to her neck leaving dark purple bruises all over her neck. His hand starts rubbing her clit on the outside of her underwear before dipping down further to where her hole is. (ew im so sorry for that)

"mmh baby, so needy" he whispers into her ear "please i need you now, dont wanna wait any long or we might get seen, please" ___ beggs desperation dripping into her voice. Her hands pull and the waist band of his pants grabbing both them and his boxers at the same time pulling them down.

Kristoffer see's how desperate she is and quickly moves her underwear to the side seeing how wet she really is he does a few quick pumps of his fingers to loosen her up a bit. He lifts his baggy shirt up a puts in it between his teeth to make sure it dosent get in the way. He rubs the tip of his penis a couple times up and down her slit before pushing his way in slowly.

They both groan at the feeling as they havent been with eachother in months. She pulls him back in with her legs kissing his neck to drown out some of the noises she is making.

He pulls out nearly all the way before pushing back in, he starts to get in to rymthem her moans telling him that hes doing good. Going faster he plants his hand on the counter to stable himself spreading her legs so he can get deeper in earning a loud moan to come from ___.

"Kristoffer please, go faster" ___ moans louder, he grunts into her neck far to in pleasure to talk with actual words. They both start to feel a sweat forming on the back of their necks and their hairline, closing her eyes she lets the feeling of him pull her away from reality.

He pulls his face away from her neck and see her eyes closed he takes this as a sign and starts rubbing at her clit, her eyebrows knit together and her pussy clenches around him.

"Kristoffer im so close please" she drones on he can see her eyelashes fluttering and her body moving a bit. He starts to thrust deeper into her hitting her g-spot making a lewd moan come from her.

Arching her back shakily gripping onto his shirt, her pussy cleching faster and faster pulling his dick in as far as it can milking him "ah-ah baby, wait im close" he moans going faster to try and reach up to her "Kristoffer, i cant hold it in ugh god, fuck im c-cumming" She moans letting the pleasure wash over her.

Her pussy cleching down on his brings him close to the edge, pulling out he starts to pump his cock finally making him spill all on her stomach getting a bit on her shirt.

"MANZINI, boy where are you" you both hear a deep over out side and quickly put your clothes back on, just in time because the door opens and the manager walks in to see you both flush faced and nervous.

The manager hums in anger and yells at Kristoffer for being late and running of to do who knows what. You and kristoffer giggle as he stomps away waddling like a penguin.

There you go anon please reqest

[blushinmoon]

OC Name Meaning

Got tagged by @champagne-pain! Thank youuu 💕 I’ll tag @heirhonkful

Rules: Google and post the meaning of your OC’S name (if you made their name up or they go by a nickname, post an explanation of how it came to you)! bonus if you can find something for their last name too.

More under the cut 💕

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Selene/Sin Everafter

She/He/They ⟡ Gender Fluid ⟡ Pansexual ⟡ Polyamorous

Selene is a girl's name of Greek origin, meaning "the moon." Lunar lovers and night-sky stargazers will delight in this luminous name. Just like the moon, Selene has a calming, soothing effect, with a hint of mystique and wonder about it.

Sin in Mesopotamian mythology holds great significance and importance. It was the name of the moon God in Akkadian (1), and the given name is thought to have been derived from His title. On the other hand, in Burmese, Sin is a gender-neutral name meaning 'clean' and 'pure.

Ever after is a phrase that means "from this on." It often appears in the phrase happily ever after, a conventional ending for fairy tales associated with lasting love.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Exodus Eryx Tartarus

He/Him ⟡ Cis Male ⟡ Bisexual ⟡ Polyamorous

Exodus is the Latin translation of the Greek exodos, meaning “exit” or “departure”.

Tartarus, the infernal regions of ancient Greek mythology. The name was originally used for the deepest region of the world, the lower of the two parts of the underworld, where the gods locked up their enemies.

Eryx is of Greek origin and is derived from the name of a mountain in western Sicily. In Greek mythology, Eryx was also the name of a king and boxer who was defeated by Hercules.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Apollo Tsukiyomi Everafter

He/Him ⟡ Cis Male ⟡ Pansexual ⟡ Polyamorous

Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light, poetry, and more.

Tsukiyomi (ツキヨミ), is the moon god in Japanese mythology and the Shinto religion. The name "Tsukuyomi" is a compound of the Old Japanese words tsuku (月, "moon, month", becoming modern Japanese tsuki) and yomi (読み, "reading, counting").

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Axel & Julie Tartarus

Julie ⟡ She/Her ⟡ Cis Girl

Axel ⟡ He/Him ⟡ Cis Boy ⟡ Bisexual

Axel is an Icelandic name meaning "father of peace." Axel, which also has origins in Scandinavia, Denmark, and Germany, is derived from the biblical Hebrew name Absalom. Whether he goes on to become a famous rock star or not, one thing is for sure: baby Axel will certainly take center stage in any doting parent's life! (Ironic considering Axel’s mom hated his little ass)

Julie is a popular Latin first name which originally comes from the Latin Julia which could mean youthful, soft-haired, beautiful or vivacious. It is the feminine form of Julius, and can be a pet form of Julia, Yulie, or Juliette. Julie.

[bobfloydsbabe]

the secret joint task force between the usa + denmark has ordered more intel on linger chapter 3 (rhett abbott x oc) & mickey goes for coffee (fanboy x oc). it's a matter of international security.

Should I be sleeping instead of answering this ask right now? Yes. Am I going to ignore sleep and answer it anyway? Also yes. It's a matter of an international security, so how could I not?

Linger chapter 3 takes us inside Lou's head for the first time. We get to see the town and its people from her perspective. It's a long chapter because it has three separate settings: the rodeo, the bar, and Lou's cabin. The scenes in the first two locations are shorter, while the part in Lou's cabin is long. Rhett's drunk and touch-starved and there's only one bed. Here's a snippet of the cabin scene:

“I don’t like sleeping in these,” he mutters, gesturing at his worn blue jeans. “Then take them off,” she says, stepping out of the way, closer to the headboard. “I’m not your Mama.” He huffs out a laugh before standing. He toes off his boots, almost falling over, while Lou turns on the lamp on the nightstand. She busies herself pulling back the quilts and adjusting the pillows, so it’s ready for Rhett when he is. The sound of metal hitting the floor echoes through the cabin. Rhett’s standing next to her in just the black t-shirt and a pair of black boxer briefs that leave surprisingly little to the imagination.  Her cheeks burn at the thought of what this moment would be like if he was sober. “Come on,” she mutters, gesturing to the bed. “Get comfortable, and I’ll get you some more water.” A grin spreads across his devilishly handsome face, and his hooded eyes half-focus on her face. “I thought you weren’t my Ma.” Lou rolls her eyes, but the smile remains. “I’m not,” she tells him and points to the bed. “But I’m a nice person who’ll get your drunk ass some water.”

Mickey goes for coffee is more of a general idea than anything else at the moment. Mei is at work thinking about him when he walks into the coffee shop like she's conjured him up. She's a blushing mess and when he leaves, her coworkers tease her about it to no end. This is what I have for that so far:

“You look like shit.” Mei looked up from the tower of brownies she was building in the display. Her co-worker, Sav, stood leaned against the countertop with her arms crossed and head cocked to the side. “Thanks?” “Did you stay late at the restaurant yesterday?” Mei straightened her back, sliding the display door closed as she did. “Natasha invited me to hang out with her friends afterward,” she replied and wiped her hands on the small apron. Sav raised a brow, pushing her red-rimmed glasses up her nose. “And you went?” Mei smacked her arm in mock offense. “All I’m saying is,” Sav continued as Mei walked around her to the espresso machine, “you’re constantly working and you deserve to let your hair down.” Busying herself with cleaning the machine, she tried not to crawl out of her skin at the barely concealed concern and care in Sav’s voice. She didn’t know what to do with someone who checked in on her well-being, someone who thought work wasn’t everything. That something had to exist beyond the classroom and workplace.  “Did you have fun at least?” Brown eyes and a devastatingly handsome smile appeared in her mind, and the corners of her mouth turned up. They were all nice people, but that conversation by the bonfire had stirred something in her. Some hidden, long-lost feeling she’d been yearning for started bubbling to the surface, spreading warmth in her stomach and her limbs. His heat warmed her more than the bonfire ever could. Mei wiped her hands on her apron and turned to look at Sav. “I did,” she said finally, and moved around her colleague once again. She went to the back room to help Aimee make another batch of blueberry muffins.

Thank you for asking, darling. I hope you enjoy these little snippets from some of my many WIPs. Love you!

[wvbaandtheboys]

Dollie’s got an update!

[Boxer Profile] Boxer Name: Dollie Darling Name: Almira Hertz Age: 22 Height: 7′3 Weight: 110 lbs From: Denmark, Europe Nationality: Danish Native Tongue: Accented English Record: 16-29 [1 KO] [Personality] A quiet, unsettling individual. Despite her cutesy looks, she always gives off a bad vibe to whoever’s around her, causing her to be avoided by many in the WVBA out of the ring. She never talks, never tries to make friends, she just does her day-to-day tasks without so much as a glance towards any of her supposed colleagues. Her name fits her: she’s just like a real doll. Even in the face of trouble, she seems to lack reacting.  [Extra Info] -She’s asexual [but yk, straight.] -She’s a famous celebrity and has been that way since childhood. She’s participating in the WVBA to keep her career alive. But does she want it to be?  -She’s sometimes tagged along by a woman named Desirae Delights. She’s her main manager. -Branch B’er (good luck girlie) -Unsurprisingly, Dollie doesn’t mean to be frightening. But she can’t bring herself to say anything due to her own insecurities.  -She changes her appearance once in a while, every persona has different personalities. She seems to have moments where she wishes she was someone different. -Honestly, the only person that isn’t afraid of her is Adarna. In fact, Adarna seems to want to befriend her. But Dollie feels that that’s mostly out of pity. (She doesn’t take any kind of relationships well with her mindset atm.) [Oh, and yk Adardar belongs to @/nesssblog but i won’t tag her this time around]

[smilesandsarcasm12]

What a surprise! I made a Horatio playlist and I’m gonna talk about it

Here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3jPMAJo5VYizB987Oe8AAH?si=p4XKqKg5THWKjweDLZ4_MQ

Be Calm-fun.

So Horatio fought in the way with Norway and served under the old King Hamlet (that’s why he recognizes the ghost). This thought really stuck with me, particularly since he’s probably coming back to Denmark for the first time since the war at the top of the play. Be Calm spoke to me about that. The feeling of trying to keep yourself together in a semi unfamiliar place. I imagined this as his mantra

Icarus- The Crane Wives: a lot of these songs are about longing and pining and not letting anyone know we yern. Something about the lines “spreading out the ashes of a lie that only gave and gave” and the recent death of the king. Very Horatio in love with Hamlet coming back to Denmark to check on him

The Things I Regret- Brandi Carlile: Horatio is the most loyal character in this whole goddamn show. He follows Hamlet fully but not blindly. It’s a choice he makes. “Let them roll over me when I doubt you”

Human-dodie: this is a song about codependency. This one is pretty self explanatory

A Complete list of fears ages 5-28 (approx.)- The Yellow Dress: yea yea the pining and the love, however also the line “I’m not very good with my hands” because Horatio is a BOOK! NERD! And I will die on this hill

The Boxer- Jerry Douglas and Mumford and Sons: idk how to explain it other than this is him. Like this is the Horatio song in my mind.

[alfredosauce50]

One more night

[Boxer! Denmark x reader] 11

Wordcount: 4, 365 Rating: M for strong language and mature themes

The reader is referred to as she/her

One more night - 11

Off to the races

Mathias rolled his fists against a speed bag, getting it to bounce back and forth rhythmically. A sheen of sweat had glazed over his skin from head to toe, but he never faltered. He was finally back in the zone.

He also lost everything he gained, revealing his past triumphs. Bulging shoulders, a six-pack, and strong legs for a muscular body. He swung into the speed bag one last time, making it rock to and fro.

And he was just getting started.

“You’re in a good mood today,” You commented from the kitchen, sipping a warm cup of coffee. Everyone slept in on Sundays, Allen included, but he got up at nine to do nothing but scribble in his sketchbook.

“Am I?” He lifted his eyes to you, only to look down at his page again. “What gave it away?”

“You’re drawing.”

“I can’t channel my inner negativity sometimes?”

“I think we both know how you actually do that.”

“Okay, fine. You got me.” He mumbled, moving his pencil around for a few finishing touches. Once he was satisfied, he held up his drawing with a proud, toothy grin. “Look. It’s a fortress.”

“Wow,” You mouthed. A smiling stick figure with black shades stood on top of a castle, raining machine gunfire and grenades on the masses below. “And who’s that guarding the fortress?”

“Me.”

“What about all the people down here?”

“I think you know.” He put his sketchbook down.

Now that Mathias moved back home, Allen was the happiest he’d ever been. Even though they were on better terms, this was his home, and he had a very particular idea of what that looked like.

“You guys realize Hammy has been roaming outside his cage for a while.” Amy sauntered in with a squint.

Allen flew off the couch and scrambled into the hallway. With his spot vacant, she plopped down next to you and kicked her feet onto the coffee table. When he came back with his pet, he scowled.

“Hey, you stole my spot!”

“Didn’t see your name on it.”

“I was literally just there!” He stuck out a hand.

“Well, you weren’t for a second.” She hummed.

The three of you, just like old times.

“To think I used to complain about people bringing their babies to the theater,” Amy muttered, collecting her popcorn from the snack bar. She spun around to reveal Bob strapped to her torso. “Now I’m people.”

“And you’re seeing Captain America of all movies.”

“I must be crazy.”

“I mean,” You made a face. Amy was the one who suggested this, but now that she was here, she had to be persuaded. “It was either here or the gym. It’s not your fault Malena couldn’t take him tonight.”

“That’s not even the problem,” She sighed.

“Then what is?” You asked, confused.

“I don’t wanna leave Bob with anybody right now.” Amy hugged him close, face falling slightly.

She still had a hard time being away from her baby after that incident. She didn’t have a choice while working, but now that she was off-duty, keeping him around was always at the back of her mind.

“Then I guess we’ll have to get him used to these kinds of places.” You pulled her along, watching her expression closely. She let you, albeit reluctantly. “There’s a first time for everything, you know?”

“I guess,” She fixed his earmuffs. “Sorry, Bob.”

“When was the last time you went to see a movie anyway?” You asked, walking inside with her.

“Beats me.”

Two hours later, you both emerged from the theater.

“That was fucking amazing,” She let out, smiling from ear to ear. “Bob fell asleep halfway through!”

You and Amy swung by Whole Foods after.

“Do you think he’s gonna win?” She asked, watching you add several bananas to the shopping cart.

The question had been looming over your minds ever since Mathias brought it up. The WBC Continental Americas title. He and another heavyweight boxer would go toe to toe in the arena for that belt.

“It’s hard to say,” You shook your head, falling deep in thought. “This is his first shot at a real title.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m just relieved he didn’t give up.”

“Me too.” She furrowed her brows.

“Whatever happens, I’m really happy that he’s kinda himself again,” You added, smiling briefly. Because even after everything that happened, he didn’t quit. And that couldn’t be more fitting for who he was.

“Well, I’m glad he’s back.” Amy hummed, though her expression came off as more bittersweet than anything. Your face fell slightly when you picked up on it. “I wouldn’t be telling you this otherwise.”

“Telling me what?”

“That Mat told me,” She inhaled a deep breath before revealing what had been on her mind forever. “He wanted you to move out with him. And I just want you to know that I’m a hundred percent for it.”

“What?” Your heart sank. “He told you?”

“Ages ago, actually. I just never had the chance to bring it up. Didn’t wanna cause any more drama,” Amelia explained, pushing the cart along as she spoke. “What, with everything that went down?”

You turned away, eyes darting restlessly and mind racing with a million thoughts. This whole time?

“Allen would’ve gone nuts.” She widened her eyes.

It was no secret that he loved you dearly, going so far as to use you as an emotional crutch. To leave was to put him in a vulnerable headspace, but you couldn’t be there for him forever, not even if you wanted to.

“Not that he won’t freak out if you told him now, but he might not fly off the handle when you do.”

“But what about the apartment?” You asked, voice faint. Now that moving out was on the table, every doubt you’ve ever had flooded your mind in a rush of anxiety. “And what about Bob? I can’t just leave.”

“We’ll be fine,” Amy assured, holding your shoulder. It was a blanket statement at best, but how else were things supposed to be? “Allen will have to get a job someday. And Bob won’t be small forever.”

“But he’s only six months old.” You uttered.

“He can sit upright and eat scrambled eggs, now. That’s pretty big if you ask me.” She nudged you.

You laughed some, thankful for her lightheartedness.

“But, point is,” She went back to pushing her cart, as reflective of the continuation of the conversation.  “You’ve already been there for the most crucial part of his life. And nine months before that too.”

“Of course I was, Amy. That’s a given.”

“What if it’s not supposed to be given?” She asked, much to your dismay. “You’ve already done so much for us, and I can’t just force you to stay forever. That would be the most selfish thing I could do to you.”

“Maybe,” You replied stiffly. Everything she just said was a stark reminder of what you told Allen once, and you always regretted it from the bottom of your heart. “But you aren’t forcing me to do anything.”

“Really?”

“I love living with you guys,” You let out, voice faint to hide the sadness in it. “You’re my best friend.”

Amy stood perfectly still, overwhelmed by a rush of emotions. Then, she turned to you, eyes wide. When she saw that you were barely holding it together, she did something completely out of character.

She hugged you as tight as she could.

“I know.” She shut her eyes. “But you have to go.”

You hugged her back, lips pursed tightly in a frown. She knew what you really wanted, and would go to great lengths for you to have it. Even if it meant letting you go, the hardest thing she could ever do.

“Do you think Bob will remember me?”

“He will if you visit,” She released you with a content smile, knowing she managed to convince you. So, she took in your face for what felt like the last time. “So don’t go somewhere I can’t get to, okay?”

Getting Amelia on board with the idea was easy because she was already all for it. Allen, on the other hand, would be a completely different story. But you had to tell him someday, even if that wasn’t today.

You pushed the door open to the local boxing gym.

When you got inside, you saw Mathias doing mitt work with Allen. Their brewing friendship was the most unexpected development yet, and you had to cover your mouth to hide your enthusiasm.

They had more in common than they looked.

The sun was almost set when you three walked home together. Allen had his arms folded behind his head, his dark eyes staring into the distance. Mathias had your hand in his, which squeezed you here and there.

“So,” You began, breaking the comfortable silence with a query. “Are you two friends now?”

They both made a face, brows raised and squinting.

“I don’t think Allen would be comfortable with that.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“Oh, alright.” You sighed, stifling a laugh at their synchronization. “I was just curious, is all.”

“Saying we’re friends would be putting him on the same level as you. And that’s gross.” Allen mumbled.

“There’s always distinctions you make with different friends you have,” You glanced at him and watched his expression intently, which didn’t seem to change. “Surely you have friends you’re close to, or not at all.”

“Not really,” He shrugged. “I mean, I used to.”

A brief silence followed, and you were left to put the pieces together. Mathias didn’t have any idea what he implied, but you knew better. He must’ve been talking about his pals from Afghanistan.

“It’s fine.” Allen grinned at you. “I have you guys.”

You didn’t say anything more, only bringing his arm down to hold it. He appreciated the gesture, the discreteness of it, and smiled warmly at you to prove it. You smiled back as if to tell him he was right.

He had you, Amy, and Bob.

Slowly, but surely, Mathias could make the cut too.

“You told Amy,” You began, staying in the doorway as he shuffled through his things in his bedroom. Allen waited outside in the front yard, giving you both a moment of privacy, however brief that may be.

Mathias stopped for a moment, back turned to you.

“Are you mad at me?” He murmured.

“No,” You neared him, gaze softening. He glanced over his shoulder, surprised. But that dissolved into relief as soon as you said this. “I’m actually glad you did. I don’t think I would’ve been able to tell her.”

“I’m glad,” He smiled, taking your hands.

You smiled back, warmed by his touch.

“She loves you more than you know.”

Out of the four of you, Mathias was the least afraid of change. It took a lot of faith to carry himself the way he did, and he did so naturally. Without him, you would’ve been stuck in the same place for years.

“So, what did she say?”

Allen kicked a pebble off the pavement. When he glanced up at the apartment again, he saw you two having a conversation. About what, he didn’t know. But he could make a judgement from afar.

The way Mathias looked at you, laughed, then picked you up in the tightest embrace had him wondering if this was the end of everything he knew. It was a huge jump from point a to b, but he wasn’t stupid.

He looked too happy for it to be anything else.

You did too, talking excitedly about something he wasn’t a part of, and never would be. When that dawned on Allen, he turned away, heart in his hand. That night, he walked home by himself.

Out on the balcony where he always was, he knelt over his plants and tended to them. Basil, thyme, sage, and parsley—all Summer herbs. He snipped off the stalks and harvested them for the coming Fall.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“I thought you were staying at his place.”

“If I was, I would’ve said that.” You stepped outside with him. When he didn’t respond, you instantly knew he was bent out of shape over something, but what, you didn’t know. “What is this really about?”

“Nothing,” He kept chopping his plants, but his movements grew less and less controlled as he continued. His front was already crumbling, and you just got here. “Everything’s just nice and peachy.”

“Okay, Al.” You relented, turning to the sliding door.

The sight of your back was all it took.

“If you don’t wanna talk about it, you don’t have to.”

What remained of his hard exterior was all but gone. You broke him down all over again, and simply by letting him be. He couldn’t take it anymore. Not the distance, or the reality that he could never have you.

“Wait.” He stood up, sighing. “Don’t close that door.”

You stopped halfway through the door frame, your eyes softening at his change of heart. If he had something to tell you, you did too. And your concerns were realer than what he thought he saw out there.

“I wanna talk.”

Mathias knocked on the doorframe of his coach’s office. In his hand was the slip of paper he’d been itching to get for the past month. He handed it to his mentor, who scanned it before tossing it on his desk.

With that out of the way, the old man stood up and brushed past him in a slight hobble.

“Get your wraps. We’re gonna start with the basics.”

Allen stood with you on the balcony, his arms draped over the railing. He stared into the night as he tried to think of the words. After a few minutes of mulling it over, this was the best he could come up with.

“So, what, he propose to you or something?”

“No!” You shot him a heated look, watching his brows go up. “Is that what you were upset about?”

He pursed his lips, hands raised in denial. But seeing that you were unconvinced, he just sucked it up.

“Yeah.”

“Well, he didn’t propose, okay?”

“Then that’s all I wanted to know,” He grinned, voice rich with satisfaction. He went back to his usual self almost instantly, hopping back into the living room. “Now all I’m missing is a kiss for good measure.”

“A kiss?” You stifled a laugh.

“You know I’m only kidding.” He scraped the bottom of his flip-flops against the entry mat to clean them. When Allen faced you again, he leaned against the door frame. “You don’t have to if you don’t wanna.”

He might’ve said one thing, but the gentle smile on his face meant another. And since you couldn’t give him what he really wanted, you gave him the next best thing. You leaned forward and hugged him.

Allen’s arms went around you on instinct, like a reflex he didn’t need to think about. There, he nestled his chin on your head, closing his eyes in the embrace. Then, his smile grew out of a deep sense of peace.

Now this wasn’t so bad. He also got the assurances he needed, so why was he still so sad?

“Listen, Al.”

Mathias raised his gloved fists, bright red in color.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

With his head low and eyes up, he looked intensely focused as he jabbed the sandbag in front of him. Only they were nothing but light taps, hitting the same spot on the leather, over and over.

“Okay, then tell me.” Allen was a little unnerved that you even had to announce it. What he saw tonight, how he always felt around you, and your anxious demeanor only seemed to validate that fear.

“I’m moving out with Mat.” You finally let out.

“Oh.”

A few seconds of painstaking silence went by.

“When?”

Mathias tightened the strings of his hoodie until only his face was left uncovered. Now that Summer was ending, he could feel a cool breeze on his morning runs. The seasons were changing, and so was he.

“I don’t know, but probably sometime after his tournament. We haven’t decided on anything yet,” You answered truthfully, scanning his face for something, anything. But he gave you nothing.

“Does Amy know?”

Or so you thought.

“Yeah.” You nodded. “I told her last week.”

“Right.” He looked down, eyes darkening. It was inconceivable that anybody could be so hurt over something so minor, but Allen wasn’t just anybody. “Why am I always the last one to know things?”

“I was gonna tell you, Al. I promise.” You spoke softly, taking his arms. “I just had to find the right time.”

“Why is it always Amy you go to when you know something will affect me most?” He rubbed his eyes with one hand, choking back a sob. “You guys are always keeping things from me and leaving me out!”

“We only do that because we don’t wanna hurt you!” You flushed, making him shake his head bitterly.

“You’re gonna hurt me anyway. So you might as well just say it.” Allen muttered, staring dead into your eyes as a single tear fell from his. His words were cutting, and the way he looked at you, even more so.

“I’m sorry,” Your voice broke. “I never mean to.”

He was right about being excluded, and he had all the right in the world to berate you for it. It was also selfish to expect him to react any different, especially when you’ve always known of his greatest fear.

Being isolated, physically or mentally.

“And you probably already knew that, too.” He shook his head again, turning away to get to your bedroom. But before he could lock himself in it, you grabbed onto his wrist. “You just didn’t wanna freak me out.”

“Of course I didn’t wanna freak you out,” You let out, tone desperate. “That’s the only reason why I have a hard time telling you about these things. Not because I don’t love you, or don’t feel close to you.”

“And how’s that turning out for you?” He faced you, eyes burning with truth. “I’ll find out anyway. I always do. Then I’ll find my own time to freak out. Because that’s just what I do. That’s what I’m the best at.”

Usually, he was the one making compromises in conversations, taking the fall for his faults.

“Losing my temper. Because I’m a fucking manic.”

“That’s not true!”

But right now, he was as quick as a whip.

And he was right about everything.

“It is, though. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be here having this fucking conversation.” Allen glared, but his anger with you only lasted so long. “And since we’re here, you wanna know why I flipped out in the first place?”

“Why did you flip out, then?” You uttered.

“It’s not just because I have a thing for you, okay?” He exclaimed, chest heaving and face reddening.

“Then why?” You flushed, eyes darting restlessly.

“Because if you get married, you’re gonna go away.” Allen said shakily, voice faint with unbearable hurt. “You’re gonna go somewhere I can’t get to, get busy, have a few babies, and you won’t have time for me.”

Your face contorted.

“Then you’re gonna forget about me,”

It was unthinkable that you could ever cut him out of your life, but he was already treating it like reality.

“And I won’t be a part of your life anymore.”

“You’ll always be a part of my life, Allen.” You reached up to caress his face, currently streaked with tears. “Even if we won’t see each other as much, I’ll always be thinking of you. And I’d still call and visit you.”

“But that’s not good enough,” He choked.

“I won’t be far, I promise. I promised Amy that too.”

“But you won’t be here.”

“You have to learn be independent from me, Allen.”

He shook his head, breathing too hard to manage a verbal protest. You were asking way too much of him, even if it was just to live out partially separate lives. You were his rock, and he wasn’t ready to let you go.

“But you also have to trust me.”

A string was tied across the ring like a washing line. The gym was dark, save for the spotlight they stood under, coach and pupil. The pupil in question stood next to the line, his shoulder barely just grazing it.

Then, he ducked under it to the other side.

He repeated the motion, bobbing under the line from side to side. By bending down and moving quickly from left to right, he could dodge anything thrown at him. But the timing and range had to be perfect.

“I’m so jealous of Mathias,” He squeezed you, eyes shut tight as he whispered frantically into your neck. “He’s got everything going for him. When he wants something, he just gets it. I can’t do that.”

“I think we’ve all felt that way before,” You admitted, holding him closer. “He’s the best of all of us.”

Mathias rolled under a punch, dodging it like second nature. When he rose, he jabbed his opponent twice, getting them to back up. He was a speed demon, taking advantage of their mistakes on the fly.

With the newly-established distance, he threw his fist up for a killer uppercut. It collided with their jaw, throwing their head back in a splash of saliva. And just like that, his partner fell on the mat, defeated.

“But there’s something you have that he doesn’t.”

“And what’s that?” Allen murmured, pulling back.

“Mathias and I can fight, argue, or even break up one day, but not us,” You answered, frowning deeply. “And I know that sounds bad, but there’s nothing in the world that could change what we have.”

He smiled and bowed his head at what he’d already known, a truth he constantly needed reminding of. But you always knew the right thing to say. And for that, everything felt like it was going to be okay.

“You’ll always be my family.”

“Maybe that’s why I never tried anything,” Allen said. He’d been so hung up over what he could’ve had, he never realized this was what he really wanted all along. “Because I didn’t wanna ruin what we had.”

“And what did we have?” You smiled.

He gazed up at you, eyes twinkling.

“Something perfect.”

He was your best friend, and maybe a little more than that, but he made it a point to never cross that line. What you had with Allen was incorruptible, the kind of love people spent their entire lives looking for.

“Something pure.” He kissed you on the forehead, the most innocent kind of affection one could give. And you leaned in, basking in the warmth of his soft lips. “And I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Allen stayed with you all night. With your body next to his, he never fell asleep so fast. This may only be for so long, but he couldn’t be upset about it forever. You were moving on, and he had to accept that.

“That makes seven rompers and five pairs of pants,”

You sorted through the baby clothes in the basket Mathias held. He insisted on tagging along with you to ‘help you hold things,’ but you had a sneaking suspicion he came for another spending spree.

“Anything else we need?”

“Uhhh,” He scanned the shopping list with a focused expression. “Four pajama outfits… And a tank top?”

“Oh. That’s for Allen,” You pointed at the bottom of the note. “See how the handwriting changes?”

“Oh,” Mathias mumbled. Now that you mentioned it. When he glanced up again, you were off to look for those items, so he did what he thought would be the next best thing: doing some browsing on his own.

When he approached you for your opinion, you were still in the baby section, picking out sleepers.

“What do you think?” He held two outfits in front of you and moved them up and down. “Blue or yellow?

“Those are for newborns, Mathias,” You answered, going back to the rack. “They’re not gonna fit Bob,”

“I know they’re for newborns.”

“If I say ‘blue’ and see the blue one in your dresser, I’m seriously gonna murder you,” You sighed, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. And frankly speaking, you were a little nervous.

“Okaaay. Does that mean you’ll spare me if I buy the yellow one?” He hummed with growing smile.

“Mat,” You shot him a heated look, embarrassed out of your wits. “The bear was cute, but this is crazy.”

“But these are cute too!”

“No, I meant you,” You sighed, stifling a defeated laugh at his outburst. “We haven’t even moved out and you’re already thinking that far ahead. Imagine what Allen would do to you if I ever got pregnant.”

“You don’t have to wait for his approval, you know?” Mathias grumbled, putting both outfits back, blue and yellow. “I know he’s close to you, but what we do is none of his business. So he should stay out of it.”

“Still,” You shook your head. “You’re going too fast.”

“I know, I know. I just got excited,” He sighed, noting how worried you looked. And it was a fair reaction given the kind of person he was. Tenacious, self-indulgent, and apparently, family-oriented.

But he’d be damned if he didn’t already learn his lesson. So he stopped you in the aisle, hands on your shoulders. “I’m not rushing you into anything. Especially not something this important, okay?”

“Good,” You softened your gaze, peering up at him. “Because I don’t wanna fight with you anymore.”

If anything, he’d save this for after the fight.

“I wouldn’t wanna fight me either.”

You were about to give him an earful for being so unserious, but you let it slide this time. After overcoming a roadblock and months of preparation, he was finally in shape for his biggest match yet.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little,” He grinned. “But I’m ready.”

Next chapter: Coming soon

Tag-list: @sunnysssol @chicha027 @javelintine @sport-lova @archive-of-bones

[brookstonalmanac]

Beer Events 6.17 (before 1930)

653 – Pope Martin I is arrested and taken to Constantinople, due to his opposition to monothelitism. 1242 – Following the Disputation of Paris, twenty-four carriage loads of Jewish religious manuscripts were burnt in Paris. 1397 – The Kalmar Union is formed under the rule of Margaret I of Denmark. 1462 – Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II (The Night Attack at Târgovişte), forcing him to retreat from Wallachia. 1497 – Battle of Deptford Bridge: Forces under King Henry VII defeat troops led by Michael An Gof. 1565 – Matsunaga Hisahide assassinates the 13th Ashikaga shōgun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru. 1579 – Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England. 1596 – The Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz discovers the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen. 1631 – Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, will spend the next 17 years building her mausoleum, the Taj Mahal. 1665 – Battle of Montes Claros: Portugal definitively secured independence from Spain in the last battle of the Portuguese Restoration War. 1673 – French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet reach the Mississippi River and become the first Europeans to make a detailed account of its course. 1767 – Samuel Wallis, a British sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island. 1773 – Cúcuta, Colombia, is founded by Juana Rangel de Cuéllar. 1775 – American Revolutionary War: Colonists inflict heavy casualties on British forces while losing the Battle of Bunker Hill. 1789 – In France, the Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly. 1794 – Foundation of Anglo-Corsican Kingdom. 1795 – The burghers of Swellendam expel the Dutch East India Company magistrate and declare a republic. 1839 – In the Kingdom of Hawaii, Kamehameha III issues the edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics the freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace are established as a result. 1843 – The Wairau Affray, the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers in the New Zealand Wars, takes place. 1861 – American Civil War: Battle of Vienna, Virginia. 1863 – American Civil War: Battle of Aldie in the Gettysburg Campaign. 1876 – American Indian Wars: Battle of the Rosebud: One thousand five hundred Sioux and Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse beat back General George Crook's forces at Rosebud Creek in Montana Territory. 1877 – American Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon: The Nez Perce defeat the U.S. Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory. 1885 – The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. 1898 – The United States Navy Hospital Corps is established. 1900 – Boxer Rebellion: Western Allied and Japanese forces capture the Taku Forts in Tianjin, China. 1901 – The College Board introduces its first standardized test, the forerunner to the SAT. 1910 – Aurel Vlaicu pilots an A. Vlaicu nr. 1 on its first flight. 1922 – Portuguese naval aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral complete the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic. 1929 – The town of Murchison, New Zealand is rocked by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killing 17. At the time it was New Zealand's worst natural disaster.

[optikes]

1 Shen Jiawei (b1948 Shanghai, China) Lives and works in Australia.

The Tower of Babel (2023) Mural, oil on canvas mounted on wooden boards. 90 panels, each panel size: 120 cm x 120 cm

2 Standing Guard for Our Great Motherland (1974)

ink on paper (reprinted 1975) 62.4x51.4cm

3 Pieter Breugel the Elder (c1525-1569) The Tower of Babel (c1563)

oil on wood panel 114×155 cm

A  Professor Jing Han   westernsydney.edu.au

Shen Jiawei, one of Australia’s best known master portraitists, was born and grew up in China. He was a well-established oil painting artist in China where his painting Standing Guard for Our Great Motherland (1974) became an icon…..

…..Shen’s masterpiece, Tower of Babel (2023), an epic artwork 20 years in the making that recreates an alternative art history of the 20th century by tracing the biggest movement of all: the International Communist Movement. The whole work consists of 90 panels, with remixes of over 100 original artworks and containing 400 individual portraits of historical characters on four murals entitled respectively “Utopia”, “Internationale”, “Gulag” and “Saturnus”. The biggest and central piece is “Utopia” which has Pieter Bruegel’s Tower of Babel as the framework with the design of Tatlinʼs Tower on the top. Tower of Babel is a visual history of the political and art movements of the 20th century, reimagined and curated by the artist Shen Jiawei….

Tower of Babel was conceived in 2001 and completed in 2023. This monumental artwork has been more than twenty years in the making. The actual work is housed in the artist’s purpose-built three-storey studio, covering four walls with 90 panels. The epic masterpiece contains remixes of 130 original artworks and 400 individual portraits of historical characters who were related to or associated with the international Communist movement throughout the 20th century. The four murals are named “Utopia”, “L’Internationale”, “Gulag” and “Saturnus”…

…The way he represents history in his artworks is quite unique and requires reflection from a contemporary and fresh angle. In his Sulman Prize-winning work, Peking Treaty (2006), he transposes Mantegna’s foreshortened Christ to the empty centre of the large Peking Treaty table where Eastern and Western diplomats negotiate a settlement of the Boxer Revolution.

B     correspondences.work

A gifted painter and portraitist of renown, he has been an Archibald Prize finalist fourteen times (including once as runner-up in 1997) and the winner of the Mary MacKillop Art Award (1995), the Sulman Prize (2006) and the Gallipoli Art Award (2016). He has been commissioned by the Australian Government to paint official portraits for the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Speakers and HRH Crown Princess of Denmark. Best-known for his complex history paintings, his works are represented in public and private collections in Australia and throughout the world including, the Vatican art collection and the National Museum, the National Art Museum and the National Military Museum in Beijing.

C asiasociety.org translated by Valerie C. Doran

Excerpts from “The Fate of a Painting” by Shen Jiawei

Since its completion in 1974, my oil painting Standing Guard for Our Great Motherland has had a very strange fate. It has become somewhat of a cultural artifact, an embodiment of the narrative of the Cultural Revolution.

When Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution in May 1966, it signaled the end of my dreams of studying at an art academy. But at the same time, the Cultural Revolution turned me into a painter, and, what is more, a painter who achieved fame at a very young age. ……………… I grew up in a small provincial city and never had the chance to be trained in the fundamentals of art. My only influence was an uncle who had studied art in the past. So, before I became a painter, I had never done life drawing, plaster modeling, or still lifes. In fact, many artists of my generation were able to become oil painters only because of the Cultural Revolution. Before 1966, most Chinese households could never have afforded to buy oil paints for their children who studied art; most people’s monthly salaries amounted to the cost of only a few dozen tubes of paint. But during the Cultural Revolution, all work units needed people to paint portraits of Mao Zedong. Once we completed the paintings, we were allowed to keep the leftover paints to do our own work. This is why oil painting (western painting) subsequently became so widespread in China; it was one of the more positive by-products of the Cultural Revolution. …………………… I completed my work [Standing Guard] in July 1974. In keeping with the practice of the times, I did not sign the painting, but wrote only my name and work unit on the back of the canvas. In September, I was notified that this work had been selected for the national art exhibition. In October, I went on leave and used my own money to travel to Beijing to see the exhibition. On the train, I used my scrapbook of source material to write and copy notes on the process I followed in creating the painting. These notes were half true and half fabricated. This was because at that time any kind of writing, even personal diaries, could be subjected to public reading. Any politically incorrect word could bring disaster in its wake. So I had to make sure that even my notes on my creative process were in keeping with official standards.

When I [arrived in Beijing and] walked into the National Art Gallery, I discovered that my painting was hanging in the most prominent position in the exhibition hall, on the center left. But when I moved in for a closer look, I was in for a shock: the faces of the two soldiers had been reworked. It was obvious that my efforts to paint a picture as close to reality as possible had not been acceptable to the authorities. ………………………………. In 1981, a friend in the Heilongjiang Provincial Artists Association in Harbin told me that Standing Guard had been sent back by the National Art Gallery and was being kept in the art association’s storage area. He said that I could go and pick it up. The next year, when I went to get it, I discovered that both the outer and inner frames were gone. The canvas has been improperly rolled (outside in) and tossed into a rubbish heap in the basement. I unrolled it just a bit and saw that flakes of paint were coming off. When I got it back to Shenyang, I did not dare to open it all the way and just stuck it under my bed, where it stayed for many years.

In 1989, I emigrated to Australia. In 1997, I was invited by the Guggenheim Museum to lend it my painting for a major exhibition, “China: Five Thousand Years.” I asked someone to bring the rolled-up painting from China to Sydney for me. I took it to the conservation department of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and there, for the first time, I unrolled it completely. Everyone in the room at that moment was in shock: the painting was covered with soot and had suffered water damage; two-thirds of its surface had come off. Under the guidance of the professional conservators [there], I slowly and painstakingly restored the painting. However, there were two sections of the painting that I was glad were damaged: the two faces that had been repainted on the orders of Wang Mantian were completely obliterated. Referring to photographs I had of the original work, as well as my extensive notes, I was now able to restore them to their original appearance.

D johnmcdonald.net.au

By 1970 he found himself in Heilongjiang province on the Russian border. There he worked as a propaganda artist, entering paintings in national competitions. In 1974 his picture, Standing guard for our great motherland was praised by Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing, and acquired for the National Art Museum. When he saw the work on display in the museum Jiawei was shocked to find the soldiers’ faces had been repainted to make them look more heroic. In this new guise the painting was reproduced in poster form and sent all over China. ... The actual painting was dumped from the museum after the fall of the Gang of Four and recovered by the artist from a rubbish dump in 1981. He restored the work and recently sold it at auction for a sizeable sum, which he is using to build a large new studio in Bundeena.

E nelsonmeersfoundation.org.au

Renowned Chinese-Australian artist Jiawei Shen is painting a monumental artwork that he claims will give meaning to his whole life. This former Red Guard, still famous in China for painting one of the most famous images of the Cultural Revolution, Standing Guard For The Great Motherland, is now creating a fantastic parable of the history of Communism, in the style that has established him as the foremost history painter in Australia today.

Epic in concept and scale, his Tower of Babel painting depicts over 400 famous and infamous characters including politicians, soldiers, scientists, artists, writers and filmmakers who were won over by the utopian vision of the Communist movement, as well as many forgotten people who lost their lives to Revolution. It also includes remixes of 130 iconic artworks by left wing artists, including Picasso, Matisse, Léger, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; on a huge canvas of 130 square meters, as high as a 3-story building.

In telling the stories of Jiawei’s own personal journey and that of his wife Lan, from poverty in Mao’s China, through the tumult of the Cultural Revolution, and eventually as political refugees to Australia, the film will show how personal biography inspires art. Now, as tensions between Australia and China escalate and there is even talk of war from some Australian politicians, how will Jiawei’s most important work be received? Can the past speak to the present or will it be silenced?

F the artist: One painting can have many different meanings and I encourage people to make their own assumptions about the painting.

WATCH https://www.sff.org.au/program/browse/welcome-to-babel

[jabberwocky-jab]

Today I saw a man stripped down to boxer briefs after he and his suit fell in the river. He wanted to stay and drink at the outdoor bar with his buddies though, he was so drunk. Denmark is wild so far

[alexbkrieger13]

Peter is right. There's no sense in clubs and national teams standing in their own ring corners like two boxers. A sensible co-operation with the players best in mind is the way to go.

yea like I know Sweden and Denmark have good good relationships with club teams for the most part don't know about other teams but if there's no proper communication between both it's the players who are gonna be most effective

[brookston]

Holidays 1.17

Holidays

Apple Wassailing Day (Carhampton, UK)

Ben Franklin Day

Betty White Day

Cable Car Day

Carnivale begins (Italy)

Customer Service Day

Dia de la Divina Pastora Bank Holiday (Venezuela)

Ditch Your New Year's Resolutions Day

Drudge Day

Eartha Kitt Day (South Carolina)

Fire From the Sky

Hardware Freedom Day

International Mentoring Day

International We Are Not Broken Day

J.C. Penney Day

Judgment Day

Kid Inventors' Day

Liberation Day (Poland)

Make Your All-Time Top Ten TV Characters List

Martyrdom of Hazrat Fatemeh (Iran)

Menorca Day (Spain)

National Boxer Day

National Carolina Day

National Charlotte Day

National Classy Day

National Day of Racial Healing

National Feedback Day

National Public Employees Appreciation Day

National Puggle Day

National Ta Day\

National We Are Not Broken Day

Operation Desert Storm Day

Patrice Lumumba (Heroes’ Day; Congo)

Photo Developing Day

Pig Day

Popeye Day

Professional Boxer's Day

Straying Toward the Path Day

World Lichen Sclerosus Awareness Day

World Pizza Day

Zirgu Diena (Day of the Horses; Latvia)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Hot Buttered Rum Day

Hot Heads Chili Day

National Bootlegger’s Day

National Rye Whiskey Day

World Scotch Pie Day

3rd Tuesday in January

National Superfoods Day [3rd Tuesday]

Printing Ink Day [Tuesday closest to 16th]

Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day [3rd Tuesday]

Feast Days

Anthony the Great (Christian; Saint)

Angelo Paoli, Blessed (Christian; Saint)

Black Bart (Muppetism)

Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral Day (Hispanic Catholic Church)

Benjamin Franklin (Humanism)

Charles Gore (Church of England)

Feast of Wagy (Ancient Egyptian Day of the Dead)

Felicitas (Old Roman Goddess of Good Luck)

Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch, Blessed (Christian; Saint)

International No Farting Day (Pastafarian)

Jenaro Sánchez Delgadillo (one of Saints of the Cristero War)

Meng-Tseu (Positivist; Saint)

Mildgyth (Christian; Saint)

Nennins (Christian; Saint)

Our Lady of Pontmain (Christian; Saint)

Patras Carnival begins (until Clean Monday; Greece)

Shakambharii Jayanti (a.k.a. Cher-Chhera Punni; Chhattisgarh, India)

Speusippus, Elcusippns, Meleusippns (Christian; Martyrs)

Sulpitius the Pious (Christian; Saint)

Sulpicins the Second (Christian; Saint)

Thaipusam (Tamil Nadu, India)

Thingfish Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Uzhavar Thirunal (Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, India)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Good Luck Day (Festival of Felicitas)

Prime Number Day: 17 [7 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Very Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [7 of 60]

Premieres

The Adventures of the American Rabbit (Film; 1986)

Billions (TV Series; 2016)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl (Novel; U.S. 1964)

The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekov (Play; 1904)

The Clan of the Cave Bear (Film; 1986)

Court and Spark, by Joni Mitchell (Album; 1974)

Drum Boogie, recorded by Gene Krupa (Song; 1941)

Everyone Says I Love You (Film; 1997)

Freejack (Film; 1992)

Gone with the Wind (Film; 1939)

A Guy Thing (Film; 2003)

Heathcliffe: The Movie (Film; 1986)

Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear (Animated Film; 1986)

The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Novel; 1868)

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote (True Crime Novel; 1966)

Iron Eagle (Film; 1986)

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Film; 2014)

Sounds of Silence, by Simon & Garfunkel (Album; 1966)

Today’s Name Days

Antonius, Beatrix (Austria)

Andon, Anton, Antonia, Dona, Doncho, Donka (Bulgaria)

Antun, Lavoslav, Marijan, Vojmil (Croatia)

Drahoslav (Czech Republic)

Antonius (Denmark)

Anto, Anton, Antu, Hando, Tõnis, Tõnn, Tõnno, Tõnu (Estonia)

Anton, Antto, Anttoni, Toni (Finland)

Roseline (France)

Anton, Rosalind (Germany)

Antonia, Antonios, Antonis (Greece)

Antal, Antónia (Hungary)

Alba, Antonio, Iole (Italy)

Tenis, Timotejs (Latvia)

Beatričė, Dovainis, Leonilė, Vilda (Lithuania)

Anton, Tønnes, Tony (Norway)

Antoni, Jan, Rościsław (Poland)

Antonie (Romania)

Nataša (Slovakia)

Antonio (Spain)

Anton, Tony (Sweden)

Anthony, Antoine, Antoinette, Anton, Antonia, Antonio, Antony, Antwan, Ben, Benita, Benito, Benjamin, Bennie, Benny, Toni, Tony (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 17 of 2023; 348 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 2 of week 3 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Beth (Birch) [Day 24 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Dōngyuè), Day 26 (Yi-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 24 Teveth 5783

Islamic: 24 Jumada II 1444

J Cal: 17 Aer; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 4 January 2023

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 17 Moses (1st Month) [Meng-Tseu]

Runic Half Month: Peorth (Womb, Dice Cup) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 28 of 90)

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 27 of 30)

[ms-mau]

Kasper Sonne (Copenhagen, Denmark, 1974).

"The new paintings are as much about the large abstract, or at least abstracted parts, as they are about figure and narrative. [...] My interests can be identified as a fascination with the destructive elements in man and nature, combined with an overall feeling of displacement and melancholy. [...] By man and nature, I mean the destructive urges in mankind, like in the theory of the death drive, and the violence of nature.”

With three large paintings, Your Feelings Are Wrong, There’s Nothing You Can Do to Me (That I Haven’t Already Done Myself), both from 2021, and Flag (2022), Kasper Sonne returns to the figurative work of his early years, yet he takes the details to a minimum in favor a synthesis that has a quality of primitivism and a return to order. In the concisely defined space that the colors make almost two-dimensional, the main characters have a consistency that verges on sculptural. The colors are few but intense, those of the Italian Transavantgarde. The paintings' subjects, two boxers and a boy wearing soccer shorts, are taken to the level of contemporary archetypes. Their inexpressive faces and isolation convey a solitude more psychological than physical. These presences make universal the human sense of displacement in nature/the surrounding space, in a constant emotional oscillation underlying the death drive.