#duke of bolton

[sassypossumm]

Requests Accepted!

Let me thank you for visiting my little corner of Tumblr!!! Pull up a comfy chair and let's share a cup of chai and geek out over our favorite characters!

While I am open to your thoughts and requests, just a few ground rules to keep in mind when asking:

As a cis-heterosexual woman, I'm most comfortable writing what I know, I keep descriptions vague, but understand that's the lens I'm working from!

I am open to anything from smut to angst, my caveat being simply this:

[we're NOT entertaining age gaps where one party is under 18]

I reserve the right to give a respectful no to any prompt or suggestion, whether due to the manner of the request or time constraints

Characters I Will Write For By Fandom

GOT: Tormund Gianstbane, Jon Snow, Robb Stark, Tywin Lannister, Tyrion Lannister, Ramsay Bolton

Agent Carter: Howard Stark, Jack Thompson

HOTD: Aemond Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Aegon II Targaryen, Otto Hightower 😅

ATSV: Miguel O'Hara

Bridgerton: Anthony Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton

X-Men: Wolverine, Night Crawler

Marvel: Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes, Clint Barton, Loki, Thor, Steve Roger

Star Trek: Q, Will Riker, James T. Kirk, Spock

Just please be patient with me, I've got tons of plot bunnies hopping around in my mind at any given moment! 😘

{Master Lists Under The Cut}

Aemond Targaryen x Reader:

Arranged Marriage Head Canons

Alone (angst)

Burn (NSFW)

Can't Lose You (angst)

Well Loved (NSFW)

Heavenly (NSFW)

Cregan Stark x Reader:

All Things End (angst)

What I Want (suggestive)

Daemon Targaryen x Reader:

Slights (angst)

Miguel O'Hara x Reader:

Hellfire (Priest!Miguel x Reader) NSFW

Someone Else (Miguel x Kick Boxer!Reader) NSFW

Scandal (Duke!Miguel x Reader) Bridgerton AU

Just Sex (Miguel/Geto x Reader) NSFW

Finally (Professor!Miguel x Reader) NSFW

Save A Horse (Cowboy!Miguel x Reader) NSFW

The Rat Bastard (Rat Bastard!Miguel x Reader) NSFW

Hallelujah (Demigod!Miguel x Reader) angst

Daddy Kink Head Canon (NSFW) - Cult Leader!Miguel x Reader (NSFW)

Brat Tamer!Miguel Head Canon (NSFW) - Soft Mornings (NSFW) - Voracious (NSFW) - Tentacles and Desire (NSFW)

Jealous Mafia Boss!Miguel x Reader (NSFW)

Morning Sneezes (fluff) - Missed My Pillow (fluff) - Thanks Frozen Turkey (fluff)

I Trust You (angst)

Dadbod Coach!Miguel x Reader:

More Than a Good Shag (NSFW) - Sex and Waffles (NSFW) - Sunshine (fluff)

Tywin Lannister x Reader:

Another Dance

Masques

Answers

First Editions (Modern/ Mob Boss AU)

Tableau (suggestive)

Steve Rogers x Reader:

Don't Wanna Wake Up! (fluff, suggestive)

Waffles and Sex (NSFW)

Other Characters:

Spock - Who's Being Unreasonable? (fluff)

Bruce Wayne - What Are You Baking? (fluff)

Jack Thompson - Shake a Leg, I'm Hungry (fluff) - Frying Pans and Hospitals (fluff)

[takeustothelakes]

giving the dc batfam houses in game of thrones

bruce - house stark

alfred - house targaryen but he’s a maester for the starks (think maester aemon vibes)

dick - dorne/house martell

jason - house stark or house mormont or house bolton

cass - house mormont or house bolton

tim - house tyrell

steph - house tyrell

duke - house tully

damian - dorne/house martell

[mea-gloria-fides]

Arms of The Most Noble Charles Paulet, 2nd Duke of Bolton.

[princessanneftw]

Why Princess Anne will be the King’s bedrock of support

The royal world has changed once again – but the industrious Princess Royal will keep the show on the road

By Camilla Tominey for the Daily Telegraph

Over the years, she has tumbled down the line of succession to a lowly 17th place in the Windsor pecking order.

On paper, the Princess Royal may not be the most prominent royal, lagging well behind her nephew Prince Harry and her brother the Duke of York – even though they are no longer “working” royals.

But when it comes to putting in the hours on behalf of the family Firm, few could dispute Princess Anne’s status as one of the King’s most stalwart supporters.

As the 75-year-old monarch on Monday began what Buckingham Palace has described as a “schedule of regular treatments” following his cancer diagnosis, his 73-year-old sister was the first to ride to the royal rescue.

With typical gusto, the grandmother-of-five put her best foot forward to carry out an investiture at Windsor Castle at 11am on Tuesday, before turning her attention to three further royal engagements.

After handing out gongs to the likes of media doyenne Elisabeth Murdoch, conductor Ivor Bolton, tenor Nicky Spence and wheelchair rugby league player James Simpson, the Princess made her way up to the Midlands for yet more pressing of the flesh.

On Tuesday afternoon, she was due to visit Nottingham West Primary Care Network at Eastwood Primary Care Centre in her capacity as patron of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, as well as popping in on woolmaker GH Hurt and Son.

She then plans to travel the 128 miles back to London to present The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering at the Science Museum.

Although the jobs will have been in the royal diary for months, they reiterate the importance of the Princess’s role as the Royal family’s resident trooper.

Last year, she was once again crowned the hardest-working royal, clocking up an impressive 457 engagements, 32 more than the 425 carried out by the King.

Not that there is any sibling rivalry between the pair. Although they used to “fight like cats and dogs” when they were little, according to Ingrid Seward, the veteran royal author and commentator: “Charles and Anne’s relationship is very good now.

“They have a great mutual respect. Before the prospect of Charles marrying Camilla became a possibility, the late Queen always thought it would be Anne at Charles’s side, acting as a sort of incognito Queen. Elizabeth II always had that vision – that Anne would play a hugely significant supporting role.”

Her bond with the King was plain to see during their mother’s funeral, when the Princess was the only woman to join the solemn march behind the coffin for the procession to Westminster Abbey.

As her brother’s eyes threatened to overflow with tears, his characteristically calm and collected sister looked him straight in the eye with a silent show of support.

In her 2022 book The Palace Papers, the journalist Tina Brown even went so far as to suggest that “there are plenty in palace circles who believe she is the best king we will never have”.

Stalwart, straightforward and surprisingly down to earth (despite being an unapologetic stickler for royal protocol), the Princess’s popularity within the household and beyond has been built on her reputation for getting on with it with little fuss or fanfare.

As Valentine Low explained in his 2022 book, Courtiers: “That was Harry and Meghan’s downfall – there was too much ego. Anne has no ego. She recognises that this is the job, and you just get on with it.”

It is a testament to the Princess’s work ethic that Buckingham Palace has stressed that the King will not need to use counsellors of state – royals authorised to carry out the monarch’s official duties should they be incapacitated or overseas.

Historically, they are the sovereign’s spouse and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21. Until recently, the King’s were Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.

Amid concern that Princes Harry and Andrew no longer undertake official royal duties and that the former does not even live in the country, a change was made to the Regency Act of 1937 to include the Princess along with her youngest brother, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Both will be expected to increase their workload in light of the King’s cancer diagnosis, which has forced him to cancel all forward-facing public engagements to minimise any health risks.

As heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales will also undertake royal engagements on behalf of his father along with the Queen.

Yet with the Princess of Wales also out of action until after Easter after undergoing abdominal surgery, the monarchy has never looked more “slimmed down”.

Naturally Anne was one of the first to identify the potential pitfalls of stripping back the number of “working” royals.

“Well, I think the ‘slimmed-down’ [monarchy] was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment,” she said in an interview last year.

When it was put to her that the world changes, she added: “It changes a bit. I mean, it doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I have to say. I’m not quite sure what else, you know, we can do.”

The royal world has changed once again – and as ever, industrious Princess Anne is front and centre of efforts to keep the show on the road.

[whencyclopedia]

Horatio Gates

Horatio Gates (1727-1806) was an English-born general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Initially viewed as a hero for his stunning victory at the Battles of Saratoga, Gates' reputation was later tarnished by both his involvement in the Conway Cabal to replace George Washington as army commander, and his catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Camden.

Early Life & British Service

Horatio Gates was born on 26 July 1727 in Maldon, Essex County, England. He was likely the son of working-class parents Robert and Dorothea Gates; his mother, a housekeeper for the Duke of Bolton, was able to use her position to secure opportunities for her family that otherwise would have been out of reach. For instance, through her friendship with the waiting-maid of the Walpole family, Dorothea Gates managed to get future English writer and politician Horace Walpole (who was 11 years old at the time) to be the godfather of her son. In 1745, 18-year-old Horatio Gates was able to purchase a commission as an ensign in the British Army, largely thanks to the influence of the Duke of Bolton.

The young Ensign Gates has been described by biographers in unflattering terms; one characterized him as a "little ruddy-faced Englishman peering through his thick spectacles" and a "snob of the first water" (quoted in Boatner, 412). He first served with the 20th Regiment of Foot in Germany during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) before volunteering to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to serve under its governor, Edward Cornwallis; Cornwallis was not only an early mentor to Gates but also the uncle of Lord Charles Cornwallis, who would one day face Gates on the battlefield. Promoted to the rank of captain in the 45th Regiment of Foot, Gates saw action against the Mi'kmaq and Acadians in Canada. In 1754, he married Elizabeth Philips, daughter of a Nova Scotia councilman, with whom he would have one son, Robert (b. 1758).

In 1755, as the French and Indian War (1754-1763) was escalating in North America, British General Edward Braddock was sent to lead an expedition to capture the French-held Fort Duquesne and thereby assert British control of the Ohio River Valley. Gates traveled to Fort Cumberland, Maryland, to join the expedition, where he would have met several other men who would one day also play key roles in the American Revolution including Daniel Morgan, Thomas Gage, Charles Lee, and, of course, Lt. Colonel George Washington of the Virginia militia. Braddock's Expedition set out on 29 May 1755 and made it to the Monongahela River a little over a month later, where it was ambushed by French troops and their Indigenous allies. General Braddock was killed in the ambush, and a large portion of his army became casualties including Gates, who was wounded. The survivors retreated to friendly territory.

After the Battle of the Monongahela, Gates was mainly relegated to positions of military administration, something at which he proved exceptionally talented. He served as chief-of-staff first to Brigadier General John Stanwix and then to Stanwix's replacement, Robert Monckton. In 1762, Gates accompanied Monckton in the capture of Martinique. Although Gates did not experience much combat during the expedition, he was nevertheless tasked with bringing news of the victory to England and was rewarded with a promotion to the rank of major. The war ended the following year and Gates returned to England, only to realize he had little future in the British Army; the limitations put on him by his social status meant that he could not advance much further in the military than he already had. Frustrated, Gates sold his major's commission in 1769 and, with assistance from his old army comrade George Washington, moved to Virginia with his family. Gates purchased Traveler's Rest, a Berkeley County plantation next door to Washington's younger brother, Samuel. As Gates began his new life as a Virginian planter, he also purchased several enslaved people to labor in his fields.

Continue reading...

[satinechristian]

tagged by @the-sparkling-diamond-satine and tagging anyone who wants to do it

[bigdumpertrucking]

Mariners 40-Man Roster, by Zodiac (Sun) Signs

so I didn't realize anyone else would give a shit, but here we go! (includes minor league/IL players)

[last updated 30 July 2024]

♑ CAPRICORN

Mitch Haniger

Mitch Garver

J.P. Crawford

Duke Ellis 

Andrés Muñoz

Julio Rodríguez

♒AQUARIUS

George Kirby

Bryan Woo

♓ PISCES

Randy Arozarena

♈ ARIES

Gabe Speier

♉ TAURUS

Matt Brash 

Logan Gilbert

Victor Robles

♊ GEMINI

Tayler Saucedo

Sam Haggerty

Cody Bolton

Emerson Hancock

♋ CANCER

Austin Voth

Jorge Polanco

Josh Rojas

Cade Marlowe

Samad Taylor

♌ LEO

Dylan Moore

Dominic Canzone

Yimi García 

♍ VIRGO

Jason Vosler

Luke Raley

Eduard Bazardo

Jhonathan Diaz

Bryce Miller

Gregory Santos

♎ LIBRA

Trent Thornton

Collin Snider

Jackson Kowar

Leo Rivas

Carlos Vargas

♏ SCORPIO

Chris Devenski

Brett de Geus

♐ SAGITTARIUS

Luis Castillo

Cal Raleigh

Ryan Bliss

Tyler Locklear

Justin Turner

JT Chargois

@release-th-kraken @harboneger

[teamwindsorroyals]

Source: Old History Memories/FB

Deborah Cavendish the Duchess of Devonshire (1920-2014) and her husband Andrew Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire and their two children; Peregrine and Emma. The family were photographed by Norman Parkinson for Vogue magazine, in August 1952.

Debo as she was affectionately known, was the youngest of seven siblings. She has five sisters Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and a brother, Tom. Her death in 2014 as the last of the clan, signalled the end of an era which had spanned 110 years of the Mitford girls capturing society.

Her parents, David, 2nd Baron Redesdale and his wife Sydney were for the best part penniless and eccentric aristocrats. School for the girls was frowned upon, in case they should develop thick calves from playing hockey (Tom, who spent time away studying at Eton, was a Barrister and musician, later killed in Burma in 1945). Amongst other things, linen napkins were abandoned because of the cost of laundering them, and the children were forced to follow a kosher diet on the premises that cancer was less prevalent among Jews. The girls were very hands on and practical at home, developing enquiring minds as they were essentially left to their own devices. This made them ever more appealing when they entered society. Of the sisters, Jessica, Nancy and Deborah became writers.

Their combination of beauty, brains and humour catapulted them to celebrities status and they remained continually courted by the press covering stories of affairs, notoriety and extreme politics.

Diana’s affair with fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley caused her to leave her marriage to Britain’s wealthiest man at the time, Irish brewing heir, Bryan Guinness. Unity followed her infatuation with Hitler to Germany and died from an attempted suicide. Jessica’s communist support of the Spanish Civil War led her to flee to Spain at age 18, eventually settling in the US. Nancy became a Dior wearing socialist, who left her marriage and moved to France where she indulged in a doomed affair with Charles de Gaulle's right-hand man, Gaston Palewski. Pamela, married the millionaire scientist Derek Jackson and sought of a quieter life out of the limelight. At the time, 15 year-old Debo, who had a crush on Derek, fainted when she heard the news.

Much like the Queen Mother, Debo was looking forward to a life of relative obscurity by marrying the second son of the Duke of Devonshire, Andrew Cavendish in 1941. Unexpectedly, when the 10th Duke died in 1950, they found themselves the 11th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Inheriting Chatsworth, Hardwick Hall, Lismore Castle and Bolton Abbey. Death duties meant they donated Hardwick Hall to the nation and precious works of art were sold as Andrew negotiated endlessly, until the debt was finally settled in 1974.

Their lives changed when Billy Hartington, Andrew’s elder brother and heir, was killed during the Second World War by a sniper's bullet in 1944. His death only four months after his marriage to the very popular Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, JFK's sister. Four years later, Kick died in a plane crash and is buried in the churchyard at Edensor on the family estate.

Debo redecorated Chatsworth which had previously been leased to a girl’s school, opened it up to the public and spent 54 years of her life there. Her initiatives included the Chatsworth Farmyard – set up to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to learn about farming, food production and traditional landscapes; Chatsworth Farm Shop; and the Orangery gift shop. A pioneer of her time, it paved the way for the commercialisation of other farm estate businesses like Daylesford and Highgrove Farm shops.

Debo moved into Derbyshire vicarage on the death of her husband and assuming the title Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.

Writers of period dramas and historical fiction have looked to the world of the Mitfords sisters for inspiration. Julian Fellowes’ Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey is said to be based on Nancy’s wicked humour.

Diana was portrayed by Evelyn Waugh in Vile Bodies, Deborah was painted by Lucian Freud and Jessica had a cardboard coffin named after her. John Betjeman - who at one time was in love with Pamela - celebrated the sisters in a verse, the first lines of which read: "The Mitford girls! The Mitford Girls/ I love them for their sins".

Her last publication before her death was her autobiography, ‘Wait For Me!’. See less See less

[docpiplup]

Jon was tired. I need sleep. He had been up half the night poring over maps, writing letters, and making plans with Maester Aemon. Even after stumbling into his narrow bed, rest had not come easily. He knew what he would face today, and found himself tossing restlessly as he brooded on Maester Aemon's final words.

"Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel", the old man had said, "the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born."

The old man felt Jon's face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us.  Kill the boy and let the man be born."

Jon II, A Dance with Dragons

It could be very interesting if a Great Northern Council is held at Winterfell for deciding who will be the next Lord of Winterfell/King in the North after the downfall of the Boltons.

Like, maybe this Northern Great Council parallels the Great Council for deciding the heir to the Iron Throne among Maekar I's children and/or their descendants, and in this case the Northern Great Council will choose the heir to the Noth among Ned's children.

We know that the Great Council offered the crown to Aemon and he rejected it and Egg was crowned instead. In my opinion, I think this Northern Great Council could offer the crown to Jon, since he is the eldest and most prepared sibling, and he will accept it because if duty.

I feel like there is a strong connection between Jon and Aemon & Aegon V, Jon accepting the crown due duty I feel like it reflects in some kind of sense the "Kill the boy and let the man be born" Aemon said to Egg and Jon, both the last time they were going to see Aemon and time before/when they became kings, Aemon went to the Wall to join the NW and Egg became Aegon the Unlikely, and Aemon left the Wall and died during the trip to Oldtown, and some time after that Jon could be crowned King in the North.

We could also take notes at Aegon V's nickname " the Unlikely", because he was the fourth son of a fourth son, and Jon becoming Lord of Winterfell/King in the North being a bastard isn't something expected for Westerosi society due to generally being classist and having prejudices towards bastards.

And I don't suscribe to what some people say about that Jon can't inherit and become king because he's a bastard, it's well-known that one of the main inspirations for Westeros is Medieval Europe, especially medieval English history, and there some other bastards that became kings, like William I the Conqueror (1028-1087), illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise, although I would say his Asoiaf equivalents are Aegon I the Conqueror and his bastard brother Orys Baratheon, plus there were others like Ramiro I of Aragon (1006-1063), Henry II of Castile (1334-1379), John I of Portugal (1357-1433) and Ferdinand I of Naples (1423-1494).

Plus if Robb's Will is brought to the discussion, Jon has been legitimised by Robb and could be another reason to be considered a good candidate by the Council.

[cloysterbell]

what characters are on the official cloysterblorbo list?

Excellent question, anon. In no particular order:

Myka Bering, Pete Lattimer

BBC Arthur Pendragon

Duke Crocker, Audrey Parker

Eliot Spencer, Parker

Olivia Dunham, Peter Bishop

Connie Maheswaran

Danny Fenton

Tsukishima Kei

BBC America Dirk Gently

Flynn Carsen

Poppy Li

Ben Wyatt

Link Legendofzelda

Eleventh Doctor, Thirteenth Doctor

Kim Wexler, Jimmy McGill

Peyton Charles

Troy Bolton...?

Bug Starship

Zoboomafoo

[grandmaster-anne]

The ‘minor’ Royals are the very best of British

The Telegraph commentary article by Madeline Grant | Published 21 December 2022

A few years back, a BBC documentary shone an unwittingly hilarious light on the lives of the minor working royals. The Queen’s first cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, has been sent to open a new IT department at a school in Croydon. “There are some things that you’re interested in, and some that you’re not” he admits. “It is slightly difficult to feign an interest”. We then cut to some school-children dancing (badly) to a song from Footloose. Trying to make conversation with a teacher, the Duke points to the ceiling of the sports hall and asks, “Is this an insulated roof?”

The Duke’s small-talk proved an unexpected hit on social media; at my birthday I realised to my astonishment that half my guests could quote the scene word for word – perhaps not the most obvious viral sensation among a bunch of 30-year-olds. But there is something rather moving, as well as relatable, about it. While the Sussexes redefine the concept of “service” to mean whatever is convenient to them; those sliding down the pecking order with each new royal arrival continue their efforts on behalf of the institution. No frills, no tantrums, dull events, small-talk galore – and lasting loyalty.

The Princess Royal’s unshowy work ethic has won great public respect. This week the 72-year-old once again topped the list as the most industrious working royal. The Earl and Countess of Wessex carry out public engagements in the background, without fanfare. Royals will often be patrons of the same charity for 40 or 50 years; understanding the DNA of these organisations; and many keep serving well beyond the official retirement age.

The late Queen’s cousins the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, 87 and 85, still regularly perform royal duties. At Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, the Duke joined in the procession, having previously flanked George VI’s coffin as a teenager in 1952. He looked unsteady on his feet at times; but there he was, faithfully serving his cousin as he had all his life. The Duchess of Kent quietly worked as a music teacher in Hull for 13 years and would often be found mopping the floors of a local hospice where she was a longtime volunteer.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have remained working royals well into their 70s, spending decades giving unshowy support to their good causes. A passionate tennis-lover, the Duchess has been Honorary President of the Lawn Tennis Association for over two decades and may well enjoy glamorous occasions, such as appearing in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. But she is much more often found far from the limelight, cheerfully opening public courts in Tottenham or watching unknown British hopefuls battling it out in the dreary fastnesses of indoor tennis centres in Telford or Bolton.

When the couple married in 1972, her husband was working as an architect. Just six weeks later his dashing older brother, Prince William of Gloucester, died in a flying accident and the couple were propelled into royal duties. Their quiet, steady work, plus the wackier gigs – representing Queen Elizabeth at the coronation of King George Tupou V of Tonga in 2008, for example – has never excited much media attention; and were it not for the death of the Duke’s brother, they would have probably led much more independent lives. But they rose to the occasion uncomplainingly. As the Duke explains in the documentary “I don’t expect huge crowds lining the street, as if Her Majesty came. It’s valid, even without a great deal of fuss.”

The King’s aspirations for a slimmed-down monarchy are well-known, but the sheer number of royal duties means scores of lesser lights are surely required to share the load and represent the crown overseas. The monarch and his immediate heirs could never physically fulfil half the commitments requiring a royal presence.

The minor royals don’t just opt for less glamorous causes; but also more historic and esoteric ones. The Earl of Wessex is a tremendous ambassador of the ancient sport Real Tennis, while the Duke of Gloucester is patron of the Richard III Society. They make many charities viable; supporting the quirky sports, passions and amateur pursuits woven into the nation’s social fabric.

Of course, in this sense The Firm is like any other institution: so many of which run through the hard work of unseen individuals doing unglamorous jobs. Churches depend on people giving up their time as wardens, vergers, and church council members. It is their quiet graft that keeps some of our most ancient buildings in good repair. The bishops would do well to remember them next time they pontificate on political matters.

This feels like a generational divide – and one I’ve been thinking about a lot since I lost my grandma this year. She was a stalwart of the community and an indefatigable volunteer who put in countless hours baking cakes for the church, Girl Guides and tennis club, and running the WI and local Country Market. What will happen to civic society without such people around? I am reminded of George Eliot’s beautiful words at the end of Middlemarch, “the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts … the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs”.

We may not hear so much about them, but members of the late Queen’s extended family, well beyond the core royals, continue to follow her example of lifelong duty, as do thousands of community-minded “good eggs” up and down the country. All our lives are richer for their service.

[brookstonalmanac]

Birthdays 2.26

Beer Birthdays

Gabriel Sedlmayr II (1811)

Frederick C. Miller (1906)

Art Larrance (1944)

Five Favorite Birthdays

Tex Avery; cartoon director (1908)

Johnny Cash; singer, songwriter (1932)

Jackie Gleason; actor, comedian (1916)

Plato; philosopher (428 BCE)

Theodore Sturgeon; writer (1918)

Famous Birthdays

Robert Alda; actor (1914)

Grover Cleveland Alexander; Philadelphia Phillies P (1887)

Erykah Badu; singer (1971)

William Baumol; economist (1922)

Michael Bolton; pop singer (1953)

Godfrey Cambridge; actor (1933)

"Buffalo" Bill Cody; scout, entertainer (1846)

Honore Daumier; artist (1808)

"Fats" Domino; singer, pianist (1928)

Herbert Henry Dow; chemical manufacturer (1866)

Bill Duke; actor (1943)

Kevin Dunn; actor (1956)

Marshall Faulk; St. Louis Rams RB (1973)

William Frawley; actor (1887)

Jennifer Grant; actor (1966)

Victor Hugo; writer (1802)

Betty Hutton; actor (1921)

John Harvey Kellogg; dietician, doctor (1852)

Kara Monaco; model (1983)

Teresa Palmer; actor (1986)

Tony Randall; actor (1920)

Mitch Ryder; rock singer (1945)

Levi Strauss; inventor (1829)

Jenny Thompson; swimmer (1973)

Elihu Vedder; artist, illustrator (1836)

Wenceslas of Bohemia; ruler (1361)

[cynicalclassicist]

Irony with Stannis and Richard III characters

So it's clear that there are a few characters in ASOIAF who take some inspiration from Richard III. Ned Stark, Tyrion Lannister, Richard III, Rickard Karstark and Arnolf Karstark...

It's not one-to-one, Ned also has Richard, duke of York, and Lord Hastings, etc.

But I find it ironic that Stannis' defeat at the Blackwater comes from another Richard III character, one who really leans into the literary image of Richard.

And then Tyrion also gets classed as a villain by the regime.

But this makes it feel ironic that in Stannis' Northern plot he is up against another Richard III figure, namely Arnolf Karstark.

Copyright holder: The Mico / Тхе Мичо

(I'm not quite sure how to do copyright right, I hope that this is fine.)

With his hunchback, his plot to get his (great-)nephew killed and marry his (great-)niece to her "uncle" (first cousin once removed), and the Karstark sigil being a sun and its words "the Sun in Winter" Arnolf has similarities to the theatrical Richard III. I did get that line from the Villains Wiki page, but I wrote it so...

Arnolf is basically Richard III from Shakespeare's play with all the rhetorical splendour taken out. Along with being much older. He is a pretty exaggerated character, described as looking like a vulture.

He's a pretty scummy traitor, claiming to support Stannis as part of a plot with the Boltons to defeat him, enabling his branch of the family to take control of Karhold.

And in the preview chapter of The Winds of Winter, which GRRM certainly should have released, we see that Stannis knows of Arnolf's treachery and makes it clear that they are not going to survive.

The theory is that he is going to trick the Freys into charging onto the frozen lake...

...and tricking people to their death in the water feels like a nice counter to his defeat at the Blackwater.

I'm still annoyed at the show doing such a disappointing finish to his storyline, it really dragged out Season 6 and there was real cinematic potential over the logistical nonsense of the Battle of the Bastards.

Also, the guy who is also in the room throughout the chapter is... Theon Greyjoy. Who is also kind of a Richard III figure...

I can't recall where, but the fact that he is thought to have murdered two princes (which he didn't do, but he wanted people to think that he had) and then gets forced into a hideous form in punishment... symbolic?

Anyway, just my ramblings!

This is not much of an essay, maybe just something to put down.

If you want something a tad lighter, Larys Strong in House of the Dragon looks very much like Laurence Oliver's Richard III... Is Larys based on Larry? Or is this overthinking it?

[sankta-starkova]

LETTERMAN

015; typecasting

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summary: the one where ej and andy realise that there may be some romantic feelings between them that hadn't been there before, or had they? the new year test this revelation

wordcount: 1.7k

They all sat down in the cafeteria at lunch time, talking about things when Carlos stood up randomly.

"Attention Thespians, I have a brief announcement," Carlos said and everyone turned to look at him.

"After spending the last couple of weeks Google stalking the Menkie Awards I've discovered there is no award for best choreography, I've decided that I will be auditioning to be on stage this year," he explained.

Everyone cheered, proud of Carlos. All of a sudden, EJ walked over, looking at Ricky.

"You're welcome," he said to him and Ricky looked up at EJ confused.

"For what?" He asked, watching as EJ sat down in the spare seat between him and Andy.

"I've decided to take myself out of the running for the Beast, I've got a lot on my plate," he said.

EJ started to dig through his bag and Andy sat there disappointed. A little part of her wanted to be Belle and the Beast with EJ.

"Which reminds me I should probably pick a meal plan for Duke, I also have this," he said.

"Wait! You officially got in?" She asked and Ricky narrowed his eyes at EJ, realising something.

"Back up, you're not doing the musical either?" He questioned.

"No, I've only got the bandwidth for a supporting role," he explained, reaching into his bag again but he stopped when he realised something, "What do you mean either?"

"I'm, uh, not sure if I'm auditioning this year," Ricky explained, "You know, once a skate rat,"

"No Ricky, I'm still a skater and I do theatre, we are all sure you can do this," She said.

Although her and Ricky had spent less time at the skatepark together, she still enjoyed it and missed spending that much time with him.

"Before I forget, Andy, I have something for you," EJ said as the silence it got awkward.

He reached into his bag and everyone waited to see what he had. EJ pulled out a blue Duke hat identical to the one he had on his head.

He placed it on her head, "Ta-da, can't have my best girl not having a Duke hat," he said with a laugh.

Andy smiled at him, her heart fluttering as he called her his 'best girl' but she knew that he didn't like her in the way she liked him.

"Well thanks EJ," she said, pulling out a small hand held mirror and checking what it looked like.

Suddenly, a random blonde girl approached the table, "Sorry, I've been trying to work up the courage to say this," she said.

She looked at EJ, furrowing her brow as she silently questioned what was going on. He shrugged and then they looked at the girl.

"Okay, I can't believe in standing in front of both Troy Bolton right now, both your performances were incredible," she explained quickly.

The two boys thanked her, EJ still smiling at Andy and not really caring.

He loved seeing her in the hat, his hat, but he couldn't think of her that way, not after Nini broke his heart.

"No, thank you. I mean, you both inspired me to try out this semester. You guys are all so talented, do you mind if we take a picture," she asked.

Everyone agreed and the girl took the photo, everyone smiling at it.

Just before auditions, Ashlyn came up to Gina, Kourtney and Andy with a proposal.

"I know this is totally last minute and feel free to say no, I have a song I've been noodling on all week its a quartet," Ashlyn explained.

She handed the sheets of paper to each of them, Andy smiling as she flipped through them.

"Gina, living with you is the closest thing to having a sister. Andy, it's only a matter of time before you become my cousin and Kourt, I know you must be missing Nini so I was thinking we could audition as a girl group," She explained.

Andy smiled at her, she was so glad to have these girls as friends, "I'm totally in Ash, good job me and EJ decided not to do Suddenly Seymour," she said.

Kourtney chuckled, "Yes, but is the vibe Destiny's Child or Cheetah Girls?" she questioned.

"The vibe is all of the above, plus a little spice girls," Ashlyn said before turning to Gina, "So, you in?"

"I'm sorry Ash, I'm gonna stick with auditioning on my own," Gina said and everyones face dropped, it was disappointing but Andy got it.

The bell rang before auditions and Andy walked to them with Big Red and Ricky after meeting up.

"I am feeling the German word for anxiety, hunger and deathly fear of disappointing the one you really want to impress," Big Red explained with frustration.

He sighed, walking over to the wall and leaning against it in defeat.

"Its actually pretty simple right, you like Ashlyn?" Andy asked and Big Red groaned.

"Understatement of the year," he said as he slid onto the floor, feeling defeated.

Andy and Ricky joined him on the floor, "One thing last semester taught me is that really liking a girl can get you through a lot of crap, including stage fright," Ricky explained.

"At least if I choke up today, I won't be alive to see Ashlyns disappointment," he said as he leaned back against the wall.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I don't think you've ever disappointed anyone in your whole life," Andy said.

"You know what would make me feel a lot better? Knowing you would be up there too Ricky," he said, trying to convince Ricky to try out.

"I haven't ruled auditioning out," he said before the bell rang and they rushed to auditions.

Later, the group all gathered around, preparing for the audition when Miss Jenn walked over.

"All right, as you know, this year's audition process will be in a two- step process," she explained.

Andy nodded her head, listening to her explain that there was a group vocal warm up and a song of your choice.

"Circle up, take your neighbours hand for a moment of silent reflection," Miss Jenn said.

Andy smiled, reaching for Seb and EJs hands as they stood in the circle.

They seemed to have gotten over the awkwardness from three weeks ago of the near kiss, she knew it was just a moment.

Suddenly, Ricky ran in. They all performed their parts in Belle before heading up for the solos, or in this case, a trio.

Andy, Kourtney and Ashlyn stood on the stage, "This is an original song I wrote about the power of friendship, it was originally a solo but then I wrote it for four people but we'll be singing for two," Ashlyn explained.

"Wait!" Gina called out after she heard Lily make a comment about them, "Is there still room for a fourth?"

"Do you know the song?" Ashlyn asked, a smile on her face as she realised Gina will be singing along.

"I was curious so I spent the afternoon kinda studying it," she stated, "Its brilliant,"

"Oh, and picture us in sequined jumpsuits. On a light up dance floor. In an abandoned warehouse," Ashlyn added before they performed the song.

They finished and everyone applauded, wowed by their performance. EJ smiled at them from the crowd, giving them a thumbs up.

"Well now I'm a little sad we're not doing Heather's," Miss Jenn said as she watched the four girls hug.

Everyone else performed their numbers until it was just Big Red left.

Andy gave him a thumbs up from the crowd and he started to tap dance when suddenly he fell.

She gasped, hating that this had happened to her best friend. But then she heard Lily snicker, "Seriously," she whispered to herself.

Both Ashlyn and Andy turned to glare at her, they looked at each other and Andy jumped up.

Her and Ricky both ran onto the stage to comfort their best friend, "You got this dude," Ricky asserted.

Andy nodded, smiling at him, "Lets show them what you can do. We've got you okay," she said before her and Ricky went backstage.

Big Red smiled at them before he started to perform again, smashing it. Everyone cheered him on, Andy glaring at the girl.

Afterwards, they looked at the cast list, Andy nodding her head as she realised she had gotten the role of Chip, a huge grin on her face.

"Gaston!" Andy exclaimed and EJ pulled her into a hug, spinning her around slightly.

"Chip!" He smiled at her, "God, I'm so proud of you,"

She blushed, looking around before seeing Ashlyn, "be right back," she said before walking over to congratulate her.

But then she saw that Ashlyn got Belle, pulling her best friend into a hug before Ashlyn ran off to cheer with Big Red.

"Hey, Lily," Andy called out as she saw the girl walk away.

Lily turned around, an angry look on her face for not getting the role of Belle.

"I don't care where you're from, but at East High, we don't make fun of people that make mistakes," Andy said, she was fuming, hating that someone thinks they can waltz in here and mock people, especially her best friend.

"Well East High doesn't deserve me anyway, she shouldn't be Belle and you all know it," Lily said with a huff.

Andy scoffed, she couldn't believe that this girl was do big-headed that she thought she was the best.

"She's a better person then you'll ever be, and she's the best actress and singer here," Andy refuted, not taking any more of this girls insults.

"Fine, but when you lose the Menkies because of her, you'll come back, or maybe go crying to that idiot of a boyfriend," she said before turning around.

"Fine, talk that mouth off but if I see you anywhere else, you better watch out," Andy spat back, she had been in her fair of street fights.

As Lily walked away, Andy clenched her fist, shaking her head, "Calm down Andes, she doesn't deserve your time," EJ said as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"You're right, Eej, thanks" she said and she walked over to Ashlyn, the two celebrating.

Ashlyn smiled at them. She knew all about their nicknames, and how they'd only use them once they were dating - but neither of them seemed to have noticed.

They also didn't seem to notice how they looked like a couple, his chest pressed against her back, arms around her middle. Ashlyn just smiled, letting them be oblivious for a moment

Taglist:

@maggiecc

[diamondperfumes]

I don't have strong feelings about the Dance-era characters, especially the adults. They are, by design, antagonistic, ruthless, and generally distasteful. I don't find it surprising that many people take the line of "they're all oppressive monarchs, so why should I take a side" on the Dance.

I think ASOIAF fans have a habit of disingenuous pseudo-intellectualism and pseudo-progressivism when it comes to Rhaenyra (and many other Targaryens, especially Daenerys). "Why should I care about a monarch being usurped when they inherited the throne through oppression" being applied to her is hypocritical because it's not applied to fan favorite characters. E.G., if I said that I shouldn't care about House Stark being usurped by the Lannisters and Boltons, I'd be accused of lacking empathy and misunderstanding the core themes of the text.

But why shouldn't the same logic apply? Neither the Starks nor Rhaenyra were democratically elected to their positions. Both enjoyed a life of privilege prior to war. Both are feudal-era nobility and royalty enjoying the luxuries their statuses afford them. Both of their wars cause untold suffering upon the land.

In fact, the smallfolk Arya Stark meets as she's imprisoned at Harrenhal essentially express something similar: a hatred of the Starks, Tullys, and Lannisters equally. To them, the Starks and Tullys are not the righteous heroes fighting the villains. The Starks and Tullys are just another set of villains salting their lands, destroying their villages, and enabling mass rape and murder.

If you view the Dance as "equally corrupt monarchic factions duking it out," you should view the War of the Five Kings in much the same light. But if you believe that this reading of the War of the Five Kings lacks nuance and understanding, at least remain consistent. Don't switch from one standard for one set of characters to another standard for another set of characters, when the commonality is that they're all nobility fighting for selfish reasons.

[theduchessgeorgiana]

Georgiana Cavendish

Born to the Spencer family at Althorp, Georgiana was the eldest of three children born to John, the future 1st Earl Spencer and his wife Margaret Georgiana. Aged just 17, Georgiana married the Duke and became mistress of Chatsworth, Hardwick Hall, Chiswick House and Lismore Castle, as well as the estates at Londesborough and Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire.

Embarking on her marriage full of optimism, Georgiana was described as having a warm and vivacious personality, while her husband was regarded as being more reserved. The new Duchess enthusiastically established herself at the heart of London society, welcoming fellow aristocrats, royalty, actors, playwrights and musicians to her home. She also entertained prominent members of the Whig political party.

In 1782 Lady Elizabeth Foster (1759-1824) and Georgiana began a friendship which would last the rest of Georgiana’s life. Elizabeth, known as Bess, became a companion and support to the Duchess but Bess also had a relationship with Duke.

After nine years of marriage, the Devonshires would celebrate the birth of their first child, Georgiana (1783-1858) known as Little G, who was followed two years later by Harriet (1785-1862), known as Harryo. The sisters were joined by a brother William, known as Hart, who would become the 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858) in 1790.

Sadly Georgiana was denied the opportunity to raise her fourth child, Eliza Courtney (1792-1859) because she had been conceived during an affair with politician Charles Grey (1764–1845). The Duke exiled Georgiana, forbidding her to return until invited and only on the condition that the baby was placed elsewhere. Georgiana was able to see Eliza as she grew up, acting as an unofficial god-parent, but Eliza was only told of her parentage after Georgiana’s death.

After years of ill health and enduring blunt and brutal medical interventions which had impaired her sight and left her weakened, Georgiana’s final illness occurred in March 1806. She died at Devonshire House, the family’s townhouse in Piccadilly, aged just 48.