#emeril stone

[anarchosimdicalist]

tagged by @rainymoodlet to do one of my sims in this picrew. i haven't posted any gameplay or like played at all in ages lmao but i miss emeril do you guys remember emeril

tagging @sugarcain-sims and @king-tower and whoever else wants to do it

[jamiesfootball]

Ted taking Beard to his friend who is a dentist? It's not just helping Beard not be in pain. It's helping him get his life back.

I was (for almost a decade) missing a tooth. I did realise how much it held my life back until I came into enough money to have it replaced.

(I actually had an idea in one of my fics that the first thing Beard does after getting like Money is teeth stuff because I have a friend who is in long term recovery that did that. He got implants to replace his partial)

This, yes. I’ve known a lot of people over the years (including myself) who’ve just dealt with long term tooth pain because the amount of money it would take to fix whatever problems they had.

With Beard, who I’ve always headcanoned as coming from a low income background, I can definitely see a combination of factors leading to him putting off doing anything for a long time.

Then with Beard staying with Ted when he got out of prison-

“Can’t help but notice that after dinner your plate’s looking a little closer to half full than half empty. Now I’m certainly no Emeril, but then I also don’t remember you being a real picky eater back in college either. It’s not an allergy is it?”

“No. It’s fine. Just a little tooth sensitivity. Got worse in prison.”

“Uh-huh. And how long you had that?”

“About twenty years.”

Ted answers with his eyebrows. Beard hardly notices it; he told Michelle he’d do the dishes, and that supersedes whatever personal lore of his has caught Ted’s interest this time. He doesn’t see how Ted’s eyes soften, the way he sighs with his shoulders, the gears rattling into territory where good men should fear to tread, less they get their boots dirty on the low-level grime Beard’s been trailing behind him his whole life like Linus with his blanket.

He doesn’t know yet that Ted’s never turned over a stone without wanting to shine it up and take it home.

Standing in Ted’s house, under the weight of Ted’s generosity, with one singular task to focus on, Beard doesn’t even wonder to himself what Teddy might be up to, digging a leather phone book out of the junk drawer and slinking off with the receiver of the cordless phone in hand.

Rookie mistake.

[team-synergy]

Introductions...

I am Vermilion, leader of the Synergy Cadre.

Our goal is to simply unlock the powers of the corrupted Synergy Stones of Ferrum, the Shadow Synergy Stones.

We do not worship a legendary, but we do have possession of one. Don't worry, it's not the bigger ones. We do not focus on the main regions but instead on our home, the Ferrum region. It is a strange land, and so is its power.

Our team consists of a small group, but I'll get with that at the moment.

As per usual, our trainer card. Aegislash is my partner and battle partner. The rest of my team as well.. as for the Darkrai, that is something for later.

Our admins are as follow.

Venna, a Chandelure battler and a very efficient trainer. She is hyperactive.

Emeril, a good Empoleon battler. Cares deeply for their pokemon and I respect that... They get hotheaded.

Davon, a man of little words and an old friend, his Blaziken is devastating in battle, lethal at best.

We do have a few numbers of grunts. Arnold, Sebs, Danni, Alonzo, amongst a few more. If you wish to contact anyone, refer them by name.

----

OOC: Hey hey, uh, this is a sideblog and I am very new to this. I wanted to try out a small idea and went along with it. My main is @proto-flower. Like I said, I am very new and joined because I was very interested in this because of a friend. Said friend is helping me around but I manage this blog and all its characters.

[charonean]

In depth backstories for them all?

Hey Ferre, did you know that I love you?

Prepare for a lot, so I'll do a read more, I guess lol.

So I'll do Casimir and Dmitri Klimek together because they're twins.

We'll start a bit before them though (because I've been developing their family a lot recently) with their father, a human hunter named Aleksy.

Aleksy had recently built himself a cabin in the woods and decided to not continue on with his family's business (they run a bakery) and to become a hunter. So now he's out in the woods once day, and he goes a little too deep into them (people don't tend to go too deep into these woods because there's a high number of wood elves in the area and they prefer to Keep To Themselves). But he's out, carefully tracking a large stag he'd seen earlier, when he steps on a twig and then gets shot in the leg. Apparently he'd frightened another hunter in the area, a wood elf named Emeril.

Emeril, panicked, felt really bad for accidentally shooting a human, and she decided to bring him back to his cabin and tried to heal his wound. And, as it goes, they fell in love. Thus comes Casimir and Dmitri.

They were raised solely by their father (they have no clue who their mother is (they don't even know her name...) because all their father will say about her is that 'she's gone' and they don't know if that means she's dead or she left (Cas believes she's dead; Dima thinks she left)). They were like the sun and moon; Casimir is more withdrawn and solemn, and he loves to study astronomy and sleep in late and he honestly doesn't care at all about his elvish heritage. Dmitri, on the other hand, is very outgoing and personable, he is obsessed with nature, and all he wants is to learn about his mother and what his elvish half. (I could talk so much about random points in their lives here and about their other family members (their aunt Alina (Aleksy's twin) and their uncle Benedykt (and later on, their cousin Erich)))

[At one point, when they were about seven, they were play-fighting with some sticks in the woods, and Dmitri accidentally cut Casimir across his face, and it scarred, which is why whenever you see art of Cas, he has that scar on his face.]

Now, Dmitri wanted to learn druidry. This was no secret to his family. However, it was a secret that he was teaching himself. He'd finally learned his first spell and he was so eager to show it off to Cas. So he took him to this small clearing in the woods by the river where they used to play. This part in particular was the rapids and their father had built up a small wall of stone so they wouldn't fall in. However, Dmitri stood up on one of the rocks as a stage so he could show off, but the spell had a bit of a kick to it, and he slipped on the wet stone, fell and hit his head on a rock, and drowned. He was fourteen.

Casimir was devastated and continued to blame himself for his brother's death because he felt he hadn't been quick enough to save him. In an attempt to redeem himself, he threw himself into his studies of astronomy and into being the best person he could be. He was very well loved by everyone in the town because of how helpful he was.

On the ten year anniversary of Dmitri's death, Casimir went to the river where he drowned, and he was looking into the water, begging for forgiveness, when he saw a second reflection staring at him. It looked just like Dmitri, aged fourteen. It was then that he felt a hand resting on his shoulder.

His brother was back. And he promised Casimir he would forgive him, if he did some things in return. After ten years of only wanting this one thing, Casimir immediately agreed, and thus entered his warlock pact. In return for forgiveness, he simply needed to eradicate all worshippers of this one god. A small price to pay, really, Dmitri had said.

And then from there the story can take one of two routes: Casimir eventually discovers that an evil, fallen god has been masquerading as his dead twin brother to manipulate him, and then he decides to sever the pact and become a druid himself. Or (as it happens in the dnd campaign I run, where Cas is an NPC)! Casimir never figures this out and eventually is appointed to the Warlock Council, a ruling body in their world, and continues to be manipulated and trapped in a state of constant grief and guilt for the rest of his life!

He is my favourite character ever and I constantly think about him. He is also married to another character of mine, Morgan. They are a bard/rogue and a good balance to the Casimir's studious and withdrawn nature. I have a lot more information, but it's hard to compress it all, so if you have more questions, let me know!

Now! As if that wasn't enough info for one ask! Let's move onto Liam Greyvale!

So, a little starter info: I initially created Liam's sister, Talia, a while ago but never developed much of her story. So he was created to fill a gap, but then I got attached.

The marriage between Nathaniel and Alice Greyvale was arranged and unhappy. Alice had been in love with a lower class man named William ('Will'), who had challenged Nathaniel to a duel when their engagement was announced and subsequently killed. Alice had been taken away to Greyhaven, the ancestral seat of the Greyvale family, before she had the chance to tend to William or wish him goodbye. This deeply affects her relationship with her youngest son, Liam.

Their first child, a son named Maximilian ('Max'), was incredibly good-natured and personable. Their second child, a daughter named Talia, idolised her older brother and constantly followed him around. Their third child, a daughter named Lilian ('Lily'), was often excluded by the older two (not so much on purpose, just because of personality differences) and so spent a lot of time doting on her younger brother. Their fourth child, a son named William ('Liam'), was born incredibly sickly and blind in one eye.

Liam spent most of his childhood confined to bed. His mother, who only ever called him 'Will' (a name that he hated, not that he ever told her), spent all her time at his side, tending to him. He feels a degree of resentment towards her because of how suffocating she had been to him. Lily also spent a lot of time with Liam. So much so that they were called 'The Twins' even though there was a years difference between them. She would often sneak him treats or help get him the books he would ask for.

He spent a lot of time reading and studying. He was very find of - and very good at - learning new languages. So he learned a great many and would write poetry in them. Additionally, he would make up new languages when he was bored... or he would play pranks on some of the guards that were posted to watch him. There was one guard in particular, Sir Cassian Edwards, the Captain of the family guard, whom Liam was very fond of.

Nathaniel Greyvale was not a good man. He was not a good husband. He was not a good father. And he was a horrible ruler. So much so that the people staged a rebellion to overthrow the family. This coup was led by Sir Cassian Edwards.

Sir Cassian believed that Max, whilst beloved by the people, was too submissive to his father's beliefs and desires, and thus he could never be a good successor to the throne. He, however, had thought that Liam might be a good replacement. Nathaniel had almost zero impact on his youngest son's life and since Liam had been so sickly growing up, he had almost no contact with anyone from outside, save for Sir Cassian. Liam was, in short, a perfect puppet prince.

During the uprising, Max was killed. He wasn't the greatest warrior, but he had died defending his sisters.

Liam and Alice were in Liam's room - tucked away in a far corner of the keep - and were unaware of what was happening until someone started knocking on the door. Alice went to answer the door and she instantly knew something was wrong. When she noted this, she was killed. Her dying words were "Oh Will, I love you." Liam was found by his sisters kneeling beside his mother, covered in her blood, holding one of the rubies from her necklace.

Nathaniel, Talia, Lily, and Liam managed to escape. From then on, Nathaniel began training the girls to become perfect warriors. Talia on the offensive, so that she may avenge her family, and Lily on the defensive, so that she may defend Liam, who was now the new heir.

It wasn't a good time for the three kids (who were 14, 12, and 11 respectively at the time of the uprising; Max had been 17 when he died) as Nathaniel was incredibly cruel towards them. Talia ended up leaving on her own to go get revenge when she was 19. For another year, Lily and Liam were at Nathaniel's mercy.

Liam, once again, was being used as a puppet for the adults in his life. First his mother had used him as a fill-in for her past love and the fact that she wasn't able to be there for him when he needed her. Then Sir Cassian had attempted to use him as a puppet ruler. And then his father wanted to do the same.

He had found a book on forbidden forms of magic. And he was quite drawn to the idea of blood magic. So Liam practiced in secret, just in case.

The time came a year later, when Liam was 17. He doesn't remember exactly what had been happening - a lesson of some sorts - but he was sitting in a chair, a mock-throne, and Lily was standing beside him as his bodyguard. Their father had struck Liam. Blood dripped from his nose. And Liam used that blood to cut Nathaniel's throat.

After that, Lily and Liam went on the run, separately, as Lily had grown to resent and hate Liam after she was forced to do nothing but protect him and was taught that she was nothing but a human shield for him.

For a year Liam was on the run before I started playing him in the campaign I am in right now!

And that's all for now!! Thank you for the ask!

[meggcel]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 14 karat gold charm bracelet.

[thisislizheather]

Summer Saturdays Vol. 4

EATING

The heavenly latkes at Modern Bread & Bagel on the Upper West Side.

DRINKING

Cappuccinos in the sky at Manhatta. Love that this place doesn’t need a reservation for an evening drink anymore.

Above Photo: Manhatta, July 2023

COOKING

I made some veal meatballs out of some Costco ground veal I found in my freezer, then I baked the meatballs, some marinara sauce and melted fresh mozzarella balls on top. I’m friggin Emeril over here.

BAKING

Black bean muffins and yes they sound gross, but they’re so dark-chocolatey you don’t even taste the bean.

CRAVING

The vegan chicken parm from VSPOT in Brooklyn.

LISTENING

Heart of Stone from Six on Broadway on repeat.

WATCHING

The new season of The Summer I Turned Pretty and it’s so, so good. Love a good teen summer love triangle. Using a pumpkins song in a prom scene? The key to my heart.

WEARING

New favourite thing to do: try on insanely expensive dresses on and take photos. Stay tuned.

Above Photo: Oscar De La Renta at the Nordstrom Sale

EXPERIENCING

My dear friend Marla came for a visit and we did everything. Saw the new wing at the Natural History Museum, the Kusama exhibit in Chelsea, stargazing on the High Line, pizza at Rubirosa, rented row boats in Central Park and saw Six on Broadway.

Above Photo: Marla & I

LOVING

All things Barbie. The movie was phenomenal. Margot Robbie was stellar, Ryan Gosling was so funny, I can’t wait to see it for a second time.

SHOPPING

My favourite bra of the past ten years (Natori) is half-off on sale at Nordstrom right now, so I had to buy a new one.

You can read Summer Saturdays Vol. 3 over here, and you can see my summer highlights on Instagram over here.

[wlw-lovestruck-fiction]

How about some Runa/Emeril headcanons?)

Warnings: Minor Spoilers Somewhat OOC 10-minute challenge Written by: @evoedbd​

++++++++++++

Zain first suspected Runa and Emeril were dating when he didn’t decorate the froth on Emeril’s hot chocolate. Tired after a shift, he simply put the plain (but still delicious) hot chocolate on the counter. Before anybody could even correct him Runa was there, all scowls and sharp tongue. A sloppily drawn heart later, Emeril came bounding in, a spring in her step and a smile on her face. Upon seeing the heart, she cooed, bashfully thanking a shockingly even more bashful Runa for her efforts. It seemed only Zain questioned how Emeril knew it was Runa, but the entire crew were merciful enough to let Runa’s blush go unmentioned.

Lucien’s suspicions were a more gradual build. Numerous occasions of butting heads with Runa over the white chocolate and raspberry scones. Somehow, without fail, Runa would manage to hijack one in the morning, often with a single line, an excuse which always involved Emeril. It wasn’t until he saw Emeril laughing one morning, nibbling on his creation as Runa leaned against the hostess podium that it clicked.

Roman noticed after one too many requests for a quick supper. The first time Emeril shyly asked, it was cute. The fact she seemed so keen for it to be a nice, romantic picnic was kind of sweet. The second time, a similar story, save her requests changed. By the ninth or tenth, Roman recognized many of the foods were geared towards Runa’s tastes… and that Runa always seemed to vanish on those same days.

Liora caught on once she saw Emeril’s little siblings rush to Runa, all bright smiles and wide, innocent eyes as they pleaded for a story. She remained silent as Runa relented, her own lips twitched a little too much into a smile to be anything but thrilled by the attention. The familiarity didn’t end there. Emeril’s mother also seemed fond of Runa, expressing what a wonderful young lady Runa could be. The wear on many of the books was also not lost upon Liora, who silently approved of the unusual combination.

Nysa figured it out when some customers began yelling at Emeril. As if drawn by magnets, Runa descended like the most unholy of storms, eyes flashing with lightning as her sharp tongue played the thunder. By the time Runa had finished, the customers had all but fled, profusely apologizing to an awestruck Emeril. From that day, it became an unspoken rule. Do not mess with Emeril, less you earn the ire of the fieriest waitress to step foot into Sweets.

Sometimes, one could find Runa laying quietly across Emeril’s lap, seemingly enchanted by the younger girl’s sweet voice as she read out every mystery novel to the jaded waitress. The smitten expressions across Runa’s face were second only to the way Emeril’s fingers casually carded through pink hair as she stroked Runa’s head. There, Dante too slumbered, curled in Runa’s arms, across her chest. Runa was sharp-minded, able to pick out the little details and suspects with ease. Halfway through, she usually had predicted how it would end correctly. Of course, she never said that out loud. Instead, she lay there, pretending to guess wrong to lure out all the giggles and playful shushes. She never had the heart to disclose that she’d been raised by elitist, social-climbing bigots, so of course, she’d been forced to read all the classics. How could she let this beautiful woman know that her passion had once been forced upon Runa? So, she continued to guess wrong, interrupting with playful little barbs and a deviously innocent expression. Emeril gave herself away during dinner. When her excitement at seeing Runa became so infectious that her magic began to leak, leading the dining room to erupt into laughter and song. Only, nobody could agree upon the song. The chaos was immediate, a crescendo worthy of the novels Emeril loved. Song, joy and laughter so potent tears flowed from every eye.  

Runa gave herself away in her little things, her gentle affections and things only Emeril could get away with. Eventually, she committed herself, and gave herself away by kneeling in the middle of dinner service, where she produced a gorgeous ring with little gems the color of lavender, forming Runa’s sigil, with a central stone the precise hue of Runa’s eyes in the center. It was with a bright smile which Runa gave herself away, asking the biggest question of her life. “Marry me?”

[gilmoregirlsrevival2016]

Season 1 Gilmore Girls References (Breakdown)

Yay! All the season 1 references have been posted. Before I start posting season 2, I wanted to post this little breakdown for your enjoyment :) It starts with some statistics and then below the cut is a list of all the specific references.

Overall amount of references in season 1: 605

Top 10 Most Common References: NSYNC (5), Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (5), Taylor Hanson (6), Leo Tolstoy (7), Lucky Spencer (7), Marcel Proust (7), PJ Harvey (7), The Bangles (8), The Donna Reed Show (8), William Shakespeare (10)

Which episodes had the most references: #1 is That Damn Donna Reed with 55 references. #2 is Christopher Returns with 44 references 

What characters made the most references (Only including characters/actors who were in the opening credits): Lorelai had the most with 237 references, Rory had second most with 118, and Lane had third most with 48.

First reference of the season: Jack Kerouac referenced by Lorelai 

Final reference of the season: Adolf Eichmann referenced by Michel 

  Movies/TV Shows/Episodes/Characters, Commercials, Cartoons/Cartoon Characters, Plays, Documentaries:

9 1/2 Weeks, Alex Stone, Alfalfa, An Affair To Remember, A Streetcar Named Desire, Attack Of The Fifty Foot Woman, Avon Commercials, Bambi, Beethoven, Boogie Nights, Cabaret, Casablanca, Charlie's Angels, Charlie Brown cartoons, Christine, Cinderella, Citizen Kane, Daisy Duke, Damien Thorn, Dawson Leery, Donna Stone, Double Indemnity, Double Mint Commercials, Ethel Mertz, Everest, Felix Unger, Fiddler On The Roof, Footloose, Freaky Friday, Fred Mertz, Gaslight, General Hospital, G.I. Jane, Gone With The Wind, Grease, Hamlet, Heathers, Hee Haw, House On Haunted Hill, Ice Castles, I Love Lucy, Iron Chef, Ishtar, Jeff Stone, Joanie Loves Chachi, John Shaft, Lady And The Tramp, Life With Judy Garland: Me And My Shadows, Love Story, Lucky Spencer, Lucy Raises Chickens, Lucy Ricardo, Lucy Van Pelt, Macbeth,  Magnolia, Mary Stone, Mask, Midnight Express, Misery, Norman Bates, Officer Krupke, Oompa Loompas, Old Yeller, Oscar Madison, Out Of Africa, Patton, Pepe Le Pew, Peyton Place, Pink Ladies, Pinky Tuscadero, Ponyboy, Psycho, Queen Of Outer Space, Rapunzel, Richard III, Ricky Ricardo, Rocky Dennis, Romeo And Juliet, Rosemary's Baby, Sandy Olsson, Saved By The Bell, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Schroeder, Sesame Street, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Sex And The City, Sixteen Candles, Sleeping Beauty, Star Trek, Stanley Kowalski, Stella Kowalski, Stretch Cunningham, The Champ, The Comedy Of Errors, The Crucible, The Donna Reed Show, The Duke's Of Hazzard, The Fly, The Great Santini, The Little Match Girl, The Matrix, The Miracle Worker, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Outsiders, The Shining, The Sixth Sense, The View, The Waltons, The Way We Were, The Scarecrow, This Old House, V.I.P., Valley Of The Dolls, Vulcans, Wild Kingdom, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, Wheel Of Fortune, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, Working Girl, Yogi Bear, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown

Bands, Songs, CDs:

98 Degrees, Air Supply, Apple Venus Volume 2, Backstreet Boys, Bee Gees, Black Sabbath, Blue Man Group, Blur, Bon Jovi, Boston, Bush, Duran Duran, Everlong, Foo Fighters, Fugazi, Grandaddy, Hanson, I'm Too Sexy, Joy Division, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Kraftwerk, Like A Virgin, Livin La Vida Loca, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Man I Feel Like A Woman, Metallica, Money Money, My Ding-A-Ling, NSYNC, On The Good Ship Lollipop, Pink Moon, Queen, Rancid, Sergeant Pepper, Shake Your Bon Bon, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Sister Sledge, Smoke On The Water, Steely Dan, Suppertime, Tambourine Man, The B-52s, The Bangles, The Beatles, The Best Of Blondie, The Cranberries, The Cure, The Offspring, The Sugarplastic, The Wallflowers, The Velvet Underground, Walk Like An Egyptian, XTC, Ya Got Trouble, Young Marble Giants

Books/Book Characters, Comic Books/Comic Book Characters, Comic Strips: 

A Mencken Chrestomathy, A Tale Of Two Cities, Anna Karenina, Belle Watling, Boo Radley, Carrie, David Copperfield, Dick Tracy, Dopey (One of the seven dwarfs) Goofus And Gallant, Great Expectations, Grinch, Hannibal Lecter, Hansel And Gretel, Harry Potter (book as well as character referenced), Huckleberry Finn, Little Dorrit, Madame Bovary, Moby Dick, Mommie Dearest, Moose Mason, Nancy Drew, Out Of Africa, Pinocchio, Swann's Way, The Amityville Horror, The Art Of Fiction, The Bell Jar, The Grapes Of Wrath, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Lost Weekend, The Metamorphosis, The Portable Dorothy Parker, The Unabridged Journals Of Sylvia Plath, The Witch Tree Symbol, There's A Certain Slant Of Light, Tuesdays With Morrie, War And Peace, Wonder Woman

Public Figures:

Adolf Eichmann, Alfred Hitchcock, Angelina Jolie, Anna Nicole Smith, Annie Oakley, Antonio Banderas, Arthur Miller, Artie Shaw, Barbara Hutton, Barbara Stanwyck, Barbra Streisand, Beck, Ben Jonson, Benito Mussolini, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Crudup, Bob Barker, Brad Pitt, Britney Spears, Catherine The Great, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Charles I, Charles Dickens, Charles Manson, Charlie Parker, Charlotte Bronte, Charlton Heston, Charo, Cher, Cheryl Ladd, Chris Penn, Christiane Amanpour, Christopher Marlowe, Chuck Berry, Claudine Longet, Cleopatra, Cokie Roberts, Courtney Love, Dalai Lama, Damon Albarn, Dante Alighieri, David Mamet, Donna Reed, Edith Wharton, Edna O'Brien, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Elizabeth Webber, Elle Macpherson, Elsa Klensch, Elvis, Emeril Lagasse, Emily Dickinson, Emily Post, Eminem, Emma Goldman, Errol Flynn, Fabio, Farrah Fawcett, Fawn Hall, Flo Jo, Francis Bacon, Frank Sinatra, Franz Kafka, Fred MacMurray, Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Gene Hackman, Gene Wilder, George Clooney, George Sand, George W. Bush, Harry Houdini, Harvey Fierstein, Henny Youngman, Henry David Thoreau, Henry James, Henry VIII, Herman Melville, Homer, Honore De Balzac, Howard Cosell, Hugh Grant, Hunter Thompson, Jack Kerouac, Jaclyn Smith, James Dean, Jane Austen, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Tandy, Jim Carey, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hoffa, Joan Of Arc, Joan Rivers, Jocelyn Wildenstein, Joel Grey, John Cage, John Gardner, John Muir, John Paul II, John Webster, Johnny Cash, Johnny Depp, Joseph Merrick AKA Elephant Man, Judy Blume, Judy Garland, Julian Lennon, Justin Timberlake, Karen Blixen AKA Isak Dinesen, Kate Jackson, Kathy Bates, Kevin Bacon, Kreskin, Lee Harvey Oswald, Leo Tolstoy, Leopold and Loeb, Lewis Carroll, Linda McCartney, Liz Phair, Liza Minnelli, Lou Reed, M Night Shyamalan, Macy Gray, Madonna, Marcel Marceau, Marcel Proust, Margot Kidder, Marie Antoinette, Marie Curie, Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Mark Wahlberg, Marlin Perkins, Martha Stewart, Martha Washington, Martin Luther, Mary Kay Letourneau, Maurice Chevalier, Melissa Rivers, Meryl Streep, Michael Crichton, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Miguel De Cervantes, Miss Manners, Mozart, Nancy Kerrigan, Nancy Walker, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Nico, Oliver North, Oprah Winfrey, Oscar Levant, Pat Benatar, Paul McCartney, Peter III Of Russia, Peter Frampton, Philip Glass, PJ Harvey, Prince, Queen Elizabeth I, Regis, Richard Simmons, Rick James, Ricky Martin, Robert Duvall, Robert Redford, Robert Smith, Robin Leach, Rosie O'Donnell, Ru Paul, Ruth Gordon, Samuel Barber, Sarah Duchess Of York, Sean Lennon, Sean Penn, Shania Twain, Shelley Hack, Sigmund Freud, Squeaky Fromme, Stephen King, Steven Tyler, Susan Faludi, Susanna Hoffs, Tanya Roberts, Taylor Hanson, Theodore Kaczynski AKA The Unabomber, The Kennedy Family, Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Zeppo, and Gummo Marx AKA The Marx Brothers, Venus and Serena Williams (The reference was "The Williams Sisters"),Thelonious Monk, Tiger Woods, Tito Puente, Tom Waits, Tony Randall, Tonya Harding, Vaclav Havel, Vanna White, Vivien Leigh, Walt Whitman, William Shakespeare, William Shatner, Yoko Ono, Zsa Zsa Gabor

Misc:

Camelot, Chernobyl Disaster, Cone Of Silence, Hindenburg Disaster, Iran-Contra Affair, Paul Bunyan, The Menendez Murders, Tribbles, Vulcan Death Grip, Whoville, Winchester Mystery House

[anarchosimdicalist]

hey we should catch up with dad how's he doing

oh

[partyinthemysterymachine]

2, 7 and 8 for Harry and 6, 9 and 12 for James

HARRY

What are they like on social media? (What’s their username, profile pic, etc.)

he has a twitter and an instagram he sort of remembers he has (and will use it consistently for two weeks, then drop off again). 

his instagram is .@harrymasontypes (aw isn’t that cute) and profile pic there is a half-eaten doughnut with sunglasses. pictures of heather are most common, then photos of his desk, in/around his house, out and about - y’know, as one does with the instant-grammards. he varies giving one word descriptions or an ominous tag, to saying a lot, to dad jokes, to reluctant promoting (but he does it HIS way, which means he’s at least having a good time)

one of his most popular photos is a picture of his (then-)latest book and he’s stabbed it with a large kitchen knife to the kitchen table. the lighting is impeccable and the mood is fine art and his caption reads:

“#FilicideSeries out. I realize now, after taking out my frustrations on my book like this, it appears it foretold its own demise. I’m a social media sensation. Thank you for supporting me, and supporting my support of the act of filicide against my own work. Committing filicide against my daughter is my own business, and I’ve already written my obituary. Thank you for your supportive understanding, understanding, and support in supporting understanding and support.”

his twitter profile avatar is the picture he took of Heather’s father’s day card one year that simply reads, “<3 HI DAD <3 <3 I HATE YOU <3 <3 <3″ and it was done with such obvious joking and love that he put it up there and was going to remove it eventually, maybe with a picture of hte cover his latest book (, begged his editor/agent,) but he has no time for that

Harry follows a lot of other famous and renowned authors and is followed by fewer, and mutuals with even fewer. his own fame and renown is actually pretty damn good; he’s landed on some bestsellers, done interviews, had a couple TV interviews (then had to shut down all future ones after the massive panic attack he at least kept together until he was out of the building). of course, you see a picture of the dude and you’d never know who the fuck you’re looking at if you don’t know to care what he looks like.

his twitter is cheeky, relaxed, sometimes serious, and sometimes sounds like an actual professional person. (Harry likes to blame those kinds of tweets on Maggie (his editor/agent) hacking into his account.) he interacts with fans, answers questions, posts pictures, posts The Far Side comics he likes, no context.

he’ll joke about a lot and only gets political if he really feels it necessary. 

(in most incarnations, Harry will also be mutuals/best friends with Lane Morgans, who’s an OC, and who writes tongue-in-cheek romance novels. they will also interact on twitter and frequently be seen in each other’s pictures.)

How’s their cooking?

not too shabby! Harry took up cooking right after he and Jodi got their own place/got married and made Julia Childs real proud by the way he did it in the beginning LOL but luckily, he had Jodi and her family to help him get his sea legs in the kitchen. (Harry loved his mom and dad and their cooking was great, really, but they were standoffish people, and were uncomfortable teaching Harry his way around a kitchen.)

as he was raising Heather, he struggled to get back into cooking (or doing much of anything) and ended up binge watching old Emeril! and Julia Childs episodes and he was like fine, fine you know what, fine, and got back into cooking (and baking). now he and Heather have tons of options, stuff in the freezer that can be dethawed for later, etc. Harry does good work, he’s a good few ticks above average adn done with love (and stress, so much goddamn stress) so it tastes pretty good :3

he also really loves the Instant Pot and Heather would like to beat up the person who recommended it to him :) stop talking about the Instant Pot, dad, or just marry it already

Harry thinks his best dish is pork enchiladas, best dessert is rum cake (with custard!). Heather thinks his best dish is ‘macaroni and aw hell what the fuck do we have in the fridge’ and his best dessert is flan (or peanut butter cookies, if she must.) oddly, the flan started as a birthday treat and got a candle in it, and for whatever reason since then, whenever Harry makes flan for her, he puts a candle in for her when he serves it. he’s even included it in a baggie if he’d packed it for her.

It’s movie night, what movie do they pick?

The Thing

Aliens/2

Singin’ In The Rain

The Shining

It

White Alligator

Four Rooms

Inglourious Basterds

does it have Mae West? then yes

does it have Clark Gable? then yes

among many others.. he has a wide range of tastes..

JAMES

Favorite music?

old rock bands; The Who; The Doors; Rolling Stones; Motley Crue; some other artists like Fiona Apple, Janis Joplin, The Four Seasons; it’s hard for him to really remember, though. there could be more to it. those names just sound familiar.. but maybe he just doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

How would they hold up in a pillow war?

depends on his opponent. he’d have to give it another go; he was cheating the last time.

would he be willing to? not unless he had any other choice.. but it also depends on who’s involved..

Something small that they enjoy?

.. actually, yeah. it’s

[team-synergy]

As per our last situation regarding the Regi Ruins.

Our admin, Emeril, has discovered a cavern completely full of Synergy stones and that it has left an effect on our Darkrai. A permanent one.

The spike that has grown out of its.. red mouthpiece? has been emanating a lot of energy, the same one that the former Shadow Mewtwo has those past 4 to 6 years back. We will look into the effects this has on Darkrai's abilities.

But we do know that it has left our target's pokemon in a state where it would sleep at random intervals and could most likely cause some damage if sleeping for too long. We will look further into this in the future.

-Leader Vermilion

[meggcel]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 14 karat gold charm bracelet.

[miamisecretescapes]

Miami Secret Escapes |  

8 Cruises From Miami With Luxury Dining Experiences

With tastebuds getting more refined and travelers expecting more when it comes to their dining experiences, cruise ships continue to capitalize and deliver on some of the most outstanding and innovative cuisines by bringing chef collaborations, wine tastings and culinary programs to the seas and beyond.

On Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, cruisers looking for Tuscan cuisine can pop into famed British chef Jamie Oliver’s Italian eatery. Open for lunch and dinner, guests can opt for one of the chef’s homemade pastas made fresh daily, or grilled options like lamb or pork. At 105 Central Park, it’s Royal Caribbean’s own global chefs who are front and center as they showcase the latest in contemporary seasonal cuisines. After a gourmet meal, make your way to Vintages, a wine bar aboard the Royal fleet, which features one-of-a-kind wines from top winemakers that are exclusive to Royal Caribbean. From California to South African wines, sample a tasting or a bottle of the ship’s finest vintages. On the newly refurbished Navigator of the Seas, slurp up oysters at Hooked Seafood, and if you need to catch a game and a beer, Playmaker’s Sports Bar and Arcade has you covered.

Buzz-worthy MSC Seaside, boasts acclaimed James Beard Award-winning chef Roy Yamaguchi and his restaurant, Asian Market Kitchen. Diners can choose a live-action teppanyaki grill or keep it light and fresh with sushi, sashimi and selections from the raw bar. Chef Roy’s Hawaiian/European-influenced cuisine is also reflected in dishes like lobster fried rice and a curry wine sauce rack of lamb. On the MSC Meraviglia, which is slated to hit the port of Miami very soon, cruisers will have the opportunity to dine at Michelin-starred Spanish chef Ramon Freixa’s new restaurant, Hola! Tapas. A Mediterranean style social restaurant with an emphasis on shared plates like jamón ibérico, tortilla espanola and more. Expect to see it on the majestic MSC Bellissima as well. Come hungry.

When you ‘Choose Fun’ on Carnival Cruise, you’re also choosing some fun-tactic dining options. The not-to-be-missed spots include Guy’s Pig and Anchor BBQ Smokehouse, where you can get some of that roadside BBQ action like Blue Ribbon chicken with a side of his famous mac n’ cheese available on five of the line’s ships. The most anticipated restaurant coming to a ship near you, is Emeril Lagasse first sea venture, Emeril’s Bistro 1836, on the Carnival Mardi Gras. The New Orleans cuisine restaurant, will have Creole favorites like oyster and cochon de lait po-boys, roasted duck & Andouille sausage gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp and grits and bananas foster. Carnival will also be the first cruise line to can and keg their own beer (already available on Horizon and Vista), fleetwide. Enjoy a ParchedPig West Coast IPA, an intense beer loaded with bitterness with a bright flavor profile and distinctive aroma of citrus and pine.

One of the biggest names to hit the high seas for Celebrity Cruises, is renowned French chef Daniel Boulud. Boulud will become the brand’s Global Culinary Ambassador with a slew of culinary programs sure to seduce the palette. A three-course menu developed by Boulud will be offered at all the Luminae restaurants fleetwide. Sure to be a sold out experience, the "Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulud" will allow guests to enjoy champagne and canapés on arrival, a five-course dinner with wine pairings. The dinner also comes with one of the chef's cookbooks. Training with the best just became a reality thanks to Celebrity’s Culinary Mentorship Program, where up-and-coming chefs will be hands-on in Celebrity Kitchens as well as one of Boulud’s many restaurants.

How does a butter poached Alaskan King Crab, brown butter Berkshire pork chop, and roasted crab legs sound? To a foodie, it sounds like a feast to remember, and now, thanks to Australian super chef, Curtis Stone, you can eat like a king (and queen) when you dine at the newly revamped, SHARE, aboard Princess Cruises. Chef Stone is all about creating artistic dishes in a warm, and celebratory setting, where his dishes transcend flavor and cultural influences. Now imagine doing that in six exquisite courses. He, along with his personal sommelier, hand picked all the wines. You’ll have your choice of Barolo to Piedmonte and Ribera del Duero from Spain and beyond. Let’s not forget the "Crafted by Curtis" menu selections also available in the main dining room. After a Curtis Stone meal, you’ll want to unwind with a prestigious glass of wine selected by Princess sommelier Doug Frost. Select from 142 wines to be exact.

On Azamara Cruises, you get to be a part of your own culinary journey, thanks to the Azamara Chef Experience available in Dubai. Imagine pursuing the city’s Fish Market for the fresh catch of the day, that’ll later be used for your evening dinner! Once that’s been selected, cross the street to the Fruit and Vegetable market where you can pick vegetables like zucchini, egglant, fresh strawberries and more before making your way to the Spice Souk for traditional Arabic Herbs. If you thought you were fully immersed in Dubai’s food scene, think again. Partner up with an Azamara expert for a visit to Dubai’s Camelicious Farm, home to over 4,000 milk-producing camels where you’ll become an expert on the dairy process Last on the foodie excursion, a stop at the city’s Coffee Museum where you’ll sample brews from around the world. Then it’s back on the ship to eat your finds in what is sure to be an unforgettable meal.

In what’s sure to be a grand welcome, Virgin Voyages, will be welcoming their first sea venture, The Scarlet Lady, to the port of Miami in 2020 and the dining options are already creating a buzz. With a cocktail program like no other, Razzle Dazzle (named for the camouflaging pattern painted on warships from WWI and WWII), will be the ship’s resident drag brunch, where sailors are treated to a show from the ship’s resident drag performer and friends. Expect a vibrant scene offering up vegetarian fare as well as fun cocktails and fresh juices. There’s no in between. If you’re looking for ultra-luxe dining, you’ll find it at Wake, aboard the Scarlet Lady. A mid-20th century steak and seafood haunt with chop house atmosphere but vintage feel. Expect lots and lots of champagne.

Oceania Cruises is know for ‘the finest cuisine in the world,’ so expect to dine on some of the finest food at sea. Led by esteemed chef, Jacques Pepin, Oceania cruises offers everything from a distinguished culinary center where state of the art cooking classes are held for a close knit group of 24, and guests will get to try their hand at everything from French cuisine to plant-based menus. If you’re looking for a more immersive experience, guests team up with a master chef to tour and shop the local markets in Europe and French Polynesia, and use their buys to cook up a simmering meal on board. There are some foodies who really want to rub elbows with Pepin himself, and they’ll have an opportunity to do so once a year, where they are treated to individualized menus, lectures and demos by Pepin. Mark your calendars—it’s happening aboard the Marina this September.

[wlw-lovestruck-fiction]

I don't know If this has been asked before but, What are your headcannon voices for Xenia, Yvette and Liora?

Since everyone and their mom has been asking for these, I just decided to post my personal list (Note: This is MY opinion, feel free to offer your own but do be nice). -Mod Wrath

Yvette - Evan Rachel Wood

Liora - Angela Bassett

Xenia - Eva Green 

Medusa - Charlize Theron

Cyprin - Asia Kate Dillon

Vivienne - Angelina Jolie 

Sofia - Audrey Hepburn (why is it so hard to find good audio for this legend?!)

Zhora - Sophia Bush

Aurora - Naya Rivera 

Runa - Scarlett Johansson 

Serena - Kelly Hu

Onyx - Brittany Snow

Emeril - Ariana Grande

Lorelei - Sharon Stone

Vanessa - Megan Fox

Andi - Emma Roberts

Juliette - Anna Kendrick 

Wrath - Mischa Barton

Amara - Elizabeth Hurley 

Mackenzie - Famke Janssen 

Altea - Sophie Skelton

Jessa - Jennifer Lawrence 

Zoe - Gabrielle Union

Madison - Jessica Alba

Cecelia - Elizabeth Olsen

Nova - Natalie Portman

(I will be keeping Helena and JD to myself cuz I can already hear the complaints 😂😂)

[maburito]

u play lovestruck and choices too i'm guessing? who do you like to romance, and what are your favorite routes?

Oooh nice I don’t often get asks about lovestruck and choices.

So….for lovestrucks i have a loooot of fav routes and love interests, but my big of all times fav is Altea Bellrose from Love and Legends

Look at her!! She’s just so adorable i love her!! Honestly I’ve played her whole route and i wasn’t disappointed. And it’s always a delight to replay it, she’s just my beautiful pink wife. (but honestly if Piama from Reigning Passions even gets a route she cooooould maybe top me lil magical wife

Though in my opinion if there’s one queer route that could never ever be top evr it’s Medusa from Astoria Fate Kiss

I discovered her when it was called Labyrinths of Astoria and weirdly enough, she was kind of the first stone to me realising that I actually like girls. So yeah snek wife is awesome and Medusa more like Sedusa amiright

(I’ll put the rest under a read more cos this might get very long oierjgaeorijg)

So bc I am who i am, I absolutely cannot only choose 2 favorite routes and I’m just going to share every fav of mine for Lovestruck

- Mckenzie Hunt from  Havenfall is for lovers, beautiful and strong werewolf wife 10/10, would romance again

- Zhora from Starship Promise. Gotta be honest, Zhora made me go back to SP, I liked Nora but the way her story was heading out really creeped me out ? Also the mc was very very annoying, while in Zora routes she’s pretty good

- Llora from Sweet Enchantments. What can i say, she’s gorgeous, her route is very cute and im gay.

- Emeril from again Sweet Enchantments. I seriously didn’t thought i would love her as much as I do but she’s honestly impossible to not love. She’s adorable and so sweet and aaaaaaaah i like her route so much!

- Zoe from Queen of Thieves. Zoe’s route is so warm and soft? I I mean i do like drama and stakes and all but that slowburn is everything and everytime her season ends it ends on a warm hopeful note and excitment for the future and she’s just such a cool character.

-Onyx from Sin with Me. GOSH ONYX!!!  She has such a fun personality and an absolute delight to have as an LI. Her only flaw is her jackass of a big sister iezjogarzigrag

- Yvette from Sin with Me again. Her first season was over today and I love it so far. She’s a villain so of course I didn’t expected her to redeem herself at the first season, but I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen in her 2nd season

- Amara from Reigning Passions. Honestly Reigning Passions has been such an awesome universe every story with every LI so far has been a delight and the sweet brave loyal knight Amara certainly isn’t an exception,

- Xenia from Reigning Passions. Her first season isn’t over yet but AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH is what i think so far. No but seriously, mysterious, dark, sexy spider woman route is very much what i dreamed of. Now I only need a route for Hazel and most of all Piama to be truly happy

Alright and nowfor playchoices, my big fav Love interests and stories are :

-Shreya/The Elementalist (such a good book and Shreya lil princess personality is great)

- Val Greaves/The Crown and the Flame (still one of the best book of playchoices with the most badass and interesting main character Kenna Rys)

-Estela Montoya/Endless Summer (also still one of the best books and Estela is me beautiful badass gf T___T)

-Eva from Hero and that sweet sweet Batman/Catwoman but gay relationship you can have with her

And bonus : Eleanor/The Haunting of Brainwood Manor. A short book but very gay and you get a ghost girlfriend at the end so win win

Aaand thats all for playchoices. I do like some others books they did, but lately I’ve really lost interest, their stories are getting well….not great and the only book i’m really looking forward is Blade of Light and Shadow that seems like one of their most ambitious book in a while

[tendertenebrosity]

So, @castielamigos was asking me about the Mage story with Rill. I actually attempted to write his story for NaNoWriMo several years ago, but petered out after a handful of chapters. 

I re-read the document just now and it’s... okay? I can tell my writing’s changed. The very first chapter - mostly introductory stuff - is under the cut if it would be of interest to anybody. 

Chapter One

Rill looked up at the walls of the Camrissian Academy of Magic with a light, sick feeling in his chest.

His wife, Talia, finished instructing the driver to return to pick her up. She approached behind him and took his arm.

“Well,” she said briskly. “Here we are. Do you have all of your things?”

“Yes,” Rill said. It wasn’t as if he had so many ‘things’ that he could have lost track of any in the carriage ride from the Ambirana town house to the Academy. A single bag over his shoulder contained his plainest sets of clothing, a few personal grooming items, and two books. He had no idea what he was going to need, or for that matter what he was going to be allowed to keep - he had a vague recollection that mages weren’t allowed much in the way of possessions. It seemed best to be frugal.

“Well,” Talia said again, and squeezed his arm gently. She joined him in looking up at the Academy. “It’s a beautiful old building.”

“Yes,” he said. “I suppose.”

He gathered his thoughts. He would rather say most of his goodbyes out here, just in case they didn’t get any time alone later. “Talia… I want to thank you for… the last few weeks,” he said awkwardly. “It’s been… you’ve been…”

“Rill, I’m sorry it took something like this to…” she frowned and shook her head. “Get us to sort ourselves out.” She unhooked her arm from his and wrapped an arm around his waist for an embrace. “I think we could have… we would have been okay in the end. We had a rocky start but we could have made it work. If it wasn’t for…”

“Magic,” he said. “Maybe you’re right. But it doesn’t really matter now, does it?” He tried to smile.

Privately he thought it was easy to tell themselves it would have worked out if only it had been allowed to, now that external factors had made the question moot. In some ways it’s ideal, he thought sadly. I wanted a way out of the marriage that didn’t have repercussions for our families, didn’t I? Nobody can be held to blame for it, and now Talia can get a proper husband like she should have.

There was no way he would voice that self-pitying spiel to Talia, though. He had enough self respect for that at least.

“Anyway,” he said. “I – I do love you, Talia.”

She sighed, and pulled him close for a few seconds. “My poor Rill.”

He held her for a while, but pulled back when he felt a lump rise in his throat. “Come on,” he said, pulling away. He resettled his bag on his shoulder and held his arm out properly for her to take, smiling. “I’m sure they’d rather we got there as soon as possible.”

“It’s been two months,” Talia said offhandedly. “I think another five minutes wouldn’t result in you bursting into flames. But if you’re ready.”

Rill wasn’t sure he was comfortable joking about bursting into flames. He took a deep breath, and they opened the door and entered the Magic Academy together.

Inside it was quiet and high-ceilinged, with a deep blue carpet on the stone floor.  

A woman in a high-collared uniform coat of the same blue straightened up from her position against a wall. There was another, a man, on the other side of the hallway. “Hello. Can I help you?”

“I am Lady Talia Ambirana,” Talia announced. “We wish to speak to someone about magic.”

The mage-watchers – for that was what the blue uniform signified – exchanged a glance with each other. “Of course, lady,” the woman said. “What, specifically, regarding magic did you wish to speak about?”

“My husband has recently discovered that he possesses magic,” Talia said haughtily, as if daring her to think badly of them for it. She had behaved much the same way with her family.

Both of the magewatcher’s eyes shifted to Rill immediately. He tried to emulate Talia’s poise.

“I see, my lady,” the first magewatcher said. “If your husband would step through here, then, I’ll be back to speak with you shortly.” She stepped forward, obviously expecting to take Rill somewhere.

So soon? Resignedly, Rill moved to disentangle himself from Talia, but she pulled him closer with a meaningful glance. “I meant we wanted to talk to someone with authority,” she said. “I’m not intending to drop him off like a parcel.”

The magewatcher’s mouth thinned into a line. “Very well, my lady,” she said after a few moments of thought. “Hannivel? I’ll see if the mage commander has a moment.”

“Please do,” Talia said, although it hadn’t been addressed to her.

They waited for her to return. Rill might have said something to Talia – something like, “Tali, I have to live here, I don’t know if you should be making me enemies”. But Magewatcher Hannivel stood there in a relaxed but alert posture, watching them both but mostly Rill. So he decided not to say anything.

“Mage commander Laurent has some time to talk to you,” the first magewatcher said when she returned, without even an address. “If you’d follow me.”

She led them through a few doorways and down another blue-carpeted hallway; Hannivel had fallen in behind them. The magewatchers didn’t act quite like soldiers; maybe a bit more like the city watch.

Mage commander Laurent turned out to be a tall man in his late thirties with rumpled brown hair and a deep crease between his eyebrows. He stood up as they entered.

“Lady… Ambirana, was it?” he said. “And…?” he cocked his head at Rill.

“Emerill Ambirana se Rezdin,” Rill said, giving a very shallow bow. “At your service, sir.”

Laurent gave him a measuring look. “Are you? Good. Show me your hands.”

A little startled, Rill put out his right hand as if Laurent was going to shake it. Instead, the mage commander took hold of his wrist and tilted his hand to the light, examining it.

Rill realised he knew what he was looking for. “Oh,” he said. “If you’re looking for what I think you are, it was there, but it went away after a day or so. Is it… normal?”

Laurent raised an eyebrow at him. “Would you mind describing it for me?”

“My fingers were blue,” Rill admitted. “Not all over – just in patches. It was as if I’d spilled ink on them, but brighter, and it wouldn’t come off. This was after… uh… after I did something to the fire.”

“’Did something’?”

“It flared up,” Rill said. “There was another time when I made these… lights, but that didn’t last any more than a minute or so.”

Laurent nodded and let his wrist go. “You’re quite right,” he said, sitting down and gesturing for them to do the same. “Master Ambirana does indeed have magic. I’m sure I don’t need to explain to either of you that that means he belongs in the Academy now.”

“Yes,” Talia said. “That’s why we’re here.” She told Laurent all of the basic details of the story.

Laurent listened with the crease between his eyes growing deeper. “You mean to say,” he said when Talia had finished. “You have known about this for two months, and it took you until now to come to an Academy.”

Well, more than two months, Rill thought to himself guiltily. I didn’t tell Tali until it had been happening for weeks.

“We were travelling,” Talia snapped. “We had to get here.”

“Unless you were in the Lianese Empire, I seriously doubt you were two months away from an Academy,” Laurent said grimly. “Do either of you have any idea how dangerous that was?”

“My husband would never knowingly work unauthorised magic,” Talia said, scowling.

“That is not the point,” Laurent said. “Did he or did he not just admit to -” He cut himself off, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. “Our instructions have always been very clear,” he said in a quieter voice. “Newly discovered mages need to go to their nearest Academy, as soon as possible.”

“We have always lived in this city,” Talia snapped. “We –”

“You put yourselves and everybody around you in danger,” Laurent interrupted. “I don’t care why. I’m just glad that you’ve come here without anybody having to pay a steep price for your foolishness. It could very well have happened.”

Talia drew herself up, but didn’t argue. “Well, he is here now,” she said coldly.  

Laurent cocked his head and looked at Rill. “Do you have anything to add to this?” he asked.

“It… didn’t seem that pressing,” Rill said tentatively. “I’m sorry. It only happened a handful of times.”

“That is no predictor,” Laurent said. “It’s not unusual for the first or second manifestation of magic to be one of the very… destructive ones. You are not in control of the magic, and you have no chance of gaining control over it except here.”

Rill nodded. “Yes. I know that.”

Laurent sat back and looked at Rill for a moment. “You are Emrissian, aren’t you?” he said, looking over to include Talia in the question.

How is that relevant? Rill glanced at Talia. “Yes, we are,” he said.

“Why?” Talia asked, her eyes narrowing. It had been a long time since anybody had caused any problems about that in Camris.

Laurent shrugged. “Just an observation. I will say this, though – and I will tell you exactly once before you start to infringe on my patience.” His voice wasn’t harsh, just matter of fact. “Neither your birth nor religion will get you any concessions here. Our rules are our rules, and as soon as I sign this paper, Master Ambirana will be a mage under our jurisdiction like any other. This is most important for him, but I suggest you bear it in mind as well, Lady Ambirana.” He flashed a polite smile, and then pulled a piece of paper across the desk and began writing on it. “Was there anything pressing you needed to see me for? Most of this could have been covered by Watcher Lillan.”

“There are legalities to deal with,” Talia said, coolly. “I cannot be expected to discuss…”

“If you drop off the necessary documents in the next day or so, I will fill them out,” Laurent said. “For the moment, I think it best that you make your farewells and let Watcher Lillan take Rill into the academy. There is a two month period of novitiate in which mages are not allowed visitors; after that you may come see him on the second and fourth Sunday of every month. Any further questions you have, I suggest you address them to Magewatcher Hannivel, or whoever else is on duty in the hall.” He signed the piece of paper with a workmanlike scrawl, not at all the way Rill would have signed something official, and started on another. “Watcher Lillan!” he called. “Please show Lady Ambirana out.”

They stood. For a second or two Talia planted her feet, eyes flashing, but Rill tugged on her arm gently. Please don’t make this more difficult than it is.

She glanced at him, and tossed her head. “Thank you for your time, good sir,” she said haughtily.

Outside the office, Watcher Lillan nodded at him. “You can have a minute. And give the lady back that bag; you can’t take anything in with you.”

“Oh,” Rill said, his stomach dropping. “But I need – could I leave it with someone and get it back later?” She was shaking her head. “Not even – but clothes?”

“We have everything you’ll need here already,” she said. She gave him a surprisingly sympathetic look.

“What about a book?” he said, trying to keep a pleading edge out of his voice. “You won’t have… No. No, nothing, right. I understand.”

You could recite most of those poems by heart anyway, he told himself. You don’t need it. But truthfully, he had wanted it more for the inscription in the front, and the memories. His sister had given him that book.

He put the bag down, and turned around to run into a full-body hug from Talia.

“Be careful, darling,” she whispered. She smelled of roses and that heavy perfume they’d picked up a crate of in Phynnis.  

“I will,” he said. “A-and I’ll see you in two months?” Please.

“Of course. Of course.” She sniffled, and tightened her arms before letting go. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”