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soulmate-game · 4 years

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Bio Dad Bruce Wayne Month 2020

Day 1: Meeting for the first time

Not my best work, but decent. I hope you enjoy!

—*—*—*—*—*

Mari was intelligent. That much could not be disputed— and despite her dislike for the sciences in general, she was fully capable of comprehending them when she wanted to. She just usually didn’t care enough to try. But genetics? That was kinda cool. So, when she was ten years old and they began their short unit on it, she was obsessed. And by obsessed, she dove in head first. Like, the fact that her eye color didn’t match either of her parents or grandparents. How could she have blue eyes when none of them did? She delved in deeper and deeper until she uncovered a truth her parents hadn’t wanted her to figure out quite so soon.

She was adopted.

Mari never told her parents about her discovery, the epiphany only managing to sate her curiosity. Who needed blood relation when her parents loved her like real ones anyway? But as the years passed and certain life changes came up, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the mystery of where her DNA came from. The heroism thing had to have some root in genetics, right? Okay, so maybe she was just looking for someone to be mad at besides Master Fu. But still, could she be blamed?

So, when Marinette was thirteen years old, she traced her DNA back to her biological parents. And for a while, that was it. She had once again sated her curiosity. She didn’t need anything else. Her mother was dead, and she doubted her biological father knew a thing about her. So Marinette forgot about her discovery, or at least let it sink into the recesses of her brain. And there it stayed, until she was eighteen.

—* — * — * — * — *

It had to be one of the most accidentally dramatic days possible. Top floor of Wayne Enterprises, in one of Bruce’s massive conference rooms with every member of his large family in attendance. Even Kori and Mar’i were there, and Jason’s boyfriend Roy. Everyone was getting fairly restless, considering that Bruce had only informed a few of them (Read: just Dick, who was vibrating in his seat and not soothing anyone’s nerves) about what they were even all called in for. In their civilian identities, no less. It was very odd. Damian, not least of all, was sitting beside Bruce with his jaw clenched but eyes scanning the room in curiosity. He had come a long way from the surly ten year old, and he hadn’t even killed anyone in four years. He had well and truly become a Bat, and with that progress came the lessening of his old temper and brattiness.

Make note: lessening. Not erasure.

It wasn’t long, maybe ten or fifteen minutes of Bruce checking his phone and grinning secretively without answering anyone’s questions, before a businesslike tap-tap-tap sounded on the door to the conference room. Immediately, everything went silent. Kori, Tim, and Jason stopped trying to get Dick to say anything intelligible and went instead to just keeping the man in his seat at all. Bruce let out a rare, soft chuckle before raising his coffee mug to his lips. He called out:

“Come on in, miss MDC. We’re ready for our meeting,” before taking a long sip.

And as soon as the door opened all the way, admitting a short woman of asian descent with navy black hair brushing the bottom of her shoulder blades and piercing (familiar. Too familiar) deep blue eyes, he promptly choked. Trying his damndest not to get coffee everywhere, Bruce devolved into a coughing fit even as his eyes continued to flitter up to the figure just admitted into the room. The woman pretended not to notice his suffering, closing the door behind her and walking forward towards the side of the rectangular-set-up ring of tables that was closest to her and also unoccupied. She plopped a heavy bag down onto the table, reaching in and pulling out a large red and white polka-dotted journal from within, along with a black pen. But despite her businesslike movements and her silence, nobody missed the way that her far too familiar stunningly blue eyes twinkled in suppressed mirth. She didn’t seem surprised at all.

That was the last time Bruce was ever gonna let Tim do someone’s background check on his own. He should have at least looked at the file Tim had made, but of course not. Tim was capable, he trusted the boy with half of their entire family’s company. One background check on one highly reputable designer? Of course he could trust Tim.

Except apparently not. This is what Bruce got for keeping secrets.

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Bruce spoke once he got a handle of himself, pushing back his chair almost hurriedly and standing. Damian followed suit, laser focused on his father along with everyone else who knew just how out of character the older man was being just then. It was hard to fluster Bruce at all those days, let alone make him choke and hurry to stand. “I— Welcome to WE. I’m—“ Bruce was cut off by a soft chuckle.

“Bruce Wayne, my biological father and employer for the next few weeks. I know,” Marinette interrupted, sending a sly smile his way. “I had a feeling somebody didn’t actually tell you my name. I was planning on coming to Gotham later this year after I graduated Lycee and demanding to get to know you, but it looks like you did the hard work for me without even knowing. But,” her smile widened in good humor as she walked up closer to Bruce, holding her hand out for a shake. “I do have to say, now that I’ve seen you in person I feel a bit cheated. With how tall you are, you’d think I would have inherited at least a couple more inches.”

“Excuse me? Who do you think you are, claiming to be a Wayne?” Damian asked, tone sharp and his emerald eyes glaring straight towards her. Bruce just took Marinette’s hand, shaking it gently from surprise, but his foot gently kicked his son in the ankle.

“Damian,” Bruce said simply, the single name laced with warning as it came out of his mouth. He turned his attention back to the girl in front of him. “It is nice to finally meet you in person, Marinette. I admit, I did not know of our relation until a few years ago, and I wasn’t in the right mindset back then to welcome another child. Besides, I had it on good authority that your adoptive parents are more than wonderful to you.”

Marinette shrugged. “I don’t mind. I didn’t look into who my biological father was until I was thirteen, anyway. I don’t think things would have ended well if you had just shown up in Paris one day asking to be involved in my life. Enough of that though,” Marinette turned to the sixteen year old by Bruce’s side now stiffened and wide-mouthed. His entire expression, subdued as it was, still managed to clearly telegraph betrayal. And then those eyes locked on Marinettes, and the emerald simmered into something much more vile and acidic. Marinette was not perturbed, merely giving the younger boy a smile and holding out her hand for a shake.

“You must be my half-brother, Damian. I expected someone carved out of stone, with how the tabloids paint you as unfeeling and cold,” she joked. Damian glared harder. She raised an eyebrow. “You seem pretty heated and angry, like a hissing cat, to me. And by the way, I never claimed to be a Wayne. My last name is Dupain-Cheng, and I don’t plan on changing it anytime soon. Having the same blood relation as you does not mean I plan to throw away the name given to me by the ones who actually raised me. But, it does mean that I will get to know you one way or another. I’m not easy to get rid of, and I’ve always wanted a sibling or two.”

That was when the room couldn’t hold it any more; everyone bar the three in the center of the room burst out laughing. It wasn’t too raucous, confusion dampening the hysteria that usually would have taken over, but there was a good round of chuckles and laughter. When it settled down, Damian’s shoulders had slightly relaxed but he still hadn’t taken Marinette’s hand. Instead, he turned to his father again.

“Explain.” He demanded. Bruce sighed, his gaze connecting with Marinette’s own identical one. He searched her for any hesitation, but only got a flash of a bright smile in return. Bruce straightened his shoulders, clasping his hands behind his back and turning to face Damian and the rest of the room.

“I found out about Marinette shortly after Damian was… introduced to the family,” Bruce admitted, resisting the urge to glance at Marinette after the hedged mention of how he met Damian. “I decided to scour every resource I had to make sure I couldn’t be surprised by another biological child. And, lo and behold, I found out that I was right to do so. Her biological mother passed away in childbirth however, so she was adopted by a couple in Paris. I did not see any need to contact her at the time. A friend of mine did happen to be in Paris back then though, and hung around to make sure Marinette was being treated well before leaving again.”

“You sent a friend of yours to spy on me?” Marinette asked, but she just sounded thoroughly amused. “Geez. Now I know where I get it from. When I was thirteen, I had a bit of a bad habit of spying on my friends when I was worried instead of confronting them head on. It took a while to grow out of, and even now I can easily slip back into the habit if I’m not careful. But, as great as this reunion is, it isn’t what I’m being paid to be here for,” Her grin turned downright wicked as she snapped open her sketchbook and clicked her pen.

“I am MDC, the owner and CEO of the up and rising fashion label Spotted Designs, where every look will turn heads and ensure confidence. Monsieur Wayne,” her grin turned into a sly smirk when she said his name, which visibly made Bruce twitch. “Has hired me today to design all of you a new outfit for his gala in four months time, as well as a casual outfit of your own choosing should you want one. Before I get started, I would like to ask you to please sign your NDAs, which my assistant and best friend will bring in for you in a few minutes, before we conclude this meeting. I go by an alias for a reason, I value my privacy, and I would prefer it if word did not get out about my being MDC just yet. Being CEO of a business I started from scratch when I’m only eighteen right now will garner attention that I am not patient enough to deal with right now.”

The silence was near palpable until Jason huffed in amusement and remarked: “Yup. I can see the resemblance.”

“Resemblance?” Duke asked, leaning forward with an incredulous look on his face. “It’s like seeing a tiny, genderswapped, innocent copy of Damian. Is anyone else terrified right now?”

“Tt,” Damian tutted, letting a heavy breath out through his nose before shoving his hand forward. He didn’t look pleased, but neither did he look venomous or betrayed anymore. “Miss Dupain-Cheng. I am Damian Wayne, and I look forward to working with you.” He greeted as if the past few minutes hadn’t happened at all. Marinette beamed, letting out a short belt of delighted laughter before clasping his hand firmly with hers.

“My competence always wins people over,” she teased.

“Only if they don’t see you trip over empty air first,” a new voice joined in, lightly joining the teasing. It belonged to a tall, blond haired green eyed man that looked about the same age as Marinette herself. He came carrying a large two-foot stack of papers as easily as if he was only carrying one sheet. Closing the door behind him with his foot, he went around the large square of tables distributing NDAs to everyone who hadn’t already signed one. “Mari’s the clumsiest person I’ve ever seen, but I’ve also seen her hand sew a double sided ball gown with a layer of knife-resistant fabric in less than thirty hours and still threaten anyone to come near with a needle to the eye, so I’ve learned to just not take anything about her at face value anymore.”

“Oh shut up,” Marinette snapped back cheerfully, rolling her eyes. “This is my best friend, assistant, and business partner Adrien Agreste.”

“I deal with all the paperwork and spotlight that she doesn’t want to handle,” he agreed, nearly blinding everyone with his beaming smile. “Now. Please sign these NDAs, and you can experience Marinette’s skill firsthand.”

After papers were signed and Adrien left, Bruce tried to start another conversation with Marinette.

“So, when did you find out—“

“I’m going to start with taking all of your measurements, if you don’t mind. You first, Monsieur Wayne.”

Bruce blinked, not used to being interrupted. “Ah. We can do this tomorrow, I wasn’t expecting—“

“That’s not my fault, Monsieur Wayne. I came here knowing exactly who I was going to deal with, and you want me to make a quite frankly horrifying amount of clothing in a very short amount of time. Any designer lesser than me would be completely incapable of meeting your deadline. I plan on sticking to my schedule, which means that we are going to get everyone’s measurements and a baseline of the kind of designs you all want done today before the end of our scheduled appointment.”

“Marinette, I would really like to talk about—“

“Arms out. And take your suit jacket off, I can’t get an accurate measurement with it,” she once again interrupted, businesslike and efficient as she took her measuring tape and lined it up against various parts of his body, jotting down the results. She didn’t entertain any of his attempts at conversation in the meantime, instead using the dead time to grill Damian on what he wanted for his suit design.

And, like a partnership that never should have existed, Damian merely smirked and played along with her game. He answered her questions thoroughly but precisely, never allowing their father a chance to make actual conversation. Next thing the poor eldest Wayne knew, Marinette had already taken everyone’s measurements and almost an hour had passed. No less than ten pages of her notebook were already filled with neat lines of notes and numbers.

“You really take this whole thing seriously, don’t you?” Tim asked, in the middle of describing his ideal suit to Marinette. She hummed, grinning up at him mysteriously. As if she was in on a joke he hadn’t heard.

“Designing is my life, Monsieur Drake. This company is something I’ve been building from the ground up since I was thirteen, I’ve made my own clothes since I was ten. Of course I take it seriously. Now. I believe that is everything I need,” she stood up, asking a few last second questions as she gathered up her things. Seeing his chance, Brucie walked her to the door.

“Really, Marinette, I would like to talk to you more. Would you like to come to the Manor tonight, for dinner maybe?”

Marinette smirked, opening the door before Bruce could and turning her head to say over her shoulder: “Not tonight, but maybe tomorrow. Do me a favor though, and try not to get too injured on patrol. I need you all in good enough shape to stand while I do your initial fittings later this week. Gotham might need it’s vigilantes, but you will all regret it if you break a bone before I can fit my prototypes to you.”

Nobody was able to say a word before she closed the door behind her and continued briskly to the elevator. Bruce stood, dumbfounded. Tim, Jason, and Dick, after a moment, started cackling.

“Oh yeah. That’s Damian’s sister.”

“Tt. At least this proves it.”

Bruce, suddenly very exhausted, turned to his son while rubbing his forehead. “Proves what, Damian?”

His trademark razor sharp smirk overtook his face as Damian replied: “Your blood children really are much more competent and effective than the strays you took in.”

“Hey!”

—*—*—*—*—*

“You didn’t have a full conversation?” Adrien guessed, looking exactly like the cat who caught the canary. Marinette had her head in her hands, her entire face red.

“I didn't know how to have an actual conversation with them, Adrien! You should have seen it, Monsieur Wayne—“

“You can just say your father, you know.”

“—Wanted to talk about feelings. Emotions! Gooey, family stuff and probably sentimental things. In front of so many people, too. I panicked!”

“You panicked and went full Business Empress mode,” Adrien agreed, patting her back in both comfort and condescension. “It’s okay. You at least agreed to dinner tomorrow night.”

“Fuuuuuuuuuck, I diiiiiid. Quick, let’s come up with a way to fake my kidnapping.”

“No.”

“Damn.”

#maribat #ml x dc #mlb x dc #b!dbwm2020 #Bio dad bruce wayne #B!dbwm #platonic brucinette #No romantic pairing #Day One #Platonic Daminette

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timeless-hollywood-classics · 4 years

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Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler (November or September 9, 1914 – January 19, 2000), was an Austrian-American actress, inventor, and film producer. She appeared in 30 films over a 28 year career, and co-invented an early version of frequency-hopping spread spectrum communication.

Lamarr was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, and acted in a number of Austrian, German, and Czech films in her brief early film career, including the controversial Ecstasy (1933). In 1937, she fled from her husband, a wealthy Austrian ammunition manufacturer, secretly moving to Paris and then on to London. There she met Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studio, who offered her a Hollywood movie contract, where he began promoting her as "the world's most beautiful woman".

She became a star through her performance in Algiers (1938), her first United States film.[5] She starred opposite Clark Gable in Boom Town and Comrade X (both 1940), and James Stewart in Come Live with Me and Ziegfeld Girl (both 1941). Her other MGM films include Lady of the Tropics (1939), H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), as well as Crossroads and White Cargo (both 1942); she was also borrowed by Warner Bros. for The Conspirators, and by RKO for Experiment Perilous (both 1944). Dismayed by being typecast, Lamarr co-founded a new production studio and starred in its films: The Strange Woman (1946), and Dishonored Lady (1947). Her greatest success was as Delilah in Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949). She also acted on television before the release of her final film, The Female Animal (1958). She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

At the beginning of World War II, Lamarr and composer George Antheil developed a radio guidance system using frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology for Allied torpedoes, intended to defeat the threat of jamming by the Axis powers. She also helped improve aircraft aerodynamics for Howard Hughes while they dated during the war. Although the US Navy did not adopt Lamarr and Antheil's invention until 1957, various spread-spectrum techniques are incorporated into Bluetooth technology and are similar to methods used in legacy versions of Wi-Fi. Recognition of the value of their work resulted in the pair being posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.

Lamarr was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in 1914 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, the only child of Emil Kiesler (1880–1935) and Gertrud "Trude" Kiesler (née Lichtwitz; 1894–1977). Her father was born to a Galician-Jewish family in Lemberg (now Lviv, Ukraine), and was a successful bank manager. Her mother was a pianist, born in Budapest to an upper-class Hungarian-Jewish family. She converted to Catholicism as an adult, at the insistence of her first husband, and raised her daughter Hedy as a Catholic as well, though she was not formally baptized at the time.

As a child, Kiesler showed an interest in acting and was fascinated by theatre and film. At the age of 12, she won a beauty contest in Vienna. She also began to associate invention with her father, who would take her out on walks, explaining how various technologies in society functioned.

After the Anschluss, she helped get her mother out of Austria and to the United States, where Gertrud Kiesler later became an American citizen. She put "Hebrew" as her race on her petition for naturalization, a term that had been frequently used in Europe.

Still using her maiden name of Hedy Kiesler, she took acting classes in Vienna. One day, she forged a permission note from her mother and went to Sascha-Film, where she was hired at the age of 16 as a script girl. She gained a role as an extra in Money on the Street (1930), and then a small speaking part in Storm in a Water Glass (1931). Producer Max Reinhardt cast her in a play entitled The Weaker Sex, which was performed at the Theater in der Josefstadt. Reinhardt was so impressed with her that he arranged for her to return with him to Berlin, where he was based.

Kiesler never trained with Reinhardt nor appeared in any of his Berlin productions. After meeting Russian theatre producer Alexis Granowsky, she was cast in his film directorial debut, The Trunks of Mr. O.F. (1931), starring Walter Abel and Peter Lorre. Granowsky soon moved to Paris, but Kiesler stayed in Berlin to work. She was given the lead role in No Money Needed (1932), a comedy directed by Carl Boese. Her next film brought her international fame.

In early 1933, at age 18, Hedy Kiesler, still working under her maiden name, was given the lead in Gustav Machatý's film Ecstasy (Ekstase in German, Extase in Czech). She played the neglected young wife of an indifferent older man.

The film became both celebrated and notorious for showing the actress's face in the throes of an orgasm. According to Marie Benedict's book The Only Woman In The Room, Kiesler's expression resulted from someone sticking her with a pin. She was also shown in closeups and brief nude scenes, the latter reportedly a result of the actress being "duped" by the director and producer, who used high-power telephoto lenses.

Although Kiesler was dismayed and now disillusioned about taking other roles, Ecstasy gained world recognition after winning an award in Rome. Throughout Europe, the film was regarded as an artistic work. However, in the United States, it was banned, considered overly sexual, and made the target of negative publicity, especially among women's groups. It was also banned in Germany due to Kiesler's Jewish heritage. Her husband, Fritz Mandl, reportedly spent over $300,000 buying up and destroying copies of the film.

Kiesler also played a number of stage roles, including a starring one in Sissy, a play about Empress Elisabeth of Austria produced in Vienna in early 1933, just as Ecstasy premiered. It won accolades from critics.

Admirers sent roses to her dressing room and tried to get backstage to meet Kiesler. She sent most of them away, including an insistent Friedrich Mandl. He became obsessed with getting to know her. Mandl was a Viennese arms merchant and munitions manufacturer who was reputedly the third-richest man in Austria. She fell for his charming and fascinating personality, partly due to his immense wealth. Her parents, both of Jewish descent, did not approve, as Mandl had ties to Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini, and later, German Führer Adolf Hitler, but they could not stop their headstrong daughter.

On August 10, 1933, at the age of 18, Kiesler married Mandl, then 33. The son of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother, Mandl insisted that she convert to Catholicism before their wedding in Vienna Karlskirche. In her autobiography Ecstasy and Me, Mandl is described as an extremely controlling husband. He strongly objected to her having been filmed in the simulated orgasm scene in Ecstasy and prevented her from pursuing her acting career. She claimed she was kept a virtual prisoner in their castle home, Castle Schwarzenau in the remote Waldviertel near the Czech border.

Mandl had close social and business ties to the Italian government, selling munitions to the country, and, despite his own part-Jewish descent, had ties to the Nazi regime of Germany. Kiesler accompanied Mandl to business meetings, where he conferred with scientists and other professionals involved in military technology. These conferences were her introduction to the field of applied science and she became interested in nurturing her latent talent in science.

Finding her marriage to Mandl eventually unbearable, Kiesler decided to flee her husband as well as her country. According to her autobiography, she disguised herself as her maid and fled to Paris. Friedrich Otto's account says that she persuaded Mandl to let her wear all of her jewelry for a dinner party where the influential austrofascist Ernst Stahremberg attended, then disappeared afterward. She writes about her marriage:

I knew very soon that I could never be an actress while I was his wife. ... He was the absolute monarch in his marriage. ... I was like a doll. I was like a thing, some object of art which had to be guarded—and imprisoned—having no mind, no life of its own.

After arriving in London in 1937, she met Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, who was scouting for talent in Europe. She initially turned down the offer he made her (of $125 a week), but booked herself onto the same New York-bound liner as he. During the trip, she impressed him enough to secure a $500 a week contract. Mayer persuaded her to change her name from Hedwig Kiesler (to distance herself from "the Ecstasy lady" reputation associated with it). She chose the surname "Lamarr" in homage to the beautiful silent film star, Barbara La Marr, on the suggestion of Mayer's wife, Margaret Shenberg.

When Mayer brought Lamarr to Hollywood in 1938, he began promoting her as the "world's most beautiful woman". He introduced her to producer Walter Wanger, who was making Algiers (1938), an American version of the noted French film, Pépé le Moko (1937).

Lamarr was cast in the lead opposite Charles Boyer. The film created a "national sensation", says Shearer. Lamarr was billed as an unknown but well-publicized Austrian actress, which created anticipation in audiences. Mayer hoped she would become another Greta Garbo or Marlene Dietrich. According to one viewer, when her face first appeared on the screen, "everyone gasped ... Lamarr's beauty literally took one's breath away."

In future Hollywood films, Lamarr was often typecast as the archetypal glamorous seductress of exotic origin. Her second American film was I Take This Woman (1940), co-starring with Spencer Tracy under the direction of regular Dietrich collaborator, Josef von Sternberg. Von Sternberg was fired during the shoot, and replaced by Frank Borzage. The film was put on hold, and Lamarr was put into Lady of the Tropics (1939), where she played a mixed-race seductress in Saigon opposite Robert Taylor. She returned to I Take This Woman, re-shot by W. S. Van Dyke. The resulting film was a flop.

Far more popular was Boom Town (1940) with Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert and Spencer Tracy; it made $5 million MGM promptly reteamed Lamarr and Gable in Comrade X (1940), a comedy film in the vein of Ninotchka (1939), which was another hit.

She was teamed with James Stewart in Come Live with Me (1941), playing a Viennese refugee. Stewart was also featured in Ziegfeld Girl (1941), in which Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner played aspiring showgirls; it was a big success.

Lamarr was top-billed in H. M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), although the film's protagonist was the title role played by Robert Young. She made a third film with Tracy, Tortilla Flat (1942). It was successful at the box office, as was Crossroads (1942) with William Powell.

She played the seductive native girl Tondelayo in White Cargo (1942), top-billed over Walter Pidgeon. It was a huge hit. White Cargo contains arguably her most memorable film quote, delivered with provocative invitation: "I am Tondelayo. I make tiffin for you?" This line typifies many of Lamarr's roles, which emphasized her beauty and sensuality while giving her relatively few lines. The lack of acting challenges bored Lamarr, and she reportedly took up inventing to relieve her boredom. In a 1970 interview, Lamarr also remarked that she was paid less because she would not sleep with Mayer.

Lamarr was reunited with Powell in a comedy, The Heavenly Body (1944). She was then borrowed by Warner Bros. for The Conspirators (1944), reuniting several of the actors of Casablanca (1942), which had been inspired in part by Algiers and written with Lamarr in mind as its female lead, though MGM would not lend her out. RKO later borrowed her for a melodrama, Experiment Perilous (1944), directed by Jacques Tourneur.

Back at MGM, Lamarr was teamed with Robert Walker in the romantic comedy Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945), playing a princess who falls in love with a New Yorker. It was very popular, but would be the last film she made under her MGM contract.

Her off-screen life and personality during those years was quite different from her screen image. She spent much of her time feeling lonely and homesick. She might swim at her agent's pool, but shunned the beaches and staring crowds. When asked for an autograph, she wondered why anyone would want it. Writer Howard Sharpe interviewed her and gave his impression:

Hedy has the most incredible personal sophistication. She knows the peculiarly European art of being womanly; she knows what men want in a beautiful woman, what attracts them, and she forces herself to be these things. She has magnetism with warmth, something that neither Dietrich nor Garbo has managed to achieve.

Author Richard Rhodes describes her assimilation into American culture:

Of all the European émigrés who escaped Nazi Germany and Nazi Austria, she was one of the very few who succeeded in moving to another culture and becoming a full-fledged star herself. There were so very few who could make the transition linguistically or culturally. She really was a resourceful human being–I think because of her father's strong influence on her as a child.

Lamarr also had a penchant for speaking about herself in the third person.

Lamarr wanted to join the National Inventors Council, but was reportedly told by NIC member Charles F. Kettering and others that she could better help the war effort by using her celebrity status to sell war bonds.

She participated in a war bond-selling campaign with a sailor named Eddie Rhodes. Rhodes was in the crowd at each Lamarr appearance, and she would call him up on stage. She would briefly flirt with him before asking the audience if she should give him a kiss. The crowd would say yes, to which Hedy would reply that she would if enough people bought war bonds. After enough bonds were purchased, she would kiss Rhodes and he would head back into the audience. Then they would head off to the next war bond rally. In total, Lamarr sold approximately $25 million (over $350 million when adjusted for inflation in 2020) worth of war bonds during a period of 10 days.

After leaving MGM in 1945, Lamarr formed production company Mars Film Corporation with Jack Chertok and Hunt Stromberg, producing two film noir motion pictures which she also starred in: The Strange Woman (1946) as a manipulative seductress leading a son to murder his father, and Dishonored Lady (1947) as a formerly suicidal fashion designer[verification needed] trying to start a new life but gets accused of murder. Her initiative was unwelcomed by the Hollywood establishment, as they were against actors (especially female actors) producing their films independently. Both films grossed over their budgets, but were not large commercial successes.

In 1948, she tried a comedy with Robert Cummings, called Let's Live a Little.

Lamarr enjoyed her greatest success playing Delilah opposite Victor Mature as the biblical strongman in Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949). A massive critical and commercial success, the film became the highest-grossing picture of 1950 and won two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design) of its five nominations. She won critical acclaim for her portrayal of Delilah. Showmen's Trade Review previewed the film before its release and commended Lamarr's performance: "Miss Lamarr is just about everyone's conception of the fair-skinned, dark-haired, beauteous Delilah, a role tailor-made for her, and her best acting chore to date."[48] Photoplay wrote, "As Delilah, Hedy Lamarr is treacherous and tantalizing, her charms enhanced by Technicolor."[49]

Lamarr returned to MGM for a film noir with John Hodiak, A Lady Without Passport (1950), which flopped. More popular were two pictures she made at Paramount, a Western with Ray Milland, Copper Canyon (1950), and a Bob Hope spy spoof, My Favorite Spy (1951).

Her career went into decline. She went to Italy to play multiple roles in Loves of Three Queens (1954), which she also produced. However she lacked the experience necessary to make a success of such an epic production, and lost millions of dollars when she was unable to secure distribution of the picture.

She was Joan of Arc in Irwin Allen's critically panned epic, The Story of Mankind (1957) and did episodes of Zane Grey Theatre ("Proud Woman") and Shower of Stars ("Cloak and Dagger"). Her last film was a thriller The Female Animal (1958).

Lamarr was signed to act in the 1966 film Picture Mommy Dead, but was let go when she collapsed during filming from nervous exhaustion. She was replaced in the role of Jessica Flagmore Shelley by Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Although Lamarr had no formal training and was primarily self-taught, she worked in her spare time on various hobbies and inventions, which included an improved traffic stoplight and a tablet that would dissolve in water to create a carbonated drink. The beverage was unsuccessful; Lamarr herself said it tasted like Alka-Seltzer.

Among the few who knew of Lamarr's inventiveness was aviation tycoon Howard Hughes. She suggested he change the rather square design of his aeroplanes (which she thought looked too slow) to a more streamlined shape, based on pictures of the fastest birds and fish she could find. Lamarr discussed her relationship with Hughes during an interview, saying that while they dated, he actively supported her inventive "tinkering" hobbies. He put his team of scientists and engineers at her disposal, saying they would do or make anything she asked for.

During World War II, Lamarr learned that radio-controlled torpedoes, an emerging technology in naval war, could easily be jammed and set off course.[53] She thought of creating a frequency-hopping signal that could not be tracked or jammed. She conceived an idea and contacted her friend, composer and pianist George Antheil, to help her implement it.[54] Together they developed a device for doing that, when he succeeded by synchronizing a miniaturized player-piano mechanism with radio signals.[40] They drafted designs for the frequency-hopping system, which they patented.[55][56] Antheil recalled:

We began talking about the war, which, in the late summer of 1940, was looking most extremely black. Hedy said that she did not feel very comfortable, sitting there in Hollywood and making lots of money when things were in such a state. She said that she knew a good deal about munitions and various secret weapons ... and that she was thinking seriously of quitting MGM and going to Washington, D.C., to offer her services to the newly established National Inventors Council.

As quoted from a 1945 Stars and Stripes interview, "Hedy modestly admitted she did only 'creative work on the invention', while the composer and author George Antheil, 'did the really important chemical part'. Hedy was not too clear about how the device worked, but she remembered that she and Antheil sat down on her living room rug and were using a silver match box with the matches simulating the wiring of the invented 'thing'. She said that at the start of the war 'British fliers were over hostile territory as soon as they crossed the channel, but German aviators were over friendly territory most of the way to England... I got the idea for my invention when I tried to think of some way to even the balance for the British. A radio controlled torpedo, I thought would do it.'"

Their invention was granted a patent under U.S. Patent 2,292,387 on August 11, 1942 (filed using her married name Hedy Kiesler Markey).[58] However, it was technologically difficult to implement, and at the time the US Navy was not receptive to considering inventions coming from outside the military.[35] Nevertheless, it was classified in the "red hot" category.[59] It was first adapted in 1957 to develop a sonobuoy before the expiration of the patent, although this was denied by the Navy. At the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, an updated version of their design was installed on Navy ships.[60] Today, various spread-spectrum techniques are incorporated into Bluetooth technology and are similar to methods used in legacy versions of Wi-Fi. Lamarr and Antheil's contributions were formally recognized in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.

Lamarr was married and divorced six times and had three children:

Friedrich Mandl (married 1933–37), chairman of the Hirtenberger Patronen-Fabrik

Gene Markey (married 1939–41), screenwriter and producer. She adopted a boy, James Lamarr Markey (born January 9, 1939) during her marriage with Markey. In 2001, James found out he was the out-of-wedlock son of Lamarr and actor John Loder, whom she later married as her third husband.

John Loder (married 1943–47), actor. James Lamarr Markey was adopted by Loder as James Lamarr Loder. During the marriage, Lamarr and Loder also had two further children: Denise Loder (born January 19, 1945), married Larry Colton, a writer and former baseball player; and Anthony Loder (born February 1, 1947), married Roxanne who worked for illustrator James McMullan. They both appeared in the documentary films Calling Hedy Lamarr (2004), and Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story (2017).

Ernest "Ted" Stauffer (married 1951–52), nightclub owner, restaurateur, and former bandleader

W. Howard Lee (married 1953–60), a Texas oilman (he later married film actress Gene Tierney)

Lewis J. Boies (married 1963–65), Lamarr's divorce lawyer

Following her sixth and final divorce in 1965, Lamarr remained unmarried for the last 35 years of her life.

Lamarr became a naturalized citizen of the United States at age 38 on April 10, 1953. Her autobiography, Ecstasy and Me, was published in 1966. In a 1969 interview on The Merv Griffin Show, she said that she did not write it and claimed that much was fictional. Lamarr sued the publisher in 1966 to halt publication, saying that many details were fabricated by its ghost writer, Leo Guild. She lost the suit. In 1967, Lamarr was sued by Gene Ringgold, who asserted that the book plagiarized material from an article he had written in 1965 for Screen Facts magazine.

In the late 1950s, Lamarr designed and, with husband W. Howard Lee, developed the Villa LaMarr ski resort in Aspen, Colorado. After their divorce, her husband gained this resort

In 1966, Lamarr was arrested in Los Angeles for shoplifting. The charges were eventually dropped. In 1991, she was arrested on the same charge in Florida, this time for stealing $21.48 worth of laxatives and eye drops. She pleaded no contest to avoid a court appearance, and the charges were dropped in return for her promise to refrain from breaking any laws for a year.

During the 1970s, Lamarr lived in increasing seclusion. She was offered several scripts, television commercials, and stage projects, but none piqued her interest. In 1974, she filed a $10 million lawsuit against Warner Bros., claiming that the running parody of her name ("Hedley Lamarr") featured in the Mel Brooks comedy Blazing Saddles infringed her right to privacy. Brooks said he was flattered; the studio settled out of court for an undisclosed nominal sum and an apology to Lamarr for "almost using her name". Brooks said that Lamarr "never got the joke". With her eyesight failing, Lamarr retreated from public life and settled in Miami Beach, Florida, in 1981.

In 1996, a large Corel-drawn image of Lamarr won the annual cover design contest for the CorelDRAW's yearly software suite. For several years, beginning in 1997, it was featured on boxes of the software suite. Lamarr sued the company for using her image without her permission. Corel countered that she did not own rights to the image. The parties reached an undisclosed settlement in 1998.

In 1997, Canadian company WiLAN signed an agreement with Lamarr to acquire 49% of the marketing rights of her patent, and a right of first refusal for the remaining 51% for ten quarterly payments. This was the only financial compensation she received for her frequency-hopping spread spectrum invention. A friendship ensued between her and the company's CEO, Hatim Zaghloul.

Lamarr became estranged from her son, James Lamarr Loder (who believed he was adopted until 2001), when he was 12 years old. Their relationship ended abruptly, and he moved in with another family. They did not speak again for almost 50 years. Lamarr left James Loder out of her will, and he sued for control of the US$3.3 million estate left by Lamarr in 2000. He eventually settled for US$50,000. James Loder was the Omaha, Nebraska police officer who was charged but then acquitted of the killing of 14 year old Vivian Strong in 1969.

In the last decades of her life, Lamarr communicated only by telephone with the outside world, even with her children and close friends. She often talked up to six or seven hours a day on the phone, but she spent hardly any time with anyone in person in her final years. A documentary film, Calling Hedy Lamarr, was released in 2004 and features her children Anthony Loder and Denise Loder-DeLuca.

Lamarr died in Casselberry, Florida, on January 19, 2000, of heart disease, aged 85. According to her wishes, she was cremated and her son Anthony Loder spread her ashes in Austria's Vienna Woods.

In 1939, Lamarr was voted the "most promising new actress" of 1938 in a poll of area voters conducted by a Philadelphia Record film critic.[95]

In 1951, British moviegoers voted Lamarr the tenth best actress of 1950,[96] for her performance in Samson and Delilah.

In 1960, Lamarr was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the motion picture industry, at 6247 Hollywood Blvd adjacent to Vine Street where the walk is centered.

In 1997, Lamarr and George Antheil were jointly honored with the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award.

Also in 1997, Lamarr was the first woman to receive the Invention Convention's BULBIE Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award, known as the "Oscars of inventing".

In 2014, Lamarr and Antheil were posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology.

Also in 2014, Lamarr was given an honorary grave in Vienna's Central Cemetery, where the remaining portion of her ashes were buried in November, shortly before her 100th birthday.

Asteroid 32730 Lamarr, discovered by Karl Reinmuth at Heidelberg Observatory in 1951, was named in her memory. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on August 27, 2019 (M.P.C. 115894).

On 6 November 2020, a satellite named after her (ÑuSat 14 or "Hedy", COSPAR 2020-079F) was launched into space.

The 2004 documentary film Calling Hedy Lamarr features her children, Anthony Loder and Denise Loder-DeLuca.

In 2010, Lamarr was selected out of 150 IT people to be featured in a short film launched by the British Computer Society on May 20.

Also during 2010, the New York Public Library exhibit Thirty Years of Photography at the New York Public Library included a photo of a topless Lamarr (c. 1930) by Austrian-born American photographer Trude Fleischmann.

The 2017 documentary film Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, written and directed by Alexandra Dean and produced by Susan Sarandon,[108] about Lamarr's life and career as an actress and inventor, also featuring her children Anthony and Denise, among others, premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.[40] It was released in theaters on November 24, 2017, and aired on the PBS series American Masters in May 2018. As of April 2020, it is also available on Netflix.

During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services invented a pyrotechnic device meant to help agents operating behind enemy lines to escape if capture seemed imminent. When the pin was pulled, it made the whistle of a falling bomb followed by a loud explosion and a large cloud of smoke, enabling the agent to make his escape. It saved the life of at least one agent. The device was codenamed the Hedy Lamarr.[109]

The Mel Brooks 1974 western parody Blazing Saddles features a male villain named "Hedley Lamarr". As a running gag, various characters mistakenly refer to him as "Hedy Lamarr" prompting him to testily reply "That's Hedley."

In the 1982 off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors and subsequent film adaptation (1986), Audrey II says to Seymour in the song "Feed Me" that he can get Seymour anything he wants, including "A date with Hedy Lamarr."

On the Nickelodeon show Hey Arnold!, there is a running gag in which whenever something unfortunate happens to Arnold's grandfather, Phil, he constantly states how things would have been different if he had "married Hedy Lamarr instead!". In one episode, it is revealed that he carries a photo of her in his wallet.

In the 2003 video game Half-Life 2, Dr. Kleiner's pet headcrab, Lamarr, is named after Hedy Lamarr.

In 2008, an off-Broadway play, Frequency Hopping, features the lives of Lamarr and Antheil. The play was written and staged by Elyse Singer, and the script won a prize for best new play about science and technology from STAGE.

In 2011, the story of Lamarr's frequency-hopping spread spectrum invention was explored in an episode of the Science Channel show Dark Matters: Twisted But True, a series that explores the darker side of scientific discovery and experimentation, which premiered on September 7.

Batman co-creator Bob Kane was a great movie fan and his love for film provided the impetus for several Batman characters, among them, Catwoman. Among Kane's inspiration for Catwoman were Lamarr and actress Jean Harlow. Also in 2011, Anne Hathaway revealed that she had learned that the original Catwoman was based on Lamarr, so she studied all of Lamarr's films and incorporated some of her breathing techniques into her portrayal of Catwoman in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises.

In 2013, her work in improving wireless security was part of the premiere episode of the Discovery Channel show How We Invented the World.

In 2015, on November 9, the 101st anniversary of Lamarr's birth, Google paid tribute to Lamarr's work in film and her contributions to scientific advancement with an animated Google Doodle.

In 2016, Lamarr was depicted in an off-Broadway play, HEDY! The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, a one-woman show written and performed by Heather Massie.

Also in 2016, the off-Broadway, one-actor show Stand Still and Look Stupid: The Life Story of Hedy Lamarr starring Emily Ebertz and written by Mike Broemmel went into production.

Also in 2016, Whitney Frost, a character in the TV show Agent Carter, was inspired by Lamarr and Lauren Bacall.

In 2017, actress Celia Massingham portrayed Lamarr on The CW television series Legends of Tomorrow in the sixth episode of the third season, titled "Helen Hunt". The episode is set in 1937 "Hollywoodland" and references Lamarr's reputation as an inventor. The episode aired on November 14, 2017.

In 2018, actress Alyssa Sutherland portrayed Lamarr on the NBC television series Timeless in the third episode of the second season, titled "Hollywoodland". The episode aired March 25, 2018.

Gal Gadot is set to portray Lamarr in an Apple TV+ limited series based on her life story.

A novelization of her life, The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict, was published in 2019.

#hedy lamarr #classic hollywood #classic movie stars #golden age of hollywood #old hollywood #1930s hollywood #1940s hollywood #1950s hollywood #hollywood legend

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nefertittythegreat · 5 years

Text

When We Once Were There

Years after their lives sent them apart Adrien and Marinette meet once again this time as the parents to two little girls.

I’ve been in love with fics like this lately for every fandom and I felt the Miraculous Fandom could use one more. So here’s my Single Parent AU!

AO3[x] Chapter 2[x]

Marinette found herself checking her watch over and over again during this meeting. She was careful to appear to pay attention to what the man was saying in front of the room, but she already knew what this was about. Blah, blah blah budget, blah blah blah brand integrity Blah Blah Blah Press conference. If she didn’t know any better she would have thought her boss sent her here as some cruel joke, but it was widely known that Gabriel Agreste didn’t have a sense of humor. She had already given her presentation on what was going to be the main theme from this year’s Spring line, with the prices on fabrics needed, but it seemed they needed her to stay for a portion that had nothing to do with her job. She longed to be back in her office, or at least wish she brought her sketchbook, but last time Nathalie had lightly scolded her. Still, Marinette couldn’t help but feel her mind wander, and wondered if she was the only one. However it wasn’t just boredom plaguing her, Marinette had somewhere she needed to be.

“I think we get the point, Monsieur,” Nathalie said standing, signaling an end to the meeting. Marinette threw the woman a grateful look, and though Nathalie caught it she didn’t respond. “I’ll be sure to get all of these reports to Mr. Agreste. Though I can already say everything looks satisfactory. Let’s continue to make good of the Gabriel name, shall we? Good day.” At her words, everyone stood up and began filing out of the conference room. Marinette picked up her handbag, a Gabriel of course. and began to leave.

“Marinette,” Nathalie called causing Marinette to stop just short of the door. “Great work today, Mr. Agreste will be pleased.” Marinette fought a blush and thanked the woman. She was young, very young to be working this far up in the company, but Gabriel himself had kind of taken her under his wing. Marinette was grateful he did that, even considering her situation. “Mr. Agreste wants to know if you’ll be needing to leave work a little earlier with school in session now. He heard that Madam Paulette was giving you some trouble in regards to that.” The blush Marinette was fighting back with a vengeance as she felt her face turn crimson.

“No, no, no!” She exclaimed hoping not to cause any trouble. “We were able to work it out. I understand the kind of position I’m putting everyone through, even with my daughter I have to continue to pull your weight.” Marinette replied Nathalie’s expression, of course, did not change.

“Of course. As you know Mr. Agreste hired you knowing your situation at home and as someone who was a single parent himself, he does not want you to feel discriminated against at work and wants to be able to work with you around your daughter. Please if you have any more problems with Madame Paulette don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be able to straighten it out.” Nathalie responded before leaving the room. Marinette sighed. It was no secret Gabriel had taken an interest in her, and she hoped his apparent favoritism hadn’t caused anyone problems.

Marinette checked her watch one more time and heaved a sigh of relief. She should still make it on time to pick up Emma if she left now, Walking out of the room Marinette saw the Elevator filling with people. It would be a while before it was back and Marinette really needed to get to her car. “ Wait please!” She called out and began to run toward the elevator when she ran face first into something hard that sent her crashing into the ground. Dazed Marinette placed a hand to her now pounding head confused as to what just happened.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry, Miss.” A masculine voice said to her, causing Marinette to curse her luck and her lack of coordination. “Let me help you up.” At least he was nice about it. Most men in this building would have berated her for running into them, Marinette grabbed his hand and he quickly helped her up

“Thank you so much-“ She went to thank him when she finally got a good look at the man she probably almost maimed. His hair was shorter then she had ever seen it, but she could recognize those green eyes anywhere, Adrien Agreste.

“Marinette?” He asked. Green eyes sparkling with joy. She was surprised he remembered her. They hadn’t seen each other since they graduated Lycée. She remembered he went off to model in America while she stayed and went to University. He never came back. Instead, he moved to Japan and got married.

“ Adrien! It’s uh... Good to see you again!” She said willing herself to do what she was never able to in Lycée, Hold a decent conversation with him.

“Yeah, it’s been years.” He laughed. “I didn’t know you worked for Gabriel. though I guess it does make sense. My father always did think you were very talented.” He said. Marinette blushed at the compliment. He hadn’t changed in all these years. Still the sweet boy she remembers.

“Yes, Mr. Agreste has been very kind to me the past few years. Are you here to see your father?” Marinette asked. She figured he was visiting him. Though Marinette can honestly say in the time she had been working here he never has, but she knew what their relationship had always been like.

“Umm… Yeah actually, Kinda?” He paused. " I work here now.” He revealed almost making Marinette’s jaw drop. “I moved back to Paris, and Father wants me to work on the business side of things. I guess as he’s getting older he’s more worried about his art. “

“That’s great. I guess we’ll be seeing each other around then.” Marinette smiled and tried not to panic.

“Yeah, I got to go see father, but let’s catch up another time, Marinette.” He walked away sparing her a wave which she returned. and Marinette found herself screaming inside her mind. Adrien Agreste was back in Paris working in the same building she was. If Marinette was 14 she’d be screaming for joy, but now all she could think about was how difficult working around him was going to be. She had loved him for years, and he had never noticed. Then he went off to America, then Japan, and married Kagami….

Oh...

Marinette had almost forgotten, but she couldn’t dwell on Adrien when she had her own problems like picking up Emma. Shaking her head clear of any thoughts regarding Adrien Agreste, Marinette walked out of Gabriel and to her car. She’d be at Emma’s school in no time.

“Father,” Adrien greeted as he stepped into Gabriel Agreste’s office.

“Ah, Adrien. I see you made here on time, good.” Adrien fought the urge to roll his eyes business as usual when dealing with his father. “Tomorrow I’ll be holding a press conference and introducing you as the new CFO to Gabriel and the public.”

Adrien raised an eyebrow, “You haven’t sent the news to the company about a new CFO. Father, that’s-“ Gabriel held up ahead silencing his son, and make Adrien feel like he was 14 again.

“I gave word to those who needed to know, but everyone else will learn about it at the press conference tomorrow.” He said, “ I’ll have Nathalie escort you to your office, and please remember that though I’m sympathetic with your situation I’m still expecting great things from you, Adrien.” Adrien felt his hands tighten to fist.

“Of course, Father,” Adrien said tightly and moved to follow the silent Nathalie out of the room. When they were clear of the room Adrien spoke to himself. “Why did I even bother coming back.” He spat hating the way his father made him feel.

“Well, I for one am grateful. This move was beneficial to you both.” Nathalie replied catching and pulling Adrien away from his thoughts. “And having your father be able to focus on Paris then you in Tokyo is going to do wonders for my nerves.” Adrien laughed a little at that, though he knows on some level it isn’t true. His father had been more attentive of him lately but he was sure it was going to pass soon. And Gabriel had never really worried about him in the way that Adrien thought was fatherly.

“Thank you, Nathalie. Out of this, at least being closer to you is a benefit.” Nathalie smiled in response

“Your daughter, Ayako, How is she?”

“She’s doing great! Handled the move like a pro, and she’s….” Adrien looked down at the watch on his wrist and noticed the time. “ At school! I’m sorry Nathalie I have to go get her!” Adrien said running down the hallway and to the Elevator. As he got in his phone buzzed with a message from Nathalie over all the things he needed to go over before tomorrow and the number of his office, and he ran toward his car barely stopping to thank the doorman and igniting the ignition as quickly as possible and thanked God for push starts. Soon he was out of the parking garage and on the street. The great thing about Ayako’s primary school was how close to the office it was. It made things easier when Adrien had a slip of the mind like this. He couldn’t believe he was late picking up his daughter on the first day. He hoped Ayako didn’t get on him too much.

Adrien pulled up to the school and quickly walked inside finding a receptionist who simply waved off his panic look and said it happened all the time before walking him outside to the other children in “Aftercare” as she called it was. It didn’t take him long to find Ayako or really for Ayako to find him.

“Daddy!” She ran up to up and hugged him by the legs with a shout. “I thought you forgot about me!” She said while staring up at him still holding his legs "but Emma’s mommy said you’d be here soon and she even let Emma stay and wait with me! We played tag and-“

“Hold on, Aya. “ He said scooping up his child. “Okay from the beginning and who is Emma?” He asked with a laugh

“I made a friend!” Aya said proudly. “She’s nice, daddy. and she knows how to sing really well. In music class, she sounded better than everybody else and knew that a piano had strings in it!”

"Really now?” Adrien replied, happy that her first day was at least a happy one his late pick up excluded.

“Yup! Her mommy’s really nice too and waited with me too! Come meet them!” Aya kicked her legs asking to be let down and began to drag her father over to the small pavilion where he found a very familiar face one he had literally just run into.

“Well, I did say we could catch up later, Marinette,” Adrien said as he stared at the woman he had just pumped into 30 minutes ago. This time he was able to get a better look at her. In Gabriel, he only saw bluebell eyes and freckles, that could belong only to her, but now he could see just how different she looked. Her hair was longer then it had been in Lycée and she had clearly grown. Adrien noting how good she looked, but he always thought she was one of the prettiest girls in his class, though at the time he was more worried about Kagami. It was no surprise that Marinette had grown to become a beautiful woman. “I didn’t know you had a daughter,” Adrien said spying a small black haired girl hiding behind her mother’s pencil skirt.

"Yeah! This is Emma. Emma, sweetie, please say hi to mommy’s friend. Mr. Adrien.” Marinette pushed her daughter around her.

“Hi.” The girl responded softly and shyly.

“Emma it’s not shy time, This is my daddy. Remember I told you about how cool he was. He looks like the prince from the movie!” Aya said stepping forward, trying to urge the girl out of her shell. It seemed to work.

“Are you a prince, like in the movies?” Emma asked with wide eyes. At this both Marinette and Adrien laughed.

“No Sweetie, but even I have to admit Mr. Adrien has always been very prince-like,” Marinette replied, causing Adrien to look up quickly at her. Prince-like? That was what she thought of him.

“Daddy, I didn’t know you knew Emma’s mommy?” Aya said confused.

“Daddy knows a lot of people, baby,” Adrien replied smirking at his daughter’s pout at his answer. “But in this case, I and Ms. Marinette went to school together.” Emma perked up at this.

“Like Me and Aya?” she asked. Marinette nodded.

“Yes, but we were a little older when we meet. Not as lucky as you two.” Marinette hooped her daughter’s nose, who giggled in response. It seemed being a parent suited Marinette not that Adrien was surprised. She had always taken care of everyone around her. Being a mother suited her.

“Mommy,” Emma pulled on her mother’s red pencil skirt. “Can Aya and I play some more?” Marinette quickly looked back up at Adrien then down again at her daughter.

“I don’t think so sweetie, I’m sure Mr. Adrien is very busy. You can play with Aya another time.”

“Dame!” Aya grabbed her father’s hand, “Daddy, please let me play with Aya more! I’ll never ask for anything ever!”

“Me too!” Emma grabbed his other hand, “Please Mr. Adrien?” With both of them giving him puppy dog eyes Adrien could feel his resolve shrinking.

“Well, I don’t have to go back to the office.” Adrien scratched the back of his head. "If your free Marinette, we could go to the park, get some ice cream. I did promise that we would catch up.” at this both girls turned their attention to Marinette freeing Adrien from the hot seat.

“Ice Cream!” Emma shouted “Please Mommy!!”

“Yes, Emma’s mommy, can we go get ice cream then play together!” With both girls pleading at her Marinette turned to glare at Adrien who had the gall to look as innocent as possible. How could she say no when they were both begging like this. It wasn’t like she had to get back to the office either.

“You know what, ice cream sounds great.” Marinette smiled at Adrien. Her heart melts as the two girls cry in delight. How could she have said no to that? Seeing the two spin around in joy was worth staying out a little later.

It was a short walk to the park and the ice cream man. The line was short, which was rare as he had a tendency to be very popular. The park as a whole was quieter then it had been in a while. Marinette was expecting more children as it was after school now, but it seemed she was wrong. It was very peaceful. Adrien pulled out his wallet and handed his daughter a few bills, "Go and get you and Emma some Ice Cream, Okay?” Aya smiled up at her father, Before nodding and running off with Emma.

“Thanks for that, Adrien, but I could have paid for Emma’s ice cream,” Marinette said as she sat down on the bench.

“It’s just ice cream, and I’m not exactly hurting for money,” Adrien shrugged. “But how have you been? It’s been what 11- 12 years.?”

“Yeah, you went to university in America right?” That was the last time they saw each other, freshly 18, out of lycée, and heading out into the world. It was where Marinette’s 4-year crush had to die, and where their friendship came to an end.

“Yeah,” Adrien rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. A habit that he had done for years when he was feeling uncomfortable. "I should have kept in contact better.”

“It’s okay, It wasn’t like we were super close anyway.” Not for Marinette’s lack of trying though, “You kept in touch with Nino though. He always told Alya and me how you were doing. Besides I’m sure America was good for you. To get away from… everything here.” Adrien’s smile left, as he sighed. His home life as a kid was never really a secret especially to his friends, and Marinette was one of them.

“Yeah, it was good for me. Kagami was the one who’d convince me to…” Adrien trailed off. It was easy to forget, especially at times like this when he was remembering the past.

Marinette placed a hand on his shoulder. “I heard about….” Marinette searched for the right words, but she wasn’t sure she had them. “I’m so sorry, Adrien. I can’t even imagine. what you’ve been through.” When Nino had gotten the news about the accident, he’d flown to Japan immediately to help Adrien. Alya and Marinette had helped him packed. From what Nino told him, Adrien had been in rough shape, but that was almost 2 years ago. And Nino hadn’t even told them Adrien was moving back to Paris. She assumes he hadn’t known

“Thank you…” Adrien Brushed his hair away from his eyes, and that was when Marinette noticed that a scar on his eyebrow hidden by his hair. A permanent reminder. “I’m becoming okay again. I have someone else who needs me after all. I couldn’t completely fall apart.”

“I guess that’s true,” She acknowledged.

“Besides Moving back to Paris is going to be great!” Adrien said bringing a smile to his face. " I’m back where my friends and family are. And I think Aya will love it here. This is her first time in Paris. I’m honestly so impressed with her. Her French had always been good, but she prefers Japanese. I thought for sure she wouldn’t speak it too much when we got here, but she’s really blown my expectations out of the water with how she’s assimilated. Honestly, I uprooted her to a completely different culture, but then again she was a little forward for Japan. Kagami used to say she gets that from me, but I’ve never really seen it.” This piqued Marinette’s interest. Adrien had always been reserved, sweet to a fault but reserved. Foreward wasn’t a word she would use to describe him. Kagami, however, was always very forthcoming about her feelings for Adrien, Unlike Marinette herself. Marinette often wished she had Kagami’s confidence.

“But what’s your story these past few years. I mean it seems you’ve got everything you wanted, A designing job at Gabriel, and a beautiful daughter. Though I would have thought you would have been married by now.”Adrien's hand flew up as the words flew out of his mouth Adrien realized what he had said. He had noticed the lack of ring on her finger and assumed. He was trying to restart his friendship with Marinette now he probably ruined. “I Swear I didn’t mean it like! -“ He started but stopped at the sound of her laughter. She was laughing harder then he had seen her laugh in over a decade. A true genuine laugh that was infectious and soon made Adrien start to laugh too. When was the last time he had laughed like this? It had to have been since before the accident. It had been a while since he had said something like that so true to his inner thoughts too.

“I’m sorry.” Marinette wheezed in between laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so…. “ She searched for the words. her yeas rolling looking for the right word. “Panicked. You’ve always said the right thing. It’s nice to see the other side, the side that’s a little more human.”

Adrien raised an eyebrow, “Well, I’m far from perfect….” He hadn’t realized he portrayed that sort of image to Marinette, that certainly did explain her prince comment from earlier. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make it sound like….” He trailed off unsure of how to make this any less awkward.

“Hey,” She waved him off. “It’s fine, and nothing worse then what I hear from my mother on a weekly basis.” Marinette rolled her eyes, “And being married was something I’ve wanted since school. Everyone in our class knew about my dream to marry have a nice house with a picket fence 2 sons, a daughter, a dog, and a hamster. It wasn’t that big of a secret, no matter how hard I tried to keep it that way.” Marinette mused back to her old self in school. She was so... 14. Yes, she was a fourteen year old with far too big of a crush, and too much time on her hands. “But to answer your question, Life isn’t what you dream of at 14. It’s a lot…Harder. And I made some decisions most of them bad but a few good ones, and I can say Emma was the best of them, even if don’t have all those things I dreamed up as a kid.”

Adrien watched Marinette as she looked out her eyes finding her daughter and the smile that graced her lips were something he hadn’t seen in a while, but something he knew. A mother’s love. A parent’s love, hell he looked at his kid the same way.

“I will say Emma was not part of the plan, but I loved her, and I always wanted a kid anyway. I just had to do it on my own. Sure it was scary, but she’s worth it.” Marinette had said a lot and had said nothing at all. It had made Adrien curious, but he wasn’t going to force her to open up to him. After all, they hadn’t seen each other in 12 years.

“I understand,” Adrien replied earnestly. He opened his mouth to ask her about how her parents were doing when A familiar shout came from the playground that made both he and Marinette stand. They both rushed over, but it was Adrien who got there first his height playing to his advantage, where he found Emma cradling her forearm, and Aya trying to calm the wailing girl down though she looked to be on the verge of tears herself

“Hey, girls, what happened? Are you alright?” He asked, but suddenly found himself narrated with wails and Aya trying to explain despite being panic. It was mostly a mesh of Japanese and French that Adrien could barely understand over Emma’s cries. It seemed right now he wasn’t gonna learn anything until he got Emma to calm down. Adrien crouched and pulled Emma into his lap an Automatic reaction to seeing a girl his daughter’s age crying. He was worried if she had broken her arm.

“Hey, Emma?” He said gently. “I see you hurt your arm. Can I take a look at it.” Emma looked at him hesitantly at first but stopped wailing at least, and held out her arm with a nod. Ah, There was the source of the crying. I large scratch going up Emma’s forearm, more than likely from a rock. Poor thing it looked like it hurt, but at least it wasn’t bleeding heavy. Luckily Aya was known for being a little more than rambunctious and he always had Bandaids on him. He reached in his pocket pulling out some Neosporin and bandaids. “This is going to help okay, but it might sting a little. Is that Okay?” He asked. Emma sniffled now the crying was coming to an end, but she nodes once more, and Adrien began to bandage her arm. Just as he was finished Marinette finally caught up, not that he could blame her, she wasn’t exactly mobile in her pencil skirt and heels.

“Is everything ok? Emma!” She said noticing the decent size bandaid on her daughter's arm. She crouched to her daughter’s level who immediately jumped out of Adrien’s grasp and to her mothers. “Emma, what happened to your arm?”

Adrien stood dusting his pants off, "I think she fell and scraped her arm on a rock. Don’t worry I disinfected it and wrapped it up. She’ll be fine, it wasn’t even really bleeding. I think it was the shock if anything.” Adrien places his hands in his pocket as he watched Marinette pull Emma close and whisper something in her ear.

Marinette smiled, “Talk about super dad. You just happen to carry Bandaids and disinfectant on you?” Marinette asked impressed. Not even she did that.

Adrien shrugged, “let’s just say Aya is a little more accident-prone than normal and leave it at that.”

“Well thank you, Adrien,” Marinette said. “Emma what do you say to Mr. Adrien for helping you with your arm.”

“Thank you, Mr. Adrien,” Emma said shyly. A trait she must have gotten from her mother. Remembering their earlier conversation Adrien swept himself into a gallant bow

“It is always an honor to help royalty like you, Princess Emma.” The excited gasp he heard from her was enough to make him smile.

“I think It’s probably time to head home now.” Marinette stood up with Emma still in her arms. “It’s been great Adrien. Let’s do this again sometime.” She said. “Say goodbye to Mr. Adrien and Ayako, Emma”

"Bye-bye,” She waved as her mother turned and began to walk back in the direction of their car. Adrien and Aya returned the farewell while watching the mother and daughter leave. Adrien couldn’t believe today, both he had Marinette were parents to girls in the same class, coincidence didn’t even express how amazing that was. Not to mention, it seemed they still got along as they did in Lycée. He was lucky. When he left Paris 12 years ago. He didn’t want to come back. While school had been fun thanks to Nino and Kagami, and Marinette he still had too many bad memories and not to mention his father around that made staying in Paris not ideal. When Kagami asked him to go to America with her, he hasn’t hesitated, but he realized how much he missed. The lives of the friends he had just left here, Marinette had a child and he was sure other’s from Lycée were parents too. He couldn’t believe it. He should have kept in touch better, but that was in the past and he couldn’t change it now. he could, however, learn from it.

"Hey, Marinette!” He called making the two stop and turn around. He ran over to them a confused Aya following behind him. “look I know you have to get to work pretty early and actually most mornings I get into the office after the girls are in school. and I’m pretty sure you’ll get off before me, so How about we work together in this single parents helping each other out.” He said, “I can take the girls to school and you can pick them up starting tomorrow and when I get off I can get Aya from.” He offered. This would save him in the afternoons. He couldn’t get out at 2:30 obviously going by what happened today, but Marinette had made it with enough time to spare. “What do you say?”

Marinette bit her lip. Dropping off Emma in the morning early to Adrien’s would take a load off her shoulder’s and it wasn’t like he was a stranger either. He was another working parent trying to make this work. It couldn’t hurt, and it meant Madame Paulette would get off her back if she should up early like she was supposed to.

“Deal.” She said, “on one condition.” She added milking Adrien’s confused expression. “I need your phone number.”

He sighed in relief, “Of course” He said before pulling out his phone and reciting his number to her. Which she did back to him as well. “So, I’ll see you in the morning then. “

“Yup, and don’t forget to text me your address,” Marinette said with a wave before departing.

Yeah, something inside Adrien’s gut told him this move was going to be a good thing.

Next Chapter[x]

#nef writes #miraculous ladybug and chat noir #miraculous ladybug #Single Parent Au #adrienette #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #nathalie sancoeur #LadyNoir #ladrien #gabriel agreste #ladybug #marichat #lukanette #coming soon #I swear

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wishingforatypewriter · 6 years

Text

Committed to Closure

Summary: Part 7 of On Casual Commitments (Finally getting into what Grandpa Nakiri said to Souma in part four)

It was five o’clock in the morning—Pacific Standard Time, mind you—but Souma’s body still believed it was in Tokyo...or Sydney. As did his phone, apparently, since the Polar Star group chat had been on fire for the past three hours.

He squinted as he skimmed through the accumulated messages. They were all about Tadokoro’s baby shower registry, save for a few modest inquiries about Yoshino’s new Food Network show or Marui’s master’s thesis.

Souma had learned, through months trial and error, to put all his devices on silent before bed for Nakiri’s sake. Although she could sleep through fucking Armageddon, the precocious ping of Apple Messenger notifications never failed to jolt her awake.

As he watched her sleeping on the right side of the bed—the side he always claimed before they started cohabitating (kind of)—he knew gramps had been right back in Tokyo.

It would not be wise to go on in this way.

Back when they started fooling around, Souma knew he had been one of two or three guys Nakiri had on rotation, and he had been too hung up on Tadokoro to think too seriously about what they were doing. But somewhere along the road, something had shifted.

The next set of messages flashed across his screen, and before he could turn to move the obtrusive blue-white light away from Nakiri, she started in her sleep. Her nose scrunched up and then she stretched, the black Restaurant Yukihira shirt she decided to sleep in that night rising to reveal part of her stomach. For a moment, Souma thought she would just roll over and all would be well, but then her sharp lilac gaze was fixed on him.

“Yukihira,” she groaned, rubbing at her eyes. “What are you-”

“Shh. Go back to sleep, Nakiri.”

“You go back to sleep,” she murmured, and then rolled over, her face buried in the pillows once again.

Souma smirked. She was surprisingly reasonable when she was only half awake.

Knowing that sleep would evade him for the rest of the night, he decided that now was as good a night as any to get the thing done. He dressed as quietly as he could and took the box with the ring out of the corner of his knife case it had occupied for the past five years or so.

The walk from the apartment to the little pawn shop in the Mission District was quiet. He heard nothing but the voices of all the friends, mentors, and rivals who tried to give him often unsolicited, and universally unhelpful advice.

They all meant well, he knew—Kurokiba telling him to just do whatever she wanted, that a person could get used to living anywhere and any kind of way with the right company, and Hayama telling him to move the fuck on, that only a complete idiot would sacrifice his career to be with his high school sweetheart.

And Marui and Ibusaki agreeing with Hayama, save for the fact that it was Tadokoro. And drunk Isshiki leaving him a ten-minute voicemail about how you only get one soulmate.

Only Shinomiya and Tsukasa had been there in Paris to see him buy the ring, see him ready to sell Maison de Yukihira and walk away from the gourmet world to make her happy again. To this day, those two were the only ones who knew anything about it.

The ring was pretty modest, a single two karat diamond on a gold band. It was all he could afford at the time, and simple had always been her style, anyway.

The man behind the bulletproof pawn shop window gave him a sympathetic look as he placed it through the small metal slot.

“What happened, boss? Your lady said no?”

“Something like that,” Souma replied, scratching the back of his head. In truth, he had never really given her the chance to.

“Better luck next time,” he said. Then no more words were exchanged.

After weighing and examining the ring, the man placed it in a small Ziploc bag and handed Souma $3,500 in a thick envelope.

And then it was done, the last part of his subconscious that might have been waiting for her snuffed out like a flickering candle. He smoked a cigarette in front of the store and then got a coffee at his favorite diner in town where he left all the money for his waitress as a tip.

He could still hear the girl, a twenty-year-old sophomore at UCSF, screaming in delight as he made his way up the street.

By the time he got back to the apartment, Nakiri was on a Skype call with her second-in-command at Auctoritas, her Madrid flagship restaurant. He couldn’t tell for the life of him when she had picked up Spanish, but the language flowed off her tongue so fluidly, so melodiously that he could just sit there and listen to her for hours.

To bad he was only given about three minutes before she ended the call and whirled on him. “Where the hell have you been?”

He shrugged. “Errands.”

“Just hire an assistant already,” she said, rolling her eyes and shifting her attention back to her computer screen. “It would save you so much time.”

“Maybe someday,” Souma replied, even though he knew he never would. There were a few Nakiri-isms that had grown on him over the years, like only flying business class or better and buying overpriced noise-cancelling headphones, but a personal assistant would be taking it entirely too far.

“Your loss.” Nakiri released a long sigh upon opening one of her emails.

“What’s up?” he asked her.

“Tanaka Chiyo, the current ninth seat of the Elite Ten, wants to know if you’ll come judge the Autumn Elections in October.”

Souma quickly glanced over the 13,000 unread messages accumulated in his gmail inbox. Erina glared at him, probably thinking back to their days on the Elite Ten Council. He had almost ruined about ten conferences because he never checked his messages.

“You would have gotten something from her three months ago,” she explained. “Doujima-san probably took pity on her soul and gave her my email address.” Then her face reddened a bit, the way it always did when she wanted to ask him for something. “Anyway, I know you don’t make plans this far in advance, and you have no taste, anyway, but-”

“You’re gonna be there, right?” he asked her.

“Well, of course. Alice and her parents probably won’t be able to come this year, and it’s always best when a member of the Nakiri family can make an appearance. Also, given my new position...” She trailed off, shrugged like she didn’t feel right calling herself the head of it yet.

Although I have tried to do my best for her, Erina has never known the love of a complete family. Not in the way Alice has.

“Then I’ll come.”

“What?” She placed her laptop down on the coffee table. “You know something’s probably going to come up.”

“And I’ll tell them I already have plans.” He said this as though it would be simple, although they both knew things like this were anything but. Still, he had never made a habit of breaking promises to her.

“But-”

“Nakiri, don’t make it complicated,” he told her, grinning. “I’ll be there.” And the smile on her face was more than worth whatever hell keeping such a promise would surely bring about.

“Oh.” Erina paused, tucking strands of blonde hair behind her left ear. She was clearly out of her element. “Well, then I guess I’ll tell Tanaka-san the news.”

I’m asking you not to waste her time, Yukihira Souma

As she typed away, a few clicks faster than she usually did, Souma recalled what started off his conversation with the demon lord of food. The old man had, in typical patriarch fashion, asked what his intentions really were with his granddaughter. And he had replied honestly, ‘Whatever she wants, gramps.’

The former headmaster had looked at him for a long while and then said that he would come to know what Erina truly wanted from him if he listened carefully, looked closely.

And it seemed like he finally found his answer.

#shokugeki no soma #sorina #soueri

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un-enfant-immature · 5 years

Text

Startups Weekly: Zoom, Superhuman and small reactions to big scandals

Hello and welcome back to Startups Weekly, a weekend newsletter that dives into the week’s noteworthy startups and venture capital news. Before I jump into today’s topic, let’s catch up a bit. Last week, I noted the big uptick in VC spending in 2019. Before that, I struggled to understand WeWork’s growth trajectory.

Remember, you can send me tips, suggestions and feedback to [email protected] or on Twitter @KateClarkTweets. If you don’t subscribe to Startups Weekly yet, do that here, now, please, thanks.

Anyways, onto today’s topic. Venture capitalist’s favorite company, Zoom, endured its first high-profile scandal this week.

After security researcher Jonathan Leitschuh published a Medium post detailing a major security vulnerability within Zoom’s technology platform, the company patched its Mac video conferencing client to remove a rogue web server that allowed any website to join a video call without permission. Users can now update their client or download the new version from Zoom’s website. Apple has also pushed a silent update for Mac users removing the vulnerable component, a move meant to protect users both past and present from the undocumented web server vulnerability without affecting or hindering the functionality of the Zoom app itself.

Zoom only made the call to remove the insecure web server after intense pushback. I’m not here to share my own opinions on Zoom’s security or lack thereof, what I’d like to point out is the company’s poor reaction to the PR nightmare. Yes, Zoom ultimately provided a fix, but initially, it failed to solve the underlying issue.

Zoom’s major hiccup comes shortly after users and onlookers attacked the exclusive email service Superhuman. Superhuman tracks email you send and receive and gives you tools to help manage it. They do this on your behalf, but without the permission of the recipient of your emails.

Superhuman was much faster than Zoom to offer an official response amid complaints. Just a couple of days after a blog post outlining security flaws within the service went viral, Superman announced it was going to remove location logging altogether, get rid of all existing location data, turn off read receipts by default and make them an opt-in feature for users. This is all nice and good and definitely shifted attention away from the key issue: Pixel-tracking (embedding the commonly used advertising tool of a “pixel” in emails to report back to senders info like whether an email’s been opened or not). Superhuman still has the exact same pixel-tracking capabilities, what’s changed is that users just need to turn on the feature.

It may be recency bias, but I cannot think of a worse response to a security issue than what we've seen with Zoom over the past few days https://t.co/qmTOc5XGr8

— Greg Otto (@gregotto) July 10, 2019

Startups and public companies alike will do what they can to maintain features that benefit their businesses and will go to great lengths to shift consumer attention away from key issues, even when that means putting their own users at risk.

Anyways…

TC Sessions: Mobility

We hosted our first-ever mobility-focused conference this week in San Jose. In what was an incredibly successful, thought-provoking event, industry leaders gathered to discuss the issues plaguing startups, the future of micromobility, the scooter wars and more. A whole lot of mobility news corresponded with the event, including…

The future of car ownership: Cars-as-a-service

Zoox’s self-driving car will provide a smooth ride via independent active suspension

Waymo has now driven 10B autonomous miles in simulation

Udelv partners with H-E-B on Texas autonomous grocery delivery pilot

Inside the GM factory where Cruise’s autonomous Bolt is made

Inrix expands its digital rule book beyond self-driving cars to help cities with scooters, bikes and delivery bots

Bird plans to hire 1,000 workers in Paris

Startup Capital

Who raised money this week?

Creditas, a Latin American fintech, landed $231M from SoftBank

Remitly secures $220M at unicorn valuation

OPay raises $50M to support mobile finance in Nigeria

Visa invests $40M in no-password crypto vault Anchorage

India’s NiYO ‘neo-bank’ raises $35M to help blue-collar workers access financial services

Glitch is bringing back remix culture to the web with $30M Series A

Anvyl, looking to help D2C brands manage their supply chains, nabs $9.3M

Dataform scores $2M to build an OS for data warehouses

New VC funds

Which VCs closed new funds this week?

Maniv Mobility closed its second fund on $100M. Kirsten Korosec has the details.

Former Sequoia Capital India partners raise $351M for maiden fund, called A91 Partners. Manish Singh has more.

YL Ventures has raised $120M for its fourth cybersecurity-focused fund. Connie Loizos has the full story.

And ICYMI, Lance Armstrong wants to raise $75M for his first-ever VC fund. Here’s my story.

Snap’s startups

After generally being the butt of the public market’s jokes since its IPO, Snap is having a killer 2019, with its stock price nearly tripling in value. The successes are perhaps giving the company a moment to pause and think more about generating future value. Part of that equation is certainly the company’s Yellow accelerator that aims to invest in pre-seed startups that bring mobile users to shared experiences. We covered Yellow’s inaugural batch back in September; now TechCrunch’s Lucas Matney has the full rundown on Snap’s second class of bets.

Bumble and Badoo’s bad week

Following an extensive report in Forbes about Bumble’s parent company and its billionaire founder Andrey Andreev, the female-first dating app’s founder Whitney Wolfe Herd issued a statement on Tuesday. While Wolfe Herd says she was “mortified by the allegations” and “saddened and sickened to hear that anyone, of any gender, would ever be made to feel marginalized or mistreated in any capacity at their workplace,” the exec also detailed that “Badoo is currently conducting an investigation into the allegations, as well as compiling documentation to expose the factual inaccuracies that exist within the article.” We’ve got Wolfe Herd and Forbes’ statement in full here, as well as more on Forbes’ explosive investigation.

Extra Crunch

First of all, if you still haven’t signed up for Extra Crunch, I’m not sure what you’re doing. For a low price, you can learn more about the startups and venture capital ecosystem with exclusive deep dives, newsletters, resources and recommendations and fundamental startup how-to guides. Here are some of this week’s top-performing posts.

Grasshopper’s Judith Irwin leaps into innovation banking

What CISO’s need to learn from WannaCry

#EquityPod

If you enjoy this newsletter, be sure to check out TechCrunch’s venture-focused podcast, Equity. In this week’s episode, available here, Equity co-host Alex Wilhelm dives deep into this year’s IPOs.

Extra Crunch subscribers can read a transcript of each week’s episode every Saturday. Read last week’s episode here and learn more about Extra Crunch here. Equity drops every Friday at 6:00 am PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Downcast and all the casts.

#TechCrunch

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ulyssesredux · 7 years

Text

Aeolous

SHORT BUT TO THE RAW.

-Wait. Kasich, Rubio and Cruz are all watching take place this year and thought she'd buy a view of life in, said with an ally's lunge of his many bosses, including to my people.

―Just arrived in Cleveland.

―Funny the way to run.

LinkedIn Workforce Report: January and February were the strongest consecutive months for hiring since August and September 11th help.

―No, Stephen said.

SPARTANS GNASH MOLARS.

If you can't run your own house you certainly can't run your own house you certainly can't run the White House. Justice Ginsburg with real judges and real legal opinions!

DEAR DIRTY DUBLIN BURGESS.

… May be pouring into this country, into an age remote from this country has the prophetic vision. -Lago in Palm Beach.

―Beat Crooked H! —Demise, Lenehan announced.

―Must find leaker now! Nothing ever happened with any of the spirit, not the stale news in the official gazette.

What a terrible and boring rollout that was a pressman for you, the largest numbers in the peerless panorama of Ireland's portfolio, unmatched, despite her statements were lies and her corrupt globalism. Want to get together and be proud!

Slipping his words deftly into the street, yelling: Well. Would be four more years of Obama or worse!

―CNN these days almost as little as they charge us!

―Mr Bloom halted behind the foreman's sallow face, shadowed by a lot teaching others.

―-Though—Paris, past and present, he said very softly. The turf, Lenehan said, did you see?

THOSE SLIGHTLY RAMBUNCTIOUS FEMALES.

—Come on, do they really have to lose with dignity.

―

—Wise virgins, professor MacHugh said. He stayed in his pocket pulling out the crushed typesheets. The editor laid a nervous hand on his topper. China has done in Senate? Just got back from Asheville, North Carolina. Decline, poor leadership skills and a bottle of double X for supper every Saturday. Do not worry, we will win!

―Thank you, the hatred is too deep. —Often—Terrible tragedy in Rathmines!

Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else! The system is rigged against him Lyin' Ted Cruz. Crooked Hillary Clinton. -What was he doing in Irishtown?

It is time to go to Russia, or Kavanagh I mean Seymour Bushe. And if not? J.J. O'Molloy shook his head firmly.

―Biggest story in a westend club.

―The Republican platform is most pro-TPP pro-2A citizens must organize and get wages up. Doing its level best to speak.

Dullthudding Guinness's barrels. -Remain true to self. Mr Bloom said with a wave graced echo and fall.

Any time he likes, tell him.

WILLIAM BRAYDEN, ESQUIRE, MAGISTRA ARTIUM.

―—Easy all, Myles Crawford crammed the sheets into a sidepocket.

The ghost walks, professor MacHugh said gruffly. Kyrie eleison!

-Lay on, towering high on high, to bathe our souls, as well as some of the press.

―

Steal upon larks.

―Lenehan began to check it silently.

—We can do it he must have put through his hands in protest. Love and laud him: me no more. Child, man, Mike Pence V.P. introduction tomorrow in order to fully focus on the bench long ago! -I will be speaking about our great law enforcement professionals of our country.

The State of Kentucky for their terrible behavior The Theater must always be a total disaster. Ignatius Gallaher used to dealing with the shears and whispered: History!

INTERVIEW WITH UNFEIGNED REGRET IT IS WE SEE THE GRANDEUR THAT WAS ROME.

As the next. -Knee, Lenehan said. Fake news! Our wonderful new Healthcare Bill is now out for squalls. People will be fun! Rub in August: good idea: horseshow month. That was the big election defeat and the media, in a short par. Look at here, Mr O'Madden Burke's sphinx face reriddled. Tell him go to Louisiana, and all of the law, order & safety-or chaos, crime and educational statistics. Fantastic people! And with a wave graced echo and fall.

SOPHIST WALLOPS HAUGHTY HELEN SQUARE ON PROBOSCIS.

My heart & prayers go out and vote Nebraska, we can do it, damn its soul.

How are you, the editor cried in his other hand. —Show. REPEAL AND REPLACE! —Previously—Why will you jews not accept our culture, our inner cities have been drawing very big is happening all over those walls with matches? Yours serfdom, awe and humbleness: ours thunder and the cat. Two Dublin vestals, Stephen said. Daughter working the machine in the official gazette. Both smiled over the dirty glass screen. Scam! Love and laud him: me no more. Bad people are looking good! Or like Mario, Mr O'Madden Burke, tall in copious grey of Donegal tweed, came in from the telepromter! They caught up on the very highest morale, Magennis. The professor, returning by way of life is after all. Sad! The door of Ruttledge's office creaked again. She is unfit to run-guilty as hell but the biased media-but we will all come together as ONE country again. -Well, he added to J.J. O'Molloy slapped the heavy pages over. I stood in his sleep. I'm Adam. It's finally happening-new poll numbers-and taken over during O term! The opening of Trump Turnberry in Scotland. These are the fat. He wants two keys at the royal university dinner. Crooked Hillary hates her! North Cork militia!

I'll tap him too. Now let us say. The great boxing promoter, Don, Eric and Tiffany, on the others scampered out of the Brussels attack, this time in Turkey, Switzerland, not a bad conference call where his members went wild against Rudy Giuliani and #2A-sad & irrelevant! Close in polls! Success for us is the house staircase.

―Ready to Make America Great Again!

Many reports that it will cost more than 7 months. Want a cool head.

'Tis the hour, methinks, when they know I will beat the Dems are to blame for the waxies Dargle. In mourning for Sallust, Mulligan says.

―Look at here, he said smiling grimly.

—The Rose of Castile.

―-Something for you while Hillary brings in more than the Irish tongue.

―Clinton. -I saw Elba.

―—Freeman! Looks as if they were in big trouble!

―That's copy. Much better for them and lit his cigar.

Why did you write it then?

Very smart, tough and vigilant? Red Murray said. X is Davy's publichouse, see?

INTERVIEW WITH UNFEIGNED REGRET IT!

A great day in New York, he said for years-disaster!

―Putting back his straw hat awry on his shoulder. You know the usual. Entertainments.

The pathetic new hit ad against me.

―Then the twelve brothers, Jacob's sons.

-Sided deal from the telepromter!

―Isn't that what you mean. She was forced to go BLANK themselves-was about China, NOT WOMEN! Can you do? Don't let them keep it!

Lenehan bowed to a Crooked Hillary is spending tremendous amounts of money goes to wonderful charities! -Come in. —Opera? Against the wall. Magennis.

We now have confirmation as to why they cancelled their big fireworks at the top of Nelson's pillar.

―Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we know little or nothing about.

What a dumb group!

Just got back from Asheville, North Carolina. -Just like her husband did with NAFTA. The hoarse Dublin United Tramway Company's timekeeper bawled them off: He spoke on the bench long ago, must prove she is Native American. Father, Son and Holy Ghost and Jakes M'Carthy. Want to get smart and very stupid use of e-mails were deleted by Crooked Hillary Clinton does not win. A child bit by a smile.

Demesne situate in the small of the sheet silently over the place doing interviews, but they always fell.

WHAT WADDLER ONE SAID.

―This morning the remains of the clanking he drew swiftly on the name. Noble words coming. Lenehan gave a loud cough. I could ask him. Cabled right away. A mighthavebeen.

Myles Crawford cried loudly over his shoulder.

―Melania for the fraudulent editing of her professional life! Has a good pair of boots on him. He closed his long lips. -Like that, he said smiling grimly.

-The father of scare journalism, Lenehan confirmed, and you'll catch him out of Washington.

―-She's done nothing about. Isn't this a big meeting on bringing back car production to State & U.S. He boycotted Bush 43 also because he thought it would have kept those jobs in America. He is sitting with a bite in it. Bad! Davy Stephens, minute in a landslide!

Better not teach him his own business. He said. We are now leading in many years.

―-From—Out of this with you. Crimea during the Obama Administration.

―Mr O'Madden Burke said melodiously. —Most pertinent question, the sophist. The vocal muse. … See it in your face. The opinion of this web massive increases of ObamaCare skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad trade deals & global special interests. That’s why ICE endorsed me. I am least racist person there is Heading to Pennsylvania for a man now at the debate to H. JOBS! Oho!

Under the porch of the cost of N.A.T.O.

―Ned Lambert, laughing, struck the newspaper aside, chuckling with delight. You pray to a hopeless groan.

-How are you, Dedalus? Any time he likes, tell him … —O yes, every time! Gone with the second tissue.

Another horrific attack, is the spirituality? Silly, isn't it? They put the breath of life, had spoken and the harsh voice asked: Wait. Irish arse, Myles Crawford said, going. Crooked Hillary called it totally wrong on BREXIT-she should be ashamed of herself for the corporation. Now if he didn't know only make it strong and great country. Innuendo of home rule.

-Hillary's debate answer on delay by V. Putin-I saw him he had prepared his speech. Our country is stagnant. Twentyeight double four. Bernie supporters. O yes, every time. So long as they do no worse. Shema Israel Adonai Elohenu.

I have always had a massive rally. —Lay on, Ned, Mr O'Madden Burke said. By no manner of means. How's that for high? Be careful Bernie, will manage them. I can get it! #InaugurationDay It all begins today! END!

-FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE CROWN.

With an accent on the e-mails-PAY-FOR-PLAY.

―Democrat Primaries are rigged just like we will prevail! Sllt. Child, man, bowed, spectacled, aproned. He cried.

The letter is not affordable-116% increases Arizona.

―Still seeking, he said smiling grimly. Where are those blasted keys?

―Alexander Keyes. Lenehan added.

―

Trump. The United States cannot continue to make the king an Austrian fieldmarshal now.

―With an accent on the counter and stepped off posthaste with a strong weakness.

―

―O dear!

Why will you? The telephone whirred inside. Evening Telegraph here, Mr Bloom said. Great State of Arizona. The all time! Are you hurt?

SOME COLUMN!

Was probably treated badly by the Democratic Convention. -Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, to the Telegraph. —If Bloom were here, Mr O'Madden Burke said. I will be taking over my Twitter account to my surprise, and his supporters. By the Nilebank the babemaries kneel, cradle of bulrushes: a man to atoms if they were going to beat a failed spy afraid of the sheet and made a mistake here, the lex talionis. Is Supreme Court. The Old Woman of Prince's street was there. They always build one door opposite another for the third profession qua profession but your Cork legs are running away with murder. See the wheeze?

Serious bias-big day. -Don't you forget that Crooked Hillary Clinton has bad judgement & insticts. He wore a loose white silk neckcloth and altogether he looked though he was very special, sir? He forget it, wait, Mr Crawford? Maximilian Karl O'Donnell, graf von Tirconnell in Ireland. Then, separately she stated, He said of him. If he doesn't have the endorsement of me by the Democrats—both with delegates & otherwise. I would love for her! —Well, he said. I will not be happier for him with quick grace, said: It is amusing to view the unpar one ar alleled embarra two ars is it? Look at the junior bar he used to have the meeting between Bill Clinton. Miles of it unreeled. Dominus! -Come along, the professor said. The world is in. He went in. -Bloom is at conflict with ridiculous lift ban decision? Well, you won’t answer the pay-for-play question. They watched the totally biased media-but we must be changed to additionally focus on running the country. He handed the sheet and made a sign to a new movement. Youth led by Experience visits Notoriety.

The pledge! The only quote that matters is not Native American in order to be repeated in the morning. He wants you for all it was that? Are we talking about the American people. I spoke with Mr Keyes just now. He died in his fight for the Gold cup? Ned. His unglazed linen collar appeared behind his ear, we can never beat Hillary!

LET US HOPE.

They see the U.S.Supreme Court get proper appointments. A sudden screech of laughter burst over professor MacHugh's unshaven blackspectacled face. J.J. O'Molloy pulled a long time perhaps. You take my breath away. X is Davy's publichouse in upper Leeson street.

The invention of email has proven to be a disaster! He was all their daddies! It passed statelily up the winding staircase, grunting as he stooped twice. You know Holohan? He does some literary work for the Express with Gabriel Conroy.

Yes? Mr Bloom, Mr O'Madden Burke said. Johnny, make room for your uncle. Scandal! In Texas now, finally, receiving plaudits! And he cited the Moses of Michelangelo in the spleen.

It was revealed to me. —Gumley? Don't you forget! Mr O'Madden Burke said. Today there were terror attacks in Turkey.

Better not.

SHORT BUT TO THE PEN.

―Akasic records of all that ever anywhere wherever was.

—Getonouthat, you can do that, Mr Crawford, he said again with new pleasure.

―-It was revealed to me that I raised/gave!

We should charge them SAME as they charge us!

―Well. They watched the knees, repeating: Taylor had come there, you must have put through his hands in protest. Goofy Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, as well as I can see them. Your governor is just a little later so the wall if they pay a little puff.

―—You can do him one.

-Take page four, advertisement for Bransome's coffee, let us say.

―—Yes, Evening Telegraph here … Hello? Sllt. —And here comes the sham squire himself!

―-Representative delegates because they know she is saying we need her to be on, Sandymount Green!

―I still number one-sided deal from the floor on sliding feet past the fireplace and to the professor said between his chews. -Goat.

Still seeking, he said again with another Clinton scandal, and in life, had he bowed his spirit before that arrogant admonition he would have won even bigger than expected.

Make America Great Again! All that long business about that, Mr Bloom, seeing the coast clear, made a mistake here, & when people make mistakes, Crooked Hillary, who shut down and go to D.C. on Jan 20th for the pressgang, J.J. O'Molloy opened his case again and offered it. Joe Miller. Were illegals. Getting the strong endorsement of me playing golf all day. Has a good idea? We will sternly refuse to partake of strong waters, will go to hell, the professor said. RIGGED! The closetmaker and the worst in American history, America’s 16,500 Border Patrol Agents thank you job. N.! Many reports that it will hurt Hillary? World's biggest balloon. Youth led by Experience visits Notoriety. No, Stephen answered blushing. Thumping.

―-Sided trade, jobs and companies lost.

―Shema Israel Adonai Elohenu. —Who?

―Thank you. A meek smile accompanied him as he rang off.

WHAT WETHERUP SAID.

―Thank you Cleveland. Thumping.

―Crazy Bernie, or Kavanagh I mean Seymour Bushe. They tell me he's round there in Dillon's.

―Yesterday was amazing yesterday!

―Would anyone wish that mouth for her! A sudden—Show.

O'Rourke, prince of Breffni.

―Your governor is just gone.

The troop of bare feet was heard rushing along the eight lines tramcars with motionless trolleys stood in ancient Egypt and that is.

―Thank you to Eli Lake of The Plums.

Lazy idle little schemer.

―Myles Crawford cried.

―People first.

―Maybe not! Sceptre with O.

―Better not.

―Is the boss …?

―Must be some. -Brayden.

Nearing the end of his wry smile.

There's a hurricane blowing. Lyin'Ted Cruz and Graham, Romney, Flake, Sass. —Just another terrible decision What is going on! I will be speaking about our very civil conversation that FAKE NEWS and everyone knows it! —Or again if we but climb the serried mountain peaks. Lord Salisbury?

―#BigLeagueTruth #Debate Bernie Sanders started off strong, but for the inner door.

―Alexander Keyes, you see?

―Vast numbers of jobs and companies lost. -Grattan and Flood and Demosthenes and Edmund Burke?

―While Mr Bloom said. Wife a good cook and washer. He were bitterer against others or against himself.

The rally inside was big and enthusiastic crowds, but it goes down like hot cake that stuff.

Our lovely land. Not one American flag and laughed at police Muhammad Ali is dead. If it were up to here. Ned Lambert sidled down from the window. Don't you forget! Airplane departed from Paris. Magennis thinks you must have put through his blackrimmed spectacles over the place. Double to wear them why trouble? He passed in through a sidedoor and along the warm dark stairs and passage, along the eight lines tramcars with motionless trolleys stood in ancient Egypt and into the world today. Look what is a good candidate? -I won-there was not at all of the inner office. Weathercocks. While Mr Bloom said simply. If Russia or any expenses. Pyatt! But we have just certified my wins in the Middle-East have been thankful for the corporation. Tourists, you remember? Dear Mr Editor, what? But listen to this, he comes, pale vampire, mouth to my son, Eric, did you see.

―How did NBC get an exclusive look into it well. Praying for the middle of the Irish tongue.

―Democrat Governor. Messenger took out his cigarettecase. Dare it.

―-I see it in for July, Mr Dedalus said, going.

―Feathered his nest well anyhow. I say, down there at Butt bridge. This is Nixon/Watergate. Love!

―The bell whirred again as he lifted the counterflap, as we continue to fill out the advertisement from the cross he had major lie, now losing Ford and many others.

THE PEN.

―Dem Gov. of MN. Bushe.

―Now he's got in trouble for far less money than others on the breeze a mocking kite, a longtime U.S. ally, is it?

―Stephen said. Glory be to God. -First my riddle! Madden up. Dwyane Wade's cousin was just given the debate to H.

Two Dublin vestals, Stephen said, taking the cutting from his waistcoat pocket and, lifting an elbow, began to paw the tissues on to rain.

Must be tough Reporting that Orlando killer shouted Allah hu Akbar! North Prince's street was there first.

―Irish volunteers. Mr O'Madden Burke.

LET US HOPE.

There it is visually important, as it were not for the wonderful reviews of my points. The Plums. -And poor Gumley is down for one another baldheaded in the House! Briefly, as well as I can see them. Hell of a racket they make. Living to spite them. He is selling out! Must find leaker now! Keep the big fellow shoved me, I think. He is sitting with a start. Would anyone wish that mouth for her poor performance in answering questions.

With the exception of cheating Bernie out of the forest. When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you see that some hawkers were up before the recorder?

―What's up?

―He say? I have raised for the mess.

―It sounds nobler than British or Brixton. Two old trickies, what is going on?

―Mr Dedalus said. Mr Garrett Deasy asked me to … —Well, Mr Bloom said, helping himself.

―The top of Nelson's pillar. I'll tell you. Lenehan said.

―Third hint. Ohio had the foot of Nelson's pillar.

He flung the pages down. Gross negligence by the dishonest and distorted media pushing Crooked hard.

―Going to be smart, we will prevail! How's that for high?

INTERVIEW WITH THE POINT.

―Bernie sanders has abandoned his supporters. The Plums. Noble words coming. Bernie.

―That is a complete and total disaster. Where are you now?

―Must be some. Thank you.

―Mr Garrett Deasy, Stephen said, entering.

Look how bad ObamaCare is imploding.

―Now let us say. France.

―Irish arse, Myles Crawford said. With a heart and hand. We are going very well.

―—Lay on, Macduff! Mr Bloom said. Think about it and never will be fun!

HELLO THERE, VERY.

All that long business about that brought us out of the general post office shoeblacks called and polished.

―Thank you.

The DNC about how to win anymore, it is-RADICAL ISLAM!

―I would be even worse TPP approved. I have a vision too, printer.

Lenehan added.

―Thank you New York World cabled for a big success. His finger leaped and struck point after point, vibrating.

―The right honourable Hedges Eyre Chatterton. France. Dare it. What is it?

―Congratulations to my people said about my inauguration, It will fall, Stephen answered blushing. Racing special!

—Just this ad of Keyes's.

―—Gentlemen, Stephen said, opening his long lips.

SPOT THE HIBERNIAN METROPOLIS.

Pop in a minute to phone.

―He laughed richly. Still seeking, he said. Success for us is the house do now adjourn? To which particular boosing shed?

The Electoral College & lost!

The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my press conference in Trump Tower in Manhattan with my presidency.

―Can you do? Will soon be history!

My fault, Mr Dedalus said, letting the pages down. Or like Mario, Mr Crawford, he said, flinging his cigarette aside, you see that some hawkers were up to here.

―Meryl Streep, one of the pundits be honest? That is fine, isn't it?

―It is not fit to be even worse. Maybe he understands what I.

-Twentyeight … No, that's the other story, beast with two backs?

―Her temperament is bad and destructive track record. That’s why ICE endorsed me.

Really sad that a person who has endorsed me, sir.

―Where's Monks?

―Stephen went on, professor MacHugh responded.

It was Pat Farrell shoved me, J.J. O'Molloy.

They shake out the advertisement from the top of Nelson's pillar.

―I ere I saw his real country.

―He did not say is that? Emperor's horses. It's the ads and side features sell a weekly, not her. We can do him one. Sufficient for the Presidency. Keyes, you bloody old pedagogue! Gee! —It wasn't Matt Lauer that hurt Hillary?

THE EDITOR.

—A perfect cretic! Crooked Hillary is spending tremendous amounts of money goes to wonderful charities!

―—That it be and hereby is resolutely resolved.

―Where's the archbishop's letter? Lenehan said to be built more quickly. He took a reel of dental floss from his pocket.

―#Trump2016 Can you?

Go for one another baldheaded in the park.

―Who has the prophetic vision.

―I'll tell you.

No wonder companies flee country! —Where is the death of the U.S. as a close. I tell him … —Thanks, old man, was their civilisation?

―—They're only in the latter half of the onehandled adulterer.

KYRIE ELEISON!

―Touch and go with him. Terrible tragedy in Rathmines! Hell of a harassed pedlar while gauging au the symmetry with a bit silly till you hear the next Secretary of Defense, was hacking, why did the White House.

You should focus on our shore he never saw his speech I do not believe for there was not even one shorthandwriter in the small hours of the economy! X is Davy's publichouse, see they don't run away.

―—And it turned out to be shut. Third hint. J.J. O'Molloy.

―George S this morning, Staten Island.

My statement on NATO being obsolete and must, win, all still, becalmed in short circuit.

―Number One or Skin-the-Goat, Mr Bloom halted behind the foreman's spare body, admiring a glossy crown. That's saint Augustine.

―Careless chap. Where are they? Lenehan said, raising two quiet claws.

WE ANNOUNCE THE RAW.

And yet he died without having entered the land of Egypt and that I couldn't handle the rough and tumble of a new opening.

―Gambling. —Ah, bloody nonsense. -And he thanks me! -My fault, Mr Bloom asked. The only people who have suffered massive and embarrassing losses, the professor said, falling back a bill for me, sir, Stephen said, letting the pages down.

With Hillary, we will soon be the least effective Senators in the Phoenix park, before you were born, I have a literature, a small fraction of that land addressed to the world.

―Rhymes: two men dressed the same breath. —How are you called: Ahem! Living to spite them.

―Broke record Have a great job-under budget! -Your support has been amazing. The Crooked Hillary knew the fix was in the national library. —Well, yes. Gee!

―They were nature's gentlemen, J.J. O'Molloy said, suffering his grip. —Drink!

It would be hypocritical to attend Bush's swearing-in-law of evidence, J.J. O'Molloy said, flinging his cigarette aside, you see. No policy, and always has been, she would lose!

―He said of it, let me see.

―—Agonising Christ, wouldn't it give you a man of the first machine jogged forward its flyboard with sllt the first batch of quirefolded papers. Are you there!

SPOT THE WINNER.

We met, HE IS A GREAT GUY! That's saint Augustine. Jackie Evancho's album sales have skyrocketed after announcing her Inauguration performance.

―The Press Conference yesterday.

Instead of working to fix it, he said again. The night she threw the soup in the hook and eye department, Myles Crawford said.

―I had been nibbling and, holding out a cigarettecase in murmuring meditation, but not anymore.

They tell me he's round there in Dillon's.

―Entertainments. You can do it. Vast numbers of jobs.

Professor MacHugh came from the floor on sliding feet past the fireplace to J.J. O'Molloy shook his head firmly. Silly, isn't it?

―Strange he never saw his real country.

―Myles Crawford said. I am somewhat surprised that Bernie Sanders. Made up, employment and jobs in the same, looking towards the steps.

Lyin'Ted Cruz over the fringe of his trousers.

―#MAGA Drugs are pouring into our country on trade, jobs and the United States Supreme Court. The telephone whirred. Very exciting! The big election defeat and the dog and the overarsing leafage.

HELLO THERE, ESQUIRE, FLO WANGLES—WHERE?

―A Pisgah Sight of Palestine or the no fly list, to Iran! So much for being right on radical Islamic terrorism? Stephen on the counter and stepped off posthaste with a reflective glance at his toecaps.

The right honourable Hedges Eyre Chatterton.

―TOTAL DISRESPECT The Crooked Hillary. Rows of cast steel. I speak the tongue of a finished orator, full of courteous haughtiness and pouring in chastened diction I will clinch before Cleveland and get her latest book, Secret Service Agent for President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to offer condolences on the same, print it over and up and back. —F to P is the nominee of one of the end result was solid! A sudden—Well. Tourists were locked down. Old Chatterton, the King, and beyond the obedient reels feeding in huge webs of paper. Steered by an incompetent judge!

―Big speech tomorrow to discuss the real message and never show crowd size or enthusiasm. —Rathgar and Terenure!

―We can do it, the professor said, and myself. The tissues rustled up in the U.S.

―Do not worry, we are transferring power from Washington, D.C.

―That's it, J.J. O'Molloy said quietly, turning. Pyatt! His gaze turned at once but slowly from J.J. O'Molloy's towards Stephen's face and walked abreast. —We can do it, Mr O'Madden Burke said.

―Are you ready? Let me say one thing.

A Hungarian it was that small act, trivial in itself, that eternal symbol of wisdom and of the dark, panting, one moment. He wants it changed.

―Too bad, one moment. -306!

―If I win the nomination-& should not have been saying. Mouth, south.

―The Rose of Castile. He began to scratch slowly in the transcendent translucent glow of our spirit. I think. Stephen turned in surprise.

He'd give the renewal.

―It is so dishonest. The Plums. And he wants just a little noise.

Lyin'Ted Cruz is mathematically out of their house of bondage Alleluia.

―Speaking about me? 2 MILLION.

… No, Stephen said.

―Look sharp and you'll catch him.

―Nile. Then here the name. Praying for everyone in Florida.

La tua pace che parlar ti piace mentreché il vento, come fa, si tace.

―He took a reel of dental floss from his pocket. I'm Adam. A disgraceful decision!

—Racing special!

HIS NATIVE DORIC.

―Stay tuned! Keyes, you know that story about chief baron Palles? We now have confirmation as to the Supreme Court.

―—It wasn't Matt Lauer that hurt Hillary last night. With a heart and a wonderful couple! Tim Kaine together. Wow, Twitter, pundits and otherwise for my campaign. She then said, is the only candidate who is dishonest, incompetent and of the intellect.

Tell him go to yours! —Start, Palmerston Park! No, twenty … Double four … Yes … Yes … Yes, Red Murray whispered.

―Crooked Hillary. —A perfect cretic!

―She is a way of the most polished periods I think I ever listened to in my thoughts and prayers for all Americans. She would be the winner. —Is the mouth south someway? Well, Mr Bloom said. Been walking in muck somewhere. Will be talking about the success or failure of a snowball in hell. After today, wants borders to be built more quickly. Evening Telegraph here, the professor said. We met, HE IS A GREAT GUY! Foot and mouth disease and no mistake! Where?

―Our tax, trade, healthcare and so badly they just don't understand the Movement Republicans must be smart & vigilant? Vestal virgins.

That is fine, isn't it?

―Third hint. I was there first.

―There it is about judgment. AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE.

RHYMES AND LIKEWISE-AND LIKEWISE-YET CAN DO IT!

―J.J. O'Molloy resumed, moulding his words deftly into the world today. -You remind me of Antisthenes, the professor and took one himself. —Who? Mr Bloom said, turning. They are in and guess what-we just picked up an additional 131 votes. Fat folds of neck, fat, neck. Next year in Jerusalem. Under the porch of the crowd was fantastic! I ever listened to and fro, seeking: I see. … No, Stephen said. If you want, it is in those works. —Racing special! Shapely bathers on golden strand. —Peaks, Ned Lambert pleaded.

EXIT BLOOM.

But listen to this, he should immediately apologize to me.

―… Double four … Yes … Yes. FAKE NEWS organizations were there but the Republican Primary? Horrific incident in FL is very pro-war pro-Israel of all time record! Do you know that Crooked Hillary Clinton is totally biased media will find a good cure for flatulence? Why they call him Lyin' Ted Cruz is weak and few are her arms. —Excuse me, for very beauty, of Horus and Ammon Ra. —Well. Only the crooked media makes everything up! —Do you think his face. Many of her doc. Lenehan said, taking out a hand. Longfelt want. —Just this ad of Keyes's. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg going to lunch, he said. The Great State of Texas!

They save up three and tenpence in a low voice.

―Tell him that none could tell if he wants just a club for people to start thinking rationally.

―Wrong, he comes, pale vampire, mouth to my season 1. Biggest story in politics. -Brayden. He wants four more years!

Kingdoms of this world.

LENEHAN'S LIMERICK.

Success for us is the spirituality? The real story is a general election. A sudden screech of laughter came from the inner door was pushed in. Looks as good as new now.

Thumping. —And Xenophon looked upon Marathon, Mr Nannetti considered the cutting awhile and nodded.

Gregor Grey made the design, Mr O'Madden Burke said.

―I could have said. Going to be. Call it, damn its soul.

—I am still running around wild.

―Against steelworkers and miners. I knew his wife too. Company.

―Ned Lambert went on. See his phiz then.

I put there.

―Noble words coming. On my way to run-guilty as hell. So on. Stay safe!

The highly neurotic Debbie Wasserman Schultz that they are very happy! Came over last night.

―I beg yours, he said very softly. Sllt. —Entrez, mes enfants!

—O yes, J.J. O'Molloy, smiling palely, took up his cutting.

#LESM Morning Joe's weakness is its prophet, professor MacHugh cried from the case.

―Right, Mr O'Madden Burke said. Will be going to tear it up.

―Now am I going to lunch, he said, about to smile he strode on jerkily. Top executives coming in at 9:00 A.M. today, a priesthood, an agelong history and a very nice congratulations. Mr Dedalus said, falling back a pace. They tell me he's round there in Dillon's.

VIRGILIAN, VERY.

―The CNMI Rep Caucus with 72.

―Sad! Vote Trump and end this madness!

―We gave them months of notice.

―Rows of cast steel.

―He walked jerkily into the inner office. Very much enjoyed my tour of the matinée.

―I beg yours, he said. Ned Lambert asked. Lazy idle little schemer.

Long, short and long.

―It has the ability to get into step. False lull. Touch and go with him tomorrow. Watched Saturday Night Live-unwatchable! Face glistering tallow under her fustian shawl.

LIFE ON PROBOSCIS.

Mr Crawford, he said, his hat.

―#CrookedHillary If I win! Look at the royal university dinner. Tell him go to Mexico today, home of my voters. He began: Lay on, towering high on high, to the Star and Garter. By Jesus, she has done it again.

SUPREME COURT, REMEMBER! They are in and guess what-we will build a case. -I beg yours, he said.

―Call it, damn its soul. I am in Colorado on Friday at 11am in Manhattan. Wow, just like Dem party! Pop in a minute to phone. My casting vote is: Mooney's! Look what's happening! The professor, returning by way of the invincibles, he said. The ghost walks, professor MacHugh said.

―—And now she didn't go to sleep?

Could you try your hand at it yourself?

―The door of Ruttledge's office creaked again.

THE RAW.

―That was the WORST abuser of woman in U.S. history! Do you know that story about chief baron Palles? He has that cabman's shelter, they would have won the Trump Rallies today. Mr Bloom, Mr Bloom said, about this ad, Mr Bloom said, helping himself. Really sad that a person who will uphold the US Constitution. I have been executed in large numbers of manufacturing jobs in the hall and down the steps. A.E. the mastermystic? Thank you for the wind. -And settle down on their sleeve like the spirit, not the stale news in the draught, floated softly in the year one thousand and. Arm in arm.

J.J. O'Molloy said in quiet mockery.

―Entertainments. Madden up. We must suspend immigration from regions linked with terrorism until a proven vetting method is in those works.

I know.

―Look at here. Exactly opposite! Reminds me of Antisthenes, the professor said, and around the world today. The failed ObamaCare disaster, with trembling thumb and ringfinger touching lightly the black rims, steadied them to meet with the rustling tissues. That's what life is after all. While I believe the people think.

―I just want to report that any money spent against me! That is oratory, the professor said, taking the cut square. -Will know soon! -In-Ossory. Passing out he whispered to J.J. O'Molloy murmured.

―The bloodiest old tartar God ever made. Better phone him up first.

―Hillary Clinton's open borders immigration policies will drive down wages for all Americans! Madden up.

That'll go in.

―Enjoy! Can you? What was he doing in Irishtown? The typed sheets, pointing backward with his fingers.

―ObamaCare is. -Just this ad, I am President, Russia will respect us far more important task! Bushe? Against the wall! Pop in a child's frock. And let our crooked smokes. Many are not looking tough! Have you the design? Noble words coming. -Ome thou dear one!

Don't believe the biased and unfair for the Republican bosses.

―He looked indecisively for a drink after that. Illegals out! You know Gerald Fitzgibbon.

Boeing and talk jobs!

-THAT'S WHAT?

―That it be and hereby is resolutely resolved.

―Politics! Iron nerves.

We will win on the sea.

―-Mails AFTER getting a subpoena from U.S. House is running VERY WELL. You don't say so?

Wonder is that? He was a lie from the case won, I have been prosecuted and should embrace them-without them the old block!

―Lenehan. A mighthavebeen. Jeb Bush and Jeb Bush, both hospitalized. So on.

―I feel a strong stance on Hoosier jobs, military, vets, end Common Core and ObamaCare, protect 2nd A, repeal Ocare, borders, police and law enforcement! -They went under. I escort a suppliant, Mr Bloom moved nimbly aside.

Then I'll get the plums out of hand: fermenting.

―Gone with the voters Biggest story in politics.

―Obama. My fault, Mr Bloom took up the gage.

SOME COLUMN!

―Inspiration of genius. Mary, Martha.

―I put up a Wisconsin ad talking about airplane capability and pricing.

So much time and money will be fun!

―No. Stop illegal immigration back into his waistcoat pocket and, with the earlier Mosaic code, the present lord justice of appeal, had spoken and the overarsing leafage. -& Paul Ryan, a straw hat.

—I am millions ahead of you marching—My fault, Mr Bloom asked.

―Dubliners. For Growth tried to extort $1,000 missing e-mail case and the walk.

―He was on the wrong states-no solutions, no damn nonsense. Next year in Jerusalem. To the African-Americans and Latinos to vote in six states. -When they have no path to victory, she's out! The old block! Mr Nannetti, he said. I don't want congrats, I still respect them all! Don't ask. Going to be VP that tell the truth. We gave them this report and why? Democrats, lead by head clown Chuck Schumer. Daughter engaged to that chap in the new movement. Lyin' Ted!

―They were nature's gentlemen, had spoken and the promised land.

―Reaping the whirlwind. Believe he does that job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Myles Crawford said.

―Let Gumley mind the stones, see? Hillary Clinton didn't go to Charlotte on Saturday to grandstand. I'd say.

―Myles Crawford cried loudly over his shoulder.

―Father, Son and Holy Ghost and Jakes M'Carthy.

Ohio steel and coal dying!

―Many people died this weekend at The Southern White House Mar-a total meltdown but the press when newspapers and others give zero support!

―It is meet to be our President. To be seen and heard. -That old pelters, the professor asked. They are in favour say ay, Lenehan said to Mr O'Madden Burke said greyly, but they know I will REPEAL AND REPLACE!

―He was in a negative light. Irish than the Irish. Neck. Things are going to be repeated in the year one thousand and. Looking forward to the landing. Nice! Bullockbefriending bard. Plain Jane, no jobs, military and EVERYTHING else, it is sad!

Lenehan lit their cigarettes as before and took his trophy, saying: Well, yes.

A bit nervy. Great State of Indiana is moving fast! -Hello?

WHAT WADDLER ONE SAID.

-Begone! He turned. He bowed his head. Mr Dedalus said, pushing through towards the ceiling. Wow, President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very highest morale, Magennis. Ned Lambert nodded.

You are a tribe of nomad herdsmen: we are all over the typed sheets, pointing backward with his speech.

He is sitting with Tim Healy, J.J. O'Molloy said, crossing his forefingers at the foot and mouth disease and no-one knew how to pronounce that voglio. Mr Bloom said with a bit in the past.

―Putting back his straw hat.

HIS NATIVE DORIC.

Lenehan said to all of the funeral probably.

―He went to the editor to be a commemoration postcard of Joe Brady or Number One or Skin-the-Goat. A bit nervy. Fitzharris. Tim Kaine, who has made so many mistakes-and the Saxon know not. That door too sllt creaking, asking to be a person who has made so many Obama Democrats voted for me. This whole narrative is a mess-just like with the G.Q. model photo post of Melania. He stayed in his toga and he kills the butcher and he was not true to self.

―—Very much so, I know him, Myles? Obama's brother, Malik, just stated that I heard his words: expectorated—Muchibus thankibus. —You know, from a sickbed. A circle. Stated today by Reverend Franklin Graham. -Come in. —Come along, Stephen answered blushing.

―What about that leader this evening?

―J.J. O'Molloy. Where are those blasted keys? An Obama pick. —Very much so, I will be campaigning in Connecticut. Entertainments.

―He stayed in his footsteps, brought to every new shore on which he set his foot on our country?

… —At—He'll get that advertisement, the professor said, raising two quiet claws.

―Yes … Yes, Evening Telegraph here, Mr Bloom said, about to follow Julian Assange-wrong. The finest display of oratory I ever listened to in my campaign, perhaps the most delegates and many of them. Every on-line polls, and it will sell many air conditioners! Crooked Hillary Clinton.

That's what I said! She is strong and doing a great future behind him, uncovered as he locked his desk drawer. Believe he does it.

―Professor MacHugh's unshaven blackspectacled face. -Opera?

SPARTANS GNASH MOLARS.

―-Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: Great was my admiration in listening to the files and stuck his finger on a point. -Bloom is at the top, DWS.

―

―-& Paul Ryan. —Did you?

-It is now! Against steelworkers and miners.

How can she run? I put there.

Their names are Anne Kearns has the prophetic vision.

Published by authority in the act, it all to end! Former President Vicente Fox, who is being badly criticized for a great job done!

Let today be devoted to Crooked Hillary Clinton.

―WP With all of the large rallies, plus speeches and intensity of the Lockheed Martin F-35 FighterJet or the hand of sculptor has wrought in marble of soultransfigured and of prophecy which, if aught that the meeting between Bill Clinton called it and let us all down in conflict all over the crossblind.

Only in the Republican National Convention until people started complaining-then a new movement.

―Psha! I lent him in Meagher's.

―Don't let the Schumer clowns out of Washington?

―O'Rourke, prince of Breffni. Long, short and long.

Nature notes. We cannot continue to make the weakening of the House and Senate. —Dan Dawson's land Mr Dedalus cried, waving the cigarettecase aside. Lenehan announced gladly: Will you tell him.

―Don't ask.

THE GRANDEUR THAT SOAP.

―This ad, Mr Crawford? -Yes, Red Murray said earnestly, a king's courier. A pen behind his ear, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Going to be sure of his trousers. IT WAS THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER He stayed in his arms the tables of the Trump U case but the system is totally confused. Praying for the racing special, sir, Stephen said. Hillary Clinton, perhaps they should share them with the second tissue.

Kasich & Marco Rubio. The south a mouth? -In-Ossory. They want to phone about an ad. Bus crash in Tennessee so sad & irrelevant!

―I've missed. This will prove to be home! People. Mr Bloom stood in his back pocket. He flung back pages of the millions of dollars for them and eat the plums out of control, and I extend our warmest greetings to those involved in today's horrible accident in NJ and MN this weekend in Vegas.

Yes … Yes, Telegraph … To where?

―—He wants it in your face. Yes, he's here still.

―I would like to thank everyone for the day off again to walk by Stephen's side.

―Yes. Let us build an altar to Jehovah. Just landed in New York Times—the most matches?

―—And Xenophon looked upon Marathon, Mr Bloom halted behind the foreman's sallow face, think he has vast experience at dealing successfully with all of the least trusted name in news if they did it for a fortune off of debt. That's saint Augustine. I will be raising taxes beyond belief!

He halted on sir John Gray's pavement island and peered aloft at Nelson through the gallery on to the debate questions from Donna Brazile, if he were bitterer against others or against himself.

The organized group of thugs burned Am flag!

―Where are you now? Politically correct fools, would not allow free speech and demeanor were absolutely incredible. He took a cigarette from the floor, grunting as he locked his desk drawer. The Crooked Hillary will never be lords of our spirit.

-Yes, Red Murray whispered. Or was it you shot the lord lieutenant of Finland between you? Today did todays cover story on NBC and ABC.

―-Professor Magennis was speaking to me that I wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! He would have been treated terribly by the Democrats would have won in a short while—I have money.

—I want new plants to be. One must be smart, Mr Bloom said simply. Aha!

-Good day.

―Was Obama too soft on Russia and the harsh voice asked from the floor, grunting, encouraging each other, afraid of being sued Totally made up lies! Messenger took out his handkerchief he took away the palm of beauty from Argive Helen and handed it to China in unprecedented act.

Lenehan and Mr O'Madden Burke said. Co-ome thou lost one, is it? Believe he does that job. Lyin’ Ted Cruz talks about the American People. He would have won even more easily The debates, especially the second and third, plus executives, will manage them.

―Kasich is more than 1237 delegates, it is, and beyond the obedient reels feeding in huge webs of paper. Professor MacHugh strode across the country.

THOSE SLIGHTLY RAMBUNCTIOUS FEMALES.

They're only in the primaries like Hillary Clinton is spending a fortune off of debt. Miles of ears of porches. A sofa in a landslide, I will never change.

―It will only get worse. J.J. O'Molloy resumed, moulding his words deftly into the U.S. are now, leaving soon for BIG rally in New Mexico were thugs and criminals. We are making up phony polls in the parlour. Is that Canada swindle case on today?

MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN!

A MOVEMENT LIKE NEVER BEFORE The dishonest media of incredible information provided by WikiLeaks.

―This ad, Mr Bloom turned and saw the foreman's spare body, admiring a glossy crown. Mr O'Madden Burke, following close, said quietly to Stephen: Incipient jigs. -Silence for my support during his primary I gave, he said: It is not mine. A newsboy cried in Mr Bloom's face, talking about the election.

Mr Bloom said simply. If the U.S. for long enough.

―That hectic flush spells finis for a moment, professor MacHugh said, turning. IT WAS THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER He stayed in his footsteps, brought to every new shore on which he set his foot on our country will be meeting at 9:00 A.M. to talk about the invincibles, murder in the wrong moves-Convention Center, Airport-and they knew it was, begad, Ned, Mr Bloom said slowly: I always do-trade, and so many jobs.

Hosts at Mullaghmast and Tara of the inner door.

A DAYFATHER.

The Apprentice except for fact that President Obama.

―Thank you for the pressgang, J.J. O'Molloy: Is the mouth south someway?

―The door of Ruttledge's office creaked again. -Righteous hypocrites.

Our old ancient ancestors, as at present advised, for years-why was DNC so careless?

―Wrong! Learn a lot of stuff he must have put through his blackrimmed spectacles over the world trembles at our name. General H.R. —Maybe her Native American heritage are on their sleeve like the Englishman who follows in his back pocket. —Lingering—I see the idea. Mr Patrick Dignam. Better not. He did not have liked them, enjoying a silence. Bit torn off.

Iron nerves.

―Our very weak border must change, the foreman said. -Where was that high.

―We need change! Lenehan lit their cigarettes in turn. You take my breath away. Ned Lambert's quizzing face, crested by a bellows!

―Small nines. —When Fitzgibbon's speech had ended John F Taylor rose to reply. Youth led by Experience visits Notoriety. Glory be to God. That's what I said that Debbie Wasserman Schultz was overrated. Hooked that nicely.

Steal upon larks.

―Thousands of American lives lost. Passing out he whispered to J.J. O'Molloy opened his case to Myles Crawford said. Just what I.

Goofy Elizabeth Warren, couldn’t care less about the disaster known as ObamaCare folds-not very presidential.

―Where was that?

―After the way she played him. Gregor Grey made the design I suppose it's worth a short par. Saving princes is a total waste of time. Red Murray said.

They come at you from all sides.

―Hello? In my speech. One of my father's, is ridiculous and will campaign tomorrow. Myles Crawford said. I know. Right outside the viceregal lodge.

Subleader for his death written this long time.

SHINDY IN WELLKNOWN RESTAURANT.

This was a speech made by John F Taylor rose to reply.

―Gulf Coast region. -We can be as big as yesterday!

It was Pat Farrell shoved me, sir, the editor said, going out.

―-Do you know that story about chief baron Palles? I say they have to change the playbook! —B is parkgate. The Kilkenny People. Our old ancient ancestors, as it were … —Eh? They broke the deal with the earlier Mosaic code, the professor broke in testily. Whole route, see.

K I would have had millions of votes more than $150,000 illegally deleted emails about her husband wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

―—Lingering—Bingbang, bangbang.

The idea, he said. Are you there!

Bill Kristol actually does get a special.

―Is President Obama trying to come up with e-mails.

―So on. REPEAL AND REPLACE! Will be there soon-the—And if not?

Heavy greasy smell there always is in those works.

―The Plums.

A DAYFATHER.

―It is only the people who love our country & its people-how did he forget it, J.J. O'Molloy slapped the heavy pages over.

―Crooked H? Cuprani too, wasn't he?

―Living to spite them.

—His grace phoned down twice this morning. Stephen said. Three weeks. #BigLeagueTruth The 2nd Amendment is under threat by Radical Islam. Based on the whose. She is unfit to be.

Fuit Ilium! She doesn't even look presidential! The vocal muse.

―Despite what you mean. Prayers and condolences to those involved in today's horrible accident in NJ and my deepest gratitude to all, have lived fifty and fiftythree years in not getting the Republican Convention was great Bernie Sanders is lying when he was responsible for NAFTA, worst deal in US history. He gave a sudden loud young laugh as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary did not give him the leg up. He can kiss my royal Irish arse, Myles? Highclass licensed premises.

―The moon, professor MacHugh responded.

SHORT BUT TO THE DAY.

―Just this ad, Mr O'Madden Burke said. By the Nilebank the babemaries kneel, cradle of bulrushes: a man of the nom the Dems was so bad or, as well as I decide on Cabinet and many millions more votes/hundreds more dels than Cruz-Lawsuit coming Why can't the pundits be honest? The cutting from his uplifted scarlet face, crested by a bellows! In the lexicon of youth … See it in the U.S.

New York. Countries charge U.S. companies taxes or tariffs while the U.S. has 69 treaties with other countries. -I have often thought since on looking back over that strange time that it was, of Roman justice as contrasted with the rustling tissues.

―F.A.B.P. Got that? It all begins today! Mr Bloom said. Crooked Hillary refuses to write about it, Stephen went on.

Lenehan announced.

-Racing special! He used to say who can never win over Bernie supporters that they will NEVER be able to solve the problems of poverty, crime and educational statistics.

―Stay strong Israel, January 20th.

Makes mission much harder to negotiate peace. Mr O'Madden Burke.

―If Michael Bloomberg, who let us say. Ned.

Time Magazine and Financial Times for naming me Person of the symmetry with a little par calling attention.

―Dullthudding Guinness's barrels. North Carolina.

―Stay safe! Hynes said.

―Hillary! He is sitting with a y of a racket they make.

The press is so dishonest.

―No wonder companies flee country! Is he a widower?

THE GRANDEUR THAT WAS ROME.

―Wife a good place I know him well—Come in. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! General Bobrikoff. We have all got to vote who are not looking smart, we can litigate her fraud! -I am millions of wonderful people of the stuff. We can do it he must ask for Federal help! In ferial tone he addressed J.J. O'Molloy said, taking the day off I see the roofs and argue about where the different churches are: Rathmines' blue dome, Adam and Eve's, saint Laurence O'Toole's. Lenehan gave a woman named Barbara Res does not know the usual. Decline, poor chap. Gallaher, that determined the whole bloody history. They see the roofs and argue about where the different churches are: Rathmines' blue dome, Adam and Eve's, saint Laurence O'Toole's. She is flying with him. Going to be a commemoration postcard of Joe Brady and the Dems have it Great rally in Cincinnati is ON.

―I have a literature, a small felt hat crowning his ringlets, passed out with a nod. Emperor's horses. -Up by women many already proven false and fictitious report that any money spent on me.

Maybe he understands what I said! I put there. -The idea, he comes, pale vampire, mouth to my events. You have but emerged from primitive conditions: we are not covered properly by the Patriots. -Come on, raised an outspanned hand to his chin. I will be caught! But what do you know that story about chief baron Palles? Jobs! We. —Yes, he is one of our country coming to peer over their shoulders. Grossbooted draymen rolled barrels dullthudding out of Washington? Why did you see.

―The door of Ruttledge's office whispered: ee: cree. Three months' renewal. —Ay, a straw hat awry on his knees, legs, boots vanish.

―Mr O'Madden Burke said greyly, but won't help with North Korea. But I old men, penitent, leadenfooted, underdarkneath the night: mouth south someway?

One must be expected of anyone standing on a point.

YOU BLAME THEM?

―Rhymes: two men dressed the same Kaine that took hundreds of thousands of jobs and companies lost. General and rest of them by the media, are protesting. The contrary no. -Mail scandal because she campaigned in the U.S. -Nulla bona, Jack. -That's new, Myles Crawford appeared on the same, two by two. Close on ninety they say.

He declaimed in song, pointing to the USA to MAKE AMERICA STRONG AGAIN! In ferial tone he addressed J.J. O'Molloy shook his head firmly.

―The spotlight has finally been put on the counter and stepped off posthaste with a bite in it.

―-Kaine is, Red Murray agreed. —You know the C markings on documents stood for.

SAD. THE HEART OF KEYES.

―All that are in the last presidential race, by sounds of words. -Gumley? —Yes, we will, and the brother-in-Ossory. All balls!

―Should have been released from Gitmo has killed thousands, unleashed ISIS & all others laughing! North Cork and Spanish officers! They shake out the soap I put there.

RHYMES AND REASONS.

―Dear, O dear! Where's Monks? The editor who, leaning against the wood as he rang off.

―Going to be stolen from us by other countries like Mexico.

―Tourists, you see. Right. —Freeman! In Ohio! Thinking of victims, and I made a speech made by Mrs. Obama about Crooked Hillary speak.

DIMINISHED DIGITS PROVE TOO TITILLATING FOR FRISKY FRUMPS.

―His slim hand with a rude gesture he thrust it back into our country. We welcome all voters who want a better place because of a harassed pedlar while gauging au the symmetry with a word: He's pretty well on, raised or recieved millions more votes than Donald Trump has taken advantage of the matinée.

Lenehan's yachting cap on the Independent. Countries charge U.S. companies taxes or tariffs while the U.S.

―Better phone him up first. A list celebrities are all over the country. Shining word!

SOPHIST WALLOPS HAUGHTY HELEN SQUARE ON THE CROWN. HOW A COLLISION ENSUES. O, NOBLE MARQUESS MENTIONED.

―Two bridegrooms laughing heartily at each other, afraid of the families and victims of the first chapter of Guinness's, were partial to the future of the race so that the media want to hear patiently and, lifting an elbow, began to paw the tissues on to the successful. -One knew how to pronounce that voglio. Parked in North Prince's street was there first. Enjoy the #SuperBowl and then all blows over.

Kyrios! #DrainTheSwamp on November 8th!

My first choice from start!

GENTLEMEN OF PEACE.

Anna Wintour came to my supporters will let Crooked Hillary has no sense of markets and such bad judgement and temperament cannot be allowed to win anymore, it is almost unanimous, I would like to thank everyone for your tremendous support. C is where murder took place.

SAD. SAD.

―No, twenty … Double four … Yes. —Peaks, Ned Lambert agreed. Heavy greasy smell there always is in those works.

A MAN MOSES. A GREAT GALLAHER.

―We cannot continue to push. -You pray to a typesetter neatly distributing type. In the lexicon of youth … See it in the State of Indiana.

―Verdict: 450 wins, 38 losses. He wore a loose white silk neckcloth and altogether he looked though he was caught by a bellows!

―MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

His name is Keyes.

―-And if not? What a great plan! Changing his drink, Mr Bloom said slowly: Incipient jigs.

DIMINISHED DIGITS PROVE TOO TITILLATING FOR HIM!

Crime is out of their mouths and spitting the plumstones slowly out between the railings.

―—Wait a moment.

Hosts at Mullaghmast and Tara of the large rallies, plus executives, will no longer.

ONLY ONCE MORE THAT WAS ROME. O, ESQUIRE, FLO WANGLES-THAT'S WHAT?

―Stephen and said: It is said of it after? Dominus!

―Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was.

#Ulysses (novel)#James Joyce #1922 #automatically generated text #Patrick Mooney #Aeolous #politics #American politics #presidential elections #21st century #Twitter #Donald Trump #2016 #2017

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miraculouspaon · 7 years

Text

A Wolf By The Ear

Chapter Four

AO3

Nathalie might have made it outside, if the mansion hadn’t been quite so enormous. Or she might have made it to another living soul, if it hadn’t been quite so abandoned. But as it was, she didn’t quite reach the front door before she felt a gloved hand close around her wrist, and saw the world around her drop away.

Nathalie had been expecting to be transported to the dimly lit lair Hawkmoth had originally taken her to, all those months ago, so the unexpected brightness of their true destination blinded her momentarily. Blinking, she wrenched her wrist out of Hawkmoth’s grasp without bothering to look back at him. “Why did you bring us to my apartment, of all places?” she asked.

“I thought we should discuss the matter privately.”

“Yes, I gathered,” Nathalie said impatiently. “Why here? Why not in the little lair where I’m to live out the remainder of my days?”

Hawkmoth sighed. “Don’t be hysterical.” Without turning around, Nathalie could sense him wince, just a little, at the sheer intensity of the rage this comment had produced in her. Without another word, Nathalie began storming towards the mirror in her hallway, the mirror she’d been forced to use ever since Hawkmoth had stolen the one in her bathroom. She pulled her blouse off as she went, and tossed it to the floor in her rush. She spun around as she reached the mirror and finally read the name on her back, the name that had given her so much trouble.

Gabriel Agreste

Nathalie had looked at that signature every day for the past five years. Hell, she’d stamped it on documents herself more days than not. It was in every catalogue, at the corner of every photo spread. It was one of the most recognizable signatures in the city.

Nathalie continued to face the mirror as Hawkmoth approached, but she met his gaze in the reflection. “Drop the transformation,” she said. He raised an eyebrow.

“Why?” he asked. “You know who I am.”

“Because I’d like very much to punch you in the face again,” she said calmly, “and I don’t need your superhuman reflexes getting in the way of that.”

Hawkmoth stared at her silently for a moment. “I don’t think I will,” he finally said. “The transformation temporarily heals injuries. As a civilian, I believe you may have broken my nose. It’s quite uncomfortable.”

“Good.” Nathalie finally tore her eyes away from the soulmark and turned to face Hawkmoth. “Well? What now? Do I at least get to say goodbye to my parents first? Or Adrien? No, I suppose you’re too paranoid to allow that, you’d think I was trying to convey a secret message. Which I would be, of course, but all the same-”

“I have no intention,” Hawkmoth interrupted, “of keeping you anywhere.”

Nathalie’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?” she asked, skeptical. “When, pray tell, did this change of heart come about?”

“Never. It was an empty threat from the start.”

“You-” Nathalie had difficulty forming her words coherently, “you-do you have any idea how terrified I’ve been? For months? And it was all for nothing?”

“It was not for nothing,” Hawkmoth replied. “Our relationship would not have been at all possible without it. I found it to be a very convenient fear.”

“Until it broke your nose,” Nathalie snapped. Hawkmoth considered this, then nodded, conceding the point.

“Yes,” he agreed. “Until then.”

Sighing, Nathalie headed for her kitchen, brushing impatiently past Hawkmoth as she did so, and immediately began to pour herself a glass of wine. She downed the glass in a matter of seconds and immediately began to pour herself another. “Oh, how rude of me,” she said sarcastically, “did you want one as well?”

“It’s eight in the morning.”

Nathalie scoffed. “Yes, if it wasn’t for this I’d be the picture of mental health.” She finished off her second glass before continuing to speak. “So if we’re not here to discuss my captivity, what do you want to talk about?”

“I… thought you might require some kind of explanation. In order to be prevented from going to the police and-”

“The police?” Nathalie let out a humorless laugh. “I could have gone to the police months ago, and I haven’t done it yet. Why on earth would you being Gabriel Agreste make me more likely to approach them? As though I wouldn’t have to deal with enough suspicion already, being your soulmate. Being your personal assistant on top of that? Everyone in this city would be one hundred percent convinced I was your willing accomplice in it all. No, thank you.”

Hawkmoth looked as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “So… that’s it? You don’t require anything at all for your silence?”

“Not a damn thing.” She paused. “Although I’ll take that explanation you just offered, I suppose.”

“If it’s not necessary, I’d rather not-” Nathalie cut him off with a glare, and Hawkmoth sighed in defeat. “Very well. When Evelyn left-”

Nathalie groaned. “Do not tell me everything you’ve done has been to get that woman back.”

“Not for myself,” Hawkmoth said defensively. “For Adrien.”

Nathalie stared at her soulmate for a moment, dumbfounded. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and deadly. “When Adrien inevitably finds out that you are Hawkmoth,” she said slowly, “don’t you dare tell him that, do you understand me? That boy has enough to deal with, he doesn’t need you putting that kind of guilt on his shoulders.”

“Adrien will not find out,” Hawkmoth began, and Nathalie snorted, “and I don’t see why he should feel guilty-”

“Neither do I,” Nathalie interrupted, “but if you knew anything about him at all you’d know he’d feel it all the same, whether it makes sense or not.”

Hawkmoth raised an eyebrow. “It has clearly not escaped your notice,” he said, “that as a father, I am… lacking. I am not equipped to give that boy what he needs. I am, however, equipped to get back the woman who can.”

“Let me get this straight,” Nathalie said. “You’re doing all this because you think it’s the easiest way to be a good father?”

“It is the only way,” Hawkmoth replied. “I’ve tried the police, I’ve tried private investigators. Everything else has failed. Evelyn had access to a world of magic you can only begin to imagine, she will not be found by less extreme measures.” Hawkmoth noticed the look of incredulity that Nathalie was giving him. “What? You have a better idea?”

“Yes,” she said slowly. “Yes, I do. Instead of a year of magical terrorism, why not try… oh, I don’t know… going to a fucking fencing tournament once in awhile? Or a piano recital, or a parent-teacher conference, or, God, anything? Just show up for your son, Gabriel!”

“I wouldn’t know what to say. I wouldn’t know what to do. Evelyn was the one who-”

“Say nothing, look uncomfortable, unwittingly insult half the people there, leave early. I promise you, the bar is now that low.” Nathalie groaned. “I can’t believe I didn’t figure this out earlier. Of course, of course the two biggest human disasters in Paris are the same person. It’s so obvious now.”

“I-”

“I think you’d better leave this apartment,” Nathalie said, cutting him off impatiently. “Now.”

Hawkmoth looked as though he wanted to protest, but after a moment he simply sighed and vanished.

~~~

Nathalie showed up at work the next day, because she couldn’t think of anything else to do. She did get more than a little satisfaction at seeing the look of shock on Gabriel’s face, at least. The bandage over his still broken nose helped, too.

“Nathalie!” Gabriel said, shocked, jumping up from his desk when she entered the next morning as though nothing were different. “You-I didn’t expect-”

“I am a professional, sir,” Nathalie interrupted, injecting only the slightest bit of sarcasm into the honorific. “I assure you, should I decide to stop working for you, you will receive more than adequate notice, and I will be sure to train up any replacement you hire before departing.”

“I see.” He sat back down. “And… are you… that is, is this your notice that-”

“Not yet. I haven’t quite decided yet, what it is I’d like my life to look like now, after everything.” She picked up her tablet. “In the meantime, you have a call scheduled for nine-thirty.”

~~~

A week later, Nathalie had just packed up for the day and was putting on her coat when Gabriel appeared at the door of the office. He’d been avoiding her as much as possible-which, admittedly, was not much considering how closely they were required to work together-and Nathalie had not expected to see him before leaving. “Yes?”

Gabriel took a deep breath, as though to brace himself, and then walked decisively over to Nathalie. He pulled out a small black box and placed it on the desk next to her. “Here,” he said.

Nathalie stared at the box for a moment, then looked at her boss. “If that’s an engagement ring,” she said, “then your grasp on reality is far, far weaker than I’d previously estimated. And that, I assure you, would be quite the feat.”

Gabriel scowled. “It is not-just open it.”

Nathalie picked up the box, opened it, and stared at its contents for a good minute. “Is this what I think it is?” she finally asked in a whisper.

“It is.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do with it?”

“Whatever you like. Use it to become a hero. Use it to become a villain. Throw it into the deepest part of the ocean, sell it to the highest bidder, return it to its rightful Guardian. It makes absolutely no difference to me whatsoever.” He took a breath. “It is clear,” he said, “that your recent bout of indecision is due in part to what I must confess is a very healthy, rational fear of my abilities so long as I possess that thing. I thought I’d make your decision easier by removing that part of the equation.”

Nathalie continued to stare at the Miraculous. “It’s that easy for you to give up this power? It scares me, so it’s gone? It scared me from the start, you know.”

“I do. At the start it was possible to have both you and it, so I did. And it is not, as you suggest, easy to give it up now. But it is clear that both is no longer an option. I’d rather have you.”

“You won’t get this back if I decide to leave. You might wind up with neither.”

Gabriel shrugged. “I’m taking a calculated risk. I believe it to be an intelligent one. Goodnight, Nathalie.” Without waiting for her response, Gabriel left the office. Nathalie stared at the spot where he’d been for a moment, and then looked back at the Miraculous. She knew she should get it out of the house as quickly as possible. That she should hide it, get it away from Gabriel Agreste before had a change of heart and tried to get it back. But instead, after a few more moments of deliberation, Nathalie snapped the box shut and dropped it unceremoniously in her purse before leaving it behind in the office.

She caught up to Gabriel just as he was reaching the door of his bedroom. He turned towards her, surprised, as the sound of her heels echoed down the hall, but before he could say anything she'd reached him, pushed him through the doorway, and followed after.

“Just to be clear,” Nathalie said, shutting the door firmly behind her, “I still haven't made up my mind. You put me through a very particular kind of hell, Gabriel Agreste, and I'm not the forgiving type.”

Gabriel nodded. “I understand that.”

“Good.” Closing the distance between them in a few steps, Nathalie grabbed Gabriel’s tie and pulled him into a kiss. It took him a moment to recover from his shock, but then he was kissing her back. Her hand still firmly grasping his tie, Nathalie pulled away before biting his earlobe.

“Why…” Gabriel couldn't seem to finish the question, but Nathalie understood immediately.

“Because,” she whispered into his ear, “before I close the door on this, before I banish you from my life forever, for once we are going to do this with the goddamn lights on.”

~~~

Nathalie took a moment to brace herself before knocking on the door at the address she’d been given. When the door finally opened, she had to drop her gaze half a meter to meet the man’s eyes.

“Yes?”

“Here.” Nathalie shoved the box in his face. “I was told this belonged with you.” She turned around and began to quickly walk away. A few steps later she heard a sharp intake of breath.

“Miss! Miss!” Sighing, Nathalie turned around. “Where… how did you…” The man took a moment to recover from his shock. “Please, come in. I’ll make tea. We should discuss this.”

Nathalie opened her mouth to reject the man’s invitation, but something in his eyes stopped her. She was overwhelmed, suddenly, with a desperate need to talk to someone who knew something, anything, who might be able to give her some kind of answers. “All right.”

Ten minutes later, Nathalie was comfortably seated at a kitchen table, her fingers wrapped around a mug, taking in its warmth. The man, who’d introduced himself simply as Fu, sat across from her.

“Would you mind telling me how you acquired this?” he asked.

“It’s a long story,” Nathalie replied.

“I have time.”

Nathalie took a sip of tea. “It’s a personal story,” she amended.

“I see.” Fu glanced at the box. “Did Hawkmoth surrender it willingly to you?”

“He did. He gave me this address as well.”

“Really?” Fu frowned. “Who is he?” Nathalie raised an eyebrow. “Forgive me, I wasn’t planning to ask, it’s just-I lost this Miraculous over a hundred years ago. I spent many decades trying to recover it, and I failed. It is something of a mystery, how it wound up in the hands of a man who knows my address, a man who would use it to terrorize Paris for a year before abruptly returning it to my keeping.” Nathalie hesitated. “I won’t expose him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s Gabriel Agreste.”

“Ah,” Fu said slowly, understanding dawning. “Of course. Evelyn’s husband. That explains quite a bit.”

Nathalie blinked. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard him identified in that way. Usually it was the other way around.”

“Evelyn was quite remarkable,” Fu said, “but few people knew it.”

“You knew her?”

“My last protégée. The one mistake I ever made. She had everything necessary to become a great Miraculous wielder, but I didn’t realize until it was too late that it wouldn’t be enough for her.”

Nathalie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Nothing was ever enough for that woman,” she muttered. Fu nodded.

“Yes,” he agreed, “I’m afraid that’s so.” He looked again at the box. “So Evelyn’s husband learned enough from her to track down the Butterfly Miraculous,” he said slowly, piecing everything together, “and I suppose he thought to use it to gain the major Miraculouses, to find her and bring her back. But now,” Fu looked back at Nathalie, “he has you instead?”

Nathalie tapped her fingernails against the mug. “I don’t know,” she finally said.

“I see.” Fu considered this silently. “Well, either way, you have done Paris a great service. I hope you are proud of that.”

Nathalie shrugged. “It’s over, that’s all I care about. Was there anything else you wanted to know?”

Fu shook his head. “No, I believe you have answered all my questions. You?”

Again Nathalie hesitated. “You… you’ve been alive for a long time, I suppose? You said you lost that thing over a hundred years ago.”

“I did. And I was eighty-seven at the time.”

“Right. Well… in that time… what have you learned about soulmarks?”

Fu’s eyes widened. “I see,” he said. “My goodness. That must be quite difficult for you.”

Nathalie’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “I’ll live,” she said. “Do you know anything about them? Why they show up when they do, or… or anything? Because a part of me would like nothing more than to believe the universe simply wanted to stop a villain, that it had nothing to do with me, really. Do you think that’s likely?”

“I’m afraid I don’t,” Fu replied. “I have seen many soulmarks. It’s true that, occasionally, their appearance has some significant external consequences. But all the same, they are always personal.” He paused. “Nobody really knows anything about them, of course,” he said. “Not even me. We all have our theories. Perhaps mine are closer to the truth than others. I’ll share them with you and let you decide for yourself.” He took a breath. “In my experience, the marks do not necessarily correspond with the best matches. The happiest, easiest relationships I have ever observed were not soulmarked. No. In my experience, the marks tend to reveal themselves to people who need, shall we say, an extra little push towards happiness. What people do in response to that push is, of course, still up to them.”

Nathalie scoffed. “I don’t like being pushed,” she said. “And whatever this damn thing was pushing me towards, I’m not sure I’d call it happiness.”

“Well,” Fu took a sip of tea, “perhaps it could be. It is your decision.”

~~~

Nathalie had the next day off, so Gabriel was surprised when she appeared at the door of his office that evening, still wearing her coat and scarf, her cheeks red from the cold night air. Slowly he put his pen down. “Have you made a decision?” he asked. Nathalie just barely caught the note of hope catching in his throat.

Nathalie began to remove her scarf. “I have,” she said. Instead of saying anything more, though, she slowly began unbuttoning her coat.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense, Miss Sancoeur, I don’t know that I-” This time, as Gabriel caught sight of Nathalie’s red blouse, the catch in his throat was all too easy to hear. Nathalie made sure to turn her back to Gabriel, her soulmark clearly visible, as she carefully placed her coat on the small sofa before she faced him. “That… I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you wear such a thing, Miss Sancoeur.”

“Oh, I bought it earlier today,” Nathalie informed him, walking up to his desk. “Do you like it? It’s not really me, is it?”

Gabriel cleared his throat. “You and it are, I would say, a dangerous combination.”

Nathalie smiled. “A dangerous combination. I believe I’ve been a half of one of those before.”

Gabriel stood and quickly came around to the other side of the desk. “Please, Nathalie,” he said softly, “tell me what you’ve decided. Are you quitting or not?”

“Of course I’m quitting,” Nathalie said, and Gabriel’s face fell ever so slightly. “I can’t keep working for you. It would be an HR nightmare.”

Gabriel furrowed his brow. “Do you mean to say-”

“I mean to say,” Nathalie interrupted, “that… well, I’ve been doing some thinking, and perhaps stubbornly ignoring a mark is just as much a way of letting it control my life as blindly accepting it would be.”

“I see.”

“I won’t promise you forever.”

Gabriel reached for her, put a hand on her shoulder and caressed it with his thumb. “I would never dream of asking it of you.”

Nathalie nodded slowly, then looked up into her soulmate’s eyes, one eyebrow raised. “You’re a disaster without me,” she said. “If I left you now, everything would be on fire in a week.”

Gabriel smiled softly. “You’re probably right.”

Nathalie took a step closer. “If I’m being perfectly honest,” she said, “I don’t think we’ve been particularly good for each other, these past few months. But I think we could be, maybe. I’d like to find out, anyway.”

Gabriel nodded, then slowly moved his hand from Nathalie’s shoulder to the nape of her neck. She went up on her toes, placing her hands on Gabriel’s shoulders for balance as he pulled her up, and she kissed him.

Nathalie Sancoeur had never wanted a soulmate. She’d never wanted a crazy romance, she’d never wanted to save a city, redeem a villain. She was a wholly practical woman who’d long ago banished unpractical desires. But part of being practical meant seizing opportunity when it was handed to her, even if was just an opportunity for her own personal happiness.

Right now, Nathalie Sancoeur was happy.

#a wolf by the ear #hawknath #nathalie sancoeur #gabenath #gabriel agreste #hawkmoth #happy early valentine's day

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silent123456 · 10 months

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Silent Conference in Paris

Paris is a global commercial and business hub, home to numerous multinational corporations and the Euronext Paris stock exchange. Its location, history, and infrastructure contribute to its status as a centre for trade and finance. The city's history dating back to the Roman Empire has created a strong business environment with a well-developed legal and financial system, making it a vital centre for global markets. The city's strategic location in Western Europe and its rich history make it an attractive destination for businesses seeking global expansion.

Silent Conferences in Paris are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, a number of organisations are now offering silent conference services in the city. These organisations can provide the headphones, equipment, and staff needed to run a successful silent conference.

#Silent Conference in Paris #Silent Conference System In Paris #silent conference equipment in Paris #Silent Conference Equipment Hire

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sleepy-ki-blog · 6 years

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Final Submission

Storyboards

Storyboards are a series of images usually composed from a script to tell a story in order, in a visual way. It is part of the pre-production stage of any visual media – be it games, films, animations, comics etc. – and is a helpful guide to discovering issues with composition in shot angles, timing, and dialogue. This essay will cover the history of the development of storyboards, reasons why it is a necessary component in pre-production, what they do and how they help in this, and how producers may use them differently to most.

Dating back to the silent film era, Marie-Georges-Jean Méliès is known to be one of the first filmmakers to use storyboards in pre-production for planning out his effects (Gress, Jon, 2015). He worked with special effects and used the method to visualize them beforehand. Many large companies in the silent film industry used them too, but due to a reduction in studio archives in the 1970’s and 1980’s, this material has been lost. The storyboard we now know and use today was developed in the 1930’s by Walt Disney studios (Whitehead, Mark, 2004), they brought about the form and function and order of the sequence and description. Diane Disney Miller wrote a biography of her father, The Story of Walt Disney, (Henry Holt, 1956) in which she explains that the first completed storyboards in the modern style were created for the Disney short, Three Little Pigs (1933). Before Disney developed the storyboard, they were dubbed as ‘story sketches’, created in the 1920’s to visualize concepts for animated cartoon shorts such as Plane Crazy and Steamboat Willie (Canemaker, John 1999). Christopher Finch in The Art of Walt Disney (Abrams, 1974), mentions that Webb Smith was credited by Disney with creating the idea of drawing scenes on separate pieces of paper and pinning them up onto a board, thus telling a story in sequence; creating the first modern storyboard. Studios caught on to this method of pre-production, and the second studio to utilize the storyboard over ‘story sketches' was Walter Lantz Productions in 1935. Harman- Ising and Leon Schlesinger Productions followed this example by 1936. And by either 1937 or 1938, all American animation studios were using them. 1939 saw one of the first live action films to be completely storyboarded, Gone with the Wind. David O. Selznick was the producer of the film and hired William Cameron Menzies to design every shot of the film as the production designer. This then lead to a boom in the use of storyboarding for live action films in the early 1940’s and it soon became the norm. They are now an essential part of pre-production.

Essential because of what they do, and what they allow. Storyboards are usually used after the script has been written, they are there as a means to plan out the visual aspect of a film/animation/game/etc, in a sketchy enough way that it is still comprehensible – detail isn't required too much as storyboards are there to plan camera angles, timing, and movement, style and appeal isn't really important at this stage; animatics are more often than not, much nicer to look at. A storyboard allows the producer to work out the kinks in the timing of scenes, to see how it would look and work on screen regarding characters movements (is the pacing right? Does the camera angle capture this motion correctly, would the audience be able to see their expression, or would it be better if the camera was positioned elsewhere to catch something in the background?) Timings regarding scenes, how long shots should last, how transitions would work, if it matches with the tempo of the dialogue. It also looks at pacing with the dialogue, matching it correctly so it doesn’t feel too mechanical, and instead, smooths in with the visual aspect so everything works together well; that punch lines would land. This whole planning stage with storyboards allows producers to see if anything needs to be changed, rearranged or scrapped and rewritten early enough in production that it shouldn’t affect anything other than (at most) the script. Previously mentioned was the fact that storyboards are usually sketchy, but for animations, sometimes they can be drawn in the style of the final animation. This is because 2D or 3D animations can be stylized and therefore, some things that might look good with real actors, may flop or not look as appealing when drawn out. Animation allows for more exaggeration, movements and characters can be styled to an appealing silhouette and these things would only work from specific camera angles. An example being the famous eyes bulging out (a good example is in Who Framed Roger Rabbit) which is only ever done on a three-quarter to side view. Doing it facing the camera never really works and the whole ‘bulging out’ effect of the eyes couldn’t be seen by an audience, so, a storyboard would allow for this experimentalism in camera angles, to see which way something like this would look best. Storyboards make way for experimenting with all aspects of the visual side, as well as tweaking timing for the dialogue and Foley work.

Despite this idea of doing them after the script, some producers are unconventional in their methods. Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter, animator, author, and manga artist who works for Studio Ghibli. He tackles animation differently to most producers; using the storyboard to build the narrative (drawing it first) and creating a script around it. In a press conference in Paris in late December 2001, Miyazaki was asked "Is it true that all your films are made without a script?" to which he responded with "That's true. I don't have the story finished and ready when we start work on a film. I usually don't have the time. So the story develops when I start drawing storyboards. The production starts very soon thereafter, while the storyboards are still developing.” He mentions how it’s a “dangerous way to make an animation film" but that's how he works best as a producer, and so the rest of the teamwork that way alongside him. What is taken from this is that the method is unorthodox and can cause issues along the line if the schedule isn’t kept on track during production. Storyboards take longer to create than writing a script, and editing them if they don’t work (especially because he works completely on paper) can eat up a good chunk of production time, meaning falling behind can happen quite easily. And nothing else can get done until that section of the storyboard is complete; a setback in creation can essentially cause a halt to production, causing not only time, but money loss too. Storyboards are still important in pre-production, regardless of where they are in the process though. The method Miyazaki uses may be ‘dangerous’ but it does have some good qualities and outcomes to it too. It utilizes the unique way storyboards create visual development, allowing the scenes to essentially write themselves without audible aid. It’s proof that animations can be created without dialogue and still be comprehensible, a script being written around the storyboard, means the visuals tell the tale rather than the words. It produces a means for full flexibility in the animation, means the camera angles, the movements, the timing, all get worked out first and smoothed out properly before they even touch on dialogue. The drawings set the pace of the whole movie, he’s mention in the same interview that in Spirited Away he had originally envisioned 1200 shots, but as he drew it out and paced it accordingly, it ended up being 1415. This goes to show how a storyboard can properly time a story out and allow for a piece to flow according to its own story. Dialogue fits in around the pauses and the moments. Every scene is pivotal because it is drawn out as such, and from experiencing the films, the pacing is smooth and doesn’t ever feel rushed.

To conclude, storyboards are a key part of pre-production, they are diverse and can be adapted to fit how a producer works. They come in forms ranging from stick-figures to detailed drawings, on paper or digitized. They time the production, help catch mistakes early on in the process, they are the fundamental base of any visual production, sometimes writing it before the script does.

Storyboards are versatile and important and necessary. You can’t make an animation without one. Freelance animators use them. Larger conglomerate businesses can have a multitude of storyboard artists. Others (like Miyazaki) have a skeleton team of around 30 or so. They are necessary and a good skill to have in the industry; there’s usually not enough.

Storyboards are utilized to check for risks, to make sure the production in smooth and paces well, that punch lines hit, and backgrounds and characters are seen from the best angles possible. They allow for mistakes to be made, changed to be done and sometimes even scripts to be rewritten. A production without a storyboard would flop, it would have no proper planning and the timings would be off because there would be no room for trial and error.

#animation context

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blondellmatthes-blog · 7 years

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Markets Silent Ahead Of Trump Speech.

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sarahelisabethlittle · 7 years

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Resume!

SARAH ELISABETH LITTLE

Pasadena, CA 91104

(818) 203-4973

[email protected]

www.sarahelisabethlittle.tumblr.com

www.imdb.com/name/nm3823132/

EDUCATION

Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91106

Engineering Design Technology (Architectural/Engineering/Construction)

Occupational Certificate of Completion – May 2013

Building Construction Inspection

Occupational Certificate of Achievement – December 2015

Coursework includes: Architectural Design Fundamentals, Intro to Architecture, Visual Communications, Engineering Graphics, Construction Drawing Practices, Architectural/Engineering/Construction Modeling, Building Construction Codes and Standards, Materials and Processes of Construction: Sub Grade to Floor Framing, Inspection of Architectural Details, Print Reading for Construction, Materials and Processes of Construction: Floor through Roof Framing, Electrical Inspection and Codes, Grading Inspection, Housing and Zoning Codes, Plumbing Inspection, Mechanical Inspection

SUMMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

Self-Employed Theater/Film/TV Production (August 1996 - Present)

Serve as contract production designer, art director, and other art department roles for the production of television shows, commercials, music videos, and short and feature films, as well as theatrical stage productions. Some responsibilities include design and construction of sets, scenic painting, dressing and props making/managing, furniture construction, lighting, and costume design and construction. Also responsible for hiring and managing the art department crew on set. Applied knowledge of construction practices, methods and materials, and ability to read and interpret construction drawings to the design and construction of innovative, modular and mobile set pieces.

Self-Employed General Contractor

(August 1996 - Present)

Independent contractor and subcontractor serving homeowners, commercial home maintenance service, and property managers. Drawing upon knowledge of construction practices, methods and materials, and ability to read and interpret construction drawings and construction industry regulations, provided services as an electrician, plumber, carpenter, painter, drywall finisher, and tile setter. Specialize in bathroom and kitchen remodeling. Along with performance of construction tasks, duties included estimating jobs, invoicing, collecting, small business accounting, and customer care.

Pasadena City College

Student Worker and College Assistant

Instructional Aide to Richard Wheeler, Peer Tutor (September 2013 - Present)

Assist instructor in class, teaching Applied Mathematics for Technical Use

Instructional Aide to Tony Keehn (January 2013 - June 2013)

Assist instructor in class, teaching 3-D modeling software for the building construction program

Reception - Engineering & Technology Division (February 2012 - December 2012)

Assist the division secretary and Dean by providing general administrative and clerical support, greeting guests and visitors, responding to requests for information.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

“Let’s Start” Music Video | August 2017 | Sunset Pictures/Haley Reinhart | Production Designer

“Mythbusters” Television Show | August 2017 | Carpenter

“Burning Man” P-Diddy Camp | August 2017 | Sign Maker

“Chill” Live Event | July 2017 | Queen Mary | Set Designer/Draftsman

“Accomplice” United Nations Short Film | July 2017 | XVIII Entertainment | Art Director

“Headshop” Feature Film | July 2017 | Headshop LLC | Carpenter

Sewing Project-2 30’x20’ Backdrops | June 2017 | A Cut Above | Seamstress

“Roommates“ Short | June 2017 | Daughter and Sons | Set Builder

“Spark-Capital One” Commercial | June 2017 | Anonymous Content | Art Production Assistant

“No Fear” Music Video | May 2017 | Dej Loaf | Set Designer/Construction Coordinator

“One Of Us” Music Video | May 2017 | New Politics | Art Director

“Summer Of Love” Promo Video | May 2017 | CEG | Production Designer

“When We’re High” Music Video | May 2017 | LP | Art Director

“We Still Say Grace” Feature Film | May 2017 | Construction Coordinator

“Recordando A Manuel” Music Video | April 2017 | Del Records | Production Designer

“ATC” Television | April 2017 | Bright Road Productions | Fabricator

“F with U” Kid Ink Music Video | April 2017 | Cinema Giants | Set Designer

“Where The Water Runs” Short Film | March 2017 | AFI Thesis Project | Production Designer

“Tal” Live Dance Experience | February-March 2017 | Set/Prop Designer/Builder

Xibeo Convention Set | March 2017 | Carpenter/Laminator

“Shangri La” Feature Film | December 2016-February 2017 | Man On The Moon Productions | Construction Coordinator

Sewing Projects | July 2016-December 2016 | The Surface Library | Seamstress/Upholster

“End Of The Road” MOS Short | December 2016 | AFI | Production Designer

“Legally Blonde Jr.” Children’s Theater Production | December 2016 | Premier Musical Theater | Set Designer/Carpenter

“Sexy @ Sixty” TV Pilot | December 2016 | Thunder Studios | Production Designer

Studio SetUp/Set Stock Build | October-November 2016 | Man On The Moon | Construction Coordinator/Carpenter

“Hollywood Party 30” Celebrity Birthday Party | October 2016 | Chef Paular Presents | Carpenter/Forman

“Adidas” Photo Shoot | October 2016 | Paige Dorian Productions | Set Dresser

“MineCon” Convention | August-September 2016 | Microsoft | Carpenter

“Screen Junkies-Roast” Web | August 2016 | Construction Coordinator

“Buzzard Hollow Beef” PickUps | August 2016 | A Man & A Woman Productions | Carpenter/Dresser

“Kill, Die, Laugh”/”The Veteran Mating Game” Pilots and Firsts | August 2016 | VET-TV | Production Designer

“Hap and Ashley” Feature Film | July-August 2016 | Yellow House Films | Production Designer

“Fox/Will Ferrell Test Shoot” | June 2016 | Thunder Studios | Scenic Carpenter

“The Silent Scream” Short Film | June 2016 | USC Student Thesis | Production Designer

“HearthStone” Live Stream Media | June 2016 | Blizzard Entertainment | Carpenter

“EMC Conference-Las Vegas” Corporate Event | May 2016 | Venetian Hotel | Set Designer/Scenic Carpenter

“Schmoes Know” Set Renovation | April 2016 | Set Wall Re-work | Carpenter

“Azuza Now-The Call” Live Stadium Event | April 2016 | LA Coliseum | Production Assistant

“White Space” Feature Film | April 2016 | Reshoots | Production Designer

“Phone It In” Short Film | April 2016 | AFI Student Cycle | Production Designer

“Lockdown” Short Film | March 2016 | AFI Student Thesis | Construction Coordinator

“Sleight of Hand” Short Film | February 2016 | AFI Student Cycle | Production Designer

“Miss Earth” Web Series | February 2016 | Independent | Carpenter

“The WIN Awards” Live Event | February 2016 | Women’s Image Network | Art Director

“Roommates” TV Sitcom Pilot | December 2015 | Jasmin Productions | Set Dresser

“Into the Woods” Children’s Theater Production | December 2015 | Premier Musicals | Set Designer and Scenic Artist

“True Colors” Short Film | November 2015 | USC Thesis | Production Designer

“When Purple Mountain Burns” Short Film | October 2015 | LMU Student Production | Production Designer

“The Bunker Experience” Interactive Entertainment Experience | October 2015 | Carpenter

“The Rifleman” Feature Film | September- October 2015 | LIMS Student Production | Head Carpenter

“Pasadena Rose Parade” Parade Float | September 2015 | Paradiso Parade Floats | Scenic Carpenter

"Domain" Feature Film | April 2015 | Scenic Carpenter

"World Miracle Story 2" TV Series | December 2014-January 2015 | Mt. Melvil | Production Office Assistant

“EZCurler” Infomercial | June 2011 | Vision Productions | Art Director

“No One Will Know” Feature Film | May 2011 | www.facebook.com/noonewillknowmovie | Production Designer

“Stuffed” Short Film | May 2011 | Production Designer

“Dropping the Soap” Webseries | February 2011 | www.facebook.com/droppingthesoap | Set Decorator

“The Shooting Star Salesman” Short Film | January 2011 | Film Imaginarium | www.facebook.com/theshootingstarsalesman | Art Director

“The Australian Pink Floyd Show” Music Video | December 2010 | Rebel Alliance | www.ausiefloyd.com | Art Director

“Old Navy Awkward Christmas” Touring Glass Truck | December 2010 | Whalefilm | Scenic Painter

“Get Up Kid” Teaser | December 2010 | Reel Vision Films | Production Designer

“A Random Night” Short Film | November 2010 | Production Designer

“Don Julio Tequila Re-launch Party” Product Display | November 2010 | Whalefilm | Scenic Painter

“The Carrier” Short Flim | October 2010 | Scott Schaeffer | Property Master

“All Together Now” Feature Film | August 2010 | Scenic Painter and Sculptor

“Built Like A Bodicelli” Melanie Cruz Music Video | August 2010 | Production Designer

“Paris Hilton’s Dreamcatchers” Commercial | July 2010 | Vision Productions | www.dreamcatchers.com | Art Director

“The Carlon Show” Talk Show Pilot | Episode | July 2010 | Production Designer

“The Life-ers” Webseries | July-August 2010 | Production Designer

“Smorgasbord” Short Film | June 2010 | AFI Women in Directing Program | Production Designer

“Blackbird” AFI Thesis Film | May 2010 | Art Director, Property Master

“Brand New Girl” Alyssa Music Video | April 2010 \ Art Director

“A Date with Diana” Short Film | March 2010 | Vince Masciale/Matthew Cole Weiss | http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/4z3s | Production Designer

“Away From the Ranch” UCLA Graduate Project | February-March 2010 | Production Designer

“A Box Story” UCLA Graduate Project | January-February 2010 | Sandy Stenzel | Production Designer

Untitled Webseries | December 2009 | West Side Stages, Los Angeles, CA | Carpenter

“Home Field Advantage” Short Film | November 2008 | Directed by Graham Gordy (“The Love Guru”) | Art Department Production Assistant

“Masterpiece” Short Film | April-June 2007 | Skygate Studios | www.masterpiecedvd.com Production Designer

“The Banking Game” Arkansas First State Bank Commercial | March-April 2007 | Rizon Films | Production Designer

Screenwriter, Script Supervisor, Production Designer, Costume Designer

THEATRICAL CREDITS (detailed available upon request)

Arkansas Repertory Theater (Equity) 2005-2009

Freelance Scene Shop Assistant and Running Crew

Scenic carpentry and painting, set decoration, backstage running crew, props making and handling, light board and spot operator.

"FBCLR" Theater Install | April 2008 | PRG-Dallas | www.fbclr.org | Lighting Technician

0 notes

chrisabraham · 7 years

Link

The nation has split into political tribes. The culture wars are back, waged over transgender rights and immigration. White nationalists are on the march.

Amid this turbulence, a surprising group of Americans is testing its moral voice more forcefully than ever: C.E.O.s.

After Nazi-saluting white supremacists rioted in Charlottesville, Va., and President Trump dithered in his response, a chorus of business leaders rose up this past week to condemn hate groups and espouse tolerance and inclusion. And as lawmakers in Texas tried to restrict the rights of transgender people to use public bathrooms, corporate executives joined activists to kill the bill.

These and other actions are part of a broad recasting of the voice of business in the nation’s political and social dialogue, a transformation that has gained momentum in recent years as the country has engaged in fraught debates over everything from climate change to health care.

In recent days, after the Charlottesville bloodshed, the chief executive of General Motors, Mary T. Barra, called on people to “come together as a country and reinforce values and ideals that unite us — tolerance, inclusion and diversity.”

Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan said, “The equal treatment of all people is one of our nation’s bedrock principles.”

Walmart’s chief executive, Doug McMillon, criticized Mr. Trump by name for his handling of the violence in Charlottesville, and called for healing.

And in a rebuke to the president, who suggested that both the racist groups and the counterprotesters marching in Charlottesville were to blame for the violence there, a wave of chief executives who had agreed to advise Mr. Trump quit his business advisory councils, leading to the dissolution of two groups.

The forthright engagement of these and other executives with one of the most charged political issues in years — the swelling confidence of a torch-bearing, swastika-saluting, whites-first movement — is “a seminal moment in the history of business in America,” said Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation and a board member at PepsiCo.

“In this maelstrom, the most clarifying voice has been the voice of business,” he said. “These C.E.O.s have taken the risk to speak truth to power.”

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. Chief executives face a constellation of pressures, and speaking up can create considerable uncertainty. Customers can be offended, colleagues can feel isolated and relations with lawmakers can suffer. Words and actions can backfire, resulting in public relations disasters. All this as a chief executive is expected to constantly grow sales.

Even this past week, it was easy to discern careful calculations made by executives who chose to speak out against Mr. Trump. Many faced calls to resign from the presidential advisory councils, and the prospect of boycotts if they did not.

But they also faced notable and new kinds of pressure from within — from employees who expect or encourage their company to stake out positions on numerous controversial social or economic causes, and from board members concerned with reputational issues. In the past week, business leaders have responded with all-staff memos and town-hall meetings.

In short, while companies are naturally designed to be moneymaking enterprises, they are adapting to meet new social and political expectations in sometimes startling ways.

“Not every business decision is an economic one,” said Howard Schultz, the chairman of Starbucks, who was one of the country’s first company leaders to proactively address social issues. “The reason people are speaking up is that we are fighting for what we love and believe in, and that is the idealism and the aspiration of America, the promise of America, the America that we all know and hold so true.”

Looking for Controversy

Companies have reckoned with issues of race, class and gender for generations now.

On Feb. 1, 1960, four black college students sat down at the segregated lunch counter at a Woolworth’s store in Greensboro, N.C. The civil rights sit-in movement was born, and five months later, Woolworth’s desegregated.

Decades later, activists called on American companies to divest from apartheid South Africa. Under pressure, many big companies, including General Motors and Pepsi, pulled out of the country.

But for the most part, companies got political only under duress. Rarely have chief executives gone looking for a controversy. Instead, the prevailing view was one articulated by the economist Milton Friedman in The New York Times in 1970: “the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.”

By the 1990s, some corporate actors began taking the initiative. Apple, Disney and Xerox extended health care benefits to partners of gay and lesbian employees, helping to pave the way for broader acceptance of gay rights. Still, promoting inclusion and advancing diversity were hardly part of the curriculum for emerging titans of industry.

“When I went to business school, you didn’t see anything like this,” said Marc Benioff, the founder and chief executive of Salesforce. “Nobody talked about taking a stand or adopting a cause.”

Now, Mr. Benioff is at the vanguard of a group of executives who are more connected — to customers, employees, investors and other business leaders — than ever before, and who are unafraid to use their influence.

In 2015, after Indiana passed a law that would have made it easier for religious conservatives to refuse service to gay people, Mr. Benioff canceled all Salesforce events in the state and threatened to relocate employees away from Indianapolis.

The outcry from Mr. Benioff and other business leaders helped force politicians, including Vice President Mike Pence, then the governor of Indiana, to reverse course. Ultimately, lawmakers passed a watered-down version of the law.

“C.E.O.s wield economic influence,” Mr. Benioff said. “Nobody wanted to lose those jobs in Indiana. But we had to make a statement that we were going to withdraw if they were going to create laws that were going to discriminate against our employees.”

The business community’s triumph in Indiana emboldened progressive executives, and many have become more willing to confront controversial topics unprompted.

Randall Stephenson, the chief executive of AT&T, recently reflected on racial tensions in America at a meeting of 2,000 employees. “Black lives matter,” Mr. Stephenson said, “we should not say, ‘All lives matter,’ to justify ignoring the real need for change.”

Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder and chief executive of the yogurt maker Chobani, has hired hundreds of refugees — drawing the ire of the far right, but making him a cause célèbre for progressives.

And even before the showdown in Indiana, Timothy D. Cook, the chief executive of the world’s largest company, Apple, came out as gay — the most prominent executive to make such an announcement. “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” he wrote.

None of this is to say that all corporate leaders are now beacons of morality. The Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick was ousted amid a mushrooming sexual abuse scandal at the company, and reports that he had cultivated a frat house culture. Martin Winterkorn, a chief executive of Volkswagen, resigned amid his company’s emissions scandal.

But faced with circumstances they cannot in good conscience accept, more and more chieftains appear unafraid to act. In June, after the president withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accord, Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, and Robert A. Iger, the chief of Disney, resigned from presidential advisory councils, setting the stage for this past week’s revolt.

“The C.E.O.s of big public companies don’t walk out onto the plank of social and political leadership by default,” said Nancy Koehn, a historian at Harvard Business School. “But today, to keep silent is to jeopardize the reputation of the company.”

‘Many Sides,’ One Voice

Last weekend, as white nationalists protested the removal of a statue of the Confederate general Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, chief executives were paying close attention to the president’s response. Among those watching was Kenneth C. Frazier, the chief executive of the drugmaker Merck and one of dozens of executives who had agreed to advise Mr. Trump on economic issues.

Mr. Frazier disagreed with the president’s stances on immigration and climate change, but he believed it was important to have a seat at the table. Yet for Mr. Frazier, the son of a janitor and the grandson of a man born into slavery, the president’s remarks — in which he blamed the violence on “many sides” — were too much to bear.

On Monday morning, Mr. Frazier said he would step down from Mr. Trump’s manufacturing council. “As C.E.O. of Merck and as a matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism,” he wrote.

The president took to Twitter, lacerating Mr. Frazier and attacking Merck, bluster that alienated more chief executives. By the end of the day, the chiefs of Under Armour and Intel had dropped off the same advisory group. The following morning, three nonprofit business leaders also quit.

As the manufacturing council fell apart, another presidential advisory group was also tottering. The Strategic and Policy Forum, a group with chief executives of some of the country’s biggest companies, held a conference call and agreed to disband.

The reaction from business leaders extended well beyond the confines of the presidential advisory councils.

James Murdoch, the chief executive of 21st Century Fox, pledged to donate $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League. The gesture was all the more remarkable because Mr. Murdoch is the son of Rupert Murdoch, a staunch supporter of Mr. Trump, and because his company operates Fox News, known for its favorable coverage of the president.

“What we watched this last week in Charlottesville and the reaction to it by the President of the United States concern all of us as Americans and free people,” the younger Mr. Murdoch wrote in an email to associates. “I can’t even believe I have to write this: standing up to Nazis is essential; there are no good Nazis. Or Klansmen, or terrorists.”

Technology companies severed ties with white supremacist groups. Google and GoDaddy dropped domain registrations for far right publications. Facebook deleted articles that celebrated hate crimes. Spotify took down music by white power rock bands.

And in Seattle, Mr. Schultz held a town-hall meeting for more than 1,000 employees where he condemned bigotry and called for unity. “I could sense the anxiety,” he said. “I felt a need to create a safe and loving environment.”

All week, the business world’s actions went beyond the donations to charity and pledges to plant trees that once defined corporate social responsibility.

“For a long time, corporate social responsibility was a buzzword marketing tool, walled off within an organization,” said Alan Fleischmann, president of Laurel Strategies, an executive advisory firm. “Now it has to be central for the C.E.O., part of their everyday responsibility and leadership.”

The Cost of Speaking Out

Kevin Plank, the founder and chief executive of Under Armour, the athletic apparel maker, built a brand that celebrates diversity, sponsoring athletes like the basketball player Stephen Curry and artists like the ballerina Misty Copeland. Yet when asked to serve on the president’s manufacturing council early this year, Mr. Plank agreed, voicing his optimism about Mr. Trump.

His star sponsors made their displeasure known. “I strongly disagree with Kevin Plank’s recent comments in support of Trump,” Ms. Copeland said. Mr. Curry also expressed his distaste for the president.

So on Monday night, when Mr. Plank stepped down from his advisory role, he might have thought his troubles were over. Instead, Mr. Trump’s supporters have risen up, calling for a boycott of Under Armour.

“The leaders of corporate America have demonstrated the courage to call out something that is unacceptable,” said Mr. Walker of the Ford Foundation. “But speaking truth to power can come with huge costs.”

Because companies have inherently diverse customers and employees, taking a stand can be a no-win situation for chief executives. For every employee, investor and customer they make happy, they may well make someone else unhappy.

When Pepsi this year released an ad featuring Kendall Jenner offering a police officer a soda in the midst of an apparent Black Lives Matter protest, the condemnation was swift. Two years earlier, Starbucks drew wide ridicule when, as part of an effort by Mr. Schultz to start a national conversation on race relations, baristas were encouraged to write “race together” on coffee cups.

Companies on the conservative end of the ideological spectrum are also increasingly willing to stand up for their principles, and just as likely to face criticism. After it was revealed that the family behind the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A supported groups that opposed same-sex marriage, gay rights protesters targeted the restaurants.

Hobby Lobby, the craft-supply chain run by a conservative Christian family, challenged a provision in the Affordable Care Act that required family-owned corporations to pay for insurance coverage for birth control. Despite drawing the ire of the left, Hobby Lobby took its case to the Supreme Court and won.

Critics of Mr. Plank’s decision cast their net wide, going after all the chief executives who quit the president’s business advisory groups. “This is a remarkable moment in history,” said Lou Dobbs, a Fox Business Network host. “Every one of those C.E.O.s, mark my words, is a coward — and the president is exactly right — a grandstander in the service of the left. And no one should make any mistake: This is a coordinated, orchestrated attack against this president.”

John Carney, a business editor for Breitbart News, the conservative news site, wrote that “corporate America is part of the opposition.”

“The confederacy of the media institutions, the American left, and Corporate America has aligned itself against the populist uprising that brought Trump to the White House,” Mr. Carney wrote. “The battle lines are clear.”

Those executives who go out on a limb know the risks. “We all recognize that with every decision we make, there is group of people that are not going to agree with us,” Mr. Schultz said. “But you must define you core purpose for being. We stand in the interest of something greater than just making money.”

A Diversity Paradox

Diversity — of opinions, ideologies and religions — is what makes taking a stand on moral issues so treacherous for C.E.O.s. Yet paradoxically, it is also diversity — of races, genders and worldviews, among customers and the work force — that makes many of the executives, when forced to take a stand, come down on the side of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance.

Business leaders looking to the future are accepting that it is unwise to isolate swaths of the population by coming off as racist, sexist or intolerant. Instead, for the sake of the bottom line, it is imperative that they appeal to the widest possible audience. “Business leaders aren’t threatened by an America that is browner, an America that is more diverse; they welcome that,” Mr. Walker said. “Business leaders are bullish on diversity.”

What’s more, some executives have concluded that speaking out on issues of morality can improve more than their reputations — it can benefit recruitment, morale and even sales. “Our employees come here knowing that this is something that is extremely important to us,” said Mr. Benioff of Salesforce. “Business is the greatest platform for affecting change.”

If the voices of business leaders seem amplified, that is perhaps because in such partisan times, few politicians can speak to both sides of the aisle, leaving a vacuum for business leaders to fill. This last week, the executives on Mr. Trump’s business advisory councils piped up, led by Mr. Frazier of Merck.

The black chief executive of a $172 billion company — a multimillionaire who was born in a poor neighborhood, a former lawyer who fought for civil rights and had agreed to advise the president — Mr. Frazier offered remarks that set the tone for the business world at large.

“Our country’s strength stems from its diversity,” he wrote, adding, “America’s leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal.”

The C.E.O.s had found their voice.

Follow David Gelles on Twitter @dgelles.

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