#i'm hoping to have john and rick back up by halloween

[hostiae]

my queue will be releasing tonight! i still have some drafts left and several asks, but i have so much more done than i have in a while.

that means...

SADDLER. he gets his own little blog.

also going to be adding some twd muses: shane & glenn, specifically.

[clairelsonao3]

Top 10 Character Essence

It's tag game time again!

@tabswrites and @hollyannewrites challenged (and I do mean challenged) me to name my top ten characters "decided by their essence or meaning to you."

  A challenge to give your Top 10 favourite characters, based on their ESSENCE. They have to be favourite characters that also have a deeper literary value, where you enjoy their specific role in the story, and this means that the list also should exclude characters that would normally count as favourites if for purely nostalgic reasons. They can be from film, tv, or written media, anything.

Thank you! I hope I fulfilled the challenge the way it was meant to be fulfilled!

Although TBH, I can't believe I'm even attempting to tackle this. I have to choose only 10? I think it goes without saying this list is not exhaustive, nor does it represent all of my favorite books/movies/media. I really did try to capture the question by focusing on "essence and meaning" (including how they've influenced my own writing and not just "random characters I like." I also have to attempt not to write an essay for each because we don't want to be here all night.

Charlotte Doyle (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi) Rich girl in the early 1800s gets on a ship with a mutinous crew and an evil captain, joins the crew, defeats the captain using only her wits, miraculously makes it home, AND THEN DECIDES TO GO BACK TO SEA AND BECOME A SAILOR. I read this all in one sitting one night when I was about 15 (after avoiding it because I thought it looked boring) and then literally decided to reshape my entire life based on it (I'm not kidding). Yes, I actually took up sailing. Also, there's a hot sailor that she obviously has chemistry with but it's left unresolved, and no one has ever written a future fic about it to my knowledge, and that's a CRIME. So yeah, step right up.

John Bender (The Breakfast Club) He's not just the original '80s bad boy with a Dark and Troubled Past, but what most people forget about him is that he's also hilarious. It's a rare combination. Honorary mention to his love interest, Claire, and not just because of her name.

Fantine (Les Miserables by Victor Hugo) - Mostly the book version of her, though she obviously has a showstopping number in the musical as well. She was the sad, angsty character I needed during the most sad, angsty period of my life. She was a poor, lonely urchin who found fleeting love and happiness in the spring, got abandoned and pregnant in the winter -- and it only got worse from there. Also, apropos of nothing, at one point, I wrote a short story featuring a dog by the same name -- who, um, died.

The Artful Dodger/Dodger (Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens/Oliver & Company) - I'm including both the human version and the dog version of this character because I love them both (though I actually prefer the Disney movie, lol). They're both thieves with devil-may-care attitudes, with soft spots for those more vulnerable than themselves. Plus, the dog version is Billy Joel, wears sunglasses, and plays piano with his tail, which -- I don't care what anyone says -- will never not be cool.

Satine (Moulin Rouge) - She was the beautiful, sparkling, singing, dancing tragic sex goddess I so badly wanted to be. So much so that as recently as five years ago when I reluctantly dressed up for a Halloween party, I chose her silver-dress-and-top-hat ensemble.

Rick Blaine (Casablanca) The most endlessly quotable character from one of the most endlessly quotable and romantic movies of all time. He sticks his neck out for no one. Except, oops, wait, he does. The OG Hollywood antihero with a Dark and Troubled -- whatever, you know the drill. Plus, he's also my dad's favorite character in his favorite movie (and I discovered it because of him), and so this pick has sentimental meaning for me.

Leah Price (The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver) - When we read this book in high school, she was the least popular character, probably due to her unwavering love and support for her dad, even though he was a singular-focused religious zealot who destroyed his entire family by dragging them into the African jungle in an ill-thought-out missionary trip. And then she married a guy with some of the same qualities (but he was better, thankfully). But for whatever weird reason, I related to her most. Anyway, for class, I wrote and tried to perform a monologue where I played her but forgot 90 percent of my lines. Oh well.

Mary Lennox (The Secret Garden by France Hodgson Burnett, I found the movie version fairly meh) There were a lot of spunky, iconic childhood book heroines to choose from, but she was Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, and so I choose her. (I got told to "smile" a lot as a kid). Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I was a Mary/Dickon shipper before I even knew what shipping meant.

Neal Caffrey (White Collar) - Does anyone remember this show? I have no attention span for TV, and this is probably the last scripted show I remember watching every episode of during its original run, which is saying something. Everything I know about being a con artist (in fiction, lol) I learned from this charming, charismatic art-forger-turned-FBI-consultant. I think he also has the honor of being the subject of the first actual fanfic I ever wrote.

Iris Chase Griffin (The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood) I also had to pick one character of my favorite author, so Iris gets the crown. She starts off the story as an old lady looking back to when she was forced to marry some rich asshole instead of the science fiction writer (with a past that was -- wait for it -- Dark and Troubled) who BOTH she and her sister loved, and meanwhile, her sister became a writer and when she died it was discovered that -- oh, just read the goddamn book, I won't spoil it for you here.

Honorable mentions, in no particular order:

Violet Westing (The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin)

Jack Kelly (Newsies the movie, NOT the stage musical)

Turonga Leela (Futurama)

Vicky Austin (The Austins by Madeleine L'Engle)

Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt-Bukater (Titanic) I can't decide between them, so they're getting an HM.

Palaestrio and Milphidippa (Miles Gloriosus by Plautus) Same as above.

Michael Furey (The Dead by James Joyce) Who is, in fact, dead throughout the story -- but being alive wasn't one of the requirements.

I wish I could include a Star Wars character, but could never decide, so let's say, oh, all of them, except that one you hate.

In case the following people want to do what I did and spend several WEEKS on this fascinating but life-ruining (in a good way) tag game: @mysticstarlightduck @enne-uni @kixngiggles @obviousknife + OPEN TAG because you don't even have to be a writer for this one, so I'd be interested in hearing from anybody who wants to chime in!

[haddonfieldproject]

1️⃣8️⃣

<<PREVIOUS⏺<<CONTENTS>>

1.1.18 HALLOWEEN NIGHT/NOVEMBER 1st 12:55 AM

Haddonfield, Illinois

As Samantha slept peacefully in a sleazy motel five or so miles to the east, Josh and Chelsea Keane along with Penny Cornell walked south down 15th street, carrying flashlights. They were joined by a smattering of concerned neighbors, and various teenagers who had just been wrapping up the night's revelry, these were still in their costumes. Periodically they called Maddie's name down the dark, tree lined street. At intervals a porch light would come on, suddenly illuminate a dark quiet house, and the occupant therin would step out unto the porch and inquire as to the situation.

At one point, an older man in a wife beater and boxer shorts stepped unto his front stoop carrying a baseball bat, asked, “What's all this damn yelling fer?”, and when he was informed he seem to nod gravely.

“I hope he didn't get her!” He said.

This didn't register with Chelsea. In the proceeding hours she had become so frantic with grief at trying to find her still missing daughter that she had forgot all about the escaped mental patient that the cops had shown up to her door to warn her about.

“Who?” Josh asked. Chelsea had not had time to fill him in about the police visit either.

“Haven't you seen the TV?” The man called.

Penny's cellphone began to ring from her purse and she broke away from her boyfriend and his mother.

“Who won?!” One of the teenagers---disguised for the night as Morty from the late night animated television show Rick and Morty---called to the old man.

The old man scowled, waved his hand at the teens in disgust...this of course delighted them...and went back inside his house, his storm door slamming smartly behind him. The porch light cut off a few seconds later?

“Who is it?” Josh asked after Penny.

“My mom,” she replied, and answered her phone, walking away a few paces.

Headlights came around a turn up ahead, belonging to a vehicle turning unto 15th from Mill Rd. The car approached, slowed, and then pulled beside them, a spotlight coming on from the near the driver's side window. It was a Warren County Police Cruiser. An older looking African American gentleman appeared behind the window as it came down. The name tag on his khaki uniform read: E. HARRIS.

“Little late for Trick-Or-Treating.” He said acutely in a deep baritone voice, his eyes moving back and forth from Chelsea to Josh and then panning across the other party. From his stereo inside the car at low volume Chelsea could hear the sounds of some kind of sports broadcast.

“No Officer! My daughter, she's missing!” Chelsea stammered.

“Have you alerted the authorities?” Officer Harris asked.

“Every time I've called I've gotten a busy signal! And I've called both 911 and the non-emergenc number!”

Harris cut off the ignition and unbuckled his seatbelt. “When was the last time you called?”

Chelsea pulled her phone out of the pocket of her pajama pants and looked at it. “It's been about thirty minutes now.”

Harris opened the door and stepped out. “I think they've quieted down now. We've had a hell of a night.” He gripped the radio reciever clipped to his left shoulder and depressed a button. “654 to 66 copy?” He spoke quietly and then asked Chelsea. “How old is she?”

“She's five!” Chelsea stammered. Penny had finished her phone call and was walking back toward them.

Harris' radio chirped. “66 to 654, I copy you Elton. Over.”

Harris replied. “I got a 10-57 J at 15th and Mill, over.” and then looked to Chelsea. “How long has she been missing?”

“About three hours now,” Chelsea said breathlessly. “Me and the older ones were watching a movie at my friend's house...I'm babysitting her son...and she was playing with him in his room and when the movie was over I went to tuck them in and we haven't been able to find her.”

“Copy 10-57 J at 15th and Mill, over.”

“And where are the other minors?” Harris asked.

“Dylan is with Penny's younger sister still at the house?” Chelsea motioned to Penny who stood beside Josh, his arm around her waist.

“And who are these two?” Harris asked, pointing to Josh and Penny.

“This is my son Josh and his girlfriend Penny.” Chelsea sighed.

“And where were you babysitting at?” Harris disconnected his radio from his collar as it chirped again.

“654, do you have a description on the John? Over.”

“10-23, Over.” Harris responded.

“Copy that, Over.”

“My friend Ellen's house. 3679 Matthew Street.”

“Is there any adult there now?”

Chelsea shook her head.

Harris swept a hand across the crowd. “Well these two and these guys are way passed curfew. We need to get back to your house, you can't leave the children unattended at home while you're walking all over the streets in the middle of the night.”

Lighting flashed in the sky. A loud rumbling peal of thunder followed.

“Besides, it looks like we're about to get it soon.”

“But Maddie is out here somewhere and we have to find her!” Chelsea exclaimed.

“I understand ma'am. But nine times out of ten the missing child returns to the home from which they left, and if she gets there right now or is there right now, how are you gonna know about it?”

Chelsea nodded, conceding the point.

Harris pointed to Josh and Penny.

“I want you to take this young lady home right now.” He turned back to Chelsea. “You can come with me, I'll take you home and we'll shine our spotlight around along the way.”

He then raised his voice.

“As for the rest of you! The best thing we can do right now is to go on home! Halloween is over!”

A collective groan went up from the teenagers, some of which had already begun to disperse as soon a police cruiser had come into sight.

An older woman, one of Ellen's neighbors spoke up. “It is well within my right to continue searching for the poor girl if I want to, isn't it Officer?”

“Ma'am, we're gonna get one hell of a storm here in a bit and the last thing I want is for you to be struck by lightning in the middle of the street in the dark. Go on home ma'am, let the authorities take care of this.”

The woman grumbled something as she turned to walk in the other direction.

Harris grabbed Chelsea by her shoulders. “We'll get back to the house and radio all the info in for an Amber Alert. She can't have gone too far. We'll find her.”

“The cops earlier said something about an escaped mental patient...” Chelsea stammered, “Somebody from Smith's Grove or something.”

Harris smiled, but his eyes shown no joviality. “Don't worry about him ma'am. We got his ass.”

Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief.

Officer Harris opened the Cruiser's door and sat down, tapping the screen of mounted GPS system to activate it. “Where are we going again?”

“3679 Matthew Street.” She said, looking up to the sky as lightning flashed again.

“Wait? 3679 Matthew...is that Misty's place?”

Mentally, Chelsea rolled her eyes.

“Yes, she's been my friend since High School.”

“Man, I ain't seen Misty since...”

“Mom, will you call me if they find anything?” Josh asked, hugging his mother by the neck.

“Of course,” Chelsea replied, patting him on the back.

“Good night Penny. It was good to have you over.” Chelsea forced a smile to the young girl who was dressed as Velma.

“Good night Ms. Keane.” She responded, forcing a smile of her own. The two began to walk back to the direction of Ellen AKA Misty Dawn's house, to where Penny's car was parked.

“In order to get you into the squad car, I gotta frisk you.” Harris said, stepping back out of the Cruiser.

Chelsea, who was no stranger to being put into the back of squad car...a side effect of her younger more wild youth, stepped toward the hood of the cruiser and placed her hands upon it quietly.

Harris came towards her.

“Do you have any weapons on you I should know about?”

NEXT>>

[ringostarrsfinger]

Paul’s Twitter q and a

From the Daily Beatle, October 21, 2014. Photos can be found at the link

Yesterday, Paul McCartney took the time to answer questions on Twitter. Here are most of these:

elijah Kraling: What goes through your mind when you walk out on to the stage with a huge crowd?

Paul McCartney: Great excitement at their reaction

Jennifer: Do you have a favorite TV show?

Answer: I love 'Veep' and 'Family Feud' ("We asked a hundred people!")

Nick Tregoning: What's your favourite cheese?

Paul McCartney: I like a lot of them. How about cheddar, goats, feta and de Boursin.

andres: How did you come up with the song Blackbird?

Paul McCartney: I was in Scotland & was playing guitar thinking of a Bach piece that we used to play & also the civil rights situation.

Melissa: Did you come up with the idea for the new album cover?

Paul McCartney: No! It was my design team, Mike & Rebecca who suggested it and then my son-in-law Alastair suggested the neon.

Emily Vidovich: Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Paul McCartney: I hardly ever see sunrises so it's sunsets for me!

Yonosoy Rodrigo: Who is your favourite classical composer?

Paul McCartney: Probably Bach.

Leticia: What was the inspiration for the song of Wings "Call Me Back Again"?

Paul McCartney: I was imagining being a kid and phoning a girlfriend who never answered.

Brandon Butler: If you could describe the "Wings Years" in one or two words, what word(s) would you use and why?

Paul McCartney: Difficult, but Brilliant!

Mary: Cats or dogs?

Paul McCartney: Dogs! (Although I love cats too).

Marcos f: There's another song from the 'NEW' album that you would like to put on the setlist?

Paul McCartney: We've been playing with 'Appreciate' but it's kind of hard to do.

Collin Searls: Will you be playing Hope (the Destiny theme) live in concert?

Paul McCartney: HOPEfully!

Alunvaughan: Have you got a favourite cover of one of your tracks?

Paul McCartney: There are so many that I love it's difficult to say but Esther Phillips version of 'And I love HIM' comes to mind.

Orbital Nick: What's your favourite bassline to play? One you really enjoy!

Paul McCartney: At the moment it's '...For the Benefit of Mr Kite'. It's challenging!

david k.: What did you learn or rediscover during the remastering of Venus And Mars?

Paul McCartney: It was a surprise to hear how good some of the tracks still sounded, particularly 'Call Me Back Again'.

Clara: Do you have any tattoos?

Paul McCartney: No I don't. Not even on my ass!

Ryan Adams: Are you a cyborg?

Paul McCartney: I am in fact an alien!

Beatlesmaniacs: Which is your favorite kind of sports?

Paul McCartney: Football (Soccer), but to watch on TV: American Football, Track, and Basketball.

Vickie Valenzuela: What was your best Halloween costume?

Paul McCartney: Alice Cooper!

User8472: Favourite Meryl Streep movie?

Paul McCartney: I love Meryl Streep. Devil Wears Prada is great, although everything she does is brilliant.

Four Headed Monster: Paul, can you tell us what is going on in these pictures please?

Paul McCartney: 1st John & I are in Paris when he was 21 & generally goofing around.

Paul McCartney: 2nd Pulling faces in hat shop!

Paul McCartney: 3rd Nipple pointing!

Michelle Gregory: Do you have a favourite flower Paul? Mine are lilies.

Paul McCartney: Probably roses!

Daniele Paula: What do you most like about doing live concerts in Brazil?

Paul McCartney: The crazy enthusiasm and youth of the audiences. They're brilliant!

Andrew Davis: Are you excited for the rerelease of Venus and Mars & Wings At The Speed Of Sound?

Paul McCartney: Yeah! I think that my team has put together brilliant packages that even I find amazingly interesting.

Manu: What is your favorite colour?

Paul McCartney: Blue comes to mind.

Patricia Francis: Do you like Halloween? What was your favorite candy as a kid?

Paul McCartney: I do like it, it allows me to go unrecognized in my disguise and Mars Bars were my favourite!

Heal the world.: Something new you learned lately?

Paul McCartney: Patience! (Not sure if it's true but it's an answer!)

Florencia: Paul, you sing in the shower?

Paul McCartney: Yes I do - 'Singing in the Rain' or 'It's Raining Men' or 'Waterfalls'!

Duda: How old were you when you wrote your first song?

Paul McCartney: I was 14 years old in Liverpool. It was called 'I Lost My Little Girl'.

Joanna Scatasti: Have you ever forgotten the words to a song while you were playing it?

Paul McCartney: Quite regularly. I think that the people in my audience know the songs better than I do. Excuse is I've written rather a lot.

Red Owl: How has being a vegetarian changed you?

Paul McCartney: It's made me healthier but certainly given me a compassionate perspective on the animals we share the planet with.

THANKS PAUL ILYSM: Would you like to visit the moon?

Paul McCartney: No I don't even like rollercoasters!

Kornball: Can you give me a nickname?

Paul McCartney: Kornball! You shall forever be known as this!

Laura: what's the first record you ever bought?

Paul McCartney: Gene Vincent singing Be Bop A Lula on the Capitol label which was sheer magic.

Diegomiralbés.jpg: Hey Paul, can you reply to this tweet saying something very stupid?

Paul McCartney: My toes are in my mouth!

Naked dude: Do you ever twerk?

Paul McCartney: The last time I twerked I was with Katy Perry. She was rather good at it!

Andrew St. Clair : What makes the studio space at Abbey Road so special?

Paul McCartney: There have been so many great hits made in that room that physically and spiritually it has a greatness built into it.

Rick Rubin's question is lost, but looks like it was about faith.

Paul McCartney: Yes I do. I don't know quite what, but I believe in a benevolent spirit that is behind everything that we do.

Rachel Foster: Favorite song you have written for someone else?

Paul McCartney: 'Step Inside Love' which I wrote for the British singer Cilla Black, but Diana Krall has one of mine coming out soon that I love.

Naked dude: Is there anyone who makes you starstruck?

Paul McCartney: Even though I've known him for a long time the nearest is probably Bob Dylan.

Phil McNamara: Favourite gig you've BEEN to (not played in)?

Paul McCartney: There are many, but Mr Carter & Kanye West comes to mind.

Domi Silva: What the World needs now is.. ?

Paul McCartney: ...Paul McCartney - vote for me! (He said modestly!) Though I'm not sure what state I'm in!

Dreamer: What makes you feel better when you're in bad mood?

Paul McCartney: Drugs, Alcohol & Sex (he says with a wink).

Shawndelle Dixon: Are you the walrus?

Paul McCartney: In fact because I happen to wear a walrus head in Magical Mystery Tour - I am the nearest any of us came! GooGoogAJoob!

Vanessa: Do you have any hobbies like collecting or knitting?

Paul McCartney: Not really, but I do have some nice guitar picks from over the years and some nice books too!

Beth Léon: Can you yodel?

Paul McCartney: Yes. I studied in Switzerland!

Maccadonia: What do you think of your young fans? I have 12 years and I love your music!

Paul McCartney: I love my young fans! I'm always surprised how many there are. I love the perspective of young people.

Victoria: What's your favorite horror movie?

Paul McCartney: «Alien» would be my favourite for the bit of chest-popping!

Laura Boxall: Can you speak any other languages?

Paul McCartney: Si, Oui, Ja!

Flora Hausammann: Is it okay for me to own 8 beatles tshirts?

Paul McCartney: It's very good, but not enough!

Yorkshire Mouth: Who was the last person you said 'Hello' to? And who was the last you said 'goodbye' to?

Paul McCartney: Just left my wife Nancy in the street (Goodbye), and Hello is you.

Ѧʟѧṡҡѧ: Will you marry me?

Paul McCartney: I'm afraid I'm spoken for. So the answer is a firm 'No!'

maria: Why are you so hot?

Paul McCartney: It just comes naturally to me!

THE FEMTROOPER: Is there anywhere in the world you haven't been but would like to go?

Paul McCartney: Yeah, China! It seems like everyone else has, but I haven't!

christine g: Who is one of your favorite film directors?

Paul McCartney: Scorsese, Fellini and Dave Grohl!

Joe Mantegna: You have written songs for others that were hits. Ever think about releasing your own versions?

Paul McCartney: I wrote 'Come and Get It' for Badfinger and 'World Without Love' for Peter & Gordon.

Idealist: Which activist group do you hold most near and dear to your heart?

Paul McCartney: Pussy Riot & Peta.

Raising Biz: Early Take - Beware My Love - Does One Exist? How about a Best of The Rest Album?

Paul McCartney: Yes indeed! And here’s the world premiere of it featuring John Bonham on drums!

mack Halley: What was it like playing with great John Bonham?

Paul McCartney: It was fantastic! He was always on my top 5 drummer list and a great friend and ballsy drummer!

Selena: How did you feel about this costume?

Paul McCartney: A trifle cattish!

Winston: What's your favorite type of pie?

Paul McCartney: Pecan, baby!

Sarah Stacey: How does it feel when you hear people singing your songs?

Paul McCartney: Really beautiful, humbling and exciting at the same time.

Cham: If you were ruler of your own country what would you call it?

Paul McCartney: Maccadonia!

Rachael Brown: What should I carve my pumpkin as?

Paul McCartney: Dave Grohl!

Mary Gerdt: What have you always wanted to do and didn't have the time?

Paul McCartney: Spend three days in bed!

McCartney also revealed that his favourite current songs are the Foo Fighters new track 'Something From Nothing' and Sia's 'Chandelier'.