#this is based on the court circular

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in July 2023

01/07 Princess Anne accompanied by Sir Tim, opened the 30th Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy Harbour. ⛴️

03/07 As Chancellor of Harper Adams University, visited the University’s Future Farm, Edgmond and met the 2023 Marshal Papworth Foundation Scholars. 👩‍🎓

As Patron, Scottish Fisheries Museum’s Reaper Appeal visited the Scottish Fisheries Museum in St. Ayles, Anstruther. 🎣

04/07 Visited Strathcarron Hospice, Denny. 👩‍⚕️

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, attended a 5 Military Intelligence Battalion Training Night at the Army Reserve Centre, Edinburgh. 💂

05/07 As part of Holyrood week in Edinburgh, Princess Anne carried out the following engagements;

Opened the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, at NHS Lothian as part of #NHS75 celebrations. 🧸

Opened King’s Buildings Nucleus Building at the University of Edinburgh. 👩‍🎓

Launched WETWHEELS EDINBURGH Accessible Boat at Port Edgar Marina. 🦽🛥️

Attended a Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria for Eric Liddell 100 programme. 🍽️

06/07 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attended the Textile Institute World Conference at the University of Huddersfield. 🪡

Opened Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Maternity Theatre at Bradford Royal Infirmary.🤰

As Colonel of The Blues and Royals, with Sir Tim, took the salute at the Household Division Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade. 🫡

07/07 Attended a Charity Polo Day at Cirencester Park Polo Club for the Spinal Injuries Association 🐎

11/07 Visited Flintshire Adult Day Care Centre, Hwb Cyfle in Queensferry, Wales. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

HRH, as the new Patron of BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) visited their Headquarters at Marford Mill, Wrexham, Wales. 🦡

12/07 Visited St Helena’s Nursing Campus at the University of Derby in Chesterfield. 👩‍⚕️

Opened Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Department. 🏥

Attended a Reception at Rolls-Royce Learning and Development Centre for the Motor Neurone Association. 🚘

13/07 Sir Tim represented the Princess Royal at a service of thanksgiving for the life of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Boyce at Westminster Abbey. ⚓️

Princess Anne opened the King’s Arch at Government House, visited the Tortoise Takeover Trail at Gorey Castle and subsequently opened the Tortoise Tunnel at Jersey Zoo. 🇯🇪🐢

Princess Anne with Sir Tim, later attended the Royal Academy of Engineering Annual Awards Dinner at the Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square, London. 🏆

14/07 Opened the new Southampton Citizens Advice Bureau and visited DP World Shipping Container Terminal. ⛴️

15/07 As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, attended their Annual Corps Day at Chicksands. 🪖

18/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim carried out the following engagements in Kent;

Opened a new affordable housing development at Bartlett Close, Staple, Canterbury, followed by a Reception at Staple Village Hall. 🏡

Visited St James’s Cemetery in Dover in her role as Patron of the Remembrance Trust 🫡

Visited Folkestone National Coastguard Institution Station in Folkestone to mark its 25th Anniversary, followed by a Reception at Folkestone Yacht and Motorboat Club. 🚨

19/07 In South Wales, visited Barry Citizens Advice Bureaux in her role of Patron of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and later visited HM Prison Cardiff in her role of Patron of the Butler Trust. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

20/07 Joined the ship’s company of HMS Albion and visited Clyde Marina near Glasgow, Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

21/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim attended a Dinner at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Clubhouse, to celebrate the 50th Edition of the Fastnet Race in Cowes, Isle of Wight. 🛥️

27/07 Attended the Tall Ships Races Captains’ Dinner at Lerwick Town Hall, Lerwick, Shetland Islands. 👨‍✈️🍽️

28/07 Visited ships in Lerwick Harbour taking part in the Tall Ships Races. 🚢🏁

29/07 With Sir Tim, attended the King George Day at Ascot Racecourse. 🏆🐎

30/07 Princess Anne and Sir Tim visited Cowes, Isle of Wight for Cowes Week and carried out the following engagements;

Viewed Cowes Week Racing and met Squadron Staff at the Royal Yacht Squadron. 🛥️

Visited HMS Tyne and The Royal Navy Stand. ⛴️

Attended a Church Service at Holy Trinity Church. ⛪️

Attended a Reception for Members, Racing Crews, Flag Officers and Sailing Associates at the Royal Yacht Squadron. 🥂

Total official engagements for Anne in July: 42

2023 total so far: 304

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in July: 14

2023 total so far: 70

[lesbianchemicalplant]

Starbucks is suing its union, Starbucks Workers United, after objecting to the group’s social media post in support of Palestine after the Hamas attack on Israel, according to an internal company note circulated Tuesday and obtained by The Intercept. The company had previously condemned the post but is now upping the ante, planning to take the union to court. In a message from Executive Vice President Sara Kelly, Starbucks argued that the union’s use of the name Starbucks confuses customers, and that some customers took their anger over the SWU statement out on store employees.  The union’s post read “Solidarity with Palestine!” and quote-tweeted an image of a bulldozer breaking through the fence encircling Gaza. More than 9,000 workers at 360 stores have now voted to join SWU, which is affiliated with Workers United and SEIU, according to its website, but they have been met with stiff resistance from the company on a potential contract. The company previously sent SWU a “cease and desist” order threatening legal action and now plans to follow through with that threat....

(October 17th 2023)

Starbucks and the union organizing its workers sued each other Wednesday in a standoff sparked by a social media post over the Israel-Hamas war. Starbucks sued Workers United in federal court in Iowa Wednesday, saying a pro-Palestinian social media post from a union account early in the Israel-Hamas war angered hundreds of customers and damaged its reputation. Starbucks is suing for trademark infringement, demanding that Workers United stop using the name “Starbucks Workers United” for the group that is organizing the coffee company’s workers. Starbucks also wants the group to stop using a circular green logo that resembles Starbucks’ logo. Workers United responded with its own filing, asking a federal court in Pennsylvania to rule that it can continue to use Starbucks’ name and a similar logo. Workers United also said Starbucks defamed the union by implying that it supports terrorism and violence. On Oct. 9, two days after Hamas militants rampaged across communities in southern Israel, Starbucks Workers United posted “Solidarity with Palestine!” on X, formerly known as Twitter. Workers United — a Philadelphia-based affiliate of the Service Employees International Union — said in its lawsuit that workers put up the tweet without the authorization of union leaders. The post was up for about 40 minutes before it was deleted. But posts and retweets from local Starbucks Workers United branches supporting Palestinians and condemning Israel were still visible on X Wednesday. Seattle-based Starbucks filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, noting that Iowa City Starbucks Workers United was among those posting pro-Palestinian messages. In a letter sent to Workers United on Oct. 13, Starbucks demanded that the union stop using its name and similar logo. In its response, Workers United said Starbucks Workers United’s page on X clearly identifies it as a union. “Starbucks is seeking to exploit the ongoing tragedy in the Middle East to bolster the company’s anti-union campaign,” Workers United President Lynne Fox wrote in a letter to Starbucks. In its lawsuit, Workers United noted that unions often use the company name of the workers they represent, including the Amazon Labor Union and the National Football League Players Association....

(October 18th 2023)

[lefresne]

breaking down Edward III's Arthuriana obsession (with @queer-ragnelle and me @lefresne ): Things We Discovered Which We Certainly Did Not Know Before.

First, something we did know: Edward's third son is named Lionel - this is kind of an unusual name for a prince which suggests this might have been a name that Edward particularly liked. Edward is kind of famous for being an Arthurian enthusiast so it is likely that Lionel was named after THE Lionel, cousin of Lancelot. We did some research, more stuff emerged including:

When Edward was fifteen he seems to have made an order of multiple tunics for his squires and for himself in order to 'play the game of Cradok'. This 'game' (I speculate) is a 'jeu', a medieval play, based on the story of Caradoc (from the First Continuation, which Isabella owned according to an inventory) and the Lay of the Cort Mantel - a story in which a mantle is sent to the Arthurian court that shrinks when an unfaithful woman tries it on. NOW Edward was still under the tutelage of his mother Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer at this time and the idea that Edward might have staged this as an angsty dig against his mother and her lover is frankly hilarious.

Roger Mortimer (Isabella's lover) gifted Edward a cup decorated with the arms of Lancelot and Lionel. Lionel was Edward's favourite knight.

Edward would ride in tournaments dressed as either lancelot or Lionel.

He wanted to establish an order of the Round Table and seems to have had a table built, as well as begun work on a circular room to house it but the plans never came to fruition. The Order of the Garter, symbolised by a circular girdle, might have been a nod to other Arthurian chivalric orders.

Staged an arthurian joust in front of the captured king of France Jean II and made some of the captured French and Scottish knights compete. Tried to buy back one of his crowns he pawned earlier from the germans to impress Jean II.

this visiting Italian nobleman described all this but the main takeaway is how cringe he found all of it.

[princessanneftw]

Hardest working royals of 2023 revealed

Princess Anne tops list with more than 450 engagements with the King also increasing his time spent at public events

Patrick Sawer, Senior News Reporter and Hannah Furness, Royal Editor for The Telegraph

Princess Anne was the hardest working royal this year, carrying out 457 engagements as she lent steadfast support to her brother in his role as monarch.

The King was ranked in second place, having taken part in 425 royal engagements, while his brother the Duke of Edinburgh was third, with 297 engagements.

The Queen was fourth with 233 royal engagements and the Duchess of Edinburgh fifth with 219.

An analysis by The Telegraph of public events and official meetings based on entries published in the Court Circular showed that the Princess Royal continued to be the most industrious member of the family.

Princess Anne and the King were among members of the Royal family to increase their workload over the past year, after taking on many of the duties and engagements previously conducted by the late Queen Elizabeth.

A separate analysis last year by Reboot SEO company showed that Princess Anne carried out 214 royal engagements, while the King took part in 181.

In a typical average week this year, Princess Anne undertook between 12 and 14 engagements.

Her busiest month was February, when the Princess Royal undertook 57 engagements, which included trips to Australia and New Zealand.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and former editor of The International Who’s Who said: “Anne is one of the best advertisements for the Royal family because she is hardworking, she is dedicated and she is popular because people look at the way she handles things and they like it.

“The public see Anne as someone who is grounded, I think the institution does need her very much.”

The King’s workload over the past 12 months included a state visit to France in September as well as his own Coronation on May 6.

Some of his busiest days have involved back-to-back meetings at Buckingham Palace with ambassadors and other dignitaries and politicians, while the King has also undertaken numerous smaller-scale engagements in the community, visiting local projects and businesses.

Typical of this was his visit to the Broke Not Broken charity in Kinross in September, where he viewed its food bank store, and vegetable garden and met volunteers and members of staff, before visiting an art exhibition and a day centre.

The Court Circular shows that over the past 12 months both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester carried out 172 royal engagements each.

The Princess of Wales undertook 128 and the Duchess of Gloucester 111. The Duke of Kent carried out 69 engagements.

An analysis of the number and type of royal engagements raises questions about the future of the monarchy, with the Prince and Princess of Wales taking a very different approach to that of the older generation.

The majority of day-to-day engagements are now carried out by those well into or approaching retirement age, with the Duchess of Edinburgh now 58 and the Duke of Edinburgh turning 60 next year.

The Waleses have deliberately chosen to focus on fewer patronages, hoping to use their power to shine a light on issues close to their hearts to make a bigger difference.

Traditionalists have raised questions over who will pick up the numerous daily visits around the country in the newly slimmed down monarchy with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex departed and the children of the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Duke of Edinburgh not working members of the family.

Dickie Arbiter, the royal commentator who was press spokesman for Queen Elizabeth from 1988 until 2000, said Princess Anne provided invaluable support to the King.

“She just gets on with it, often carrying out multiple engagements in one day,” he said.

“Of course much of what the King does is behind the scenes, in meetings and going through his red boxes, which doesn’t warrant a mention in the Court Circular.”

Mr Arbiter added: “Anne is a tremendous support to the King. He bounces ideas off her. For an ageing monarchy they are doing pretty well.”

[caesarhamato22]

Hey, love. Donkey Kong simp here! I love him unironically, and I would like to request headcanons and/or a fic based on reader being a Queen from another kingdom and how their relationship would be.

Things I'd like if you included:

Courting

Telling his family

kids? if they ever have any?

Basically fluffy shit and a little spice!

Please and thank you! Happy writing!

Hello!!

I, too, love him unironically, and it would be a pleasure to write this request for you, @autistic-solar-fandom <3

His Queen

Donkey Kong X Queen!Reader

Oh. my. god. This one is so long.

Summary: Donkey Kong meets you, a Queen from another kingdom, and is head over heels for her royal highness.

Warnings: Language. NSFW at the end.

~

Meeting

• Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad and DK were exploring other parts of their world with their karts, mainly since Mario and Luigi were still pretty new to the place.

• And with Bowser being gone?

• Literally the perfect time to go for a little wander.

• DK originally wasn't going to go, but he couldn't resist annoying Mario. He would playfully criticise the way Mario would try to flirt with Peach, and Toad would immediately interrupt by saying Mario was doing a great job.

• Luigi would try to hide his laughter while Mario looked at him, unimpressed.

• While all this was happening, Peach just lightly blushed.

• She couldn't lie.

• She liked the short, red plumber.

• The group came up to a kingdom that Peach knew well. It was your kingdom!

• It was an elegant sight. Citizens of all different species were greeting everyone they saw. Some danced, some sang, it was clear that everyone loved their home.

• And in the middle of all the houses and people, stood a grand castle. It was decorated with your favourite colours and ornaments.

• While being heavily fortified, it was a welcoming sight.

• The group tried to take everything in, but there was just too much to see.

• Peach led them towards the castle down the same path she had taken multiple times before.

• Once at the castle doors, the guards stood strong, about as tall as Donkey Kong was on his knuckles.

• They recognised Princess Peach and bowed respectfully before letting the group through the doors.

• The interior was even more magnificent than the exterior. There were stained glass windows of you and the rulers before you.

• Peach pointed at the one of you, "that's Queen (Y/N), the current ruler of (Kingdom Name)."

• The one thing the group noticed about your window was you were by yourself, while the other windows had the previous royal couples on them.

• The couples stood side by side while you stood proudly with your signature weapon in hand.

• Before they knew it, the group had reached the throne room. Your throne was decorated accordingly to match the rest of your home.

• In the centre of the room was a circular display of all the kingdoms. You looked over it, your back facing the group. When you heard footsteps, you turned and smiled brightly at the sight of your friend.

• You and Peach reunited with a hug while everyone else took in your appearance.

• Whether you were wearing a dress, or a suit (or both!), you looked powerful with your weapon in it's designated place on your person.

• Mario, Luigi and Toad watched you with admiration, ready to show their respect with a bow.

• But Donkey Kong?

• He couldn't move.

• His eyes were wide and his body was still. He could barely focus on his breathing.

• And the worst part was... Mario noticed this.

• "Looking a little bit stiff there, pal."

• "Mario. Shut the fuck up."

• Peach introduced you to her friends and they loved you. You were so welcoming and kind, almost the same as Princess Peach. However, they did notice you were a little more reserved and serious.

• You gave them a quick tour of the castle and pointed out sections of the kingdom.

• Everyone admired each thing that you pointed out.

• Meanwhile, DK was admiring you.

• While the others took in the scenery, his eyes kept focusing back on you.

• And he didn't notice that you were doing the same.

• When you noticed his eyes were on you, you stuttered before looking away.

• You tried to hide it, and you did pretty well.

• If it wasn't for Peach seeing right through you.

• You would glance at DK when he wasn't looking.

• On occasion, you would take a quick look at his arms.

• That was a mistake.

• Now you couldn't think straight.

• After the tour, the group went their own way to explore further, and they eventually went home.

• Before they left, they thanked you for a wonderful time and you smiled warmly.

• DK thanked you personally while the others were heading towards their karts.

• He held your hand and gently touched his forehead to the top of it.

• "I was nice meeting you."

• DK never really had a way with words when it came to formalities. Sure, he was pretty good at playfully flirting, everybody knew that.

• But he couldn't really speak to a Queen the same way he yelled out to his fans.

• Yet, you still blushed at his simple statement.

• "It was lovely meeting you too."

• Your voice was like silk to him. He practically melted right there.

• And he knew he would be back.

• And you did too.

Meeting Again

• DK pretty much memorised the way to your kingdom by taking mental notes on his way back home.

• He couldn't stop thinking about you. And your kingdom, to be honest.

• There was something so comforting about it, and about you.

• So, a few days after his first visit with his friends, he chose to go back by himself.

• The second time travelling to your kingdom didn't seem nearly as long as the previous time.

• Once he reached the doors, the guards stopped him.

• Without Princess Peach there, he didn't have authority to just waltz on into the castle.

• After he asked (very nicely, in fact), they walked him to the throne room, which was where you were, sitting in your grand chair.

• He smiled and his eyes beamed.

• Why was he so excited? So eager to see you? Why had the thought of you stayed in his mind for days?

• You saw him, your eyes widened. It seemed you were having the same dilemma.

• It was him! The person you couldn't keep your eyes off during he and his friends visit!

• But why was he here? Was there urgent news? Had Bowser escaped from his tiny prison?

• "Donkey Kong? What are you doing here?" You truly wanted to know.

• His name... you said his name! You remembered his name!

• "Well, I uh... I'm here because..."

• He was frozen. He was fumbling over his words. How was he fumbling over his words?!

• You saw his discomfort and asked the guards to leave.

• That seemed to relax DK. Was he nervous? You guessed that might be it.

• He exhaled once he noticed it was just you two.

• "I actually don't know."

• Well, then.

• "I guess I... you seemed cool so I wanted to see you again."

• Sure.

• He travelled alllllll this way because he thought you were "cool".

• Yet, you took it as a compliment. You weren't going to judge him for his reasoning. You were just happy to see him, if you were honest.

• "I'm glad I made a good first impression." You laughed.

• He scratched his neck with a anxious smile.

• "Care to take a walk?" You suggested getting out of the castle, or at least out of the throne room, thinking it would put him at ease.

• He immediately accepted your invitation.

• As you walked, he told you about his kingdom while you told him about yours.

• You explained your duties while he explained his fathers.

• Although you were around same age, how were you a Queen while he was a Prince?

• How long had you been Queen? How long had he been the champion of the Jungle Kingdom arena?

• What was it like being adored by your subjects, while he was adored by fans?

• Countless questions, so many answers, non-stop talking.

• Your conversation had started out a little awkward, but you two quickly became comfortable in each others company.

• The biggest thing DK took note of was how quickly your speech and body language changed. You seemed much more relaxed after leaving the castle and embracing the nature around you. You spoke so fluently, so elegantly, so passionately.

• DK could listen for hours.

• And for hours, he did.

• Time flew and before you knew it, a couple hours had gone by.

• He knew he had to go, and you knew too.

• Before parting, he presented the same gesture he gave you the first time you met: his forehead to the top of your hand.

• Except this time, he added a small kiss on your hand.

• Heat rushed to your face.

• And he was gone.

• These surprise visits continued. Each time, it was in your kingdom. DK had insisted.

• Then there were letters.

• Then there were gifts.

• And eventually, during a day where you spent the visit in your room, you sat on your bed, reading a book, while he laid on your floor, staring at the ceiling.

• "I think I like you."

• What the fuck.

• No warning. Just like that.

• You looked down at him, his eyes still observing the ceiling.

• He didn't feel the need to hide it anymore. His heart had been beating so fast it had started to hurt. He had to tell you.

• You ever so slightly smiled when he glanced at you, unsure of your reaction.

• "I think I like you too."

Dating

• In the early stages of your relationship, all your dates were in your kingdom, or somewhere near by.

• Picnics, kart rides, relaxing in your room, and anything that gave you alone time were the main types of dates you had with DK.

• Kart rides were one of his top favourites.

• They were either you two using your own karts, or you shared his.

• When you're using your own karts, it's always a race.

• There's no worries, no responsibilities, just peace.

• When you're sharing his kart, it's always a simple drive with your head on his arm/shoulder.

• Sometimes you like to stand up and hold his kart for balance. You're surprisingly good at stabilising yourself, even at such quick speeds.

• The first time you did this, DK almost had a full panic attack and practically begged you to come down. You promised him you'd be fine, and you were.

• But that didn't stop his secret worrying.

• He knew you were capable. He just cares a lot <3

• After the first couple months of you officially dating, you asked if you could visit his home.

• But DK was hesitant.

• Not because he was ashamed, no, not at all! In fact, he was excited to show you off, whenever that would be.

• It was mostly because he didn't know how his father would react.

• A kong and a human?

• It was rather an odd combination, you had to admit.

• But you assured him if his dad didn't approve of you, you would leave immediately. No hard feelings, whatsoever.

• It took a little convincing, but he eventually agreed.

• He first wanted to tell his friends, mostly Peach.

• They had noticed he went on "trips" more often after he had met you.

• Peach was the one who guessed that he was visiting you, so she wasn't all that surprised when he confided in her.

• She was surprised, however, when he told her you two were a couple.

• DK didn't know what reaction he would get from her, but he definitely didn't think it would be squealing.

• Thank GOD no one was around to hear.

• Specifically Mario.

• DK actually kept Peach updated on how your relationship was going.

• She gave him advice on what you liked to do <3

• On your first date in the Jungle Kingdom, DK obviously had to give you a tour.

• At first, he didn't show any signs of PDA, so you didn't initiate any.

• Until he eventually went "fuck it" and put his arm around your shoulder to give you a kiss on your cheek.

• He introduced you to Diddy Kong and his dad, Cranky Kong {more details in the next section} and once you became familiar with them, Donkey Kong's nerves vanished.

• Afterwards, it seemed silly to him on how anxious he was.

• You told him you understood how he felt and gave him a light peck.

• Holy. Shit.

• He's so glad he brought you to his home.

• Now you can hang out here too??

• Any of your dates in the Jungle Kingdom consisted of more kart racing, and even exploring the massive garage where all the karts are built.

• DK actually helped you build your very own kart to keep in his kingdom :)

• He made sure the guards in his home knew of your importance.

• Importance being your status of "Queen" and status of "Donkey Kong's Girlfriend".

• He made sure you were treated as well as how you were treated at home.

• Once everyone he wanted to tell knew about you, he had no shame with giving you love in every possible place.

• In your kingdom, the amount of PDA he gave you was up to you.

• But in his kingdom?

• He wanted EVERYONE to know.

Meeting His Father

• Cranky Kong wasn't a fan in the beginning.

• A human with a kong?

• And with you being a Queen, no less. There wouldn't be any time for you two to hang out anyways, would there?

• Until DK told him you had actually been dating two months prior to telling him.

• Cranky Kong was both baffled and disappointed.

• The father and son actually got into an argument about you.

• Neither of them knew you were standing in the doorway, eavesdropping.

• You walked up to them, mid-argument.

• They both quietened and watched you.

• DK looked at you worriedly. He didn't want you to be yelled at or insulted by his grumpy dad.

• Cranky kept his angry expression.

• "Sir. I don't want to be the reason your family falls apart."

• Cranky's gaze softened.

• "It was a pleasure meeting you. And it was such a joy meeting your son."

• The way you spoke so formally yet with such emotion.

• "Thank you for opening your kingdom to me for this time." You curtsied/bowed and squeezed DK's hand before turning to leave.

• Cranky's hardened expression dropped.

• You were so respectful, so understanding, so calm.

• So... not like Donkey Kong.

• DK froze as you left. You seem to have that effect on him.

• He turned to his dad. So much hurt, written so clear on his face.

• Cranky looked at him, then to your disappearing form, then back to his son.

• "Go get her."

• DK raced to bring you back to the room.

• Just from that small, stressful interaction, Cranky Kong was impressed.

• You impressed the King.

• ...And now you're besties <333

Kids?

• It was never really DK's goal to have kids.

• He never really thought about it.

• In a way, he already had a kid. Diddy Kong was a menace.

• (Speaking of, Diddy immediately liked you)!

• But if you ever did become pregnant, DK would tell you the decision was ultimately yours.

• If you kept the child, he would be the BEST dad.

• He would want his kid to have fun every second of the day.

• He would constantly fall asleep with the child on his chest and snore very, very loudly. Yet, the kid would stay asleep.

• Expect two sets of eyes staring at you in the morning.

• If you didn't keep the child, DK would love you just the same.

• All he needed was you.

• You being happy and healthy is all he could wish for.

• You would spend the rest of your days with just him.

• Going on adventures, ruling over the two kingdoms, side by side.

Marriage

• You chose where the wedding was.

• DK's kingdom? It was during the day.

• The wedding was huge.

• It was more of a party.

• Mario, Luigi, Toad, Peach, everyone you invited had come.

• His fans went absolutely crazy.

• The first time they found out he had a girlfriend, the entire kingdom wanted to know more about you.

• When they found out you were a Queen from another kingdom, they wanted to know even more about you.

• In a nice way.

• Where was your kingdom? What did it look like?

• Although you were a Queen, you acted no different to how you were without the crown.

• You were so kind, so soft, and your presence was silencing everywhere you went.

• In a good way :)

• Although you weren't considered weak, you were still smaller than the Kongs, so it seemed everyone was careful around you.

• The citizens loved you, the guards protected you, and DK assured you they would've acted the exact same way even if you weren't royalty.

• Now, if the wedding took place in your kingdom, the ceremony would go a little differently.

• It was peaceful, less rowdy, and during the early night.

• Your entire kingdom came to celebrate.

• After making your marriage official, you and DK strolled through the friendly crowds.

• People let you two walk pass and you greeted anyone who wanted to congratulate your marriage.

• It was a different experience for DK.

• Although this was a huge change in your life, and for your kingdom, no one swarmed you.

• It removed any anxiety he had felt and he enjoyed he whole night, just looking at you.

• Doesn't matter where the wedding was, his eyes were only on you.

• He was so proud.

• "Yep. That's my wife."

• He told everyone he met.

• You looked like a goddess. He genuinely thought he was dreaming at times.

• How in the world did this gorilla get so lucky?

SFW Oneshot

The sun was just about to set while you and Donkey Kong were on a drive. This was one of the times where he drove while you relaxed in his lap.

You felt so content with the wind in your face and DK's hand resting on your hip.

Your eyes had been closed for a while with a small smile on your face. You felt the temperature drop just slightly and you blinked and noticed the sun was almost halfway down.

You chose to stand on DK's kart, just next to where he sat, like you always did.

Taking in a deep breathe while holding on tightly so you wouldn't fall, you admired the view as DK kept the kart steady. A small bump in the road approached you and DK casually wrapped his arm around your leg and held your thigh to give you extra balance.

You looked down and smiled at him. He cared about you so much and he showed it through these small gestures. It was his instinct to protect you at any given moment, even if he didn't notice what he was doing.

With one hand, you ran it through his hair, as a thanks. He leaned into your touch and relaxed his head on the side of your thigh that he was holding on to.

These were definitely one of your favourite moments with your dearly beloved.

NSFW

• It was hard at first (no pun intended) to have any private time.

• You had a lot of responsibilities in your kingdom and sometimes you were too tired after a full day of royal duties.

• If it was in your kingdom, it was in your room.

• You had to be quiet a lot of the time because of the staff who worked in the castle.

• But!

• You had a trick up your sleeve.

• You had a much smaller cottage hidden in the forest near the village. It was a place you often went to take a break from being Queen.

• It also turned into a common place for you a DK ;)

• His favourite thing was when you let your royal persona drop.

• When you weren't being serious, you allowed yourself to have all the fun you wanted.

• DK was a huge fan of using his hands.

• I mean... have you seen them?

• Edging you with his fingers before switching to his tongue was a common trick he used on you.

• You thought he'd become predictable.

• No.

• Somehow, it always took you by surprise.

• You loved riding him while his hands caressed your body.

• He loved when you took control, and you loved when he took control.

• Sharing is caring <3

• A more intimate position you two loved was you sitting in his lap, facing him.

• Sure, under the covers he may have been fucking you to the point your legs would shake, but your bodies were so close, so connected.

• Whether you maintained eye contact, made out passionately, or he was giving you hickeys all over your neck, you were so in love with him.

• Every time you two would have alone time, it was always fun.

• Never serious.

• And never boring.

~

Hello again! I apologise if this was a bit too long, but I didn't want to leave anything out :)

I hope you liked it @autistic-solar-fandom !

I'm currently writing a longer NSFW oneshot which will be posted in the next couple days. See you then!

[the-jewel-catalogue]

Monthly Jewels: May || Emerald

The Godman Necklace

In 1965, a pair of elderly sisters, the Godmans, approached Buckingham Palace and told them that they had a piece of jewelry that the Queen might be interested in. According to Leslie Field in The Queen’s Jewels, they believed that a diamond and emerald necklace that they’d inherited from their father, British Museum trustee Frederick McCann Godman, had connections to Empress Joséphine of France.

The palace did a bit of digging about the Godmans’ necklace, and unfortunately, it was determined that the piece didn’t come from Empress Joséphine or the Leuchtenbergs at all. Regardless, it’s an extremely beautiful nineteenth-century necklace, and the sisters asked if the Queen would still like to have the piece. It’s rare that the royals accept such extravagant gifts from the public, but as in the case of the Queen Mother and the Greville inheritance, this time the Queen accepted.

~ The Court Jeweller

The necklace which is a delicate ornamental work in platinum, is encrusted with diamonds and emeralds. The design used on the necklace is based on symmetrical flower motifs, a style that was common for jewelry crafting throughout the 19th century, a naturalistic style that used the “language of flowers.”

The thick circular band of the necklace is encrusted with diamond baguettes interspersed with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Seven floral motifs arise from the lower side of this band, which take the form of seven pendants. The largest of this floral pendant is situated along the median line of the necklace, and is encrusted with two large emeralds, a rectangular-shaped smaller emerald at the base, and an elongated oval or drop-shaped emerald in the center of the pendant, which is the largest emerald in the necklace.

[bleachbleachbleach]

[Bleach 080]

Things I Love Thinking in Circles About

How big, area-wise, the Seireitei is

What regular Gotei work looks like when we're not looking

What did the early bird VCs do the entire time they were sitting around in Conference Room 2 waiting for people to show up?

--

1. How big, area-wise, the Seireitei is

According to Yoruichi, walking from one gate to the next would take 10 days, which initially makes the Seireitei seem really damn big. The city of Ann Arbor, Michigan has a population of 120,000 people. If we're meant to believe that there are 6000 shinigami (citation: Ooetsu?), I find it difficult to believe that the Seireitei's population would be much larger than 120k, if that. (Personally, I proceed as though it's a lot less than that.) Like the Seireitei, Ann Arbor is also circular, ringed not by a Seireimon but a necklace of Interstates, but it's only like 10 miles across. It really wouldn't take that long to walk 1/4 of the way around its rim.

You'd have to walk around a quarter of the entire country of Spain for it to take 10 days:

Obviously Google is not taking into account tired feet or needing to like, sleep, with this estimate, but STILL. The Seireitei is not the size of SPAIN.

A) Let's say it would really take 10 days. This gate-to-gate trek might need to take terrain into account (which Google sometimes does and often doesn't lol). The area Ichigo et al ended up in seemed pretty civ where the gate matches up with Junrinan, but maybe a shade north and the terrain is much more difficult!

B) Let's say it really would not take 10 days. Yoruichi might have been exaggerating, because she doesn't want to walk to another damn gate and also it's not as though there aren't also shinigami waiting at...the other gates... So she nips that in the bud and directs her party's attentions elsewhere.

Or maybe she knows that even this close to the Seireitei, in Rukongai time gonna wime, and space-time are not going to exist in a constant relationship with each other.

C) Let's say Matsumoto's "half-day" comment probably isn't about geography, either. Half a day would make the Seireitei approximately the size of like, Indianapolis? (population 882k, area 368 sq. miles/950 sq. km) if we were basing it purely on area. But also, shunpou?? So I really feel like the "length of time it would take people to arrive"half day" comment is less a function of physical distance and more about the fact that they're all busy and have tasks they'd need to extricate themselves from before they started walking/running/sauntering/gamboling over.

Which leads me to--

2. What regular Gotei work looks like when we're not looking

I think we've seen enough evidence that the way the Gotei has built itself does not lend itself well to rapid response. Their response to the ryoka invasion was not particularly rapid, nor organized. Their response to AIZEN'S MURDER was nearly non-existent. Winter War prep was also kind of rough, and I guess TYBW 1 was kind of a surprise attack, but I think my point still stands that it's just not their forte. I think part of this is because the Gotei is legitimately just kind of bad at being functional; we all know this. They all know this. I think the other part is that rapid response is very, very hard.

Given that they are heavenly court guards, you'd think rapid response to potential threats would be more of a priority, but you could say that about a lot of real-life things that, in reality, do not work that way (and perhaps cannot, in the absence of radical reinvention). To use a near universal example, see Exhibit C: COVID responses lol. Even outside of that very particular example, I'm part of a direct action organization and even though it's relatively small and its politics are activist-minded, rapid response is still very, very hard.

I just love thinking about, okay, where are the Gotei bottlenecks, what's the red tape, where's the sludge in the workings, where to the capacities fall through, what jobs haven't been invented that they really need, what jobs exist that really shouldn't, how much is logistical, how much is political, how much is cultural, how much is personal? *this is my bulletproof kiiiiiiink*

If it's going to take 4-12 hours to get all the officers in one place, it makes me think that yes, the alarms are going off, but it's a rapid response priority only for those who were assigned to quadrant 6 or whatever. Yes, this meeting call went out, but the threat is not yet at a level where you need to drop everything and haul ass. It's serious, but not more serious than the rippling consequences of ignoring the essential tasks you were already engaged in that are really going to fuck things up in domino-like ways if you don't do them right now.

For Ichigo et al, rescuing Rukia is Priority #1. For the Gotei, the ryoka invasion is this major world event that slammed on top of their already-full calendars of other shit they're supposed to do today. Big meeting? That's great, but it's going to have to wait or else a whole deployment's going to ship out late, the payroll office is going to close before those forms get signed, and Z isn't going to have the Y report that's required in order to start the X project.

3. What did the early bird VCs do the entire time they were sitting around in Conference Room 2 waiting for people to show up?

The meeting was called to address Ichimaru's behavior in dealing (or not dealing) with the ryoka, so we can assume it was called relatively quickly after Yamamoto got wind of that. Renji just took Rukia to Fancy Prison, but it doesn't seem like there's yet been dissemination of an official report, because he doesn't actually know if Ichigo got killed by Ichimaru or not. But the meeting is still going on when the ryoka invade successfully via The Sky.

In the interim, Ichigo et al hung out with the denizens of Junrinan, met Ganju, walked out to bumfuck to find Kuukaku's house, got introduced to the cannon and the cannonballs, practiced with the cannonballs, ate dinner, gained proficiency with the cannonballs, and blasted themselves through the sky.

Which makes it seem like the VCs who got there early literally did have to wait around for half a day before everyone showed up. Keep in mind THEIR MEETING DID NOT EVEN HAVE AN AGENDA. They were just supposed to stage in Conference Room 2!

So what did they do? Did they bring any work with them? Did they shoot the shit for six hours? Play games? Nap?

...Orgy?

(Orgy.)

[lilyginnyblackv2]

A Deeper Look At Kazuki’s Delinquent Teen Version of Miri

In Episode 5, we see Miri packing for her brief visit and stay with Kyutaro at the Mistletoe Cafe:

She has a drawing pad, crayons, an eraser, water bottle, a white stuffed rabbit, and some food: the stuff like the orange gummies and popcorn (ポップ) seem rather generic, while the Poki Poki is obviously meant to be Pocky, the pink container is meant to be Calbee’s じゃがりこ (jagariko), which are basically like a potato stick snack. The chocolate seems a bit generic too, though the shape of the box and the circular shape of the chocolate reminds me of Lotte’s Ghana chocolate:

In Kazuki’s wild imagination of a shoplifting teen Miri, we see that he has her stealing Poki Poki and the Choconut chocolate, two things that she is packing in her bag in Episode 5. There’s also a stack of Morio Kart 6 games (like 3 or 4, maybe for her and her friends, lol). 

The stationary stuff was replaced with makeup and other kinds of cosmetics, which fits in with what we see of her appearance. 

Looking at her face in the image below, Kazuki has her looking like Misaki, Miri’s mother. This makes sense, of course, she is her mom. He imagines her with the same color eye shadow though, which is interesting. Anyone who has watched anime, especially school based ones, for a while, likely know that wearing makeup goes against the usual school dress codes. 

The same goes for her earrings, especially if they are pierced. Most school dress codes in Japan don’t allow for earrings, so if someone does get ear piercings, it’s in adulthood, after they graduate. Even then though, clip on earrings are more common. A teen girl with pierced earrings though gives the image of delinquency. 

Miri is also show with the top buttons of her dress shirt unbuttoned and her tie loosened. All of which is against dress code as well. Her skirt was also altered to be a bit shorter than it is supposed to be (you can see that more in the last image below). Before we talk about that last image though, let’s talk about the aspects of Miri’s appearance that could go against some Japanese school dress codes, but which she has no actual control over.

Specifically the color of her hair and it being wavy. I’ll link to some articles that go into more details on these issues, but her is an excerpt from on Vice article. It mentions:

Text: The unnamed female student said her institution repeatedly demanded she dye her naturally brown hair black. She followed the school’s rules at first but eventually stopped, leading school officials to remove her desk from the classroom, erase her name from rosters, and check her hair roots. A court ordered the local government to pay her $3,100 in damages last February, but ruled the school has a right to impose hair regulations.

In another article entitled, #HairWeGo: Japanese take aim at school rule requiring black hair, from AsiaOne (which I will link to below), we have this segment:

Text: In most of Japan's public schools, pupils are only permitted to have straight black hair. They cannot bleach, dye or perm it. Conversely, any student whose hair is naturally light or curly can be made to straighten or dye it until it is the required shade of black.

The reason for these rules on hair color and needing all students to have straight black hair is because it is often associated with the ideal Japanese image. 

There have been lots of debate and discussion about these sorts of rules over on Japan Twitter, Japanese news, and etc. in recent years, with many calling these rules out. So, recently, many of these rules have been removed or, at least, are currently being reevaluated. 

But these changes are still new, ideas of differently colored hair like brown (or blond, like Kazuki) and hair that isn’t straight (curly, wavy, etc.) are viewed as outside of the norm. And therefore are often associated with acts of rebellion (dyeing hair, perming hair, etc.) rather than the possibility of them just being the natural state and color. 

I’ve worked at a number of Japanese elementary and junior high schools though, and I know that this sort of mentality is changing, especially as more and more biracial children are being born in Japan. But, there is still preconceived ideas there. I remember one teacher I worked with, had to dye their brown hair black for a formal event (outside of work) once. It was sad to see.

But, that’s also why I like the fact that a lot of the Buddy Daddies characters have brown hair (Miri, Kyutaro, Miss Anna) and many of the children Miri plays with have different hair color shades as well (different shades of brown, Taiga with blond-ish colored hair like Kazuki, etc.). I know it’s an anime, but the general character designs in Buddy Daddies leans more towards grounded than something you might find in a Shonen Jump series, etc. So, I think these choices also say something.

Finally, lets talk about this last image. In the background you have posters for the basically “Just Say No to Drugs!!” campaign in Japan (they don’t always use the Globe Mascot for all posters, it makes sense they would use one with a cop at a police station or police box location). There is also a poster warning about phone call scams.

But, I want to focus on Miri sitting with her legs crossed. The other day on Twitter, I saw a video of a woman crossing her legs on a train. An old man that was sitting next to her, and who was manspreading, got upset when she did this and whacked her legs with a newspaper. (I’ll link to think video below).

It’s seen as rude and, especially in the case of women, disrespectful. Of course, that doesn’t mean that people don’t cross their legs (that woman did) and that doesn’t mean that older man’s actions were okay. But, this is also why teen Miri is shown sitting with her legs crossed in Kazuki’s wild imagination, because it is associated with disrespect and the like (the speech patterns that she uses in Japanese are rude too, of course). 

I won’t include the image here, but teen Miri and teen Taiga being all over each other (like hugging each other and making a heart shape together, etc.) is viewed as too much PDA, which is also looked down upon in Japan. So, of course, Kazuki would end up including that in his “delinquent” version of Miri, lol.

[covenofthearticulate]

🔍 something about the modern era not referenced in the books that you think Louis would find upsetting or confusing + why?

🚫 one thing you don't like about your favorite character in-universe (don't hold back!) (Sorry!)

🧛🏼‍♀️ design an outfit for Louis based on the following aesthetic or scenario: Wedding or whatever spousal commitment ceremony they have at court

🔍 Answered here and here :)

🚫 don't be sorry LOL I love to hate on Louis, he is my favorite loser <3 I think my least favorite trait about Louis in canon is his massive ego. Like honestly, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people paint Lestat as the arrogant one when in reality, Lestat uses arrogance to cover up his own insecurity whereas Louis genuinely believes he is the smartest person in every single room he walks into. Physically? He's weak and human and whatever. But intellectually? Louis thinks he's superior to just about everyone. Even when he meets Armand, he begs for enlightenment, but the second Armand disagrees with his philosophy, he calls him simple! LMAO THE ARROGANCE!!

Idk I've been thinking about this a lot ever since I started chatting with @headfrst4halos about it, but I think one of the reasons I find Louis so intriguing is that he's somehow so pathetic and humble but also incredibly entitled and arrogant in the same breath, and it's weird because with the amount of guilt he carries, you'd think he'd have a bit more self-awareness, but I think especially in IWTV he fails to hold himself accountable for his own actions over and over again, it's just exhausting LOL

🧛🏼‍♀️ OH BOY okay so while I don't agree with everything Anne said in her Hypothetical Loustat Wedding facebook post (I'm haunted every day by the idea of a weird vampire children church choir), I do agree that Louis would actually wind up dressed in black for this particular occasion.

I actually don't think he'd wear a full early 19th century frock coat, though; rather, I think he'd wear something modern, but inspired by that same silhouette. Cue: this Tom Baker coat that costs more than my paycheck LOL. It still sits longer and accentuates the waist, and I actually would want to keep the charcoal satin cravat— if I had to change one thing, it would be that bit of leather at the top of the lapel, but otherwise I think Louis would look so dashing in this!

For a pop of color, I think he'd go for a waistcoat like this (sans tie). I love the dark emerald, and idk something about the floral print seems very Louis to me.

AS FOR THE RING........

I'm having trouble finding something that suits him because Louis is very much a silver tone, not gold. He wouldn't want a massive jewel, but something of a reasonable size, and square-cut, not circular. For the band, I don't think he'd be against something a little more ornate, but not too gaudy. The best thing I can find is sort of like a combination of these two styles:

The one on the left I picked out because I actually like the wide emerald cut on the silver band, and the one on the right has more of an elegant filagree on a thinner band, which I see as more Louis' style— if it was silver, and didn't have those little flowers, I think it would be perfect.

[namjoonswaifu]

Chapter 7- The Move

Authors note- I am so sorry it has been taking me so long to write, every time I sat down to write, I just had writer's block and nothing was working. However, I am on holiday in France right now, and the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and I finally found inspiration. This isn't a long chapter but I hope you all enjoy it.

total word count: 2.4k

warnings:

warnings: mentions of weight, AFAB character, mentions of female body parts, references to the weight of M/C, loosely based on my own research of the ancient Korean royalty system, bullying, loneliness, anxiety, money problems, mentions of how other people view characters body

message me if you feel I need more warnings or if you would like to be a proofreader!

As soon as the words came out of your mother's mouth, the smile on Namjoons face changed from one of nervousness to one of genuine happiness. Taking a step back from your family, Namjoon moves to talk to the audience. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologise for what just happened. Let us move on to the next event! I sincerely hope that you enjoy the music and food! Please, enjoy yourselves!” he speaks, his hands moving to clasp together as he finishes his sentence. The crowd stays where they are, still reeling from the events that have already happened this evening. 

You turn your head to make brief eye contact with Namjoon, to find that he was already looking at you. He takes a step towards you and offers his arm to you. Smiling brightly at the man, you try to place your arm in his as elegantly as possible, knowing that the court is watching you. Once your arms are connected, Namjoon smiles down at you. His smile passed on words that his mouth couldn’t say at present.

You look behind you to see where your mother was, to find Yoongi offering her arm to your mother. Your siblings had been a part of the crowd and they would not be joining you for the dinner, which weirdly made you feel a little less nervous, as they wouldn’t be able to tell embarrassing stories of you growing up to the man you were about to marry. 

The walk to the separate room where the dinner would be held took about a minute. The large group of you meander down halls and through some doors before arriving at the final place. Inside the room was a table in a circular shape. There was one large throne-like chair similar to the one that was in the hall at the top of the table from where you were standing. To the left of that chair was another chair that almost looked like one of the throne room chairs. And to the right of that large throne-like chair were two more slightly decorated chairs. The other six chairs were decorated with the titles of the men who would be sitting there spread evenly around the circle. Namjoon led you to the chair to the right of the large chair. He pulled the chair out, making you blush, as it was very uncommon for a king to do this for anyone. Once you were sat, he did the same for your mother and then his own before sitting down. Looking around you, you noticed that everyone was smiling. You took this moment to look at what everyone was wearing, only having the chance to see what the King, the Queen Dowager, Yoongi and your mother had been wearing. The boys were all wearing various shades of red and white. The colour complements their skin brilliantly underneath the lamplight. It made their eyes shine even brighter than they already were. Taking in a deep breath you allow yourself to feel happy and content at this moment. You felt free and able to finally breathe. 

Moments, after you were all sat down, the doors opened and two lines of servants filed into the room, some holding food, some holding drinks, some had cups and some had cutlery. Before your very eyes, the things in their hands were set out in their perfect positions, cups were filled as well as plates and hearts were opened, as the conversation began. 

Namjoon manages to sneakily move his chair as close to you as he can without making the other boys jealous, which he knows will lead to the young ones play fighting, and who knows how that’ll end. Catching your eyes, he leans closer to you, and you lean closer to him. He speaks in a quiet tone, the smile showing in his eyes and on his lips. “Thank you for accepting my proposal, I promise I will make you the happiest woman alive, as you have made me and my boys- I mean men, the last few weeks” he speaks. 

“My king, do not fear, I know of the relationship between you and the boys- I mean men” you copy, making him laugh before you continue “I have come to love each and every one of you and I would be honoured to join your family”. The smile on Namjoon’s face when you tell him this, makes his smile larger, and a blush fall from his ears to his cheeks. Namjoon takes your hand before speaking again “Well if that’s the case then I can’t wait to marry you, and 50 days can’t come soon enough, Nae salang/Sarang”. Seconds later, he lets go of your hand before standing up to address the people in the room. 

Firstly, he turns to the servants “Thank you for your work, you may go and enjoy the party, this can all be cleared up tomorrow, tonight we celebrate.” Then he turns to the people at the table, clasping his cup, he brings it to the air “And to my family, let us celebrate a union of two families, let us celebrate love in all its forms and let us celebrate our blessings. To celebrating!” he says, lifting his glass every so slightly higher at the end of his statement. 

“To celebrating!” everyone yells in unison, with their classes similarly raised in the air to the kings. Once everyone has yelled out, Namjoon sits down, and the conversations re-begin. Memories are shared between people, laughter is heard and love is shared. In that room, love and happiness were evident for even a blind man to see and feel. 

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The next day you woke up to a knock at your door. It was Hwasa waking you up. 

“Good morning your majesty,” she tells you “You have a busy day today, we must get you bathed and dressed”. 

“Please do not call me ‘Your Majesty’” you giggle to Hwasa, “you’ll give me an ego,” you tell her with a wink. She laughs alongside you, before taking your hand and bringing you back into the bathing room. “Today's bath will be shorter as you have a very busy day, I will come back and collect you when it is time, do you need anything else ma’am?” she asks. You smile and shake your head, excited to enjoy your bath no matter how long you would be in it. 

Stepping into the bath, you allow yourself to feel the warmth surrounding your body, the muscles that were tense from anxiety the past few days slowly releasing and making your body feel at ease. You dip your head into the bath, allowing your hair to enjoy the water as well. The bath is exactly what you needed this morning, and you were relieved that it was able to be added to your busy schedule. 

Around 15 minutes later, Hwasa walks back into the room, holding a long cloth that would dry you and a silken red robe with dragons embroidered into it. “The king and his men had this made for you. They had them make it as soon as you agreed to be the royal bride” she tells you. This information brings a smile to your face, and once your cloth is tied around you, you reach out for the robe, wanting to feel it in your hands. You place the robe delicately around your shoulders as you follow Hwasa out of the room, and into where you dressed each day. On your way, however, you noticed that all of your stuff had been placed into boxes. 

“Why is my stuff in boxes? I thought I was to stay…” your voice trembles, anxiety hitting you like a brick wall.

“Do not worry” Hwasa reassures, “you are staying, you are just being moved to a different courtyard closer to the king and his men, it is tradition. You will be transferred from the emerald apartment to the cherry blossom courtyard, which is on the other side of the cherry blossom garden. Oh, a letter has arrived for you today by the way!” 

“A letter? Who from?” you ask as Hwasa hands you the letter. You pull the wax away from the envelope and open it up. 

Her future royal highness, y/n, 

This letter was written to you regarding the royal engagement. It is a formal proposal letter. Please enjoy you’re new homing in the Cherry Blossom Garden. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact any of us. 

Sincerely, 

King Kim Namjoon 

And the boys

You giggled at the little addition at the bottom of the letter added by your boys, it made you even more sure that you were making the right decision. Folding the letter back up, you place it, along with the envelope on the dressing table near you. 

“Well then, I guess we had better get ready so we can see this new venue.” you grinned at her. 

Hwasa brings you over to the dressing table which still remained, sitting beautifully in front of two doors that would slide open. Realising this was your last day here, you decided to be bold and ask the woman, who had quickly become your friend, to open those doors whilst you had your hair and makeup done. She agreed but notified you that you must get dressed first, turning her hand towards the cotton figurine that stood in the doorway near your bedroom. Looking over at the hanbok you noticed the colour, it was a deep red colour, similar to the one you wore to the dinner the other day. And similar to the other, you noticed a gold band along the bottom of the skirt. Looking closer at it you noticed that it had been embroidered with both the seal of the dragon, one of royalty, and the seal of your house, tigers. Your heart lept with warmth and love at the thoughtfulness of your boys. A part of you felt weird calling them your boys when you haven’t had more than a crush before in your life. But in the same way, you have never felt more loved in your life. With a smile, you turned to Hwasa and stood to allow her to help you get ready. 

Once you were dressed, minus your gomusin and beoseon, you sat down and looked at yourself in the mirror as Hwasa opened the doors allowing the light to flood into the room. Feeling the warmth on your face, you felt at peace for the first time in a very long time. Hwasa and Hyo-Seong quickly moved on to applying your makeup and hair. The makeup was applied with a sense of regality that hadn't quite been there in the past times your makeup was done. Next was your hair, pulled in different directions and braided before being placed into an updo. Two matching hair pins are slid into the final hair-do, making it perfect. It still felt unreal to look at yourself in the mirror as your hair was done by two of the king’s servants. A sudden anxiety hit you as you realised you were to become the royal bride in less than 2 months. Noticing the anxious look on your face, Hwasa places a gentle hand on your shoulder, offering you a kind but small smile. 

“Your mother should be here soon, she was staying in the azurite apartment, but she will also be moving to the cherry blossom courtyard to stay with you until the wedding.” 

As soon as the words fell from her lips, the anxiety that was building in your heart melted away till there was barely any left. Hwasa smiled at your now relaxed face, before picking up your makeup and opening the bits she needed. 

“Now… let's do your makeup so we can go and see your new residence” Hyo-Seong smiled at the two of you. 

After a few minutes, your makeup was done and you stood from your seat, you took one last look at the view from where you had been sat before turning towards the door and putting on your beoseon and gomusin. Hwasa and Hyo-Seong each took a door and opened it, allowing you to exit from the apartment you had spent the last two weeks in for the final time. To your surprise, Yoongi and Namjoon were waiting outside, surrounded by some of their guards, whose faces you had come to recognise but had yet been unable to put a name to. Noticing that the doors had opened up, Namjoon and Yoongi looked up, seeing you. The smiles on their faces brought a smile to your own. 

Namjoon steps towards you, followed closely by the older but shorter man. The younger man reaches you within a few steps and greets you with a bow. The cat-like man followed his suit. Standing to full height once again, Namjoon grins at you. 

“Good morning my queen, I take it you know where you are to move to today?” he asked, the grin just as wide at the end of his question as it was at the beginning. Pretending that you didn’t know, you let the grin that was on your face fall. 

“Are you sending me home your Highness?” You asked with mock sadness on your face. Namjoon’s smile fell instantly, as did the man smile behind him. 

“NO!” He yelled, moving towards you, before pausing. “I'm sorry, I mean… I mean no you are not being sent home” he spoke in a calmer tone. You took a step closer to the man before speaking again. 

“Hmm,” you sighed, taking another step forward. “Well then…” you carried on, slipping your smaller hand into his much larger one. “I guess you’ll just have to guide me to wherever I am to be moved to today” you finished with a smile. Relief instantly flooded the men before you’s faces. Namjoons smile returned to his face, as he turned to Yoongi, “It looks like we have another prankster on our hands, don’t tell the maknaes, we need this one on our side.” Yoongi replied with a small nod of his head and a gorgeous smirk, agreeing with what the man before him had said, secretly planning pranks the two of you could do in his head. Namjoon grips your hand in his and turns towards the pathway that would take you to the cherry blossom courtyard. 

“Let us go, my queen” he spoke quietly into your ear.

Series taglist:

@skyys-universe @angel-121 @queen-in-the-shadows @iwishididntexist @hair1997 @unqiuecutieprincess @agusfree @treetops68 @sbromp @explorewithd @zmbo97 @maetyun @sgnsgssy @feedthefandoms995 @hajimaoppaa @emu007 @silverrr-spooon @el-insomnio-no-es-divertido @scentisterror @hey-syia @insert-a-creative-url-right-here @uniquelyabnormallyoriginal @poesreddeath @thedarkwinterrose @yoongiigolden @zae007live @namjinieesope @iamhereforbts

permanent tag list: @ewok7attack @marc-ella

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in September 2023

02/09 The King and Queen, Princess Anne and Sir Tim attended the Braemar Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

03/09 (not counted) The King, Queen, Princess Anne, Sir Tim, PM Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murphy attended the Divine Service at Crathie Kirk Church. ⛪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

06/09 (unofficial) Princess Anne, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales recorded a special episode of the Good, the Bad and the Rugby, with Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne at Windsor Castle. 🏉

07/09 As President of the Riding for the Disabled Association, visited Digswell Place Group, Digswell Place Stables, Welwyn Garden City, to mark its 50th Anniversary. 🐎

As President of UK Fashion and Textile Association, visited MAES London Womenswear Manufacturer. 👗

Sir Tim represented Princess Anne at a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Matthew Farrer (former Solicitor to the Late Queen) at St Magnus-The-Martyr Church in London. ⛪️

As Patron of the South Georgia Heritage Trust Princess Anne and Sir Tim, attended the Return of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Quest Crow’s Nest Service at All Hallows by the Tower, followed by a Dinner at Trinity House. 🗺️🍽️

08/09 Participated in a Meeting via video link in her role of Chairman of the International Olympic Committee Members Election Commission. 🎥💻

11/09 At Gatcombe Park;

Presented The Princess Royal Award and Royal Dairy Innovation Award. 🏆

Held a Management Team Meeting for the Chaffinch Trust. 💼

Held a Management Team Meeting for Give Them a Sporting Chance. 🏏

12/09 As Patron of the Boston Stump Restoration and Development Appeal, visited completed restoration work at St Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. ⛪️

As Patron of Magpas Air Ambulance Capital Campaign, opened a new Air Base at Alconbury Weald. 🚁

As Patron of Maritime UK, attended the London International Shipping Week Tenth Anniversary Reception at Mansion House. 🚢

13/09 In Northern Ireland Princess Anne;

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit at the International Conference Centre Belfast. 💼

As Patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, lattended the World Sheep Dog Trials at Gill Hall Estate, Dromore. 🐑🐶

Unveiled a Royal British Legion Community Bench in Dromore Square, Dromore. 🌹

Attended the Department for Business and Trade’s Northern Ireland Business Summit Reception at Hillsborough Castle. 👔🇮🇪

14/09 Attended the British Equine Veterinary Association 2023 Congress at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. 🩺🐴

As Patron of the Butler Trust visited Stonnall Road Approved Premises in Walsall. 🏠

Opened the Firefly Woods at Dorothy House Hospice, Winsley House. She unveiled a firefly dedicated to her late parents. 💡

15/09 As Patron of the Restorative Justice Council, opened the Restorative Justice Council Inaugural Northern Ireland Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 🇮🇪⚖️

As Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, attended the North, West and Hebrides Annual Graduation Ceremony and Celebration of Success and Achievement at St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Thurso. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎓

18/09 The Princess Royal, As Guardian of Give Them A Sporting Chance, visited the Rivertime Boat Trust at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames. 🦽🚣‍♀️

As Patron of the National Transport Trust, attended the Annual Awards Ceremony at Fawley Hill Transport Museum, Henley-on-Thames. 🚂🥇

19/09 Visited the Our Cow Molly icecream parlour and dairy farm at Cliffe House Farm, Dungworth, Sheffield. 🍦🐮

Launched the Ethel Trust Community Barge PEARL at Victoria Quays and attended a Reception at the Quays Hotel Sheffield. 🚤

As Patron of the Royal College of Midwives, visited Doncaster Royal Infirmary Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 👶🤰

20/09 As Patron of Police Treatment Centres, visited the St Andrews Centre in Harrogate. 👮‍♀️

Visited Claro Enterprises Community Workshop, Harrogate, to mark its 30th anniversary. 🎂

Visited Woods of Harrogate Limited Fine Linens Company in Harrogate. 🧖‍♀️

Visited Hollybank Trust Care Centre, in Mirfield, to mark its 70th Anniversary. 🩺

21/09 Visited Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Vehicle Plant to mark the 60th anniversary of its opening in Liverpool. 🚙

As President of the British Olympic Association, attended an Executive Board Meeting in London W1. 💼

22/09 With Sir Tim opened the Aberdeen South Harbour Expansion Project at the Port of Aberdeen. ⛴️

26/09 Held an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

Opened the renovated Old War Office Building, Whitehall in London. 🏢

Attended the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s President’s Reception at Westminster Abbey. 📑🍾

As Patron of Mercy Ships International, attended a 45th Anniversary Dinner onboard The Elizabethan, sailing on the River Thames. 🛥️🍽️

27/09 Held two Investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle. 🎖️

As President of World Horse Welfare, attended a Reception at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge, London. 🐎

As Patron of Opportunity International UK, attended a Dinner at Evercore in London. 🌍

28/09 As President of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, attended the Sustainability in UK Textiles Conference at Drapers’ Hall, London. 👗

As Founders’ Patron and President, of the Benenden School & Society, attended the Centenary Global Conference “Inspiring Future Female Leaders”, opened the Seniors’ Courtyard, launched “Benenden 100” Centenary Book and attended the Benenden Society Reception at Benenden School in Kent. 🏫

29/09 Attended the Rededication Service of Southport War Memorial. 🫡

Total official engagements for Anne in July: 47

2023 total so far: 353

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in July: 5

2023 total so far: 75

[brooklynmuseum]

Imagine waking up to this view every morning. This picture was taken at sunrise on February 15. The view of the Theban cliffs never gets old.

This is something of a bittersweet post. This is our last season in the field, which means we must say goodbye to Ayman and Abdel Aziz. We have known them since they were children and have worked with them as adults for many years. We treasure them and their friendship greatly and regret that we will likely never see them again. Partings are hard. 

We had to cut this season short because of health problems, but we managed to accomplish what we set out to do. This photo from the precinct’s enclosure wall shows Temple A’s First Court with the north square with its sphinx bases in the foreground and the colonnade along the south side of the court in the rear

We now have not one but two sphinx bases. You are looking east across what is left of the second base in the northwest corner of the square. Only the northern part of the base remains; the rest is completely gone. The better-preserved base is in the background. The discovery of this second base is even more confirmation that there was once a row of sphinxes on the north side of the court as on the south.

Something of a surprise was the discovery of part of the original paving along the north and east sides of the larger base. It took Mamdouh great patience and skill to bring this paving to light.

Ayman went as far as he could in the corridor on the south side of the court. In addition to the usual broken stone, it is clear that the south wall of the court collapsed at this point, with large blocks now completely blocking the corridor

This view of the corridor, looking east, was taken on February 14, our second last day at the site. The columns and their massive limestone and sandstone foundations are now clear, although we did not find any trace of the corridor’s original flooring, which had been removed in antiquity. 

Unlike sandstone, which can decay into sand but is otherwise pretty stable, limestone has a tendency to fracture. When we removed the beautiful limestone block with the head of Amun and the God’s Wife of Amun, it broke to pieces. An Egyptian conservator is painstakingly putting it back together (the block is upside down). He hadn’t finished by the time we left, but Abdel Aziz has promised a photo of the finished restoration that we can show in the next post

This is the east, better-preserved side of the column in the East Porch at the end of the season.

The other side of the column was much more damaged, so the restorers have been filling in the missing portions with a cement mixture. The man on the scaffold is roughing up the surface so that the finishing coat can be applied. Once that’s done, all the drips will be cleaned up.

The second column to be restored this season was found when we cleared the Mut Temple’s West Porch in 2005. We haven’t talked about it yet as it is a more complicated project that couldn’t begin until the repairs to the east column were well underway. As you can see, it, too, collapsed to the west, but what remained standing has been seriously damaged by flooding, which causes sandstone to decay. The top block has turned mostly to sand, and the column base is very decayed as well.

By the start of this season, little was left of the upper block, so the restorers’ first task was to clean up the base and remove the sand from the upper block so that what is left could be consolidated. This photo shows the state of the column on February 4.

The next step was to build a form to fill in the missing part of the upper block to a uniform height. Then both column drums were moved onto a temporary platform so the base could be cleaned. It, too, had largely turned to sand, so Mamdouh went to work to clear the sand down to solid stone.

This is the condition of the column base on February 15, our last day at the site. Interestingly it is made up of several small blocks rather than the usual pair of semi-circular blocks. The metal bars will reinforce the fill that will bring the base up to a proper level.

Work on both columns will go on after we have gone. When the repairs are complete, Abdel Aziz will send us photos that we will post to show the result of their efforts. The work is expected to take another 10 days, so there will be something of a gap between this post and the final one of the season. 

On Sunday Mary spotted this painted lady butterfly near where we are working, the first we’ve ever seen at Mut. Only a few inches across, this small creature migrates across the Sahara Desert every year. Amazing! We thank our niece, naturalist Rosemary Mosco, for identifying it for us. 

Posted by Richard Fazzini and Mary McKercher

[homomenhommes]

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … March 14

Pi Day is a holiday held to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi). Pi Day is observed on March 14th (3/14), due to π being roughly equal to 3.14. The Pi Minute is also sometimes celebrated on March 14 at 1:59 p.m. If π is truncated to seven decimal places, it becomes 3.1415926, making March 14 at 1:59:26 p.m. Pi Second (or sometimes March 14, 1592 at 6:53:58 a.m.).

The first Pi Day celebration was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988, with staff and public marching around one of its circular spaces, and then consuming fruit pies; the museum has since added pizza pies to its Pi Day menu. The founder of Pi Day was Larry Shaw, a now retired physicist at the Exploratorium who still helps out with the celebrations. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology often mails out its acceptance letters to be delivered to prospective students on Pi Day.

Some also celebrate Pi Approximation Day in addition to Pi Day, which can fall on any of several dates:

April 26: The Earth has traveled two radians of its orbit by this day (April 25th in leap years); thus the entire orbit divided by the distance traveled equals pi

July 22: 22/7 in the more common day/month date format, an ancient approximation of pi

November 10: The 314th day of the year (November 9 in leap years)

December 21 1:13 p.m.: The 355th day of the year (December 20 in leap years), celebrated at 1:13 for the Chinese approximation 355/113

On Pi Day, 2004, Daniel Tammet calculated and recited 22,514 decimal digits of pi.

Finally, Albert Einstein was born on Pi Day, 1879.

1864 – Alfred Redl (d.1913) was an Austrian officer who rose to head the counter-intelligence efforts of Austria-Hungary. He was one of the leading figures of pre-World War I espionage. His term in office was marked by innovation, and he used very advanced technology for the time to ensnare foreign intelligence agents. But he was also a spy for the Russians.

Alfred Redl was born in Lemberg, Galicia. His father was a railway clerk, and Alfred was the ninth child in a poor family that would grow even larger. On March 14, 1881, his seventeenth birthday, Redl joined the Austro-Hungarian Army. He was a good student and eventually won a place in the Imperial War College. Whereas others chafed under the discipline of the all-male army, Redl thrived in the homosocial environment. He made the army his true home.

On October 1, 1900, he joined the Counterintelligence Corps. He became responsible for recruiting, training, and dispatching agents for spy missions. In 1907, Redl was appointed Chief of Intelligence for the Army. During a tenure that lasted until 1912, he was known as an innovator: he was among the first to record conversations (on early wax cylinders), to use secret cameras, to adopt a systematic policy to intercept mail, to dust for fingerprints, and to "shadow" suspects. Redl also spearheaded a collaborative exchange of intelligence with Germany and trained an entire generation of Austro-Hungarian spymasters.

Redl's career had two extreme handicaps: money problems and the need to hide his sexuality. The army did not pay its officers well, but nevertheless expected them to live at a level befitting their status. Redl, as it happened, had expensive tastes in everything. His everyday financial life was killing debt.

The stress of Redl's situation was heightened because he was homosexual and had to hide that career-ending fact at all costs. One method he used to deflect suspicion of his sexual orientation during his time in Kazan was to pay court to a (supposedly) married woman. Her reluctance to commit while "married" and Redl's need for a "safe" woman made for a perfect match.

When the Russians discovered Redl was a homosexual, he became doubly vulnerable. The Russians moved in to offer a deal for money and silence. The homosexual, debt-ridden Redl was blackmailed (and bribed) into spying for Russia and betraying his country, his Army, and his Emperor.

Redl was already a veteran of a long and active sexual life when he met and fell in love with Stephan Hromodka. A handsome young cavalry officer, Hromodka had tastes and requirements as extravagant as Redl's and proved to be an expensive obsession. Although Redl and Hromodka both explained that their extravagant lifestyles were made possible by family money, Redl had to sell more and more information to the Russians to finance the arrangements.

When the couple attended public and official functions, Redl introduced Hromodka as his nephew. No one ever challenged him. If anyone had become suspicious about Redl's marital status and the constant presence of a handsome young cavalry officer who might or might not be his nephew, he could cite army regulations: officers had to obtain permission to marry, and there was a long waiting list because, at any one time, half the officers of the General Staff had to be single.

When Redl was transferred to Prague, Major Maximilian Ronge, one of his protégés, became head of counterintelligence in Vienna. Redl had trained Ronge in every technique he had developed and adopted.

Early in April 1913, Ronge received word from his counterpart in the German General Staff about a suspicious letter. Addressed to Herr Nikon Nizetas, c/o General Delivery, Vienna, the letter, unclaimed in Vienna, had been returned to Berlin and opened by the German secret police. The envelope contained the substantial sum of 6,000 crowns and the addresses of espionage centers in Paris and Geneva. The Germans suspected that they had picked up the trail of an important spy.

Ronge then ordered a stakeout at the General Delivery office in Vienna. In early May, two more letters for Herr Nikon Nizetas arrived in Vienna. Ronge's men patiently waited for the mysterious Herr Nizetas to arrive to pick up his mail.

In May Redl travelled to Vienna. He sttopped by the Post Office to pick up the mail he knew would be waiting for Herr Nikon Nizetas.

Ronge's men were able to track "Herr Nizetas" to the Hotel Klomser. Only then did they realize that Herr Nizetas was, in reality, their own Colonel Redl. In one of the classic reversals in the annals of international intrigue, Redl had been caught not only by the very men he trained but also by his own methods.

On the evening of May 24, 1913, the General Staff sent four officers to Redl's room in the Hotel Klomser. Their mission was to find out how much damage Redl had done and who assisted him. They were also instructed to ensure that he would cease to be a problem. Under questioning, Redl reportedly admitted he had spied for Russia since autumn 1912. He claimed that he had been driven to it by the costs of his lifestyle, including keeping Stefan Hromodka.

With the implicit understanding that Redl himself would take the necessary steps, the officers left a loaded Browning pistol on Redl's table and exited his hotel room. Outside on the street just after midnight, they waited until they heard the expected gunshot.

In his suicide note of May 25, 1913, Redl wrote: "Passion and levity have destroyed me. I pay with my life for my sins. Pray for me."

1941 – Today's the birthday of German director, screenwriter and producer, Wolfgang Petersen. Born in Emden, he studied theatre in Berlin and Hamburg and attended the Film and Television Academy in Berlin. His films include Das Boot (1981), The Neverending Story (1984), Enemy Mine (1985), Outbreak (1995), Air Force One (1997), The Perfect Storm, Troy, and Poseidon.

He's remained incredibly mum about his sexuality even though one of his first efforts was the 1977 Die Konsequenz, a b/w 16 mm adaptation of Alexander Ziegler's autobiographical novel of homosexual love, a movie considered "one of the best `70s gay dramas". In its time, the film was considered so radical that when first broadcast in Germany, the Bavarian network turned off the transmitters rather than broadcast it. As the 1980s began, he made the jump to action films, which occasionally featured straight heroes and a few who would ponder and dare fate itself.

His next feature was the World War II epic Das Boot, released in early 1982. The film chronicles the experiences of a German submarine crew engaged in the "Battle of the Atlantic". Though not a financial success, the film received positive reviews and was nominated for six Academy Awards, two of which (for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay) went to Petersen himself.

After The NeverEnding Story (1984), Petersen's first full-blown Hollywood effort (although filmed at the Bavaria Film Studios complex in Germany), he finally hit his stride in 1993 with the assassination thriller In the Line of Fire. The 1997 Petersen blockbuster, Air Force One, did very well at the box office, while getting a mix of opinions from movie critics.

If he is gay he deserves a some scorn for completely obscuring the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in his swords and sandals epic Troy.

1956 – Sean Mathias is a British theatre director, film director, writer and actor. He was born in Swansea, south Wales. He is best known for directing the film, Bent, and for directing highly acclaimed theatre productions in London, New York, Cape Town, Los Angeles and Sydney. He has also had a notable professional and personal partnership with the actor, Sir Ian McKellen.

Mathias began his career as an actor, making his first appearance on screen in an episode of the cult BBC TV series, Survivors, in 1977 in a small role. In the same year, he played an Irish Guards lieutenant in the film, A Bridge Too Far.

In 1978, Mathias appeared in a production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, during which time he met the actor, Ian McKellen, who subsequently became his partner of about nine years.

His acting career continued into the 1980s but his greatest achievements have come in directing and writing. Mathias's play, Cowardice, was produced at the Ambassadors Theatre in London in 1983, starring McKellen. Despite poor reviews, he was undeterred and followed it with Infidelities, A Prayer For Wings, Poor Nanny (1989), and Swansea Boys (1990). His writing also includes a novel, Manhattan Mourning, published in 1988, and the BBC TV film, The Lost Language of Cranes (1992).

In 1999, he directed a revival of Bent, the award-winning play by Martin Sherman that had opened on Broadway in 1979 starring McKellen. Performed as a benefit, this performance featured McKellen, Richard E Grant, Ian Charleson and Ralph Fiennes. After receiving critical acclaim, Mathias directed a full run in 1990 with McKellen alongside Paul Rhys and Christopher Eccleston.

Buoyed by this success, Mathias went on to direct hit shows in both London and on Broadway. Mathias directed his first Stephen Sondheim musical, A Little Night Music, at the National Theatre in 1995, with Judi Dench and Sian Phillips. He worked with Phillips again in 1997, directing her as Marlene Dietrich in Marlene.

Mathias has been based in South Africa since 1997 after visiting the country with the National Theatre in 1994 for a series of workshops. He has continued to direct occasional plays in London, the US and elsewhere.

Despite his focus on theatre direction, Mathias is also known as a film director because of his first - and currently only - feature film, Bent (1997), based on the play that propelled him to success.In 2009 Mathias directed two very different, high-profile West End smash hits: a dream cast revival of Waiting for Godot starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart, and Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Anna Friel.

1965 – Kevin Williamson is an American screenwriter, producer, director and former actor, best known for the horror films Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty, as well as the popular television series Dawson's Creek and The Vampire Diaries. Williamson's new television show, The Following premiered as a 2012-13 mid-season show on Fox.

He told Entertainment Weekly interviewer Melissa Maerz, "When I was growing up, my mom and dad took me to the Poe museum in Richmond, Virginia. It was a little house downtown, and 'The Raven' was written on the walls. You had to move from room to room to read the whole story. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world."

Inspired by the March 9, 1994, episode of the newsmagazine Turning Point on Danny Rolling, a serial killer in Gainesville, Florida, who preyed on college students, Williamson wrote a horror movie script, originally titled Scary Movie. Its characters had seen many classic horror movies (e.g. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween) and knew all the clichés. Miramax bought the script for $400,000 for their new Dimension Films label in the spring of 1995. Directed by Wes Craven, the film was renamed Scream, and released in The United States on December 20, 1996. It became a commercial blockbuster and critical success—ultimately drawing $173 million in ticket sales worldwide.

Paul Stupin, an executive at Columbia Tri-Star Television, read Scream after the bidding war for the script and was convinced Williamson was just the man to create a television series for his company. The result was Dawson's Creek, a semi-autobiographical tale set in a small coastal community not unlike Oriental. Williamson was the model for the title character, Dawson Leery, a hopeless romantic who is obsessed with movies—especially those of Steven Spielberg. Joey Potter, the platonic girl-next-door, was based on a real life friend of Williamson's when he was young.

Williamson has said that he knew he was gay "as far back as [he] can remember." He came out to his friends and family in 1992.

(Click for Full Monty)

1975 – Johan Paulik, born in Slovakia, Czechoslovakia as Daniel Ferencik, is a Czech pornographic film star who makes films exclusively for Bel Ami Productions. Like all stars for Bel Ami, which specializes in gay pornography, he was in his mid-twenties but he looked to be anywhere from 17-19 years old, with little to no body hair, a muscular body, a very boyish face, and a larger-than-average penis (18 cm).

Paulik's career began as a professional dancer. In 1993, he was discovered by American Bel Ami photographer George Duroy in Bratislava and photos were taken of him, which were soon followed by homosexual porn films. He got his first role in 1994 in the hardcore porno Sauna Paradiso, the second in Lukas' Story followed shortly thereafter. In 1997 the erotic illustrated book Photos of Johan was published in Germany.

In the first few years Paulik's hardcore films were not allowed to be sold or rented in Europe, but they have also been available here since 2001.

As part of the appeal of Bel Ami films, Paulik maintains his heterosexuality, proclaiming that he enjoys sex with men not because he is a homosexual, but because in Prague there is a more open-minded attitude about sexuality. It is the alleged appeal of watching "heterosexual" boys have sex with one another that has made his films (including Sauna Paradiso, his biggest seller to date) such huge successes.

He frequently co-starred with Lukas Ridgeston, with whom he is friends off camera.

He now works behind the scenes at Bel Ami as a director, editor and cameraman (through 2010). Although retired as a performer, Johan often cameos in the behind-the-scenes documentaries he films and edits. Often these are compiled for DVD release, such as in the "Johan's Journals" series.

1979 – Steven Greenstreet is an American documentary filmmaker, known for the controversial film, 8: The Mormon Proposition, which was selected to premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Currently residing in New York City, he has also worked as a video investigative journalist for The Huffington Post Investigative Fund and a video producer for the US State Department.

The premiere of 8: The Mormon Proposition (2010) at Sundance was met with a lengthy standing ovation despite the intense controversy surrounding it. The film was inspired by ballot measures like California’s "Prop 8," designed to legally prohibit same-sex marriage. Addressing the estimated $22 million Mormons had raised along with internal church documents, the film unravels an extensive campaign carried out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) with intent to influence California’s voters.

Contrasting hard statistics with emotionally charged testimonials from gays and families, 8: The Mormon Proposition reveals the detrimental effect of the LDS church’s persistent stance on homosexuality.

The church has declined all of the filmmakers’ requests for interviews; LDS spokesman Michael Purdy has commented on the matter, “We have not seen ‘8: The Mormon Proposition.’ However, judging from the trailer and background material online, it appears that accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film. Clearly, anyone looking for balance and thoughtful discussion of a serious topic will need to look elsewhere.”

1984 – Antoni Porowski is a Polish-Canadian television personality, actor, chef and model. He is known for his role as the food and wine expert on the Emmy award-winning Netflix series Queer Eye.

Porowski was born in Montreal, Quebec to Polish parents after they emigrated to Canada with his two older sisters. His father is a physician. He grew up speaking Polish, English, and French. He and his parents moved to Glade Springs, West Virginia when he was twelve, and he lived between there and Montreal throughout his high school years before finally returning to Montreal to attend Marianopolis College and then university. His mother and Porowski do not have a good relationship as brought out in season four of Queer Eye.Post-graduation from Concordia University with a bachelor's degree in Creative Arts, Porowski moved to New York City to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, from which he graduated in 2011. He taught himself to cook by referring to his grandmother's cooking techniques. He is also a close friend of the original Queer Eye’s first season cooking and sommelier Ted Allen who was a mentor.

Upon moving to New York City, Porowski began auditioning for various acting roles. He has stated that being Polish made it difficult for him to find work, which at the time made him consider anglicizing his last name. He has landed roles in movies such as Elliot Loves (2012), Daddy's Boy (2016), The Pretenders (2018), and as the lead officer in a 2014 episode of TV series The Blacklist. Porowski was also featured in the 2015 short docudrama about the Vinnytsia massacre, To My Father, as Adam Bandrowski. The short film was part of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner.

In the meantime, he worked in food service to cover his rent, first working as a busboy at a family-run Polish restaurant. He worked his way up in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter and sommelier, eventually managing a Bond Street sushi restaurant. Porowski lives in the same neighborhood as Ted Allen, the original Queer Eye food and wine expert, and current host of Food Network cooking competition Chopped. The two became friends, and for a time Porowski worked for Allen as a personal chef.

In December 2017, it was announced that Porowski would play the role of food and wine expert in the Netflix revival of Queer Eye, which aired in February 2018. The second season of the show was released in June 2018.In April 2018, Porowski signed a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for his first cookbook, released in Spring 2019. In June 2018, he announced that he would be opening The Village Den, a fast-casual restaurant in New York City's West Village. Additionally, Porowski deals vintage furniture.

Porowski states that his sexuality is "a little more fluid along the spectrum" and that he prefers not to label. He dated Joey Krietemeyer for more than seven years, but the relationship ended in October 2018. He confirmed via Instagram that December that he was dating Trace Lehnhoff. However, the two split after one year of dating. In October 2019, he confirmed via Instagram that he is dating Kevin Harrington.

Porowski and his Queer Eye costar Jonathan Van Ness trolled the internet by setting up a joint Instagram account, pretending to be a couple. Later they confirmed that there was nothing serious to it.

In the Queer Eye episode titled, "Lost Boy", Porowski revealed that he has struggled with addiction issues in the past.

1990 – The Idaho Court of Appeals finds a privacy issue in sex in enclosed restroom stalls.

[theanonymousopossum]

Elriel Part 2: Love Language

Hey all,

Back atcha with more fanfiction. This one is pretty short, but I love it. I'm definitely most excited for Solstice, and I hope y'all are looking forward to all the fanfiction still to come. Hope you enjoy my take on Elain and Azriel's language of love.

TW: None

Word count: 1.2K

Azriel walked in, tired and grumpy. He had just finished a mission, which usually meant he would make a beeline straight for bed, and sleep until his shadows reminded him that he had responsibilities, and the cycle would repeat. As he entered his room at the townhouse, a strange scent came to him. Jasmine and honey. Elain lived in the townhouse too, he knew, however why had she been in his room? And then he looked to his desk, and amidst all the paperwork and stationery, he saw it.

It was a single white lily flower. It was gorgeous, and seemed almost to glow. And it bore her scent strongly. She must have left it there while he was away. He knew that she had been growing lilies out in the garden, and he had listened to her talk about them for hours on end. And although he didn't care about flowers, there was something about talking with Elain that just made him at complete ease. Around her, his shadows seemed to fade, sensing that there was no danger or darkness present, because Elain's mere existence drove away whatever evil or misery was nearby. He picked up the lily, and found a small note tied to the stem. Come and meet me in the archway. It was in Elain's elegant handwriting, and based on the dampness of the ink, she had written it not all that long ago. He knew the archway she was referring to, a lovely thing at the entrance of the garden that was covered in roses.

Elain had worked hard to get it that way, Az was sure, and maintained it very well. He looked out of his window and saw it, the gorgeous crimson flowers amidst the sea of dark green leaves. Behind it was a circular walkway, paved with little stepping stones. Benches surrounded it, and in the middle was an ornate fountain, with sky blue water flowing from the statue of a naiad in the centre. And there, hurrying along the path, past the columns covered in wisteria and bushels of hydrangeas, was Elain, wearing a pale pink dress with a white cardigan over top. She reached the fountain, and sat at the edge. She waits for you, his shadows whispered in his ear, she wishes to speak with you. Do not leave her waiting.

Az knew better than to mess up this chance he'd been given, either by the gods or the Mother or whoever dwelt up in the clouds. He winnowed out onto the lawn, and walked briskly towards her. As she sensed his arrival, she looked up, and smiled at him, shifting over so he could take a seat. Az was shocked. Why was she being so nice to him, after what had happened on Solstice? He took a seat next to her, albeit tentatively.

"Hello Elain. How have you been?" He asked politely, hoping she didn't notice his shadows were now playing in her hair and in the folds of her dress, deliberately ignoring his commands to return for the first time ever.

"I've been well. The garden has kept me busy, as well as all the wonderful things here in life. Nyx has been growing, I've learned new recipes, new things to craft, and I've even taken up weaving as of late. But that's not why I wanted you to come. I wanted to...to speak with you. And to give you these." Elain held out a small bouquet of gorgeous white lilies, just like the one he'd received on his desk.

"I know what happened on Solstice, Rhys told Feyre and she told me. I do not hold it against you. And the lilies have been blooming wonderfully as of late, so I thought...I thought you might like them, they're a nice spot of colour, and I know they're very popular in the Night Court and-" she was rambling now, Azriel assumed out of nerves, and he did something he never in a million years thought he would do. He leaned forward and shut her up with a kiss.

He pulled back quickly, worried she might not have wanted it, that he had ruined whatever olive branch she had been extending to him.

"Elain, I-" he began, wondering what he could possibly say. But he didn't need to. Elain leaned forward and kissed him back. Azriel decided that if he died right there, right then, he would die a happy male, because he had kissed Elain Archeron. He had had his fair share of lovers over the centuries, some whom he'd enjoyed more than others, but all paled in comparison to her. Even his long-standing crush on Mor was nothing on what he felt for her. She slid onto his lap, and they kissed for seconds, minutes, hours, days, Az had no idea, it all seemed a blur. All he knew was that he could never get enough of her, of kissing her, of loving her.

Eventually she pulled back, panting slightly, lips red and swollen from kisses.

"I love you Azriel," she said, "and that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to tell you that I chose you, I choose you, I will forever choose you, and, if you will have me, I wish to be with you."

Az was sure he must have been dreaming. His heart hadn't sang that much since the first time he'd flown 500 years ago. But it was real, the woman he loved was here, sitting on his lap, saying that she wanted him.

"Yes. I love you too, very much so. I choose you, if you will have me," he said, earning a beaming smile from Elain, and he decided that he would die to make her smile like that again. He set his hand down, and they brushed the lilies.

"These lilies...do they have a special meaning to you?" he asked, because something about her gift seemed like a special language of love, even beyond her willingness to give the thing she'd spent so long growing.

"Yes. Back when mama was alive and we were still all together, my father used to bring my mother lilies at least once a week. It was the flower they had at their wedding, and he used to bring them to her as a sign of their love. I always thought it was very touching."

"Indeed, that is...so very, very special. I'm honoured you would share this with me." And he was. It meant the world to him that she'd shared this personal aspect about herself, carrying on this tradition. That night, when Elain had retired for the night and he was back in his chambers, curled into bed, he looked at the delicate white blossoms, illuminated in the moonlight from the window, and smiled. He slept better than he ever had before, now that he had a token of Elain's love to keep him company.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this! It's one of my personal headcanons that Elain will give Azriel her favourite flower if their book becomes canon. Also, shoutout to my bestie, I won't tag you for privacy's sake but you know who you are, for the inspiration on the lily idea.

Please like or comment if you enjoyed, and have a wonderful time celebrating our favourite seer and shadowsinger!

Taglist:

@elriel-month

[coochiequeens]

Another TIM using his gender identity for a reduced sentence for a sexual offense. Something that happens a lot for something that TRAs say never happens.

By Anna Slatz February 7, 2024

A trans-identified male in Kentucky has reached a plea deal after being charged with sexually abusing a baby and will avoid prison so long as he meets certain conditions. Maria Childers, a former daycare worker, hired a prominent trans activist lawyer to represent him in the sickening case.

As previously reported by Reduxx, Childers was arrested in February of 2023 after the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) received an anonymous tip detailing an alleged incident of abuse that had occurred in November of 2022 at Explore Learning Academy. The tip, reportedly written by one of Childers’ co-workers, accused him of making inappropriate comments towards an infant while changing the child’s diaper, and touching the baby inappropriately.

Reduxx has now obtained court records detailing the full complaint against Childers, which showed that he was accused of both physical and sexual abuse while employed at the daycare.

Following the receipt of the initial anonymous complaint, a DCBS case worker and a police officer from the Paducah Police Department went to the daycare on February 8, 2023, to interview witnesses. After speaking to a number of staff, they were able to corroborate the anonymous report.

Maria Childers. Photo Source: FACEBOOK

According to witness testimony, a co-worker had asked Childers for assistance in changing an infant’s diaper. While Childers was cleaning the baby’s genitals, the co-worker noticed that the infant appeared to be in distress and asked Childers if he was hurting the baby. She then witnessed Childers rub the infant’s genitals in a “circular motion,” while saying “that was her clit area and she likes it. It just made her day.”

While Childers was reported to management at the Academy, he was only given a “write up.” Police later learned that Childers had also been accused by other co-workers of leaving the children in high chairs for “hours” without care.

After being taken to the police station for questioning, Childers initially claimed he had not changed the infant’s diaper at all. He later admitted to having done so after an officer presented him with evidence in the form of a text that he had sent to the daycare’s director confirming the baby’s diaper had been changed. He then tried to deny he had ever said anything inappropriate, but admitted he often said things that were “taken out of context.”

Childers was placed under arrest and charged with one count of 1st Degree Sexual Abuse of a Victim Under 12 and three counts of 1st Degree Criminal Abuse of a Child Under 12. He was then booked at the McCracken County Jail.

There has been some confusion over the spelling of his last name, with the courts, police, and his social feeds having different spellings alternating between “Childers” and “Childres.” The Kentucky Court of Justice has his name spelled “Childres,” but his own signature and defense documents read “Childers.”

While Childers was initially marked as a “male” by both police and the jail, internal documents obtained by Reduxx reveal that his recorded sex was later switched to “female” by the McCracken County Jail.

Childers’ Facility Admission Report.

Court records show that just one month after being booked on the felony charges, Childers privately retained trans activist lawyer Madison LeachMadison Leach to represent him.

Leach, a male who began identifying as a “woman” seven years ago, was the first openly transgender candidate to seek public office in western Kentucky when he ran as a Democrat for the Calloway County attorney seat. Leach recently threatened to leave Kentucky over Senate Bill 150, which would make it optional for public school teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns.

After some negotiation with the court, the motion was ultimately approved, and Childers’ bond was reduced from $100,000 to $5,000 surety. The bond conditions included no contact with children and to remain away from the daycare where he had been employed. Childers was released from custody in January of 2024.

On January 29, 2024, Childers struck an apparent deal with prosecutors. In exchange for a guilty plea, his charge of 1st Degree Sexual Abuse of a Victim Under 12 was amended to Class A Misdemeanor Sexual Misconduct, and the remaining abuse charges were dropped.

Judge Joseph Roark handed Childers a 12-month penalty, but withheld sentencing and imposed a conditional discharge for 6 months.

If Childers abides by the conditions set by the court during the 6-month period, he will not serve any prison time at all, and may not even receive a criminal record.

[mise-n-abyme]

OK I’m asking. Do you have any idea of the name of the painting on the blog cover the one where the guys looking through to another reality/ dimension?

I'm glad you asked! The cover photo on my blog is called 'The Flammarion Engraving.' Though, there is an interesting backstory to it if you'd like to know more about it.

The only thing known about the artwork is that it is from Camille Flammarion’s (1842–1925) book titled: 'L’atmosphère: météorologie populaire', (1888) which in English translates to: 'The Atmosphere: Popular Meteorology'.

The artwork is actually not a painting, but a woodwork carving used with a Burin tool as shown in the diagram below:

|Mid–17th century French Burin 'Cold Chisel' later to be called an 'engraver' in English. Source: Wikipedia

What is most interesting about the Artwork is that the origin of the Artist is still unknown and yet to be determined. It is speculated that Flammarion himself did the carving, however– the image depicts different image characteristics from different historical periods; some art Historians, such as Erwin Panofsky, date the engraving to the 16th century; while others, specifically Ernst Gombrich, date it to the late 19th century era.

According to historyofinformation.com:

"In Flammarion's L'atmosphère: météorologie populaire, the image refers to the text on the facing page (p. 163), which also clarifies the author's intent in using it as an illustration:"

"Whether the sky be clear or cloudy, it always seems to us to have the shape of an elliptic arch; far from having the form of a circular arch, it always seems flattened and depressed above our heads, and gradually to become farther removed toward the horizon.

Our ancestors imagined that this blue vault was really what the eye would lead them to believe it to be; but, as Voltaire remarks, this is about as reasonable as if a silk-worm took his web for the limits of the universe. The Greek astronomers represented it as formed of a solid crystal substance; and so recently as Copernicus, a large number of astronomers thought it was as solid as plate-glass. The Latin poets placed the divinities of Olympus and the stately mythological court upon this vault, above the planets and the fixed stars.

Previous to the knowledge that the earth was moving in space, and that space is everywhere, theologians had installed the Trinity in the empyrean, the glorified body of Jesus, that of the Virgin Mary, the angelic hierarchy, the saints, and all the heavenly host.... A naïve missionary of the Middle Ages even tells us that, in one of his voyages in search of the terrestrial paradise, he reached the horizon where the earth and the heavens met, and that he discovered a certain point where they were not joined together, and where, by stooping his shoulders, he passed under the roof of the heavens..."

"The same paragraph had already appeared, without the accompanying engraving, in an earlier edition of the text published under the title of L'atmosphère: description des grands phénomènes de la Nature ("The Atmosphere: Description of the Great Phenomena of Nature," 1872). The correspondence between the text and the illustration is so close that one would appear to be based on the other. Had Flammarion known of the engraving in 1872, it seems unlikely that he would have left it out of that year's edition, which was already heavily illustrated. The more probable conclusion therefore is that Flammarion commissioned the engraving specifically to illustrate this particular text, though this has not been ascertained conclusively." —historyofinformation.com

I provided the links and sources below if you'd like to read more about it!

|Sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammarion_engraving#:~:text=Although%20sometimes%20referred%20to%20as,occur%20until%20after%20Flammarion's%20death.

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/eswg/event/stefano-gattei-original-fak1e-solving-mystery-flammarions-engraving

https://galileo.ou.edu/exhibits/atmosphere-popular-meteorology

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/flammarion-engraving/