Connexions (17)

Jul. 2nd, 2025 08:06 am
the_comfortable_courtesan: image of a fan c. 1810 (Default)
[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan
Worse than a shock

'Twould be hard to say what was the crowning experience of this visit! Mayhap not merely going see Miss Addington play Cleopatra from a fine comfortable box, but being invited to call on her in her dressing room after!

And had done exceeding well in making connexions for the chaps: there was Averdale, had been very gladly offered a post as secretary by Jimsie, and once had completed his term at Oxford, would proceed to join the Trembournes for the summer at Worblewood. Thornton was all enthusiasm about the prospect of tutoring the Yeomans orphans, and had already commenced upon certain commissions in reviewing. Wood had been invited to spend the summer assisting in the work of the parish at St Wilfrid’s, with the possibility of eventually being appointed a curate. And Smithers was going around quite in a daze having been offered a pupillage in Mr Geoffrey Merrett’s chambers.

Then, as they were contemplating their last few days, here came Mr Gordon Marshall, that was married to the governess at Yeomans, and a reporter for the Lowndes Press, and also, they discovered, the brother of that sensation, Clo Marshall, offering that he could arrange for 'em to attend her performance at the Beaufoyle Arms Song and Supper Rooms!

They were returning from this unanticipated treat in great spirits, to discover most unwonted Cretia and Mr Grigson waiting in the hall, looking very sombre, what looked like a telegram in Grigson’s hand.

His first thought was that Father had died.

Oh Lord – 'twas not somewhat had come to Myo? One understood her condition was delicate.

O Grinnie, cried Cretia, coming up and falling upon his neck, would you believe it? Here is Talshaw, gone fallen down a flight of stairs in a drunken fit and broke his neck.

The fellows all made sympathetic murmurs, and Wood said, quite saw that they should not intrude upon the family at this time, would be about their departure the morn, at which all nodded, and Mr Grigson went over doubtless to discuss the practicalities.

O God, thought Peregrine, patting Cretia’s shoulder. Sure they had none of 'em been particularly fond of their elder brother, but ‘twas a shock. And worse than a shock.

Now he was the heir.

Grigson came over from seeing the fellows off to their beds, laid a hand on the shoulder not occupied by Cretia, and said, Lord Peregrine was entire welcome to stay here while the formalities were put in hand – had no doubt the authorities at the college would be entirely understanding, would send one of his confidential clerks about the matter –

Excellent fellow!

That is above and beyond kind – am still in shock

Quite so. The best thing would be to go to bed and have a good night’s rest.

Cretia squeezed his hands, as he managed to detach himself and walk with not too much stumbling to the staircase.

These violent delights have violent ends, he thought, as he blew out the candle, and thought that surely, he felt so exhausted, he would sleep like the dead.

But did not. His thoughts were a clamorous agitation. Indeed there had been no particular fraternal affection 'twixt 'em. But he had not in the least been an envious younger brother, resentful of the eldest’s position. He had been exceedingly glad not to be the heir – to be able to pursue a different path –

He groaned. Doubtless his father was already plotting, making plans – one might hope that they would be checked somewhat by the conventions of mourning – surely it would look extremely vulgar to be displaying him about Society with Talshaw barely cold –

All he had desired was to have the quiet life of an Oxford fellow, pursuing scholarship, alleviated by a little recreation in Town made possible by the independence good old Brackley had provided him –

Grinnie sat up. Independence.

He had a modest competence of his own. His father could not flourish the power of the purse-strings over him. He did not have to knuckle down and comply with his demands. It would be – he gulped – uncomfortable perchance to point that out, but far less uncomfortable than being paraded about as a Marquess’s heir, ripe for marriage.

He had no great desire to live lavishly – but already came to an apprehension that Mr Brackley had left him comfortable, and that his enterprize with Roberts and Wilson was doing exceeding well, along with Mr Grigson’s sound advice on investments. He was no poor scholar of Oxenforde, but a gentleman of independent means.

His mouth went to a wry twist. From stray comments of Iffling’s and Grigson’s, very like his father would be touching him for assistance!

Feeling his mind a good deal more at rest, he lay down again, and was shortly asleep.

The following day saw off his friends, that clasped his hand and grasped his shoulder, and said, was there anything they might do, and expressed their gratitude to their host and hostess.

Assured 'em that he intended to be remet with 'em in college, in due course.

Then there was a deal of to-do over mourning-wear – and cards – and waiting upon hearing about the funeral –

And another telegram from Father to say would call the morrow to see Lord Peregrine –

He had already opened somewhat of his intentions to Grigson and Cretia. Grigson gave his small smile, and said, thought the best place for this interview would be the library – no, would not in the least be displacing Miss Jupp –

Not in the least, said Cretia with a sigh, sure there is a deal of correspondence upon my hands – apologies for occasions I must now decline to attend – replies to the condolences that have already started arriving – and you know, Grinnie, we must go call at Trembourne House this very day.

Quite so, he responded, we should certainly not delay going to Mama and Myo.

So here they were at Trembourne House, and receiving condolences from Lady Undersedge – her husband being in the Nuttenford mining districts – and Lady Eleanor. What an exemplary woman was Lady Undersedge – Averdale had taken her in great admiration, quoted A perfect woman, nobly planned, to warn, to comfort and command, one might imagine her the lady in some castle of the Middle Ages, ruling it and defending it whilst her lord was off crusading – it must be entirely the best thing for Mama and Myo to be here.

Mama sighed and said, it was the way of things that she had had so little to do with Talshaw after his infancy – much more so than with you and Lucie – being reared as the heir – but –

She appeared about to say more and then glanced over at Myo and seemed to think better of it.

Myo was looking in health – quite blooming, in fact – Jimsie very attentive –

They hoped that he would come to Worblewood in the summer? They would be very quiet there, and that splendid chap Chilfer was going to come about excavating the Roman villa. Surely there could be no objection?

A very attractive prospect!

It was entirely less heavy a rencontre than he had anticipated.

But he did not look forward to seeing his father.

It has been a most strategic notion of Grigson to suggest the library; putting the encounter as 'twere on Grinnie’s ground. Surrounded by his old friends arrayed upon the shelves.

He was already there, perusing Rasselas, when his father was shown in. He stood up and bowed. Did not expect any manifestations of emotion – no handclasp, no embrace – and was proved correct. His father nodded. Peregrine.

That chair is the most comfortable, he said, going to ring for a footman to fetch – what would his father desire at this time o’ day?

Ah. Brandy. That would account for that unhealthy flush – sure he was looking his years! – Grinnie nodded to the footman and desired coffee for himself.

His father looked around and commenced upon crying up the library at Roughton Arching, that had been writ up in The Speculum – Grinnie doubted his father often visited it but of course that was quite the accolade.

Once they were settled with brandy and coffee, and appropriate sentiments exchanged, he decided to take the Nelson line and sail straight ahead by declaring his intention to complete his final term at Oxford. Somewhat to his surprize, his father conceded this without too much grumbling – showed a very meritorious desire to finish what he had started, a proper seriousness.

No doubt that was a contrast to his late brother, everything by starts and nothing long.

He would, alas, have to decline the fellowship – but was coming about to perceive that one might pursue learning beyond college walls – from the corner of his eye he could see, piled on one of the small tables, the various classical works Vicky Jupp was at present studying. This chap Chilfer sounded entirely up to the mark in matters of archaeology – had not he and his set only lately quite basked in the erudition of Mr MacDonald and Sir Jacob Samuels? Was there not that quite shining example, Her Grace of Mulcaster? Offgrange was noted for his studies in botany - No, he need not renounce scholarship.

There was, of course, the proposition that he should spend the summer at Roughton Arching, a prospect that had filled Grinnie’s heart with positively Gothick gloom. Fortunately he was able to advance his invitation to Worblewood – will be living very quiet – Trembourne still in mourning for his father – Myo in a delicate condition – understand they have also invited Lucie –

His father slowly nodded. And you may ride over to Roughton Arching to meet with the stewards &C – there will fellows coming from Firkins over various matters –

Well, that could not be avoided, he supposed. Provided they did not arrive with a marriage contract ready drawn up! For while one saw that one would have to wed in due course, now that one was not going to live the life of a celibate scholar, one should like to look about a little first. Was it only so that one did not make some terrible mistake and be condemned to the cat and dog life that Rina had with Iffling.

These matters settled, his father did not linger.

It was only after his departure that Peregrine realized that his father had said naught about money and thus must still be in ignorance that he was a young man of means. Mayhap just as well.


Jeremy Greer

Jul. 1st, 2025 09:25 pm
radiantfracture: (Orion)
[personal profile] radiantfracture
Of all the things to be grieving right now, this is a weird personal parasocial one. You have been warned.

Jeremy Greer )

§rf§

(no subject)

Jul. 1st, 2025 09:01 pm
ursamajor: Tajel on geeks (geeks: love them)
[personal profile] ursamajor
When [livejournal.com profile] belladonna shares a tweet that got screencapped and put up on Insta:

@ madisontayt_: imagining a vegan who won't drink nyc's tap water because of the microscopic shrimp
@ TheWappleHouse: The what now


and I was like "Yeah! There was this whole thing about NYC's tap water possibly being not kosher because of copepods in the water supply a few years back. Which might've meant that NYC bagels, whose lauded taste and texture were credited to the tap water used to boil them, were potentially treyf. But then other rabbis weighed in and said as long as the proportion of these microscopic crustaceans was less than 1/60th of the total volume, it was okay by the principle of בטל בשישים (bitul b'shishim/beteil beshishim), thank you Shabot6000."



... and then I realized "a few years back" was 21 years ago.

...well, hardly ever...

Jul. 1st, 2025 05:18 pm
ysobel: A kitten on a piano keyboard (music)
[personal profile] ysobel
So I was listening to an audiobook of Agatha Christie stories

and one character mentioned the "why and wherefore" of something

which *immediately* got "Never Mind the Why and Wherefore" from HMS Pinafore going through my head [https://youtu.be/fz00Ru9RXA8?si=_iW2jYRH-8RW_w49]

which of course meant I had no choice but to listen to the whole of HMS Pinafore [https://youtu.be/N6iNGprcxFI?si=B-vFtrypguIKurHv for example]

and now various of those songs keep popping up ... for at least week now ... only the lyrics are starting to scramble, which tends to happen when something is stuck in my head long enough.

("I am the captain of the minotaur~~" wait no)

Anyway my plan for dealing with this is to watch the 1983 film version of Pirates of Penzance, which is an extremely solid plan with no possible down sides.

2025 CSFFA Hall of Fame Inductees

Jul. 1st, 2025 06:02 pm
james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll
The quotation below is a quotation


CSFFA (The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association) is proud to announce the 2025 CSFFA Hall of Fame inductees.

Clint Budd, fan, convention organizer, modernized CSFFA and created the CSFFA Hall of Fame
Charles R. Saunders, author, journalist, and founder of the “sword and soul” literary genre
Diane L. Walton, editor, mentor, and a founding member of On Spec: The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic

More information here.


Congratulations to the Inductees!

Social Media Note: Hey.Cafe

Jul. 1st, 2025 04:46 pm
dewline: (canadian media)
[personal profile] dewline
Just a reminder that Hey.Cafe exists. It's Canadian-based and Canadian-owned. It's an alternative to Twitter and the rest - however well-behaved they are - just in case.

My account is here:

https://hey.cafe/@dewline

Yes, I plan to try Gander as well once it opens up.

Dear Black Emporium Creator,

Jul. 1st, 2025 04:10 pm
settiai: (Dragon Age -- offensive)
[personal profile] settiai
First of all, relax! I'm far from being picky, and I can pretty much guarantee that I'll love whatever you decide to create for me. These are nothing but guidelines, for you to take to heart or ignore to your heart's content. Also, hey! You're writing me fic or drawing me art! That's automatically a good reason for me to love you, no matter what. So, please, keep that in mind. Trust me, you can pretty much do no wrong.

More details under the cut. )

Canada day cottage

Jul. 1st, 2025 03:02 pm
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[personal profile] dagibbs
That was a lovely Canada-day long weekend(ish) at the cottage. Thank you everyone who joined me and made it a good time. And, especially, thank you weather for presenting us with an awesome weekend of weather for all our cottage activities.
oursin: a hedgehog lying in the middle of cacti (hedgehog and cactus)
[personal profile] oursin

Wot a saga, eh, wot a saga, first time I have ventured significantly forth these many years -

And to start with, MAJOR HEAT EVENT.

In anticipation, I had - or so I thought - prudently booked a taxi via taxiapp, with a certain amount of leeway, just in case -

- which turned out very prudent, as when I went to check the booking this morning the app was showing 'network error' and this was clearly on their end rather than mine, and a little looking about suggests that this is not their first rodeo server problem.

So when, at designated time, taxi cameth not, I set out towards the Tube, not without some hope that a black cab might pass me on my way, but that Was Not To Be -

And on reflection, I should perhaps have waited for a Bank train, because getting out on Charing X platforms at Euston involves rather too many stairs.

However, Avanti kindly texted me the approx time my train would be boarding, and this all seemed set - although my (1st class) seat was aisle, backwards, there was nobody in the other 3 seats so I switched -

HAH.

When we reached Coventry, choochoo sighed and gave up, and we had to debouch and take the next Birmingham bound train - which was delayed....

At Birmingham New Street had considerable faff trying to discover a Way Out that would take me to a taxi rank.

When I finally arrived at hotel booked by conference organisers there was an immense performance trying to find the right group booking, as it was not under any title that I might have thought of but that of some hireling booking agency.

However, I am now in nice cool room and have had tasty room service snack. Even if I have had to wrestle with getting my laptop to talk to the free wifi...

string things

Jul. 1st, 2025 09:13 am
pocketmouse: Two people hugging on a dock in summer. (pmouse_dock)
[personal profile] pocketmouse
I'm still marvelling at having a hobby that I'm willing to spend money on -- I went to a weaving conference last week (got a first-timer scholarship, which covered admission and room and board, but I splurged and got a single room, so paid a little extra) which meant buying extra yarn for the workshop, and then even though I'm well out of storage room and have said multiple times I need to make some things before I buy more stuff, I bought 7 more cones of yarn (some of it was on sale! the rest was just really pretty hand-dyed!). Some of it I can definitely think of things to do with it, the rest I'll just have to try and keep an eye out for ideas, because I don't want it to sit forever.

And I talked to people too, constantly, the whole weekend. My god. By day 2.5 I was wiped, I am not an extrovert by any means. But folks chatted throughout classes, in the hallways, just wherever. I walked out of the dinner hall and ended up talking with some random woman whose name I never caught for like 10 minutes. Plus, also, I ran into a friend from local fandom cons who I hadn't seen in like 10-ish years (MJ and Con.txt). Neither of us were doing fiber things back then, so it was really a (pleasant) surprise.

Anyway now I am back home and waiting for work to ramp back up -- it always slows down in the summer due to end-of-fiscal-year purchasing deadlines, but today starts the new FY, so I'm just waiting for the word that budgets are loaded into the system, and I can start doing work again. Things are also wonky because DC passed an energy savings bill recently, so in order to comply we're finally getting around to converting the building to LED lighting -- which means shuffling folks' offices and encasing the stacks in protective material. We don't have an end date and the last construction project went on and on and on, so folks are just crossing fingers that impact will be minimal on the full-term researchers starting in the fall. I'm planning to hide in my new office with a fucking door so I can avoid chatty opinionated elder coworker for once in my life. My god this would be an amazing time to finally get a new job and quit.

Oh! I almost forgot. I also managed to blitz through all of Elementary in the last month or so, after having had it on my 'to watch' list for years. There are some parts of it that left me kind of 'meh,' and for someone who's great at identifying prosthetic-forehead Star Trek actors in other roles by only their eyes, I could not for the life of me identify Johnny Lee Miller in 3/4 profile shots on multiple occasions. My brain also kept replacing him in my memory with Darren Nichols. I think it was something about the overly upright posture (and also the dramatics). These things mostly resolved themselves by probably midway through season 2, by which point I could focus on things like how unsexy Mycroft was. It's a shame but unsurprising that there isn't more fic. I need to find something to watch that does have a lot of fic, but I haven't come up with anything yet. Though I think the latest season of Leverage: Redemption just finished, or is about to, and that sounds like it should give me something to sink my teeth into.
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Only the brave, the arrogant, the naïve, or the desperate Men trespass in Arafel's Ealdwood. Into which category does the latest visitor fall?

The Dreamstone (Ealdwood, volume 1) by C J Cherryh

July 2025 Patreon Boost

Jul. 1st, 2025 08:58 am
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Jealous of all the people who support Aurora-finalist James Nicoll Reviews? Want to join them? Here are your options:

July 2025 Patreon Boost

the extroverts were right

Jul. 1st, 2025 12:40 pm
cimorene: Cartoon of 80s She-Ra on her winged unicorn flying against cloudy blue sky (where are we going?)
[personal profile] cimorene
I was making smalltalk with the bus driver along with the other guy at the bus stop and he asked if I was a student, lol. (Wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses took twenty years off I guess.) I said, No, but I'm going to driving school!

And he said close enough and gave me the student ticket rate.

Connexions (16)

Jul. 1st, 2025 08:35 am
the_comfortable_courtesan: image of a fan c. 1810 (Default)
[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan

What they had not at all anticipated

Flora and Hannah were quite in agreement that Mr Thornton seemed an entirely eligible prospect as tutor – had not shown at all discomposed by their medley of orphans, was a promising sign, had shown very proper respect to darling Verrie –

Really, said Flora, that is a very good set of young men, who would have anticipated the like around Saythingport’s son?

Hannah gave a little wistful sigh. Perchance 'tis the like case to Milord – for thus, among themselves, they spoke of Gervase Reveley, the late Lord Raxdell, Beatrice’s father – that Lord Peregrine observes his father and wishes to take an opposite course?

You may be right, my love! What a pity that he is not the heir, rather than that inebriate lout.

That might come with irksome responsibilities, not that they seem to bother young Talshaw –

Flora groaned. Would that dear Beauf was not so conscientious filial in the matter, one sees that he finds it exceeding tiresome and yearns for Nitherholme. Sure one is glad that Bobbie Wallace now follows in his father’s footsteps and is no longer a trifling idler, but one could have wished he had remained His Grace’s secretary.

Hannah smirked and remarked that even so, she fancied that Beauf and Flora had found some compensations in his presence in Town.

Flora blushed, reaching to take Hannah’s hand. You do not mind, dearest?

Oh, poo! Here we are nearly at Attervale – she glanced out of the train window – and I hope you will not mind do I manifest a certain affection towards Lady Emily.

For somewhat to her amazement, what had begun as rather in the way of a passing flirtation, had become an enduring devotion that ran happily alongside their other loves. Indeed, Hannah was like to suppose, was best thus: could not quite imagine living with Em, that rose extreme early of the morn to tend to hawks and horses – was mostly preoccupied about those and the estate business of Attervale – entirely accepted within local county society –

Whereas Hannah was a creature of Town to her very bones.

So here they were at last at Attervale – so that Flora could convoke with Lalage Fenster over village education, and Hannah, besides having the opportunity to see Em, intended to go visit Sir Hobday Perram in her capacity at Bibliophilia, to write up his collections for The Speculum.

What they had not at all anticipated was that Bella would also be a guest at Attervale. Hannah bit her lip – doubtless the girl would be hanging out after Em in positive heroine-worship, exceeding ennuyant.

Though seemed curiously subdued: one heard she had been smitten with a chill after that matter of being bolted with by a skittish mare during a visit to Hackwold, but seemed in perfect health now – no worrying matter of coughing or sniffling –

But although she rode out on their morning ride – for Em was quite able to mount her guests – and tended to The Gascon on their return as had been well-trained in doing by Belinda Penkarding – instead of hanging about the stables and the mews all day, after breakfast – and one observed she made a hearty breakfast! – went recline upon a sopha with a deal of reading matter.  Most odd.

After Em had showed off her hawks, along with the owl and the raven, all in excellent good health, to Hannah, they went take coffee in Em’s room that was part office and part sitting-room and part study. For Em, that would claim that she had been brought up an entire ignorant miss – Milly was a darling, but we were sad inattentive pupils – came about to be considered quite the authority upon horseflesh and its ailments and quite the savant concerning hawks, and had a deal of correspondence upon those matters.

So, said Hannah, putting her feet up upon a convenient footstool, what is ado with Bella? Surely no young woman that eats as much as she does can be in a decline.

Law, said Em, looking up from sorting the post that had just arrived, for they were old enough friends not to stand upon ceremony, 'tis give out that she was badly shook up by that business at Hackwold. Sure Leah and Inez go make a deal of a sensational melodrama out of it, alleging that there was some plot afoot to make Thessaly, that was well-known a skittish creature, bolt, so that Blatchett could effect a daring rescue – as if Bella was not entire capable of rescuing herself, indeed she kept her head, found herself in familiar country and ended up at Jupp’s farm, where The Lady and Gertie Jupp were in residence.

Hannah put down her cup a little too hard and coffee splashed into the saucer. Blatchett, you say?

Had been showing marked interest in Bella. But although she came off unharmed from this adventure, Quintus Ferraby apprehends that there was some shock to the nervous system and that she would be better for recruiting a little out of the whirl of the Season.

Hannah said Good Lord, that was not what one anticipated at a Hackwold party –

Em responded that she heard that Sir Antony and Lady Mary had been called away – some matter of a sick relative – leaving the party with an aged spinster aunt and that awful creature Mr Mortimer Chellow to host.

O, one might expect some tragedy like unto The Mistletoe Bough in that case, or perchance some scandal involving cards, mayhap billiards!

O, quite. The old hen collapsed in spasms and went demanding a physician: those naughty nieces of mine will enact her. Em sighed. Really, that pair. First they go acquire most respectable, though one must admit, exceeding dull, suitors – entirely enviable partis I daresay – well, I should not care to have that tittering imbecile Lady Gabrielle as a sister-in-law, but who knows but that she may marry herself? – and appear to go sober down remarkably. Positively unnatural – and then Lord Gilbert comes back trailing a romantic history of duels and love-affairs with opera-singers in Vienna and Buda-Pesth &C&C and they both go yearning after a younger son that is, one hears, entirely dedicated to his career in the Diplomatic and has no intention of marrying. O, one dares say that did he have a wish to wed, there is some Mulcaster estate or other he might look after – mayhap go into politics – but would be very tame for one that has, one hears, ridden with Cossacks, gone wolf-hunting and a deal of other adventures.

Hannah responded that Lord Gilbert certainly had a touch of the brooding Byronic strain about him but one did not hear that he emulated the late poet in other particulars.

Why, she wondered, had she – and Flora – not known about this incident at Hackwold? She could not suppose that Clorinda, Flora’s beloved Tiger, had not known the all almost before it happened. There had been time and occasion for her to communicate the matter to Flora.

One had to ponder whether there was more behind than the tale put about by the young ladies: and knowing what she and Flora did of Blatchett, she wondered whether the plot had had more to it than performing a mere daring rescue.

She had no immediate opportunity to convoke with Flora – went to pay what she anticipated would be a first call, leaving her card, at Perram Place, but was received with great enthusiasm by Sir Hobday, that declared having heard so much about Miss Roberts from Her Grace and Mr Davison would not stand upon ceremony and convention –

'Twas all entire fascinating, and would, she fancied, work up into a deal of possibilities beyond a staid account of his library and collections for The Speculum – one might pass on a few hints to Sybil Vernall as seeds for tales!

But the upshot was that by the time she returned to Attervale Flora was already about dressing for dinner, that they took at country hours.

La, my love, I may bustle into a very suitable gown! Do not fret.

Flora sat at the dressing-table, brushing her unruly curls into some degree of order. She looked over her shoulder with a grin, saying, she did not really suppose that Sir Hobday had kidnapped Hannah to be an odalisque in his hareem!

And how did you pass the day?

Flora made a moue. O, Lady Isabella takes a sudden whim to be interested in politics, and has been interrogating me about various matters in Aspasia’s columns – sure there are a deal of allusions that one needs to be informed to make sense of.

Really? Hannah shook out the skirts of her gown, and looked in the pier-glass, wondering mayhap her corals, since they would be in company? To relieve the severity? She did not say aught about the Hackwold business or Blatchett?

Flora twisted right round. What?

Hannah disclosed what she had learnt from Em.

Flora growled. Hah. I am very like to suppose there was a good deal more behind – but I had heard nothing. Tiger has been entirely mute upon the subject except to mention that Bella had been rather knocked-up by her wild gallop in a chilly sleety night.

Oh! She stood up, clenching her fists. She has no confidence in my discretion – I know I was a foolish careless creature who did not reckon with the consequences of speaking out about free love and preventive checks and how that would affect my ability to work for other causes –

She sighed. Hannah went over to put an arm around her. It was a grief to Flora that her work for village education and certain other causes had to be conducted by informal convocation by way of conversation with friends, as there were those would not wish to be associated with that scandalous Miss Ferraby.

Did she suppose I would immediately be about publishing denunciations of Blatchett? And mayhap being sued for libel? No, these days I am good sensible prudent Flora, even would I desire to eat his heart in the marketplace and would at the very least consult Mr Geoffrey Merrett upon the state of the law in the question.

And Beauf has kept this secret too! she cried.

The important thing, Hannah pointed out, has been to protect Bella’s reputation – have you not spoke of the wicked fragility of female reputation?

Flora gave a little sob. ‘Tis so, and one sees the reason, but meanwhile that monster roams free.

Free, but these days somewhat shunned of the herd, one hears.

They looked at one another. Flora gave a gulp, and straightened up, and managed a little grin. Is’t not possible that Tiger herself has some device in play? Sure I should not wish to blunder in.


delphi: An illustrated crow kicks a little ball of snow with a contemplative expression. (Default)
[personal profile] delphi
Fandom 50 #22

Day by Day by [archiveofourown.org profile] surprisepink
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Ship: Stede Bonnet/Izzy Hands
Medium: Fic
Length: 1361 words
Rating: Teen
My Bookmark Tags: slice of life, romance, humour, happy ending, established relationship, izzy lives, future, flirtation, compatibility, service
Summary: A typical raid for Captain Bonnet and his new first mate.

Excerpt:
“I’m getting the hang of this, if I do say so myself,” says Stede, cheerily.

“And you do.”

“What’s that, Izzy?’

“Say so yourself.” The man looks entirely unimpressed, but it does take a lot to impress Izzy. Stede has accepted it by this point, and knows not to take it personally. Knows, too, that if Izzy actually wasn’t at least a little happy with him, he could leave the ship just about anywhere and find another pirate crew to join. And yet, port after port, he doesn’t.

And all Stede had ever wanted was for people to stay.

This is everything I love about the idea of Stede and Izzy together on the Revenge, with Stede captaining and Izzy serving as his first mate. The way they rile each other up is perfect, tempered to just the right heat by a better understanding of each other. Izzy's ways of trying to serve Stede while keeping his ego in check are moving, and so is Stede's growing sense of what he's doing and what it means.

The story's funny, with a comedic moment early on that made me laugh out loud, and the sexual chemistry between Stede and Izzy absolutely crackles. This one really made my day.

Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!

Jul. 1st, 2025 12:03 am
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[personal profile] wcg
 
Happy Kalends of Quintillis!  Are you ready for the Ludi Apollonares?

Purrcy, Rivers of London, my back

Jun. 30th, 2025 10:52 pm
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[personal profile] mecurtin
Purrcy was lying on top of the sofas and then Suddenly a Wild Hand Appeared! With Pets! it was pretty choice for everyone involved tbh

Purrcy the tuxedo tabby leans his head into a white person's hand that's reaching out to rub his face and body, as he sits on the back of the sofas. His eyes are closed in bliss, his whiskers and paws are stretched out, his nose looks very pink & cute.

One of the things I've been doing to deal with stress is occasional binge-reading of book series. Most recently Rivers of London, which I'd never read all of before.

I do like them, and they're cute and all, but I'm forcefully reminded of why I don't read police procedurals any more, or watch TV shows with law enforcement heroes. Because this is really a fantasy of copaganda, as well as a fantasy with copaganda. I mean, the very idea that murders are treated so *seriously*, with huge commitments of personnel & resources ... This has *got* to be a fantasy for the UK, right? It's certainly a fantasy for the US, where almost half of all murders are unsolved.

So I can't really like them unreservedly, I can't *wallow* in them, my disbelief won't suspend that far.

But! Good news today!

I went to the doctor about my sciatica, and he started me on a course of prednisone, and ... it already seems to be working? maybe? Could this be what not being in pain is like?

Honestly it feels very strange. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
petra: Harley Quinn hugging Poison Ivy blissfully (Harley & Ivy - Femslash yay!)
[personal profile] petra
And were too afraid to ask (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Padmé Amidala/Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala & Sabé
Characters: Padmé Amidala, Sabé (Star Wars)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Sex Education
Summary:

Padmé skipped health class and did double diplomacy instead.



*

Come as you are (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Original Female Character/Original Female Character
Characters: Original Female Character(s)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuri, Theology
Summary:

Who the Mother loves; who the Bastard loves.



*



Belated discovery (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Cyteen Series - C. J. Cherryh
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Catlin AC-7892 II/Ariane Emory II
Characters: Ariane Emory II, Catlin AC-7892 I
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

For the prompt, "What took you so long?"



*

Pasta e amore (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: due South
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Elaine Besbriss/Francesca Vecchio
Characters: Francesca Vecchio, Elaine Besbriss
Additional Tags: Drabble, Disney References
Summary:

"Aw, c'mon." Frannie holds out a forkful of capellini to Elaine. "We can make it work."



*

Palimpsest of self (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Trek: Discovery
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Michael Burnham/Mirror Philippa Georgiou
Characters: Michael Burnham, Mirror Philippa Georgiou
Additional Tags: Drabble, Yuri
Summary:

Michael and Philippa compare scars.



*

Tea, tea, and tea (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Tales of the City Series - Armistead Maupin
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Anna Madrigal & Mary Ann Singleton
Characters: Mary Ann Singleton, Anna Madrigal (Tales of the City)
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

Mary Ann has tea with the landlady.



*

Her favorite curse (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan & Alys Vorpatril
Characters: Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan, Alys Vorpatril
Additional Tags: Drabble, Sex Education
Summary:

Cordelia wants to go shopping for a different body part this time.



*

Lie down with actresses (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hornblower (TV), Slings & Arrows
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Kitty Cobham/Ellen Fanshaw
Characters: Ellen Fanshaw, Kitty Cobham
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

Ellen takes a trip.



*

A union in partition (100 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Slings & Arrows
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Anna Conroy/Maria
Characters: Anna Conroy, Maria (Slings & Arrows)
Additional Tags: Drabble, Morning After
Summary:

Anna wakes up.

Rebuilding journal search again

Jun. 30th, 2025 03:18 pm
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[personal profile] alierak posting in [site community profile] dw_maintenance
We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales

Jun. 30th, 2025 03:44 pm
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


The English-language rulebook and supplements for Broken Tales, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game of upside-down fairy tales from Italian game publisher The World Anvil Publishing.

Bundle of Holding: Broken Tales

Oneonta Gorge

Jun. 30th, 2025 11:14 am
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[personal profile] yourlibrarian posting in [community profile] common_nature


Our next stop on the trip that day was Oneonia Gorge. It has a tunnel through the rock in between the trees, though we didn't go through it. Instead, we stopped just before it to take pictures of the creek and gorge.Read more... )
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[personal profile] spiralsheep
Having left the cafe at Greyfriars I decided to attempt another flan so consulted a randomised Oblique Strategy card for inspiration and received "Bridges -build -burn". There are plenty of bridges in Worcester, over roads, railway, canal, and rivers. I've crossed many of them. But there's one newly built bridge over the River Severn that I hadn't visited and it has a cafe besides. Will I make it? Will I accidentally burn it down? Will I die en route and my viking-themed burning boat burial pass underneath as it carries me to my final destination? Spoiler: not that last one. XD

Walking along roads familiar from previous flanage, I was surprised to find an alley I'd never noticed before. Obviously I turned along it, which was lucky because my diverted route brought me to a mural of a GIANT raccoon:

Bricks, box, waterworks, bridge )
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[personal profile] oursin

How is it the end of June already? Where did it go?

And tomorrow I have to travel to Birmingham for a conference.

I am telling myself that I survived the Hot Summer of 76 in an un-airconditioned office where, if one opened a window in came the noise and fumes of a heavily traffic-polluted thoroughfare.

Of course, I was Much Younger in those days.

I see that it is supposed to get somewhat cooler (and wetter) on Weds.

Clarke Award Finalists 2003

Jun. 30th, 2025 10:28 am
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll
2003: PM Blair embraces hilariously transparent lies to justify the invasion of Iraq, two million Britons reveal the power of public outrage when they protest the Iraq War to no effect, and the Coalition of the Billing (UK included) faces an occupation of Iraq that will no doubt be entirely without unforeseen challenges or consequences.

Poll #33305 Clarke Award Finalists 2003
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 57


Which 2003 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?

View Answers

The Separation by Christopher Priest
10 (17.5%)

Kiln People by David Brin
17 (29.8%)

Light by M. John Harrison
15 (26.3%)

The Scar by China Miéville
24 (42.1%)

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
30 (52.6%)

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
31 (54.4%)



Bold for have read, italic for intend to read,, underline for never heard of it.

Which 2003 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?
The Separation by Christopher Priest
Kiln People by David Brin
Light by M. John Harrison
The Scar by China Miéville
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
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[personal profile] rydra_wong
* SAVE OFTEN, especially in the early game when you may be very fragile and the game's auto-save is infrequent.

BUT -- don't reload from a save unless you actually die or otherwise hit a "game over."

This game is about failing, and it rewards you for playing forwards through failure. Some of the best moments in the game come from failed checks. There are always alternative routes and ways forwards. If you tried to savescum it, you would miss most of the game and all of the point. Embrace failure.

Okay there are those two specific checks where failing is so emotionally devastating I would not judge anyone for savescumming. But apart from those.

* You can just pick one of the Archetypes for a starter build, and leave messing around with custom character creation until you've seen the stats in action and understand how the system works. Don't stress about it. Or, if you want, you can throw yourself into custom character creation despite not having a clue how it works, and you will also have a fun time. Your initial build and your later choices about what you put points into will radically change your experience of the game, but you can't do it "wrong"; there are no optimal builds which are "better".

* Press tab to highlight objects you can interact with, or activate "detective mode" in the settings to do it automatically. Yes I know this is the sort of thing that is probably obvious to people who have played video games before.

* If your Health or Morale (displayed on the lower left of the screen) fall to zero, you have about 5 seconds to apply a healing item (if you have one) by clicking the cross above that stat.

This is the one timed element in the game, and also the one mechanic that some of us initially have trouble grasping.

With all the other mechanics in the game, you can not only learn them by flinging yourself in and floundering about, this is IMHO the best and most enjoyable way to learn them. No idea what the Thought Cabinet is or what Internalizing A Thought means? Try it and find out!

* Perhaps the most important tip of all:

If you feel you are flailing around and failing on most of the checks you try and you've just been informed you have acquired a Thought you can internalize in your Thought Cabinet and you have no clue what that means or maybe you just had a heart attack and died before you even got out of your hotel room or you had a nervous breakdown because a child insulted you and you have no idea what you're doing and it's been three days and you still haven't got the body down from the tree --

THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME "BADLY". THIS IS IN FACT THE UNIVERSAL DISCO ELYSIUM EXPERIENCE AND MEANS YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME CORRECTLY. WELL DONE.

Feel Like Learning Something New?

Jun. 30th, 2025 12:16 pm
[syndicated profile] daily_otter_feed

Posted by Daily Otter

This comes from Sea Otter Savvy, which writes:

Sea otters and river otters may both be mustelids (weasels) with big appetites, but these cousins live very different lives. Sea otters are marine mammals who can live their entire lives in the ocean and their diet is specific to marine invertebrates (animals without backbones), while river otters move between fresh, saltwater, and terrestrial habitats—and have a far more varied diet.

New research from Megan Isadore and Terence Carroll of the River Otter Ecology Project, just published in the IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin, reveals a surprising twist in river otter diet: predation on Brown Pelicans at Abbotts Lagoon in Point Reyes National Seashore.

From 2018–2023, researchers documented this novel predator-prey relationship, with 73 pelican carcasses recorded during 19 surveys in 2023. Despite the surprising number, pelicans didn’t seem to shift their use of the lagoon in response. The study raises intriguing ecological questions—like how these carcasses might act as nutrient subsidies for local scavengers, and what long-term effects this could have on local ecosystems.

This research highlights the dynamic role river otters are playing as a recovering predator species—and reminds us that even familiar animals can surprise us.

📚 Citation: Carroll & Isadore (2025). IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 42 (2): 71–84

June 2025 in review

Jun. 30th, 2025 09:06 am
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


I survived another dance season. Go me.

21 works reviewed. 11 by women (52%), 9 by men (43%),1 by non-binary authors (5%), 0 by authors whose gender is unknown (0%), and 8 by POC (38%).

More details at the other end of the link.

Connexions (15)

Jun. 30th, 2025 08:37 am
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[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan

Are we not quite chameleons

Matters were somewhat quiet at present in Raxdell House – for the very best of reasons, thought Bert Edwards, that was, officially, Lady Raxdell’s social secretary and found himself undertaking a deal of other duties within that household. Both the daughters married off – Miss Harriett that was now Mrs Brumpage Parry-Lloyd, a flourishing mother already and another in prospect – Miss Emma at Naples with her husband that was a descendant of Neapolitan aristocracy – all very gratifying – and now here was Mr Peter had made quite the most appropriate match. Daughter of Lord Vinwich, that had been part of that fine set about the late Lord Raxdell, nothing could have been more suitable.

The happy couple now made a bridal tour upon the Continent, that most fortunately kept 'em out of the way whilst the east wing of Raxdell House was furbished up suitable for their separate establishment. And here was Bert found himself more or less in the capacity of master of works for that!

Sure that wing was in reasonable good order, but had been somewhat neglected over the years since the Ferrabys had departed. And was entirely proper to be about some matters of decoration for a new bride!

Had walked through the various chambers with Miss Frances – FanFan – that waxed somewhat wistful over the fine New Year parties the hospitable Ferrabys had been wont to hold for the children of their extensive set and, indeed, their own grandchildren.

O! – but why are there bars to the windows here?

Bert fancied that Miss Osberton had some notion of a quite Gothic tale – mayhap of the days of the Vicious Viscount, the late Lord Raxdell’s abominable father –

This was, I apprehend, the nursery. When the Ferrabys first came to Town, Quintus and Miss Flora were still quite infants, but very venturesome creatures, the tales give out, and there was a deal of worry that they would climb up to the windows and mayhap fall out.

What a very sensible thought – so like Lady Ferraby – we must – she blushed a little – keep this chamber to be our nursery.

And there was convoking with Waxman the butler and Mrs Waxman the housekeeper about servants, and with Seraphine Roberts over the kitchens. Seraphine sighed, saying that had Miriam not showed so impatient and gone take that place with the Grigsons, would entire have advanced her interest, but as 'twas, considered that Eugenie was ready to have her own kitchen under hand.

He was at present wondering about what one might do about a personal maid for Mrs Peter.

But he supposed that Jerome, Lord Raxdell’s valet, was undertaking the question of a valet for Mr Peter.

As was his wont every fortnight or so, Jerome had invited him to take a glass or so in his sitting-room and talk household matters and the news of the day, 'twas exactly the occasion to open it.

Handsome Jerome – well on in middle years now, but still a fine-looking fellow with that tawny complexion and curls that only showed a hint of grey – nodded, and said, had been bringing on that lad Antony – you will recall him, was one of the footmen we had from the Potter-Welch agency, one of the orphans that they train up for good service – showed a very pleasing ambition to advance to valet so I have been instructing him in good practices – will be entire ready to take up the position when Mrs and Mrs Peter return –

We were fortunate to engage the services of that fellow Mompson! Not only does he come highly commended as a courier – by Lord Gilbert Beaufoyle no less – but was quite willing to undertake a valet’s duties, having previously been in such a place.

Bert nodded. He had seen the testimonials to Mompson’s abilities, and one felt a deal more comfortable about Mr and Mrs Peter knowing they were in those hands.

But talking of valets, Bert said, I daresay you will not have come across anything of the like – 'tis certainly not good practices! – but I have heard lately that there is some fellow goes about offering reward to valets, and mayhap ladies’ maids, for any compromising letters or such they may get their hands on –

Jerome looked very severe. Sure one hears of chaps that are turned off, or have other reasons for resentment, will possess themselves of letters that might lead to a crim.con. or the like – 'tis low vulgar behaviour but one understands there may have been provocation – but that sounds above and beyond the right way of going on.

Or, perchance, Bert went on, to be entirely fair, may have had some threat to bring against 'em, themselves, to do the deed.

Jerome nodded. After a pause he said, have not heard aught of the matter, but will keep my ears open for hints. I daresay this is some investigation your young lady has been commissioned to?

Bert allowed that the business had been mentioned to him by Miss Hacker. She was not what Jerome supposed by his young lady but they were excellent good friends and it did no harm at all to be seen about with her at the theatre, the Buffle Arms song and supper room, or Cremorne Gardens.

Jerome sighed and said, should not let the grass grow beneath his feet when it was a case of a fine young woman. There had been that magnificent creature Livvy Bracewell, a friend of Sophy Lacey’s as then was, visiting Town with the Fairleighs – lord, a splendid healthy country girl that showed up your drab Town women – admirable character –

But I failed to speak afore they all went back to Herefordshire.

Bert wondered. There was Jerome – still caused a certain amount of sighing amongst the maidservants – such a handsome fellow – such elegant manners – it must be a useful tale to put about that there was a lost love that still commanded his heart.

Because matters at Raxdell House were so quiet there was no difficulty about Bert slipping out discreetly the next evening to go visit Prancey’s, not in his character as the Duchess of Clerkenwell Green but in his usual garb, to take a glass or so with Prancey and discuss arrangements for the next revel of the sisterhood there.

Prancey was entire delighted at the prospect – caused no trouble – paid very generous – the fiddlers had remarked that they were ever being offered additional fees to play particular airs –

Bert nodded, and said that the fiddlers were indeed considerable praised. Also the wine

Sure Mr Barron’s friends at Brighton trade in some very nice stuff! And lately I have had an offer from Vohle, that makes daguerrotypes –

Bert frowned a little, for his recollection of Vohle’s daguerrotypes was that they were of naughty scenes, that he purveyed at Black Tom’s to the young men that came into Seven Dials to see life. Though he also, now Bert thought upon it, provided as 'twere trade cards for Covent Garden Misses displaying their assets.

– took the thought that mayhap your sisterhood might care for mementoes of themselves in their splendour –

That was a very appealing thought! The Duchess of Clerkenwell Green, very stylish in her finery –

Why, I should say that was an excellent thought, but that there is a thing at present gives me pause, that indeed I intended opening to you.

Prancey sat up and looked attentive. Vice Society?

No, not that, 'tis another troubling matter. He described the business as Leda Hacker said Matt Johnson had fathomed it out – some fellow that was going about bribing, or using threats, to get his hands on letters, or mayhap other items, as such depictions would be, that might not be exactly criminal, but would be matters that their rightful owner would pay highly to ensure were not disclosed.

Financial transactions he would not wish his employer, or mayhap his father-in-law, to know of – letters from some lady, that would have an adverse effect on his suit to the heiress he is courting, or perchance bring him into court for a crim.con. proceeding – one surmizes that a chap would not wish his wife to see him prinked up in a finer gown than any she owns – Oh, one perceives a deal of possibilities. Prancey sighed. And sure, who is easier to threaten than a fellow that has reason to fear being took up for unnatural offences?

They both groaned.

Prancey filled both their glasses again, saying, would very discreet see what he might find out. A deal of the fellows that came here were in places where they might have the chance to lay their hands on those sorts of things.

Indeed, thought Bert, was the Reveleys given to indiscretions, that was hard to even imagine, he would be exceeding well-placed to discover 'em! But la, he was the fellow had secrets to conceal, in that household.

So, would not yet be about any matter of a daguerreotype of the Duchess, but opened these findings to Leda Hacker, as they went take a genteel stroll in the Park of Sunday.

Hah! said Leda, sure I shall be about going get my image took by Vohle –

What, as Babsie?

Leda gave a snorting giggle and remarked that from what she understood, Vohle would expect a deal of bubbie on display – no, he already knew her, very like, as Larry Hooper, from Black Tom’s, so she would present in that guise – could contrive some story –

Will give me opportunity to look about his studio – see are there signs of some hidden safe or such –

She tucked her arm into Bert’s and grinned at him. And then might make another visit more covert with my lock-picks.

Today, a-walking in the Park, sure she looked entire a proper young women in some genteel occupation – nothing like the old Bet Bloggs! – and indeed, nothing could be genteeler than, o, she undertakes a little secretarial work for Lady Bexbury, that has so much on hand with her charities.

She dug him in the ribs. Fie, are we both of us not quite chameleons? Then looked up and said, why, there is Frinton with her Ma and young Walter, let us go make civil.

That was entirely agreeable to Bert, that knew from Leda that Miss Frinton was an entire connoisseur of stationery, that he had a considerable nice taste for himself, and was about advizing some business about it.

Survived another dance season

Jun. 29th, 2025 10:43 pm
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll
Final show: a 5.5 hour bhangra show that was only 6.5 hours long.

Among my final achievements this season, discovering as I hoisted the last of many garbage bags into the dumpster that the bag was leaking coffee. My last achievement was ducking to the men's to wash my hands, discovering someone had plugged the sinks and turned on the taps, and stopping the flood in time.
aurumcalendula: close up of Yan Wei and Xu Youyi from the opening credits of Couple of Mirror (Yan Wei and Xu Youyi)
[personal profile] aurumcalendula posting in [community profile] vidding
Title: To Hell & Back
Fandom: 双镜 | Couple of Mirrors (2021)
Music: To Hell & Back by Maren Morris
Summary: 'lucky for me, your kind of heaven's been to hell and back'
Notes: Premiered at Escapade 35.5.
Warnings: quick cuts and flashing lights, violence

AO3 | bsky | DW | tumblr | YouTube

vital functions

Jun. 29th, 2025 08:16 pm
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[personal profile] kaberett

Reading. Scalzi, Wells, Gordon + Ziv, Burch + Penman, McMillan-Webster )

I have also done a bunch of variably directed online reading about models and theories of pain, and will happily recommend the British Psychological Society's Story of pain should this be relevant to your interests!

Writing. I am several thousand words and 18 (of 52) questions into the consultation on the EHRC Code of Practice consultation. The deadline is in a little under 24 hours. Approximately two thirds of the questions appear to be very simple and straightforward tickboxes. I am not super enjoying the free-text responses, and especially did not enjoy that despite the total lack of any indicator of a word limit there is in fact a word limit and it's 1000 words. I discovered this having written 2511 of the damn things.

More cheerfully I am also, as mentioned, enjoying playing with my pens for the purposes of notes about pain. I am increasingly convinced (cannot remember if I mentioned?) that I have Solved the Problem of one of my fancy pens having an unwelcome tendency to dry up when looked at funny, via the method of "giving the cap a bonus little wiggle once it's on". (It's the Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze Age which, second hand, was a PhD completion present from A, because -- for those of you who aren't massive fountain pen nerds -- it's made out of a resin that's got crushed Etna basalt mixed in with it; I spent a while going "is it just because red-family inks are typically quite dry???" but nope, the effectiveness of the extra little wiggle suggests quite strongly that the spring for the inner cap isn't quiiite activating when I'd ideally like it to. This isn't necessarily a huge surprise given how sticky it was when I first got the pen, but it still took me... a while... to catch on.

Watching. Up to date with Murderbot. Remain grumbly about Decisions including "how little time the poor thing spends with its helmet up" and "how bad people are at poly" and also, fundamentally, the word "throuple" (I AM TOO OLD AND CRANKY FOR THIS NONSENSE, APPARENTLY), but am also mildly peeved that we've run out of episodes.

Listening. An Indelicates gig, which I almost could not make myself leave the house for but was very very glad I did. Not having yet managed to scrape together the brain to listen to Avenue QAnon significantly increased the proportion of new-to-me songs!

Cooking. Bread? Bread.

Eating. The branch of Tonkotsu a short way from the Indeligig venue turned out to have outside seating! And an updated menu since last time we made it to them, so we both delightedly consumed the chilli tofu ramen and also shared the cauliflower 'wings' and some edamame and the very pleasant yuzu lemonade and also also I tried A's Smoked Hibiscus Margarita and it was great. (I mildly regretted not being in fit state to actually want an entire cocktail of my own.)

Growing. I... harvested and processed 1.7 kg of redcurrants! And ate several handfuls of raspberries! Depending on how badly my neglect since Wednesday has damaged everything given The Heat there's at least as much again to come off the redcurrant bush, and the jostaberry and gooseberry were also both looking extremely promising. AND the second sowing of kohlrabi has started to come up.

Demonic Ox e-cover sneak peek

Jun. 29th, 2025 03:39 pm
[syndicated profile] lois_mcmaster_bujold_feed
Artist Ron Miller just finished it this morning...




Vendor page copy:

The Adventure of the Demonic Ox

"When sorcerer Learned Penric hears of the suspected demonic possession of an ox at his brother-in-law’s bridgebuilding worksite, he thinks it an excellent opportunity to tutor his adopted daughter and student sorceress Otta in one of their Temple duties: identifying and restraining such wild chaos elementals before harm comes to their hosts or surroundings.

What begins as an instructive family outing turns anything but routine when a mountain search becomes a much more frightening adventure for Penric and his charges. What is undergone there by both mentor and students will yield lessons both unexpected and far-reaching."

***

All parts are now in the hands of my ebook wrangler at Spectrum, and will be uploaded to the usual vendors, Kindle, Nook, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo, when her work queue permits, but with luck this coming week.

This cover was tricky. We started with more figures, and spent a long time in frustrated fiddling with them before figuring out that they actually didn't belong on the cover in the first place. Less is more.

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on June, 29

Are you ready for...

Jun. 29th, 2025 03:42 pm
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[personal profile] wcg
 Weasel Stomping Day!!???

Culinary

Jun. 29th, 2025 06:58 pm
oursin: Frontispiece from C17th household manual (Accomplisht Lady)
[personal profile] oursin

Last week's bread held out pretty well.

Friday night supper: ven pongal (South Indian khichchari).

Saturday breakfast rolls: the ones loosely based on James Beard's mother's raisin bread, 50:50% strong white/einkorn flour, perhaps a little lacking in the mace department.

Today's lunch: (this ran into several difficulties including oven problems and a pyrex plate going smash on the floor, but got there in the end) salmon fillets baked in foil with butter, salt, pepper and dill, served with baby Jersey Royal Potatoes boiled and tossed in butter, garlic-roasted tenderstem broccoli, and white-braised green beans with sliced baby red pepper.

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[personal profile] spiralsheep
- Pride: I have GAY Marmite! In the UK, branded goods claiming a tiny percentage of their profits go to charity fundraising aren't uncommon, and Christmas / Easter branded items happen but I don't generally see event themed goods in High Street shops. However, my supermarket delivery this week included rainbow, Elton John, anti-AIDS, rebranded Marmite! Need to know: the Elton John AIDS Foundation is banned in Russia, and the EJAF knows where Lesotho is. It takes me ages to eat my way through a whole jar so I'll have cheering GAY Marmite to increase my happiness every time I open my eye-level kitchen cupboard for a long time. :-)

- Habitat: I sorted out and re-dyed everything old that could be renewed. I love the moment when all my favourites look at their best again.

- Pop: f'Keith Starmer and Lisa Nandy's attempts at government censorship of pop music are going about as well as British government censorship of popular media usually does (see also Lady Chatterley's Lover, Spycatcher, &c). "It’s upsetting that the way this country is going keeps our music relevant!"

- Birb log: 15 June, Jackdaws still flying off with beaks full of food.
16 June, juvenile ? Song Thrush in front garden (these are ringed locally and I hear them sing occasionally but I rarely see them).
25 June, Jackdaws in semi-juvenile plumage and with behaviours such as frequent vocalising and begging for food (including begging each other, lol, which helps establish the wider flock's pecking order). Most of the parents are very unimpressed with being harassed for food at this stage, although they do still voluntarily feed the kids, and adults will cheerfully put the youngsters in their place if the kids are failing to copy adult foraging behaviour or are trying to steal food the adults have found. This morning's flock was about a dozen individuals.

To Walk The Night by William Sloane

Jun. 29th, 2025 09:03 am
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[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Jerry's romance with the brilliant, beautiful, eccentric Selena is book-ended with death: first, Selena's husband's, then Jerry's.

To Walk The Night by William Sloane

PSA

Jun. 29th, 2025 01:54 pm
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[personal profile] rydra_wong
Disco Elysium is currently 90% off in the Steam summer sale, making it a mere £3.49.

Play Disco Elysium, everybody. Yes, even if you don't play video games.

(It was the first video game I ever played -- apart from having once(?) played Pac Man as a child, many many decades ago -- and it was a perfect choice.)

If you understand the principle of a Choose Your Own Adventure book, have a vague sense that "stats" and "levelling up" are things, and can grasp "click to go to a place/interact with an object," you are sufficiently equipped.

ETA: Okay, I will add in [personal profile] astrogirl's excellent content warning:

It's definitely not for everybody. I mean, for one thing, it gets pretty much all the trigger warnings for everything. Alcoholism and substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, discussions of sexual assault, gore (not visual, but some of the descriptions are very vivid), you name it. A number of characters are giant racists. (Towards fictional races/ethnicities, mind you, but it's still ugly.) Evil children will hurl homophobic slurs at you. That sort of thing. And whatever your politics, the game will try very hard to make you feel uncomfortable about them.

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