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youvebeenlivingfictional · 6 months

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20, 22, or 41 (I can’t decide) from the kiss prompts with George Russell 💚

this is an approximation of my face upon receiving this ask:

Prompt: Kissing in a stairwell, giving them an artificial height difference; a chaste kiss given to each other because they are in mixed company; Kisses shared under an umbrella

Warnings: George and Reader are Married™; smooches; truly this is just tooth-rotting fluff; my abiding fascination with Jay Gould and his place in George Russell's character creation

“You’re late,” You tutted softly, glancing from your guests as George pressed a kiss to your cheek.

“I couldn’t get away, I’m sorry.”

You’d expected him to say that he got caught up in paperwork, but if he couldn’t get away from that meeting—Your stomach flipped, eyes wide as you turned fully to get a better look at George. He gently waved away your concern.

“Mr. Gould and I simply become distracted before discussing business," He insisted.

“Distracted by what?”

“We were discussing our families. It was quite a genial conversation.”

“Alright,” You nodded, glancing back toward the party attendees. “As long as you’re sure.”

George chuckled, pressing a chaste, gentle kiss to your lips.

“Quite sure, darling," He reassured, "I was in the room, after all.”

You pursed your lips to fight back a laugh, instead reaching out and gently pinching his cheek in reprimand.

“Mrs. Russell?”

You turned to the question, smiling when you spotted Marian and Peggy.

“I’m afraid we must return to my aunt’s,” Marian smiled regretfully. “But thank you for the lovely afternoon.”

“Of course! Oh, do let me see you out. Excuse me,” You patted George’s arm before hurrying toward the stairs.

“Where are you going?” George frowned, following you and stopping by the banister as you stilled on the third step.

“To get my coat.”

“Send your ladies maid.”

“I don’t mind,” You insisted. He shook his head, a fond smile on his lips.

“My stubborn girl.”

You grinned, leaning down and pressing another gentle kiss to his lips before turning to Peggy and Marian.

“I won’t be a moment!”

“My goodness, it’s a wonder you made it over without drowning!” Ada tutted, eyes wandering the three of you. You, Marian, and Peggy were still giggling, your hair and clothes soaked by the sudden downpour that you’d gotten caught up in on your way across the street.

“Isn’t it,” Agnes agreed dryly. “Another moment and you would’ve been swimming across the avenue.”

“We are so sorry we couldn’t make it to tea,” Ada insisted, “Aren’t we, Agnes? We simply weren’t feeling well.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” You shook your head. “I’ve been meaning to look in for some time.”

“How kind.”

You knew from Agnes’ tone that she didn’t mean it as she said it, but you knew better than to quarrel with the woman when you were dropping water all over her front hall. You opened your mouth to ask after them, but you were drowned out by the sound of the bell.

“Who could that be!” Ada asked brightly, peering around you as their footman hurried around you to get the door. Your brows raised at the sight of George on the doorstep, and large umbrella in hand.

“Mrs. Van Rhijn, ladies,” He nodded to each of them. “I’ve come to collect my wife.”

“Your timing is impeccable,” Agnes muttered.

“Won’t you stay for some cake?” Ada offered.

“Thank you, no,” You shook your head. “We really should get back. It was wonderful to see you Miss Brook, Mrs. Van Rhijn. Marian, Peggy, lovely as always.”

You stepped out onto the stoop, away from their goodbyes, taking George’s arm with one hand and lifting your skirt slightly with the other as you took care walking down the slick steps.

“Did you really leave our guests without a host just because it started to rain?” You chuckled, picking up your pace as he led you across the street.

“I didn’t want you looking like a drowned rat when you returned.”

“Very thoughtful, but you could’ve sent a footman.”

George came to a stop on the sidewalk, turning to face you as he held the umbrella over your heads. You searched his face, stomach a flurry of butterflies as he fixed you with a warm smile.

“I don’t mind,” He insisted softly. You grinned, leaning in and pressing a tender kiss to his lips. He lifted his other hand, cupping your cheek as his lips tenderly slipped against yours.

“Come on,” You murmured, drawing away. “We ought to get back inside before we catch our death.”

“Mm. And before the guests grow suspicious.”

"Thank you for coming to get me."

"You're very welcome, my love."

Tagging all the fellow George Russell girliiiiiiies: @massivecolorspygiant ; @nominalnebula ; @foxilayde

#George Russell x Reader #George Russell x You #George Russell/Reader #George Russell/You #George Russell fic #George Russell imagine #George Russell The Gilded Age #asks #replies #requests #Prompts #Danny Tag

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goodthingscomeinthrees · 4 months

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just sayin' that the analogue for bertha is alva vanderbilt, but george's is jay gould — ruthless robber baron, but also family man and orchid enthusiast. jfells is being picky-choosy, so we'll go down the consuelo route in s3, but i think he'll veer off-course at some point. he's done it enough already (gladys' debutante ball was actually a costume party, etc.) that i do not foresee divorcée suffragette bertha happening anytime soon. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

(while we're here, please look at what people wore to alva's costume ball, specifically the lady whose costume included TAXIDERMIED CATS.)

#the gilded age #bertha russell #george russell #bertha x george #also would highly reco both anderson cooper and katherine howe books #about the vanderbilts and the astors #they're really engaging and fun #and oh my god these people were TERRIBLE

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amarguerite · 5 months

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i am so c o n f u s e d

ive been seeing u reblogging/talking abt the gilded age among a couple others of ppl I follow/talk abt JA and like............ITS LOOKS PRETTY. SEEEMS LIKE ITS A VICTORIAN ERA THING WHICH IS NICE. but but would it be as inapp as bridgerton?? I can just skip through fucking scenes so I can look at the prett dresses but if theres outright fucking itd be age inapp BUT I need smth to watch while crocheting and this seems like the perfect kinda trashy show to watch

so so as a person whos seen it like should i watch it or not? 😭😭

It’s set in 1882 in the first season and 1883 in the second! It’s very mild, in terms of sexual content. Clothed making out between George and Bertha Russell and then in the second season their son has an ill-advised fling with an older woman that results in them making out while fully clothed and a scene of them chatting in bed while under the covers. I think the most you see is Laura Benanti’s bare leg. ETA: there is a scene in the first season where one character tries to seduce another by being naked in his bed but he gets real mad and immediately makes her get dressed and leave.

It’s a lot of fun, but admittedly it’s fun for me for some very specific reasons. If any of these resonate with you, I’d give it a shot:

1) great costuming

2) nearly every contemporary Broadway star is there to chew on scenery, be witty, and wear hats

3) ridiculous gilded age nonsense where ultra-rich robber barons and “old money” New Yorkers fight over who gets invited to what party. The overarching plot of the second season is about the construction of the Metropolitan Opera House

4) neat subplots featuring genuinely cool female historical figures who accomplished an incredible amount given the societal constraints under which they existed. Last season there was a long subplot about Clara Barton founding the Red Cross and this season there’s a subplot about the female engineer who was actually responsible for constructing the Brooklyn Bridge instead of her husband

5) fantastic scenery

6) a look at the Black elite of New York at the time— a group I didn’t know much about until this show

7) Nathan Lane giving one of the strangest and funniest performances of his long and varied career.

8) on location shooting at big Gilded Age mansions in New York State and in Newport, Rhode Island. The house belonging to the character played by one of my fave Broadway prima donnas, Kelli O’Hara, is actually Lyndhurst House, the actual Gothic Revival mansion of actual Gilded Age robber baron Jay Gould.

9) an insanely high props budget that they use to buy such outlandishly delightful things as penny-farthing bicycles and magic lanterns

Is it a good show? Honestly, I don’t know if I can answer that question.

Is it great if you’re a musical theatre fan who enjoys being able to say, “oh my god that’s Douglas Sills from The Scarlet Pimpernel and Little Shop of Horrors playing the Russell’s chef!” Yes.

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cantseemtohide · 4 months

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What I read in 2023, pretty good going 👍 (apologies for long non sims post)

1. Middlemarch by George Eliot

2. Capitalism in the Twenty-First Century: Through the Prism of Value by Guglielmo Carchedi and Michael Roberts

3. The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue

4. The Book of Tokyo: A City in Short Fiction edited by Michael Emmerich, Jim Hinks & Masashi Matsuie

5. Clipped Coins, Abused Words, and Civil Government: John Locke's Philosophy of Money by George Caffentzis

6. Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World by Adam Tooze

7. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

8. Civilizing Money: Hume, his Monetary Project and the Scottish Enlightenment by George Caffentzis

9. An Untouched House by Willem Frederik Hermans

10. Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

11. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris

12. Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard

13. Exiles from European Revolutions: Refugees in Mid-Victorian England edited by Sabina Freitag

14. The Apprenticeship of Big Toe P by Rieko Matsuura

15. A Civil War: A History of the Italian Resistance by Claudio Pavone

16. Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

17. Dracula by Bram Stoker

18. The Silent Dead by Tetsuya Honda

19. Lady Susan by Jane Austen

20. Adam Smith in Beijing: Lineages of the Twenty-First Century by Giovanni Arrighi

21. This Should be Written in the Present Tense by Helle Helle

22. The Citadel of Weeping Pearls by Aliette de Bodard

23. The Invention of Art: A Cultural History by Larry Shiner

24. Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder

25. The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould

26. Ninety-Three by Victor Hugo

27. Carol by Patricia Highsmith

28. Victorian Women Writers and the Woman Question edited by Nicola Diane Thompson

29. Some Recent Attacks: Essays Cultural & Political by James Kelman

30. Mem by Bethany C. Morrow

31. Russia Under Yeltsin and Putin by Boris Kagarlitsky

32. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

33. The History of the British Film 1918-1929 by Rachael Low

34. The Law of Accumulation and Breakdown of the Capitalist System by Henryk Grossman

35. Mayhem & Death by Helen McClory

36. White by Marie Darrieussecq

37. Dream Houses by Genevieve Valentine

38. The Vanishers' Palace by Aliette de Bodard

39. Maigret Takes a Room by Georges Simenon

40. The Lodger, That Summer by Levi Huxton

41. Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

42. Grundrisse by Karl Marx

43. A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

44. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

#non sims #2023 reads

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millaysmaeve · 4 months

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so there's a post on this tag saying richard clay may be a reference to henry clay fricks i can't stop thinking about his and george dynamic, it's almost if george is his andrew carneige. a cold hearted man and "sensible" one doing business together. now, i know george is mostly inspired by jay gould, but if his relationship with clay is resembling carnegie and fricks i only wonder if it could mean george is going to become a philantropist like andrew. and wouldn't that be funny if it was the case? cuz bertha is suppose to become a sufragist like alva vanderbilt. ruthless capitalists ending their life as activists...actually is so silly that i can picture jkf writing about it.

#the gilded age #george russell #richard clay #bertha russell #does this post make any sense?#i don't know and i'm sorry #this is mostly a crack post #but deep down i think a lot about this concept #and of course this a george x bertha post #george x bertha

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whartonists · 5 months

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So the thing is that unless Maud is 19 or younger, which seems deeply unlikely to me, she was born before Jay Gould was married-- he would've been in his mid- or even early 20s, depending on exactly how old she is, which I feel like this adds an interesting possible dimension to their relationship. Given Gould's devotion to his family that the TGA creative team have mentioned a number of times (as an inspiration for George, no less), it makes sense that this wasn't an affair he carried on while married--but also might lead to complicated feelings about her existence outside the family unit that he is so committed to.

#i want to see them interact #i want to say the fact that gould appears in 2.01 can't possibly be a coincidence but. as i regret to remind you. julian fellowes.#maud beaton #the gilded age

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spinningerster · 1 year

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fellow fansies - I have complied a (hopefully) comprehensive list of cast members for anyone new to the fandom or for those who may like a refresher on the casts. I've not included every single character, just the main ones, so if you'd like a character adding just ask; also if you notice any cast members are missing or have been labelled incorrectly in any way, please let me know, I want this list to be as accurate as possible. characters with a dash (-) for any of the categories I wasn't sure if they were included in that production or not. if you're able to fill in any of the blanks that would be much appreciated. any questions, please let me know <3

Jack

1992; Christian Bale

Workshop; Jay Armstrong Johnson

Paper Mill; Jeremy Jordan

Broadway; Jeremy Jordan, Corey Cott, Mike Faist (u/s)

Tour; Dan DeLuca, Joey Barreiro

Proshot; Jeremy Jordan

UK; Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, George Crawford (u/s), Matt Trevorrow (u/s)

Pulitzer

1992; Robert Duvall

Workshop; Shuler Hensley

Paper Mill; John Dossett

Broadway; John Dossett, Rob Raines, John E. Brady (u/s)

Tour; Steve Blanchard

Proshot; Steve Blanchard

UK; Cameron Blakely, Ross Dawes (u/s), George Crawford (u/s)

Katherine

1992; N/A

Workshop; Meghann Fahy

Paper Mill; Kara Lindsay

Broadway; Kara Lindsay

Tour; Stephanie Styles, Morgan Keene

Proshot; Kara Lindsay

UK; Bronté Barbé, Bobbie Chambers (u/s)

Davey

1992; David Moscow

Workshop; Jason Michael Snow

Paper Mill; Ben Fankhauser

Broadway; Ben Fankhauser, Ryan Breslin (u/s), Garrett Hawe (u/s)

Tour; Jacob Kemp, Stephen Michael Langton

Proshot; Ben Fankhauser

UK; Ryan Kopel, Alex James-Hatton (u/s)

Medda

1992; Ann-Margret

Workshop; Liz Larsen

Paper Mill; Helen Anker

Broadway; Capathia Jenkins, Caitlyn Caughell (u/s), Julie Foldesi (u/s)

Tour; Angela Grovey

Proshot; Aisha de Haas

UK; Moya Angela, Kamilla Fernandes (u/s)

Crutchie

1992; Marty Belafsky

Workshop; Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Paper Mill; Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Broadway; Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Andy Richardson, Garrett Hawe (u/s)

Tour; Zachary Sayle

Proshot; Andrew Keenan-Bolger

UK; Matthew Duckett, Alex James-Hatton (u/s)

Les

1992; Luke Edwards

Workshop; Matthew Gumley

Paper Mill; R.J Fattori, Vincent Agnello

Broadway; Lewis Grosso, Matthew Schechter

Tour; Vincent Crocilla, Anthony Rosenthal, Ethan Steiner (alternate), Jonathan Fenton (alternate)

Proshot; Ethan Steiner

UK; Nesim Annan, Haydn Court, Oliver Gordon, Ethan Sokontwe

Race

1992; Max Casella

Workshop; Robert Hager

Paper Mill; Ryan Breslin

Broadway; Ryan Breslin

Tour; Ben Cook

Proshot; Ben Cook

UK; Josh Barnett

Albert

1992; N/A

Workshop; Jordan Nichols

Paper Mill; Garrett Hawe

Broadway; Garrett Hawe

Tour; Sky Flaherty

Proshot; Sky Flaherty

UK; Jacob Fisher

Specs

1992; Mark David

Workshop; Jordan Samuels

Paper Mill; Ryan Steele

Broadway; Ryan Steele

Tour; Jordan Samuels

Proshot; Jordan Samuels

UK; Samuel Bailey

Henry

1992; N/A

Workshop; N/A

Paper Mill; Kyle Coffman

Broadway; Kyle Coffman

Tour; DeMarius Copes

Proshot; Michael Rios

UK; Matt Trevorrow

Finch

1992; N/A

Workshop; Bobby List

Paper Mill; Aaron J. Albano

Broadway; Julian DeGuzman

Tour; Julian DeGuzman

Proshot; Iain Young

UK; Damon Gould, Zack Guest (swing)

Romeo

1992; N/A

Workshop; N/A

Paper Mill; Andy Richardson

Broadway; Andy Richardson

Tour; Nico DeJesus

Proshot; Nico DeJesus

UK; George Michaelides, Jordan Isaac (swing)

Spot

1992; Gabriel Damon

Workshop; John Arthur Greene

Paper Mill; Tommy Bracco

Broadway; Tommy Bracco

Tour; Jeff Heimbrock, Anthony Zas

Proshot; Tommy Bracco

UK; Clarice Julianda

JoJo

1992; N/A

Workshop; -

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; Thayne Jasperson

Tour; Josh Burrage

Proshot; Josh Burrage

UK; Mukeni Nel

Tommy Boy

1992; N/A

Workshop; -

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; -

Tour; -

Proshot; Michael Dameski

UK; Jack Bromage

Mike

1992; N/A

Workshop; N/A

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; -

Tour; -

Proshot; Jacob Guzman

UK; Mark Samaras

Ike

1992; N/A

Workshop; N/A

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; -

Tour; -

Proshot; David Guzman

UK; Arcangelo Ciulla

Mush

1992; Aaron Lohr

Workshop; -

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; Ephraim Sykes

Tour; Jack Sippel

Proshot; Nick Masson

UK; Joshua Denyer

Elmer

1992; N/A

Workshop; -

Paper Mill; -

Broadway; Evan Kazprak

Tour; Anthony Zas

Proshot; Anthony Zas

UK; Joshua Nkemdilim, Bradley Trevethan (swing), Rory Shafford (swing)

Wiesel/Jacobi/Mayor

1992; Michael Lerner (Weisel)

Workshop; Robert Creighton (Weisel), Tom Alan Robbins (Jacobi)

Paper Mill; John E. Brady

Broadway; Michael Gorman

Tour; Michael Gorman

Proshot; John E. Brady (Wiesel & Jacobi), Michael Gorman (Mayor)

UK; Jamie Golding (Wiesel), Alex James-Hatton (Wiesel u/s)

Morris

1992; David Sheinkopf

Workshop; Corey March

Paper Mill; Mike Faist

Broadway; Mike Faist

Tour; Michael Ryan

Proshot; Devin Lewis

UK; George Crawford, Zack Guest (swing), Jordan Isaac (swing), Bradley Trevethan (swing)

Oscar

1992; Shon Greenblatt

Workshop; Ben Thompson

Paper Mill; Brendon Stimson

Broadway; Brendon Stimson

Tour; Jon Hacker

Proshot; Anthony Norman

UK; Alex James-Hatton, Zack Guest (swing), Jordan Isaac (swing), Bradley Trevethan (swing)

Seitz

1992; Charles Cioffi

Workshop; Bill Nolte

Paper Mill; Mark Aldrich

Broadway; Mark Aldrich

Tour; Mark Aldrich

Proshot; Mark Aldrich

UK; N/A

Bunsen

1992; N/A

Workshop; Mark Price

Paper Mill; Nick Sullivan

Broadway; Nick Sullivan

Tour; Bill Bateman

Proshot; Bill Bateman

UK; Siõn Lloyd, George Crawford (u/s)

Hannah

1992; N/A

Workshop; N/A

Paper Mill; Laurie Veldheer

Broadway; Laurie Veldheer

Tour; Meredith Inglesby

Proshot; Meredith Ingleby

UK; Bobbie Chambers, Lindsay Atherton (u/s)

Snyder

1992; Kevin Tighe

Workshop; Marcus Neville

Paper Mill; Stuart Marland

Broadway; Stuart Marland

Tour; James Judy

Proshot; James Judy

UK; Ross Dawes, Alex James-Hatton (u/s), George Crawford (u/s)

Nunzio/Teddy Roosevelt

1992; N/A

Workshop; Tom Alan Robbins

Paper Mill; Kevin Carolan

Broadway; Kevin Carolan

Tour; Kevin Carolan

Proshot; Kevin Carolan

UK; Barry Keenan, George Crawford (u/s)

#newsies #newsies 1992 #uksies

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adamsvanrhijn · 5 months

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what i, tumblr user maudbeaton, actually want to happen with the gilded age character maud beaton and oscar van rhijn (part 1/?)

Ok. so.

I made a post a few days ago just talking generally about my thoughts on the theory that Maud is scamming Oscar, which then boiled down to, "I do not think the scam explanation is more compelling or necessarily makes more sense than the straightforward explanation".

Even after 2.06, this is still my feelings on the situation overall: to me, it is more interesting if Maud isn't simply scamming Oscar, and if there is truth to what we have heard from/about Maud and the people around her.

However. What I want to happen only very rarely aligns with what Julian Fellowes wants to happen. Nothing in this series of posts is intended to be perceived as a prediction or as me debunking a common fan theory. I won't be surprised if Maud does turn out to be a scam artist at this point! I'm not even saying I think she isn't, we'll get there... If anything this might convince you even more that she IS scamming who knows!

I'm only saying that my hope is that ultimately what happens is more complicated than that, and here's why.

Meeting Maud

Let's take everything we heard about Maud (from Maud herself and from Aurora Fane) in 2.02 at face value for a moment. Maud has been living in Europe ("Paris mostly") since the death of her mother, who was born a Stuyvesant - old money New York family. She's heard of Mrs. Van Rhijn, because she was just talking to the Drexels in Newport - but she's not staying with them in Newport, she's staying with other friends. She now lives in New York with a sort of paid companion. Her named father, John Beaton, is dead. She is rumored to be the biological illegitimate daughter of Jay Gould, who has taken an interest in her, and she has lots of money at her disposal.

Jay Gould is an incredibly prominent figure, the archetypal robber baron. He has obscene money and influence (like George), and he amassed this wealth through being a ruthless businessman who undercuts and ruins the businesses of others (like George). This is Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk levels of publicity, with comparable buying power. People do not like Jay Gould. Jay Gould is not easy to deal with. That line from him in the first episode about hiring half the working class to kill the other half? A quote that has been attributed to him IRL and that lined up pretty well with his own actions. His one known soft spot was his own wife and children.

Realistically, Maud being rumored to be an illegitimate daughter wouldn't be good for her socially, let alone being rumored to be Jay Gould's illegitimate daughter.

We have a precedent for this in the show, because Marian brings it up about Cissie Bingham (the "niece" of Henry Flagler, rumored to be his daughter, whom Raikes later marries) the previous season in 1.09:

Raikes: We know New York now, you and I. There's a life to be lived here, and a good life. But two penniless strangers from out of town could not have hoped to live it. Marian: But Miss Bingham can make sure of that life for you? Well, why not? She won't suit the old crowd, but she'll do well enough with the new, and her fortune is more than ample for both of you.

(Just for fun, I will also call out that it's the Drexels' box at the Academy of Music where Aurora spots Bingham and Raikes in 1.09.)

And Aurora calls out that people do talk about Maud—in the same breath as saying that she goes everywhere and is nice, and as we see Maud speaking to a nameless background character.

Oscar thinks this is great. "Suitable and charming" he says! Oscar is a fortune hunter who wants to marry a rich girl for her money. He's also closeted and wants the social stability that would come with marriage to a woman — especially a pretty, popular woman who is liked (if not, in Maud's case, universally well regarded).

Here's the thing:

From when we first meet her, Maud is already too good to be true.

...but it's not because the information we have about her doesn't make sense on its own. It's because Oscar's conclusion doesn't make sense based on that information.

At this point all Oscar (thinks he) knows is that this woman is an orphan living with a paid companion who says she knows the Drexels and has friends in Newport she's staying with and lived in Paris and looks down on Parisians, and whose father might actually be Jay Gould, and that's why she can spend all the money she does. That all adds up! Not unheard of, it makes sense that a young woman with no living legal guardians might be supported by her wealthy biological father even if he hasn't claimed her.

What doesn't add up is that she would retain any of the wealth she has access to after she married other than a dowry. It doesn't add up that she would continue to be supported by a man who has no legal responsibility toward her once there is a man with a legal responsibility toward her: a husband. That's the case for girls with alive legitimate biological fathers, too—and in 1.03, Charles Fane calls out that it's not a good look or feeling to be a penniless husband relying on your wife's father for financial support.

There is no reason to think, with the information that Oscar has, even taking that information completely at face value, that Maud is an heiress to or of anything.

Even if we assume everything that Oscar has been told at this point is true (and it's already been presented to him as rumor!), the most straightforward explanation here is that Maud's biological dad doesn't want her to fall into poverty after being orphaned and it's a drop in the bucket to him, not that she's secretly an heiress to Gould money. Oscar is making an assumption based on what he wants to be true, without all of the facts.

Yes, Maud has plenty of money at her disposal... but is it hers?

Oscar is not bothering to ask that question. He is already setting himself up for failure.

(part 2)

#maud beaton tag #oscar van rhijn tag #the gilded age spoilers

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foxilayde · 1 year

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Dearest Danny,

I'm back to harass you with George-Russell-Is-Just-Jay-Gould thoughts

I'm rereading Dark Genius of Wall Street and this excerpt delighted me and now i'm thinking of our Georgie doing the same

And I'm sweating

@youvebeenlivingfictionalreplies I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

“Well would you look at that, old boy? We seem to have run aground.” Cruger, pink-faced and jolly like a Middlewhite farm pig, tips back his head and his glass, letting the candied onion at the dregs of his cocktail roll into his open mirthful mouth.

George’s face doesn’t shift in the silghtest. The old lush had paid dearly in time, labor, and inconvenience (none of which he himself would suffer) all for the pittance of an annoyed reaction from George. And George Russell could be a withholding man. No, he does not react. Does not give Cruger the satisfaction. He barely lost his balance as the yacht had bumped to a surprising halt on the muddy banks. Several young ladies had toppled in muffled thunks on the hollow deck, to the sheer delight of Cruger. It is a wonder how he’d managed to retain his wealth. How could be be so laissez-faire concerning the corrupted underside of his own yacht, making an enemy of the wealthiest man in Manhattan in gratuity?

George fixes his face to stone against the balmy breeze on the Hudson and shifts his eyes to Penn Station. So very close.

“I daresay the only way you’d be able to catch that beloved train of yours would be for you to swim your way over.” Cruger chortles with a wheezing vigor, earning uncomfortable parroted laughs from his surrounding guests. George was clearly not the only one to have their afternoon plans foiled by Cruger’s asinine collision and it’s all he can do to mask a grimace.

George cooly stalks to the starboard rim of Cruger’s newest and shiniest toy and contemplates with amused sincerity the gulping even tide of the Hudson River against the pearlescent fresh white paint of the hull. It can’t be that deep. The Yacht is run aground. Eight feet to the banks at the most, and only inclining from here to Penn Station. The distance does appear long (over a hundred yards at least) to the shore, but he wouldn’t be fighting against currents, and it will, for his 6’1 frame, be almost entirely a “refreshing walk” to the station. George has always been a master at reframing unpleasant tasks into appealing language. A refreshing walk through the invigorating banks of The Hudson. Good for the health. The natural advertiser in him.

George downs his last finger of scotch from the etched crystal rock's glass, casually setting it on a deck table before lifting his starched collar and blindly disentangling his tie. He unloops it from round his neck without haste, folding it in an almost acceptable manner and placing it on the deck chair. Along with his coat, vest, pocket watch…. As soon as Cruger catches on to George’s intention he sputters and flails his hands in George’s general direction.

“Come now, George. If catching that blessed train really was as urgent as you’d been hinting, I’d have offered you one of the side skimmers! Henry can lower it and row you to shore. Really, George there’s no need for all this! There are ladies present!”

“Indeed.” He hears one aforementioned lady mutter deeply and the tone is not any flavor of “affronted”, but encouraging.

“I wouldn’t dream of taking any of your staff away from you in this dire hour, Cruger. After all, my good man,” George shoulders off his white dress shirt with a raised brow, “you’ve been shipwrecked.”

[insert photo of shirtless George Russell *lipbite emoji*]

Cruger bargains as George strips his boots and socks, and the guests admire the theatrics in abject amusement.

George's smile is genuine now, this is far and away the most fun he’s ever had at a social gathering. His mirth is only faintly marred by the absence of Bertha. He entertains breifly how amusing for him it will be to keep secret the transpirations of this yacht ride. He will allow her to glean the gossip from Missus soinso tomorrow, choking back tea, stifling her shock in public, thinking a clever endearment for her mad husband in the snap of the eyes-on-her moment. Yes, he will go home and kiss Bertha good evening, she will remark on his shoes and how they are not the ones he left in (he cannot swim with both his clothing and his boots, he decides while bundling his clothing, to leave them on the deck, confident he will be able to purchase an acceptable pair from a fellow departant on the train). He will give her some boring excuse for the shoes and when she asks about the trip on the Hudson he will dismiss it as “dull” and focus the more pressing topic of how he wishes she was there. Which is true. He does wish she were with him now. Though he highly doubts her presence would have let him get this far down to his skivvies to prove a point. Let alone carefully lower himself down into the sloshing river with a salute towards Cruger and a bundle of cotton and wool which he keeps expertly held above his head, all the way to the shore of the island.

*PRAYING FOR THIS TO TRANSPIRE IN SEASON 2*

#George Russell #The Gilded Age #Dany tag

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travelingviabooks · 2 years

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My Five Star Reads

Organized by Author’s Surname

Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson

The Untold by Courtney Collins

Rice Noodle Fish by Matt Goulding

The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini

Cowboys are My Weakness by Pam Houston

Deep Creek by Pam Houston

Human Acts by Han Kang

milk and honey by Rupi Kaur

The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami

The Plotters by Un-Su Kim

Lemon by Kwon Yeo-sun

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

The Honey Bus by Meredith May

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

I Want To Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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fmsplrs · 2 years

Text

Run Adam Run

So Adam wanted me to condense his running playlist to a tight 2 hours and he got this instead. Sorry!

Cypress Hill - (Rock) Superstar

Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles

Monster Magnet - Space Lord

Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl

LCD Soundsystem - Movement

Melissa Etheridge - Come To My Window

Rage Against The Machine - No Shelter

Cake - The Distance

Drake - Energy

Deftones - Back To School (Mini Maggit)

Jadakiss - We Gonna Make It

Transplants - Diamonds And Guns

A-Ha - Take On Me

Bone Crusher - Never Scared

Roni Size - Brown Paper Bag

The Capitols - Cool Jerk

Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing

Plastic Bertrand - Ca Plane Pour Moi

DJ Zinc - Super Sharp Shooter

Ratatat - Seventeen Years

Slim Thug - I Ain't Heard Of That

Spank Rock - Backyard Betty

Clipse - Wamp Wamp

Kanye West - On Sight

Jai Paul - Crush

Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Kaytranada Remix)

John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)

Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall In Love

NWA - 100 Miles And Running

The Tubes - She's A Beauty

Blink 182 - Dammit

Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistable

Underworld - Push Upstairs

Big Boi - Kryptonite

The Go Team - Junior Kickstart

Journey - Any Way You Want It

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Who Loves You

Tommy Tutone - 867-5309 (Jenny)

DJ Sega - Bodies

Bad Boy Chiller Crew - Guns Up

Young Thug - Stoner

Mike & The Mechanics - All I Need Is A Miracle

Apache Indian - Boom Shack-A-Lak

DJ Sega - Dig

Three 6 Mafia - Stay Fly

Wiley - Wearin My Rolex

Redman - Timeforsumaksion

EMF - Unbelievable

Blessid Union Of Souls - Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)

Amazulu - Montego Bay

Paul Simon - Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard

The Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945

Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod

Bun B - Get Throwed

Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love

The Egyptian Lover - Egypt Egypt

Kurupt.fm & Craig David - Summertime

Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance (Capnharry Remix)

Big Boi - Ghettomusick

DJ Class - I'm The Shit

Mr. Oizo - Flat Beat

Dungeon Family - Trans DF Express

Waka Flocka Flame - O Let's Do It (Remix)

Bachman Turner Overdrive - Takin Care Of Business

The Knife - Pass This On

Eddie Money - Two Tickets To Paradise

Sean Paul - Temperature

Kavinsky - Testarossa Autodrive

DJ Technics - Mr. Postman

Bad Boy Chiller Crew - 450

Kurupt.fm - Dreaming

The Cranberries - Dreams

Guided By Voices - Teenage FBI

MOP - Ante Up

Plastic Little - Get Close

Elvis Costello - Mystery Dance

A New Found Glory - My Friends Over You

Cutty Ranks - Limb By Limb (DJ SS Remix)

Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze

The Chats - Smoko

DJ Fresh - Gold Dust (Shy FX Remix)

Weezer - Getchoo

Mark Ronson & Ghostface - Ooh Wee

Refused - New Noise

Future - Shit

Snap - The Power

Kanye West - Fade

George Clinton - Atomic Dog

The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin Beats

JT Money - Who Dat

Beastie Boys - Time For Livin

Trick Daddy - I Pop

Kanye West - Jail

Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

Elastica - Connection

The Weeknd - Take My Breath

Filter & The Crystal Method - (Can't You) Trip Like I Do

Soulfly - Bleed

Expose - Point Of No Return

Huey Lewis & The News - The Power Of Love

SR-71 - Right Now

Sepultura - Roots Bloody Roots

Tom Petty - Don't Do Me Like That

Derek & The Dominos - Layla

Ice Cube & DMX - We Be Clubbin

Mr. Oizo - Cut Dick

The Diplomats - I Really Mean It

Busta Rhymes - Break Ya Neck

UK Apache & Shy FX - Original Nuttah

Lil Yachty - Flex Up

Cam'ron - Wet Wipes

Piebald - Just A Simple Plan

Busdriver - Imaginary Places

Outkast - BOB (Bombs Over Baghdad)

Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone

Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank

The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes

Slipknot - Spit It Out

Soul Glo - Gold Chain Punk

Dave - Thiago Silva

Chief Keef - Faneto

Steely Dan - Dirty Work

La Roux - In For The Kill (Skream Remix)

George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You

Playboi Carti - New Tank

Beach House - Space Song

Three 6 Mafia - I Got

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youvebeenlivingfictional · 2 years

Text

To Have Loved and Lost Part Five

Previous Part | Masterlist | Next Part

Pairing: George Russell x Reader

Rating: M

Notes: Hiiiii welcome baaaaaack thank you for reaaaaadiiiiiiiing lol ignore my hella grainy gif thaaaaaanks

Also also the tanning process mentioned herein is an actual process used in the 1800s. Highly recommend Dark Genius of Wall Street: The Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould by Edward J. Renehan Jr. Jay Gould is one of the people that George Russell is based on.

Warnings: Angst; Gilded Age Manners™; pining; The One That Got Away; not a traditional happy ending

Summary: You understood how important it was that Franklin made good contacts in the city, and for all his infamy, you knew that Mr. Russell would be a very good contact for him. If he were ever to invest in Franklin’s business, it could mean a permanent base in New York—a third city the Hughes Leather Company’s operations.

This wasn’t just about you. It was about your entire family, and their legacy.

The smell was a touch off-putting, but that was no wonder—it was, after all, called the Swamp. George pushed his way through it until the smell was no longer his focus. Rather, he honed in on Frank Hughes’ spiel:

“The hemlock and alder are shipped in from the Poconos.”

“You own the land?”

“I pay two cents for each acre I clear.”

“How many acres have you cleared?”

“So far, nearly 300.”

George nodded, running the figures through his mind as he and Franklin continued to trek through the facility.

“How does the plant work? Is it here?”

“I’m aiming to model the tannery here after the one currently that I’m operating in the Poconos. We use a newer technique, a little used technique—it’s called wet tanning. The additional bark discarded from production is burned as fuel. By doing this, we use steam power, rather than the waterpower that so many of my competitors rely on.”

“Which allows for fluctuations in seasonality?”

“Precisely!” Franklin smiled. “In the winter, the other companies’ production slows greatly. We push on as if nothing’s changed.”

George nodded, unable to deny his interest.

“How many units did you process last year?”

“75,000. It’ll take some time for these facilities to reach the output of my other plants in San Francisco and Chicago.”

The two of them stopped walking, eyeing a parcel as it was unloaded from a crate.

“Do you expect to maintain your pace from this year?”

“No. I expect to exceed it,” Franklin said firmly. George smiled a touch, and couldn’t help but wonder if stubbornness ran in the family.

“What you’ve put together here is quite impressive. I’d like to hear more,” George said, turning to face Franklin fully.

“We could move this to my office, of course.”

“Nothing so formal. I’d like to invite you over for dinner.” The following words were out of George’s mouth before he could stop them: “And bring your cousin, of course.”

His expression was frozen in a smile as Franklin’s shifted to utter surprise.

“We would be honored to dine with you and your family.”

“Excellent. My wife will issue the necessary invitations.”

“And I’m sure my cousin will manage the reply—the trivial end of these things.”

George gave a short nod and turned to watch the workers in action. His fingers swiped over his sweating palm a touch, unsettled by his own actions, and his foolish snap-decision. It was unlike him—but there were few that could spur him into such impulsivity. She had always been one.

—

“This just arrived for you, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” You murmured, the envelope from the preferred tray. You eyed the crisp script, brow furrowing as you turned the envelope over. The return address made your gut churn with nerves. You forced your hands steady as you lifted your letter opener, slicing at the top to draw out the cardstock.

You could feel Eleanor shifting on the couch across from you, her embroidery forgotten.

“...Who is it from, auntie?”

“...Mrs. Bertha Russell. We’ve been invited to dine with them in a week.”

“All of us?”

“Just myself and Franklin.” You gave Eleanor an apologetic look as she sank back in her place, a pout twisting her lips.

“Darling, you’re not out yet, and we’re strangers in this city," You reminded her. "I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Russell was uninformed of your arrival. You know that I hardly trust matters like that to Franklin.”

Eleanor gave a small nod of concession, raising her needle to moodily stab at her work. You lowered your eyes back to the cardstock, sweeping the words over and over. You had to accept, of course. Considering your rather cool reception on the street, you were certain that this invitation was not unprompted. Surely Mr. Russell had either heavily implied that he was willing to invest in Franklin’s tannery, or had already made a deal….But no, surely not. You couldn’t imagine Mr. Russell diving headfirst into a deal such as that without getting a better idea of who he was investing with.

An entire evening with the Russells—eating their food, discussing their days, gaining a proper gaze into the life that you could’ve had. What hell this would be. You drew in a deep breath, rising from your seat.

“I must send a reply. Excuse me.”

You turned, leaving the room with even, measured steps. You made yourself walk as calmly as you could your room. You knew that if you allowed your legs to move with the speed of your mind, you’d seem a frantic, faltering mess.

You shut your bedroom door and drew in a deep breath, fingers tightening around the letter. You straightened after a moment, cursing the crinkling envelope beneath your fingertips. You strode across the room, taking another deep, steadying breath as you neared your desk. You would write this reply quickly—not only for the sake of your dealing with it, but for Franklin. You understood how important it was that he made good contacts in the city, and for all his infamy, you knew that Mr. Russell would be a very good contact for him. If he were ever to invest in Franklin’s business, it could mean a permanent base in New York—a third city the Hughes Leather Company’s operations.

This wasn’t just about you. It was about your entire family, and their legacy.

You forced your shoulders back into a staunch set as you took up a fresh piece of stationary. You take your pen up from the inkwell, dabbing away the excess before setting it to the paper.

Mr. Franklin Hughes accepts with pleasure the polite invitation of Mrs. Russell for the evening of

You turned to the invitation, glancing over the date before filling it in accordingly. You signed your name with care before you took up a plain envelope, writing out the Russell’s address. You drew in a yet another deep breath to steady your shaking nerves before you lowered the pen back to the inkwell. You walked over to the door, tugging at the bell rope. You turned the invitation over in hand a few times, drawing in steadying breaths each time. When the door opened, you met Kate’s eye steadily and held it out.

“Please have this delivered to the Russell’s household as soon as possible.”

Kate took hold of the envelope and nodded, dipping a curtsy before turning away again, shutting the door behind herself. You let yourself sit on the edge of your bed, finally, and closed your eyes for a moment. The evening would be torture—but you had a week to brace, and to prepare yourself…And to get a new dress, lord above. You would have to get a few for Eleanor as well.

You stood up again, nodding to yourself. That was what you would do. You would focus on getting clothing for the two of you, and continuing to inquire about architects in the city. Besides, you still needed to find a new cook, and a ladies’ maid for Eleanor—Yes. You could set your mind to these tasks, and distract yourself for the remainder of the week.

It felt wrong to call the Russell’s home a house. It looked like a palace. Your hand tightened absently around Franklin’s as he helped you down from the carriage.

“You’re not getting nervous now,” Franklin tutted.

“Of course not,” You answered stiffly, drawing your hand from his to lift your skirts up a touch, wary of tripping on the stairs. And it was true—you hadn’t just become nervous. You’d been almost cripplingly nervous since you’d woken up that morning. You’d hardly left your room, preparing. You’d read your papers, brushed up on the society pages, given another look to Franklin’s documents and process notes (though you were certain neither Franklin nor Mr. Russell would discuss the venture in front of you).

Eleanor had poked her head in just once to check on you. Perhaps she’d sensed how panicked you’d been all week. You’d done your best to shield it from her, of course, but she’d always been far more attuned to you and your moods than the rest of the family had ever been. You hadn’t said a word to her about your nerves, or your past. You’d simply smiled, patted her cheek, and urged her to go practice the piano.

You were determined to the pass the evening cleanly, without a hint of fear, a whisper of scandal, or more than a second’s glance at Mr. Russell.

“Mr. Hughes, welcome.”

Her voice was lower than you expected, and had a curl of warmth that one could be caught up in.

You’d seen her in the paper as often as you’d seen Mr. Russell. She was often at his side, arm hooked through his with a placid smile on her lips. The photos did her no justice. Bertha Russell was resplendent in her teal blue evening gown, a glimmering golden comb tucked artfully in her high, neatly coiffed hair. It deepened your desire to turn tail and run; it strengthened your resolve to survive the evening without insult or incident.

“Mrs. Russell,” Franklin smiled graciously, taking a step closer. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Well, that doesn’t bode well,” Bertha teased, an intrigued curl to her lips as she clasped her hands in front of herself. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Hughes.”

“And yours. Allow me to introduce my cousin.”

Franklin saying your name passed blandly over your ears as you fought to keep yourself and your nerves steady.

“I appreciate your extending the invitation to me this evening, Mrs. Russell.”

“I’m delighted to. Won’t you follow me to the drawing room?”

The drawing room hadn’t been so bad. You’d mostly left the chat to the others, offering only the most necessary of answers. Even the stilted greeting between yourself and Mr. Russell, curt nods and murmurs of, Good evening, could’ve gone worse.

Dinner was lovely: beautifully prepared, and served with the flow and grace of a dance. You’d been quiet through most of the meal—answered the off question, smiled where you needed to, led rounds of chuckles through Franklin’s jokes (regardless of how dry they had been). You spent most of your time making sure that you were as perfect as could be—ensuring your posture was correct; taking your glass up by the stem rather than the bowl; using the correct knife or spoon or fork; taking socially acceptably sized bites and sips. These weren’t things that you were unfamiliar with, of course, but it was one thing to do it around your family or Franklin’s previous investors, and another entirely to do so with the Russells.

So when Bertha asked you how you’d been finding New York, your knee-jerk reply had been ‘with a map’. Luckily for everyone involved, you were swallowing a sip of wine and had a moment to compose yourself.

“I’m afraid I haven’t had a chance to see much of it,” You admitted, meeting Bertha’s eye. “I’ve been trying to find a suitable house to set Franklin up in—but now he seems determined to build one.”

“Is that so?” Mr. Russell asked. You smiled a touch smugly, turning to Franklin as he chuckled, caught out.

“Well—The homes that she chose all had potential, but none of them were quite to my liking." The answer was more diplomatic than you'd expected from him, but you were grateful for it.

“I’ve sent letters of inquiry to a number of architects’ firms—including McKim, Mead and White,” You tacked on. A buzz of relief shot through you as Bertha gave a slight smile and approving nod.

“Yes, we’re quite familiar with Mr. White.”

“His work is exquisite—as is yours.”

You knew you’d struck another right chord when Bertha’s lips tipped up more acutely, the smile of the cat that had gotten the canary.

“Have you given any thought to where you might build?” The question came from Mr. Russell. You forced yourself to turn your head, hardly allowing yourself to glance at him before redirecting your gaze to Franklin as he took the answer on.

“A little, yes. I’d like something a little more north—Though this one,” Franklin nodded toward you, “Isn’t so sure.”

“I don’t want you to choose an allotment so far uptown that you’re swimming to work.”

Your slight bickering incited a wave of chuckles, and you hid your pleased smile as you reached for your wine glass.

It was Bertha’s idea, but it was one that you didn’t sniff at. In fact, you’d leapt at the chance. Now, you walked at her side in stunned silence as her servants flanked you like candle-bearing ghosts. Neither the light from their candles nor the light from the hall could truly light the vast ballroom.

“It’s magnificent,” You offered. In truth, you were fighting the urge to twirl childishly, as Eleanor had.

“It certainly served its purpose for Gladys’ coming out.”

“The first of many events, I hope.”

“That seems very likely, yes.”

You felt Bertha cast a curious eye toward you as she asked, “Is Mr. Hughes likely to hold any events of that sort?”

A subtle prying regarding Franklin’s marital status, though not an unexpected one.

“Perhaps—For his niece, Eleanor. She’ll be sixteen next fall.”

“Next fall! That doesn’t leave much time to build a home here.”

“It certainly doesn’t…But I am determined to expedite the process. So is Franklin.” The two of you came to a stop, and you found yourself chuckling quietly, raising your hand to sweep tiredly across your brow. “It’s been quite the surprise, this little jaunt to New York. I was only meant to be here about a month or so.”

“And this is your first time here?”

“It is.”

“Where’s your family from?”

You smiled, nerves beginning to flurry again. Surely you couldn’t say Stevensville—Surely she would know the place, ask Mr. Russell if he had any acquaintance—

“Well, we've spent the last few years in Chicago, San Francisco before that. I helped Franklin keep his records together there before his business grew to what it is now.”

The feeling of panic faded only a little as Bertha nodded and loosed a curious hum.

“Do you think New York will be his final stop?”

Another subtle ply. Mr. Russell had chosen a clever woman—a fellow strategist.

“It very well may be. I think he’s looking to settle…And even if he isn’t, his mother is looking for him to settle.”

Bertha arched a brow. You could see her winding up for another question, but the two of you were interrupted by the clacking of shoes coming down the hall. The gentleman appeared just a moment later. Franklin was trying (and failing) to hide childish glee; Mr. Russell had a calm, genial smile on his face.

You and Bertha shared a glance, and you pursed your lips, dipping your head to hide a knowing smile.

“She’s an interesting sort.”

“...Hm?”

“The cousin.”

George was careful not to react outwardly. He merely finished pouring his drink and turned to face Bertha. She wasn’t watching him as he thought she may be; rather, she was straightening a stack of books that seemed to have been nudged askew at some point in the evening. George swirled the drink around in his glass a touch as he nodded.

“I suppose.”

“Not very talkative at dinner, but then of course, she may’ve been intimidated.”

Intimidated. George could never imagine her as intimidated—at least, he couldn’t when he knew her before. Perhaps that boldness had shifted. Why, he couldn’t say, though he was quite curious to know. She had been incredibly quiet throughout the course of the evening; she’d hardly met his eye. Was that intimidation, or could it be fear? Shame?

“Perhaps,” He conceded.

“She wasn’t meant to stay long.”

“Hm?”

“In New York.” Bertha straightened, swanning around George to take the drink that he’d poured for her, and that she’d abandoned in favor of righting the books. “I imagine she’ll be here a year, at least.”

George’s brow furrowed, and he turned to face her.

“What gave you that impression?”

“The building of the house, for one. And Hughes’ niece will be coming out, besides. If his tannery is as busy as you say, surely the cousin will be in charge of the home’s preparations, as well as the ball.”

“Niece?”

“Mm. Gladys’ age.”

George nodded a touch, raising his glass to his lips.

“How was your conversation with Hughes after dinner? Did it go as you expected?” Bertha plied.

George smiled sincerely then, giving a small nod. “He’s managed to keep other partners silent or bought them out entirely. He’ll speak things over with his people, of course, but I think the possibility of a partnership is within reach.”

“I’m pleased to hear it.”

“As am I. He’s an ambitious fellow—the markets that he’s broken into are difficult, but key for distribution. Clay should have notes for me on the financing and feasibility by the end of the week.” George went quiet then, walking over to an armchair and lowering himself into it. The question that bubbled up was against his better judgement, but he found himself asking it regardless:

“Will you help her?”

“Help who?”

“The cousin. Into society.”

Bertha’s brows drew together in confusion, but it wasn’t enough for George to discern whether or not he’d put a foot wrong.

“You think she’ll need it?” Bertha asked. George tipped his head, giving his wife a knowing look. She sighed a little then, seeming to know that she was caught.

“We’ve only just arrived,” She argued, “I can hardly jeopardize our position by bringing in an unknown spinster.”

George considered that for a moment. Their social acceptance was hardly his domain; he’d have been happy to remain as they’d once been, further down the avenue. But this was important to Bertha. It had been her sole focus as they’d moved up in the world. Their children's futures hinged on it.

“If I am to associate myself with them in business,” George pointed out, “Then their names will be tied with ours. People will ask questions. Surely it would look worse for us to associate with unknowns without trying to bring them in.” Bertha’s lips pursed in irritation, and George raised a hand to stop the incoming argument. “I only ask that you consider it.”

“...I will make my own inquiries,” Bertha finally offered, “And I will make my decision.”

George smiled, murmured his thanks, and sank back into his seat and his thoughts in silence.

Tag list: @foxilayde ; @wretchedwisteria ; @massivecolorspygiant ; @amneris21 ; @buckybarneshairpullingkink

#George Russell x Reader #George Russell x You #George Russell/Reader #George Russell/You #George Russell fic #George Russell imagine #George Russell The Gilded Age #To Have Loved and Lost

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daimonclub · 6 months

Text

Rules, life and literature

Rules of life Rules, life and literature, ideas, quotations, aphorisms and opinions about the wise rules to move on well in life, dealing with all the different situations of the human existence. Humans arose, rather, as a fortuitous and contingent outcome of thousands of linked events, any one of which could have occurred differently and sent history on an alternative pathway that would not have led to consciousness. Stephen Jay Gould At age 17, she was rejected from college. At age 25, her mother died from disease. At age 26, she suffered a miscarriage. At age 27, she got married. Her husband abused her. Despite this, her daughter was born. At age 28, she got divorced and was diagnosed with severe depression. At age 29, she was a single mother living on welfare. At age 30, she didn't want to be on this earth. But, she directed all her passion into doing the one thing she could do better than anyone else. And that was writing. At age 31, she finally published her first book. At age 35, she had released 4 books, and was named Author of the Year. At age 42, she sold 11 million copies of her new book, on the first day of release. This woman is J.K. Rowling. Remember how she considered suicide at age 30? Today, Harry Potter is a global brand worth more than $15 billion dollars. Never give up. Believe in yourself. Be passionate. Work hard. It’s never too late. St. Michael’s Shield of Truth Prayer St. Michael, you are our defender and safeguard against evil. Place your Shield of Truth over us and defend us in the battle which Satan wages against truth. Help us to seethe righteous path of Holy Love. Clarify our choices between good and evil by placing us always behind your Shield of Truth. Amen. Evil people always support each other; that is their chief strength. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it. George Carlin Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiation - creation - there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so. Mark Twain Two percent of the people think; three percent of the people think they think; and ninety-five percent of the people would rather die than think. George Bernard Shaw Sadness is caused by intelligence, the more you understand certain things, the more you wish you didn’t understand them. Charles Bukowski

Life rules and literature Wisdom overcomes fortune. Decimus Junius Juvenalis It's not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them. T.S. Eliot The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Bertrand Russell The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so. Mark Twain A noble heart will refuse happiness built on misfortune of others. Saadi The more unintelligent a man is, the less mysterious existence seems to him. Arthur Schopenhauer For all evils, there are two remedies - time and silence. Alexandre Dumas Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment. Lao Tzu He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has. Rene Descartes Money is flat and meant to be piled up. Scottish Proverb If I ever marry it will be on a sudden impulse, as a man shoots himself. H. L. Mencken If you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs. Aesop If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects. Albert Einstein The mark of a civilized man is his willingness to re-examine his most cherished beliefs. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Social life and friends The modernist writers found despair inspirational. Mason Cooley No one's fate is of any interest to you except your own. Mikhail Bulgakov Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment. Sun Tzu Show respect to people who don't even deserve it; not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours. Dave Willis We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Norman Macewan What a man takes in by contemplation, that he pours out in love. Meister Eckhart First appearance deceives many. Phaedrus Force is that which rules the actions without regulating the will. Saying One of the best things to do sometimes is simply to be. Eric Butterworth To be continued ... Don’t miss these other similar posts: 100 golden quotes and aphorisms 100 best quotes and aphorisms 100 famous quotes and aphorisms 100 memorable quotes and aphorisms 100 top great quotes and aphorisms 100 great quotes on love Great and famous philosophy quotes Rules, life and literature Business life quote Quotes by authors Quotes by arguments Thoughts and reflections Read the full article

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