#canon's ashby
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Canon's Ashby, Northamptonshire, England (by LookaroundAnne)
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Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire.
All that remains of the west end of the nave of the Augustinian Priory founded around 1150, and destroyed by Henry VIII
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I can't stop imagining Stiles lecturing Eli, Eli sassing him, and Sheriff Stilinski laughing in the corner.
#teen wolf#head canon#stiles stilinski#mieczyslaw stiles stilinski#dylan o'brien#dylan obrien#eli stilinski hale#eli hale#vince mattis#noah stilinski#sheriff stilinski#linden ashby
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Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, UK.
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Pursuit
Summary: Will was supposed to pick Emory up from the library for their first date, but a storm killed the power before he got there. And now everyone is missing. And maybe that was his plan all along.
Set in December after the Homecoming dance; Canon-Divergent.
Disclaimer: general OOC-ness as my writing style is different from PD's.
Emory
I shifted, the old plastic chair creaking with the movement. The noises of the library – hushed whispered, footsteps muffled by industrial carpet, book carts with squeaky wheels – fell silent about thirty minutes ago as it got closer to closing time. Those sounds provided comfort - background noise for me to complete my homework. Today, I was too distracting. My eyes drifted to the clock on the wall more often as the night wore on.
Uncontrollably, my eyes darted up again. Still fifteen minutes before Will would be here.
I clicked my pen repeatedly and licked my lips, forcing my eyes to return to the open book. I read the first two lines of text for the eight billionth time, but still -
Would this be our first legitimate date?
I swallowed, my throat feeling like sandpaper and my heart a hammer in my chest. The absurdity of it ran down my spine. It was silly to think that, knowing everything that had happened between us already.
The sweet, honey tones of the head librarian, Mrs. Porter, floated over from the front desk as she waved goodbye to another family. She saw me sitting at my usual round table in the corner, and she smiled and raised her right hand to pat her heart, a sympathetic gesture. My mom used to take me to Mrs. Porter’s Reading Hour when I was a little kid. When my parents died, Mrs. Porter let me sit on the children's beanbags even though I was technically too old. And when Martin was alive –
My breath hitched, stuck in my lungs.
Martin was dead - taken by a storm in the first week of November. There was an emergency call from an anonymous tipper saying a girl about to jump at the cliffs on the other side of the Cove. Everyone thought it was a prank, but just in case, they sent officers out anyway. Martin never came back. His friends and fellow officers were sad when they broke the news. It said it was too windy, they said, and he couldn’t see the edge of the cliff.
They thought I cried because I was sad. Poor little Emory Scott, an orphan in the truest sense. The town honored him the same way they did any public servant, quickly and quietly. There was an announcement in the paper, a small wake, and a donation fund that the townspeople contributed to. People brought flowers and looks of pity. Grand-Mere liked the flowers. They filled our home for a week after, and for once, things looked brighter.
The Ashby’s made an appearance as representatives of the town. The mayor and his wife stayed precisely long enough to say something nice and leave a card. Arion had nothing to say, but Winter seemed genuinely sorry. The Graysons' showed up too, surprisingly. I couldn’t look at Will, even as he stared me down. Not after homecoming or what happened the next day. It hurt too much, and now that Martin was gone, most of my excuses gone with him, I didn’t know what to do with Will.
Not that I had the time to deal with him. At sixteen, I wasn’t old enough to take guardianship of my grandmother, and without Martin’s salary, there was no way I could afford it, even with my college fund and the donations. I was overwrought at thought of losing her, missing a week of school to look through the law books, talk to lawyers - to anyone who would listen - trying to keep them from separating us.
Will found me, as he somehow always managed to. I was dragging my tired body back home from the bus stop when he forced me into his truck and down the road to Sticks where he wouldn’t let me leave until I finished the plate of fries he ordered.
He joked that we had to stop meeting like this, and images of the day in the movie theater overwhelmed me. I choked on my soda. When I tried to glare, he laughed.
Thunder echoed outside the library. I frowned, wondering if this was going to ruin his plans.
Storms. I should hate them, given all they’d taken from me, but I don’t. Outside, the streetlights flickered with the shadows of trees whipping in the slow wind. Over the next few hours, it would grow into a howling squall.
I checked my phone to confirm I hadn’t missed any messages from Will. Whatever he had planned, it wouldn’t be outdoors. Maybe that’s for the best, I thought. Somewhere inside, where it’s dark, and we’re alone. Sounds good, actually. Tonight could be the night he finally stops holding out on me.
A large draft of wind followed by a boom of thunder drew my attention back to the window. Above, the lights flickered before losing power. Then the streetlights blinked out, casting the street in darkness.
While I’m not afraid of storms, I’m not stupid either. Using my cellphone flash, I quickly gathered my stuff into my bag and walked to the reception desk, where I last saw Mrs. Porter. The space was empty, and as I looked around, I realized I didn’t see anyone else around either. My arm hair raised as I listened for something other than the wind. Mrs. Porter knew I was here, and she wouldn’t just leave a patron. Something is keeping her away.
Slowly, I made my way around the microscopic library. There are only two public spaces and a hallway. The front doors open to the reception desk. Going left leads to the Young People’s section, and right to the Adult section. The hallway that branches off the front goes to the bathrooms and to the break room in the back.
Despite the size, there’s an abundance of places to hide. Or to hide someone.
As soon as the thought came, I scoffed. “That is stupid,” I said, solely to hear it out loud.
But is it? It’s not like I don’t know a murderer. It’s not like this town is short of bizarre happenings.
It’s not like I haven’t wondered if Martin’s death was really an accident.
It’s not like I wasn’t planning fucking the man I thought may have done it.
I bit my bottom lip. “Will?” I called out, taking a chance. This is right up his alley. The kind of stupid prank only he’d think of. Nearly identical to what he did at the school.
I smirked, loosening up a bit. “Look, we’ve been here before, you already know I’m not scared,” I lied. Well, partially. There was still a part of me that doubted it was him. “I’m impressed you even got the storm. Is it a paid actor?”
No answer. I wondered if Mrs. Porter was a hostage, and if she could hear me talking to nobody.
Flirting. I was potentially flirting with a murderer while sweet Mrs. Porter was bleeding out somewhere. That would be bad.
Another strong gust forced the front doors to slam open. I gasped, dropping my bag to get to them quicker. I was surprised the power of the wind didn’t break the glass. Even as I tried to use all my strength to push them closed, I was losing that fight inch by inch.
Until someone appeared behind me, taking both doors and managing to muscle them together, giving me a chance to flip the lock in place. Finally able to catch my breath, my face and hair, and entire front soaked with rain, I turned to see who it was because it certainly wasn’t old Mrs. Porter.
The white mask glowed bright in the shadows. Whatever fear I was feeling was immediately expelled in a strong exhale.
He stood close, practically on top of me, all around me. Neither of us said a word as we watched each other. But I wanted –
Mimicking what I did before, I slipped the mask back, revealing his piercing green eyes.
Yeah. That’s what I wanted. To watch him watching me. Nobody looked at me the way he did, even now.
I could have kissed him in the lab at school, but I didn’t. I had my reasons. Now, though, I didn’t want to hold back. He’s been making me work for it, and the role reversal has nearly killed me.
I stood on my toes to reach him, leaving millimeters between our lips so that I could feel the air leaving him. And that’s where I stopped, just a breath away.
“Was this the plan?”
He swallowed. I couldn’t keep the hint of a smile at his suffering off my lips.
“Feels familiar,” I continued. “Was the lock-in just the teaser for the main event?”
His eyes danced, and I knew I was right.
“Do I get to hide this time?”
“You want me to hunt you?”
I pulled the mask back down, lowering myself to the ground. “Close your eyes, count to sixty. And then come and find me. If you can.”
I trust that he’s playing fair as I step away, noting the spots of water that trail after me, which was how I found him at school. I go to the carpeted area in the adult section, trying to map out the space from memory.
The stacks weren’t in rows like most libraries. They were more like a maze, with some rows dead-ended and others turning into the next row, which could only be discovered if you kept going. The shelves created illusions. I didn’t know how Mrs. Porter managed to keep it organized or why she let it go on that way. I chalked it up to just another Thunder Bay peculiarity.
After what felt like forever, I heard movement in the row over. I rolled my lips together to keep the giggle from getting out. I knew he’d come into the stacks. Being the rich boy he was, I doubt he spent as much time in them as me.
Darting around in the dark, I kept just out of his grasp. At some point, I think he was letting me get away so the game went on. When I think I’ve finally got him turned around and confused, I exited the rows of books. My legs shook as I crossed to the Young People's section. They have a loft area there, where the beanbags are. It should take him a while to think of that.
Halfway there, my foot slipped in the water from the rain. It just happened to be when the wind got quiet, and the small squeak from my shoe against the tile was so much louder in the silence. I waited with baited breath to see what he would do.
The noise seemed to reorient him, and suddenly, he shot off through the stacks faster than before. Thinking swiftly, I snatched the container of pens from the counter and threw it toward the bathroom hall before darting the other way.
The stairs to the loft were around the corner, and I climbed the small steps in threes, checking over my shoulder, until I could crawl into the loft area. Gently, I moved into the pile of beanbags, piling them over me so that every bit of me was covered.
Surrounded by darkness, all I had was my hearing to determine if he was coming. I waited, trying to hear him over my heartbeat.
And when he did find me, then what?
My breath came out slow. It'd been two months since homecoming. Two months wasn’t that long of a time. It still felt like forever for me. Everything had changed, just not Will.
But, then, hadn’t he changed? The night Will took me out to dinner, he asked how things were going since Martin died. I looked at him, remembering the day in the hall when he asked me about the bruises.
I thought of Damon Torrance and what he knew.
Then, of the two of them that night in the wrestling room.
A cold sweat broke along my neck as I straightened, pushing away the food he bought for me.
I remembered what Damon said as we walked to his car from the cemetery. He offered to “take care” of Martin for me. I never took him up on that; I never intended to.
Would he have made the same offer to Will?
Will’s green eyes watched me closely, waiting. He never seemed perceptive before, but there was no other word for the way his gaze pinned me in place.
I drew in a deep breath, suddenly feeling sick.
Will’s fondness for the Cove, for Cold Point, for mysteries, and his story of Reverie Cross all came flooding back. Suddenly, what happened with Martin was all too familiar.
But Will wouldn’t…
Would he?
I told him to take me home, and with a smile, he did.
He didn’t disappear. He was there the morning, parking his truck in my driveway. There was no stopping him from coming in the front door with a take-away breakfast for me and a cup holder with enough coffee for everyone, including the nurse attending to my grandmother. He also brought hot water in case Grand-Mere preferred tea.
He sat in her room and talked to her while I finished getting ready. I could still hear her charmed laugh from something he said. I hadn’t heard that sound in so long I nearly cried.
I divulged him about what was going on with Grand-Mere on the way to school. I didn’t want to go, but he reminded me I’d lose my scholarship if I didn’t keep my grades up. I sat in the passenger seat, hugging my back full of applications and petitions, and whispered my fears out the window, refusing to let a single tear drop. It felt good to admit it - to share the burden with someone.
A week later, a lawyer arrived with a check. A private benefactor was offering to pay for my grandmother’s care for the rest of her life in Thunder Bay, including a round-the-clock nurse if I needed it. Between that, and letters of character from my school and the town mayor, the judge agreed to let us stay in our home as long as we agree to a quarterly child service inspection until I turned eighteen.
I’d never felt so free as the day I left the courthouse.
The evidence pointed to Will’s involvement, but I never asked. Asking would make it real. Making it real would make me indebted to him. He wasn’t offering any information either. For two months, he didn’t push me. The most he’d done was sneak into my room through the window, even though he could use the front door now.
Some nights, he would just lay with me. Sometimes he waited until I reached for him, pulling him closer. As much as I pushed for more, he held back, always leaving me wanting more and frustrated at his resistance. Hours felt like they could stretch for all eternity when I was with him, but his patience never wore out.
I didn’t know what he wanted from me until he formally asked me out. He made sure I knew it was a date in the full sense of the word. He’d pick me up at an arranged time, we’d go to a pre-determined destination, and then after that, he’d take me home. There might even be a kiss on the porch at the end of the date “if I’m lucky.”
I gave him my middle finger, which he thought was hilarious.
I barely had the mind to agree to the date, I was so shocked. There was no denying I was better. I’d rejoined the swim team and band. I mostly hung out with Elle at school, but occasionally, we met up for coffee on the weekend. My projects around town were on track, and I got approved to start a new one on the bell tower the following week.
I might even have a boyfriend. Or something. Will doesn’t seem like the boyfriend type, though he’s still here, isn’t he? I can’t argue that it’s all for a chance to get into my pants anymore; I gave that to him two months ago and have more than offered several times since. What did I have to do to get him to take the bait? Strip off my clothes and dance around my room?
Something seized my ankle, dragging me from my spot as I screamed and fought to crawl away. Flipping over, I scrambled to get to my knees, but he came down on me before I got any leverage. I could feel his heart through my back as we breathed at different paces.
I laughed to myself.
Despite his superior size, I still struggled. I’d never stop fighting; I’d been too easy on him recently.
I bucked, trying to throw him off, but I just pushed into him more. His hand came around my throat, and he pulled me up, arching my back. His knees were on either side of my legs, my back against his chest. We panted with energy and anticipation. His hand drifted down, ghosting over my heavy chest, down to my waist, fingers dancing along the hem of my shirt. They brushed against the heated skin of my stomach. My breath shuddered.
Maybe my heart should be guilty over what I was doing. Haunted by Martin’s ghost, disturbed that Will was the one I wanted. It was sick, the things I wanted from him, to do to him. The fact that I just didn’t care.
Will’s not good for me.
But if it’s all true, then I wasn’t good for him either.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered against my ear. I could tell he’d already removed his mask by the way his lips brushed against the sensitive skin there. “Maybe you’ll win next time. After I have my reward.”
--
Last one left in my drafts, based on the idea that a game of hide-and-seek in the library is Will's ideal first date, though I wasn't able to find where PD said that.
Anyway. I struggled with it for a while because as I was writing, I couldn't figure out away to make it different than what had happened in the school during lock-in. And then also how to make it a first date? I could have gone completely AU, but ultimately decided on canon-divergence.
This will probably be the last one I write for a while.
As always, thank you for your time, any comments you leave, or liking. I appreciate everything you do.
-KO
#devil's night series stuff#my fic#willemmy#library date#response to prev ask#asked and answered 166
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From Bohemian Industries
“ Teela (Emily Ashby), a heroic warrior of Eternia, protects the Sword of Power from three wanderers in an action packed fight to claim its power for themselves. This film was created as a one-of-a-kind self-tape audition by actress Emily Ashby and the filmmakers for the role of Teela in the announced "Masters of the Universe" film. To that end, the film isn’t a “fan film” in the traditional sense, as its original purpose and story was more of a showcase for Emily rather than an unofficial attempt at expanding the MOTU canon. Of course, we absolutely hope fans of MOTU and beyond enjoy it and take it for what it is: a rollicking good time watching a classic MOTU character kicking butt in a Hong Kong / Jackie Chan inspired piece, having fun with the fabled Power Sword! All original music featured in the film was composed by Gerrit Wunder (CW's "Stargirl," Netflix's "Slumberland") exclusively for the film. Permission to use "Heartless Madness" by Dynazty was received by the filmmakers courtesy of AFM Records. Original sound by 10 time Emmy nominee Patrick Hogan ("Cobrai Kai," "The Umbrella Academy"). Stunts by Hong Kong stunt actor and coordinator Christian "Kang" Bachini. “Teela and the Masters of the Universe” has been made without the permission of Mattel, Inc., Netflix, Inc., or Sony Pictures. This is a nonprofit, unofficial venture not made for commercial use or monetization. The characters are owned by Mattel, Inc. and the film is in no way connected to said companies. Permission to use the characters and likenesses was not pursued by the production or granted by Mattel, Inc. He-Man™ and Masters of the Universe™ are registered trademarks of Mattel, Inc.”
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THE SKY IS THE LIMIT, PT 1: A FANCAST BY TESSA
ashby gentry as will stronghold
the son of the commander and jetstream, two of the most prolific superheroes in the community, will spends the majority of his life power-less but pretends he has them for the sake of his parents until he gains them for real when his friends are in danger. he gets a taste of popularity, lets it go to his head, makes some less than stellar choices but eventually manages to regain perspective and ends up saving the day with his friends.
danielle rose russell as layla williams
steadfast and steady, layla is a great hero (to be) and an even better friend. if you need someone in your corner, there's no one better than her. will and zach can attest to that - she's known them since childhood. layla has a green thumb and a big heart to match. and while she's normally a pacifist, she can and will throw down for the sake of her friends.
noah lalonde as zach braun
zach attack glows and, weirdly enough, the cold never bothers him. never has, never will. he just chalks that up to his inner (and outer) light though and doesn't read much into it. not at first, anyway. he's known layla and will since childhood but he's quick to bond with ethan and magenta too. the latter, especially, captures his heart rather quickly and he sets out to be a light in the dark - a lighthouse - and a soft place to land. not just for her, but for all of his friends.
auli'i cravalho as magenta lewis
if you need magenta, you need only look for her magenta colored hair in the crowd or for a cavy with a magenta colored streak in it's fur. she's a caviidae shifter, now capable of shifting into more than just a tiny guinea pig.
jonathan daviss as ethan bank
ethan comes from a long line of hydrokinetics. his ailing grandmother used to be the hero tributary until she sustained a serious injury that forced her to retire. his mom, esther, is a salvage diver and is also known as the hero estuary. aside from being capable of self-liquification, ethan is also the smartest guy in the room. a bona fide genius, one can even say.
iman vellani as freeze girl
the daughter of two retired superheroes turned actor and tv personality respectively, freeze girl - khione - has grown up in the limelight as well as the shadows, trying her best to lean into the ice queen persona others have labeled her (so that she may keep other people safe from herself; she's had accidents in which she siphoned people's warmth and body heat before) despite the fact that she's really warm hearted. khione likes to think that she's got a great eye for outdoor art. after all, she's the one who turned that kid with the eye lasers into an icicle on the lawn of the school. again.
*not pictured (but no less loved): warren peace, due to the fact that most rp'ers either use his canonical fc or have their own fc's for him.
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To Those Fortunate Enough chapter 36:
@burned-lariat
"You're sure about this?"
"Absolutely."
"It's just you against them."
"So? Nothing I haven't dealt with before."
Alexis sighed, frowning at her daughter. They both stood on either side of the door to Alexis's office, Sam pointing her handgun at the door.
"It's fifteen against one," Alexis pointed out.
Me: Alexis you should know by now that your daughter is a baddie.😌 *Plays hey sexy lady*
"All I'm doing is getting the office back. Then you can go in and fix the system Victor's likely ruining."
"I just want you to be careful."
"I will," Sam sighed, "Now, on the count of three. One…two… three!"
The door flew open as Sam kicked it in. She charged into the room, gun aimed at the main desk. The adrenaline she felt quickly wore off when she saw the room minion-less. She slowly made her way to the left, checking the nook in the corner. No one was there.
Me: *record scratch* Oop...well at least Sam lives to fight another day🤷
"Mom," Sam called, "it's clear. There's no one here."
"Really," Alexis walked in, swiftly closing the door behind her, "so much for your ambush."
"Seems like Victor has a story for me to put out," Alexis gestured for Sam to approach her. The woman got to her feet, walking around the desk, "He put in a whole exposé on Wallace."
"He really doesn't like the guy."
"Clearly. I mean, look at all this information: mob dealings, assassinations in Germany, ties to Helena's schemes. He wants to nail the man."
"Some of this stuff seems exclusive and confidential," Sam observed, "How would Victor know any of this?"
"...Crap," Alexis swore, clicking onto the internet. She pulled up her browser history, shuffling through the most recent tabs, "Of course."
"What?"
"Victor used my journalism credentials to access records. Wallace's rap sheet, health information, all of that he used my key to get."
"Yep," Sam read the screen, "German police reports, hospital forms, even some looks at citizenship."
Me: I feel like every post I have to give Victor a shout out on being thorough and making moves. He's a delusional person but he's a thorough delusional person!
"Victor was thinking of getting Wallace deported?" Alexis looked at her daughter, her eyes narrowed and her eyebrows scrunched together.
"I guess he didn't want to kill him," Sam shrugged.
"Deportation wouldn't have worked. Look: Wallace was given citizenship in 2002, and so was Dex by extension."
"Yeah, but the article, somehow, notes that it was forged for both him and Dex."
"...Victor wouldn't deport his own grandson, would he?"
"If he cares about the family unity, he wouldn't."
Me: Victor believes he has killed dex I can say with certainty he did not care about that boy.😂😭
For what, Eileen? For his family? For his ambitions? He murdered his grandson, he's trying to further wound his heartbroken daughter. And when it comes to you, once he has no use for you, you'll be dead as well."
"Says you," Ashby snapped, "You don't know anything."
This popped in my head and I immediately started giggling:
"And after today, neither will you," Laura crossed her arms, "Effective immediately, your work as the deputy mayor of Port Charles is done."
"You can't do that-"
"Oh, but I can, and I did. You no longer have access to the resources and contacts you used to, the materials you used to further Victor's agenda. You're lucky I'm not having you arrested."
Ashby blinked, unsure of what to say. Laura stepped closer, getting in the woman's face.
"Eileen, don't let Victor put you down the way he had Irina do Wallace," she said, "Save yourself. Leave…and don't come back."
Ashby stood still for a moment, taking her words in before turning and leaving the hotel.
Me: A better fate than canon😂
"...Damnit."
"What?"
Dante studied Robert's posture, noting the disappointment on his face as he looked at his phone.
"It's Laura," Robert replied.
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. It's just some bad news."
"What is it?"
"Wallace is out," Robert showed Dante the text.
"...Damn," Dante swore, running a hand down his face, "That's bad, that's really bad."
"The man was supposed to play decoy and create a diversion, not succumb to a bullet wound."
Me:
It's such a Robert thing to say.🙈
"Victor's dead…" Laura said slowly, "He's finally gone. We did it."
"We helped. Wallace did what had to be done, and Dex's plan to out himself worked. We did our part, yes, but if anyone's getting credit for taking Victor out once and for all, it's the Heller men."
Me:
"Wallace killed Victor?" Ava questioned, her mouth hanging open, "Is he okay? What about Irina and Dex and-"
"I don't know how they're doing, I just know Victor is gone."
"Damn…" Spencer swore, "that's…that's huge."
"Yeah. He dies and we're left to clean up his messes."
Me: I just LOVE how everyone is either like "Fucking finally" or "I mean cool but damn we got a mess to clean up" in reaction to victor's death.😂
"Spencer," Ava cut in, "can you give your father and I some space? There's something pressing he should know about."
"...Okay," the young man huffed, turning and leaving the great room.
"What's the issue?" Nikolas asked. Ava gave him the papers, watching as his face went pale the more he flipped through them, "...You're divorcing me?"
"And this time, I'm committing to it."
Me:
Ava divorcing Nikolas will always be a moment loved by me. We just love to see it.
"Do us both a favor, Nikolas," Ava said softly, "Let us be free of this marriage. There's nothing left for us."
"I love you, Ava. I'm not giving up on you."
"You did that when you decided to sleep with Esme, love. There's no getting me back. I'm not going to stay in a relationship with someone who chose to hurt me."
"Please…please don't leave me…"
"It's for the best," Ava began to walk away, "I'll give you some space to sign them and to deal with Cassadine Industries; I'll be back later."
"Ava!" Nikolas called out. The woman stopped for a moment before turning back around, a wicked grin on her face.
"Freedom comes to those fortunate enough to pursue it," she said gently, "and I am seizing that opportunity. I'm sorry, Nikolas. It's over."
Me:
SHE SAID IT!!!!
Nikolas stood in shock as she turned the corner, his phone in one hand and the documents in another. His mind was blank, unsure of his next move. Once the shock wore off, he considered the tasks at hand, and part of him wasn't sure where to blame his uncle, his soon-to-be-ex-wife, or himself for what has happened, what just happened, and what could happen in the near future.
Me: Ah Nikolas is once again looking to blame someone for his own mess.🥴 That man will never change.
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AlinaHipHarp - Afro Blue / Paris Sur Le Toit + remixes - another player in the burgeoning jazz harp field
In the tradition of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, Alina is innovating the use of the Harp in Jazz with contemporary melodies overlaying fresh Hip-Hop beats. Utilising live instrumentation and the contributions of the cream of UK Jazz talent (Tony Kofi, Jay Phelps, Julie Walkington among them) Alina has created two tracks that will be massive additions to the Jazz and Black music canons.
This re-imagining of 'Afro Blue' features a wonderful vocal performance from Vimala Rowe which interplays with the Harp solos over a strongly percussive bass driven track that lends itself to the dance floor as the Latin feel of the track builds and builds into a series of solos from the horns, percussion and drums.
'Paris Sur La Toit' is a masterclass in Jazz Hip-Hop with rhymes laid down in French and English by SANITY and Tom TheyThem. Here Alina's Harp provides the changing dynamics of the track, giving the atmosphere which bridges from the break beats to the stunning vocals. Having these original materials to work with, the creative inputs of both DJ Spinna and Sly Johnson are at the top of their respective games bringing new resonances and nuance to 'Paris Sur le Toit'.
Paris based composer and vocalist Sly Johnson presents us with his TAGi remix that strips back to the beats in order to bring forth the inter-play between the spoken word, the sung vocals of the chorus and that wonderful harp playing. Brooklynite DJ Spinna's remix brings us a fuller sound where the slow funk of the synth bass drives the vocals along and provides a space for those harp melodies to dance in.
This EP is a digital release with seven tracks including the original groove of 'Afro Blue' along with the remixes and instrumentals of 'Paris Sur Le Toit'.
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The old kitchen at Canons Ashby Manor
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England / Northamptonshire / Canons Ashby
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23 in 2023 Wrap-Up
So I made a list at the beginning of 2023, and did actually try to read most of the books on it! Results were mixed, but I did read a lot of books I'd been meaning to get to for some time, and made peace with many others. I won't be doing the same for this year because I genuinely don't have that many books I plan on reading. So here they all are:
Books that didn't come out this year:
Alecto the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir - I was very optimistic, but there was not in fact an official release date and there is not one now. I did read the new short story though, and it was very good!
Books I didn't start:
De Profundis, Oscar Wilde - Too stressed for something so soul-searching. Maybe this year?
Lord of the Flies, William Golding - I decided I wasn't going to put myself through this one again and let go of all my guilt about it.
War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy - Similarly, I finally came to terms with the fact that I'm not particularly interested in reading War and Peace right now.
Books I didn't finish:
Once & Future, A.R. Capetta & Cory McCarthy - Very YA, the humour was clearly targeted at a younger audience than me.
Cinnamon Toast and the End of the World, Janet E. Cameron - NOT in fact the lighthearted read its cover makes it out to be.
Beirut Hellfire Society, Rawi Hage - Not as interesting as the title.
The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray - Might have the prose I liked least all year. The authors were telling everything, which made it very heavy-handed.
Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel - Too dark for me :) I regret starting this book. The prose was also a bit heavy-handed.
Books I finished that were Bad:
After the Victorians, A. N. Wilson - Written in 2005, and you can tell, because Wilson's opinions are stale as fuck. I can't really trust much of what he wrote because of that, though the chapter on crosswords was interesting.
Der Dunkle Schwarm, Marie Graßhoff - Dystopia with weak worldbuilding, and I found myself noticing plot holes, which isn't something I typically do.
Books I finished that were mediocre:
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald - 200 pages of Nick feeling uncomfortable and also some commentary on the american dream that has become common knowledge in the intervening century. This book is for someone else.
Ships of the ‘45, John S. Gibson - Exactly what it says on the cover.
Company Town, Madeline Ashby - Interesting worldbuilding, dull mystery plot (why is it that so much interesting fantasy/sci fi gets saddled with the dullest of imaginable mystery plots?)
Books I finished that were good:
Blood Like Fate, Liselle Sambury - I liked this a bit less than the first book, but it was still interesting and unique YA sci fi! The romance was also well-written.
Legendborn, Tracy Deonn - Honestly I was mostly reading this for the (enjoyably) messy love triangle, and I would continue the series if it looked like my preferred pairing was going to become canon.
Worlds of Ink and Shadow, Lena Coakley - Wittier than I remember it being!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote - Different, but just as good as the movie.
Love After the End, edited by Joshua Whitehead - An interesting short story collection. My thoughts were very much provoked.
The Sentence, Louise Erdrich - Literary fiction I found satisfactory upon reading that has somehow stuck with me over the last few months.
Books I finished that left me Changed:
Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir - AAAAAHHH (highly recommend, this literally changed everything)
The Secret History, Donna Tartt - This book makes me think maybe I should be reading more thrillers? Or at the very least more dark academia, regardless of how cliche it seems for the rest of my personality.
Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club, Megan Gail Coles - The best literary fiction I read this year.
In conclusion, go read The Locked Tomb.
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Canons Ashby House gardens in Northamptonshire / England
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How would the couples react to a teenage pregnancy?
Will & Emory
This boy would be surprised and ecstatic. For him, it's never too early to start his life with Emory, since he “knew” it was always meant to be them. Is he ready to be a dad? No chance. But he’s ready for any adventure with Emmy. Even better, she has no excuses now. They’ll be forever tied together. He can afford a baby (with mommy and daddy’s money). They can still go to school and do all the normal stuff; they’ll just do it together and with a little one. Jokingly tells people he was born to be Emmy's baby daddy? Since he’s his parent’s favorite, they’ll be disappointed in him for not being careful, but not for too long. Especially not after they see how cute the little one is. They fall in love instantly.
Emory would probably be devastated; would seriously consider abortion, or never telling Will and leaving Thunder Bay. Her fears of trapping him in her hellscape all coming true. If Will did find out despite her efforts, he would play the “I’m a part of this too” card, and try to convince her to stay and rely on him, which she would struggle with.
Most surprising would be Martin. Because Emory’s fears would be that Martin would be angry to find out about her and Will, and that would lead to him hurting her or the both of them. However, Martin said he would have loved it because it would be a access point for him. Whether that’s true or not, or if he would have snapped on impulse in the moment, isn’t really known. I’ll be honest, this is the part I’ve thought about the most, since nothing that Martin says can be trusted. If Martin was being truthful and that would have been his natural reaction, I think it would have actually given Emory more of a reason to run. It would be one thing to bring Martin’s physical abuse to light. It would be an something else entirely to give him a way to manipulate the Grayson’s through their grandchild.
I would love to think that the Grayson’s would have saved Emory. And knowing A.P., I doubt it would be any skin of his back to make Martin disappear from Emory’s life. It would be a matter of getting Emory to let them do it.
Damon & Winter
We know from the alternative scene, Damon wants to get Winter pregnant as away to keep her and control her, which is his particular brand of “love” in high school. If he found out that she was pregnant…well, the image that comes to mind is like a cat that ate the canary.
Winter would be furious, I think in either of the timelines but especially in canon. She's too young, she doesn't like Damon extending his control over her like that; she wanted a choice, not to be forever tied to him by accident. Still, if she did keep it, she'd love that baby with everything she had. She'd keep it and protect it from Damon.
The baby would definitely be a source of fighting for them.
If it was a boy (which, looking at Damon's track record...) Gabriel would be interested. Good chance he'll pull a Christiane 2.0 and take him away. If it's a girl, it's the Ashby's problem.
The Ashby's would seriously consider sending Winter away again. I just know her mom would ask if there were still those boarding schools for "girls like her," that took pregnant girls so they didn't disgrace the family. Her father would promptly walI her over to the town doc that performs all the abortions unwanted/accidentally pregnancies for Thunder Bay (but shhhh, that's a secret). If Winter wouldn't go through with an abortion (she'd have to really fight and scream to get her father to relent), she would consider closed adoption. Considering how angry she was, there's a chance she would have gone through with it. But I'm also thinking her love for Damon despite everything would keep her from being a 100% committed, and that small room for doubt would be enough.
Michael & Rika
This wouldn't happen to Michael. He wouldn't even touch Rika until she was 18 or close to it. If she did somehow, despite all this plans, become pregnant with his child, that's it. They're getting married and raising that thing together side by side, as faraway from his family as he could get. Her mom too, if she doesn't get sober real quick. No way is that going to be let around his kid.
For Rika, this is not how she planned it, but she always wanted Michael so maybe this was how it was meant to be. It's just like them to skip past all the nonsense of dating and getting to know each other. They already know they're made for each other, anyway. But she hates the idea that Michael thinks she tricked him or "planned" this. She wasn't poking holes in condoms or sabotaging her birth control, and she resents him for implying it.
They'd fight, they'd bicker, they'd annoy each other, but overall they'd be content and happy, approaching this new stage of their life with purpose and assurance that the other is going to try and be the best parent they could.
Kai & Banks
This also wouldn't happen to Kai, but it's way more likely to happen to him than to Michael. Especially with Banks involved. His brain shut down whenever she appeared in front of him. Honor bound, he would do whatever he could to make it right. He wouldn't love the idea of abortion (hard to tell if he's the type of Catholic that's completely against the idea, or if he's more along the lines of it's not my body though it's my baby, or if he's more like it's not okay for anyone else but this is my emergency so I'll ask for forgiveness (that he doesn't thinks he'll get... kai's weird)). Overall, if the baby is born and he has to tell his parents, he's going to have one giant shadow over his head. Of course he loves the baby. But this is just another way he's disappointed his father. But then Kai will go to college, and get his degree, get the job, get the salary that will provide the very best for his family. No more screwing up for him.
Basically, this would be something he beats himself up over but would not take him down.
There's a really good chance Banks never tells anyone and takes her self to the abortion clinic. Her fear that Gabriel would kick her out because she can't bring another mouth into his house - that was not the deal. Or ended up anything like her mom, chasing after to rich man to take care of a baby neither of them wanted. Not that she would chase after him. It's just the whole situation she'd want to avoid; it hits too close to home. And don't even bring up Damon finding out. I think she'd also be scared to mess the kid up. At seventeen, she doesn't think she's anywhere close to being mother material. Best to save this kid some pain before it understands. The only thing that might stop her is if Kai somehow found out and talked her out of it. But that would have to be one hell of a speech.
Based on these two asks:
DamonWinter-MichaelRika-KaiBanks original post
Willemmy Original Post
#devil's night series stuff#devil's night series#horsemen of thunder bay#women of thunder bay#willemmy#damonwinter#kaibanks#michaelrika
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