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the-deeds-to-shibden · 4 years

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Tuesday, 20 August 1839

[This leg of the journey sees Anne and Ann reach the city of Västerås, where they enjoy the best view since Norway. There are again many agricultural observations, Ӧrebrö is a very good town “for Sweden”, Anne is for some reason yearning for turnips which are tragically not available, and a lengthy joint toilet break is had. Anne’s deathless summation of Sweden is that it’s the country of chaos, and pancakes. And berries and trees.]

[up at] 4 1/4

[to bed at] 10 35/”

Fine morning Fahrenheit 58º, at 5 a.m. good beds and slept well – everywhere good beds however small – mine large last night – pulled out 1/3 of its length – they generally pull out breadthwise – Ӧrebrö a nice neat, and, for Sweden, very good town – 2 little gateways (2 square posts) at each end of the town – the church large and neat and good – the pillars inside gilded in imitation of fluting – a large plain bounded in extremis in the great distance by wooded hill – the plain as seen from too of the church clear (i.e. of large and small boulder stones) except 2 or 3 patches – corn and grass – oats and rye and barley the greater part cut and in stook or hung round poles to dry as near Drammen – Off from Ӧrebrö at 5 1/4 putting my watch 1/4 hour forward not much wood till Glanshammar at 6 52/” single house neat and good, with several outbuildings – might have slept here very well – nice foresty drive from Glanshammar sun now at 8 and very fine morning no very large fir timber – the trees to be cut down everywhere where we have yet been before they can attain any great size – I should suppose cut down every 40 or 50 years at most – the timber was nowhere large that we saw growing in Norway but about Bolkesoe larger than here – forest almost all the way – at 8 3/4 nice peeps thro’ the forest on a good looking town? at 8 50/” cross wooden bridge over good river – at 9 3/60 at the Station good house Fellingsbro one might sleep very well – merely the house and many farm-buildings – it must have been the town that we passed peeped at (left) thro’ the vistas in the narrow strip of forest at 8 3/4 – off in 10 minutes at 9 13/” – breakfast at 9 ¼ Ann on biscuit and gingerbread I on bread and candied lemon – Little bit of chaos (big pieces large pieces of rock piled on each other) and afterwards plots of big boulder (always granite?) encumbered ground – in the Aldste (oldest time) the country must have been almost one sweep of chaos with few clear spots till the hand of man had cleared them and many large masses of rock hereabouts still lying amid the corn – this the case more or less (and with greater or less sized stones) almost everywhere here – several people ploughing this stage with 2 oxen and harrowing with 2 oxen to each pair of harrows – both ploughs and harrows very small and oxen too –

Enter the gateway (2 square posts – no gate – as usual) of Arboga at 10 23/” and at 10 26/” at the station nice neat clean looking house where one might sleep very well – one long not over wide neat, picturesque street, just after entering, corn in stook left side the street. Arboga nice little town – some lateral streets – neat good church with tall spire – stone body of church and tower, except the top part which is brick just under the setting on of the shingle covered spire – this church smaller and more village like than that at Ӧrebrö the bookseller at Göteborg advised our going by water from here to Stockholm – steamers every day – cannot see the river or lake yet – but here just out of Arboga one valley maybe perhaps 2 English miles wide formed by a range of lowish round fir covered hill on each side but soon widens out largely on the left – sandy soil – but good road – the road 2 or 3 stages was heavy in consequence of the great deal of rain but otherwise very fairly good all along – here very good – as good as the best in England – but narrow as all the roads are – our 4 horses abreast take up nearly the whole breadth about 12 English feet wide – a Dutch barn just out of Arboga and I have seen another or 2 this morning manure lying here and in several places this morning on the new ploughed land about the quantity we should put on for potatoes – William knows not what they are going to sow or plant – have only one little plot of turnips (yesterday morning) in Sweden – none to be had to eat for us, at the Inns page 51. one observes the little beds – the convenient many seated – the fences [Anne drew a fence here] the splittings (slivings as Robert Mann would call them) laid here and elsewhere horizontally but in many places at an angle of 45º the corn hung on tall stakes to dry – and the peas and beans hung on roof-like racks to dry everywhere the people gathering their line – have seen very little if any hemp in Sweden – the pigsties opening into a sort of hut as at page 54, Cållängen on Sunday morning and elsewhere (vide p. 54 at the bottom) observe the red wood-houses and picturesque small cottages many sorts of bread the little fresh fish that is to be had considering the quantity of water

Tis the country of chaos and big boulders fir birch and juniper pancakes and cranberry, bilberry, cloudberry i.e. blau berry – and the berry we got at Bolkesoe vide I have only seen apple trees (with apples on them) only 2 or 3 times – more cherry trees – plenty of gooseberry trees and gooseberries in the market at Göthenburg, had them one day but not very good – forest again at 11 35/” (clear from Arboga that is for an hour) – now a very little of forest at 11 40/” 2 horses at a large wooden roller and 4 oxen at a cogging machine yoked to the broad side of this sort of narrow heavy sledge to break the clods of sand – chaos-y ground again and little hamlets Köping at 12 10/” largeish town we had to go in and out to the station in the square – large newly white washed good church – little river – at the end of the town 2 men thrashing long flail with weight at the end – rocks –

– from Köping to Kölback not much forest, and much big boulder and rock encumbered ground amid the cultivation – cross wood and stone bridge over the canal, does not they say, go far, and immediately the Kölback station at 2 p.m. nice red wood house 2 story high and room above in the roof with 2 windows at the end and a cottage or perhaps 2 near – might sleep here I should think very well – several farm buildings – very fine day – I reading Handbook and Ann Encyclopaedia of geography – vide these the account of Westerås, the sea of the most important bishoprick in Sweden – 1 long street above 2 English miles long a few church steeples seen now – there during today – among the observations (vide end of last book today, 20 August) note the wartiness (green grass covered boulder stones) of the moors and pastures – very little forest from Kölback – wide open country Valet de Place vide page 126 Handbook Andrew Bergland. at 3 53/” 1st view of Malar Lake from the sandy chaosy rock and boulder covered plain and ploughed land corn and pasture – two men riding on a seat over each one’s big wood roller – each drawn by 2 little oxen – the tall spire of Westerås church peeping up in front of us – the opposite side the lake beautifully pine-wooded apparently to the water’s edge – Ann and I alighted at 4 5/” and walked 10 minutes till got in again close to the town gate (2 square gate posts) – the lake islands and beautiful the prettiest scene we have seen since Christiania – enter the town gate at 4 16/” alight at the Westerås hotel at 4 21/” out at 5 to the church 20 minutes there – nothing particular went up for the view at 5 – could not get higher than the bells and could not there see well out of the windows – but the view over the islands wooded lake very beautiful – 20 minutes there – then walked about the town twenty five minutes at necessary with Ann at the little port came in at 7 40/” 5 largish vessels there and a steamer large casks of tallow etc. and pig iron and iron ore – the carriage driving foot board must be readjusted tomorrow morning – dinner at 8 in 3/4 hour – then had Grotza – then till 10 wrote out the last 22 lines

Anne’s marginal notes

Beds

timber not large

Chaos.

Arboga

Roads good but narrow

no turnips

Observations vide.

chaosy just out of Köping

Westerås

very fine day Fahrenheit 64º at 10 p.m.

WYAS Catalogue: SH:7/ML/TR/12/0032 SH:7/ML/TR/12/0033 SH:7/ML/TR/13/0002

Anne’s drawing of a Swedish fence made out of splittings:

Västerås Cathedral and a view of the wooded islands Anne and Ann saw from the level of its bells (photo Oscar Bladh):

#anne lister #ann walker #sweden1839 #travelnotes1839 #anne lister code breaker #gentleman jack #annelister #annwalker

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valentines-in-london · 5 years

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I Need Fire (Part 12)

Authors Note: Two chapters in a weekend?! I don’t know what’s gotten into me, this chapter just kind of took off. I hope I’m not updating too fast, I’ve gotten behind on stories before and it was hard to catch back up. If I am please let me know!

I’m really looking forward to the twists and turns that are coming up in this story, we’ve done a lot of building so far but the rollercoaster ride is just starting! As always feedback, replies and asks are always welcome and it is a joy to receive them! Word Count: 6,118 Warnings: smut Taglist: @freddiessmallnipples @triplehaitches @samanthadegaro@lauravic @oh-well1 If you’d like to be added please let me know!

Previous Chapter Master Lists

Chapter 12

Rayne hadn’t been back to the east coast in years. She couldn’t believe that when she was finally able to take time off of work to see Tommy on the road it happened to be when they were playing her old stomping grounds. Rayne walked off the plane with a dufflebag thrown over her shoulder, upon exiting she saw a younger man holding up a sign with her name on it. “Hey I’m Rayne.”

“Hello Ms. Sykes.” He nodded to her. “My name is Tony I’ll take your bag.”

“Oh no it’s fine Tony, I got it, this is all I have.” She smiled genuinely.

“Alright, if you’re sure follow me and we’ll head to the car.” He turned and began walking through the airport. They had done a lot of work on it since she flew out of here years ago but it still looked run down, that was the charm of it. Rayne couldn’t wait to see Tommy again, it had been two months since they were last in each others arms and it had been too long. When they approached the car Tony popped the trunk taking Rayne’s bag from her to place it in before he helped her into the back seat of his Lincoln. As they pulled out of the lot he asked, “Did you have a good flight?”

“Yeah it wasn’t too bad, I slept through most of it actually because it was a red eye. I don’t think I’m going to be getting much sleep until I go back to California.” She softly chuckled.

“Well I’m dropping you off at the hotel so maybe you’ll be able to get some sleep there. Where are you from?” Tony made small talk.

“I’m actually from across the bridge in Jersey, but I moved out to LA a few years ago for college. I’m out here to visit my boyfriend.”

“Long distance?”

“I guess you could say that, he’s in a touring band so sometimes we don’t see each other for long stretches of time.”

“That sounds rough.” Tony empathized with her situation. “Any band I would know?”

“Um, I don’t know I guess it would depend on the music you like. He’s in Motley Crue.” Upon her saying the name Tony stopped a bit short at a red light. He turned in his seat.

“What? You’re dating someone in Motley Crue? I fucking love them!” He said enthusiastically. Rayne couldn’t help but smile, this was the east coast personality she missed, unapologetic and in your face. On the west coast people tended to hide their feelings or just be a bit blasé about things, not back home though.

“Yeah I think they’re pretty good too.” Rayne smiled. “Have you gotten the new record?”

“Fuck yeah I have, I live at home with my ma and she hates it, thinks they’re the devils music.”

“I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Rayne smiled looking at Tony in the rearview mirror. “They totally are.”

Tony let out a deep belly laugh in response. “Where are they playing tonight?”

“They’re playing The Garden with Ozzy.”

“They’re opening for Ozzy? Holy shit I had no idea. I’ll have to go down when I’m done my shift and see if I can scalp some tickets.” Tony smiled wide pulling into the valet area of the Hyatt hotel.

“Well if you get in look for me. I wish there was a way I could get tickets for you, but to be honest I’ve never been out on a tour before so I don’t really know how it works.” Rayne said sheepishly.

“It’s alright. Let’s just say you owe me one.” Tony said getting out of the car walking around the front of the car to open the door for her. Soon after he handed her bag to her along with a business card. “Here take my card. If you ever need to get out of a jam call me.”

“Thanks Tony. I will.” Rayne smiled handing him a $10 bill and turning to walk into the hotel. She looked around seeing elaborate decoration of the hotel and it was beyond fancy. There was a lot of younger people loitering around the lobby, a few of them in Motley Crue shirts it looked like it was no secret where the band were staying. Rayne walked up to the front desk where a young blond woman smiled bright at her, her name tag read Brittany. “Welcome to the Chelsea how can I help you?”

“Yeah I’m here with the party under the name McGhee.” Rayne put her dufflebag down at her feet.

“Which member of the party are you with?” Brittany asked.

“Mr. King.” Rayne replied, she had talked to Tommy the night before and he told her his alias to give the front desk.

“Very good Ms King. Here is your room key you’re in room 18917 just walk down past the bar and go down the hallway to the left, and the elevators will be right there. Take them up to the eighteenth floor.” Brittany smiled at her. “Just give us a ring if you need anything.”

“Thank you so much. Have a good day.” Rayne nodded taking the key from the woman and following her directions. When she walked past the bar she saw Doc sitting there staring into a cocktail. She approached him, “Doc? You okay?”

He looked up at Rayne and it was like a cloud lifted from him. “Oh thank god you’re here gorgeous.”

“Huh? Why?” Rayne questioned taking a seat next to him.

“Here let’s walk up to your room, the kids all know who I am they don’t need to get you in their crosshairs just yet. The band is at a local radio station doing an interview.” Doc jerked his head in the direction of the group of kids waiting in the lobby. Doc led her to the elevator which was waiting on the lobby floor. When they stepped in he began again. “I can’t lie Rayne. I have never been through what Motley Crue have put me through on this tour.”

“What? What’s happened?” Rayne was utterly confused by his statement.

“Well where do I start? Everyone shooting off fireworks at a sleeping Mick in his room, making the curtains catch on fire and the hotel be evacuated. Nikki using his bass as a sledge hammer at every hotel we’ve been to. The three idiots throwing TV’s out of hotel windows onto cars down on the street below. Your boyfriend, my dear, is like Mr. Hyde when you’re not around. Him and Nikki call themselves the terror twins and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate name.” By the time Doc was done recounting the horrors they had stepped out of the elevator and found themselves in front of room 18917. Doc turned to Rayne, “I can’t promise you that this room will not look like a bomb went off in it.”

Rayne was officially nervous to see what was on the other side of the door. She thoughtlessly brought the key up to the reader when the lights blinked green she opened the door to reveal the room. It looked like any other regular hotel room, it was clean with the exception of the messed up sheets on the king sized bed. There was a giant bouquet of lavender and blue roses on the desk next to the television. Doc let out a sigh next to her. “Oh thank god. I’m telling you Rayne, he’s Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde. At least for the next week I don’t have to worry about one of the lunatics.”

“Doc is it really that bad?” What had she gotten herself into? What Doc was describing was not the Tommy she had come to know, he was always mischievous but never menacing or flat out crazy or disruptive.

“I’m jealous that you get to leave after a week. The band should be back soon.” Doc smiled before walking out the door, closing it behind him. Rayne sighed setting her bag down taking a step towards the bouquet of flowers and the card that sat at the bottom of the vase.

Two months without you might as well be a lifetime

I can’t wait to hold you in my arms again.

Rayne smiled at the card, leaning down to inhale the scent of the unique colored roses, but Doc’s declaration of saying Tommy was Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde was at the back of her mind. With a sigh Rayne pulled one of the lavender roses out holding it against her chest and laying on the bed, breathing in the scent of Tommy that had been left from the night before. She rested her eyes and nestled her head against the fluffy pillow. She had lost track of time but the sound of the door unlocking made Rayne open her eyes and sit up in bed. Rising to her feet she watched as Tommy entered the room in a tank top, ripped up tight jeans and the hat she had given him on their first Christmas.

Tommy’s face immediately broke into a giant smile before he rushed at Rayne immediately kissing her lips. He kissed her like it was the last time he would kiss her, Rayne let out a moan before pulling away from him. “That was quite the greeting.”

Tommy scooped Rayne up in his arms and instinctually she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I have three hours til soundcheck, and I know exactly how I’m going to spend them.”

“Oh you do, do you?” Rayne raised her chin. “I don’t know Tommy I just had a long flight I’m a little hungry…”

“So am I. For you.” Tommy smiled before sitting down on the bed. Rayne leaned down to kiss Tommy once more her smooth lips meeting his and his calloused hands ran up her lose t-shirt against her skin before he eventually removed her shirt all together. Tommy shifted to lay Rayne back on the bed while he kissed his way down her body removing clothes as he went. Rayne arched her back when Tommy peppered her inner thighs with kisses before his tongue did one long sweeping motion over Rayne’s pussy. Tommy eagerly licked and kissed Rayne’s most sensitive spot before sliding two fingers deep into her making her moan and cry out in pleasure. Burying her hands in his raven locks to urge him on Rayne cried out, “Oh fuck Tommy. Don’t stop.”

Tommy sped up his actions and Rayne cried out, back arched, legs feeling like jello as her orgasm washed over her and over Tommy. Tommy licked up every last drop of cum before raising his head with a smile over his glistening lips. “Yep just as sweet as I remember.”

“You’re so bad. You shouldn’t be making me do that when we’re in a hotel.” Rayne chuckled as Tommy climbed on top of her.

“I’ll leave a nice tip for house keeping. But if I don’t get inside you right now I might lose my damn mind.” Rayne smiled before she pulled Tommy’s mouth onto hers. She reached her hands down to help him push his pants down. Tommy quickly pulled both Rayne’s legs up holding them by the ankles and resting them on his one shoulder. Once her legs were settled he quickly sank himself into her.

“Oooh I missed this.” Rayne moaned out as Tommy slowly thrust in and out of her.

“You are so fuckin tight baby.” Tommy groaned out. In this position Rayne couldn’t do much of anything, she was completely at his mercy. She grabbed a handful of the sheets and held on for the ride. “Tell me how much you missed me baby.”

“I missed your cock Tommy. I missed feeling you cumming inside of me. I missed, oh fuck, I missed you fucking me raw into the mattress.” Rayne cried out when Tommy hit a particularly good spot. Tommy’s thrusts became erratic and Rayne knew he was close. “Fuck Tommy, give it to me. Cum for me.”

Rayne cried out as her back arched and toes curled from her own orgasm. Tommy’s hips paused as he released himself inside of Rayne and collapsed next to her on the bed both of them doing their best to catch their breath. “I’m not going to let you out of my bed the entire time you’re here.”

Rayne let out a breathy laugh before reaching across Tommy to the nightstand to grab his pack of cigarettes. She took two out quickly lighting them and handing one to Tommy. “Well unfortunately for you Tommy, you’re going to have to play shows and do interviews and all sorts of band things. So I don’t believe you can make good on that threat.”

“S-she got you there T-Bone. But I really can’t blame you, she’ss got a mouff on herr.” They heard a slurring voice from inside the hotel room causing Rayne to immediately grab the sheets to cover herself up.

“Nikki, what the fuck!” Tommy shouted, leaning to see his bass player sitting slouched over on the floor of his hotel room.

“I forgot Rayne wascoming today, and I was bored. But youz guys helped me with that.” Rayne could tell Nikki was shit faced. His words slurred together unapologetically. She took a deep inhale off the cigarette before she sat up draping her arm around Tommy still keeping covered with the sheet.

“Don’t be an asshole Nikki.” Tommy barked at his best friend.

“I’m not! She’s ob-ob-viously a great ff-uck.” Nikki turned around looking at Tommy and Rayne in bed. “She letss you cum in her pus-sy and she ssure can talk dirty. Iff I wuzn’t drunk I’d be hard.”

“Nikki get the fuck out.” Tommy got out of bed grabbing Nikki to his feet and pushing him out of the door. As he walked back in he saw the spare key to his room at his feet. He let out a frustrated breath. “Fuck I forgot I gave him the key to my room last night. I’m sorry baby.”

Rayne took one final deep breath from the cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray next to the bed. “Welcome to tour life I guess right?” She chuckled shaking her head. They must’ve looked like a hot mess when Nikki saw them, Tommy’s pants were around his thighs, Rayne’s pants and shirt were thrown off while her bra was still on but both breasts were exposed. Tommy sat back in the bed next to her kissing her on the cheek. “Come on after a red eye flight and a roll through the sheets with you I could use a shower. Wanna join me?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely.” Tommy smiled pulling his tank top over is head and his pants all the way off.

After a hot and heavy shower Tommy and Rayne found themselves in the bowels of Madison Square Garden. The first thing Tommy had Rayne do was get her photo taken for her All Access pass so she could go wherever she wanted any time she was with them on tour. She wrote her name in thick black sharpie before clipping the photo onto a lanyard. “Now that that’s taken care of are you still hungry?”

“Oh yeah I’m starving!” Rayne moaned excitedly which made Tommy grin, “Okay, catering isn’t the greatest but it’s free food.”

When Tommy and Rayne got to the catering room it was filled with crew members and faces that Rayne wasn’t familiar with, except one blonde woman, her best friend: Jo. Jo had her back to Rayne so she nodded to Tommy and he made her way over to her best friend while Rayne filled a plate with bread, some lunch meat, carrots and potatoes. She approached the table and heard Jo ask Tommy, “She’s still not here yet?”

Rayne smiled and placed her tray down on the table. “No I think I heard she decided not to come.”

Jo jumped up and let out a scream wrapping her arms around Rayne’s neck. “Oh I’m so glad you’re here!”

Rayne pulled away from her quickly, “Everything okay?”

“Oh yeah fine, it’s just when you’re out here and the only other women are groupies who want to fuck your man. It’s hard to have some good girl talk.” She turned to look at Tommy. “No offense Tommy.”

Tommy looked up at the two women as he was happily chewing on a carrot. “None taken. I know I’m not good for girl talk, I’d think Vince would be best at it considering he looks like a chick but kinda hard to do that when you’re dating him.”

Jo and Rayne let Tommy ramble before Rayne reached for a stalk of celery dipping it into some ranch and taking a bite. Rayne smiled at him before turning to Jo, “So how has it been?”

“Oh it’s been interesting.” Jo chuckled. “You really don’t get any privacy out on the road.”

“I found that out earlier.” Rayne smiled sharing a glance with Tommy. “Nikki had a key to Tommy’s room and he walked in on us this morning.”

“Oh fuck.” Jo chuckled. “I don’t mind a bit of voyeurism but I know that’s not your thing.”

“He won’t even remember it by the time we hit the stage.” Tommy shook his head.

“That’s probably true.” Jo shrugged.

“So Tommy,” Rayne smiled taking a bite of the sandwich she had grabbed. “I heard you are quite different when I’m not here. I heard something about the name Terror Twins.”

“Who told you that?” Tommy questioned putting down his second carrot.

“Just Doc.” Rayne shrugged before turning to Jo. “So is that true? Is Tommy different?”

Jo pulled a face which told Rayne the answer was yes he is. She watched as her best friend shared a look with her boyfriend and turned back to her taking a deep breath. “He is, but like not in a bad way. I guess that’s how you’d put it.”

“Elaborate.”

“He’s just a trouble maker when you’re not here. He runs around hotels naked, gets the cops called on him, wrecks hotel rooms. It’s always with Nikki though, there’s never girls around Tommy. Well there are girls around but he honestly never does anything with them.” Jo quickly made that last point clear. Rayne looked over at a sheepish Tommy. She pushed herself up and walked over to him sitting on his lap. Tommy wrapped his arms around Rayne’s waist.

“Getting the cops called on you?” Rayne questioned raising an eyebrow.

“It was just a few times.” Tommy defended himself. “It’s mostly for being loud at the hotels. I don’t run around the halls naked… okay one time I ran around naked.”

“What am I gonna do with you Troublemaker?” Rayne shook her head.

“What can I say? I go a little crazy when my girl isn’t with me.” Tommy smiled giving Rayne a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

“Uh huh.” Rayne shot him a questioning look. “Don’t try to butter me up.”

“Come on, let me introduce you to the important people out on the road so everyone knows you and doesn’t bother you when you’re back here.” Tommy shot up from the cafeteria like table with a silly smile on his face.

“Alright fine, but I’m not dropping this just yet.” Rayne pointed her finger at him in attempt to make her point before waving bye to Jo and following Tommy.

Rayne had never been so thankful that basically everyone had a pass with their name and photo on it. There was no way she’d be able to remember everyone that Tommy had introduced her to. But he made it a point to let everyone know that she was his girlfriend and no one was to give her a hard time backstage. Prior to the show Rayne and Tommy were in the dressing room and she applied his makeup as she had grown accustom to doing.

Tommy’s hands rested on Rayne’s hips a cigarette dangling from his fingertips while Rayne worked her magic. Nikki entered the room with a red cup in his hand. “See this is one upside to having a girlfriend, you don’t have to do your own makeup.”

Rayne chuckled turning her head to look at Nikki while Tommy took a puff on his cigarette. “I could do yours when I’m done with his. It’s not like it takes a lot of time and I’m almost done with Tommy.”

“Alright.” Nikki nodded taking a seat next to the drummer studying what Rayne was doing. Tommy handed his cigarette to Rayne who happily took a deep breath letting the smoke fill her lungs. “I like the grey you put on his cheek.”

“We can do that for you too, even though you usually wear lots of pink blush, I can do that with the blush if you want.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Alright hot stuff, you’re done.” Rayne grinned giving Tommy a peck on the lips. He patted her hips while she got off his lap before pulling a chair up to where Nikki was sitting.

“Oh I don’t get the full effect if you’re not sitting on my lap.”

“Watch it Sixx, ask Tommy, I have sharp eyeliner here and I’m not afraid to use it.” Rayne smiled before encouraging, “Now close your eyes.”

Rayne began to brush Nikki’s bangs off his face making him pull away from her slightly. “What are you doing?”

“I have to get your hair out of your eyes before I do your makeup.” Rayne reasoned. “What are you afraid I’m going to find out all your deep dark secrets if I can actually see your eyes?”

Nikki once again pulled away from her, “Kinda yeah.”

“Oh come on.” Rayne chuckled. “What do you think I am? Some kinda witch?”

“You got my buddy bewitched.” Nikki nodded in Tommy’s direction who was putting on his stage gear.

“I put a spell on him, and now he’s mine.” Rayne quoted the Screamin Jay Hawkins song teasing Nikki slightly as she heavily packed the black eyeshadow on his eye lids.

“He’s slightly more fun when you’re not around.” Nikki grinned.

“So I’ve heard. You know when we first met I told him, I’m not his mom. He doesn’t have to act differently around me then when he’s around his friends. I’d actually prefer it if he didn’t.”

“I’m sorry about earlier today. I’m an asshole.” Nikki changed the subject.

“It’s okay.” Rayne shrugged, heavily brushing on a bright pinkish red blush high on his cheeks. “I kinda know that about you at this point Sixx.”

“And you’re still friends with me despite it?” Nikki opened his eyes now that she was working on his face.

“Miraculously yes I am.” Rayne chuckled as Tommy came over in his full stage outfit covered in black and red spikes, studs and leather, Doc followed behind him. Stanley did a great job with their stage outfits, Rayne thought.

“Doc just told me he’s gonna fly my parents out to a show on this tour, my dad has family in Boston so it’ll be next week.” Tommy smiled wide putting a hand on Rayne’s shoulder. “You’ll just miss them.”

“Maybe we could fly your family in for a show Nikki.” Doc said genuinely. Rayne could feel Nikki tense up, his jaw immediately clenched.

“Yeah that’s a great idea Doc.” Nikki rolled his eyes, shaking his head causing Doc to leave them alone. Tommy took a seat next to them on the vanity chair. Rayne leaned forward and whispered to Nikki.

“Don’t worry, I don’t get along with my family either.”

“Really?”

“Yep. Maybe one night while I’m here we can talk about our fucked up family values over drinks, or for you lines of coke. If you want.” Rayne chuckled. Nikki simply responded with a smile and a nod of his head. Maybe it would be good for him to have someone who knew where he was coming from to talk about his family life growing up. Tommy always referred to it as “dysfunction junction” but never elaborated, and Rayne could certainly say the same about her life.

“Right, you’re done rock star.” Rayne smiled shifting Nikki’s bangs back into his eyes.

Nikki stood up checked the mirror, nodded and threw up horns with his hands. Tommy grabbed Rayne’s hand leading her out the door. “Come on I’ll show you where you can watch the show. I’d say Jo would, but she and Vince always get a quickie in before he goes on stage.”

Rayne let out a hearty laugh, “Yep that sounds about right. What about you? Fancy a quickie?”

“Is that a trick question?”

Rayne smiled before pulling Tommy into a room that had vending machines for the backstage workers. Closing the door behind them Rayne pushed Tommy against the door and gave him a kiss before dropping to her knees.

The show was of course absolutely incredible, Rayne would even venture to say that they gave Ozzy a run for his money. The crowd lost their minds from the time the band went on stage to the time they walked off, even chanting “one more song” after the band played their final song. After a quick shower Tommy joined Rayne sidestage to watch Ozzy’s set.

As the last song of the night rang through the arena, a cover of Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Tommy and Rayne made their way back to the dressing room. “You ready to head back to the hotel?”

“I know I am, I’m still exhausted from the flight earlier.” Rayne smiled looking up at him. “Tommy you don’t have to come back to the hotel with me if you want to hang out with the boys.”

“I hang out with the boys every night. Tonight I want to be with you.” Tommy wrapped his arm around her shoulders bringing her close to him. He smelled like fresh citrus from the soap he had used earlier. “Let’s find Doc and we’ll head back.”

It didn’t take long to find Doc, who was talking with the promoter of the gig. When Doc saw Tommy and Rayne walking towards him he shook the promoters hand and turned to the couple. “Doc we’re going to head back to the hotel for the night alright?”

“Really?” Doc looked at his watch, “It’s only 11 o’clock. Don’t you have a strip joint to be at?”

“Well Rayne is exhausted from her flight, and I just miss her so I want to spend as much time with her as I can. We can go to a strip club another night.”

“I told him he didn’t need to come back with me if he didn’t want to. If you need him for anything Doc, don’t feel like he needs to come back with me.” Rayne spoke up.

“No, no please take him. One less monster I have to wrangle at the end of the night. At least I know where one is.” Doc breathed a sigh which received a laugh from both Rayne and Tommy. “Car’s out the back door on the ramp. No fans near there.”

“Well then, we’re going to head out then.” Tommy laced his fingers through Rayne’s and the two made their way out to a Lincoln town car with blacked out windows.

“Do you not like meeting fans?” Rayne asked Tommy as they drove down the ramp passed a crowd of people behind a barricade who were screaming as the car pulled out and made it’s way to the hotel.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that a lot of times they want to party with us, and-“ He paused. “Well it’s like it is in LA, some women just won’t let up no matter how many times I say I’m in a relationship. It just can get tiring.”

“Oh,” Rayne replied. “Well I still think you should meet your fans whenever you can. Those are the people that put money in your pocket.”

“You say that now.” Tommy chuckled. “We’ll see how you feel when we get mobbed with fans somewhere. Most places are pretty good with giving us places to get in and out with relative ease, others are a nightmare.”

“Well all I know is that tonight I have you all to myself. Two months is too long to sleep alone.” Rayne rested her head on Tommy’s shoulder closing her eyes until they got back to the hotel.

The next day Rayne found herself on a tour bus and off to the next city, which would be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The band rarely used the bus for overnight sleeping, it was a tool to travel from point A to point B and they used the bunks to catch up on any sleep lost from the night before. Rayne laid on one of the couches with her head resting in Tommy’s lap. Tommy smiled down at her tracing different shapes along her stomach, “A glamorous life isn’t in? Good thing you only brought a dufflebag. You’ll be packing and unpacking a lot.”

“I’m only here for seven days, I didn’t need to bring heavy luggage.” Rayne chuckled as Tommy hit a particularly ticklish spot. “I probably should’ve brought more comfortable clothes though, it’s not the most comfortable to be laying on a bus in tight ass leather pants.”

“Yeah but you look great. Those pants look like they were painted on you, and your ass looks great.” Tommy said appreciatively. When the band pulled up to the hotel Tommy saw a handful of people outside the front doors. A few in Motley shirts were a dead giveaway that they were fans. “Remember last night when I said some places are a nightmare?”

“Yeah?” Rayne said as she sat up on the couch looking out and seeing exactly what Tommy was referencing. She smiled turning to Tommy patting him on the shoulder. “Well rockstar it’s time to schmooze with your fans.”

The bus parked and Tommy put a pair of sunglasses on before standing up, helping Rayne up after him. Keeping her hand in his Tommy was the first one off the bus with Rayne in tow. Fans screamed his name and rushed towards him pulling him in all directions, pushing Rayne out of the way in the process. Wow, yeah this is kinda crazy.

Rayne noticed as Mick walked right into the hotel without much hassle but Nikki and Vince also got mobbed with fans. Tommy was quick to speak up. “Okay guys look, I’ll sign whatever you want me to just chill out. And hands off her.” Tommy said pointing over at Rayne which caused everyone to turn and look at her. She received more than a few dirty looks from various women.

“I’ll tell you right now, you’ll never get used to that.” Jo hopped off the bus and walked over to Rayne.

“Used to what?”

“Knowing that most of the women over there wish you were dead so they could fuck your man. And knowing that at least half of them would still fuck your man even knowing he was taken.” Jo said simply.

Rayne watched as Tommy signed various vinyl records and magazine covers. He conversed with everyone with ease and she could see everyone was having a good time with the few minutes he spent with each fan. She did take a few steps forward when a brunette woman kissed him on the cheek leaving fuchsia lipstick behind. Tommy quickly shut her down and moved to wipe the lipstick off his cheek.

“Alright did I miss anybody?” Silence. “No? Okay. Enjoy the show tonight you guys. Babe come on let’s go.”

Rayne walked through the crowd and took Tommy’s extended hand. As they began to step into the hotel Rayne heard a loud male voice from behind them. “Who would’ve thought my drum hero was into fat bitches.”

Tommy stopped dead in his tracks and Rayne tensed up. All the other band members that were present stilled and watched what was about to happen next. “Tommy, come on let’s just go.”

“No fuck that.” Tommy turned on his heel moving back toward the crowd which was now silent. “Who’s the tough guy? Say it to my face.”

“Tommy, come on.” Rayne urged.

“Come on, who said it?” Tommy looked like a feral animal in that moment. An equally tall cocky guy took a step forward.

“I said it.” He said. “A rockstar that could get grade A pussy and you choose that pig? Can you even feel anything when you stick it-“

He couldn’t finish the sentence before Tommy’s fist connected squarely with his jaw knocking him down on the ground with a bloody lip. Rayne let out a scream as soon as Tommy’s fist made contact. He rolled on the ground in pain while Tommy crouched down pulling him up by his hair making him look at Rayne. “She,” He pointed with his free hand. “Is Grade A pussy. And you couldn’t handle her in your wildest fucking dreams. Now I suggest you say you’re sorry.”

He let out another groan when Tommy yanked his hair harder. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Good boy. See was it worth being a fucking asshole?” Tommy spat shoving the guy away from him back on the pavement. Looking down next to him Tommy saw the vinyl Shout At The Devil he had signed. Picking up the vinyl record Tommy brought it down over his knee breaking it in two. “Learn a little fucking respect and don’t listen to my band anymore.” Tommy turned to Rayne taking a few long strides towards her taking her hand once more. “Come on babe, let’s go.”

They disappeared into the hotel leaving behind them a group of fans who were both in shock and some a little turned on by what they just witnessed. “Tommy while I appreciate you defending my honor and all you don’t need to punch people out. That kid could press charges against you!”

“That punk’s not going to do anything.” Tommy shrugged off Rayne’s concern. She grabbed his shoulder and pulled Tommy toward her.

“Tommy, look at me.” Rayne said sternly. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before his chocolate brown eyes would meet her green ones. Rayne couldn’t help but think in the past few minutes she’d gotten a glimpse at what Tommy could be like when she wasn’t around. She saw how he could be called part of the “terror twins,” saw how he could be an absolute handful for Doc. Taking his face in her hands Rayne calmly said, “If you start punching out every person that says something bad about my looks, or my body, or me. Those talented hands of yours are going to be ruined by the end of the tour. Their words are just jealousy realized. You hear me?”

Tommy deeply exhaled resting his forehead against her own. Slowly he nodded.

“Everything okay here?” Doc walked up to them hotel room keys in hand.

“Yeah.” Rayne nodded holding her hand out for the key. “Everything’s good. Right Tommy?”

“Yeah, everything’s good.” Tommy repeated. Rayne could see he had finally calmed down.

“Alright, well luggage should already be in your rooms.” Doc announced to the band before he made his way off to the elevator.

“Come on, let’s go.” Rayne whispered taking Tommy’s hand and following Doc. Tommy kept his head down as you led him to your hotel room for the night. Stopping in front of the room that matched your key you inserted it and opened the door. It looked similar to the one from the night before, clean and awash with sunlight. Tommy took a seat his head in his hands.

“How do you deal with it?”

“Deal with what?” Rayne asked shrugging out of her leather jacket.

“With people saying horrible things about you like that? Fuck I felt a stab through my heart when I heard what he said. People can say whatever they want about me, but you? That’s over the line.” Rayne kneeled down and once again took Tommy’s face between her hands.

“Listen to me, people have been saying horrible things about me all my life. It’s easy to pick on my size because it’s obvious and I’m not built like a swimsuit model. That’s on them. I’m confident with my body, I know I do my best to be healthy and I have a sexy boyfriend that loves me just as I am.” She smiled brushing her nose against his. “Anything negative people have to say, they have to live with that. I quite like my life.”

“God I love you.” Tommy sighed wrapping his arms around her. In that moment Rayne realized she had seen the two sides of Tommy. She had seen Jekyll and Hyde. Now he was totally vulnerable and sweet, where as no more than an hour ago she saw how he could be a terror.

“And as long as you love me, no one could ever make me feel bad about myself.” Rayne smiled wide leaning in to kiss Tommy’s lips tenderly.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that.” Tommy apologized.

“I guess I finally met the terror twin I’ve heard so much about.” Rayne smiled and winked. “But seriously, don’t make punching people a habit. I don’t need to be getting phone calls from jail okay? And I’d prefer it if you trusted me enough to be the way you are with the band around me, you shouldn’t be two different people.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Well tour life is certainly eventful, Rayne thought to herself. And it’s only day two.

Take Me To The Next Chapter...

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So what did you think? Favorite bits? Things you’re looking forward to? Let me know and as always thanks so much for reading. Love you all to bits!!

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aconitum-napellus · 4 years

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Let's sum up Robert Peary

Peary was the first person to reach the North Pole, in 1909. Except, maybe he didn’t. People think he couldn’t possibly have covered the ground he said he did, in the time given. His ex-colleague Frederick Cook claimed to have reached the Pole before him, except he probably didn’t either, but it doesn’t matter, because Peary pulled out every stop he could to discredit him. It’s possible that Amundsen was actually the first to reach the Pole (and the South Pole, too), but by airship, almost twenty years later, in 1926.

While Peary’s wife and child were at home, Peary shacked up with a pubescent Inuit girl, maybe around 14 or 15, and had two children with her.*

Peary removed three meteorites from Greenland, the metal from which the Inuit used to make their tools. One weighed 34 tons.*+

He also removed Inuit – six of them, to New York, promising them ‘warm homes in a land of sunshine.’ They got rooms in the basement of a museum. Four of them died within a year. They were dissected and their bones were kept in the museum. He listed two of them, after this, in his book, saying they were living in peace in Greenland.*

He also dug up recently dead Inuit bodies and took them to the US as anthropological specimens.*

He was rude and belittling about the Inuit, describing them as childlike and naive, describing himself as a father figure to them. He compares their homes to slums, and complains of how much they stink, when he’s been invited to come out of the freezing weather to sleep in them. He trusts them to help him to the Pole, but also constantly implies they’re superstitious idiots.+

He seems to be something of a white supremacist, repeatedly going on about the first White this, the First White that, and belittling the ‘brown-skinned’, ‘uncivilized’ Inuit.+

His assistant, or valet (he’s described as both) Matthew Henson was black. He is the best, bar the Inuits, at dog and sled driving, and most other arctic pursuits. He’s been Peary’s right hand man for twenty years. He, along with some Inuit men, were the only ones to reach the Pole (or supposedly reach the Pole) with Peary. The reason Peary took him, apart from his skills? In Peary’s book The North Pole he states, unabashed, ‘he would not have been so competent as the white members of the expedition in getting himself and his party back to the land. If Henson had been sent back with one of the supporting parties from a distance far out on the ice, and if he had encountered conditions similar to those which we had to face on the return journey in 1906, he and his party would never have reached the land. While faithful to me, and when with me more effective in covering distance with a sledge than any of the others, he had not, as a racial inheritance, the daring and initiative of Bartlett, or Marvin, MacMillan, or Borup. I owed it to him not to subject him to dangers and responsibilities which he was temperamentally unfit to face.’+

At any rate, Henson was the one who reached the Pole, or what was claimed to be the Pole, before Peary, because he broke the trail in front of Peary.#

Peary seemed to be consumed with jealousy and a lust for fame. He states in a letter to his wife, ‘Fame, money, and revenge goad me forward till sometimes I can hardly sleep lest something happen to interfere with my plans.’+

This is the man that Peary was. An American hero.

[Information marked + comes straight from Peary’s book The North Pole (available for free on Project Gutenberg). Information marked * comes from Edward Larson’s book To the Edges of the Earth. Information marked # comes from this New York Times article, citing Wally Herbert’s book The Noose of Laurels. Henson’s book A Negro Explorer at the North Pole is also on Project Gutenberg.]

#Peary #Robert Peary #Arctic #arctic exploration #North Pole #Matthew Henson #Racism #Indigenous people #Inuit

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wolfy58 · 4 years

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1839 August Tuesday 20

Got up 4 ¼ Went to bed 10 35/..

Fine morning F 58º, at 5 a.m. good beds and slept well – everywhere good beds however small – mine large last night – pulled out 1/3 of its length – they generally pull out breadthwise – Ӧrebrö a nice neat and, for Sweden, very good town – 2 little gateways (2 square posts) at each end of the town – the church large and neat and good – the pillars inside gilded in imitation of fluting – a large plain bounded in extremis in the great distance by wooded hill – the plain as seen from top of the church clear (i.e. of large and small boulder stones) except 2 or 3 patches – corn and grass – oats and rye and barley the greater part cut and in stook or hung round poles to dry as near Drammen –

Off from Ӧrebrö at 5 ¼ putting my watch ¼ hour forward not much wood till Glanshammar at 6 52/.. single house neat and good, with several outbuildings – might have slept here very well – nice foresty drive from Glanshammar sun now at 8 and very fine morning no very large fir timber – the trees to be cut down everywhere where we have yet been before they can attain any great size – I should suppose cut down every 40 or 50 years at most – the timber was nowhere large that we saw growing in Norway but about Bolkesoe larger than here – forest almost all the way – at 8 ¾ nice peeps thro’ the forest on a good looking town? at 8 50/.. cross wooden bridge over good river –

At 9 3/60 at the Station good house Fellingsbro one might sleep very well – merely the house and many farm-buildings – it must have been the town that we passed peeped at (left) thro’ the vistas in the narrow strip of forest at 8 ¾ – off in 10 minutes at 9 13/.. – breakfast at 9 ¼ Adney on biscuit and gingerbread I on bread and candied lemon – Little bit of chaos (big pieces large pieces of rock piled on each other) and afterwards plots of big boulder (always granite?) encumbered ground – in the ældsta (oldest time) the country must have been almost one sweep of chaos with few clear spots till the the hand of man had cleared them and many large masses of rock hereabouts still lying amid the corn – this the case more or less (and with greater or less sized stones) almost everywhere here – several people ploughing this stage with 2 oxen and harrowing with 2 oxen to each pair of harrows –

Enter the gateway (2 square posts – no gate – as usual) of Arboga at 10 23/.. and at 10 26/.. at the station nice neat clean looking house where one might sleep very well – one long not over wide neat, picturesque street, just after entering, corn in stook left side the street.

both ploughs and harrows very small and oxen too –

Arboga nice little town – some lateral streets – neat good church with tall spire – stone body of church and tower, except the top part which is brick just under the setting on of the shingle covered spire – this church smaller and more village like than that at Ӧrebrö

The bookseller at Göteborg advised our going by water from here to Stockholm – steamers every day – cannot see the river or lake yet – but here just out of Arboga one valley maybe perhaps 2 English miles wide formed by a range of lowish round fir covered hill on each side but soon widens out largely on the left – sandy soil – but good road – the road 2 or 3 stages was heavy in consequence of the great deal of rain but otherwise very fairly good all along – here very good – as good as the best in England – but narrow as all the roads are – our 4 horses abreast take up nearly the whole breadth about 12 English feet wide – a Dutch barn just out of Arboga and I have seen another or 2 this morning – manure lying here and in several places this morning on the new ploughed land about the quantity we should put on for potatoes – William knows not what they are going to sow or plant – have only one little plot of turnips (yesterday morning) in Sweden – none to be had to eat for us, at the Inns

one observes the little beds – the convenient many seated –

the fences the splittings (slivings as Robert Mann would call them) laid here and elsewhere horizontally but in many places at an angle of 45º

the corn hung on tall stakes to dry –

and the peas and beans hung on roof-like racks to dry

Everywhere the people gathering their line – have seen very little if any hemp in Sweden –

the pigsties opening into a sort of hut as at Cållängen on Sunday morning and elsewhere (vide p. 54 at the bottom)

observe the red wood-houses and picturesque small cottages

many sorts of bread

the little fresh fish that is to be had considering the quantity of water

Tis the country of chaos and big boulders fir birch and juniper

pancakes and cranberry, bilberry, cloudberry i.e. blau berry – and the berry we got at Bolkesoe vide

I have only seen apple trees (with apples on them) only 2 or 3 times – more cherry trees – plenty of gooseberry trees and gooseberries in the market at Göthenburg (had them one day but not very good –

Forest again at 11 35/.. (clear from Arboga that is for an hour) – now a very little of forest at 11 40/.. 2 horses at a large wooden roller and 4 oxen at a cogging machine yoked to the broad side of this sort of narrow heavy sledge to break the clods of sand – chaos-y ground again and little hamlets

Köping at 12 10/.. largeish town we had to go in and out to the station in the square – large newly white washed good church – little river – at the end of the town 2 men thrashing long flail with weight at the end – rocks – from Köping to Kölback not much forest and much big boulder and rock encumbered ground amid the cultivation – cross wood and stone bridge over the canal, does not they say, go far, and immediately the Kölback station at 2 p.m. nice red wood house 1 story high and room above in the roof with 2 windows at the end and a cottage or perhaps 2 near – might sleep here I should think very well – several farm buildings – very fine day –

I reading Handbook and Adney Encyclopaedia of geography – vide these the account of Westerås, the sea[t] of the most important bishoprick in Sweden – 1 long street above 2 English miles long a few church steeples seen now – there during today –

among the observations (vide end of last book today, 20 August) note the wartiness (green grass covered boulder stones) of the moors and pastures – very little forest from Kölback – wide open countrys

Valet de Place vide page 126 Handbook Andrew Bergland.

At 3 53/.. 1st view of Malar Lake from the sandy chaosy rock and boulder covered plain and ploughed land corn and pasture – two men riding on a seat over each one’s big wood roller – each drawn by 2 little oxen – the tall spire of Westerås church peeping up in front of us – the opposite side the lake beautifully pine-wooded apparently to the water’s edge – Adney and I alighted at 4 5/.. and walked 10 minutes till got in again close to the town gate (2 square gate posts) – the lake islands and beautiful the prettiest scene we have seen since Christiania – enter the town gate at 4 16/.. alight at the Westerås hotel at 4 21/.. out at 5 to the church 20 minutes there – nothing particular went up for the view at 5 – could not get higher than the bells and could not there see well out of the windows – but the view over the islands wooded lake very beautiful – 20 minutes there – then walked about the town

twenty five minutes at necessary with Adney

came in at 7 40/.. at the little port 5 largish vessels there and a steamer large casks of tallow etc. and pig iron and iron ore – the carriage driving foot board must be readjusted tomorrow morning –dinner at 8 in ¾ hour – then had Grotza – then till 10 wrote out the last 22 lines

In margin: Beds

timber not large

Chaos.

Arboga

Roads good but narrow

no turnips

page 51.

Observations vide.

page 54,

chaosy just out of Köping

Westerås

very fine day F 64º at 10 p.m.

#anne lister #ann walker #anne lister code breaker #sweden 1839

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