Choices (26)

Jan. 30th, 2026 08:39 am
the_comfortable_courtesan: image of a fan c. 1810 (Default)
[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan
Should defer her mourning

Since had Hywel Jenkins had any family, they had long since cast him off when he went be a vagabond player and not gone renew acquaintance when he became one of the leading thespians on the London stage, arranging his funeral fell to Clorinda and Amelia Addington.

Well, said Amelia, dabbing at her own eyes, one can hardly ask poor Hattie to undertake it!

Clorinda sighed. Poor Hattie indeed, she said, one wonders whether she may leave Nixon to his own devices at Margate for the while so that she may even attend the obsequies. Sure the old fellow has shown exemplary understanding of the situation these many years –

That was one problem. But here she found that one of their frets was entirely resolved, as she opened the envelope sealed with an episcopal seal, and discovered that dear Bishop Tanton – + Edgar Wyreminstre – was positive eagerly volunteering to conduct the service. Very proper – was one of the patrons of the Helena Fund – had writ on the elevating power of the theatre – known a scholar of the religious drama of the Middle Ages – entirely suitable.

And here was a letter from dearest Bess, saying all that was proper, but also conveyed that here was Beth in a tremendous fret that she had overtired Mr Jenkins when she visited him and desired to hear Friends, Romans and countrymen – and bore a responsibility for his demise.

O, poo poo, murmured Clorinda, was quite the happiest thing for dear Hywel. Though indeed, one hears of sudden rallying that is a precursor to death – but that was not to be laid to her account.

Came in Hector with a most particular severe expression, bearing a telegram on the silver tray.

He stood by while she read it, with the air of being ready to spring into whatever action was necessary at this latest contingency.

O, really, Hector, do not gloom at me like that! 'Tis quite excellent news – Sandy informs me that that excellent young man Oxton is safely on board ship and departed for Nova Scotia.

Hector broke into a grin. Indeed good news, he said, a most deserving young fellow.

So he was, they might reasonably confide, safe from any malign designs of Blatchett’s, since one did not suppose Blatchett the kind of Gothic villain that had the determination – and the abilities – to pursue his victims to the ends of the Earth. Sent off with a well-provided box, a purse, and letters of recommendation. Just in case it would not suit for him to go work for the Collinses and Arbuthnot Wallace.

So, that was one matter resolved.

And while one could not deem it exactly resolved, for it presented certain further problems, at least Gillie had discovered that this matter of finding out secrets and extorting for money was precisely that – there was no deep plot in play as there had been with the Rathe business. Sir Vernon had been quite cock-a-hoop when disclosing this. So I need not fear that one wished Nottinge to steal state secrets – will advize caution and discretion in pursuing his odd pleasure –

She turned to composing replies to her letters.

Really, she thought, looking at the young man sat vis-à-vis to her in the parlour, sure I wonder should I go be worried about my reputation? For while I know the entire inwardnesses of the matter, here is Lord Gilbert given out a very wild and dissipated young fellow, comes call upon me –

He did not look wild and dissipated at the moment, but concerned, as he recounted to her what he had learnt and had not revealed in full detail to Sir Vernon.

Clorinda got up and stalked about the room, trying to cool her furious emotions. Infamous! she said. I wonder who the scoundrel can be –

But, she went on, seating herself, that is a problem for further contemplation. What we have more immediate upon hand is the plight of Lady Gabrielle.

Exactly.

Hmmmm. Had neither he nor Sir Vernon seen the obvious thing here? That the lady displayed certain talents that could be useful to their purposes? That she regularly travelled to France, where the Mallafrey connexion had relatives, quite aside from the matter of her former governess and the child?

Have advized her that she should talk to you – said Gillie.

Indeed that is a wise course! But alas, I must defer any such conversation until I have buried Hywel Jenkins – and sure, while I have you here, Gillie, is a question might address to you. Do you have any knowledge of Welsh?

Gillie looked a little affronted, responding that had spent several summers in Wales in his schooldays.

Why, then, you might say whether this inscription, that Hywel desired for his tombstone, is correctly writ?

Gillie took the piece of paper she handed him and scanned it. It looks entire correct to me – 'tis the Welsh form, from the service for the Burial of the Dead, let light perpetual shine upon him

Clorinda suppressed a grin inappropriate to the solemnity of the proceeding, for 'twas an invocation well-suited to an actor.

– and entirely correctly spelt.

Thank you. We may go take it to the monumental mason, then. And to return to the matter of Lady Gabrielle, mayhap she might give it out that she comes to Town to consult some physician.

Gillie raised his eyebrows but did not interrogate further.

But all that business had to be put aside – at this season one could not long delay a funeral! – while they put the matter of laying Hywel to rest in fit order.

O, she could not help but recall that very different occasion: when he had so fetchingly expired as Romeo whilst she, a bouncing young creature running around backstage in her salad days, was helping him with his lines, and she had – not fallen backwards but fallen forwards into an amorous entanglement that had concluded with the gift of her virgin treasure.

But la, what was this! Came in Hector to say, Mrs Nixon was at the door.

Hattie!

Oh, send her in at once! Desire good strong hot tea from Euphemia and – whatever other refreshment she has upon hand – and you might also bring up a bottle of brandy.

Came in Hattie Nixon, dressed very sober was she not in actual mourning. The two women kissed.

But my dear, did you abandon Mr Nixon in Margate!

You will not believe it, said Hattie, commencing to weep, the dear good creature quite urged me to come. Said, there was Mr Jenkins had always behaved very proper – never urged me to fly – never any conduct that would lead to an expectation of crim.con. – apprehends that in France these matters are quite understood – prosed on somewhat of that – I never failed in my duties to him – so, dear Lady Bexbury, here I am.

Came Euphemia with tea, a very well provided cake stand, and the brandy bottle, as Clorinda was revealing to Hattie the Bishop’s very generous offer – the church all arranged with the verger and the sexton &C all on hand – several of his fellow-players will be pallbearers – Amelia and I purposed go to the mason about the headstone this very afternoon as is –

And here, indeed, came the Second Siddons apt upon the moment!

Fell sobbing into her friend’s arms – all very affecting, but indeed, 'twas all very well, but they should get on

Clorinda heard a faint whisper of memory: Abby’s wicked grin through tears, la, Miss Clo goes bustle about disposing of matters – had that not been when they had been obliged to take on all the business of burying Madame Zelide, under her proper name of Johanna Gowing?

She should let 'em have their cry out, dared say 'twould leave 'em in calmer spirits for all the business they would have to manage

So there they were, mopping their faces and blowing their noses and putting themselves to rights. She poured them tea, and added brandy, 'twas quite entire medicinal, and said that they should eat somewhat, fasting would do no good –

And Hattie was entire welcome to stay here, would just ring for Dorcas about making up the guest bedchamber –

Whereupon Amelia pouted somewhat and said of course dearest Hattie would be coming spent the night with her, that was, Clorinda admitted to herself, somewhat of a relief, as she was in expectation of Bess’s arrival.

Once they had finished sustaining themselves, and all had tidied up after their excesses of emotion, they departed in her carriage, first to the undertakers, so that Hattie might view the departed, and Clorinda herself might ensure that all was in order for the morrow, and thence to the mason’s yard.

The fellow was entirely agreeable to putting the inscription in Welsh – hah, have had fellows that desire some matter in Greek, at least this is in our usual alphabet – and a very superior headstone was chose, and there was somewhat of sniffling but no breaking down into sobs –

She conveyed Hattie and Amelia to the latter’s very agreeable lodgings – where doubtless Maggy was quite bursting to recount antient theatre tales of Hywel –

That minded her, that Maggy had determined to die in harness, but had now conceded the wisdom of bringing on an apprentice in her trade – But that was business for another day!

She returned home to find that dearest Bess had already arrived and had been took up to the dressing-room so that Sophy could provide her with water to wash away the dust of travel and then brush out her hair.

Dear Bess, said Clorinda, going over to kiss her, I hope the journey was not disagreeable?

Bess snorted. First-class – a railway company in which we hold shares – la, they could not do too much for me!

Excellent well!

Over a light supper they spoke of general family matters – one could not in the least object to this prospect of an alliance 'twixt Chloe and Ferry Lowndes – but over port and madeira grew a little confiding –

Bess admitted to having been desperate in love with Hywel in her girlhood days, that Clorinda had guessed at the time, and she went on to reveal somewhat of her own past history.

Clorinda felt tears impend – not just for Hywel but for all the other departed – her mother – the General – Josiah and Eliza – Docket – Milord – Hacker – the Admiral – the Marquess her husband, that she had known so short a time – the Contessa far away in Naples –

Blew her nose, straightened her shoulders, and minded that tomorrow would require a deal of poise. She should defer her mourning.


Follow Friday 1-30-26

Jan. 30th, 2026 01:13 am
ysabetwordsmith: Cartoon of me in Wordsmith persona (Default)
[personal profile] ysabetwordsmith posting in [community profile] followfriday
Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).

Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".

(no subject)

Jan. 29th, 2026 08:08 pm
author_by_night: (From Pexels)
[personal profile] author_by_night
 How Did the Fandom Snowflake Challenge Go? Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it.

Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. Also, feel free to entice engagement by giving us a preview of what your post covers.
 
Did you get all you wanted to get from it? Are there things you're going to carry with you for as long as you can? Are you going to continue to challenge yourself? Continue to connect? We can't wait to hear.
 

I enjoyed it! It's always nice to connect with other fans. I didn't do all of the challenges,  but I enjoyed the ones I participated in.  

The timing of the posts did throw me off. I understand that everyone's in different time zones; also, life happens. Technology happens. I get it. But I wonder if it might help to post challenges ahead of time, and/or schedule the posts?


I'm not sure how else I might challenge myself per se, but I post frequently and plan on continuing. I try writing something every day, and DW is a great place for that. I would certainly love to continue making connections. 

Thank you to all, and I look forward to the friending meme on the 31st!
 

Daily Check-In

Jan. 29th, 2026 07:48 pm
mecurtin: Icon of a globe with a check-mark (fandom_checkin)
[personal profile] mecurtin posting in [community profile] fandom_checkin
This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, January 29, to midnight on Friday, January 30 (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #34145 Daily check-in poll
This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 27

How are you doing?

I am OK
16 (59.3%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now
11 (40.7%)

I could use some help
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single
11 (42.3%)

One other person
10 (38.5%)

More than one other person
5 (19.2%)



Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

2025 Icon Progression Post

Jan. 29th, 2026 07:33 pm
aurora_amethyst: Kim Yuna watching the snow fall outside the window (season)
[personal profile] aurora_amethyst posting in [community profile] icontalking
kaberett: Trans symbol with Swiss Army knife tools at other positions around the central circle. (Default)
[personal profile] kaberett

Or at least I assume that's what the call I missed because [reasons this margin is too small to contain] was about, based on (i) the voicemail that said They'll Call Back Tomorrow, and (ii) the continued absence of the relevant test results in the NHS app.

I... think I am going to suggest that they ask my GP to issue a bloods request form, for me to pick up from the surgery and take up the hill to phlebotomy. Because! this is ridiculous! blood loss remains my job!!!

Other things today has contained include: TOKEN RIDICULOUS PUZZLE; Very Picturesque Bread; the Child assigning us all Pronouns and Genders and Sexualities more-or-less at random (from an LGBTQIA+ sticker book); PAKIDGES many and various Including another book on pain and box sets for the last two seasons of Elementary; lots of ridiculous windows in the general vicinity of Bank. I am very tired.

The Friday Five for 30 January 2026

Jan. 29th, 2026 06:18 pm
anais_pf: (Default)
[personal profile] anais_pf posting in [community profile] thefridayfive
These questions were suggested by [livejournal.com profile] twirlandswirl.

How many times a day do you . . .

1. Brush your teeth?

2. Shower?

3. Check your E-mail?

4. Check LJ? (or DW?)

5. Eat?

Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.

If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!

[ SECRET POST #6964 ]

Jan. 29th, 2026 05:10 pm
case: (Default)
[personal profile] case posting in [community profile] fandomsecrets

⌈ Secret Post #6964 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


01.



More! )


Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 09 secrets from Secret Submission Post #994.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.
sunnymodffa: Saint Buttsex, Patron Saint of Butts (Saint Buttsex)
[personal profile] sunnymodffa posting in [community profile] fail_fandomanon
 
"Let's eat, Shane" and "Let's eat Shane" are very different ideas.

Get you an Ilya that can do both!


All the [community profile] fail_fandomanon Rules and Information (and Ban Requests): https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/1076.html. The short version: no embeds, don't out people's real names, don't be that much of an asshole, body fluids are off topic, Mods reserve the right to freeze, screen, and delete the fuck out of stuff. FFA discussion covers a wide variety of topics and has a very flexible view of 'fandom' that includes politics, current events, and cooking techniques. FFA is a Choose NOT to Warn experience. Meme away.

Other posts on meme:

Search
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Discussion of UK politics related sexual abuse and rape culture should go into one properly labeled subthread.

Snowflake Challenge: day 5

Jan. 29th, 2026 08:54 pm
dancesontrains: Screencapture of Handsome Jack in Borderlands 2 (Handsome Jack in Opportunity)
[personal profile] dancesontrains
Snowflake Challenge: A warmly light quaint street of shops at night with heavy snow falling.

Challenge #5

In your own space, create a list of at least three things you'd love to receive, a wishlist of sorts.


1) Comments on AO3! I also enjoy remixes and fanart based on stuff I've written -  https://archiveofourown.org/users/dancesontrains/works (note tags and warnings, some are archive-locked due to content).

2) Or if you have moneys, Steam wishlist with video games here - https://store.steampowered.com/wishlist/profiles/76561198204034817/ Mostly smaller ones.

3) This is more serious, but please don't buy Harry Potter branded anything. I don't personally care if you pirate the works or make fannish stuff, but JKR doesn't deserve another penny for her anti-trans activities. Save your money.

Also there are many trans people in the UK and elsewhere, please don't try to get some sort of verbal ~absolution for interacting with HP from any of us. It's annoying to say the least. 

Snowflake Challenge #15

Jan. 29th, 2026 01:01 pm
tjs_whatnot: (Default)
[personal profile] tjs_whatnot posting in [community profile] snowflake_challenge
Introduction Post* Meet the Mods Post Challenge #1 * Challenge #2* Challenge #3* Challenge #4* Challenge #5 * Challenge #6 * * Challenge #7Challenge #8 * Challenge #9 * Challenge #10 * Challenge #11 * Challenge #12 * Challenge #13 * Challenge #14

Remember that there is no official deadline, so feel free to join in at any time, or go back and do challenges you've missed.

Fandom Snowflake Challenge #15 ) And please do check out the comments for all the awesome participants of the challenge and visit their journals/challenge responses to comment on their posts and cheer them on.

And just as a reminder: this is a low pressure, fun challenge. If you aren't comfortable doing a particular challenge, then don't. We aren't keeping track of who does what.

Snowflake Challenge: A flatlay of a snowflake shaped shortbread cake, a mug with coffee, and a string of holiday lights on top of a rustic napkin.

[personal profile] tcampbell1000 posting in [community profile] scans_daily


The cover of Justice League America #37 is one of Adam Hughes’ best on the title (which is saying something), but it’s open to multiple interpretations.

Don’t worry, it’s not a Magic Eye poster. )

AO3 fandom metatags are back!

Jan. 29th, 2026 01:44 pm
erinptah: Madoka and Homura (madoka)
[personal profile] erinptah

At long last, after a year’s worth of internal discussion and a few more months of preparing for the rollout, AMTs are back on the menu.

Two of my requests have already been approved! His Dark Materials & Related Fandoms and 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ | Puella Magi Madoka Magica & Related Fandoms are the metatags on a couple of shiny new tag trees!

Official AO3 announcement post is here. The number of “I’m so happy to see this, it’ll make my fandom browsing so much easier” comments are a joy to see. (The comments about “well, geez, took you long enough” are…valid, honestly.)

Meme with the text: Everyone liked that

A lot of specific tag trees are still works-in-progress, especially if it’s a big complicated franchise. So don’t worry too much if a fandom you love doesn’t have one yet — the wranglers might still be working on it. Honestly, I’m still working on investigating all the Madoka Magica fandom syns, which is why most of the spinoffs still don’t have their own separate fandom tags. We’ll get there, I promise.

Fun little twist that’s only a problem for me: this means “more fandoms” listed on my wrangling page. The amount of work is objectively exactly the same! It’s the same amount of fic, just spread across slightly more fandom tags! But the recently-added limit is on the number of fandoms, not the amount of fanworks those fandoms get.

Current number of fandoms on my list: 1142.

Current number that have any tag-wrangling to do: 28. (Not the same 28 as the last time I posted. There’s some overlap — a fandom like Sailor Moon has new tags every week — but the others rotate, especially the “just got new tags from its first fic posted in 2 years” type of fandoms.)


Not quite a medley of extemporanea

Jan. 29th, 2026 03:35 pm
oursin: George Beresford photograph of Marie of Roumania, overwritten 'And I AM Marie of Roumania' (Marie of Roumania)
[personal profile] oursin

But hey, after A WEEK I have a new passport! - their website says may take up to three weeks, so I am very impressed with this. Also have the old one back (sent separately). The photo of course strongly resembles a headshot from a C19th volume of an institution for the criminally insane at which the head doc had taken to photography and theories of physiognomy, but don't they always?

***

In the world of spammyity-spam-spam:

Really, I am quite tempted to 'deliver an oral talk' (? as opposed to doing a presentation in the form of interpretative dance?) at the 13th International Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (ICGO-2026 Asia) as it's in Kyoto: 'adorned with early autumn foliage, offering a serene backdrop for academic exchanges, you’ll have the chance to experience traditional tea ceremonies, stroll through ancient bamboo groves, and engage with a city that values both heritage and scientific progress'.

But am not at all tempted (more DESTROY THIS WITH FIRE & EXTREME PREJUDICE) by this solicitation:

Imagine if, instead of being buried in PDFs, your work could answer questions directly, 24/7. Not just to students, but to anyone curious, anywhere in the world.
When corporate companies, grant providers, grad students, journalists ask AI about your field, they get up to date info and not outdated summaries.
Today, your Google Scholar profile just sits there. No one can ask it questions. No one can discover the depth of your work through AI search.
AI is becoming the new search engine for expertise. And academics are invisible.
We built something to fix this. Your own .cv domain. LLM optimized. SEO optimized. Analytics. Branded URLs. Digital Chat Twin.

AAAAARRRGGH.

Ask ME the questions, please. Because, and I quote, 'No one can discover the depth of your work through AI search'. Many a true word.

***

And, in fact, this week has been quite the flurry of that Dr [personal profile] oursin being relevant - apart from query on scholarly listserv which was well in my wheelhouse but had me going 'would be helpful to indicate what reading - apart from google search - you had done before asking for suggestions' -

Request to referee a paper on topic on which I am somewhat reluctantly considered a Nexpert, for journal in an area in which I am not.

Query from researcher about sources for a possible project of theirs.

Invitation to go and talk about the History of 'Engines of Love' (as the condoms found in William Empson's college rooms were described) in connection with an exhibition in the summer.

Have also had agreeable email exchanges with Elderly Antiquarian Bookseller friend.

***

On the downside, printer is acting up, doing both being fussy about toner cartridge AND thinking there's a paper jam in Tray 1. Sigh.

autumninpluto: Kaminari with a dumb expression on his face ([mha] wheyyy kaminari)
[personal profile] autumninpluto posting in [community profile] icons

my hero academia: team-up missions - various characters (UA students, pro heroes)

see more here @ [community profile] joicon

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