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NorthernLass
Post subject: Re: Therapy
3. Flaming O
Hey dibs again. Go me! Thanks for another great update. I can totally see Willow running away with a million thoughts in her head about what it all means. Looking forward to seeing how you write the rebuilding and reconnection. It was good to hear that another reader had the same response as me to the direction of the previous chapter. Great job, thank you.
darkwillow6
Author: Darkwillow6 (Ashley Riegel)
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Summary: Willow seeks the help of a therapist to understand her past and generate a clearer picture of her future.
Title: Therapy
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9 YEARS AGO:
"How was your day?" Willow asked.
Tara had been pretty quiet since Willow arrived and the redhead could definitely feel that something was up.
"Fine," Tara replied, offering a small smile. "Do you want to watch a movie?"
"Sure," Willow replied, not convinced that Tara was, in fact, fine.
They got settled on the couch as Tara turned on the television. She rested her head on Willow's shoulder and Willow took the opportunity to put an arm around her. Internally, she struggled with wanting Tara to tell her everything so she could help and realizing that not talking about it may be what was helpful in that moment. She eventually opted to give Tara her space as it seemed she didn't want to talk about whatever it was that had her preoccupied. So instead, Willow just kissed Tara on the top of the head and held her a little tighter.
Wanting to return the affection, Tara picked up her head and looked into Willow's eyes. Then, she leaned forward and kissed Willow softly. It was meant to be a peck on the lips, but Tara enjoyed the comfort she got from Willow's intimacy and kept the kiss going much to Willow's surprise. When they pulled apart, Willow tried to read Tara's expression and quickly noticed a tear making its way down her cheek. Tara felt it and quickly wiped it away, but she knew Willow had seen it. That was when she decided she could no longer keep quiet.
"Look, Tara, if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. I just want you to know that you don't have to struggle with something because you feel you can't talk to me. I hope you know you can."
Tara paused before responding. She did want to talk to Willow, but it was hard for her. But she sighed, muted the television, and took Willow's hand, intertwining their fingers. She started speaking, but did not make eye contact with Willow, instead choosing to focus on their joined hands.
"I found out today that my dad died," Tara said quietly and with little emotion.
"Tara, I'm so sorry," Willow began.
Tara could see Willow's heart breaking for her when she looked up. This was what she'd wanted to avoid.
"It's okay. I didn't have a good relationship with him. Liquor was the only thing he ever really cared about. I'm not sad for him. I'm sad that, that he loved alcohol more than his family. I just wish I had a father who cared about me, you know?"
Willow didn't want to cry now. She wanted to be strong and support Tara. She tried not to blink so that the tears wouldn't fall and handed Tara a tissue when she noticed her crying more freely.
"You didn't deserve to have a father like that, Tara. And I'm so sorry that you did. I know it's not the same, but I love you. I hope you know that," Willow said.
Though, she certainly meant it, she knew the need to say it also stemmed from the constant guilt that she felt. Willow loved Tara more than she'd ever loved anyone, yet here she was with her girlfriend that none of her friends even knew about. She felt like a hypocrite. And here was Tara, trusting her enough to talk to her about her father's passing. On top of that, Tara hadn't ever talked about her father in the two years they'd been together. It was one of the many moments where she'd felt that she did not deserve Tara.
"I love you too, Willow," Tara said, sniffling a bit. "Now that's enough about him. Right now is about us," she added, snuggling back into Willow's embrace.
When Tara returned her attention to the movie, Willow took the opportunity to release the tears she'd been holding back. She did so quietly and worked to prevent control her breathing so Tara wouldn't notice. They watched the rest of the movie in silence as Willow caressed Tara's arm.
My parents said that I could be anything that I wanted to be... so I became a lesbian.
Hey Ashley. Well that's some fancy footwork there! You cleverly managed to wrongfoot me again. I was sure I could guess roughly where you were headed after the previous chapter, dating again, rebuilding, getting to know a little of what Tara was doing in the years apart, but no. You've done it your way. Interesting little interlude, building towards a bigger picture. I will happily admit I know nothing about constructing a story but I love what you're creating here.
Thank you and (as ever) looking forward to the next installment. From the number of hits looks like I'm not the only one!
When Tara went back to Soluna, Willow didn't know how she should feel. She had a lot of fears that may not have necessarily been rational, but they were there. Her mind, for the most part, oscillated between two opposing ideas. Would Tara, now having alone time to think, change her mind about what she wanted? Or would this time apart make Tara realize how much she really loved and needed Willow, more so than before?
For now, they agreed that both should stay in their respective cities while they got to know each other again. Both were eager to pick back up where they left off, but they knew that it probably wasn't the best idea. The last thing Willow wanted was to screw it all up again, and so soon. So, they decided to see each other on weekends when both were off from work. It seemed like hardly any time at all, but it was a start.
The weekend approached slowly as Willow prepared for her trip to Soluna. This would be the first time she'd get to see Tara's place there. Of course, she was excited, but also a little intimidated. She'd be seeing what Tara's life was like when she wasn't in it. The apartment was the world Tara built for herself and Willow struggled to prepare herself for what it would be like to be surrounded by that.
When she left work on Friday, her bags were already in her car. She was determined not to waste any more time than necessary. On the drive there, she took note that the speed limit seemed exceptionally low and she was barely able to keep her foot from pressing down on the gas pedal.
Ordinarily, she would be blasting her music and singing along the entire way. This time, though, the radio played in the background, almost as an afterthought, as she let Tara take over her mind. This brought her both joy and stress. There was something they had to talk about. Especially since one of them would be relocating for the sake of the relationship.
After parking her car in the apartment complex, Willow stood at the door, hesitating. She let out a deep sigh and knocked.
Tara quickly opened the door and, before Willow knew what was happening, she was inside the apartment, back flat against the door with Tara's lips on hers. She relaxed into the sensation and dropped her duffel on the floor. Things were moving much more quickly than she could have anticipated and she was getting lightheaded.
"Wait," Willow whispered.
"I did, Willow. For a week," Tara replied impatiently, beginning to unbutton Willow's shirt.
Tara went in for another kiss and Willow did not deny her, but then cut it short. She wanted to allow Tara to continue more than anything, but she wouldn't have felt right allowing this to happen without being honest with Tara. As difficult as it was, she took Tara's hands in hers, stopping their downward momentum.
"I need to talk to you about something," Willow said.
Her shirt remained partially open, chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She began buttoning it again and could not bring herself to make eye contact with Tara. Tara backed up a little and looked at the redhead. Her stomach rapidly sank as she saw the look on Willow's face.
"Will, if you're about to break up with me-" Tara began, voice trembling.
"No! Tara, no. I would never. There's just… something I need to tell you."
"What is it?" she asked, heart pounding.
When Buffy called to ask Willow to join her, Xander, and Anya at the movies, she gleefully agreed. And once she hung up, she asked Tara, who was lying in bed next to her, if she would come too. Tara was hesitant, but agreed.
"Did you not want to go?" Willow asked, sensing Tara's reluctance.
"I do. It's just… It's hard to have to act like your friend when we do things with them. I have to think so much about everything I do. Thinking about whether or not something I do is going to cause them to suspect. It's work."
Willow couldn't say much in response. Tara was right, as always.
"I know. And I'm sorry," she said, putting an arm over Tara's waist, causing the sheet to move down slightly, exposing more of Tara's skin.
"Me too," Tara replied, looking away. "We better get ready," she added, pulling the sheet off of herself.
She stood facing away from the redhead. Usually, she enjoyed feeling Willow's eyes on her naked body, but this time, she couldn't hurry out of the room fast enough. Nothing in her life had caused her to feel so conflicted. Willow not only understood where Tara was coming from, but constantly cursed her own cowardice. Especially seeing what it was doing to Tara.
While Tara was showering in the en suite bathroom, Willow took the opportunity to release some of her frustration by sobbing quietly, unaware that Tara was doing the same, muffled by the sound of running water.
"Tara?" Willow said, entering the bathroom.
When she got closer, she could hear Tara sniffle. Willow had to swallow hard in order to keep from crying again.
"Tara, can we please talk?" she asked.
Tara didn't answer, but opened the shower curtain and faced the redhead, a foreign expression present on her face. If the moment hadn't been so serious, Willow would have been fully distracted Tara's nakedness. Especially as each droplet on her skin cascaded downward one at a time.
"I'm really sorry, Tara. I love you so much and I hate that I upset you this way," Willow said.
"God, Willow. Why do you do this to me?" Tara asked, the quiver in her voice echoing off of the shower walls.
When she saw the pure anguish on Tara's face, she instinctively rushed to the blonde and held her. She felt Tara's body shake as she continued to cry. Willow could barely tell the difference between the warmth of Tara's tears and the shower water that continued to pour down over them.
As broken as she was, though, Tara was very aware of the way Willow's skin touched hers and her sobs were replaced by heavy breath. Willow looked up when she noticed that Tara's crying had halted and was stunned by the feeling of Tara's lips fully enveloping her own. The water made a trail down both their chins and the large drops landed with a splash on various areas of exposed skin.
Tara tried to remove Willow's shirt, but the task was made more difficult with the way the wetness caused the clothing to stick to her skin. Just as eager to make more contact, Willow removed the shirt herself along with any other inhibiting fabric.
Once she was naked, Tara backed up to allow Willow entry to the shower. Immediately upon entering, Willow pushed Tara backward. Then her ears were delighted by a sharp intake of breath from the blonde as her bare back touched the cold tile.
Tara's hips inched forward to increase their contact and rocked her hips back and forth when she felt a satisfying friction. Wrapping her left hand in Tara's soaked hair, she quickly kissed Tara, not giving her an opportunity to think about changing her mind. Yes, Tara's frustrations were valid, but sometimes, she just wanted Willow and that was that. And maybe this was the problem. Telling Willow one thing, while her body said something else entirely.
Now, though, she was beyond the point of being able to stop what was happening. The slow trail Willow's hand was creating from her shoulder downward was maddening and Tara was in no mood for the unhurried touches. To indicate her impatience, she pulled Willow's body closer to hers and encouraged a faster descent with her own hand.
Ordinarily, this is the point where Tara would tell Willow what she needed, but as aroused as she was, she was still upset. And she knew that was the emotion fueling this encounter so she could not bring herself to speak to the redhead in the current moment.
When Willow finally reached her destination, she was able to easily feel the slickness before she even entered her. Being inside Tara was a feeling that Willow couldn't compare to any other experience she'd ever had. And when Tara tried to pull her even closer, Willow was further inspired by the need she felt from the blonde. It wasn't until Tara's undulating hips reached a much faster rhythm that Willow realized just how close she was.
Soon, Tara stopped rocking and held still as her muscles clutched Willow's proficient fingers. When she felt Tara relax, Willow just held her as she leaned, exhausted, against the wall. When Tara recovered, she wasn't quite sure what to do. It was awkward being held so tenderly by the woman she loved most in the world while, at the same time, being unable to look her in the eyes because of the hurt she caused her on a pretty constant basis.
When the sound of the running water continued to be uninterrupted by speech from either of them, Willow decided there was nothing she could say in this moment, and exited the shower. She went to the room to dry off and get dressed. Not long after, Tara did the same. At this point, the movie would be a welcome distraction from this conversation, or lack thereof.
They headed out, barely able to look at one another. The car ride to the theatre was tense and that didn't sit right with Willow. This wasn't them. They'd always had this strong connection and now, because of Willow's actions, or inaction, that connection was being jeopardized.
While in the theater, Buffy snuggled close to her flavor of the week, while Xander and Anya barely focused on the movie at all. Their constant lip smacking was distracting to Tara who was, at the same time, envious. She and Willow couldn't even hold hands in the dark. This did nothing to pacify her and only embittered her further.
Their obliviousness to any attention was something else Tara picked up on. If this were the beginning of their relationship, Tara could have looked past it. She would still talk to Willow about it and hopefully urge her to validate their relationship to her friends. But it would not be as big of a deal as it was now, three years in. In fact, it was downright unacceptable at this point.
Willow was also distracted, focusing in on Tara and trying to read her. There were the obvious emotions. Frustration, sadness, and resentment. But there was something else that Willow was unable to recognize which generated a greater sense of fear within her. She wondered if their friction was noticeable to the others.
By the time they left the theater, Tara was brimming with antipathy. She'd found herself in this situation so many times, yet she struggled to figure out something effective to do about it. At this point, she didn't even want to go home with Willow and she knew that that was a really bad sign. In the past, when things like this would come up, she'd rationalize to herself that at least she had Willow. At the end of they day, they were together and loved each other. She was quickly realizing, though, that didn't seem to be enough and her heart broke.
Willow was not oblivious to Tara's body language. She understood when they got home, that Tara would voice her frustrations. And Willow had no excuses. She never did. And it was exhausting experiencing all of this stress with no resolution in sight. Especially since she still couldn't bring herself to come out and didn't know why. Just that every time she tried, her voice wouldn't work. The muscles constricted preventing any sound from making its way out of her. Nothing in her life had caused her so much fear and, at the same time, disappointment.
When they arrived home, and the door shut, the silence felt heavy. Neither wanted to start speaking, but Tara was used to it by now.
"How long do you want to do this, Willow?" Tara asked, quietly.
"I don't want to do this at all. Hiding. You know that. I just want to be like all the other couples, Tara."
"Well, then I don't see a problem. Because that's exactly what I want. That's all I want. The only thing holding us back from that is your fear."
"It's not that easy," Willow replied.
"Of course it's not. But this is not okay."
"I don't know what you're expecting from me," Willow said, tearfully.
"More than this, Willow. Three years is way too long for us to still be here," Tara replied. "I want to be with you, but not like this. Not in secret. And I've told you that so many times. If you were going to tell your friends, you would have done it by now."
"I'm scared, Tara!" Willow said.
"Don't you think I know that, Will? You can't say I haven't been patient. But you're not ready. I can see that. I could see it a long time ago. I just hoped that I was wrong. Because I fucking love you so much, Willow. I get it. You're terrified that you'll lose your friends. And I don't want you to have to worry about that. So, I'm making the choice for you," Tara said, regretting the amount of frustration in her own voice, but needing to be sure that she was understood.
Instantly, upon hearing this, Willow jerked backwards as though that was the last thing she expected to hear, despite the signs, and her mouth went dry. She knew that if she tried to speak, she would break down crying, but since it seemed things were headed that direction anyway, she had to say something to keep Tara from breaking things off.
"Tara, please don't. Please," she begged, even going so far as to get on her knees and clutch the blonde's hands in hers.
"Do you know how many times we've had this conversation? You beg me to stay and I do because it breaks my heart to see that look on your face. But, Will, I'm done. I'm so exhausted. I'm just… I'm done," Tara said, fighting to get the words out as she cried more and more.
She removed her hands from Willow's so that her actions matched her words. She also needed them to wipe away the constant flow of tears that betrayed the certainty of her decision. Willow stood at the loss of contact. She tried to look Tara in the eyes, but Tara wouldn't allow her to do so, keeping her gaze cast downward.
"But you know that I love you, Tara. I do everything I can to show you that."
"Except this," Tara replied. "I don't want to do this. I never wanted to have to do this. But there's nothing left for me to say, Willow. Other than 'goodbye'."
That word struck Willow nearly as much as a physical blow. Not because it was out of nowhere. It was the finality of it. She'd been worried about this happening for a long time. But apparently, as Tara pointed out on more than one occasion, she feared losing her friendships more than losing Tara. Now, she was paying the price for that. When Willow had nothing else to say, Tara just shook her head in disbelief.
"I'm going to go to Sandra's. I'll give you plenty of time to get your things. You can leave your key on the table," Tara said, exiting the apartment.
This kinda broke my heart. So emotive.
Will's redemption
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2018 11:34 pm
4. Extra Flamey
I feel bad for not commenting on the updates in ages. I'm at work so I'll make it quick: I'm still reading and enjoying your story. The last flashback to their breakup was heartbreaking. Now I'm dying to know what secret Willow kept from Tara. Hopefully her fears that it might drive Tara away are unfounded.
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:35 am
Thinking back to the breakup made it even more difficult for her to speak up. Now she was terrified for the right reasons. That Tara might leave again.
"Can you please say something? You're worrying me," Tara said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Tara… When you broke up with me before, I didn't do well. I thought 'this is what I've caused and I should just accept it', but I couldn't. And because of that, I did some things that I regret."
"I can't fault you for that, Willow. We were broken up," Tara replied.
"I know. But… Fuck. This is so hard, Tara. I don't want you to leave me again," Willow said, visibly agitated.
"If you were with other people, I understand, Willow. You don't have to worry about me leaving because of that. We were apart a long time."
"What? Tara, no. I… I wasn't. I didn't. With anyone."
"You, you didn't?" Tara asked, trying unsuccessfully to contain her surprise at the admission.
"No. I couldn't. I didn't want to."
Tara paused for a long moment. She really wanted to know what Willow was so worked up about, but she was still struggling to move past that last bit of information. She certainly hadn't expected it given how long they'd been apart. And the impact it had on her was significant. Surely at some point it would have been something they discussed, but the fact that it was happening amidst a much more serious conversation really caught Tara off guard.
The more she dwelled on it, the more time passed in silence. Finally, Willow decided to go on, all the while trying desperately to read Tara's expression and gain insight into what she was thinking.
"Anyway, I, uh,… As I mentioned, I was really not okay and I… I started drinking, Tara, and I didn't stop for a long while. But I did stop eventually. And I regret it so much because I know that's like the one thing that could be a deal breaker for you. I honestly never thought I'd see you again. That's not an excuse. I know I've made enough excuses for myself. And I feel really bad that I didn't bring it up sooner, but things kind of just happened the way they did. But with things going the way they are, I wanted to tell you. I don't want to start off hiding something like this from you. And I don't want you to be blindsided… if something happens."
The rhythm of her speech told Tara that Willow was choosing her words very carefully. She usually did, but this time, Tara could practically see her analyzing and organizing her thoughts in the moment. This was something that was not easy for Willow. Ordinarily, she'd get flustered and her point would be lost amidst a sea of half started sentences and digressions. Now, though, she was direct and even eloquent.
"Something like falling off the wagon?" Tara asked.
"Yeah," Willow answered simply. "Are you… Does this change things?"
She braced herself for Tara's response which was not immediately forthcoming. Willow fidgeted as the silence continued to stretch on. Tara knew the wait was torture for Willow, but she was taken aback and unsure exactly how she felt about it.
"I'm not sure," she said finally. "I, I just need a little time."
"Of course. Do you want me to go?" Willow asked, tears preparing to fall.
"No. I don't want you to go," Tara said with surety. "Come with me."
Tara began walking toward the living room. Willow left her bag behind and followed, not sure what to expect now. When Tara took a seat on the couch, Willow followed suit, being sure to remain outside of Tara's personal space for the time being.
"Why does everything always have to be so damn complicated with us?" Tara asked, sighing.
The question was rhetorical, Willow knew, but she felt the need to remind Tara of the reality of the situation.
"It's not us. It's me. And I'm working to fix my mistakes," she said, clearing her throat before continuing. "Living with your father, dealing with that, I understand how serious this is. I absolutely don't take it lightly. I really want you to know that."
"I want to ask you some questions and I want you to be 100% honest with me, do you understand?"
"Yeah. I understand," Willow replied, making eye contact.
"How long have you been sober?"
"A little over two years," Willow responded.
"Do you go to meetings?" Tara asked.
"Not as much anymore. Once a month. Or more if I feel tempted. But I go to a therapist too. Also once a month."
"Good. That's good," Tara said, feeling a little better, but still fearful. "When are you tempted? All the time?"
"No. Not all the time. Just when it gets really difficult to deal with what's going on."
"You were in a bar, Will. When I came to see you," Tara said.
"Yeah. With Xander. I wasn't drinking. I can be around it if I'm in a good place emotionally."
"So your friends know?"
"Yeah. They don't really leave me alone. Especially if they know I'm feeling down. I know they are just trying to help, but I feel like they're babysitting me sometimes. I get it. I just don't want that to be all they see when they look at me. I don't want that to be what you see when you look at me either, but I know that could be what happens now. I'm sorry, Tara. I fucked up again. I'm really ashamed."
"No, Will. You didn't fuck up. This time you made the right choice. You told me. And you've been sober for a long time. That's really big. It's just that… You know this is a thing for me. So, I just, I want to see how things go for a while, okay?"
"Yeah. Whatever you need, Tara. But, uh, just for clarification what does that mean exactly? Like, are we still… whatever we are? Or are we taking a break? Just so I know. I don't want to cross any lines."
"I don't know what to call it. I'd say we're tentatively a couple, I guess, if you need to label it. And we'll take things a day at a time. But Willow, what happens if we have a fight or something? Are you going to start drinking?" Tara asked.
"I can't say that I'm not, Tara. I really, really want to promise you that. And I've dealt with a lot in my two years sober, but I'm weak sometimes. You know that better than anyone. The last thing I want to do is disappoint you. But that's why I'm trying to be honest now. I hope that doesn't change your mind, but it's the truth."
Tara definitely respected Willow for being so honest despite what the consequences would be, but she wondered if that was enough. She'd seen what someone in Willow's situation could do to a family. To her. And she was already taking a huge chance as a result of the letter. But Willow was not in short supply of redeeming qualities. She was incredibly loyal, passionate, and now, much more trustworthy.
"The one thing, Willow," Tara said, shaking her head.
At this point, Tara couldn't help but laugh at the situation. Willow hesitantly joined her as she realized just how much chaos it took to get to the calm they were hopefully on the verge of now. The path their relationship had taken seemed like an excessive tragedy and now it appeared to all be winding back toward a happily ever after. Willow's alcoholism was a villain they would have to fight together along the way. When the room was quiet again, Tara looked shyly to Willow.
"What?" Willow asked, still bothered by her inability to read Tara's expressions.
"I'm done asking questions for now. And I'm not really sure there's an appropriate segue into this… And I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but I'm still kind of, you know... ready to go," Tara said, cheeks flushing furiously.
"Oh," Willow said, surprised by Tara's forwardness. "I, uh,… What's the right idea?"
Tara struggled to make her arousal less apparent, but was unsuccessful. Willow subtly pinched her thigh to make sure she was awake because the way Tara was looking at her now made her wetter than she'd been in recent memory. The mad dash from 'I hope she doesn't leave me' to 'she wants me to fuck her' left her sitting in uncomfortably damp jeans. As her mind was rebooting, Tara straddled her, causing her to lean back on the couch. This simple action caused a flush to spread across Willow's face and chest.
"I know it must feel like I'm giving you mixed messages," Tara started, kicking off her shoes.
"No. Not at all. I get it," Willow said, barely able to form sounds that made words.
"I do love you, Willow. Very much. But I am afraid," she revealed.
"I love you, too, Tara. And I know you're afraid. I hate that I'm the cause of that fear. But I will do everything I can to make sure that I don't make you regret giving me another chance, Tara. You'll see. That's a promise I can make."
Tara looked up to keep her tears from falling. Because, in addition to arousal, she was feeling a whole lot of other things. Trepidation was there to some degree. Willow becoming like her father was a thought that caused her to feel sick to her stomach. At the same time, she felt comforted by Willow's touch. And she had something Tara's father didn't. A will to change. To be better for Tara and for herself.
She also felt like she was where she was supposed to be. Despite everything, she hadn't felt as complete in the last decade as she had now. Tara latched onto that feeling and returned herself to the moment, allowing herself to fade back into Willow's gentle caresses.
Willow could feel heat everywhere Tara's body touched hers and suddenly every article of clothing was stifling. Tara leaned forward for a kiss and goosebumps spread across her skin as she felt Willow pull her more tightly into the embrace. As the kiss drew on, the redhead's hands were occupied with trying to unhook Tara's bra.
"Do you want to go in the bedroom?" Tara asked when she stopped to breathe.
"Whatever you want," Willow replied, pulling Tara down toward her to taste her lips again.
"Here's fine," Tara moaned.
When Willow finally freed Tara of her bra along with her shirt, she took a moment to take in the visual buffet that was Tara's exposed torso. Tara's excitement was evident as her taught nipples hovered enticingly close to Willow's mouth. The redhead couldn't help but feel that this was an invitation. She slowly brought the tip of her tongue to the pointed flesh and drew circles around it.
When Tara shuddered, Willow lost contact with the nipple and expertly found her way to the other, using the same circular motion hoping to elicit the same delicious response from Tara's body.
Willow was amazed at her own patience as she slowly unbuttoned Tara's jeans. When the zipper was fully undone, though, her fleeting patience ran out. The scent of Tara's pure arousal was enough to demolish Willow's resolve to take her lover slowly. Tara inhaled sharply as she quickly found herself on her back. The tiny couch rocked with the intensity of the movement and both their breaths quickened. The roughness of it caused Tara to release a moan.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked, breathing in deep gasps.
"Why are you stopping?" Tara asked, grabbing a handful of Willow's shirt and yanking her close.
When their lips met again, Willow felt like she'd suffocate before releasing Tara. They only stopped when Willow became frustrated by how clothed Tara still was. She backed up just long enough to pull off Tara's pants and underwear in one rough jerk. The blonde's feet again anchored themselves on the couch cushion and she reached eagerly for Willow's shirt once more. This time, to remove it. Willow allowed her to do so before removing the rest of her clothing herself. Tara appreciated the expediency of Willow's approach.
Their bodies touched once again without the burden of fabric and Willow had to proceed carefully. She was certain her arousal had already become apparent to Tara as a small breeze from a nearby fan cooled the drying wetness on Tara's thigh. This was all but confirmed by Tara's firm grip on the backs of Willow's thighs, forcing her pelvis forward.
Tara's ever reddening cheeks didn't do a thing to hide how turned on she was. She began to verbally protest when Willow broke the contact between their legs, but instead released an unadulterated moan when an expert thrust from Willow's hips reinstated that contact. If she were able to entertain a coherent thought in that moment, she might have been concerned about her neighbors hearing her.
Willow continues with a few more rhythmic thrusts and when Tara got too close to the edge, she backed off just enough to hold her at the precipice. When she kissed Tara again, she felt insistent hands trying to initiate greater contact.
"Please, Will. Don't tease me," Tara begged.
Obeying Tara's request, Willow moved her hips away from Tara just enough to easily slide two fingers into her. Willow's ears were overwhelmed with the pleasant sounds of Tara's pleading vocalizations, the rhythmic squeaking of the couch springs, and the wet suction her thrusts generated.
The latter sound became more prevalent as Tara demanded greater stimulation. Then, for a brief moment, all Willow could hear was the sound of the fan as Tara held her breath from exertion. As her hips began to lift off of the couch, Willow adjusted her hand to accomodate the new angle.
Willow slowed her thrusting to a stop when Tara's body relaxed. Willow turned sideways to sit on the couch and moved Tara's legs to rest on top of her thighs. She lightly ran her fingertips over any part of Tara's skin that was within reach. When she recovered, Tara once again straddled Willow unexpectedly.
"Now do you want to go to the bedroom?" Tara asked.
Willow could only nod. Tara stood from the couch and took Willow's hand, showing her the way. When she turned on the light, Willow quickly took in her surroundings before Tara ripped the sheets down to the bottom of the bed and urged Willow to lie down.
Tara climbed onto the bed and was on all fours, face to face with Willow. Tara was so close yet not touching a single millimeter of the redhead's body and Willow was hyper aware of that fact.
"Now who's a tease?" Willow asked as Tara smirked.
It may have been years, but Tara knew that Willow was in no mood for foreplay now. She allowed her hair to tickle Willow's stomach on her way downward and Willow's body visibly strained with the anticipation.
As Tara's tongue and lips gently surrounded her, she realized immediately just how long the past two weeks had really been. She'd gone too many days without experiencing the expert dance that Tara's tongue was capable of. Part of her wanted to draw out this moment to feel Tara's silky softness upon her even longer, but she was overwhelmed by the pleasure she was experiencing.
The erratic breathing coupled with the desperate moans let Tara know exacltly how close Willow was and she redirected her attention, choosing to lie next to her instead. Willow's hips still searched for some part of Tara eventually finding skilled fingertips.
While Willow writhed under her touch, Tara kissed her causing her to split her focus between the two sensations. However, Tara's urgent circles quickly brought her back to the same height of arousal as before and Tara didn't even have the opportunity to enter her lover before she felt the spasming release. Her mouth, still occupied by Tara's, could not draw in air and so she inhaled sharply through her nose before finally pulling back to breath in more deeply.
Tara maintained her position, resting on her side next to Willow. Soon the room was quiet again as both their breathing steadied. Willow opened her eyes and turned on her side to face Tara.
"I really missed you, Willow. And I don't want to anymore," Tara said, running her fingertips up and down Willow's arm.
"What do you mean?" Willow asked.
"I want to move back to Sunnydale. To be close to you."
"But you said-"
"I know what I said. Do you not want me to?" Tara asked, breaking their eye contact.
Willow sat fully upright and gently placed her hand on Tara's cheek.
"Of course I want you to. Emphatically. But you have a life here. A job. Friends. I don't want to be the reason you leave all that if you do decide that you're not able to be with me and my… problem. I don't want you to resent me. And I told you, I'd move here in a second if you asked me to. You only have to ask," Willow said.
"There isn't anything here for me, Willow. This is just another place I ended up while trying to find where I'm supposed to be. And I finally did because of you."
"Tara, I have to say, I had no idea how this weekend was going to go. There were a few hundred scenarios in my head," Willow began.
"I believe that," Tara said, giggling softly.
"This one wasn't even on the radar. I mean, how could you forgive so much from me? What have I done to deserve that?"
"You did what you couldn't before, Willow. You told the truth. All of your truths. The alcoholism, that's going to be tricky for me. I can't pretend I'm fine about that. But do I trust you? Yes, I do," Tara replied, sincerely.
"Thank you for trusting me."
"Well, thank you for earning it," Tara added.
"Can I help you move?" Willow asked.
"Only if you comply with my strict dress code," Tara replied, smirking.
"You don't even know what it-"
"I assume it's similar to my current state of dress," Willow interrupted, indicating her nakedness.
"You'd be right," Tara said.
"Deal," Willow said again, kissing Tara and relaxing back onto the bed.
Both were exhausted now and just the thought of all of that physical labor added to their desire to sleep. And Willow was looking forward to the morning. That was a feeling she was finally getting used to again and she wouldn't sabotage it this time.
Finey_McFine
20. Not one Much for the Timber
Location: H-Town, Texas
Great job Ashley!
I like how you gave Willow the a real world version of addiction and a reason for Tara's reticence. I also liked the fact that Tara's intense love for Willow allowed her to take a chance and give their relationship another shot. Just as things should be.
I'm sad to see this story end and I do hope you have another up your sleeve.
Shelby - Racing The Rain (IN PROGRESS) / Baby Makes Three (IN PROGRESS) / The Santa Line / Everything She Does...Is Beautiful / Calfornia Grass
"Transform your pain. Release your past. And ... uh ... get over it."
~Willow, Where The Wild Things Are
Hey Ashley. Thanks for a great story. I've really enjoyed the ritual of the last few months, a daily check for an update on Therapy though I missed the final one due to my current preoccupation with the World Cup and Wimbledon!
I didn't expect the end so soon, but I'll live. Most importantly Tara and Willow are back where they belong, together. Great twist by the way!
I hope you have other stories in the pipeline and if you're writing I'm reading.


text:
🎟 Tickets 📺 Watch 📻 Listen 📊 Stats 📝 Notes
GAME PREVIEW: vs. Kansas State
LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Kansas Jayhawks (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) get set for their ninth game of the 2019 season this week, as they prepare to host the No. 22/25 Kansas State Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., on FS1.
Saturday's Dillons Sunflower Showdown is the 117th in the team's history, which currently stands as the fourth longest uninterrupted series in FBS history. Kansas holds the series lead between the two schools at 65-46-5, including a 37-19-2 record when the game is played in Lawrence.
The Jayhawks are coming off a Homecoming victory over Texas Tech, 37-34, where Kansas tallied 527 total yards of offense, including 415 through the air. The game is the third this season that the Jayhawks compiled 500 or more yards in a game, which hasn't been done since 2009, and is the first time since 2007 that the Jayhawks went for 500+ yards against conference opponents in back-to-back weeks.
Following the victory, senior quarterback Carter Stanley and junior kicker Liam Jones were recognized by the Big 12 for their efforts, with Stanley being named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and Jones being named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. Stanley completed 26-of-37 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns, while he also ran for a score. Jones connected on his first-career game-winning field goal as time expired, giving Kansas its first Homecoming win since 2009.
Ahead of Saturday's in-state matchup with Kansas State head coach Les Miles met with the media.
Kansas State Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) at Kansas Jayhawks (3-5, 1-4 Big 12)
Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Listen: Jayhawk Radio Network
Watch: FS1
Cory Provus (PxP), Shane Vereen (A), Petros Papadakis (A), Mike Principato (P), Daren Foster (D), Andy Cavanaugh (AD)
CALL IT A COMEBACK
In their come-from-behind victory over Texas Tech, the Jayhawks overcame a 17-point deficit to start the game and a 13-point deficit in the second half to take down the Red Raiders on Homecoming. It was the first time that KU overcame either deficit in a win since Nov. 6, 2010, when Kansas overcame a 28-point deficit to beat Colorado.
NO STOPPIN' STEPHON
Over the last three games, junior wide receiver Stephon Robinson Jr., has combined to haul in 18 receptions for 384 yards and six touchdowns. Robinson's six receiving touchdowns over the last three games are the most in the FBS over that span, as Robinson has helped propel the Jayhawk offense to new heights.
HOMECOMING FIREWORKS
The big victory against Texas Tech on Homecoming came behind another stellar performance by the KU offense, which registered its third 500+ yard game of the season, tallying 527 yards, 415 of which came through the air. Kansas' third 500+ yard offensive performance is the first of such feat since 2009, and the first in back-to-back conference games since 2007.
STELLAR STANLEY
Senior quarterback Carter Stanley has found his groove within the Kansas offense, setting career highs in nearly every passing category this season, including a career-high 19 passing touchdowns which ranks fourth in Kansas history. The only other Kansas quarterback to throw more touchdowns in a season is Jayhawk great Todd Reesing. Over the last three games, Stanley has completed 71-of-112 (63.3%) for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns, with his 10 passing touchdowns ranking fourth in the NCAA over that span.
Leading Passer: Carter Stanley (155/241, 1,900 yds, 19 TD, 5 INT)
Leading Rusher: Pooka Williams Jr. (136 att, 704 yds, 3 TD)
Leading Receiver: Andrew Parchment (42 rec, 614 yds, 6 TD)
Leading Tackler: Bryce Torneden (53 tackles)
Leading Sacks: Azur Kamara (3.5 sacks)
Leading Interception: Najee Stevens-McKenzie (2 interceptions)
Leading Passer: Skylar Thompson (98/161, 1,207 yds, 7 TD, 1 INT
Leading Rusher: James Gilbert (100 att, 558 yds, 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: Dalton Schoen (23 rec, 322 yds, 3 TD)
Leading Tackler: Denzel Goolsby (34 tackles)
Leading Sacks: Wyatt Hubert (4.0 sacks)
Leading Interception: AJ Parker (3 interceptions)
Overall: Kansas leads, 65-46-5
In Lawrence: Kansas leads, 37-19-2
Current Streak: Kansas State won 10
Longest KU Win Streak: 10
Last 10: 0-10
Under Les Miles: 0-0
First Meeting: Oct. 4, 1902 (W, 16-0)
Last Meeting: Nov. 10, 2018 (L, 17-21)
Most Kansas points: 55 (Nov. 1, 1947)
Most Kansas State points: 64 (Nov. 2, 2002)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
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Tag Archives: craig kimbrel
November 16, 2011 · 23:53
Baseball News: Awards, CBA, Player and Manager Moves…Why the Off Season Matters
"You win pennants in the off season when you build your teams with trades and free agents." Earl Weaver
The World Series is in the past but the baseball world is abuzz with awards, trades, free agent offers and the possibility of a reorganization of the Major Leagues and even a new five year Collective Bargaining Agreement deal between the players union and the league. Baseball it seems has become the model of stability and sensibility in the American sporting world. Even as I write the Owners and GMs are meeting in Milwaukee and the Winter meetings are just over the horizon. This is where teams are built and where the seeds of future pennants are planted.
One has to admit that the 2012 baseball season was something to behold. The record comebacks of the Rays and Cardinals and epic collapses of the Braves and Red Sox in the final month of the season that led to one of the most if not the most memorable regular season endings in baseball history. The storybook season of the Arizona Diamondbacks going from worst to first in the NL West was another amazing story.
Awards for outstanding achievement are being given out; Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander won the American League Cy Young Award on a unanimous ballot. Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson won the National League Manager of the Year award for leading his team to a Division Championship and Rays Manager Joe Maddon who brought his team back from the abyss to reach the playoffs on the last day of the regular season won the American League Manager of the Year. The National League Rookie of the Year award went to the Atlanta Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel and Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson took the American League award. The National League Cy Young still remains as well as the Most Valuable Player awards.
The Cubs and Red Sox are still shopping for managers while the Cardinals chose former catcher Mike Matheny to fill the shoes left by Tony LaRussa who retired after the miraculous finish that led to a Word Series Championship. Pitching Coach Dave Duncan, LaRussa's long time right hand man remains as does Hitting Coach Mark McGwire. Former Red Sox Manager Terry Francona announced today that he will not manage in 2012 something that most baseball experts agree is a good choice. I agree considering how exhausted Francona appeared after the end of the season and his firing. The Orioles have a new General Manager, Dan Duquette who replaced Andy McPhail and Red So GM Theo Epstein went to the Cubs in the hopes of reversing the curse. There are reports tonight that the Cubs will sign Dale Sveum as their new Manager.
It looks as if the sale of the Houston Astros will go through and with it the team's move to the American League. This will balance the leagues at 15 teams each and allow for year round inter-league play and is part of the new CBA which reportedly could be signed as early as Friday. The CBA is actually remarkable considering the great consternation caused by the NFL lockout and the probable loss of an entire NBA season due to failures to resolve collective bargaining agreements. The baseball negotiation process has been fireworks free and negotiators from the owners and player's union seem to remember the damage caused by the 1994 strike and what happened in the NFL and NBA seems to have learned the lessons of history.
Some of the big free agents look like they could be on the move and one, Red Sox Closer Jonathan Papelbon signed a contract with the Phillies while the Miami Marlins are making serious bids for St Louis First Baseman Albert Pujols and Met's Shortstop Jose Reyes. Brewers First Baseman Cecil Fielder is on the market and the Yankees appear to be looking for pitching support to complement their ace C C Sabathia who the re-signed. Plenty of other big name free agents remain to be signed and it will be interesting to see where they all land.
Even though there are no games being played in the Major Leagues baseball is making news and in the process showing how important the off season is to the regular season. This is going to be an exciting off season for baseball and bodes well for the upcoming regular season. What a great game.
Padre Steve+
Filed under Loose thoughts and musings
Tagged as 2011 mlb season, albert pujols, andy mcphail, arizona diamondbacks, astros to american league, atlanta braves, boston red sox, c c sabathia, craig kimbrel, cy young award, dale sveum, dan duquette, dave duncan, free agents, houston astros, jeremy hellickson, joe maddon, jonathan papelbon, jose reyes, kirk gibson, manager of the year award, mark mcguire, mike matheny, mlb, mlb cba, mlb realignment, mlb rookie of the year, nba lockout, new york yankees, nfl lockout, philadelphia phillies, st louis cardinals, tampa bay rays, terry francona, theo epstein, tony larussa, world series
September 29, 2011 · 02:42
UNBELIEVABLE! Braves and Red Sox Collapse Complete! Rays and Cardinals win Wild Cards, Orioles sink Red Sox with 2 Outs in Bottom of the 9th as Longoria hits walk off against Yankees
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon reacts to the Orioles scoring the winning run (Getty Images)
What an amazing and unlikely end to the regular season. The Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox who appeared to have their respective Wild Card berths cinched on September 1st had their seasons end tonight in the most unexpected and unlikely ways. Both the Braves and the Sox had what seemed to be insurmountable leads as August drew to a close.
"It's like living out a bad dream. You never expect this to happen to you." Chipper Jones
Matt Holiday and Chris Carpenter celebrate the Cardinal's Wild Card win
The Braves were up by 10 ½ games over the Cardinals on August 26th and had an 8 ½ game lead on September 6th and slipped into a tie on Tuesday against a resurgent Cardinals team. The Cardinals defeated the Houston Astros 7-0 behind a two hit performance by Chris Carpenter earlier in the evening putting all the pressure on the Braves to try to force a one game playoff to decide the Wild Card. The Braves looked like they would force the playoff and had a 3-2 lead with one out in the top of the 9th against the Phillies. With one out and their ace closer Craig Kimbrel saw it slip away as Chase Utley hit a sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Pete Orr to tie the game. The Braves could not score a go ahead run and in the top of the 13th the Phillies put the final nail in the Braves coffin as with 2 outs in the top of the 13th when Hunter Pence singled to score Brian Schneider to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. The Braves could not score in the bottom of the 13th completing a most amazing collapse. Kimbrel said after the game "It was tough to be so close and then have the feeling like it was falling out of your hands, and that's the feeling I have now." One has to feel for Kimbrel and other Braves relievers who have endured a punishing season and faltered down the stretch due to a starting rotation which struggled in their performance and due to injuries to young pitchers Jair Jurgens and Tommy Hansen.
A stunned Braves bench after their loss to the Phillies
For the Braves it was an epic collapse but the Tony LaRussa's Cardinals after having been written off by every expert managed to catch the Braves and steal the Wild Card berth.
While the National League decision was exciting it paled in comparison to what happened in the American League East on Wednesday night. The Rays appeared to be done early as starter avid Price was hit hard by the Yankees especially by Mark Teixeira who hammed a grand slam home run in the top of the 2nd off Price inning to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead and a solo shot against Price in the top of the 4th. When the Yankees finished their at bat in the top of the 8th they had a 7-0 lead. It looked like the Rays were done unless the Orioles could come from behind to defeat the Red Sox and force a playoff. As their fans began to leave Tropicana Field the Rays scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th and then tied the game with a two out home run by Dan Johnson in the bottom of the 9th. The game went into extra innings and as the Rays battled the Yankees an even more remarkable story was developing in Baltimore.
Evan Longoria raises his arms in triumph after his walk off home run against the Yankees (Getty Images)
The Red Sox had led the Orioles for most of the game and had not lost a game all season when leading in the 9th inning. They were 76-0 in this situation. A rain delay pushed the game toward themidnight hour and when it resumed the Red Sox seemed to be ready to put the Orioles away.
Robert Andino hits a walk off single to score Nolan Reimold against Jonathan Papelbon
With a 3-2 lead the Sox sent their vaunted closer Jonathan Papelbon into the game. After retiring Adam Jones and Mark Reynolds on strikes Chris Davis doubled and the O's sent in Kyle Hudson to run for Davis. Papelbon worked a 2-2 count against Nolan Reimold who hit a ground rule double to scoreHudson. This brought up Red Sox nemesis Robert Andino who hit a walk off single to score Reimold stunning the Red Sox Nation in an unbelievable finish, but the Red Sox had life if the Yankees could put away the Rays in Tampa, but that hope would be dashed three minutes later.
As the Orioles drove the stake into the heart of the Red Sox Nation Yankees reliever Scott Proctor retired B. J. Upton on strikes. This brought Evan Longoria to the plate. Longoria had hit a 3 run homer in the Rays 6 run 8th inning and took Proctor's pitch and hammered it down the left field line where it ended up in the stands. It was only the second time that a walk off home run put a team into the playoffs, the last was Bobby Thompson's "shot heard around the world" in 1951.
Orioles celebrate. After a rough season they turned into winners in September and ended the Red Sox playoff hopes
It was an amazing finish that was unimaginable and thrilling to behold. For the Orioles it was their World Series. They have been dominated by the Red Sox for years and going into September had won just 3 games against the Sox all season. Then in September the Orioles began to win. They split 4 games with the Yankees, took 2 of 3 from the Rays, 3 of 4 from the Red Sox at Fenway, 2 of 3 from the Angles and split a four game series against the Tigers. After the 4 games in Boston the Orioles hosted 3 games against the Red Sox at Camden Yards. They won the first, lost the second and stunned the Red Sox on Wednesday night.
As the bell tolled midnight on the east coast the unthinkable had happened. Two epic collapses, two remarkable comebacks and an underdog Orioles team that rose to the occasion to beat the Red Sox 5 of 7 games in September. No one could have scripted the end to this regular season and one can expect that the playoffs will be equally exciting.
Filed under Baseball, Batlimore Orioles
Tagged as adam jones, atlanta braves, baltimore Orioles, bobby thompson, boston red sox, brian schneider, camden yards, chase utley, chris carpenter, chris davis, craig kimbrel, dan johnson, david price, houston astros, hunter pence, jair jurgens, jonathan papelbon, kyle hudson, mark teixeira, matt holiday, mlb wild card, new york yankees, nolan Reimold, robert andino, st louis cardinals, tampa bay rays, tommy hansen, tony larussa, tropicana field
October 10, 2010 · 22:34
Conrad's 3 Errors Help Giants Win 3-2 to Take Series Lead
Brooks Conrad looks down after his 3rd error of the game (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Once again the Braves and Giants had a pitcher's duel going as their starters maintained a firm grip on the game as Jonathan Sanchez set the pace for the Giants holding the Braves to two hits and a run in 7.1 innings work and Tim Hudson holding the Giants to an unearned run in 7 innings work.
Jonathan Sanchez dominated the Braves for 7 innings (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Giants led by a score of 1-0 until the bottom of the 8th inning scoring their run in the second inning when Mike Fotenot tripled and then scored on Brooks Conrad's fielding error on a Cody Ross ground ball. The lead held up until with one out in the 7th Sanchez gave up a single to Alex Gonzalez. This brought in Sergio Romo to face pinch hitter Eric Hinske. With a 0-2 count Hinske drilled a shot just over the right field wall next to the foul pole to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. This sent the fans at Turner Field into a tomahawk chop frenzy, the Braves dugout was celebrating and the Giants appeared to be thunderstruck. Sanchez appeared to be in shock and others were shaking their heads.
Aubrey Huff drives in the tying run off of Mike Dunn with 2 outs in the top of the 9th (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Giants came up in the bottom top of the 9th inning to face Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel got leadoff batter Cody Ross to pop out to second for the first out. Travis Ishikawa pinch hit for Romo and drew a walk. Kimbrel then struck out Andres Torres for the second out. With the crowd roaring Kimbrel had Freddy Sanchez down to his last strike when Sanchez singled up the middle to keep the Giants in the game. That was all for Kimbrel who turned the ball over to left hander Mike Dunn to face Aubrey Huff who hits left handed pitchers like piñatas. Huff was behind in the count but ripped a slider on the outside corner into right field where it dropped in from of right fielder Jason Heyward to score Ishikawa. Dunn was done in by the hit and Bobby Cox brought in Peter Moylan to get Buster Posey. Moylan did his part; Posey hit a sharp ground ball to Conrad which went between his legs into right field allowing Sanchez to score giving the Giants a 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. With the exception of scattered boos for Conrad the crowd sat in stunned silence and all the energy disappeared from the Braves dugout.
Freddy Sanchez celebrates with Nate Schierholtz after scoring the go ahead run (AP Photo/John Amis)
The Giants brought in Brian Wilson to close the game and Wilson back in form shut down the Braves to get the save and give the Giants a 2-1 series lead. The teams will meet Monday with the Giants' rookie Madison Bumgarner (7-6 3.00 ERA) going against Derek Lowe (16-12 4.00 ERA) in what could be the final game of Bobby Cox's long career. One wonders if the Braves can rise to the occasion.
Filed under Baseball
Tagged as andres torres, atlanta braves, aubrey huff, bobby cox, brian wilson, brooks conrad, buster posey, cody ross, craig kimbrel, derek lowe, eric hinske, freddy sanchez, jason heyward, jonathan sanchez, madison bumgarner, mike dunn, mike fotenot, nate schierholtz, peter moylan, san fransisco giants, sergio romo, tim hudson, tomahawk chop, travis ishikawa, turner field
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How Many Hours Can A 17 Year Old Work?
Neil Grayson answered
If you're no longer at school and you're 16 or 17, the law refers to you as a 'young worker'. Because you will no longer be at school, there are fewer restrictions on when you can work and for how long, but there are still some rules.
Because you've reached school leaving age, you may find that employers may be more willing to offer you part-time or full-time employment. You're also not limited to just 'light work', so you'll be allowed to work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.
If you are a young worker but you are employed on ships or as part of the armed forces, working time limits don't apply to you. A young worker cannot usually be made to work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. These hours cannot be averaged over a longer period and you're not allowed to ignore these restrictions.
You'll only be able to work longer hours if you either need to keep the continuity of service or production or respond to a surge in demand for a service or product. You can only work longer hours if there is no adult available to do the work. Your training needs are not negatively affected.
If you need to work longer than 40 hours a week, or you think your employer is unfairly asking you to work over this limit, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or the Pay and Work Rights helpline.
You will normally have a variety of different breaks from work. These could be rest breaks as young workers who need to work for more than four and a half hours will get a rest break of 30 minutes. You should have daily breaks and young workers get 12 uninterrupted hours' rest in each 24-hour period in which you work. Young workers are also entitled to weekly rest and should have two days off per week.
It all depends on the company. Most independently run business don't look at hours for minors as big corporations do. For example I work at Price Chopper, they allow their minors to work only up to 28 hours a week 4 hours a night during school nights. On Friday Saturday and Sunday they can work up to 8 hours. When school is not in session they can work 8 hours each day and 35 hours a week. They can not work later then 10pm or earlier then 6am.
How many hours can a 17 year old work at mcdonalds in anderson california if you are in High School?
How Many Hours A Week Can A Person On Salary Legally Work?
Normally it is 40 hours a week but it also depends upon your contract on which you are working. There...
How Many Hours In A 24 Hour Period Can An Employer Force You To Work?
You need to speak with the department of Labor. Do you get overtime. Depending on the field of work a...
How Can A 17 Year Old Girl Lose Weight Very Fast?
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text:
CTNow
UConn women's basketball team will be without Christyn Williams, Azzi Fudd this weekend
Norwalk elections official faces murder charge after police say she fatally shot her neighbor
UConn men need to pick up the pace in the Big East, and Tyrese Martin may be the key to providing that spark
Regrouping UConn women's basketball team looking to stay present as it moves forward from Oregon loss
Kevin Rennie: Why some harsh political realities endure
What is fentanyl and can touching it kill you? Doctors dispute police warning
West Hartford Republican Mary Fay running for state comptroller
Former UConn men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie wins arbitration case, awarded over $11.1 million
Driver dead after crash on I-91 in Rocky Hill
'I Am Tough': Young Hospital Patient Represents State At Fenway For Fundraiser
West Hartford man dies, two wounded, in city shootings that happened minutes apart
Oven takes a long time to preheat: Igniter?
Report: Black people prosecuted for felonies at higher rate in Connecticut
By Pat Eaton-Robb
Associated Press |
(Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty)
Black criminal defendants in Connecticut are disproportionately represented among those prosecuted for felonies, according to a recently released report from the state's Division of Criminal Justice.
The analysis of the more than 300,000 records from 2019 found that 28% of cases resolved by prosecutors involved Black defendants, while 26% of defendants were Hispanic. It also showed that Black people, who make up 11% of the state's population, were prosecuted in 34% of all resolved felonies. Hispanics, who make up 17% of Connecticut residents, were charged with 27% of the felonies prosecuted to completion last year.
White people, who make up 67% of the population, were defendants in 43% of all cases, but just 37% of those felonies, according to the report.
The analysis stems from a 2019 law that requires the state to compile a variety of data from prosecutors, including how many defendants received prison time, plea bargains or diversionary programs. The legislation, which officials said was the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to give lawmakers an idea of what decisions prosecutors are making and to ensure the process is fair.
[Related] Theater review: 1990s racial drama 'Fires in the Mirror' given a new look and feel at Long Wharf »
Marc Pelka, the state's undersecretary for criminal justice, said that more detailed racial data will come next year after the state rolls out a new case management system that will track how criminal cases flow through the entire criminal justice system, including why decisions were made.
"But we thought it was very important at the outset just to reflect where the composition varies within our state population, within the cases disposed of in 2019 and where in each of the classes of felonies and misdemeanors you see disproportionality," he said.
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The 2019 data found that 62% of all violent crimes were charged in three of the state's 13 Judicial Districts: Hartford, New Haven, and Fairfield, which also are the districts with the highest minority populations.
The report is the first to look at how all cases are prosecuted in Connecticut and at what point in the process they are resolved. It found that seven of every 10 cases that came into the state's criminal justice system were misdemeanors and that 95% of all cases were resolved in the state's Geographical Area courts, where cases first appear, before being transferred to the higher-level Judicial District courts. It also found that the largest number of cases, more than 56,000, were resolved with prosecutors filing a nolle and dropping charges, while there were just over 45,700 convictions and just under 22,000 cases dismissed.
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The report found that 18% of case dispositions involved a referral to a state diversion program such as alcohol education or the special form of probation known as accelerated rehabilitation, which results in the eventual dismissal of charges.
[Related] Slashing ride times among goals as Amtrak, Connecticut leaders plan to revamp region's rail infrastructure »
The report does not get into the reasons behind the numbers.
Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, the chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission, noted that it has taken a dozen years to develop and approve a case management system and called the report a good start.
"I know a lot of this information will be very useful to policy makers," he said. "We have a different role. Frankly now we have a benchmark that you have helped us establish so that when we do talk to you a year from now, we will have a much better idea of how we are going to use this information strategically in the appointment of state's attorneys and the chief states attorney."
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The company's vision is to make progress possible through excellence in technology, integrity and unsurpassed customer services. The company principles evolve around the idea of providing high quality customer services with reliability and innovative practices through persistent teamwork of responsible employees. The Dana Engineering SDN BHD management strongly appreciates the diversity in the vast amount of knowledge and experience their people bring with them to the company. They also acknowledge the professional specialization of each company personnel and believe that there is always something one can teach and learn from others; hence they actively encourage everyone to work collaboratively together.


MIC Toi Rerehiko and the Wallace Arts Trust are proud to present Transformance, an exhibition of digital media by four graduate artists from Auckland University of Technology (AUT), with support from the Asia NZ Foundation, as part of the Auckland Festival of Photography. Curated by Warren Pringle, artists Jia-Yin (Jane) Loo, Grace Chai, Olivia Garelja, and Nick Konings (with Paul Chambers) will exhibit digital media work from 4 June – 3 July at the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in the Pah Homestead.
Transformance explores themes underpinned by myths and ideas of reflection and appearance, illusion and essence, imitation and emanation. While these ideas are fundamental to the human condition, what catapults them into the present – and in some cases predictive future – is the sensitive and intelligent use of digital media. Working in their respective digital imagery fields, Jane, Grace, Olivia and Nick are recent graduates of AUT, and have all achieved a high degree of excellence in their artwork. Their cross-disciplinary approach from the various platforms of Graphic Design, Interdisciplinary and Photography majors at AUT, highlights the new ways in which artists are working today, and the potential of digital media as a unifying medium.
In a dedicated upstairs gallery of the Pah Homestead, Jia-Yin (Jane) Loo investigates the potential of moving image and type to express a narrative of loss and disappointment as a recent migrant to New Zealand from Malaysia.
Alternatively, Grace Chai, who moved to New Zealand from Taiwan at fifteen years of age, explores the implications of cosmetic surgery on male identity through photographic prints.
New Zealand born Olivia Garelja augments photographic imagery to construct persuasive alternative worlds and imaginary landscapes.
Lastly, in the AV Room, New Zealand born Nick Konings mixes, text, psychology, art and software – with code written by Paul Chambers – to craft an experience that is an active reflection on the process of self-transformation, resulting in the generation of an entity somewhere between an avatar and self-portrait.
Warren Pringle, an experienced arts planner, producer and curator, will draw from his extensive experience to weave these various concerns together with an opening event at 2pm on Saturday 4 June at the Pah Homestead. Entitled A Sense of Dislocation and originally inspired by the work of exhibiting artist Jane Loo the event will feature music composed by Jed Town and performers Elise Chan, Jeong Yeun Whang, Kristian Larsen and Warren Pringle.


These records in series WO 98 are the registers of the Victoria Cross between 1856 and 1944.
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award available to the armed forces for gallantry in action with the enemy. It was originally made from the bronze cannon captured during the Crimean War (1854-1856). At first it was awarded only to British Army and Royal Navy personnel, but it was subsequently given to members of the other armed forces.
The registers are heavily annotated. They were used when organising the 100th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Victoria Cross, when many more recipients were still alive.
You can search and download (£) the records in Discovery, our catalogue, by filling in the form below.
Alternatively you can download free of charge a list of the recipients of the Victoria Cross from 1856 up to 1946 (CAB 106/320). This list was produced in 1953 and includes two awards made during the Korean War (1950-1953) and so provides a more complete picture.
The examples below illustrate what an entry on the Victoria Cross registers look like. The rank, name and corps of the inidividual are listed, as are the actions for which they are recommended. Hand-written notes can also be seen, providing further details on the individuals awarded the Victoria Cross.
Sidney Godley was the first private to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. Lieutenant G Bromhead was the basis for Michael Caine's character in the film Zulu.
Of the more than 1,350 awards made, including three bars, only 1,236 people have been recorded in the registers.
The following table lists those recipients of the Victoria Cross whose names do not appear in the registers. These volumes include all awards gazetted to 1 September 1944.


text:
by Candriam Academy | Aug 24, 2021
The Basics of ESG Analysis of Companies
Unit 1 Introduction
Unit 2 Step 1: Company's revenues and spending
Unit 3 Step 2: Alignment with sustainability objectives
Unit 4 Step 3: Company operations and sustainability
Unit 5 Step 4: Ongoing analysis as a warning system
Unit 6 Step 5: Cross pollination of ESG data
Unit 7 Questions
CANDRIAM stands for "Conviction AND Responsibility In Asset Management" and is a European multi-specialist asset manager. A pioneer and leader in sustainable investments since 1996, CANDRIAM manages around EUR 150 billion of assets under management[1] with a team of more than 600 professionals. It operates management offices in Luxembourg, Brussels, Paris, and London, and has client representatives in more than 20 countries throughout continental Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. CANDRIAM offers investment solutions in several key areas: bonds, equities, absolute performance strategies, and asset allocation, with a broad and innovative range of ESG strategies covering all its asset classes.
CANDRIAM is a New York Life Company. New York Life Investments [2] ranks among the world's largest asset managers [3].
Visit our corporate website.
[1] As of 30 June 2021. Assets under management (AUM) includes assets which do not fall within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's definition of 'regulatory AUM' in Form ADV, Part 1A.
[2] New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary New York Life Investment Management LLC. New York Life Investment Management LLC is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company
[3] Source: New York Life Investments ranked 27th among the world's largest money managers within Pensions & Investments, June 2021. Rankings are based on total worldwide institutional assets under management for the year-end 2020. New York Life Investments assets include assets of affiliated investment advisors
© Candriam all rights reserved | Legal Information | Contact Us


text:
"""API for the swift service.
"""

from django import forms
from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
from django.views import generic

from openstack_dashboard import api
from openstack_dashboard.api.rest import urls
from openstack_dashboard.api.rest import utils as rest_utils

@urls.register
class Info(generic.View):
    """API for information about the Swift installation.
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/info/$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def get(self, request):
        """Get information about the Swift installation.
        """
        capabilities = api.swift.swift_get_capabilities(request)
        return {'info': capabilities}

@urls.register
class Containers(generic.View):
    """API for swift container listing for an account
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/containers/$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def get(self, request):
        """Get the list of containers for this account

        TODO(neillc): Add pagination
        """
        containers, has_more = api.swift.swift_get_containers(request)
        containers = [container.to_dict() for container in containers]
        return {'items': containers, 'has_more': has_more}

@urls.register
class Container(generic.View):
    """API for swift container level information
    """

    url_regex = r'swift/containers/(?P<container>[^/]+)/metadata/$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def get(self, request, container):
        """Get the container details
        """
        return api.swift.swift_get_container(request, container).to_dict()

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def post(self, request, container):
        metadata = {}

        if 'is_public' in request.DATA:
            metadata['is_public'] = request.DATA['is_public']

        api.swift.swift_create_container(request, container, metadata=metadata)
        return rest_utils.CreatedResponse(
            u'/api/swift/containers/%s' % container,
        )

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def delete(self, request, container):
        api.swift.swift_delete_container(request, container)

    @rest_utils.ajax(data_required=True)
    def put(self, request, container):
        metadata = {'is_public': request.DATA['is_public']}
        api.swift.swift_update_container(request, container, metadata=metadata)

@urls.register
class Objects(generic.View):
    """API for a list of swift objects
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/containers/(?P<container>[^/]+)/objects/$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def get(self, request, container):
        """Get object information.

        :param request:
        :param container:
        :return:
        """
        path = request.GET.get('path')

        objects = api.swift.swift_get_objects(
            request,
            container,
            prefix=path
        )

        # filter out the folder from the listing if we're filtering for
        # contents of a (pseudo) folder
        contents = [{
            'path': o.name,
            'name': o.name.split('/')[-1],
            'bytes': o.bytes,
            'is_subdir': o.content_type == 'application/pseudo-folder',
            'is_object': o.content_type != 'application/pseudo-folder',
            'content_type': o.content_type
        } for o in objects[0] if o.name != path]
        return {'items': contents}

class UploadObjectForm(forms.Form):
    file = forms.FileField(required=False)

@urls.register
class Object(generic.View):
    """API for a single swift object or pseudo-folder
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/containers/(?P<container>[^/]+)/object/' \
        '(?P<object_name>.+)$'

    # note: not an AJAX request - the body will be raw file content
    @csrf_exempt
    def post(self, request, container, object_name):
        """Create a new object or pseudo-folder

        :param request:
        :param container:
        :param object_name:

        If the object_name (ie. POST path) ends in a '/' then a folder is
        created, rather than an object. Any file content passed along with
        the request will be ignored in that case.

        POST parameter:

        :param file: the file data for the upload.

        :return:
        """
        form = UploadObjectForm(request.POST, request.FILES)
        if not form.is_valid():
            raise rest_utils.AjaxError(500, 'Invalid request')

        data = form.clean()

        if object_name[-1] == '/':
            result = api.swift.swift_create_pseudo_folder(
                request,
                container,
                object_name
            )
        else:
            result = api.swift.swift_upload_object(
                request,
                container,
                object_name,
                data['file']
            )

        return rest_utils.CreatedResponse(
            u'/api/swift/containers/%s/object/%s' % (container, result.name)
        )

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def delete(self, request, container, object_name):
        api.swift.swift_delete_object(request, container, object_name)

@urls.register
class ObjectMetadata(generic.View):
    """API for a single swift object
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/containers/(?P<container>[^/]+)/metadata/' \
        '(?P<object_name>.+)$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def get(self, request, container, object_name):
        return api.swift.swift_get_object(
            request,
            container_name=container,
            object_name=object_name,
            with_data=False
        ).to_dict()

@urls.register
class ObjectCopy(generic.View):
    """API to copy a swift object
    """
    url_regex = r'swift/containers/(?P<container>[^/]+)/copy/' \
        '(?P<object_name>.+)$'

    @rest_utils.ajax()
    def post(self, request, container, object_name):
        dest_container = request.DATA['dest_container']
        dest_name = request.DATA['dest_name']
        result = api.swift.swift_copy_object(
            request,
            container,
            object_name,
            dest_container,
            dest_name
        )
        return rest_utils.CreatedResponse(
            u'/api/swift/containers/%s/object/%s' % (dest_container,
                                                     result.name)
        )

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The most frequently studied are physical attractiveness, propinquity, familiarity, similarity, complementarity, reciprocal liking, and reinforcement.
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I can also assure you that there are millions more who have found a way to make things work in a second marriage, so if this guy can't give you what you need, don't be afraid of looking elsewhere for a man who can.
Post from: Black | Celebrity Gossip | Celebrity News | Celebrity Photo | Black Entertainment News | Chris Brown Lauren London "Caramel" Movie Chris Brown and Lauren London are set to star in the upcoming movie entitled "Caramel" that will be released in 2009.
where you can create your own avatar, chat, and play free virtual games.
All around us we see gorgeous people, on television, in movies and magazines.
"It is a mystery," he said, "I have no idea." Katie Holmes rings in the New Year with Jamie Foxx in Miami Davidson then tried to shift the focus to Holmes. One lovefest that Davidson thinks we'll all witness soon is an "In Living Color" reunion featuring Foxx.


Percepio's Device Firmware Monitor (DFM) is a ground-breaking new cloud service for IoT product organizations that provides awareness of firmware problems in deployed devices and speeds up resolution. When a firmware issue has been detected, DFM notifies the developers within seconds and provides diagnostic information about the issue, including a trace for Percepio Tracealyzer. This shows what was going on in the code when the error occurred, making it far easier to understand the problem and quickly find a solution.
Without automatic feedback, you actually rely on your end users to report any issues, a responsibility they have not agreed to. Then you might not hear about the issues until it's too late, when many customers have already been affected. Moreover, your end users can't be expected to provide sufficiently detailed information for you to quickly identify and solve the problem. A vague error report like "the screen went black" may require weeks of guesswork until you find a likely cause, and even then, you still don't know if really you solved the right problem. Imagine how much troubleshooting time that could be saved if you instead had access to detailed diagnostic information about every issue in the production software.
DFM is designed to leverage existing secure solutions for cloud connectivity, storage and OTA updates. Percepio DFM initially supports Amazon Web Services (AWS IoT Core) and Amazon FreeRTOS, but support for additional platforms is planned and can be provided on request.
Percepio is looking for early adopters to provide feedback. By joining our pilot program, you get to use the Percepio DFM service for free!
For more information about the Device Firmware Monitor please do not hesitate to contact Gerard Fianen at INDES-IDS BV to discuss your application and configuration.


Successful implementation of marketing technology is built on a foundation of solid configuration and training, but it doesn't stop there. As your marketing strategies evolve, so should your martech tools. To get the most out of your investment, you'll need to continually develop custom programs, tweak strategies and track results. The advantage of tools like Marketo, Iterable and other platforms is that they were created specifically to support scalable, repeatable and measurable marketing, even as your business requirements change and your digital strategy evolves.
But with any martech product, it takes work to make it work for you.
Audit current system use, develop and document processes, and configure system for optimal performance.
Assist in system selection, develop big-picture strategies, and create custom programs to support business needs.
Ensure long-term success with marketing technology through documented processes, employee training, and ongoing support.
Not only do we know the ins and outs, but we know the ups and downs as well. You'll learn how to avoid pitfalls and navigate the common pain points that come with the embracing marketing technology. Your team will gain confidence as they get familiar with the systems, and we'll still be here if you get stuck – or when you're ready to take your marketing to the next level.
A framework that leverages the native capabilities of Marketo, Iterable and other platforms, The Gold Standard creates a predictable approach to the process, design and optimization of scalable, repeatable and measurable marketing strategies for companies.
We apply our proprietary Gold Standard framework to partner-based solutions to boost clients' strategies related to content (UberFlip), video marketing (23), direct mail (PFL), lead routing (LeanData), and lead integration (Integrate).
Managed services that meet your business's exact needs. Whether you are looking for a strategic partner that acts as true extension of your marketing team, or need support with day-to-day operations, our managed services can be customized to your requirements.


Create Impact, Drive Interest, And Inspire Action. It's What We Do.
Our main objective is to create a memorable logo for your brand. We ensure that every application of your logo and the rest of your visual identity is consistent in terms of colours, fonts, layouts, measurements and so forth. Consistency makes your brand recognisable. Let's get started on your logo today!
Crafting a brand is a shared endeavour between us and the client. That's why we take the time and attention to understand what your business is truly about to build a brand that makes an impact. Checkout some of our branding work here.
When it's done right, event branding has the power to bring businesses to a new level of industry prominence. BDifferent can plan and deliver event branding from scratch to completion. Plus, we'll provide you with a real life mock-up so you can visualise what it will look like.
Together with our graphics partners in the UK we can supply long lasting vinyl graphics for a variety of vehicle types including commercial vans and taxis. Anything from simple logos to full wraps is possible with our high quality materials and experienced fitting teams.We also have a catalogue of vehicle templates to ensure a perfect fit and quick turnaround. And finally as an alternative we can also offer one-way vision graphics that can be used on windows. Our prices will not be beaten.
We can design the perfect outdoor campaign for your business. We also recommend locations and buy outdoor advertising on your behalf. Whether you want bus, Luas, train or street advertising we can deliver it all. With our design expertise we can create stand-out visuals to represent your business or recreate tired advertising. If you are not sure what's best for your business feel free to contact us for a chat.
Want to create millions of impressions? If the answer is yes, then you should consider sports club branding. We can produce everything from wall wraps, boards and signage are catered for in a variety of finishes and sizes. No job is too large, we can perform a comprehensive site survey including in depth discussions about your requirements for a variety of budgets.
BDifferent can create some stand-out digital assets to communicate your brand's positioning to your audience. We start with defining your customer and start building it out from there. Over the years we have created some super creative graphics for all types of businesses for their social media platforms, internet banner ads and websites.
We are a creative agency that prides itself on ideas, we travel the world for inspiration and apply it to our projects to create something, well, different! Some companies have their own in-house marketing teams and hire us for our ideas only. If you are looking to spice-up your marketing, give us a call today!


text:
Why The Tourist stars Danielle Macdonald and Shalom Brune-Franklin wanted to film more of their scenes together
By Rachael Gavin|25 days ago
Australian actresses Danielle Macdonald and Shalom Brune-Franklin might not have many scenes together in Original Stan series The Tourist, but that didn't stop them from becoming good friends during the shoot.
The Tourist stars Irish actor Jamie Dornan as "The Man". The nameless character finds himself stranded in the outback with amnesia, after being driven of the road by a tank truck. He then ends up in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase all while trying to figure out who he is and why he's being pursued.
Stream The Tourist on Stan.
In the six-part series, Macdonald plays police officer Helen while Brune-Franklin plays waitress Luci. Helen is on her first week of the job when she's asked to check on The Man in hospital, and Luci encounters him when he follows a clue from the crash.
Macdonald told 9Entertainment that she and Brune-Franklin "soaked up" what little time they shared on set.
"We didn't get to spend enough time filming together, we were so mad about it. It's just the way the script works but it was very, very fun when we actually got to be on screen, we were like 'Oh wow this is a novelty'," she said.
Danielle Macdonald and Shalom Brune-Franklin in one of their few scenes together in The Tourist. (Stan)
Brune-Franklin revealed just how tight-knit they were as they got to know each other while filming on location in South Australia.
"Me and Danielle have been like off-screen besties, not on-screen. We literally cross paths very little in the show, but we milked the week or two we were on set together so much — we were joined at the hip," she said.
The captivating scripts for The Tourist attracted Macdonald to the series; after reading just 20 pages she was ready to sign on.
"It hooked me instantly, I fell in love with the character instantly and [I loved] the tone of the show," she said. "It's quirky but serious and dramatic and there's all these twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat."
Helen tries to figure out who The Man is while figuring out her own identity issues. (Stan)
Macdonald was excited to return home to Australia to film the series, after finding fame in the US with roles in critically acclaimed indie movie Patty Cakes and the much-loved Netflix movie Dumplin'.
Her character Helen is one many women will relate to, as she struggles to find self-confidence and trust her instincts when she's so new to the job.
"I personally was really excited to explore Helen because it's almost like there are these boundaries that she's set for herself in her relationship and her life. She thinks she fits into this box and she doesn't actually — that's not who she is, but she's just living this life that someone put her in," Macdonald explained.
"When she meets The Man her whole job is to help him find out who he is — he has no memory — and she really finds out who she is on this journey. She comes into her own, finds her own confidence which lends into her life as well with her fiancé."
Helen is on her first week as a probationary constable when she investigates The Man's accident. (Stan)
While Macdonald went into The Tourist with a good grasp on Helen's identity, it was a different story for Doctor Doctor star Brune-Franklin. Her character Luci is hiding secrets from her past which are revealed as the series unfolds.
Brune-Franklin tried not to worry about Luci's mysterious backstory, and focused on what the character was going through moment to moment.
"I really just trusted in the writing and there were little nuggets that they give you as the scripts go on. As you're reading more and more, you're like 'Oh this makes sense of why she did this', but there's still a lot that's left up to the imagination," she said.
Luci's past is just as mysterious as The Man's. (Stan)
"I can't imagine what people are going to think about why she's ended up in the positions that she's in. You get some answers, you won't get completely anything..." Brune-Franklin teased.
"She just has an interesting relationship with the truth so even when I was reading it, I had trust issues with the character. I was constantly having to go to the director, the script supervisor or the writers to be like 'Is this true or am I going to read later on that this is actually all made up?' So that's been fun."
Luci gets caught up in The Man's terrifying situation. (Stan)
Though Macdonald and Brune-Franklin didn't get to film much together, they each had plenty of time working with Belfast and 50 Shades of Grey star Dornan. Both described him as funny, kind and full of energy.
"He's a really hard worker and he's very much an amazing lead actor to have because he's so great with the entire crew and cast. He's just really warm and he really gathers everyone in, everyone's an equal and it's really nice being around him. He's also a great scene partner, you know, it's fun to play with him in scenes," Macdonald added.
Jamie Dornan plays 'The Man' in The Tourist. (Stan)
And if you're wondering what sort of adventure The Tourist is going to take you on when you sit down to watch it, Brune-Franklin thinks the series will definitely get you thinking.
"How much do our past actions influence who we are now and are we able to change? And do we give people second chances in life or is that it? Are they a write-off? It makes you think about those things — it doesn't necessarily give us solid answers, which I quite like about this series," she said.
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Macdonald believes The Tourist will take you on a "wild ride".
"I hope that it's fun and entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat, but I hope there is an element of relatability to any of the characters to self-growth that any of that, you always got to hope for that. But I also hope, it's such an interesting genre where it's such a mix of comedy and drama," she said.
The Tourist premieres January 2, only on Stan.
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