i think Horowitz does a good job of making the reader forget that the main character is a child and would normally never be capable of spy activities, but I also think he does a good job of sprinkling in Alex's youth, like when he's undercover as a ball boy in Wimbledon and he witnesses a guard acting very suspiciously but forgets about it entirely because the tennis games are so entertaining
like, it makes sense. this is a teen at a global sporting event, it makes sense that it would distract Alex. and then you remember he shouldn't be working for MI6 at all. packs a nice punch in my opinion
( brad pitt, forty-nine, male, he/him ) Have you seen JIMMY BENNETT around ? I hear he’s a FORTUNE 500 CONSULTANT who can sometimes be MANIPULATIVE & VENGEFUL. But I also heard he can be CHARMING & DEVOTED if you catch him on a good day. he’s usually hanging around EDEN in his spare time. i sure hope he’s alright ! ( fox, she/her, 21, pacific, n/a )
like or reply to this and i’ll DM you (or hit up my discord!)
jimmy did not grow up rich. in fact, his fondest memory is stealing his daddy’s old beater of a truck and joy riding. he did this countless times, garnering him some skill behind the wheel and a bit of a juvie rap sheet. his daddy taught him that hard work with your hand’s is the foundation of every success story. in this case, jimmy spent his summers with horses, mucking out stables every day in hopes of getting to pick out a friend of his own.
when jimmy was sixteen, he decided it was about time to make his own way in life. he skipped town and moved from louisville, kentucky to… well, some bum-fuck nowhere town that never did much for him. but it was there that he met one of the most beautiful ladies he had ever laid his eyes on. if you ask, he won’t tell you her name–but he will tell you about the way she could melt any man just by looking at him.
while he attended college, this beautiful lady of his was the closest thing to a girlfriend he’d ever had. unfortunately, when he got a job offer in new york city, he couldn’t turn it down and she wouldn’t come with him. up until that day, he was sure heartbreak was bullshit.
but things went well. he grew in the company, worked his way up, and one day someone said: y'know, you should really do this kinda thing for a living after a particularly good conversation about the growth of the company. from that day on, he pushed as hard as he could until he got a bit of a reputation.
somewhere along the way, he met that beautiful girl again. the two married and settled in idaho while jimmy worked from home. at forty years old, jimmy was sure that becoming a father was not an option; but the way that little girl’s eyes gleamed the same green made him melt in an entirely different way.
jimmy won’t tell you why he hasn’t seen his ex wife or daughter in four years. but he will tell you about the way a woman can put her own child at risk just to prove a point.
nowadays, jimmy bennett is a rather prolific economic consultant, working for various companies from the top fortune 500s to small start-ups. while it isn’t his passion, per se, he’s goddamn good at it. while jimmy’s job primarily relies on his ability to be charming and professional, he’s got the smarts to back it up in the form of two masters (statistics, economics) and about fifteen years’ experience in the field. the charm is for the secretaries–the real shit starts once the doors close.
but the thing he enjoys more than rubbing elbows with the richest people in the world is simple: the man loves the outdoors. he can’t get enough of finding a big rock to climb and a long trail to hike. when he’s not stuffed up in a suit and tie, he’s checked out of city life and into dirtbagging.
his second choice? driving. most of the time he spends his evenings driving around seeking out an interesting place to spend his night. currently, he owns two cars: a sky blue mclaren 720s and silver porsche (which he very strictly pronounces as porsch-a) 918 spyder–and yes, he will tell all about how wonderful they are to drive.
jimmy moved to chicago for a job. he stayed for the families. when you make friends with people in the right places, you learn a lot about inner workings of a city. it just so happens that jimmy got a little bored with the idea of another tech startup and became absolutely enthralled with the idea of an old style mobster empire. when the time is right, he will make his best attempt to get involved.
Day 26 of the July Study Challenge | 🎶akmu - dinosaur
i couldn’t pick just one favorite quote, so i decided to make a post with my top 5 favorite quotes!
1. everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. be kind, always.
we are quick to jump to conclusions, and say harsh words we don’t mean. keeping this in mind helps me remember that you never know what someone could be going through, and to be gentle.
2. when thinking about life, remember this: no amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future.
what has happened has happened, and this quote has helped me learn lessons from my past and move forward. as i am also prone to overthinking, this helps me realize that i shouldn’t worry so much about what will happen.
3. there are 3 rules in life: 1. if you do not go after what you want, you will never have it. 2. if you do not ask, the answer will always be no. 3. if you do not step forward, you will always remain in the same place.
pretty self-explanatory. i like the logicalness of these rules, and how simple they are, yet profound. i remember these whenever i am hesitating or unsure, when i am worried about something, or when i cannot give something my all.
4. you have to continue to work even when you’re not being praised. you have to dig deep and go the extra mile because breakthroughs don’t happen when you do the bare minimum. it has to come from you and be for you. it all comes down to you.
it is hard to keep going when everything feels pointless. why should i keep working hard? no one even notices or recognizes my efforts. what is the point in reaching for excellence? will this even benefit me in the end? whenever i get like this, this quote reminds me of the answers to these questions.
5. motivation is what gets you started. habit is what keeps you going.
motivation, that lets-do-this!! attitude only lasts for so long. simple motivation is not enough to power you through everything. discipline and habit will keep you on you path, even when you can’t bring yourself to.
these quotes have really helped me when i was struggling, and i hope they can do that for you too!
also it's really fucked up at a teacher at Brookland saw Alex talking to a strange man and walked away.
...the whole school knew that there was something odd about him. [...] Mr. Wiseman decided to ignore the situation. Alex could look after himself and he would doubtless turn up later. He hoped. (pg. 26)
honestly it is no wonder MI6 has been able to take advantage of Alex twice already, considering how every adult in Alex's life continues to fail him :[
