#Star Struck Photography

[onewiththestarss]

[reysdriver]

Mattress Acting | P.P.

Day 8 of Kinktober: Photography/Sex Tape — peter x fem!reader

warnings: 18+, Minors DNI - smut, sex tape, slight exhibitionism, oral (f receiving), unprotected sex, piv sex, creampie

words: 1.3k

a/n: I told yall im gonna stick to kinktober even tho its literally december! NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT??

The idea had struck you both at the same time last night. When Peter had picked up his camera off his dresser as you were changing into your pyjamas. You heard the click sound of the shutter when you were pulling your shirt over your head, and you knew exactly what it was. 

After pulling off the piece of fabric, you saw your boyfriend standing against the wall with a cheeky grin on his face. 

“I’ll delete it, I promise.” He said, still smiling. 

“You don’t have to.” You told him. “I always like when you use me as a model.”

So now here you were, getting dressed up in your nicest set of sexy underwear while Peter was in his boxers, setting up his camera on a tripod beside your bed. 

Once you were done getting ready, you came out of the bathroom and called for Peter’s attention. He looked up at you with wide eyes. As much as you loved his flattery, you were excited to start and didn’t want to waste much time. 

“How’s the camera?” You asked, motioning to the stand. 

“All set up, everything looks good.” He answered. “I’ll press record whenever you’re ready.”

You smiled at him excitedly. “Let’s make a sex tape, then.”

He pressed the red button on the top of the device, then walked you back to the bed. He kissed you as he laid you back against the sheets, then softly pecked the crown of your head. 

“You’re gonna be a goddamn movie star, baby.” Peter told you, then returned to your lips as he laid atop you. 

His large hands started travelling all across your body. They started at your cheeks as he held your face close, then they started moving down. 

Then, at your chest, they cupped your breast over the bra and kneaded at the lush flesh. When he felt that wasn’t enough for him, he moved one of his hands to your back, and you arched for him, He easily manoeuvred the clasp open, and kept going how he was before. 

And finally, at your hips, he pulled you tightly against him, and you could feel his boner through his boxers. Unfortunately, with that and your panties, there were still two layers of fabric separating you from your boyfriend. Now that just couldn’t be anymore.  

Luckily, Peter seemed to share your sentiment because he hooked two fingers around your waistband and tugged slightly, wordlessly telling you to lift your hips. And you did, of course. You let him pull down your underwear, and he pulled away from the kiss so he could toss them aside. You watched as he discarded them in the direction of the tripod, and they fell to the floor after hitting the stand about a foot under the camera. 

Oh, that camera. You felt the same rush whenever Peter used you as the subject of his photography. In school, he went to you first for every photography assignment he could possibly fit you into—partially because he claimed you as his inspiration, and partially because he knew how much you loved it. 

You were pulled out of your haze when you felt Peter shifting his body down along the bed so he could hold his face between your legs. 

A swarm of butterflies rushed from your core into your stomach when Peter pressed that first warm kiss to your centre. As if your limbs were moving without you even thinking about them, your legs interlocked behind Peter’s back and your hands latched onto his soft hair. 

It seemed like he took your actions as a sort of motivation, he brought his mouth to your clit and began working it. You didn’t even have to perform for the camera; his kisses unleashed a perfectly pornographic moan from deep inside you. 

God, the way he knew how to please you with just his mouth was insane. Each and every movement of his tongue or his lips was just so amazingly perfect. 

You knew from the start that you wouldn’t last long, but when Peter just kept lapping at your pussy while using all the moves he had kept track of over the time you’ve been together because he knew they made you cum, of course the petit mort was almost here. 

Your vision quickly became dark and you started seeing stars. Your jaw fell slack and your hands gripped your boyfriend’s hair. It was almost unbelievable how good he was at this. 

And it wasn’t even close to over yet. 

“Pete.” You breathed. “That was amazing.”

“Just trying to put on a good show.” He shrugged. He was acting nonchalant, but you could see his smile peeking through his lips. 

He lifted himself up, and you could see his hard member straining against his boxers. It was definitely one of your favourite sights of all time. 

“You want me to help you with that?” You asked happily. 

And because you both knew what the answer was going to be, he just smiled back at you as he removed the little bit of fabric that was covering him. 

You dragged your fingers along your own slit, picking up some of your own slick to use as lubrication, then you brought your hand up to grasp his cock as he sat beside you. 

Peter inhaled deeply when you wrapped your hand around his dick, and his sounds of pleasure only increased in volume when you started to jerk him off. He definitely didn’t need the extra arousal—he was already hard as a rock from eating you out—but maybe you just wanted to build anticipation even more. 

After what you felt was a sufficient amount of strokes to move him along and raise lust, you sat up and nestled yourself onto his lap. You guided him to your pussy and sank down onto him. The stretch around him was so perfect; you and Peter were both audible in proving that. 

With hands on his shoulders to steady yourself, you started bouncing up and down on his cock. You kept riding your boyfriend, motivated by his sweet groans close to your ear, but the task was getting somewhat tiresome. Not that it wasn’t exciting, but you felt like your energy had been largely used up by Peter eating you out. 

And he clearly noticed this because he brought his hands up to your hips so he could do the hard work. He started lifting and lowering you for both your pleasures, and he did it brilliantly. 

You felt Peter gradually tense up, and you knew he was almost at his climax. He twitched once, then twice, inside of you before releasing pumps of cum inside of you. He kept using you for a few pumps after he was all done, then while still inside of you, he laid you on your back and pressed a series of soft kisses on the side of your neck. 

Once you had both cooled down, Peter slowly pulled out of you and reached over to the camera and stopped the recording before lying back down and cuddling with you. You hummed with his touch and thanked him quietly. He smiled back at you and interlocked your hands. 

“Can we watch it together tomorrow night?” You asked. 

Peter brought your hand up to his face and kissed it gently. “Of course. I’ll even promise not to touch the camera until then so I won’t see anything.”

He was too sweet. You pulled the duvet over the two of you and tucked the two of you in with the blanket.

He spoke up again. “And then I can even pick out the best shots, and we could get them framed and put them right up on the wall there.” He smiled and tapped the wall behind the headboard. 

You laughed along with him, but you weren’t entirely opposed to the idea. 

[fools-ramblings-and-whatnot]

Drabble: The Beautiful Apothecary is Not a Villain!

A scenario in connection with the Erotic Romance Writer Yuu.

Pairings: Vil x F! Yuu Warnings: None yet

Vil will kill me...

Yuu thought as she exited her apartment as discreetly as she could, the cool air giving her goosebumps. She had no choice but to leave the apartment earlier than usual, for fear that some reporters would still be lurking. Thanks to Deuce being an agent of law, the police was able to disperse the crowd. It's been a week since the whole fiasco, and Yuu had talked to the publishing house. She should also probably find a lawyer, but with the many obligations she had to still finish regarding her Photography job, it was quite an impossible feat.

She looked at her phone, it was still its three in the morning. Her eye caught the many missed calls and text message notifications she had been ignoring for weeks and sighed, and then she laughed at herself silently.

She can't escape her friends' questions forever.

Besides, she still had to meet Vil. Today is the photoshoot for his new line of Nature-based Cosmetic line, and she had to shoot early in the woods.

Well, maybe it won't be awkward.

Vil is professional after all.

.

.

.

It was indeed, awkward as hell.

Yuu sat beside Vil in the car he had sent to pick her up. At first, when the ex-prefect saw the vehicle, she was thankful for being saved from the long commute. Now? Not-so-much.

Vil had greeted her nonchalantly when she entered the car, Vil sitting on the other side of the passenger seat. The vehicle looked regular, probably to avoid attention, however, it was spacious enough for 3 people to be in the backseat. It was only the two of them but it felt so cramped.

The car ride was silent.

Vil, instead of reading his usual magazines, was reading her novella. Specifically, the one Yuu wrote loosely based on Vil , " The Poisonous Apothecary is not a Villain!". It was one of her first seven works, so it was a bit clumsily written, albeit many critics and fans had said the plot was good, what Yuu was worried about was not the plot but the smut scenes written in the book.

"Pft."

Yuu wanted to jump of the car right then or when she heard her upperclassman laugh. Was that an 'amused laugh' or 'I'm-will-curse -you-to-never-be-able-to-write-again" laugh?

The car ride was two-hour long but it felt like an eternity.

It was one thing that THE Vil Schoenheit was reading the novella based on him besides the author, it's another thing that he is also the star in the live-action movie based on the same.

Yuu doesn't really understand why he accepted it, it was probably not his cup of tea since he's usually in much bigger productions. So when your publisher, three days before, had told you that Vil ACCEPTED the role despite it being a downgrade to his usual movies, you felt like lightning struck you. It must be deliberate, no way it can't be.

"Yuu.."

The ex-prefect jolted from her sit. "Yes?"

Vil's lips curled into a sardonic smile.

"We're here."

[moonxytcn]

Hellooooo should you mind taking a billie request? We attend the met galla but we arent famous. We watch billie on the red carpet and can't help but be star struck! She some how notices us and we start talking from there.

it all started at the Met Gala

Billie Eilish x fem!reader

summary – who would have thought that a photographer would catch the attention of a famous singer

warnings – fluffy

a/n – Heyy thanks for the request!! Guys, sometimes it can take me a little while to publish because I study in the morning and work in the afternoon, so the whole week I only have the evening free, so most of the time I leave it to write on Saturday or Sunday, so sorry if it takes me a while to respond to your request. 😅

English is not my first language so there may be some errors.

This gif isn't mine, I found it on Pinterest 

–––

The red carpet of the Met Gala was a sea of extravagant colors and endless flashes. Among the photographers eager to capture the most iconic moments of the night, you was there, trying to stand out amidst the crowd. And then, she appeared.

Billie Eilish gracefully glided down the red carpet, her outfit exuding a unique blend of elegance and eccentricity. Your camera couldn't resist her presence, and you found yourself focusing on her more than any other celebrity.

As you snapped photos, our gazes met for a brief moment. She smiled subtly, and your heart skipped a beat. You couldn't believe she had noticed you among so many other photographers.

Days after the Met Gala, as you reviewed your photos and daydreamed about that brief encounter, a notification flashed on your phone. It was a message from Billie Eilish. You felt your heart accelerate at the same moment and suddenly it seemed like there was no more blood being pumped through your body

"Hello! I saw your photos from the Met Gala and loved your work. Would you like to talk more about photography, if you're interested."

Your fingers trembled as you typed a response, trying to keep calm in the face of the unique opportunity that presented itself.

"Of course! I'm flattered by the compliment. I would love to talk about photography with you."

And so began our conversation, delving into topics that went beyond photography. You discovered shared interests, inside jokes, and a connection that seemed to transcend the glamorous world she lived in.

As your conversations deepened, you decided to meet in person. You opted for discreet encounters, away from the curious eyes of the media.

In cozy cafes and tranquil parks, you shared laughter and confidences. She was much more than the pop star the world saw; she was a genuine person, full of passion and vulnerability.

Each moment together was an escape from the constant pressure and scrutiny. And so, your relationship flourished, fueled by the intimacy and mutual support you found in each other.

While you kept your relationship a secret, the world began to notice the closeness between you. Rumors and speculations emerged on social media, but you chose not to comment.

Finally, at a public event, she took your hand and introduced you to the world as her girlfriend. The reaction was a mix of surprise and admiration, but nothing could shake the happiness you felt together.

And so, the unknown photographer and the pop star found love amidst the chaos of the world. Your story may have begun on the red carpet of the Met Gala, but its true brilliance was in every moment you shared together.

[andy-wm]

When Love Reveals Itself

The intersection of public and private in life and art.

A few years ago I watched Her Private Life, a k-drama starring Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook, both of whom I love seeing on-screen, and ONE (Jung Jae-won) who is adorably cute in this series.

If you haven't seen it, here's a synopsis...

It's ostensibly about an art gallery curator - Doekmi - and her relationship with Ryan, the newly appointed director of the gallery (a position she deserved but of course didn't get). That part of narrative is a highly satisfying but predictable rom-com.

Doekmi is also a secret fangirl, and tries desperately (hilariously) to hide this side of her life, but that doesn't work out. I love the way this is dealt with and the understanding of the complexities of fan culture shown by the writers and cast. It's very relatable.

But maybe most importantly, this was one of the first k-dramas I watched that had an overtly queer narrative strand. I wont spoil anything but Ryan (Kim Jae-wook) is an absolute fucking legend in his efforts to be an LGBTQIA+ ally, even if he gets EVERYTHING wrong.

So how does this relate to our photo of Jimin, knee deep in water and smiling like this?

Episode 5 of Her Private Life has one of the most poignant scenes I've ever watched in a k-drama.

The scene isn't part of a major plot point but there are SPOILERS here.

The scene centres on an unpublished self-portrait taken by (deceased) renowned photographer-Yoon who was famous for his landscape photography. The portrait was his final photograph, taken just before he died.

The portrait was gifted to a reclusive writer who was lifelong friends with photographer-Yoon. He owns the rights to the photo, and he won't release it for publication.

The portrait in question

Deokmi and Ryan are trying to convince the writer to allow the portrait to be displayed in an upcoming exhibition of work by photographer Yoon. The writer adamantly refuses.

Why?

Yoon is looking at someone he loves.

As Deokmi observes, the portrait shows Yoon smiling not at the camera, but at someone in front of the camera.

He is looking at someone he loves.

For the writer, the portrait reveals too much. It exposes photographer-Yoon's feelings for the person in front of the camera, who is of course the writer himself. The writer knew of Yoon's feelings for him but could never acknowledge them while his friend was alive.

Lets go back to the photo of Jimin.

Something that really struck me about this photo of Jimin is the context of it. It was during the LGO MV shooting. He was splashing Jin and laughing, creating a small, happy moment for the music video (for us).

But covid was rife and the world was at a standstill. Jimin was personally and privately devastated during this time*. It was part of the MV brief, I'm sure, to show that you could still find joy in simple things but we know he himself was not happy.

So the happiness we see in those images is not his personal happiness. Even though he does genuinely look like hes having fun, that happiness is manufactured for us.

And then he looks up at the photographer and this we get this poignant, beautiful smile. Open, unguarded, and holding nothing back, his expression is so soft, so genuinely glad to see the person behind the camera.

He is looking at someone he loves and who he knows loves him in return.

"I see you, and everything is better. The sun comes out because you’re here with me," It says.

There's a stillness in this image, as though Jimin -singled out - stopped what he was doing to look back at the photographer, shutting out all the activity surrounding the two of them and stealing a quiet moment with that person.

And that stolen moment would have remained secret and private forever, had the photographer not shared this photo.

But they did.

The photographer gave it to us.

Was this just for aesthetic reasons?

I don't believe so.

Of course, it is a beautiful portrait of Jimin. Aesthetically and emotively it's a striking photograph, but there must me HUNDREDS of beautiful photos of Jimin. The photographer could have chosen ANY of them. But they chose this one.

Now we have this moment on record.

We get to see Jimin feeling this love. We see him the way the photographer sees him. And yes, we know who he is looking at.

We know who was behind the camera.... because the photograher shared this with us too.

Jungkook makes sure we know who took that photograph.

His Private Life becomes Art

In the drama series, the writer relents and takes Doekmi and Ryan upstairs to show them a locked room. It is full of photographs of himself, taken by photographer-Yoon over many years. In all of the pictures, he looks happy. Deokmi describes it as 'a love letter to the writer, from Photographer Yoon'.

The writer admits that he is ashamed that he never acknowledged Yoon's feelings. He didn't dislike them but he didn't have the courage to respond to them, which is why he can't release the portrait now. He can't reveal to the world how Yoon felt, when its too late to tell him that he knew, and that he didn't reject that love.

Ryan looks around at all the photos and says "Did you really ignore his heart? This smile does not look like it. You did not know your own heart, but photographer Yoon could have known it. As a photographer, how could he not notice it. He knew."

Their Private Life becomes public

That photo of Jimin is everywhere. Jungkook made sure of that.

The reticence of the two men in Her Private Life is nowhere to be found here.

Jungkook took this photo of the man he loves and one look at Jimin's face tells us that love is returned.

Just like photographer Yoon, Jungkook saw it and he knew we would all see it too.

But instead of hiding the picture in a locked room for decades, Jungkook published it in the most public forum imaginable. He put it into the music video for Life Goes On.

He consciously chose for us to see that photo.

Don't forget, he was the director of that music video too...

That private stolen moment, full of love and fondness, shows Jimin at his softest and his most vulnerable.

And maybe that's a side of Jimin only Jungkook sees. Maybe Jungkook wants us to know the Jimin HE knows. The open, unguarded Jimin who wears his heart on his sleeve the way Jungkook does. The most authentic, unafraid, beautiful Jimin.

The Jimin he loves the most.

💛💜

°~☆~°

*He told us in his Vlives, he told us in his album, he told us in his interviews. It was a hard, hard time for him.

[hazz-a-bear]

F A M I L Y ​​​​​ 2.0  — young dumb broke high school kids.

meet the friend group the actual family.

masterlist | wattpad

──── ★

BEXLEY GREEN » the soulmate

1994 // BRITISH

⊹ ࣪ ˖ pursues photography and filmmaking...

how they met .ᐟ

When aviana first joined North Hampstead High and started going to her classes, Bexley - who was on the same class - was on a week-long leave. When she returned to school, she found the new girl sitting on her usual seat and immediately, an unspoken rift was created. The two despised each other for months because of the incident. But one day, Bexley was moved out of her usual seat as a punishment and sat next to Aviana. And the rest - is history.

[ aviana + bexley ␥ *whispers* + "she said no cheese, asshole" ]

Bexley is the person Aviana considers to be her lifeline. In contrast to their rather embarrassing past, the two girls share a friendship that runs deeper than pictures together or birthday wishes at twelve. With their quite opposite personalities, Bexley and Aviana almost perfectly complete each other. Though Bexley is the last person Aviana imagines being best friends with, she will forever thank the stars for bringing the girl to her.

Bexley loves reading. Aviana prefers movies over books. Bexley communicates in spam texts. Aviana leaves her on read most of the time. Aviana plays three sports. Bexley is unable to move a muscle without one complaint. Bexley's favourite ice cream flavour is mint chocolate. Aviana loathes it and calls it toothpaste. Despite all their petty differences, Bexley and Aviana balance each other out like the yin and yang. If it had to be personified, it would most probably be the two of them. Though the two of them can't remember each other's birthdates and go months without talking to each other, they'll still be each other's first choice no matter what.

₊ ⊹

❝Aviana is singlehandedly the biggest asshole I've ever met. She's fake and she's rude to people without a reason. I'm rude too but, you know? She needs to get that fakeness beaten out of her❞

+

❝Bexley called me a failed abortion the other day. I just don't understand how she has the audacity to say stuff like that when she literally looks like a failed Area 51 experiment❞

played by: charlotte lawrence

──── ★

KIM YUNGHO » the twin

1994 // JAPANESE-SOUTH KOREAN

⊹ ࣪ ˖ pursues business and management...

how they met .ᐟ

The first sport Aviana joined at North Hampstead High was badminton. On her very first day of practice, she took her new duffel bag and water bottle and left them on the bleachers instead of the locker room - All without noticing the bag in the exact same design sitting on a row of seats behind hers. Once Aviana finished practices, she grabbed her bag for a change of clothes and instead of the familiar tracksuit she expected to find, she discovered a pair of Hello Kitty pyjama pants and a body spray that had expired in 2004. Too struck with the whole situation of mixing up bags with a stranger, Aviana simply decided to inform the coach, take the bag home, give it a good wash and throw away the body spray because what the hell. When an announcement rings through the school the next day about returning missing bags, Aviana gets up from her seat to make eye contact with a taller boy from the other side of the class, also standing with her bag thrown over his shoulder. The class falls into a quiet laugh and he asks her to join her for lunch and oh, this guy is kind of cool.

[ aviana + yungho ␥ black cat + chaotic black cat ]

Aviana and Yungho initially bonded over being in the same sport, going from senior-junior to captain-vice captain of the NHH badminton team in a matter of years. Aside from that - Sanrio, SHINee and a shared love for Disney shows is what brought them close. Though Youngho and Aviana get to know each other rather early, they only become close friends outside the court later in the year. While Bexley is the closest to her heart, Youngho is the one Aviana spends the most time with. Maybe it's because he has attachment issues or their interests align with each other perfectly - but the two consistently keep up with each other more than the rest.

Aviana and Yungho is always supporting each other's obsessions despite how niche or ridiculous they are. Aviana is the one to be blamed for the hoard of cats that reside in the Kim household while it is partly Yungho's fault that she has to hide 114 plushies in her closet. The two are in sync with each other when it comes to hate and pop culture - unstoppable once they've started talking shit about anything and everything. Though the two speak in internet memes half the time, Aviana and Yungho share a special bond that runs deep in their veins.

₊ ⊹

❝I can't believe Aviana hasn't bought me a mansion with an infinity pool and a basement with an arcade. Like, what do you think we made you famous for? To sit in my 2003 garage and watch you be successful? By yourself?❞

+

❝My spirit animal? If I had to choose, I'd say Yungho. He's my friend and I'm aware that he is indeed very much human. But he isn't far from being an animal so, might as well❞

played by: yang jeongin

──── ★

FARRAH ABDHUL  » the mom friend

1994 // BANGLADESHI

⊹ ࣪ ˖ pursues psychology...

how they met .ᐟ

Aviana's first introduction is very expected, very traditional and cliche. When Aviana is first enrolled at North Hampstead High, she is sent home advised about how she'd get a student buddy by her side for the first week - giving her tours, guiding her around the school and helping her settle in. When she comes to school on the first day, Aviana is approached by a girl with a big smile and shy eyes peeking from beneath a stack of fliers. "Are you Aviana?" She's asked, fingers twiddling with her lilac hijab. Once they've got it cleared, the girl introduces herself as Farrah, her student buddy. Though Aviana doesn't expect herself to follow the girl around the school not only for the week but for the rest of her time, she can't exactly say she regrets anything.

[ aviana + fuzzy ␥ mom + daughter ]

Farrah is the calmest and sweetest soul Aviana has met, that is the simplest way to put it. Not only with her quiet and naturally kind personality, Farrah is considered to be the mom friend of the group - always keeping track of them and never letting them out of her child. She has a pure instinct to be responsible for the four others that makes her stress like a woman in her 30s, always fussing over them like a single mom and not letting them slip through the cracks of the family bond she'd created.

Aside from being overly protective and compassionate towards a bunch of losers like that, Farrah is also a child of nature. Farrah simply has a lot of love to give. Growing up in a big family with multiple siblings, she isn't one to shy away from showing her love through hugs, kisses and friendship bracelets.

₊ ⊹

❝Aviana and me - we're like the sky and the ocean. We're so different but so...attuned with each other? She's like my baby, my actual daughter. She makes me want to be a mom sometimes. Wait, is that weird?❞

+

❝Farrah is the only one who can actually calm me down without doing anything. I can feel the world around me quiet down just by looking at her❞

played by: n/a

──── ★

MAXWELL O'CONNELL » the single dad

1994 // BRITISH-SOUTH AFRICAN

⊹ ࣪ ˖ pursues hotel management...

how they met .ᐟ

Being a long-time friend of Yungho, Maxwell was introduced to the girls by the latter. The two had initially been friends because they were office-bearers of their respective sports teams, Yungho with Badminton and Maxwell with Hockey. After being introduced and slowly fitting into their little circle of friends, the rest realise that he's the personality they were desperately lacking between them - someone sane to keep their insanity at bay.

[ aviana + max ␥ sunshine + sunshine protector ]

Maxwell O'Connell is one of aviana's close friends. Introduced by Yungho to the rest, Maxwell is the last one to be a part of their friend group despite knowing them from afar. Max's family owns the popularized restaurant in Hampstead Heath, The Lodge and Meadow. In between toggling high school and being teenagers together, Max invited the others to help him out in the kitchen of the restaurant on a particularly busy Sunday. And eventually, the rest ended up with part-time jobs at the place on weekends. He is also, unsurprisingly, the best at culinary out of them.

Aviana knows Max to be the most sensible and responsible one in the group. He's considered to be the dad friend who keeps track of everyone and glues them together. Though Max is very reserved and quiet at first, he's one of the funniest people Aviana has met. With his million-dollar smile and knowledge of dad jokes, Max is someone who can make you laugh regardless of where you are. Aviana takes impromptu cooking classes from him when she has time - which almost always ends up with aviana rage quitting and Max finishing the food by himself.

₊ ⊹

❝Aviana Fernsby, global popstar, yeah, yeah, whatever. To me, she'll forever be the one who put the mayo stains on my mom's kitchen ceiling❞

+

❝Max is the most husband-material person I've met. You've got the looks, you've got the cooking skills, the shy adorable vibes - it's basically hitting the male wife jackpot❞

played by: n/a

──── thank you.

[pianokantzart]

🍽️ and 🎶 with morty x luigi

🍽️ Dinner date 🎶 Dancing

Luigi never before envisioned himself as the one to make the first move in any romantic scenario, but after starring in so many films, scripts, and photoshoots, he felt as though he and Morty had already been dating for some time now. Then again, there was a large difference between being someone's boyfriend and being someone's muse. Being a muse meant being put on a pedestal for the sake of the arts, playing on the outskirts of reality to feed into whatever new creation was being forged. Dating? That meant a return to earth, being mundane and flawed. Being a human. Luigi felt somewhat awkward as a muse... like he was lying, somehow, despite the slew of creations he inspired... but he also couldn't deny the warm feeling he got when seen as something so rare and beautiful in the eyes of someone so passionate.

Morty agreed to a date. The agreement was casual, lacking that shining thrill of true inspiration, but his excitement grew when Luigi suggested something properly cinematic: dinner and dancing.

Luigi still wasn't sure how it was ghosts ate or danced without corporeal bodies, but a long list of experiences had proven that such things didn't matter. So long as the right sort of energy was abundant in the air, ghosts ate, drank and danced the same way they had in life, and enjoyed it with almost more gusto than those weighed down by flesh. Morty was no different. Luigi asked the ghost to pick an outfit for him. Morty obliged without a second thought, and Luigi was overjoyed to find himself handed a forest-green evening gown that looked straight out of the wardrobe of Rita Hayworth. Morty always appreciated a chance to alter aesthetics to his liking. He was a director after all, and Luigi liked receiving direction– so long, of course, as it came from someone he trusted. They understood each other's tastes... had a shared interest in making each other happy... and making each other happy was so ridiculously easy. Over dinner they talked about everything they loved, barely understanding one another when they broached niche topics, but looking on in adoration as the other unraveled the different corners of the world they never even knew to be so beautiful– cinematography, photography, architecture, gardening, interior design, cooking... Then came the dancing. Four ghosts struck up a string quartet, and as Luigi moved to the ballroom where phantoms spun about in each other's arms, he was surprised to find Morty trying to stay at the dinner table. "I love the aesthetics of it, but I must admit I never learned!" he explained with a tiniest hint of regret in his voice. "Here... you dance, and I'll watch you!" Morty shut one eye and framed up a shot with his hands, like he was already envisioning a film based on the scene. Luigi would have none of it. With a smile and a shake of his head he took the director by the hand and gently guided him to the dance floor. Though Luigi didn't consider himself any sort of expert, knew enough to help a novice along in a simple waltz.

"It doesn't have to be perfect. Doesn't even have to look good at all!" He placed one of the ghost's chilly blue hands on his shoulder while taking the other hand in his own. "Just... move with me. We'll figure it out."

Morty looked uncomfortable only for a second, but his expression quickly blossomed into a playful smile. "Oh-ho! Looks someone's taking charge!" "Well, I do like to be number one, sometimes," Luigi retorted with equal playfulness, punctuating the comment by dipping Morty so low to the ground, they both couldn't help but laugh. "Forget the angle and the lighting for a moment, okey dokey?" Luigi continued, speaking much softer now as– in a moment of boldness– he tugged Morty back up into a close embrace, swaying with him to the music as a calvary of colorful ghosts whirled above and around them. "Just dance."

[eddieredmayneargentinablog]

Beautiful old behind the scenes videoclip of Eddie, from 2008 photoshoot, published by New York Moves Magazine, on YouTube, today!

"Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome, im cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret! For Throwback Thursday, Eddie Redmayne's life has been beautiful since we profiled him in 2008 for The Other Boleyn Girl and The Yellow Handkerchief. Since then, you've seen Eddie win an Oscar for The Theory of Everything, star struck in My Week with Marilyn, and in great voice in Les Misérables. And now as the 2024 Tony-nominated Emcee in Cabaret. Let's root for Eddie to take home the gold and check out his profile linked below, by Richard Grassie @richardrassie shooting in London".

📷 Photography by Richard Grassie

https://newyorkmoves.com/celeb-profil

Related post

📷 My Screenshots.

[x0x0josephinex0x0]

Stars & Butterflies

Summary: Minghao, an art student, has a secret identity, and you’re the only one who knows.

Content: fluff, friends to lovers, college au

I don’t think there’s any warnings needed for this one!

At the shrill sound of a whistle, the kudo athletes spring into motion. You wince as their helmets collide, imagining the sensation. After a few seconds and another whistle, the team relaxes once more, and gather around their head coach. You can’t hear what he says, but a few moments later the team shouts an unintelligible syllable and breaks apart.

You stand up, gathering your things from your seat on the bleachers. Spotting number 8 making his lone way across the field toward you, you skip down the stairs and wait by the fence. “How do you do that?” you ask Minghao as he pulls his helmet off, shaking his shaggy hair and grinning. Even right after a hard practice, he’s infuriatingly beautiful with his half-up man-bun and his caramel skin that shines with sweat.

“It’s easy,” he says, brushing the back of his hand against his forehead. “You get used to it after years of practice.”

“Well, speaking of practice,” you say, “do I finally get to see your magnum opus today?”

He gives a shy grin. “No,” he admits. “She’s not finished yet.”

You are one of the few people who knows the identity of TikTok famous “MoonMuse”, a talented artist who built an almost Banksy-like cult following through mysterious social media posts of beautifully framed art. He’d been commissioned by celebrities, politicians, millionaires and other personalities for his incredible gift with oil paint, harking back to impressionists like Van Gogh and Monet in his style.

It is, in fact, this tall, muscular young college kudo champion standing before you who is behind these art pieces. You only found out because you, a photography student with a penchant for procrastination, fell asleep in the lab, and when you woke up, you had to exit through the painting studio. He had been there at 2:30 in the morning, working on a piece, and you had instantly recognized his style.

He had gone on to explain to you how only you and one of the art professors knew the face of MoonMuse, and begged you to keep his secret. Something in his eyes — the passion, the desperation maybe — had convinced you to agree. Plus, there was nothing to gain from exposing him. It would just be mean. Then, you had asked him if you could watch.

“I can’t paint to save my life,” you had told him, “so there’s no way I could copy you.”

He gave you a half smile before nodding at the chair next to his. Turning back to the canvas, he began adding strokes to a magnificent flowered garden scene.

You had stayed there almost all night. Watching Minghao work had moved you — it was both soothing to watch and inspiring to witness the care he took with even the smallest details of the painting. Through his eyes, the world looked more colorful, more romantic, more beautiful than it really was. You found yourself wanting to live in the world he saw.

Minghao had insisted on walking you home, because you lived across campus and there was a particularly dark and dangerous street you’d needed to cross to get back to your apartment. The walk back had been full of awestruck questions from you. He seemed flattered by the attention, even remarking that since he never saw his clients in person, he never got to witness their reactions to his work.

“So why do you do it?” You’d asked, thinking about the way artistic work often relies on validation. “If not to make them happy, why paint at all?”

He looked at you, then, and laughed. “I don’t ever paint for anyone else. I paint to keep myself sane.”

This struck you as odd. It lingered with you as you worked on your own art, so much that you found yourself waiting for him every night at the painting studio. Most nights he never showed. Finally, though, he had. And, surprisingly, he seemed genuinely excited that you had met again.

This had been the night you had asked him about why he needed to paint to stay sane. Between strokes of his brush, he told you about how he had a painful tendency to give too much of himself. He rarely got to feel or process his own feelings, especially hard or negative ones. That was where painting came in. “When I paint, I get to make these painful things into something that I can look at. I get to make it beautiful so I can process it.”

He had laughed when he’d caught the expression on your face — in awe was probably the best way to put it. “I’m sorry,” You had stuttered, blushing.

“It’s okay,” he had reassured. “I…actually really enjoy how amazed you get about things like this.”

He bumped you with his shoulder comfortingly. You had looked up at him, and his gentle, open, happy smile had actually reached his eyes for the first time.

He’d walked you back again, and this had become your ritual. At the entrance to your apartment building, he’d stopped you with a gentle hand on your arm before you walked away. He’d asked for your phone number.

He’d texted you right as you’d arrived home — just to say goodnight, but also to tell you he wouldn’t be in the studio again til Friday. You had smiled at the butterfly emoji he’d used to close the text. Appropriate — since there were a flock of them in your stomach.

Today marked your 100th meeting. You’d fallen in love with him somewhere around the 33rd — you had invited him to come with you while you practiced astral photography. He had watched you set up your tripod and camera and asked a couple quiet questions, looking absolutely huggable in his puffy coat and beanie at the top of a rugged mountain. The light finally faded, and Minghao had turned his face toward the sky. “Whoa,” he’d whispered.

The sky was full of tiny pinpricks of light, never visible from the city, but here in this mountainous landscape they were clear. It was why you came here -- and part of why you'd invited him. For a moment, he stared, entirely dumbfounded.

Then he looked at you, and you had been shocked to see his eyes filled with tears.

"I've never seen stars like this before," he said, his voice almost reverent. "I couldn't have even imagined that they existed."

You watched as a tear slid down his cheek and fought back an urge to cup his face in your hands. A telltale burn behind your eyes alerted you that you might join him in crying, and you quickly hid your face behind your camera. But he looked back up at the sky, wearing the most peaceful and contented smile you'd ever seen in your life. It was hard not to stare at him. It was hard not to want to protect him from everything bad in the world. And it turned out that it was absolutely impossible not to be in love with him.

On the way back down the mountain, after the moon had risen and ruined any chance for pictures, he'd asked if he could come watch while you developed the photos. Surprised, you had told him that of course he could. There in the dark room, he told you about his life. He told you about leaving his family in China and coming to school to study art on a kudo scholarship. He told you about the bitter homesickness he felt, about how sometimes he felt so anxious about his choice that he couldn't sleep. He told you how desperately afraid he was to reveal himself to the world -- how much his peace meant to him, and how difficult it would be if he lost it.

At this, you felt your eyebrows raise. He noticed. "What?" he asked, a hint of teasing in his tone. "Am I getting a bit too moody for you?"

"No, it's not that," you reassured him. "I get feeling anxious about something that important." Then, choosing your words carefully, you said, "It's just that I don't get that last part. I don't know if you can lose peace."

Now he was the one looking at you with raised eyebrows. "Why do you say that?"

"Because," you said, looking at your hands, "peace is internal. It doesn't come from anyone but you." You forced yourself to look into his eyes. "Why aren't you at peace with yourself?" you had asked him, quietly.

"I don't know," he'd replied.

You had walked home that night in complete silence together. You had worried he was mad at you -- so worried that you turned to face him before you went inside. "Minghao, I --"

But he had stopped your apology by bringing you into a big hug. He smelled like clean laundry and the pine woods you'd left only a few hours earlier. "Don't you dare," he said with a laugh in his voice. "I'm just thinking about what you said. I'm not upset." He seemed a little quiet the next few days, but then he got better.

Indeed, today he seemed to smile much easier than he had when you'd first met him. Right now, with the fresh springtime air on his skin as you walked to his apartment next to the painting studio, he almost had a spring in his step. "You're chipper," you say to him, laughing as he grins widely at you.

"I am," he replies, opening the apartment door for you. "I'll shower and then I have something to give you."

You nod, pulling out your laptop and working on some homework while he gets cleaned off. He comes out from the bathroom looking a little flushed, his hair still wet, and you can hardly take your eyes off him. He smiles at you, patting the side of his hair with a towel. "It's at the studio," he says.

He grabs your hand, whirling you around and pulling you down the stairs to the studio. Placing both hands over your eyes, he guides you through the studio until you come to a stop. Then he lifts his hands from your eyes, placing them instead on your shoulders.

You stare at a medium-sized canvas on which he's painted the most stunningly beautiful picture you've ever seen. It's a mountaintop at night, the stars enchantingly close and vibrantly colored in shades of orange and yellow, beaming down at two small shadowy figures who seem to be gazing up at them in awe. The painting is full of priceless wonder and joy. "This...is amazing," you say, trying not to choke up.

"It's that night," he says, watching your face eagerly, almost hungrily, to discern how you're feeling. "You remember?"

"Of course," you say, nodding. You let out a big gust of air. "I honestly can't understand how you plan on topping this. This isn't your magnum opus?"

He looks at the ground shyly. "Honestly, this is a kid's crayon drawing compared to that one."

Your jaw drops. "I'm not trying to doubt your skill," you say, "but I can't imagine anything more beautiful than this." You approach the painting, almost wanting to touch it, but thinking better of it.

"I can," he says quietly behind you. You look over your shoulder to see him beaming at you. "You can touch it," he adds. "It's yours."

"Mine?" you gasp. "Minghao, I can't. I mean, this should be in an art museum."

"Crazy how it's gonna hang in your house, huh?" he says stubbornly. "Seriously, it's yours."

"What if someone asks where I got it from?"

"Tell the truth," he says. "MoonMuse."

"Then they'll know I know who you are."

He shrugs. "That's okay with me."

You grow desperate. "This is seriously too much. I wish I had somewhere beautiful to put this up, but I don't! It deserves to be seen."

"It will be seen by the eyes that matter," he insists. You blush, but then a noise at the door makes you jump.

"Hey," says a girl at the door. "What is that?"

"A painting," Minghao says tersely. "Who are you?"

But she ignores him. "Whoa," she says, pushing past you to stand right in front of the painting. You wince as she touches it with a greasy finger. "I heard MoonMuse goes to school here, but I never thought..."

"How did you hear that?" you ask, your voice sharp.

She pulls out her phone and shows you a video. It's a sneakily filmed video of Minghao painting. You are sitting in the corner watching in the video, and he says something that makes you laugh. You suddenly feel dizzy as the video cuts to a headline about MoonMuse's identity being revealed. The video says that the person filming realized it was Minghao after he saw what he was painting in his room.

The room painting flashes onto the screen, and you cover your mouth with your hands.

It's a poor-quality image of what looks like a masterpiece. The painting looks familiar. The hair, the eyes, even the nose...

It's you.

Given Minghao's impressionistic style, it's more colorful and more beautiful than you, but it's unmistakeable. He perfectly captured you caught in a laugh, with your hair blowing off your shoulder. You look at him, and he's staring at you with his mouth open in horror.

Unable to bear it, you run out of the studio, into the golden sunset, as tears sting your eyes. You haven't made it four steps before you hear him calling your name.

You whirl around to see Minghao following you. "Why did you run away?" he asks you.

"They found out," you say, panicked, as a tear splashes onto your cheek. "I'm so sorry -- I think it's my fault, Minghao."

He actually takes a step forward to brush the tear off your face. "I mean, it was kind of inevitable. I had to come forward at some point, right?" He keeps his hand on your face. "But I need to ask you something."

"What?" you ask, looking up at him.

He puts his other hand on your other cheek, cradling your face in his hands. "What did you think of the painting?" he says, looking into your eyes with an intensity that makes your stomach turn over.

You suddenly remember. "Oh," you say, and blush.

He swallows hard before continuing. "I painted my whole heart into that painting. That picture really didn't do it justice, and it really isn't finished, and I'm not thrilled that you saw it before I really figured out what to say to you."

"It was beautiful," you tell him honestly. "More beautiful than I deserve, honestly."

He tsks in disapproval. "It's you," he insists. “It’s exactly what I see when I see you.”

You are speechless. He laughs a little at your expression before continuing. “That day on the mountain, and after in the dark room, I saw that you had been healing something you didn’t hurt. I don’t remember ever feeling this cared for, and that means a lot to me.” He pulls you in so your noses are almost touching. “Please stay with me.”

You feel yourself trembling at the closeness of him - surprised that although you’ve spent a stupid amount of time daydreaming about having him hold you like this, it still feels so new and crazy and wonderful. You nod. “Okay.”

He smiles - brilliant, blinding. You can no longer resist reaching for him — feeling the warmth of his cheek against your fingers, brushing his soft hair from his temple, just like you’d imagined but better, and Minghao spins you around in giddy joy.

He sets you down, your faces still close together. You both look at each other with huge smiles, and he uses a finger to tilt your chin up. His eyes drop to your lips and then back to your eyes — a question.

You answer without speaking, just smiling into his eyes. He moves in, slowly, giving a brief but impossibly sweet kiss. His arms tighten around your waist as the kiss deepens. You feel a knot of tension in your chest dissolve, and you melt into him, kissing him back with gusto. Throwing your arms around his neck, you let him kiss you into oblivion.

It seems like several days before you finally stop, standing with foreheads together, breathing each other in. “I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you back,” you whisper in return.

[flowerchild28]

Glastonbury Festival

Louis tomlinson imagine

Warnings: none

At Glastonbury Festival, amidst the sea of colorful tents and the echo of music from multiple stages, Vanessa roamed the grounds with a sense of excited anticipation. She had always dreamed of coming to this legendary festival, and this year she finally made it.

Vanessa, a 25-year-old freelance photographer with a passion for capturing moments, had her camera slung over her shoulder. She wandered from stage to stage, enjoying the eclectic mix of music and the vibrant atmosphere. As she stopped to snap a photo of a particularly stunning sunset over the Pyramid Stage, she noticed a familiar face in the crowd.

Louis Tomlinson, the former One Direction member and now a successful solo artist, was standing not far from her, looking relaxed and unbothered, blending into the festival crowd. Vanessa had always admired Louis for his music and his down-to-earth personality. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should approach him.

Gathering her courage, Vanessa walked over to Louis. "Hi, I'm Vanessa. I don't want to bother you, but I just wanted to say I'm a big fan of your music."

Louis turned to her with a warm smile. "Hey, Vanessa. Thanks, that means a lot. Are you enjoying the festival?"

They struck up a conversation, and Louis was immediately taken by Vanessa's genuine demeanor and her passion for photography. He found her company refreshing, a welcome break from the usual crowd of people who recognized him.

"Would you like to explore the festival together?" Louis asked, hoping she would say yes.

Vanessa's eyes lit up. "I'd love that!"

The two spent the rest of the day wandering through the various stages, enjoying performances, and sampling the diverse food stalls. Louis was captivated by Vanessa's enthusiasm and her ability to find beauty in the smallest details, something that reminded him of why he loved music and performing in the first place.

As the night fell, they found themselves at a small, intimate stage where an indie band was playing a soulful set. The crowd was swaying gently to the music, and the stars began to twinkle overhead. Louis and Vanessa found a spot to sit and listen, the soft glow of festival lights creating a magical ambiance around them.

"Thank you for today," Louis said, turning to Vanessa. "I haven't felt this relaxed and happy in a long time."

Vanessa smiled. "I should be thanking you. This has been incredible.

As the music played, Louis reached out and gently took Vanessa's hand. It felt natural, like the culmination of a perfect day. They stayed like that, hand in hand, enjoying the music and the moment.

For the rest of the festival, Louis and Vanessa were inseparable. They shared stories, laughed, and created memories that would last a lifetime. As the festival came to an end, they exchanged numbers, promising to stay in touch.

Louis couldn't stop thinking about Vanessa, and as he watched her walk away, he knew this was just the beginning of something special. Vanessa felt the same, her heart full of hope and excitement for what the future might hold.

Glastonbury had given them more than just music and memories—it had brought them together, and for that, they were both eternally grateful.

[random-brushstrokes]

Mina Arndt - The Red Hat (ca. 1914)

After graduating from Wellington Technical School, Mina Arndt studied in London with Frank Brangwyn and at the artists’ colony in Newlyn, Cornwall, with Harold and Laura Knight. She also lived in Berlin, where she studied with progressive artists Lovis Corinth, her second cousin Julie Wolfthorn and printmaker Hermann Struck. Of these, it was the Germans’ sombre palette and techniques that most influenced Arndt.

Following the outbreak of war in 1914, and brief internment in Germany as a prohibited British alien, Arndt returned to Wellington, where she found an attic studio in Willis Street above Bartlett & Andrew’s photography shop. Early in 1915, in this ‘delightful room with many and quaint accessories’, she held a private exhibition of her overseas and recent paintings, etchings and drawings, probably including The red hat, now her best-known work.

The painting is typical of Arndt’s single-figure compositions that fill the frame. The model, Wellingtonian Daisy Hay, wears a shapely buttoned tunic and is silhouetted by the soft light behind her, which also highlights the thickly painted green wall. Her face is cursorily built up with rapidly hatched brushstrokes, leaving her expression inscrutable, as though she has drifted off while posing. Once it becomes clear that this is not a portrait intended to reveal Daisy’s personality, the eye moves upwards to contemplate her crowning glory — the hat. Its oval form is swathed in a scarf, expressively rendered in crosshatched slashes of deep red paint. Its gorgeous painterliness and hue are enhanced and thrown into focus by the simple flat background of harmonious brown and green. An Auckland Star critic, perhaps failing to appreciate Arndt’s subtlety in using shape and colour, and accustomed to bright post-impressionist palettes of artists such as Edward Friström, found her art ‘a little wantingin colour and lightness’.

In 1917 Arndt married Leo Manoy and settled in Motueka, where she worked and taught from a home studio. She produced memorable domestic images of mothers and children, and also of Māori women washing clothes, which she exhibited throughout New Zealand and Australia until her early death aged forty-one. (source)

[rydersmediareviews]

“ ...When I wear my favorite clothes, I feel at ease. It's the only time I don't see a version of myself I hate. ”

Boys Run the Riot is a manga series written by Keito Gaku. It intrigued me because I learned of its protagonist, who is a young transgender man. The representation seemed good and I knew it wouldn't take too long to read, so I decided to give it a shot.

The protagonist of Boys Run the Riot is Ryo Watari, a 16-year-old high schooler who is a transgender man. He becomes friends with Jin Sato, who is a transfer student and an outcast.

Jin is the first person who Ryo comes out to. After this, Jin tells Ryo about his wish to create a brand that sells unique clothing. While Ryo is initially hesitant about this idea, the two decide to go for it. This is with the help of a classmate, who is the sole member of the school's photography club. After some pondering, Ryo comes up with the name for their clothing brand: Boys Run the Riot.

The main characters in Boys Run the Riot are somewhat relatable, and they're very lovable. As a transgender person, I especially found myself relating to Ryo.

There are a lot of relationships throughout this series, both good ones and bad ones, with peers and with superiors. I found myself loving the advice that the main characters got from their superiors throughout this series. Not because it was always wise and thoughtful, but because it was messy and they often contradicted themselves. The adults are struggling with how to live correctly, just as the teenagers are. It's hard to be queer, and it isn't much easier to try running a business as a high schooler. Even as the boys received advice from their elders, they formed their own opinions and did things their own way.

The youth in Boys Run the Riot are fairly realistic. I've never been to Japan, but the way Ryo and Jin are treated is reminiscent of what I'd seen in an American school. In addition to this, the main characters are generally realistic when dealing with conflict. They all react differently, and they almost always act in a way that is immature.

As a transgender person, I long for a relationship like that which is between Ryo and Jin. While the focus of this story is on Ryo, the two are equally supportive of each other. Jin isn't just there as a character to support Ryo.

Ryo struggles with coming out to people—a relatable struggle for all transgender people. In regards to this, he acts in a way that I would consider realistic. There were times when Ryo's dysphoria and anxiety struck very close to home for me. I don't consider myself a very empathetic person, but I found myself feeling emotional for Ryo.

I loved Boys Run the Riot very much. However, this doesn't mean that it's free from my criticism.

As an American, I don't know much about Japanese tropes and stereotypes. However, I have consumed a lot of Japanese media regarding transgender people. With this being said, I have noticed that most of the transgender people in Japanese media are sexually assaulted. Why this is, I do not know.

While the series is altogether easy to understand and follow, I got completely lost at the bonus story. I still don't know whether that was Ryo or a new character.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Boys Run the Riot very much. It kept my attention and it kept me engaged. It was mostly easy to understand and follow. The characters were likable and mostly realistic.

I rate Boys Run the Riot a perfect 5 stars.

“ ...My neck's so slender. My face looks so young. I'm so short. My arms and legs are so small. ”

[thefivekins]

(banner photography by Neil Burnell)

BLACKSMITHING, ARMOR & CROWNS.

Blacksmithing is a recent art in ThunderKin, with roots tracing back to Star Thunder himself. Star Thunder developed a fascination with fire after one struck the forest, and dedicated his life to learning how to tame it.

The blacksmiths of ThunderKin have a forge just directly outside of camp, situated between two large rocks that are balanced in a way for there to be a hole for smoke in the roof. The atmosphere inside is dark and humid, the only light coming from tamed fires in dug-out holes or scavenged twoleg buckets. Buckets are also used to collect water from the river. Fires are started with rocks (usually found by/in the river) and are sustained with twigs, pine needles, dried moss, and leaves. Anvils are simply large, flat rocks that were brought to the den.

Materials are forged from scavenged metal found and traded around the territories. Occasionally, blacksmiths will also make things out of carefully carved rock or wood. Hammers are made with a rock head, a handle of wood, and lots of ivy, vine, even strips of prey leather, to hold it all together. These hammers are rarely handled by paw; instead, blacksmiths handle them in their jaws with protection. This protection is a device simply known as the hammerjaw; a crafted metal muzzle that can open and close, carefully fitting around the face of the user. There’s also such a thing as blacksmith’s claws, which are paw coverings crafted from metal and lined with prey leather. The claws are dexterous, though extremely sturdy and long, crafted to handle hot materials.

Although a practiced blacksmith should rarely be burning themselves, there’s a culture to be found around it. Any scars mean strength to the blacksmiths; singed fur, dry paw pads, cracked claws are seen as evidence of hard work. The blacksmiths may also purposefully cover themselves in soot, if not already covered from their work; they tend to be extremely proud of their status in the Kins and want to make it known to others.

ARMOR

Armor is crafted and commissioned by the blacksmiths for all Kins for battle, but not every battle has armor. Armor is only to be worn when absolutely necessary, as its creation is a very meticulous process; besides, there are blacksmiths found in only one out of the five Kins. If tensions rise or alliances change, a leader may prohibit access to new armor being commissioned. 

Kin armor is made from scrapmetal, prey leather, vine, and other found materials. All things considered, sets of armor aren’t perfect or entirely beautiful either. The pieces that are made usually cover: claws/paws, face, neck, back, tail; but this is for a full set. Depending on the situation, not every cat will have every piece. Suits of armor are passed down throughout families and can be customized to fit a particular Kin's aesthetic. Accents and other details can be carved or traced into the metal, done by blacksmiths and requested by the commissioner. Animal pelts may also be added.

Beyond that, cats may customize their armor however they please. ShadowKin’s armor is often intertwined with magic-inclined herbs, while other Kins will weave flowers, grasses, and other plants found in their respective territories. In the Greenleaf moons, WindKin will pick wheat and rye from the farmlands and intertwine them in a way so the tops of the plant are sticking out of the armor, like fins or decorative spikes. 

LEADER CROWNS

Another thing the blacksmiths of ThunderKin are commissioned for are decorative crowns worn by the leaders of each Kin. They are important, but not worn often, reserved for Gatherings and other important occasions. These crowns are almost as old as the Kin founders, passed down to the next in line and refurbished when needed. Below are descriptions of what the respective leader crowns look like:

THUNDERKIN - Made from interwoven twigs with a pair of young roe deer antlers in the middle, positioned so they stick out between the ears of the wearer.

WINDKIN - Made from woven heather, gorse, and wheat.

SHADOWKIN - A thorny crown decorated with hanging willow, elm leaves, and lavender.

RIVERKIN - Carefully carved driftwood woven together with reeds and sedge, decorated with marsh marigolds; a shiny stone is found in the front, stuck between the wood.

SKYKIN - A crown of interwoven twigs, decorated with dandelions and covered with moss; hedgehog spines are stuck in the moss as decoration (and to keep it in place).

[claudia1829things]

"TRUE GRIT" (2010) Review

"TRUE GRIT" (2010) Review

I have never read Charles Portis’ 1968 novel called "True Grit". And my only glimpse of Henry Hathaway’s 1969 film adaptation was of John Wayne charging horseback toward a band of outlaws, while armed with a weapon in both hands. So it was with great curiosity that I recently viewed Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2010 film adaptation of the novel.

"TRUE GRIT" told the story of 14 year-old Mattie Ross’s efforts to seek justice and retribution for the murder of her father in post-Civil War western Arkansas. Due to the local law’s failure to arrest her father’s killer, Tom Chaney, Mattie travels to Fort Smith and recruits a U.S. Marshal named Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn to hunt down and arrest Chaney in the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma). Unbeknownst to Mattie, Cogburn teams up with a Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf, who seeks Chaney for the murder of a state senator and his dog. The two men depart Fort Smith and cross into Indian Territory without Mattie. However, she refuses to be left behind and quickly catches up with the two men.

I must admit that I had no idea how I would accept "TRUE GRIT". First of all, it was a remake of a successful 1969 movie that led to an Academy Award for its star. Many remakes tend to be inferior to the original movie. However, there have been remakes that are just as good as the original – like James Mangold’s "3:10 TO YUMA". There have also been remakes that turned out to be superior to the original – like 1941’s "THE MALTESE FALCON" and 1988’s "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS". Since I have never seen the 1969 version of "TRUE GRIT" in its entirety, I do not see how I could compare it to this new version. I will admit that it turned out to be a very entertaining and intelligent adaptation of Portis’ novel.

In short, I enjoyed "TRUE GRIT" very much. Thanks to Joel and Ethan Coen’s writing and direction, the movie struck me as a well-balanced combination of a character study, action film and coming-of-age tale. The movie’s first half, which featured Mattie Ross’s attempts to settle her father’s affairs and recruit Cogburn or anyone else willing to hunt down Chaney. A good deal of the movie’s midway point featured interactions between the three protagonists – Mattie, Cogburn and LaBoeuf – during their journey through the Indian Territory. But once Mattie and Cogburn come across outlaws associated with a fugitive gang leader named "Lucky" Ned Pepper, the movie’s action kicks into high gear. More importantly, the movie’s shift into action did not impede its strong characterizations and drama one bit. Another aspect of "TRUE GRIT" that I had enjoyed was the dark humor – a trademark of the Coens’ work – that permeated the movie. It certainly befitted the movie’s dark coming-of-age tale and its characters.

I also have to give kudos to the movie’s production designer, Jess Goncher. He did a superb job in re-creating Fort Smith, Arkansas and the Indian Territory during the late 1860s or the early 1870s. One of the best things he ever did was choose or suggest the production film the movie in New Mexico and Texas – states that bordered Oklahoma (formerly the Indian Territory). In doing so, he allowed the movie’s setting to adhere closer to Portis’ setting in the novel. Goncher was ably assisted by costume designer Mary Zophres, whose costumes perfectly captured the movie’s setting and character; and cinematographer Roger Deakins, whose photography strongly reminded me of the old daguerreotype images of the mid-to-late 19th century.

Matt Damon found himself following in the footsteps of singer Glen Campbell, in his portrayal of Texas Ranger LaBoeuf. I have seen some of the 1969 film and I must admit that Campbell gave a pretty solid performance. But Damon’s portrayal of the character struck me as more detailed and skillful. In fact, the actor did an excellent job in portraying the competent, yet egotistical lawman. Not only did Damon made me forget that he had very little experience with Westerns, he is one of two actors I have ever seen convey the correct method (breathing included) in long distance shooting. Josh Brolin had more experience with Westerns – including a co-starring role in the ABC series, "THE YOUNG RIDERS" and the Coens’ 2007 award-winning film, "NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN". He portrayed the heroes’ main target, hired hand/outlaw Tom Chaney. The actor did not appear in many scenes of "TRUE GRIT", but his character permeated the movie’s first half like a malevolent spirit. Once he made his appearance, Brolin’s Chaney seemed insignificant and dimwitted. Yet, as the movie continued on, Brolin revealed more of Chaney’s cunning and stealth with great skill and subtlety. The movie also benefited from a solid performance by supporting actor Barry Pepper, who portrayed "Lucky" Ned Pepper, an outlaw leader who is sought by Cogburn. The actor’s Ned Pepper struck me as a curious mixture of ruthlessness, pragmatism and honor. He seemed to have no qualms in killing the 14 year-old Mattie over her evasions regarding Cogburn’s whereabouts. And yet, after she honestly answered his questions, his character seemed very willing to keep his word about sparing her life. I have always been an admirer of Pepper’s talents. This role certainly confirmed my opinion.

When I had discovered that Jeff Bridges would end up reprising the role that led to an Academy Award for John Wayne, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost. I eventually realized that my sympathy would be wasted on him. Bridges was talented and charismatic enough to put his own stamp on the role of Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. Sure enough, Bridges did exactly just that. His portrayal as Cogburn seemed so thorough that I found it difficult to see the actor within the character. His darker portrayal of the character also made me forget about Wayne’s friendlier spin on the role. The main character of "TRUE GRIT", in my opinion, turned out to be one Mattie Ross, the 14 year-old daughter of the murdered man. Her desire and determination to seek retribution for her father’s death turned out to be story’s catalyst. Hailee Steinfeld beautifully captured every aspect of Mattie’s complex nature. In fact, there were times I had felt as if I was watching a strong-willed and ruthless woman inside an adolescent’s body. However, Steinfeld’s performance also reminded me that behind the strong will and ruthlessness lurked an innocent and inexperienced young girl. Steinfeld’s chemistry with her co-stars seemed so strong that I found myself wondering how Cogburn, LeBouef or both would regard Mattie if she had been an adult. I have heard speculations of a possible Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for Steinfeld. In my opinion, she deserved a nomination for Best Actress. After all, she was not only the leading female character, but the story’s main character.

I eventually learned that "TRUE GRIT" had failed to earn any Golden Globe nominations – major or minor, during the 2010-2011 movie awards season. Frankly, I had considered this a joke. Not only did I enjoy the movie very much, I consider it to be one of the best movies I had seen that was released in 2010. It is a rare occurrence to find a remake that is just as good or perhaps even slightly better than the original. Fortunately, the movie had earned 10 Academy Award nominations. And thanks to Ethan and Joel Coen, "TRUE GRIT" turned out to be one of those rare gems that I never get tired of watching.

[katenewmanwrites]

Late Night Sparks - Part Two

Warnings: Mild Alcohol Consumption, Workplace Romance, Emotional Intensity and Intimate Scenes (the characters makeout).

I can't help but notice the warmth in Kai's eyes as he brushes against my shoulder as we both enter the elevator. I feel a blush creep up my neck, and I quickly look away, gathering my composure. The elevator dings, signalling our arrival on the ground floor. The lobby is empty, save for the security guard who barely glances at us as we pass by. The air is thick with the scent of coffee.

"So," Kai says as we step out onto the sidewalk, "The bars just down this street." I can feel his gaze on me. It makes me feel both self-conscious and oddly excited.

The air is crisp and cool, the city lights twinkling above us like stars. A gentle breeze rustles through the trees, carrying with it the sounds of distant laughter and the faint scent of cigarette smoke. As we walk, our shoulders brush, sending small sparks through my body. It's a delicious feeling, and I can't help but wonder if Kai notices it too.

"So, what do you feel like drinking tonight?" he asks, breaking the comfortable silence. "I'm in the mood for a whiskey, but I'm open to suggestions."

The warmth of his breath against my ear sends a shiver down my spine. I can't help but glance at him from the corner of my eye. He looks so confident and put together. I feel a pang of longing as I try to think of something to say.

The warmth of his breath against my ear sends a shiver down my spine. I can't help but glance at him from the corner of my eye. He looks so confident and put together. I feel a pang of longing as I try to think of something to say. "Probably just a gin and tonic for me," I say.

We continue walking, the cobblestone streets echoing with the sounds of our footsteps. The lights from the bar grow brighter as we approach, spilling onto the sidewalk and drawing us in like moths to a flame. Kia holds the door open for me, his hand brushing against the small of my back in a gesture that sends an electric feeling up my spine. I'm immediately struck by the cosy atmosphere of the bar, dim lighting, soft jazz playing in the background, and the warm scent of wood polish and booze.

"This place is lovely," I say, taking in my surroundings. "You've chosen well."

Kai nods in agreement as we make our way towards a booth in the back corner. It's dimly lit, with a cozy red vinyl bench and a small table. There's just enough space for the two of us to sit comfortably.

"This looks perfect," I say, sliding into the seat.

Kai follows. "I'm glad you think so," he says with a smile.

The bartender comes over, a man with greying hair. "What can I get you two?" he asks. His voice is deep and smooth, like whiskey pouring into a glass.

"I'll have a whiskey, neat," Kai says, his voice low and confident. The bartender nods.

"And for you?" he asks, turning to me.

"I'll have a gin and tonic, please," I say, and then feel my cheeks flush. I'm not normally this nervous in bars, but there's something about being here with Kai that makes me feel a bit off-kilter. The bartender nods and turns away to make our drinks, and I can't help but steal glances at Kai while we wait. He sits back in the booth, one leg casually crossed over the other, looking as comfortable as if he'd been here a hundred times before.

The bartender returns with our drinks, and I take a sip of my gin and tonic. The bitter flavour of the tonic water cuts through the sweetness of the gin, leaving a refreshing taste on my tongue. I set the glass down on the table and lean back against the booth, trying to calm my nerves.

"So," I say, glancing at Kai from the corner of my eye, "what do you like to do in your free time?"

"Straight into it, huh? No work talk?" Kai says with a playful grin, sipping his whiskey. "Well, in my free time, I like to keep myself busy. I'm into photography, actually. I've been taking pictures since I was in university."

I raise an eyebrow in surprise. "Photography? That's interesting. What kind of things do you like to photograph?" I ask, genuinely interested.

"Landscapes mostly," Kai says, taking another sip of his whiskey. "I love being out in nature, capturing the beauty of the world around us. But I've also done some portraiture, too. People are so interesting to photograph." He pauses, "what about you Victoria? What do you like to do in your free time?"

"I like to cook," I say, thinking for a moment. "It helps me unwind after a long day. I find it therapeutic, really. I also enjoy reading."

Kai nods. "I can see that. Cooking can be very relaxing." He takes another sip of his whiskey before continuing, "What about reading? Any favourite authors or genres?"

"Historical fiction is my favourite," I reply, taking a sip of my drink. "I love getting lost in another time period. It's like travelling without ever leaving my couch." I smile at the thought. "I've been meaning to read Hilary Mantel's novels for a while now."

Kai nods in understanding. "I can see that. There's something magical about getting immersed in a different world." He pauses, taking another sip of his whiskey before continuing, "I feel that way when I listen to music."

I raise an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? What kind of music do you like?"

"Indie rock is my favourite," Kai says, taking another sip of his whiskey. "What music do you like?"

"Funny, I like soft rock like Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles." I say, leaning forward a little, mirroring Kai's posture. "I've always thought it's interesting how music can affect our moods. Like how I can't listen to sad songs when I'm feeling down, because it just makes me feel worse."

Kai nods in agreement. "I know what you mean. Music has a way of transporting us to different times and places, doesn't it? It can evoke such strong emotions and memories." He takes another sip of his whiskey before continuing, "That's my favourite part of marketing, actually. Finding the perfect song to accompany a commercial. It's like creating a little emotional journey for the audience."

I smile at his passion for it. "I can see why. It's a powerful tool to evoke emotions, isn't it?" I ask, thinking about how music affects me. My hand brushes his on the booth as I lean in closer, wanting to hear more of his voice. "It's almost like you can reach into someone's soul when you get it just right."

Kai's smile widens, his eyes meeting mine as he takes another sip of his whiskey. "Exactly. And sometimes, it's the most unexpected songs that have the greatest impact. You know, the ones that catch you off guard?" He pauses, considering his next words carefully. "I think that's what I love about my job."

"Creating the greatest Impact?" I ask. "I feel the same way. Like when I make something special, and I can see how much people enjoy it. That's the best feeling in the world." I take another sip of my drink.

Kai nods in agreement. "It's like you said, when you can make someone feel something, really feel it, that's when you know you've done your job." He looks into my eyes, his expression growing more intense.

I can't help but notice the way his hands grace the table, fingers drumming lightly against the wood. It's a subtle movement, one that speaks volumes about his intensity. Kai leans in closer, his expression growing more intense as he focuses on our conversation. There's something about his smile that makes me feel completely at ease, as if I could confide in him anything.

"You know," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper, "I've always found your job as a marketing analyst a stark contrast with your personality. You're so…" I trail off, searching for the right word.

"Well, I'm good at compartmentalising," Kai says, nodding in agreement. "I can be very intense and focused when I need to be, but outside of work, I like to keep things more… casual. I've always found that balance to be important." He leans in even closer, his breath dancing across my cheek.

I feel my heart race at his nearness. I can smell the faint scent of his cologne, something woodsy and earthy that makes me want to lean in even closer. His eyes are intense as they hold mine. There's a magnetic pull between us, like we're two opposing poles of a magnet. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to feel those rough hands on my skin.

"You know," I say, my voice barely above a whisper, "I think I could learn a lot from you about how to balance work and life." There's a slight edge of nervousness in my voice as I say this, but I mean it. I've always struggled with finding the right balance, always feeling like I'm always neglecting my personal life.

Kai's smile grows even wider, if that's possible. "Oh, you'd be surprised what you could learn from me." His words are laced with innuendo, and I feel a heat flush up my neck. He leans even closer, so close that our breaths are mingling together. "If that's what you want?"

My heart is racing, my thoughts spinning. A part of me wants nothing more than to lean in and feel his lips against mine, to lose myself in this moment. But another part of me is still cautious, still uncertain. I can't help but worry about how this could potentially affect our work.

"I would love that," I whisper, my heart racing, "But I don't want to make things awkward at work." I can feel my resolve starting to slip away, though. The way Kai is looking at me, the intensity in his eyes… It's impossible not to be drawn in.

Kai's hand reaches up, cupping my cheek gently. His thumb strokes across my skin, sending shivers down my spine. "Victoria," he says, his voice soft and low, "I promise you, I would never do anything to make things uncomfortable. If this is what you want, if you feel it too… then we'll find a way to make it work." He pauses, "But we don't have to decide right now. You can think it over."

My heart is racing. "I want this," I whisper, unable to resist the pull of his gaze. Kai's expression softens, and he leans in, his lips brushing against mine for the first time. It's like every nerve ending in my body is on fire, every thought is consumed by the feeling of his lips on mine. He kisses me gently at first, and then with more urgency, as if he can't get enough of me.

I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him closer. His hands slide down my back, resting at my waist, pulling me even closer. Kai's kisses are confident, demanding, and I find myself losing myself in the sensation of being wanted. He pushes me gently against the booth. Our lips part, and I feel his hot breath against my skin as he whispers, "Victoria."

There's a loud buzz from Kai's pocket, and we both jump slightly. "Oh crap," he mutters, pulling his phone out. "I'm sorry. I should have turned that off." His face falls as he glances at the screen.

"It's just Tom," he mutters, typing out a quick reply. "He wanted to know when I'm coming home. I should really get going." There's a note of regret in his voice. He leans in again, his lips finding mine. His kiss is urgent, desperate, and I feel myself respond in kind.

"Did you forget plans with your housemate?" I ask, trying to sound nonchalant as I lean my head back against the booth. Kai's lips press into a line.

"No," he says quietly, "But I should probably go." He looks at me, his eyes searching my face.

"It has gotten quite late?" I say, glancing at the clock above the bar. Kai nods, a rueful smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"I didn't realise it was so late," he agrees. "Did you want me to grab you an Uber?" He asks, glancing at the clock.

"No, I can take care of it," I say, reaching for my phone. "But thank you for the offer. You should really get going. Tom will be wondering where you are." Kai's expression softens, and he nods.

"Okay," he says quietly. "I'll see you Monday?" he asks, the question lingering in the air. I can feel my heart racing. "Or… can I take you out to dinner this weekend?"

I take a deep breath. "I'd like that," I say. Kai's eyes light up, and he leans in, his lips brushing against my lips once more. It's soft and tentative, a question more than a kiss. "I really would," I whisper, feeling the warmth spread through my body. He nods, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"All right," he says. "I'll text you tomorrow?" I nod, unable to take my eyes off of him.

He leans in one more time, pressing his lips against mine, his hands cupping my face. His kiss is slow and gentle, like a whisper, and it feels like he's leaving a piece of himself with me. When he pulls away, I'm left breathless and wanting more.

"Goodbye, Kai," I say, my voice soft.

"Goodbye, Victoria," he whispers, and with one final, lingering glance, he turns and leaves the bar. I watch him go, feeling a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness. It's been a while since I've felt this way about someone, and the idea of spending more time with him makes my heart race.

Part one

[twdmusicboxmystery]

Social Media and When They Were Actually Filming in France

@galadrieljones:

Hey guys so I have something i want to point out based on some old social media discussions we had like a year ago.

@wdway, when you pointed out the discovery that Daryl is in Marseille in the sneak preview, that sounded familiar but I couldn’t remember why. I wanted to say that he had been in Marseille at some point, publicly, and that we even talked about it. So I searched back through our old conversations and I found one from like almost exactly a year ago, pertaining to him being in France, but we didn’t know why. It was before filming officially began for the DD spin-off (which was confirmed October 2022 in Paris). We were talking about a story he posted which showed the same poster in three different frames. This was the poster:

I determined that this art gallery, which was showing some of Norman’s photography (I think) was in the city of Arles. Arles struck a note when I looked back, because Arles is a town a bit north of Marseille, on the Rhone, near to the ruins we were discussing yesterday: the Pont du Gard and Château des Baux-de-Provence. The Old Water Mills are also near there.

So this means Norman was in Arles in July 2022, for an art show that went until September 2022. Arles is right near those ruins in the sneak peak and also about an hour or so north of Marseille.

Was he already filming?

Marseille isn’t near to Paris. Not like it would be a quick trip down there just to film some panoramic shots and shots of the town.

So there’s a bit more, circumstantial ofc, but when I went and reread our conversation, one of us mentioned that in the fb group ppl were seeming bummed because Emily wasn’t posting a lot lately. Ppl were worried about her and what was wrong. Ann also was pointing out that there were similarities at this time, between Norman and Emily’s posts. Coffee, the color red, table tops, etc. Norman was clearly in France. Ann you had guessed possibly he was there for something Diane was filming, and/or because he was filming episodes of Ride in Europe at the time. So I went to look back at Emily’s acct from that time period. It truly is a lot of dog content, an undated post of her on a boat, a post of her and her new boyfriend from July 4th (later-grammed at the end of August), etc

But she also posted this on August 15th, which is her in a hotel alone on her birthday:

Norman was liking a lot of these posts, btw. He didn’t like the birthday one though.

@wdway:

These are great. What a coincidence.

He posted this on July 26th, which was about three weeks after he was in Arles. It’s the Tuileries Garden in Paris. He’s not in it, so it doesn’t mean he’s there, but it’s just a lot

Emily didn’t post location-specific at all during this time period, not until mid-September, when she did a show in Nashville.

@galadrieljones:

And it was so noticable that we talked about it in the chat and the fb group noticed as well

This is my whole discovery and it’s absolutely nothing certain in any way lol but it just made me raise my eyebrows very high, like if Norman was already filming in Marseille at that time, then who’s to say she wasn’t filming something in Paris in December 2021? I know it’s a long way ahead, but her Paris posts all got likes from Norman. Also, where was she during those rogue weeks? Her instagram doesn’t say. So…probably nothing, but could also be something!

Also oh, when I look back at Emily’s posts in early 2021, they are like ALL location non-specific. I have no idea when she got back from Europe based on these posts. They’re all full of her star and weird vague sayings about looking forward to the future, and she also posted some old photoshoots of herself from 2014. Norman liked like all of these posts. He hasn't been liking any of her posts lately, btw. ANYWAY

SOrry, that should be early 2022

SO like after or during when she was in Paris

@wdway:

Clarify for me again, is this during the time before or after we knew there was going to be a spinoff. And secondly if the answer is yes, did we know at the time it was supposed to be set in Paris? I can't remember if the Paris announcement came at the same time as them announcing MMB wasn't going to be in it.

@galadrieljones:

When Norman was in France that first time in 2022, we already knew there would be a spin-off and that it would be set in France, but that’s all we knew. I think the spin-off was re-announced in April, after the debacle with Melissa leaving. They announced it would be in Europe/France and that Melissa was dropping out to take some time off. It was right near the end of filming for season 11

So… March 2022 - filming for season 11 wraps up, Emily is in Atlanta for Fandemic, Rick is in Atlanta, too. April 2022 - MMB drops out, spin-off is announced as being a European/France setting, Daryl-only. Gimple hints that there are clues related to the setting in WB

In October 2022, when filming apparently just began in Paris, that’s when Norman went on Kimmel and mentioned that he and Greg Nicotero had been in France scouting locations at some point, and he mentioned “blowing up the Louvre.”

@wdway:

The announcement in April of 22 you know they had to have known that Melissa was backing out way before that announcement. I mean I do remember them talking about scripts already being worked on.

@galadrieljones:

Yes, totally. And we began to wonder if they knew all the way back before filming for 10C, because the episode “Diverged” is so bizarre.

@wdway:

You know it was just a totally different take on that episode once you watch it knowing that she wasn't going to be in the spinoff, at least not initially it just plays differently.

@galadrieljones:

Also, just to keep pounding in the logistics (because I can’t help myself lol), World Beyond season 2 was filmed in Virginia during 2020. It premiered in October of 2021. This means the French coda was written and filmed all the way back in 2020?? Did they know then?

I mean they filmed 10C in 2020, right? Covid year? Diverged aired on 3/28/21.

Anyway, even if MMB pulled out after the French coda, it seems possible to me at this point that the spin-off, which was originally announced in the summer of 2020, was probably always going to take place in France.

(Which means they knew well before Emily was there at the end of 2021)

@wdway:

Even more so than the coda which was the very last scene in S2e10. In the first season of TWB the Paris makeover in the back of the truck. We initially thought it was about he Mona Lisa a painting by Da Vinci trying in with a Last Supper scene we associated with Daryl and Beth. With the announcement of the spin-off in Paris it took on a whole new meaning. So, when was Emily in Paris, was it around that time? She even took a picture of the Mona Lisa. She might have been doing a little filming just some shots not really scenes in Paris for the spin-off.

@wdway:

You somewhat answered my questions while I was typing, haha.

@galadrieljones:

Emily was in Paris at the very end of 2021. She posted herself in front of Christmas decorations. It then was unclear when exactly she got back.

Great minds can read each other it seems.