#all hail to the queen of pop

[cartermagazine]

Today In History

Dana Elaine Owens born March 18, 1970, better known as Queen Latifah is a Grammy and Emmy Award - winning and Oscar - nominated musician, actress, producer, label president, author, and entrepreneur.

She has earned six Grammy Award nominations, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994. In 2004, she was nominated for Best Female Rap Solo Performance for “Go Head.” In 2005, she was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album for The Dana Owens Album, and in 2008, she was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Trav’lin Light.

Her previous film credits include Jungle Fever, Set It Off, Chicago, Bringing Down the House, Beauty Shop, The Last Holiday, Life Support, Bessie, Girls Trip, and End of the Road. Her television credits include Living Single and Star. Latifah starred in the live television adaptations of The Wiz Live! for NBC and The Little Mermaid Live! for ABC.

Latifah can currently be seen in the hit CBS series The Equalizer, for which she is also an executive producer.

All Hail The Queen 👑

CARTER™️ Magazine

[sukisheadlights]

MAKE ME STAY!

landonorris x famous!oc

summary: where she sends the Internet into a slow spiral after releasing a song out of the blue (except it’s not out of the blue, it’s papaya)

part 1: make me stay, series masterlist

faceclaim: dua lipa 🫶

rory’s voice mail 🎧: PART 1! hope you guys like this, it’s obviously going to be a slow burn but I’m really excited to write it for y’all <3 ALSO the first two chapters are gonna be a little slow to set up the story and a strong base for it 😚 LOVE YOU SAY IT BACK

@TMZ • 2 hours ago

Exclusive: F1 phenom Lando Norris spotted leaving Las Vegas after-party with a mysterious redhead!

Rumors are swirling that F1 racing superstar Lando Norris may have found a new love interest in Las Vegas!

The 22-year-old McLaren driver was spotted leaving the after-party of the FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix with a gorgeous gal on his arm.

Our source spotted Lando and the mystery woman leaving together and said the pair appeared to be "flirty", as Lando "wrapped his arm around her" and they "walked off into the night."

@THEHOLLYWOODFIX • 2 hours ago

It looks like F1 driver Lando Norris is getting back into his dating game!

After breaking up with his long-term girlfriend last year, our favorite driver was seen leaving the Formula 1 Las Vegas after party with a mysterious red-haired woman dressed in a form-fitting black leather dress.

We're not sure if this is just a one night stand, or if Lando has his sights set on someone new. Either way, we wouldn't blame him - the Formula 1 Las Vegas parties are known for being a hot spot for celebrities and models alike!

liked by paisleysterling, zendaya, and 8,75,784,894 others

lizcolton miss me?

paisleysterling no girl gtfo of my house 🙄

lizcolton stfu you love me

paisleysterling god I hate you

lizownsme UH YES?!!?! THE RED HAIRR???? ITS GIVING NEW ERA 🫣

user654 the world is NOT READY for whatever lizzy is cooking rn

user849 literally buy me

taylorswift stunning as always!! ❤️

tittieswhere BOTH MY MOTHERS ARE HERE OMFGGG TAYLOR GET HER TO OPEN FOR YOU

lewishamilton pic creds to me, btw.

lizcolton he took the pictures, or whatever 🙄

user4 EXCUSE ME WTAF ARE YOU DOING HERE

user9 @user4 it’s giving “excuse me what the actual fuck are you doing in my house—”

isoldmysoultof1 WHAT WHAT WHAAAT

isoldmysoultof1 @f1wags NEW F1 WAG POSSIBLY?!!?!!

@TMZ • 45 mins ago

Pop Sensation Liz Colton is Back!

Liz, who's long been hailed as a retro-pop phenomenon and one of the biggest social media stars, has just announced her return to the spotlight after a two-year break! Liz had been absent from public life following her rough breakup with actor Jacob Elordi.

Now, the queen of pop has set the Internet ablaze with a photo of herself sporting a sleek new red do and rocking an all-leather look, accompanied by the caption 'miss me?' Fans are abuzz!

In addition, Colton has been recently spotted interacting comfortably with Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton in her social media comment sections! Hamilton, who is a known celebrity himself, has even asked Colton to give more picture credits, making fans hope that she's ready to expand her network and step into the world of Formula 1.

Could this mean the start of a whole new era for Liz?

liked by paiselysterling, sabrinacarpenter, and 9,34,748,830 others

lizcolton the face of a person keeping secrets 🤐

comments disabled.

@TMZ • 1 min ago

BREAKING NEWS!

It looks like Jacob Elordi, the "Euphoria" heartthrob who recently broke up with longtime girlfriend Liz Colton, was caught in a compromising position.

Just months after Liz and Jacob decided to split, details have emerged that the Australian actor cheated on his girlfriend multiple times. While neither Liz nor Jacob have commented publicly on the situation, fans have been quick to blast the actor for his apparent indiscretions.

With a successful career and multiple projects in the works, it looks like Jacob's reputation is about to take a dip.

liked by alexademie, sydneysweeney, and 8,59,499,484 others

lizcolton kisses to my exes, out 8pm tonight 💋

paisleysterling ATE

paisleysterling first picture’s for someone special?? I KNOW YOU BITCH

liked by lizcolton

lizcoltonsslave MOTHER ISNT SINGLE ANYMORE!?

lizcolton @lizcoltonsslave single as HELL baby!! Y’all haven’t lost me yet dw 😚

lizcoltonsslave @lizcolton bye I’m about to go die in a hole now

lewishamilton roscoe is ready to stream

lizcolton @lewishamilton thanks ig 🤨

wagintraining @lewishamilton LEWIS LIZ OMG LIZ ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THE DRIVERS!?

lizcolton @wagintraining no comments

coltonhq headphones are ready!! 🎧🤍

lizcolton @coltonhq love u admin 😭💋

lizismother18 oh this is gonna EAT

[lilsedge]

The Judgement Day’s Girl (pt 9)

Part 9

Warnings: wrestling, blood

Taglist: @judgementdayfan1 @rooskaya-yelena @iwanttoberich420 @teenagedramaqueenlisa @simpin4pixels @imagandom @eleamrsk @crustyboypix @werewolfbansheelove @pawspurpaw @noxstxr @myletitiawright @neptune-lover @thybulleric @femkekiki @ambrehhlulz-blog @salry80 @lomlrhea @nightwonderer1 @ynbutbetter @hails-coleman @odessa-is-my-queen @jdnclaymoresbitch @plk-18 @lani08sblog

Monday Night Raw

Y/N’s life has been chaotic since Extreme Rules. With Beth having a concussion. Y/N thinking she should just stay at her parents’ house and not go to work and her parents forcing her to go. It’s just been a lot.

The Judgement Day also tried to get a hold of Y/N after Extreme Rules. No answer. Y/N didn’t want to talk to them after hurting Beth. Edge she would’ve been fine with, but Beth no one hurts Beth without a consequence. 

Y/N had a lot of thoughts walking into the Barclay’s center in New York. She tried to keep busy with her usual routine. None of it worked. She already knew the schedule because every time she walks in now a crew member comes and gives her one after the minor incident.

Y/N was booked as ringside for her uncle’s match against Chad Gable. They also booked her for the Judgement Day’s promo after the match, but beside that in brackets it says just in case. 

She found that weird, but hey what could she do about it? Running behind schedule, Y/N quickly began her makeup.

She got everything on and ready, but has not tied up her boots yet. She had forgotten to do that. Running over to her uncle’s change room. She knocks on the door and Rey answers it with arms wide open. The hug was comforting and much needed. 

“Amor, your laces aren’t done up,” Rey states, looking down at the boots.

“Oh, I forgot to do them up. Thanks tìo,” she replies. 

“Ready to go to the gorilla now?” Rey questions as she finishes doing up her laces. 

Y/N nods, follow her uncle out the door.

Booyaka, Booyaka

Y/N and Rey were walking together down the ramp. Y/N loved hearing the crowd pop for their favorite superstars. It was just a great feeling that warmed her heart. The cheering died down as you hear. 

Shoooosh, Shoosh please

It was the Alpha Academy. Y/N hated them. Not only were they annoying to her, but Otis just makes her so uncomfortable with the comments he makes about her. Whenever she’s standing ringside and he is too, he just tries to flirt all the time.

Y/N was still in the ring when Chad entered. She exited. Rey turns to her and kisses her cheek before putting all his attention on Chad. As soon as Y/N’s feet touched the ground, Otis was right at her side. 

 

Y/N wasn’t really paying any attention to the match. As Otis was talking to her and flirting. She had almost lost it when he touched her. The touch didn’t last long as he realized his buddy Chad was outside of the ring. Y/N looked up and her uncle was still in the ring. 

She also tried really hard to pay attention on her own when Otis wasn’t bothering her. It’s been her mind that hasn’t been right. She thought being out with the WWE universe would calm her mind, but it didn’t.

Her mind was quickly cut off when she heard the opening to the judgment day theme song. Jumping up on the apron closest to Rey, which was right in front of the commentator table. She saw Rhea and Dominik come from backstage. Her uncle was shaking his head. Y/N was just nervous for her and her uncle. She realizes she can’t ignore them forever, but for now, at least she could try. 

Trying not to focus on the two coming from backstage, Rey focuses on Y/N, ushering her off of the apron. Informing her he’s got it. Y/N listens to her uncle. 

Of course, this match was a blur for Y/N. Now that Rhea and Dominik were out there, her mind was going 1 000 miles a minute. She managed to catch the last bit of the match when her mind finally calmed down. Rey had won.

She slides into the ring, hugging her uncle and congratulating him on the win. She smiled as Rey’s arm was lifted up by the ref. The smile didn’t last long. Dominik was getting into the ring, so she backed up. Rey told her beforehand that he wanted to deal with Dominik alone. 

Dom wanted his father to hit him. Rey wanted nothing to do with that. He was going to get out of the ring, but Rhea was standing there. Rey turns back around to look at Dominik. 

While that is happening, Rhea looks at Y/N, who’s distracted by the father and son. She pulls out a pair of handcuffs and handcuffs Y/N to the ropes. The young girl looked at the handcuffs, tugging at it. She only ended up giving a small cut on her wrist. Dominik was yelling at his father to hit him. Rey didn’t want to, though.

Rey had noticed Damian get on the apron and went to punch him off. Finn then enters the ring. Rey fights Finn, sending him into Dominik, and now Dominik is outside the ring. Y/N made sure to back up before she got hit. The slight moving back causes the cuff around her wrist to cut deeper into the skin. 

Y/N looks up and sees her uncle set Finn up for a 619. The 619 didn’t make it, though Dominik had intercepted it. While Rey was lying on the ring, Dominik was yelling at him again, “Hit me!”

Y/N tries to scream at Dominik to distract him, but that doesn’t work. Apparently they also had tape, so Rhea put a piece over her mouth. The tape for sure didn’t last long because Y/N’s other hand was free. The crowd was chanting, ‘You Suck’ at Dominik for treating his father like this. 

Y/N had to look away. Rey was crying, and she couldn’t stand when her family cries. Her uncle had turned away. That was a big mistake. Dominik hits him from behind, holding him there until Rhea grabs Rey’s arms and holds him in place. 

Y/N started yelling at Dominik again. This time, Finn came up behind her and put his hand over her mouth to shut her up. Dominik had done it. He had delivered a 619 to his own father. 

Y/N had to think quickly to get Finn’s hand off of her mouth. She bit down on his hand and punched him in the stomach. Now she has full access to yell at Dominik, to yell to see if her uncle is okay or just to yell at the Judgement Day in general.

Since the Judgement Day had a promo next, they left Y/N handcuffed to the rope. She was still bleeding. The WWE universe could probably see on her face that she didn’t want to stand out there for how long with the Judgement Day. She had hoped that someone could save her from this nightmare, as she liked to call it.

The booing from the crowd made Y/N start to laugh. That was until Damian looked at her. She had stopped quickly, looking down at the handcuffs, seeing if there was a way to get out of them. 

“Like I’ve said every single week, since you peasants can’t get it through your thick skulls,” Rhea starts off. 

She finishes off by saying, “The Judgement Day, we run Monday night, Raw.”

“You hate to hear the truth,” Damian states. “That is truth, Rhea spoke truth.”

“I mean think about it,” he continues, “Every single person that steps to us falls, all the while the Judgement Day continues to rise.”

“You know what, though. Let’s talk about something more important. Let’s talk about how my boy Finn Balor handled business at extreme rules,” Damian finishes off. 

“Like I’ve said before. When you come at Finn, you best not miss,” Finn starts.

Y/N wanted to be gone from the ring. Even from the building. She didn’t want to stand close to Judgement Day. Y/N didn’t even catch most of Finn’s sentence.

“-I ended the party,” Finn states.

Y/N was bewildered. She didn’t know about no party. When she finally clued in, she felt stupid. There was no party, it was just everyone celebrating Edge’s return.

“I pissed on y’all’s parade,” the Irish man continues, “because I made her dad say the words ‘I Quit’. That’s right, I made Edge say the words ‘I Quit’.”

Y/N rolled her eyes when Finn looked at her. She thought we got it, Finn; we don’t need you to repeat yourself.

“Hey Dominik, what words did I make her dad say?” he questions Dominik while pointing towards me.

Dominik replies, “Edge said ‘I Quit’.”

“Hey priest. What did I make Edge do?” Finn questions again.

“Oh, you made Edge say ‘I Quit’,” Damian replies, laughing.

“That’s right. I made Edge say the words ‘I Quit’ and you know why, because Finn Balor don't quit. I’m too legit to quit,” he finishes off.

“No, that’s not right. You were gonna quit if those baboons didn’t help you,” Y/N decides to yell at him.

They ignore her. 

“You know what? Have you seen him since Saturday Night? You know what, let’s watch it again because I want to watch it one more time,” Finn says.

They played the most important parts of that match. Ones that Y/N didn’t want to rewatch or even relive. The poor girl made sure to not watch the screen when the end of the match came on. She had to hear her father utter the words again and hear the chair hitting Beth.

When the video ended, Judgement Day was all standing and laughing together. This is what Y/N couldn’t stand about them. They injure someone and laugh about it. She would at least be a bit worried about the person if she did that.

“Oh brings a tear to my eye,” Rhea starts off, “The Glamazon, Beth Phoenix. What a joke.”

“Beth, what I did to you was just a glimpse of what I’m capable of,” Rhea states.

“And watching Rhea and action, you know, just-” Dominik pauses.

The crowd was booing so loud he couldn’t speak. Finn tried to shut them up. 

“You guys are just jealous, so shut your mouths,” Rhea says.

“What I was going to say was, Rhea hitting Edge’s wife, Y/N’s mother, Beth with a conchairto did it for me, and I know it did it for all of you as well,” Dominik says.

Y/N doesn’t care what Dominik said next. She was in her own world trying to figure out the handcuffs. Careful not to tighten them more. The handcuffs weren’t the only thing on her mind. Everything that happened on Saturday was on her mind. The only time she looked up was when AJ Styles’ theme song went off.

“Finn, as long as we’ve known each other, it’s come down to this,” AJ says.

“AJ, you made this a lot harder than it needed to be,” Finn begins, “I could have ended this-“

“Oh woah woah, hold on, hold on,” AJ cuts him off.

“Finn, I’m not out here to argue with you. You’re right,” says AJ.

Y/N was so confused, it wasn’t even funny. Why would AJ want to join the Judgement Day?

“Everything I needed was standing right in front of me. With my back against the wall, I’ve been alone for far too long. There comes a time in a man’s life where he needs friends. Hell, in my case, I need family. So from the first time we met in Japan, to now. I’m I not my brother’s keeper.” AJ finishes off kneeling on the floor. 

Y/N couldn’t believe her eyes. AJ was going to join the Judgement Day. There was nothing she could do to stop it, either. They would all ignore her if she yelled. Finn puts his hand out to help AJ up. They share a hug.

“AJ, AJ, I’m so proud of you and I knew you would finally come around,” Finn says.

“I wasn’t talking about you,” AJ replies. 

The theme of the O. C play. The smile on Y/N’s face grew wider than possible. Gallows and Anderson were back and ready to fight. Dominik starts yelling at the O. C and Gallows had enough and just slapped Dominik. That started a fight. 

The O. C was in the ring as the Judgement Day made their way backstage. 

“Hey, do any of you have a key to these?” Y/N questions the three.

Karl pulls out a key and unlocks her. They got a good look at her bloody wrist. Before ushering her backstage to go get it checked out. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was part 9. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. My favorite thing is AJ saying, “I wasn’t talking about you.” I don’t know why it just makes me laugh every time. Hope you have a good night/afternoon/ morning!!!!

[semisolidmind]

Wellp, better late then never

Raise your glasses with me - all hail the Monster Queen! Pop the corks for all the best to Semi.

Cheers! 🍾🐙🥂

get back in the ocean ye beast

(but seriously thanks, i look suitably threatening :) and monster queen? you flatter me)

[envieuu]

୧ ও THE MEMBERS OF ENVIE ଓ ৴

TW. ABUSIVE PARENTS

JANG MIJOO was born on February 20, 2000, in MOKPO, SOUTH KOREA to a religious family. She was raised with both her religion and school life as her top two priorities. However, during her childhood, she'd grown a love for singing. She would sing all the time, to the point the people around her would get annoyed of it. Though they couldn't deny that she had a beautiful voice. This is when her parents decided to make use of her talents by putting her in their services choir. Due to this, Mijoo and her family quickly became notable members of their church.

Although she enjoyed singing with her church, Mijoo saw something bigger for herself. She saw herself becoming a name that people would recognize. This was when she realized that she wanted to become a gospel singer. At the age of 13, Mijoo uploaded her very first video to YouTube of her singing a rendition of one of her favorite gospel songs. This would become a frequent for the young girl as she would go on to post multiple covers at least every two weeks.

Gradually, she would see a rise in views that would eventually lead to her discovery by HONEYMOON AVE Productions at the age of 16 years old. Mijoo went on to sign a contract with them and would gear up for a solo debut only a year later. She would release a few songs before going practically radio silent until 2020 when her contract was bought by FLEURY RECORDS. Following her new exclusive contract, Mijoo began her training with the Envie lineup and continued to debut as the group's MAIN VOCALIST

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ THE BASICS

FULL NAME. Jang Mijoo

BIRTHDATE. February 20, 2000

ZODIAC. Pisces

BIRTHPLACE. Mokpo, South Korea

HOMETOWN. Mokpo, South Korea

ETHNICITY. Korean

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ CAREER

OCCUPATION. Idol

GROUP. Envie

POSITION. Main Vocal

YEARS ACTIVE. 2016 - present

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ PHYSIQUE

HEIGHT. 5'3" (161cm)

FACECLAIM. Kim Jiwoo

BODY MODIFICATIONS. Standard Lobe Piercings

YING JIALI, formerly known as POPPY, was born on June 7, 2000, in Huangzhou, China, but moved to NEW YORK, where she resided in QUEENS. She was raised in a household with her two sisters--one older, one younger--by her cook mother and her father who worked an office job. Her childhood wouldn't be described as ideal by anyone, as her father was abusive to her, her siblings, and her mother alike. Even though she would stay quiet and to herself in the house, she would receive majority of his lashings.

Even in the strife, Jiali found her passion. She was in love with dancing and would use it as an escape from her challenging domesticity situation. With an idea of how she could get away from her father, she snuck out on several occasions to auditions for dance teams. Somewhere along the lines, Jiali found out about K-Pop and was inspired by senior groups like GIRLS' GENERATION and FLOE&HAIL. This is when she would stumble upon advertising for global auditions at FLEURY RECORDS, which excited her because it happened to be the agency that housed the group mentioned prior. She would sneak out once again and audition for the label and luckily was accepted.

In one night, she would quickly leave her family behind, writing notes specifically for her sisters and mother. She vowed to provide for them once she makes it where she wants to be in life. She began training with Fleury and was even sent to participate in the 2018 survival show PRODUCE 48 as POPPY where she would ultimately rank #18, unfortunately not making it into the lineup. Although disappointed, this would later work out in her favor when she would be able to debut as Envie's MAIN DANCER, LEAD RAPPER, and SUB-VOCAL.

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ THE BASICS

FULL NAME. Ying Jiali

ENGLISH NAME. Briella Ying

BIRTHDATE. June 7, 2000

ZODIAC. Gemini

BIRTHPLACE. Huangzhou, China

HOMETOWN. New York City, New York

ETHNICITY. Chinese

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ CAREER

OCCUPATION. Idol,

GROUP. Envie

POSITION. Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, Sub-Vocal

YEARS ACTIVE. 2018, 2021 - present

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ PHYSIQUE

HEIGHT. 5'7" (170cm)

FACECLAIM. Shen Xiaoting

BODY MODIFICATIONS. Standard Lobe Piercings, Upper Left Arm Tattoo, Tragus Piercings

LEE KIYEON was born on July 1, 2001 in SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA to an orthodontist father and psychiatrist mother. It's safe to say that she was raised in a wealthy household, her upbringing never being one in struggle of finance and bathing in luxurious items. From the time she was 4 years old, she pursued a serious career in ballet. Her mother, in spite of being a psychiatrist proved to take a serious mental toll on her daughter as she seemed to live vicariously through Kiyeon. She was unhealthily attached to her life and often pressured her in her ballet career. Though at her prestigious studio a lot of her peers despised her, and the competition was dire, Kiyeon's own mother probably served as her biggest enemy.

Somewhere along the lines, she was deemed something close to a prodigy by her instructors and peers alike. She would go on to score lead roles in a large sum of the institution's productions, but this wouldn't come without heavy competition between her and one of her friends at the company that would last for years and be a detrimental to her psyche. Either way, because of her performance quality, she would be scouted by a talent agent at Fleury and become a favorite among the trainees. After training with the ensemble, she would debut as Envie's beloved MAIN VOCALIST, LEAD DANCER, and VISUAL.

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ THE BASICS

FULL NAME. Lee Kiyeon

BIRTHDATE. July 1, 2001

ZODIAC. Cancer

BIRTHPLACE. Seoul, South Korea

HOMETOWN. Seoul, South Korea

ETHNICITY. Korean

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ CAREER

OCCUPATION. Idol, Ballerina

GROUP. Envie

POSITION. Main Vocal, Lead Dancer, Visual

YEARS ACTIVE. 2005 - 2018, 2021 - present

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ PHYSIQUE

HEIGHT. 5'6" (167cm)

FACECLAIM. Kim Minjeong

BODY MODIFICATIONS. Standard Lobe Piercings, Upper Right Arm Tattoo

KANNIKA SHINAWATRA, professionally known as YANA or YANA SHINAWATRA, was born on September 13, 2002, in CHIANGMAI, THAILAND to an acupuncturist father and an actress mother. From a very young age, Yana knew what she wanted to be: a star. She looked up to her mother as a little girl who was a popular actress in Thailand and often wished to be adored just like her mother. Yana began getting recognized once she got a little older and was often casted for small roles as a child actress for advertisements and tv series. However, acting wasn't really a passion for Yana. It was performing that inspired her most.

Talent agents recognized Yana's natural star power and often tried to scout her for multiple opportunities. But there was one thing that stood in the way of her dream, her mother. Her mother found her charisma and talent cute when she was younger but seemingly started to sabotage her own daughter. She would purposely ruin her chances to claim fame and get big. Yana's mother felt as though because she was getting older and receiving less attention, her daughter was beginning to steal all of her limelight. Her jealousy caused much conflict between the two, many extreme arguments conspiring almost every day within the household.

This led to Yana finding a manager of her own instead of her mother playing the role. Due to this, she was given the chance to seek labels that would be able to house her best. She would then audition for Fleury and ultimately be accepted, where she would begin her training with Envie, eventually debuting as the charming MAIN RAPPER, LEAD DANCER, LEAD VOCAL, and MAKNAE.

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ THE BASICS

FULL NAME. Kannika Shinawatra

BIRTHDATE. September 13, 2002

ZODIAC. Virgo

BIRTHPLACE. Chiangmai, Thailand

HOMETOWN. Chiangmai, Thailand

ETHNICITY. Thai

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ CAREER

OCCUPATION. Idol

GROUP. Envie

POSITION. Main Rapper, Lead Dancer, Lead Vocal, Maknae

YEARS ACTIVE. 2021 - present

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ PHYSIQUE

HEIGHT. 5'4" (166cm)

FACECLAIM. Anatchaya Suputtipong

BODY MODIFICATIONS. Standard Lobe Piercings, Lower Back Tattoo, Outer Conch Piercings, Right Helix Piercing, Upper Lobe Piercings

[bethanysnow]

Golden Hour: a SKZ thanksgiving~

Writers Notes:

As I get back into K-pop and South Korean Culture. The fandoms of K-pop, and Stray Kids. I am reminded of my first holiday season having moved from Alaska. Coming from a big family it felt like the house was too empty, that I couldn't turn the tv loud enough to replace the people that weren't there. Everyone has had that at some point. A holiday, a birthday, or some event where you just wished that person or those people were there for. Even as good as that event or holiday turned out to be. You still saw an empty chair and thought it would be filled. So I write this because of that feeling. I have friends now as an adult all over the world and it's hard to convey that specific brand of isolation.

I know Thanksgiving is a very U.S.-centric holiday. But go with me here lol. I promise it's cute.

So to my fellow stays all across the world you make not only stray kids but also me, stay. So thank you. I may not speak to you directly, but if you are tagged below you have impacted me in your work, and blog, and it's been an honor to be in this space with you. I dedicate this work to you. I hope it doesn't suck!

@hyunsvngs @moonlightndaydreams @moonjxsung @ddyskz @queen-in-the-shadows @chansmanda @antoniorhinothethird @cbini @its-hannjisung @noellllslut @channieandhisgoonsquad @sweetracha @skzms @hyunjinfairy @7ndipity @forlix

Stray Kids ot8 X Platonic!Foreigner!Reader. (But honestly, it can be whatever you want ;) ) 2.7k wrds

"Vanilla! I fucking forgot Vanillia! God damnit!" Recircling it on the very long list that had been trailing behind her through the week. It was days before Thanksgiving and it was not only a herculean task to try and buy cranberry sauce in Korean, but also to find a whole turkey from meet markets and buchers who of course looked at y/n like she was insane.

It was only because Seungmin and Minho teased y/n about just how festive she was getting for the holidays she had to open her big mouth. You just had to, didn't you? Of course! Y/n was gonna show them just how amazing the holidays could be, starting with the third week of November. If she had to pull a full Martha Stewart out of her ass to prove her point she would, Y/n was already too deep into it now.

That is how she found herself in the middle of a grocery store on the outer edges of Seoul trying to buy potatoes and cursing about Vanilla. Y/n thought back on how she got into this mess while continuing shopping.

Originally Y/n worked as a remote context translator for a couple video editors based out of South Korea. That of course turned into more and more Zoom meetings and a vacation to Seoul later she had moved and worked full-time with JYP and Stray Kids. Still as a context translator, but also now as an assistant to their manager whom she grew close with. He was the big brother/father figure one needed in a country you weren't from originally. The eight boys who followed her around like lost puppies also maybe had something to do with it maybe just maybe.

Getting out of the store with her now chosen ingredients it was time to hail back to the apartment and start the process that everyone dreaded most of all. Cleaning. It wasn't the obligatory floordrobe, or the collection of maybe two mugs too many on the coffee table; but left to ones own devices the apartment was...not great for hosting what will be the greatest dinner ever?? One would love to have the ~aesthetic~ apartment you see on Pinterest, but fuck even the Idols she worked for didn't have that. So why should she? Y/n's roommate of six months was out on a bussniess trip for the next week, so she got to fight the great pile of doom on her own.

Walking in the mix of preparation and desolation that greeted her would make Marie Kando tremble in fear. But she was determined! The kitchen was stacked with dishes so strategically one would call her a master of her craft- now this artform isn't one for the faint of heart, but art nonetheless. Putting down the new groceries away in the refrigerator and cabinets it was time to start.

"CUE THE CLEANING MONTAGE!" Y/n yelled as music filled the room. Pretending to be a tavern wench as she cleared the table and did the dishes or Cinderella waiting for a Hwang Prince Charming.

As the night wore on it was becoming increasingly obvious cleaning the entire apartment wasn't going to be an option tonight. Flopping on the couch looking at her phone Y/n scrolled through social media. Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter (Authors note: Fuck you Elon). She stopped and tossed the phone down onto the cushion beside her. Her shirt was wet, cold, still sudsy from doing the dishes that needed to be handwashed. Her knees hurt from getting under the table. Hands ached with the grip of a thousand suns it felt like.

All Y/n could hear though was the quiet. The dripping of the faucet, the cars outside, the heater kicking on. But like a ringing in her ears she just heard quiet. No laughter, no joy or drinks being spilt over stories that don't see the light of day. The air was heavy and thick cold enough to cause goosebumps up her arms. Y/n had moved away from everything she knew on the hope that she would find her place in the world. That she would find her people. Maybe she had, but in the moment she exhaled all that was left was a tired body. It was for thanksgiving, it was for people she now considered friends to come over and have a good time. The emptiness in stagnation though diligently reminded her of why they were her friends in the first place. There was no support group here like back at home. She didn't have to think twice about connotation or what someone meant when they said something because they all spoke the same language at home. Found similar things funny. Understood implications of words and meanings. That was all gone. Working twice if not three times as hard just to get a foot in the door Y/n was faced with the reality and consequence of her decision. She didn't regret it. Or at least at the moment, she didn't. The gnawing in her chest would subside one day and she would find friends, family. People to kiss under the golden hour sun and dance in the kitchen as things baked in the oven. To sneak around roommates and hold hands under the table at a restaurant. She would find them, like a mantra she chanted this over and over while moving to Korea and now she sat on her couch. Looking off into the middle distance her brain coaxing her to the scenarios where she wouldn't find them. Didn't take that step. Didn't say hi.

Yet she was swimming in silence meant to choke her. Drown her hope.

It wasn't enough to be lonely.

it wasn't enough to not understand.

It was in moments like these did she allow tears to reach her eyes and fall.

Over her cheeks, down her jaw, her neck. Just silently spill into empty glasses that never could be filled in the first place.

Her heart was wretched and blue it needed a fire to stay warm and she was almost there.

She looked around the apartment and could almost see Changbin and Seungmin yell at one another about cards, or Hyunjin silently judging her decorations, Chan trying to help but being told not to, and Felix talking about the pie she made. Just like a picture book, it was so close and she blinked and it was the empty room again. Sinking her fantasy into the sea.

...soon

............its soon

~~~~

The days leading up to the fateful Thursday were one of a lot of shopping, decorating, and cooking. Lots of cooking.

Proving the bread to make the rolls, blind baking the pie crust, hell even making the pie crust to then blind bake it. Mixing stuffing to set overnight, potatoes to peel and mash, cranberries to turn into a sauce, a turkey to baste and season and cook, Arms deep in a bird stuffing it with stuffing.

And yes the fisting jokes abound.

The group chat that was made kept the phone buzzing its way off the counter with the fervency in which some of the boys texted.

Jinnie: What should I wear?

Wolf boy: Do we need to bring anything?

Cat: I googled Thanksgiving and...do you really make hand turkey art?

It made Y/n giggle seeing how excited the boys were getting. This was what she needed after the work put in.

Y/n: Wear whatever you want, be comfortable, but Idk..like nice comfortable? Stuff you wouldn't mind photos being taken in? No don't bring anything, and yes we did as kids.

Bin: ...So no girl group outfit? lol

Y/n: No no you could if you wanted to, but that's between you and Stay lol.

Wolf boy: You sure we don't need to bring anything? I can pick something up on the way.

Minnie: Oy, grandpa she said not to~ ;P

Wolf boy:

Y/n: I cannot wait to see you thursday. Don't kill each other before then. Or else no one is gonna eat the food.

~~~~

The day had arrived. At least the dress rehearsal had. The day before it was no holds bars, if it wasn't going to be done that day it wasn't going to be done. Waking up at 6 am Y/n padded out to the kitchen. Making coffee and something to eat it was the waiting before the rush. The inhale of the orchestra before placing their bow on the strings, the grabbing of a mic and feeling it in your hand, the stare into the crowd before going on stage.

The 'hold your breath and jump.'

And the race was on!

Dishes from the cabinet were taken out, the nice dishes, the ones Y/n picked up thinking her social life would be fuller than it was. Yes those dishes. Beautiful and shined like the inside of a clamshell, pearl dust and fairy tears was what the label read originally. Some rich people shit as far as she was concerned, she just liked it being pretty.

The table was set with a red tablecloth, and leaves from maybe the tree outside her apartment, (they were yellow and red, and who really would have noticed?). Crystal glasses, and tapered candles waiting to be lit. Pine cones and wreath garlands shrugged against window sills and folded oh so strategically a brass-coloured throw blanket on the couch to cover a night of drinking.

The food slowly grew from one side of the counter to taking up the entire kitchen. Even having to borrow a table from her roommate to set everything out. Drinks, games to play. The oven heated up the apartment till Y/n had to take off her hoodie and reminisce that maybe this was what it was like to put coal into a train engine. Warm light from the stove swallowed the apartment in an amber-golden glow. Sitting on the kitchen linoleum her head fell back against the cabinet under the countertop. A smile gracing her features. She could hear the timer tick by, feel the heat from the stove, she could look up to the counter top and see dishes filled with food and it was all for tomorrow. For a good day. To have a good day. It will be worth it. She was sure.

By the time Y/n had decided to fold the fabric napkins it was past 1 in the morning. Her phone lit up with a notification, and she swiped her pin to see it was a text from Chris.

"Hi"

"Hey Chan, whatsup?"

"Nothin, working on music. You uh sure you don't want me to bring anything?"

*sends a photo of the buffet that has been created* "That your answer?"

.....

..........

"You did all that for us?"

"Well yea, I want you to have a good time."

"Y/n-"

"Yes Chan?"

"Thank you. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. Thank you for doing this, I know you've been homesick. So I am looking forward to it!"

"Me too"

turning the screen black Y/n sat back against the chair and looked at the now decidedly more festive apartment. It was like a hallmark movie threw up and she wouldn't change a thing about it.

~~~~

The morning had come. Unlike Christmas or a birthday, this was about family and gathering around a table and honoring those around us. That is what it was supposed to be at least.

Taking the most deep everything shower one can achieve Y/n had it down almost to a science. Lathering body washes, scrubs, hair masks, everything! To hope she could look maybe half as good compared to who was going to walk into her place in a couple hours.

Slipping into a green dress, she put on an apron. Putting the last rolls into the oven wiping down countertops and doing last touches.

She had a hour before all hell would break loose and eight of the most talented men in their generation would be walking in through her front door. It made her nervous.

Not nervous bad, but nervous. First time she had people over to her apartment, first-time friends, but also she did work for them technically. It wasn't lost on Y/n just how amazing this situation was.

How many people would kill to have these opportunities in life. Sure things hurt, and sucked sometimes, but looking around she knew she was grateful and that's what mattered. Till the stove timer went off snapping her back to what needed to be done. Rolls out, covering them with a kitchen towel, running into the bedroom to slap on some makeup and finish her hair. It was just as she put down the last thing did the doorbell go off.

~~~

The group walked in with confidence like they owned the building but Y/n would expect nothing less. All in sweaters and hoodies, sweatpants and big hugs for the host. Standing next to the door Y/n was crushed with biceps only the kpop industry could produce. Holding her tight she kept each boy embraced till they were the first to let go. With Han, Felix, and Chan that could last the entire night though.

"This is your apartment?"

"LOOK AT THE FOOD!"

"You made bread???!"

"Do we eat now??"

"Oy! Y/n you decorated for us? Why?"

*insert Minho elbowing them*

"Its really nice!"

Her apartment was now filled with laughter. Han finding a guitar of course needed to waltz through and serenade anyone who would listen. Chris and Changbin fussing with the tv to get karaoke set up. Hyunjin indeed was judging the decorations but with the artistic eye of admiration in reality. Felix and Seugmin hovered over the food talking about it, pouring drinks. Leeknow sat on the couch scrolling on his phone ultimately being more moral support for the boys at the television. IN staying close to Y/n watching the groups chaos ensue.

It was what she needed.

What she had been missing.

Family.

"Okay everyone, dinner is served!" Taking the turkey out of the oven and the foil off the tops of serving plates "Chan would you do the honors?" Offering to have him place the turkey out on the serving table. His smile reached his eyes as his chest puffed up with pride calling the boys to have a seat. One by one they piled food on their plates high, filling their glasses full, and sitting down at the table antsy so excited to eat with everyone there. For they too felt the separation of the two apartments, they didn't get to have homecooked meals or someone to plan something this nice. But Y/n did. She saw how they ate from food delivery containers, vending machines, and out of each others plates. Her heart ached as did theirs and so tonight, today, would be spent healing that pain.

Chan cut the turkey, Minho continued to smack people's asses because he could, Changbin got up and did a girl group dance playing the song on his phone. People laughed till they cried. Pie was served and everyone commented at how much cool whip was on Felix's because "That's how you're supposed to eat it!"

The sun was setting casting the apartment in that golden hour hue. Where Y/n had normally kept busy, ignoring the pit in her stomach of another day gone by alone. She got to sit back and watch her friends, her new family enjoy time together. Eat a meal that they didn't have to stress about. The golden light filled Y/ns chest with warmth and the fuzziness of blankets at a sleep over, the stuffed animal won at a claw machine, the bed of home after being away. Time had passed, and she could let go of the pain that held her back if these boys were the ones to catch her.

And they would. Time and time again they would catch her. All she needed to do was jump. So while Han sang a disney princess song, and Seungmin and Minho admit defeat that maybe the holidays aren't as bad after all, or even Chan stopped the ever-present work load to be in the moment; Y/n finally had it. What she had been wanting all along. She found her place in the world.

In with these boys, in the laughter, in the pain of loneliness, she had found it.

Uno rounds, songs sung, pillows thrown, food ate, it was truly a Golden StrayKids Thanksgiving after all.

Where no one can be forgotten.

~~~

La fin.

[bitter69uk]

“Whenever Diana Ross goes shopping in Paris, it is a sign of what a famous person’s charisma can do. One day, she wanted some trinkets to wear to go dancing. After having lunched with friends at Maxim’s, her mile-long stretch limousine (something rare even in Paris) pulled up, and she was the first outside on the sidewalks in her floor-length sables at noon. Off she cruised to E. Oxeda, the Faberge of antique jewelers. Inside, she threw her sables on a chair. She jumped up on a Louis Something desk, her fake hair flying at half-mast. She crossed her legs, dangled them as she selected in ten minutes an antique pearl necklace, a diamond clip and some earrings that did the shake, rattle and roll between her cheeks and hair. The image of fame came when the bill was drawn up. “Would you like some identification?” asked Diana. Mme Oxeda said: “No, Miss Ross. We will deliver the jewels to your hotel this afternoon before six.” And this was a high Saturday when no banks could be called to verify her astronomical check, drawn on a bank across the Atlantic Ocean. It could have easily been an imposter, a drag queen, a professional thief. But Diana Ross’ super glamour is so authentic, it can’t easily be imitated.”

/ Andre Leon Talley in the book Mega-Star (1984) /

All hail the Queen! Call her Miss Ross! Happy 80th birthday to durable, volatile veteran pop diva, occasional (Oscar nominated) actress, sequin enthusiast, all-round glamour icon and one of Detroit’s finest daughters – the fabulous Diana Ross (born 26 March 1944)! Understandably everyone loves Ross’ music (both with the Supremes and solo), but I particularly treasure Ross’s spectacular 1975 film Mahogany in which she plays a struggling aspiring fashion designer who achieves the pinnacle of supermodel mega-stardom in Italy. It’s an unassailable so-bad-it’s-GREAT camp classic in the tradition of Valley of the Dolls, Mommie Dearest or Showgirls (and Ross’s outrageous costume and wig changes surely sparked the imagination of generations of Black drag queens, including “Mama Ru” himself). Fittingly, La Ross is currently one of the official muses of Saint Laurent’s Spring / Summer 2024 campaign – and it feels like a belated Mahogany moment! Portraits by David Sims.

[thetownwecallhome]

TNBC Shower Thought-cloud #5: Sally the Ragdoll

((OOC:

So the sequel book to Nightmare Before Christmas All Hail the Pumpkin Queen, came out this last year and I just gotta make my stance clear now: if you like that book, cool.

I don't. Like, I really don't. To make a long story short, Shea Anshaw's take on Jack and Sally finally getting married ft the revelations that

Sally wasn't actually made by Dr. Finkelstein

Sally is a princess from another world

Sally wax poetic abt awesome girl-boss royalty ((like, human royalty, the kind that commits genocide and apartheid)) being legit and cool and how you shouldn't question it

This newest girl-bossification of Sally is positing the same question the TNBC-critical sphere has been asking for years: is Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas dependent and therefore can't be a good feminist character?

The hyperbole take on her being " her [Sally's] entire purpose is being supportive of Jack, who isn't supportive of her and who doesn't deserve her as a girlfriend "

This isn't a fringe opinion nor is it held only by people I dislike. Lindsay Ellis jokingly told Sally to "get her bachelor's degree" in one of her vids which I am very obviously not butthurt at all by as you can tell, while Hasani Walker made a webcomic where that functionally happens; Sally and Jack break up to work things out individually before they really try it out as a couple.

Just so we're clear, my disagreeing with these two and other creators is NOT meant to be war on people who don't ship SallyxJack, nor is it a roast on people who are critical of Sally/TNBC as a principle.

BUT, when it comes to Sally ((in the film, not the games or spin offs, the film)) being a doormat of a woman who's too good for her man...I disagree.

---First thing's first, My take on Sally is highly influenced by The Nightmare Before Christmas : The Film, the Art, and the Vision which my sister bought years ago. In that book, Carolyn Thompson said this -

While TNBC is the story of the time Jack did a thing and ruined it for everyone, it's Sally who embodies everything the filmmakers want the audience to feel about Jack.

Set up and seen before Jack is even on screen, Sally is a part of the world of Halloween, but also an outsider in it. This gives her the position to see Jack the way the audience does; Just like Sally, we are awed and enamored with Jack when he first pops up, then saddened and sympathetic for him once we realize his plight. Though she's absent from Jack's finding of Christmas Town, she IS there for the town meeting when we the audience (and her) are gushing over his gushing over Christmas. We sense along with Sally Jack's frustration with the town citizens, are saddened to see him pander to them, and can tell he’s not well when committing to his Xmas experiments. Most important of all, Sally recognizes Jack’s Xmas takeover as wrong and wants to stop it, even if she love him. Even without hearing him sing “I bet I could IMPROVE IT TOO” like we do, Sally knows Jack is wrong. Regardless of her care for Jack, visibly, she’s the only one who sees what’s happening with Santa is wrong. Sally tracks him down in order to help Jack, but she’s none the less Santa’s real ally. From everything we know about her, Sally, like the rest of Halloween Town, is not a mean monster and doesn’t like to spread misery ala Oogie Boogie, and she’s not too hopped up on enthusiasm to forget when she’s hurting people like Jack and the town very much are. Sally is the og critical stan. now join me for a tanget-

Interestingly, any other holiday film ((Year without a Santa Claus, Hocus Pocus, Hop)) would make the voice-of-reason audience-surrogate character a peppy human child who's interacting w the holiday characters, but in TNBC, the writers made the surrogate someone who's also a holiday character- Sally. Sally is kind of to TNBC what Nick Calloway is to The Great Gatsby. Yeah, that's a stretch-Nick is of course the narrator and author-stand in for his story where Sally isn't (although, a TNBC narrated by Sally sounds dope as hell, ngl), tho more importantly, while Nick learns along with the reader how cruel and fruitless the American dream Jay believed in actually was,

---Sally is a character who doesn’t have to learn anything. tanget- again

A lot of people have this opinion on Disney heroines like Belle or Ariel, that good characters, female or otherwise, don't necessarily have to learn anything. I could take or leave Belle and Ariel in as far as if they should learn a lesson in their movies. But in my eyes, that character will always be Sally. Sally is a character you wanna aspire to be like and who doesn’t need to learn the lesson of the story. And yes, Sally is also in-love with Jack. You can be extra cynicalsassy and use this to say "TNBC was made to make you feel like you could make out w Jack Skellington" (( I'd like to point out that Nick is all but canonically in love with Jay in GG)) but that's not the point. More importantly...how/why is that a bad thing that Sally is in love? TNBC doesn’t pass any bectal tests. If women always supporting other women is the only mark of feminism ever then I guess, but I mean, what’s wrong if a woman’s inspo and motivation is a man? What’s especially wrong if she’s self aware and tries to battle that man’s influence within the story. How is that "putting up with" or "enabling/excusing/thinking only of Jack". Sally...really doesn't do that...

---Sally has wants, but within the narrative of Nightmare she's just a bit taken back by needs. At the start of the movie what Sally wants, and the reason she says "I know how you feel" to Jack, is to be active.

“I don’t want to BE patient”

“I’m restless, I can’t help it!”

Sally wants to be anything but Finkelstein's cute assistant because SHE knows she's more than that. She wants to be a part of Halloween Town. What's keeping her back is her reluctance to be free, which she finally throws to the wind after seeing Jack's tower from afar, which is why she's so happy throwing herself out the window - that's her 'let it go' moment of actually taking action in her life. The man she loves is evidently doing it -why shouldn't she? Her actual 'need' is to escape from Dr. Finkelste and it’s really not an obstacle, if we're being honest. The balls are all in her court; Fink's at most an irritation to her. She literally came back to his lab just to be sewn up and smile in his face about poisoning him. She can, and does, so often easily escape because she’s NOT perturbed by him. Sally is, at this point in the film, totally in control of her wants and her needs. But then- the plot kicks in and she has her vision. It's then that her real need in the story, the need she recognizes, outweighs her wants, that need being: "omg I gotta stop this undead himbo from hurting himself and other people!" Sally’s #1 goal in the film is NOT to be Jack's gf, it’s just to save him from himself. Jack inspires her, makes her feel good, but she doesn’t let that stop her from seeing things for how they are ABOUT him. Her words in "Sally Song" never read to me as "notice me senpai I wish I was good ENOUGH" self-loathing. If anything her succumbing to “it’s never to become '' about Jack isn’t some “I love you even though you’ll NEVER luff MEEEEE” devotion, but forlorn frustration. “I think it’s not to be '' = Jack’s never gonna change”. It's Sally's lament about how she doesn't believe Jack will ever want her that way because she just knows what kind of person he is*. But that's not the only thing she sings about in this song. Sally has been apart from the crowd and wants to be a part of it, but any joy she’d have in her new independence is kinda sucked up by knowing Jack is gonna get him and possibly the rest of the town killed. She even wonders in her song if she wants to or ever can be really a part of Halloween Town when she clearly can’t do the hype-Jack-up song and dance like the rest of them. Jack evidently treats her like an equal part of the team, but 1) for Jack that's just another citizen he thinks doesn't understand him, and 2) it's participation in a project she knows she doesn't want to be a part of. Real monkey's paw there, Sally!

If there is anything close enough to a lesson for Sally in the film, arguably, it’d be not to underestimate Jack as unable to change. She’s not only validated by the end of the film, she gets to see Jack really bounce back and be the person she loved at the start- and then is taken aback that he not only does this but finally recognizes her affections, her efforts, and her as a person. final tangent:

((I think the make-or-break-you point with Nightmare is a question of whether or not you think Jack learned his lesson. While I think the filmmakers could have really handled that better, especially in “Poor Jack”, I think what they were going for in their own crunch of an ending is Jack falling in love with Sally is his redemption- he finally came around to seeing her and her way. The Film, the Art, and the Vision makes a point of how Sally is far more than Jack’s romantic interest. ))

Being Mr. Cynical again, you could handwave this as just a throw-in from the writers; "actually she IS REALLY important lookit all the things she do!" but I believe in that statement because they believe in that.

--Sally's MO is centered around Jack. Narratively, yes, she exists in compandum to him. But, within the actual story of the film, Jack isn't her soul purpose in life. The fact that she tries to stop him is proof enough of that. 

The argument that Sally is too good and better than the relationship she's in falls apart because Jack and Sally aren't IN a relationship in the film. They hook up at the end -that's not the same as them being together or a couple. The logic of this take is, again, confusing Sally's wants with her needs, and also presuming Jack always loved her and just didn't realize until the end of the story, which is NOT the text of the actual film, that's fan speculation. (( I prefer Jack falling in love with Sally on the spot out of nowhere. It's such a Jack way of doing things...)) I think what convinces people that Sally is “dependent” on Jack or only ever his side-kick is how expanded media treats her as character, as well as her relationship w Jack. In the 2000s, all that mattered for making spin off material of kid’s franchises is keeping the cast recognizable and that means undoing their development if the point of the story is that they change. It happened in every Land Before Time sequel where Cera and Littlefoot have to be the respective team-racist and team-leader, always, ever, all the time; it happened in the Finding Nemo comics set after the movie where writers still made Marlin overprotective of Nemo; it happened to Jack in Kingdom Hearts and Oogie’s Revenge. The writers may want to write an actual story, but it’s easier to just write what the characters are like in the original. SO, Jack HAS to be an oblivious, selfish manchild and can never learn and is also really despondent and prone to abandoning ppl he supposedly cares about. This sucks enough for Jack's character, but I think Sally suffered even worse than him. At that time, media and merch did treat Sally like she was JUST Jack’s love interest. Literally in Oogie’s Revenge's game pamphlet the only disc for her is “she’s sewn her way into Jack’s heart”, like she’s just his side piece and not the woman he ended his movie with who was also a really important character you followed within that movie. We can only repeat what we know from the film so oop!-Jewel’s MIA and Sally has to live with her sexist ex/boss who doesn't even like her.

---While we're here, I'm 100% sure Sally and Dr. Fink’s relationship is not familial. Some fictional mad scientists do love their creations like they were their children (see also: Mad Monster Party, 9, Frankenweenie for animated examples). Not Dr. Fink. While not exactly predatory ((because it's a fricken kids film, ew)) Dr Finkelstein is a sexist old man. He's problematic. Fink made Sally to be his sexy secretary. He's mad because her life doesn’t revolve around him the way he thinks a woman who works for him life should. In the end, he just decided to go and make a copy of himself since he knows now what he wants is to be told how awesome he is. I really don’t vibe some fic authors (and Shea Anshaw's) insistence that they be anything like ‘family’, hence why I made fun of it on this blog.

For all I disagree with between our headcanons, I much prefer Hasani Walker's take on Sally to Long Live the Pumpkin Queen. Hasani went in w good vibes; he made decent takes and criticisms; he made some good art; he did a sweet crossover between stop-motion properties, and MOST importantly, Hasani gave Sally a hat and a cool girl vest. Did Shea Anshaw do that? No!

It feels very at home and on-brand for TNBC that Sally was made from whole cloth as a ragdoll, but is still her own autonomous person by the rest of town and even the leader eventually. Reminds me a lot of the Oz books where the Scarecrow, Jack Pumpkinhead, and Gump are all just possessions but who are seen as people by the heroes, and even made official citizens by the heroes, which they are. What's more Halloweeny than a living-ragdoll-frankenstein woman being co-ruler of everything spoopy, or even just a citizen loved and respected as much as the rest of the town for her own attributes? If that's what you want, and it's what Hasani actually did for her, than give her that. Outside of her purpose within the story that I already mentioned earlier... what about Sally is sexist? So TNBC doesn't pass the bechdel test and Sally's main inspo happens to be her man. Not her soul purpose like in mother!, just her muse, her kin, her dearest friend. Secret of NIMH and Kubo and the Two Strings have female characters whose motives are their men and those characters don't even have first names. I kinda really hate the implication that a woman can't have a male character as a motive ever or else. As a feminist, I agree, women characters should be individuals and not props for the men. The problem to me isn't so much the insistence that a woman be there for support, it's writers crafting a story where certain characters fill more of a role or purpose in cunjunction to another, and when the writer happens to make said character a woman.

Also, since the whole point of LLTPQ was to give Sally her own agency and importance...how is it fair that she HAVE to be a royalty HERSELF in order to be her own person?

Is it because she was made to be a sexy nurse and that's somehow wrong or shameful even though the whole point is it's not her fault? Is it that people would accuse her of “leeching off" Jack just for being in a relationship with him? You know? The thing bad, sexist people do to women and sax workers irl if they have famous boos when they themselves aren't famous? If the only people complaining are those who think Sally is JUST Jack’s sidepiece, why validate those people? Wanting her to have agency within the movie and so giving her different choices as opposed to just INSTANTLY marrying Jack? That's a take I can vibe with because that is true to the nature of what Sally is, which is not just the Mad Scientist's beautiful assistant. By making Sally a "princess all along '', you imply that her even possibly starting from the bottom makes her beneath Jack and she has to rise to be his equal. Sally never had to do this in the original movie. Sally really was the smartest, most in tune person in town.

I talk a big game, of course, but even as my fav character I know I've done Sally wrong too. The "Mothball" comic is one of my biggest regrets from this blog. It's SO badly worded and I think it's a comic that REALLY needed a second opinion. Sally did nothing wrong in that comic, but both it and Jack made her feel like they were both in the wrong. Trying to give Jack and Sally a conflict as a couple was hard and I ended up rehashing some really harmful language, which I didn't want to do for either Sally or Jack. Don't like that comic. My first choice of retype, redraft.

final thoughts?

What people (me, Lindsay, Hasani, Shea, errybody) actually want of Sally is to have her own agency and 'character' apart from Jack. While narratively, yes, Sally functions as being there to endear Jack to the audience, my point is as a character within the narrative-Sally does have her own autonomy apart from him. She is massively independent of him. I know because that's who she is throughout the entire movie. I think it's because we all see she clearly does have her own interests/agency/character beyond that that we're all anxious to get more of that personally from her...which Disney won't do because they're Disney and certain characters can't come as their own especially when they fufilled another character's purpose in the og film.

Anna can't really do anything that isn't tied to Elsa because it's Elsa who's the reason any of Frozen happens at all.

Belle is always only the cheerleader of the Beast because his character arc is what drives the story.

Sally has to always be in toe of Jack because TNBC is Jack's story and she loves Jack.

But, we love Sally.

Give Sally her own limelight. Give her a limelight that isn't compltely making her a different character or demanding she be the same character as Jack.

Let Sally say #$%&

))

[houseofakind2]

My open letter to an icon

And just like that, for the first time in my life, I saw Madonna, the icon performing. I saw it once and probably the only time I will see it. Who knows what the future holds?

After so much speculation, and London friends saying that it was a good experience but that she was clearly struggling, like in pain, I was ready for anything. I am not into watching those fan made videos on social media. I rather save myself to the experience as the artist and their team have envisioned. Lower expectations, better rewarding.

Earlier this year I have been amazed by Beyonce’s Renaissance experience. As a big fan, it was no surprise that she would deliver something on point, but this tour was beyond. She outdid herself when it comes to art direction, storyline, and this is what the pop industry is all about: being able to be on stage and share with the world a positive message in a way that anyone can consume.

But neither Beyonce, Taylor, Gaga, Katy, Dua any of those wouldn’t be possible if Madonna hadn’t changed the game. Madonna arrives in New York full of hopes and dreams and after episodes of abuse, she sees herself with nothing else to lose. Her only shelter and comfort are art and the queer community that embraced her since the beginning.

There Madonna finds her drive and passion. And she puts all her energy to give her best. All her talents, her cleverness, her ambitions are then switched not only to fulfil her own dreams, but to protect this community that was so loyal to her. She is smart. She extremely intelligent. She could spot from the early days all the issues with patriarchy. She didn’t need any Barbie movie to have any realisation moment. She threw herself in the most honest way to her art and it paid off.

As bigger the spotlight would get in the artist, a new facade she would reveal. Never boring. Always surprising the audience. Always making them wanting more. Now go tell your friend what you have seen. And in the most obscene way, Madonna conducted the world slowly and progressively on a journey to understand the importance of feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, fashion, art.

The pop industry has its own formula to “retire” divas as soon as they become Mothers. Again, a patriarchal way to say that women’s body are only a product for consumption under specific standards. Here comes Madge again with a Ray of Light and throws probably one of her best albums, right after becoming a mom for the first time. Again she changes how things are made.

Last night whilst being in her presence I could understand her magnificent of a person she is. In fact, I already knew that. When celebrating her 60th birthday at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, in London, whilst looking around, in realised that only Madonna was able to gather such a diverse crowd and make them have such a great night. I’m talking of people of different ages, races, religions, beliefs, coexisting harmoniously, peacefully.

And although life is difficult, and still keeps challenging her, Madonna chooses to be more alive than ever. When the world wants to bury her, she looks into her community’s eye and say “I would die for you”. And I know she would. But to all the white man interested on that, she gives a middle finger and says: “I guess I’m going to die another day”.

All Hail to the Legend. The Supreme. The Queen. The Masterclass of what is like to be an icon.

Thank you Madonna for always being so loyal to your art, to yourself and to our community.

Love you forever.

Daddy Kind.

Xx

[galaphob1c]

Vox Akuma x Nun! Reader

Note: I was not being serious while writing this, I just had to spend time doing something while the wifi was acting up. Idk what this oneshot is, really.

"What led me to this point in my life?.." you questioned yourself as you stared absentmindedly at the altar. Your fingers found a mind of their own as you "counted" your way through the rosary, keeping up with the other nuns reciting the prayers out loud; however, your mind was somewhere else. 

"Was it really a calling?..or do I just really crave attention and my family's validation?..."

You contemplated the moment you announced your wish to join the church and the surprised look on your parents' faces, making it seem as if they doubted your decision all along. 

"Where would I be if I chose the call center instead of this-"

"Sister y/n.." Sister Rose coughed out, bringing you out of your thoughts and back to reality. 

"huh?" was all you could reply, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash all over you as you processed what was happening. All the other nuns look at you as they sit in silence.

"huh?.." you blurted out again as you looked around. The safest option to crawl out of this awkward situation would be to recite any random prayer that pops up in your mind,

and so you did it mindlessly. 

"Hail Mary, full of grace-"

"Hail holy queen, mother of mercy.." Sister Rose quickly corrected you, taking a hint of your carelessness and being the kindest person on earth to help you out of humiliation. You mentally punched yourself in the face for failing to realize the entire prayer would soon be finished as you let yourself drift away with your thoughts. 

You silently thanked the Lord, and the other nuns just brushed it off

...

as it wasn't your first time making the same mistake during prayer.

-

"I am not one to gossip, but there has been some..interesting news.." Sister Rose whispered out of the blue with a tiny giggle. 

You looked over at her as you both cleaned up the library. She moved closer to you, leaning her trunk sideways to whisper something to you. 

"People have been saying a..strange..man has been seen in this town."

"Should we pray for him?" A strange man in town was nothing new to you, so you asked, what you thought was the most appropriate question to ask.

"If it is necessary, yes. But..people have said he's not human.." She looked at you with a smirk, probably waiting to get a scared reaction out of you. 

"Is this another case where a random man convinces people that he's Jesus? or-"

"No! Goodness, Sister y/n, would you allow me to finish first?"

"I'm sorry.." You quickly apologized, even though a part of you felt like this story would just be another typical supernatural rumor to scare the town folks, which you thought was corny. 

"People have said he is a demon.."

"...Christ, we'd need everyone's help to pray for this man then." You rolled your eyes at what you thought was a feeble joke. 

"I am not saying I believe it completely, but if the people are afraid of that man lurking around town...It's enough to convince you that he might not be human after all." Sister Rose shrugged as she let out a faint laugh, knowing you were not the gullible type. 

"Poor thing. He probably visited our town for a vacation, and now the public calls him a fiend." You chuckled as you got back to dusting the book shelves. 

"Here's a picture...you tell me what you think he is." She handed you a newspaper before you looked at her with an unamused expression on your face. This woman really just read this garbage of news from the daily paper. 

The man in the picture had pitch black, shoulder-length hair. For a demon, he was properly groomed and formally dressed. His pale skin made yellow pupils stand out more. 

The man was a beautiful creature..

and it would take a crowd to beat you up for you to admit that. 

"..well?.. what do you say?.." Sister Rose questioned, studying your facial expressions for an answer as you admired his picture. 

"..thank you, Lord." 

was all you could say in your mind. 

"You're telling me this is a demon? In what world?" You played it off like you were uninterested in such childish tales.

Sister Rose laughed at your response, snatching the paper out of your hand and stacking it along with the others to be put away. 

"Oh y/n, you really are something else, aren't you?"

"I am not a demon, that's for sure." You cracked another joke, slightly smiling at yourself. 

-

"That would be all of it...I think." You chuckled as you helped carry the last box of library books into the van to be given out to the local schools. 

"Thank you so much, sister." the driver said with a smile. 

"Hey, it's no problem- Uh I mean... it's my pleasure." You chuckled again, giving a bashful smile as you watched him get in the van before driving off. 

The day had been draining for you, and the feeling of wanting to just flop onto your bed was taking over your body. You yawned into your hand as you walked up to the entrance when you were stopped in your tracks by a voice. 

"Good evening, sister." A deep, velvety voice came from behind you, making you jump slightly. 

"Oh Jesus!" You yelped out, placing your hand over your rapidly beating heart as you turned towards the source of the voice. 

"Pardon me. I did not mean to scare you like that." He spoke again. 

Your heart felt like it stopped the second you laid eyes on him, as flashbacks of your little gossip with Sister Rose replayed themselves in your mind. You were just admiring his face through a picture hours ago, and now, seeing him in person has made you realize his picture did not do him justice. 

"Let me try again. Good evening, sister.." He repeated himself once again, looking deep into your eyes, almost as if he were looking for an answer. 

Was it normal for nuns to feel some sort of way toward attractive men? It is one of the things that could not be helped, as it was a normal human reaction. What wasn't a normal human reaction would be yours, as you immediately replied

"Peace be upon you, brother."

Seriously...

What led you to this point in your life?

[littlemuoi]

Royals were ‘very nervous’ about Miss Piggy at Coronation Concert by India McTaggart (May 8th 2023)

The Duke of Edinburgh has admitted many in the Royal Box were “very nervous” about Miss Piggy following her cameo appearance at the Coronation Concert.

The King's youngest brother said that he and the rest of the box invitees thought the Muppets character might turn up to sit in the empty seat behind him, joking that everyone was “much more concerned” about that than anything else.

In the end, only Kermit the Frog popped in to visit the newly crowned King and Queen in the Royal Box, towards the end of the star-studded event.

The Duke added that he thought the Coronation ceremony went “very well” and that, despite it being shorter than 1953, nothing was “missing” from it.

He made the remarks while at a Guide Dogs puppy training class with the Duchess of Edinburgh in Reading for the Big Help Out initiative.

The Royal couple joined volunteers and staff for an interactive training class that focused on teaching the puppies skills to help on their journey to becoming guide dogs.

While talking to the volunteers after the class, the Duke was asked about how he thought his brother’s historic crowning ceremony went.

“It all went very well and even if it was shorter than the last one, I don’t think anyone could have possibly spotted anything that was missing, so that’s nice,” he said.

“I couldn’t actually see what happened in the procession because the trouble of being part of it is that you don’t see it - we need to catch up and watch it,” he added.

The conversation then turned to the concert that was held at Windsor Castle on Sunday night, which was marked with a surprise cameo appearance from the Muppets characters Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

'Everyone around us got very nervous'

The Duke gave a disapproving look at the mention of the characters, but said: “We were much more concerned about Miss Piggy turning up in the Royal Box.

“There was an empty seat behind me and we didn’t know who it was, we thought they just didn’t turn up, but then we suddenly thought it could be her and once we started that rumour, everyone around us got very nervous,” he laughed.

Kermit the Frog pops up in the Royal Box beside the Duke of Edinburgh - but there was relief as his on-and-off partner, the rambunctious Miss Piggy, did not join him  CREDIT: BBC/PA

He also added that it was the fourth coronation to be rained on, saying it was therefore “quite appropriate that we managed to continue that tradition”.

The Duchess, meanwhile, said the Coronation weekend had been “absolutely extraordinary”.

The couple spent the afternoon training and playing with the selection of puppies and dogs at the charity’s centre in Reading, Berkshire.

The Duchess has been patron of Guide Dogs since July 2021, succeeding Princess Alexandra, who held the position for over 60 years.

She has been a longtime campaigner for people who suffer from sight loss and has been Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness for nearly 20 years.

The Duchess told the volunteers that their service in raising the puppies before they went on to become trained guide dogs had “purpose in it all the time” and that she can “never get over” what the dogs go on to be able to do.

She also hailed the vital work the volunteers were doing by raising the puppies, saying it is no small feat to “put your trust in an animal to see you safely across the road”.

“You’re providing the opportunity for someone else to have not only a companion, but to have another set of hands and to lead an independent life,” she added.

'They were brilliant - but Sophie was better'

The Duke and Duchess attended the charity’s taster session on Monday as part of the Big Help Out volunteering scheme, which was devised as part of the King’s Coronation to raise awareness of volunteering and its benefits.

Guide Dogs is one of thousands of charities opening their doors on the bank holiday with a series of taster sessions that they hope will inspire a new generation of volunteers across the country.

The puppies are raised with the volunteers for 14 to 16 months and then they go on to get trained to become guide dogs, eventually getting paired with an owner.

Among the many different roles needed, Guide Dogs is appealing for volunteer fosterers to come forward who will provide loving homes for guide dogs in training, such as the ones the Duke and Duchess met during their visit.

Speaking about the couple’s own dog, a Beagle, the Duchess said she had a “somewhat limited” understanding of instructions and added that “she spends all day migrating from one dog bed to another”.

The Duke piped in, saying their dog was “the dopiest dog I know” and “untrainable”.

Fran Tayor, 75, a retired financial manager from Theale, Berkshire, said after the event that she thought the Duchess was better at handling the guide dogs than the Duke.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (centre) with staff as they visit a puppy class in Reading  CREDIT: PAUL GROVER/ARP

The mother-of-two said: “They’ve both got dogs themselves and they were brilliant with them, but Sophie was better.”

Fran’s dog, Lucy, is a four-month old labrador and golden retriever cross-breed. The puppy strained on her lead to reach for a snack as the Duchess walked her and joked: “She’s perfectly under control.”

Mark Gurney and his wife Lynn also took part in the event as volunteer fosterers, saying the Duke and Duchess were “so relaxed and wonderful”.

Mr Gurney, a retired firefighter, said: “We talked about raising the pup and the complexities of it and how really rewarding it is to give something back.

“The Duke and Duchess were really receptive and easy to talk to.”

Tom Wright, the chief executive of Guide Dogs, said the Duchess has been a “great patron and supporter of our work,” adding that she is “very engaged” with the charity.

Guide Dogs Chairman Jamie Hambro said: “We are honoured to mark this very special weekend and such an important initiative – The Big Help Out - with our patron, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke.

“We are grateful for them taking part in today’s session to raise awareness of volunteering and its benefits, and of course for all our volunteers who continue to support us. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to reach and support as many people with sight loss as we do.”

[thegoofymantis]

Mantis Collesto | Embodiment of Mind

Created to fulfill one purpose. Massacre. Mantis was born, or rather created as a Celestial Avatar alongside her two other siblings. This made the three siblings some of the most powerful entities in the galaxy. Mantis was the original successor to the throne and was prepared to become the Queen. The Celestial Empire hailed their heroic deeds, but other species viewed them as mass murderers because of their genocide. This caused a lot of species to hate Celestials. One morning while Mantis was asleep, she woke up to her father taking her into an escape pod. She didn't know what was going on, until she saw the devastation all around her. She and her siblings were sent on a voyage to Earth. She adapted to this planet, unlike one of her other siblings. She worked as an assistant to a greedy company owner before she turned to justice itself, The Hero Organization in order to help others in need.

Character info

Current Surname: Mantis Collesto

Age: 40 | 20 (1-1-1983)

Gender: Male

Pronouns: She/Her

Sexuality: Bisexual

Powers: Energy Manipulation, Heightened Senses, Telepathy, Transformations, Telekinesis. (recently acquired construct formation, allowing her to just create tech with her mind.)

Species: Celestial Avatar of Mind [aurora]

Traits: Intelligent, Kind, Overprotective.

Additional: Celestials age until their physical age is around 25-35. His physical age is 16. Mantis sees Allie as her original sibling. Back then Zephyr wasn't as nice as he was now. Allie being her youngest sibling and Zephyr the middle.

Appearance:

Skin: Light

Hair: Wavy light blue.

Eyes: Green.

Body type: Athletic. (the first pic hides it well)

Clothing: Dark blue suit, black popped collar, white buttoned undershirt.

Height: 5,9

obv ai art.. i use ai to depict characters i originally make, and i don't intent to call this my art, it's used as a way to represent them.

Character mentions

Allie: placeholder

@platinumnewolympia (main story where she is from)

[originalgoddessbody999]

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[i-did-not-mean-to]

Losing my religion - Hail Holy Queen

@sorisooyaa I had sworn that none of this would ever see the light of day, but as a payment for your beautiful talent and excellent work...Here is the first chapter of the abomination.

Words: 1,5k

Characters: Lucifer, Michael, Shirel, Emmanuelle

Warnings: blasphemy, reference to sexual assault

“Lucifer,” Chloe had said, her eyes full of pity, the last time he had managed to see her without upsetting the whole plan they had previously agreed upon, “don’t you think it’s time to let him out?”

“I do not think so. Who knows what terrible plans he’s going to set in motion this time?”

Now, as he repeated his doubts to his most loathed prisoner, Lucifer was still not convinced that his beloved had not woefully underestimated the resentment undying beings could harbour.

Michael sneered at his twin in disgust. “Not up for a deal, brother? Do you really enjoy my being here so much?”

Lucifer’s eyes took on a wicked gleam; this certainly had gotten his attention. “All right! If anyone was to miss you—really miss you—and call on you, you may go. Under my supervision, of course!”

This seemed like a fair condition to him, and he would get to spend some time on earth once more, maybe even getting a moment to pop in on Chloe without letting their daughter see him.

A frustrated bellow interrupted his musings rather unceremoniously though and he frowned in annoyance.

“You can say that,” Michael grunted, “you, whose gift has been delivered—even now she’s alive and loving you, smug as ever—only because Amenadiel was apparently the better messenger, not even because you deserved it.”

The thought of Chloe’s staying hand on his chest thankfully prevented a highly unproductive brawl before it could even break out; Lucifer had sworn to her that he would try his best to come to an agreement with his brother and he would not be side-tracked by their shared tendency to sabotage their best opportunities at finding even a quantum of happiness.

“Maybe,” Lucifer drawled with a sharp smile, “if you hadn’t lost track of yours, you’d be sure that someone was praying for and to you, don’t you think? And that, brother mine, is a state of things entirely of your own doing.”

“Shir!”

Emmanuelle strode towards her oldest friends—hands outstretched pleadingly—through the brightly lit gallery; she had not been sure whether Shirel would even come here.

“What is this about? The wing for religious art, really Manu?” that self-same friend whispered as if afraid to raise her voice to an audible level in the presence of ideas she had renounced a long time ago. She had been particularly unafraid as a child—confident in her faith—but since then, many things had changed and Shirel was but a shadow of her former self nowadays.

Shrugging, Emmanuelle clasped Shirel’s hands to keep her from retreating—they were cold and stiff, and, for a moment, her own conviction faltered.

“I need your help, Shir,” she said. “We got a new painting in, and…I don’t know what to make of it. All I do know is—that it’s insane.”

Her gaze flew over the petrified features of a woman she had known all her life; once upon a time—long before she had accepted this job at the old Museum—she and Shirel had spent blissful afternoons here, staring at the antique paintings in wordless awe.

“Do you remember how we used to…” Emmanuelle’s fingers moved gracefully through the air and—despite her self-imposed years of silence—Shirel could hear the song her friend played on an invisible piano in her mind.

“That is a long time ago, Manu.”

“Nonetheless, Shir, you…you are the only one I trust with this. You won’t think I am crazy.” Emmanuelle pleaded, tugging her friend forward under the benevolent eyes of the Holy Virgin, smiling indulgently down at their struggle from every other canvas.

“Manu!” Shirel groaned, digging her heels into the worn wooden floor. “Manu, stop. Please, let’s not go back there—I’ve left all of this behind, you know?”

Then, in a softer voice, she added, “It was fake after all. Heaven and Hell are empty—and there is no such thing as angels!”

Desperate, Emmanuelle stooped to a level she had sworn not to fall to; she hummed the first few bars of an old hymn they both knew well.

The weary, pained gaze in Shirel’s hazel eyes made her flinch, but she didn’t desist.

As young girls—in another life—they’d stay hidden away in this wing until it was almost closing time; the old building had marvellous acoustics and they’d always have enough time for one resounding song before rushing down the stairs, out of breath with laughter, to make it to the last bus taking them home in time.

Back then, Emmanuelle had believed that their whole life would be like that; she was still convinced that the paintings glowed whenever Shirel’s voice—silver bells and sweet honey—caressed their worn vellum. Yes, even now, Emmanuelle had faith in Shirel’s destiny, even if she herself had decided to turn away from it.

Compelled by the ancient memories and the hopeful smile of her friend, Shirel capitulated and joined in the song—feeling her voice soar on invisible wings made her heart feel all the heavier, but she pushed through and simply closed her eyes.

“You’ve still got it,” Emmanuelle whispered in an awed voice as the last notes faded out; all around her, the faces of the Saviour’s mother glowed as if lit from within and a surge of a happiness she had almost forgotten prickled in her fingertips.

“Don’t start, Manu,” Shirel pleaded under her breath, prying one eye open and sighing deeply. “My mother was—disturbed. She’s not really heard an angel announcing the imminent conception of a girl-child to her; life is not some weird biblical musical!”

“I am so sorry that you truly stopped believing in the miracle of your conception.”

“There was no miracle, please believe me!” Shirel put a shielding hand over her burning eyes. “Mum…she was a lonely woman—God knows she has only tried to make herself feel better for having a child of wedlock.”

“Shir, your parents ended up getting married and your voice is a miracle, no matter what you say…”

Shirel’s face hardened into a mask of pain and rejection. “My voice is nothing special…”

Emmanuelle wanted to protest, but she didn’t dare; for years, they had sung in churches and museums, and they had been so convinced that this was their calling and their destiny—people from far and wide had come to listen to Shirel sing the praise of the Lord.

And then, just like that—everything had changed.

A dark alley, a secluded spot…when they had found Shirel, her voice had been hoarse with screaming and crying for help. Nobody had heard. Nobody had come.

On that fateful night, as she opened her eyes in a sterile hospital bed, Shirel had decided to abnegate her faith and—what was worse—to silence that precious song of hers. Nowadays, she worked in a home for deaf students where nobody knew or missed that voice that had betrayed her so.

“Let me show you the painting,” Emmanuelle said, changing the subject. “You might recognise him.”

She led her friend by the hand to a narrow door, almost invisible in the dark panelling of the wall. “Here.”

As soon as Shirel’s eyes had adjusted to the low light after the brightly lit gallery, she gasped.

“As if,” she scoffed, breathing more freely now that she was beyond the searching gaze of the Mother Mary. “I see we’ve moved past the many eyes and arms and wings.”

“So, you do recognise him?” Emmanuelle asked—full of faith and hope once more—as she gestured towards the oddly compelling painting depicting two men standing on either side of a flaming sword.

“These are actually two…” Shirel cut herself off. “You know what? Never mind. There is no way either one of them looks like that! They’re not real, so what does it matter?”

“You once thought they were,” Emmanuelle said almost accusingly. “And there is something so strange about this piece of art—don’t you feel that?”

Shirel did feel it, but she refused to be dragged back into a delusion that had broken more than just her heart. “Manu, the angels I told you about…those were imaginary friends—maybe, I am not so unlike my poor, disoriented mother after all. All those stories? Puerile fantasy—I am so sorry, but it was never…”

She shrugged dismissively.

“Look me in the eye,” Emmanuelle demanded stubbornly, “and tell me that you don’t know who that is!”

Shirel had done many things in her life that she was not proud of, but she was not about to betray her friend in such an unforgivable way.

“My heart and mind are now closed to such revelations,” she mumbled instead, evading the question, “and whatever I might think is just the intuition of a broken soul.”

“Have you ever seen him—them—before?”

“Well yes,” Shirel chuckled mirthlessly. “They’re the reason heaven and hell have felt empty to me.”

So, there it is :)

Thank you for your creativity, my beloved baby :D

[fat-slobby-gamers]

all hail aqua queen of the heartless.

"This doesn't feel right... I don't... I feel like I'm supposed to be something else but the food... it tastes so good!" The former keyblade master groaned as her corset popped and her flabby gut burst free from the confines of her dress. The heartless around her only worked faster to shovel food her way. Puddings, cakes, and breads all made their way passed her lips and into her ever expanding gut. She was helpless to fight back with her new role as this realms princess practically set in stone...

[gonehollywoodtea]

all hail, the gossip queen is here! i'm excited to share what i've seen, what i've heard, and more importantly what you kittens have shared with me!

miss megan thee stallion seems set on having her hot girl summer with some festival performances in the pipeline, but will that summer include a baby?! my sources have chimed in with her dropping the potential p word in conversation, and given she's been spending a lot of time with her hottie with a body boyfriend alexander skarsgard, sounds like we know what they've been up to! i mean, these two hotties would create an absolutely stunning child, so here i am, all for this! we'll keep our eyes peeled to see if she pops up with a pregnancy test in hand.

the name on everyone's lips is zendaya!! while that's always been the case because let's be real, girlie's been making career moves for the better part of a decade now, no surprise that she's in demand when it comes to love arena too! sources have confirmed that since her split with spiderman, she's been spending quite a lot of time with dune co-star austin butler, the duo making multiple cozied up appearances together during the nine day cruise. she's also been seen in rather friendly conversations with kang yeosang and ariana grande, ooh la la! certainly one to keep your eye on for providing all the salaciousness, and we love a queen who can deliver.

it looks like lovely ladies kehlani and leigh-anne pinnock have been cozying up for quite some time, and we fully support a power couple in these two! so is it any surprise they might be heading into serious territory? sources confirm that kehlani has made the move to london, the city where miss leigh-anne resides. have they gotten serious enough for the domestic bliss of moving in together territory? i do believe so! and if that's the case, good for them!

joseph quinn has been hollywood's new british playboy since stranger things, when everyone fell head over hills for eddie munson. and it seems he has a new admirer who's joined the pack: kat dennings! the fab marvel star was overheard expressing her admiration for joseph's chocolate button eyes, and isn't she all of us! question is, does joseph reciprocate? will these two be the next item?! time will tell, and can't wait to see if we have a new coupling to speculate about.

i think the nine day cruise antics awards have to go to mister sebastian stan and mister bill skarsgard for getting a little too drunk on the beach! witnesses say the boys got entirely too wasted, to the stripping and skinny dipping point! to which i say, what the fuck, you two? where was my invitation?! that transgression aside, it's one thing to get drunk and strip one time, though if this becomes a regular occurrence? i may have some questions and speculations for you two.

that's all from your gossip queen! keep giving me intel, and more importantly, keep doing things to entertain me! xoxo

mentioned: @houstonhcttie @alexjhskarsgard @dayamsc @butlerhq @yeosvngie @goneariana @lcighannnes @wanderingkehlani @josephafq @katdengz @stanbastian @skarsgardhqs