#and don't commit crimes i guess

[clown-owo]

Guardian of the Eastern Gate and the One Entrusted with a Flaming Sword by God: Principality Aziraphale

[fairyroses]

She was the only thing I was living for. I’m sorry for your loss, sir, but right now we need to get you airborne. Police will be here any minute. I’m well aware of that. I’m turning myself in.

— SMALLVILLE, “Bizarro” (7.01)

[notmoreflippingelves]

So in the middle of my rewatch, I suddenly got really distracted by Francisco's black-with-gold-accents "formal" court attire, specifically in regards to the leaf accents on the sleeves. And I could help but think of the *other* black-with-gold-leaf accents look that we see on a Flores family member--Esteban's in "Elena and the Secret of Avalor." Although the designs between the two suits are distinctly different, there is enough of a similarity to make me want to think about them as a set and how the differences actually reflect the differences in the characters/their roles as well.

Although the silhouettes are similar overall, I would go far as to say that Francisco's look creates more of the classic "storybook prince" vibe than his grandson's. His costume is ornate and grand without seeming ostentatious. Think of how Prince Charming is costumed in pretty much any Cinderella adaptation. He must look striking and appropriately heroic--but specifically in a way that enhances our heroine without overshadowing her. And in nearly every adaptation, Prince Charming is more than okay with this, and the same is true of Francisco. He is at some level aware that he is on a show called "Elena of Avalor"--not "Francisco Flores of Avalor" and has no desire to pull the spotlight away from where it rightfully must be. In fact, he is far prouder to be the grandfather of Elena (and of Esteban and Isabel as well) than he would hypothetically be as the protagonist of his own story.

(Esteban meanwhile exudes "main character energy" and I mean that in both the complimentary and derogatory sense. In his mind, he is on a show titled "Chancellor Esteban of Avalor and His 41-Year-Old Guilt Complex That Not Even Tres Leches Cake Can Heal." But like if I had four decades of trauma to process and no one else seemed to notice, I would probably feel uncomfortable when we are not about me as well. And fittingly, his black-and-gold outfit is much more attention-grabbing than Francisco's, but much more on that later).

Two big parts of what leads to the "fairy tale hero" look in Francisco's outfit (and also to his "default" blue version) are: 1) the two medals pinned to his chest and 2) the epaulettes at the shoulder (I believe this is still the correct term even if they lack the tassels we normally associate w/the term, but like fashion historians can feel free to correct me).

Either epaulettes or medals of honor --or both-- are often seen on characters of his type. (Pick any Disney prince and you have a 50% chance of seeing one of these. Heck, King Roland's main outfit in SoA has both as well). A large part of what leads us to associate these particular sartorial touches as "hero-coded" are their association as part of typical military dress uniforms throughout history. (And yes, I recognize the problematic nature of such a trope, but just bear with me and accept it for now).

By including these as part of Francisco's costume (and its original blue equivalent), the animators are implying that he has a long, proud of history of serving his country and that at least some of this service came as a soldier and/or commander on the battlefield. And that he won honor--military and practical alike--in doing so.

Esteban's ensemble, obviously lacks the military touches (the epaulettes and medals) of his grandfather's. Because for all that he too served Avalor for decades, his service was of the bureaucratic rather than the military variety. (Shuriki obviously won't let Esteban wear a sword with his uniform--even he wanted to. Hardly surprising considering the whole "I killed your aunt and uncle. Doesn't that make you want to go apeshit?" thing they've got going.) But I digress.

The arms (esp the shoulders) and trousers of Esteban's ensemble are also much more form-fitted than Francisco's,as befitting a younger, more athletic man who wants to better show off his physique. (The real "secret of Avalor" is how Esteban singlehandedly managed a country for 41 years and somehow did so without skipping "Leg Day"--am I right, folks?")

Compared to Francisco's much plainer jacket, the design of Esteban's coat is also more ornate (the leaf accents are larger and more detailed) and colorful with the red collar, cuffs, and lining. This makes sense given that Esteban is established as much vainer and more flamboyant than his grandfather and that he has as mentioned, a much stronger need to grab attention.

However, the elaborateness of Esteban's jacket makes even more sense we consider it in the context of his role in Shuriki's court. He is a skilled diplomat, yes, and a capable administrator. But like every courtier, his primary function is to be ornamental first and everything else second. His looks, his charm, his attentions are expected to always be in service to the Queen first and foremost--not even in service to his duty or his country but specifically to the Queen herself. Certainly not (!) in service to his own will. (And damn, that must sting extra hard for someone who has only ever wanted to be seen and listened to and valued for himself.)

As such, Esteban is treated as an extension of the Queen--yet another pretty-if-powerful tool in her Almighty hands and fundamentally little different from her pretty crystal wand.

And yet, we see little tiny little hints in Esteban's SoA costume that he remains more than just Shuriki's shiny little Avaloran ornament. Let's go back to the red accents--shall we? Obviously, the show as a whole establishes red as Esteban's "signature color"--an honor he shares with Elena (and Mateo..but like he's less relevant tbh). Moreover, red, along with yellow/gold (and blue but again less relevant here), is one of the official colors of Avalor. Indeed the jaquins on the royal flag are red against a gold backdrop. So we can see an subtle wardrobe-related foreshadowing of where Esteban's loyalties truly lie and of the decision that he will make at the end of the episode.

And finally, as the artists among you will attest, red's complementary opposite on the color wheel is green. As in Shuriki's signature color, and this is reflected in nearly everything about her--from her eyes and eyeshadow to her dress and earrings to her green magical smoke, to her Emerald City-core dressing room to the teal background on her little silhouetted flag redesign. And complementary colors are often paired together so that the unique, striking shade of each is shown off to its full potential--and such is the case here. (Often, the effect is even achieved by using the "opposite" color as a key part of adding "shading" to the object).

A string of red lights wrapped around a Christmas tree may be overshadowed at first by the massive green boughs that it is entangled around. But nevertheless, it is because of the contrasting green that we are fully able to grasp just how bright and red those lights are able to glisten in the light. And so it is with Esteban's red collar shining forth like a beacon through Shuriki's haze of green smoke.

But when it comes down to it, red is still green's perfect, natural opposite. Red is a primary color, a true chromatic original unlike the artificially-created secondary shade of green. Moreover, red is Avalor, red is Esteban. The little dab of invading, interloping Shuriki green that has been added to the red paint only serves to heighten its fiery, crimson hue all the more.

[sollucets]

guys i am trying Really hard not to have public opinions about of this morning... pray for me

[kyouka-supremacy]

***

[yesloulou]

took them a whole day but AT updated the poster

[snootlestheangel]

Can I turn my brain off??

Too many thoughts, it's like the screaming kitten holding its head meme fucking hell-

Thinking about Flash and Bennett again *they're so in love your honor*

Thinking about Price and Bryn slow dancing in their pajamas cause they finally got to settle down together

Thinking about Price and Nik on either side of Bailey and they're each holding a hand, and she's just leaning against one of them while they wait in line for something *idk man but the mental image is too good*

Thinking about Alex being flustered by Gaz's existence

THINKING THOUGHTS ABOUT MY OCS *not the COD ones but my actual baby boys*

JUST TOO MANY THOUGHTS AND NOT ENOUGH FOCUS

*grumbles as I sit with my pile of brainrot*

This is a disaster, what do I even do? Do I rant about the OCs? Do I dare share the thoughts I'm having?????

The brainrot is out of control, y'all.

[xenoshadow13]

The true culprit is the beeping gremlin.

.... I am currently really high right now and despite having literally typed that out just mere moments ago, I don't remember why I would put that jkvcjvckvcjk

@shadesofnavy @shslpunkartist99 looks like this anon found out who is the true mastermind of y'all most recent writings /JJJJ

[regina-mortis]

Shame I must be so careful about who I follow.

[lucy-ghoul]

all you have to know about me and my fictional tastes is that while watching fma: brotherhood i really wished my favorite character went with a horrific murder and killed an innocent person for vengeance, instead he just pulled a trick and made it only seem like he murdered her. i still love his character but i was a bit disappointed ngl

[neverendingford]

Idea first came to me after I said something like "a thousand needles sewing you to a canvas of pain" and so I decided to make it real as best I could.

[disappointmentthemusical]

israel after lying that it didn't bomb a hospital so that the west is too distracted calling hamas terrorist liars to notice all of the other israeli war atrocities

[chaotictomtom]

hehe hoho feeling absolute rage!!!!!!!!!

[lifblogs]

My mom opened mine and my brother's mail because she was pissed about the envelopes. The envelopes, people. Yes, let's commit a federal crime because you're annoyed with paper.

[keyboard-cowgirl]

True justice is:

Supporting Victims (community involvement, professional help, financial assistance)

Crime Prevention

Public Education

Rehabilitation

True justice is not:

Punishing Offenders

In this essay, I will

[saucetail-hasanewblog]

ok so everyone here knows I absolutely loathe red dawn with a passion but the thing that still confuses me the most about about that movie is... why do I hate it so much? It isn't the outlandish concept bc I know how suspend my disbelief (plus I knew the concept very well coming in) and it isn't the weird pacing, nonexistent character personalities and acting bc I'm used to 80s movies... Was it like. idk, the inhumanity of the soviets that set me off??? was it the implication that they would immediately build some sort of internment camp for the usamericans??? was it the implication of what the soviets would do to women?? WHAT IS IT THAT MADE ME HATE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH BRO I GENUINELY DO NOT UNDERSTAND