#and then there would be James with the kids just mixing dyes together and figuring out what colours they’d get

[drowninginthoughts27]

At work thinking about jegulus as parents dyeing Easter eggs together with their kids!!!

[thedelusionreaderbitch]

Bucky Barnes x Reader My Little Hot Head

A/N: So hopefully this is gender neutral (I tried I'm not very good at this) I hope you guys like it! This one’s also on my wattpad account you can find me @ kk123huff on wattpad.

Summary: Reader just got pranked and their hair is now bright yellow and a special someone might just have to keep them from killing a certain archer... The reader has fire powers + is mentioned that their short but not that short so you can interpret it how you want.

Warnings: Bad writing, fluffiness, illusion to smut later, lots of swearing, some inappropriate jokes - you have been warned!

So there it is folks I hope you like it of course all rights go towards marvel and you I just own the plot.

Onward!

Reader p.o.v.

Okay so today was going pretty good, I raided a hydra base with Nat, I got a warm shower (you have no idea how rare those are in stark tower!) And I got to spend some quality time with Bucky Barnes, who is totally just my friend, like I would never kiss that fucking handsome face off and-

Totally just a friend.

So I come out of my shower feeling like a absolute goddess, and I turn around and to look in the mirror and-

You got to be fucking kidding me.

I hurry up and put some clothes on, that little shit! Who had the fucking balls to dye my hair bright mustard yellow!

I'm going to kill someone.

I stomp out of my room in a hurry trying to get to the bottom of this.

"WHO IS THE FUCKING COCKSUCKER WHO DEICED IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DYE MY HAIR MUSTARD YELLOW! WHO EVER THE BASTARD IS BETTER SHOW THEIR  LITTLE ASSHOLE FACE RIGHT NOW OR ELSE I'M GOING TO SET THIS MODERN-ASS BUILDING ON FIRE! I scream in anger as I walk into the main living room.

Everyone looks at me in a mix of shock, fear, and amusement. Oh their all going to pay for this!

"Well!" I raise my eyebrow and I can feel sparks coming out of my finger tips, damn it! I thought I had it under control, oh well that's their fault.

The avengers just look at each other and they all burst into laughter.

Oh these fucking idiots.

My hand bursts into flames and I hold it above my head like a weapon ready to strike, I'm honestly surprised I didn't just go up in flames. (Good thing my clothes are fire proof and water proof. Don't ask about the water proof)

They all promptly shut up but there's still some giggles here and there.

"Fine!" Clint yells not taking the weird silence any longer.

I narrow my eyes on him and he shifts awkwardly in his seat.

"Want to tell me why?" I gesture towards my hair hand still on fire almost on the verge of bursting, but surprisingly I'm a deadly calm and that seems to frightened Clint a bit.

"I." He looks around the room gaining confidence somehow and he looks up to me square in the eyes.

"I thought the yellow might add some height to your head."

I growl as my entire body bursts into flames.

"You sick bastard."

I pounce on him as he tries to get away being that's his only option right now. Clint moves to the side but I hold him down as he struggles to get out of my hold.

"YOU FUCKING COCKSUCKER!" Yell at him right before my fist is (was) going to collide with his face. A person grabs me from behind and warps their arms around my torso dragging me away from Clint and the other avengers into another room.

"YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A MAN!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"I WILL TEAR YOU APART PIECE BY PIECE! YOU MOTHERFUCKING MONSTER!" I howl as I'm getting dragged away from everyone else.

"Sorry doll we can't kill Clint with everyone watching, plus we kinda still need an archer on the team." I instantly calm at the sound of his voice - Bucky. My body slowly stops being on fire and I can feel my temper slowly fading away and a certain calmness brushes over me like ice.

I look up to Buck and he slowly unwraps his arms from around me and I realize were in his room. I blush a little thinking about that come on Y/n keep it together! But Bucky just tilts his head to the side like a dog starting to figure something out. A grin slowly starts to grow on his face.

"You know doll I was going to ask you on a date, but now I think if we go on one we should dye your hair some cool colors to baffle everyone."

My eyes widen in shock and my mouth is gaping open did my love of my life just-

"W-wh-what? Yes!" I yell excitedly jumping into his arms and knocking us both over onto his bed.

I blush a little at the piston we're in with me straddling his hips on top of him.

"I think we should dye my hair the colors of fire." I smile evilly. "Clint already started it off so why not?" I raise an eyebrow and chuckle a bit.

"I think so but can I make you scream my name so everyone can hear? I too seem to recall you are a bit fiery." Bucky says winking at me. "That may translate into the bedroom."

My face is beat red but I still lean in towards his ear and whisper; "Why don't we find out?"

And he's kissing me. James fucking Barnes is kissing me.  

It's like fireworks exploding, and a field of flowers blooming all at once, it's passionate but it has that lust in there and it's just full of love.

Buck's hand goes to my ass and my legs tighten around his waist.

I finally feel ignited.

His other hand goes to my shirt and start to lift it up, up, up and-

"Oh come on guys not in my tower!"

WE FORGOT TO CLOSE THE FUCKING DOOR!

I whip my head around to face Stark looking at us with a slightly disgusted look on his face.

"You have sound proof walls right?" I ask as Tony's face goes beat red and Bucky and I laugh a bit as Tony starts to walk away.

"Close the door will you Stark we don't want to give anyone a show! Well..." Bucky looks up to me and winks. "Unless they want to." Tony quickly closes the door and as soon as it's shut I burst into laughter.

"I think I might like you by my side." Bucky says as he pulls me down to be more on top of him.

"My little Hot Head."

And the kissing begins once again.

1138 Words

-thedelusionreaderbitch

[pbandjesse]

Today was stressful. I just woke up from a weird nap. I am looking forward to a shower but also its freezing in every other room except our bedroom where I have a heater going. Its all good but I am just really tired and my mouth hurts. I need a break. 

I slept through my alarm again. I dont know why that keeps happening. It was more stressful today. And I wasnt having fun at all. I also had a painful pimple and James was like in my space when I was trying to get ready and I was just a mess. But I got myself together and was able to get out the door close to on time. James helped me bring down some stuff and I was on the road. 

It was cold today. But honestly besides being tired, I was in a pretty good mood. I was informed of some bratty behavior that happened when I left that resulted in a student being required to stay home until monday. I was pretty surprised. But honestly the other sister was the one that was a monster to me today. And I felt like I was falling apart a few times. 

The new girl came a little later today and was clearly sleepy. No headphones, no laptop. Just not prepared. But I got her on the computer and tried to get her on task. But every time I looked over she had closed the work I had asked her to do. So I had to keep going over and telling her she had to do work. And finally I was like. Hey I dont want to talk mean to you but you got to do work. And then I went to go say something to one of the PAL guys and when I come back in the room shes putting her backpack on and is like. Im leaving. And Im like youre not leaving youre 7. 

And she starts saying her moms outside and shes going. And I said to text her mom to come inside because she's not going to just walk out. So I go to wait by the front door and then all of a sudden we see her trying to leave through the back door!! I was so upset!! Like freaked out that a child that young would try to just leave. Mom came inside though and was super sweet and we figured out what happened. Little girl had told mom that she had to go home because we were closed because she didnt have school. Which was not true. Just that they didnt have classes, just school work. So then the tears started and we both had to get her in a chair and back on task. Mom left and I told little girl that I would give her a few minutes to calm down and then I would come back to help her find some work. But she actually calmed down faster than that. And after that little meltdown she was a sweetheart all day. Honestly I think the wednesdays are just confusing for the kids and that mixed with her being tired, I think just set things off. 

But besides some complaining, the kids were pretty good today. We did work. We hung out. I did some sewing. I made some bear earrings. It was a nice time. 

We even got to go outside twice! It was cold out but in a really nice way. We skateboarded and then it started to snow!! Just a little but it was so lovely. I was warm and cozy but the air was frosty. It was so lovely. 

We went inside for an hour and the kids played some basketball and then we went and read for a half hour before we went outside again. We had some sharing issues when we got out there but it was still a nice time and we played with the skateboards and the swings and it was a good time.

But then it was time for me to go home. I was tired and glad to be getting out of there. There were a lot of nice parts of today but man, there were big stressful parts too and that sucked. 

I got home and got changed into soft pants and put a heater on. I wasnt hungry so I worked in the studio for a little. Taking pictures and putting things away. I hope I can reorganize my closet this weekend. But well see. 

I had an egg and potatoes for dinner. It was very good. I was planning on having avocado but all three of the ones I had were moldy inside. Annoying.

I put dye in my hair and worked on my story quilt and when that didnt go as well as I planned, I went and laid in bed and fell asleep for a little while. Honestly it was less then an hour but it was needed. I hope that I can sleep better tonight because I sort of feel like Im falling apart, not getting enough rest. 

But I will be okay. The week is almost done. Tomorrow I hope to get more done but also just like find some time to read. Baltimore is tightening restrictions again. I wonder if by next week well be back at home. Well see. I am going to bring up some concerns tomorrow at work with the small gather size requirements. I just want us to be safe. 

I hope you all have a good night. I am going to go rinse my hair and maybe do a face mask. Sleep well everyone!!

[the-canary]

Irreplaceable - B.B (1/2)

Summary:  It’s not even about not noticing what’s in front of you. At this point, it was plain idiocy on both your parts. (Modern/Childhood AU!Reader/Bucky Barnes).

Prompt: “You know that feeling when you’re not your favourite person’s favourite person, and it kind of feels like you’re constantly swallowing sand?”  

A/N: This is for @writingcroissant 2k writing challenge. hello, people i was in the mood for a trashy cliches so i put them all together and you guys get this. not the best, but enjoy the mess! 

Masterlist

Feedback is always welcomed.

August.

In the summer between elementary and middle school, little James Buchanan Barnes is supposed to move from the only city he has ever known, New York City, to a little no-place on the map called Shelbyville, Indiana. He and his sisters had been told their mother had gotten a large inheritance from her grandaunt (someone they had never met before), things needed to be watched over so they were going back -- little Bucky being reminded that he had been born there, but he didn’t know such a place. All he had ever known was New York -- Brooklyn was where he had spent 10 years playing and learning, it was where Steve was at.

With a hug and Steve’s information safely placed in his luggage, James Barnes and his family make the drive. A sour look on his face the entire time as his sisters seemed excited over the change, but maybe it might be over the fact they might get horses and have seen pictures of the old estate they will be living on -- just like things out of their picture books.

Twelve hours later, he’s in a completely new area -- there is green grass everywhere and tall homes with white fences around them. The new Barnes’ home was painted is dark green hues that mixed in with the large oak woods that surrounded it. The movers are bringing things out, as he looks around in momentary awe compared to the small apartment that cramped in the 6 family members. It’s while he’s looking around that he sees two adults walking up to his parents. George Barnes calls out to all his children to meet their new neighbors.

“This is James, he’s twelve and starting middle school,” his father explains, as he notices something move behind the tall woman as the slightly shorter man speaks.

“Our daughter is the same age!” he declares, as he pulls on the figure and brings her into the spotlight. She gives her name and welcomes the large family. Her eyes meets Bucky’s blue ones and she gives him a nervous smile. Little James’ heart speeds up for a moment before his sisters drag her away into the grassy front lawn.

Bucky Barnes, years later, swears it was love at first sight.    

September.

There is a lack of children on your block before the Barnes came into your life and you happily accept all of them.

For James, it’s like Brooklyn all over again but with you instead of Stevie, though he doesn’t enjoy the fact that he has to share you with his sisters from time to time. You remind him of Stevie (he even shows you the letters the blond sends him) sometimes because while you are quiet, there is a strong core at your center -- you’re stubborn when you want to be and that often leads to small spats here and there when you want to do something (usually something quiet and indoors) and he had something else in mind (something loud and outdoors).

Like tonight, when he knows that he shouldn’t have ditched you for all those new kids he had meet in school. Everyone had ganged up on him as the new kid from New York and Bucky couldn’t say no to the attention, even if it had pushed you away from him -- he only saw your sad face before you disappeared into the main building with a blonde girl, and he couldn’t exactly apologize when you didn’t have any classes together

Clink! Clink!

You hear something tap at your window after dinnertime, while you’re trying your best to finish the math homework that had already been assigned. However, it’s too boring and dreadful that the first noise you hear catches your attention, as you walk over to the window and look out to the joined backyard your family and the Barnes share, that where you see him -- James standing there with handful of rocks in his hand. You frown.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” you huff out feeling all the anger from today raising within, as you call him all the bad words you can think in your 12-year-old head, but Bucky takes it all with a smile and a soft look in his blue eyes. He waits until you stop, out of breathe but much calmer than before.

“I’m sorry,” he says before pulling out a daisy chain, Rebecca probably made it, from his pocket. You stare at him for a long time and he is sure you’re going just ignore him, but you just nod and say okay.

“--But you owe me ice cream,” you say as an afterthought and he can’t help but grin.

The years are spent like that -- James, or as everyone else calls him “Bucky”, going into different cliques here and there -- one day he’s hanging out with the jocks, another he’s with the artists, and let’s not talk about those “alternative” and emo phases he went through, though somehow he always manages to have some of the highest grades in all of the school. James is always trying to find somewhere to belong as his sisters make friends and drift apart with age and you find your own things to be busy with, such as sports and student government. However, at the start of summer there is always that one rock thrown at your window -- all pretenses, false friends, and temporary girlfriends forgotten-- at you ran to your door to see a boyish smile and bright blue eyes.

Every summer you’re temporary James Barnes’ favorite person, and you cling onto that desperately for the rest of the year -- the memories making that nostalgia sweeter as he runs away to play a different person, thus ignoring you entirely.    

Because you’ve known for a long time that he’ll always be yours.

Too bad the winter of your junior year finally makes you see the truth and how stupidly naive you were.

December.

Winter break is a short thing that you usually spent at home, enjoying the winter weather of your hometown by staying inside. You were old enough that your parents let you do your own thing now, as they went to banquets for your father’s affairs and later on the West Coast to visit family. The Barnes usually headed back to New York, though one or two sisters stayed as they got older -- James always went to visit Steve. So in your lonesome, you watch old movies, read anything you can get your hands on, and sleep for hours -- a true teenaged paradise.

Snuggling in your bed fort with some Hot Pockets and old movies until you hear a knock at the door, though due to the time of night you decide to stay in your cave, that’s until you hear that familiar clink, clink. You get up and rush to the window to have a cheeky looking James Barnes looking at you -- wearing a black leather jacket and a lip piercing. You couldn’t help but at admit that it did look in part of that outfit.

“What do ya want, James?” you yell as he lifts his hand to show you a black box, which just confuses you even more, so he decides to explain.

“I need some help dyeing my hair!” he yells back since he knows that you parents aren’t there, though Rebecca and Lizzie are probably at home, though you are wondering why he hadn’t gone to see Steve instead of staying here. He doesn’t wait for your answer, as he is already climbing up that vine wall on the side of your window -- like he had started doing since 8th grade. You yelp as he pushes his way through window.

“Hey,” he says breathlessly as you can’t help but shake your head for the moment. You shake your head before leading him to the bathroom at the side of your room since you know he won’t leave when his mind is already made up on something.

He sits on the toilet seat, taking off his jacket to reveal a short-sleeved band shirt that you aren’t quite so familiar with. He gives you the box as you start reading it. James hums a little tune as you start opening the box.

“So why exactly are you trying to dye your hair again?” you ask remembering the bright red he had for Halloween a few years back for a pretty girl to win a costume contest.

“I lost a bet with some punks in Rumlow’s group,” James shrugs like it’s nothing, as you can’t help but let out a hum of disapproval, while putting on the gloves that come with the box and making sure that everything is ready.        

“Why are you trying to hangout with Rumlow, James?” you ask, as you take the bleach filled container and begin to run it through his hair. He looks up at you for a moment, blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

“He’s cool, his parties are pretty wicked too,” he answers back as you frown, only for you to pull his head back down and keep going with the process as described on the back of the box.

“He’s dangerous,” you add, remembering what you had heard of Rumlow’s gang and the things his stepfather was good at hiding due to his connections to the affluent people of the city. It was on open secret and only the rowdy and stupid kind of folk fell into his schemes -- them and Bucky, you try to compromise in your head.  

“Not everything ya daddy says is dangerous is, doll,” he chuckles, pressing his forehead against your shirt and you give silent thanks that it’s an old band shirt instead of  something your mother would kill you over if it got a bleach stain on it. You finish and let him sit there for the color to sink it. You grab a plastic hair net and put it around his head with a smile.  

“Just be safe,” you plea, dragging him up just a little so you can place a kiss on his cheek, “Please.”

You try to go back to a standing position, but a hand on your wrist drags you back. Blue eyes are smoldering with something you had never seen before, at least never in your direction, as he goes from looking at your face and straight at your lips. The air is heavy with anticipation as he bites his bottom lips for a moment, leaning it little by little -- giving you enough room to break this, whatever is happening. However, you looking at his own lips gives him all the motivation he needs to move in until---

There’s a knock and then the welcome yell of your father as your parents come back from their banquet earlier than usual. The moment passes and you’re out the door, to welcome them, as James lets out of curse of defeat, though not exactly sure of what the hell happened and questioning why his heart is racing so fast with you compared to all those other girls he had been with. Bucky knows he needs to leave and process everything that had just happened.  

He goes out through the window of your bedroom, having done it several times before, not knowing that this was the last time you would really talk to each other.

January.

You don’t see James after the bathroom incident since you and your parents had traveled to the West Coast to visit family and work friends. You have long forgotten the incident  and shoved it to the back of your head until the last possible minute when it all comes crashing back to you the night before school starts once more. You think about blond hair, bright blue eyes, and that laughter that never seems to be directed your way and for once it is. And you aren’t sure if you’ll ever be able to forget it.

You want to ask James a lot of things, want to know what he would have done if your parents’ hadn’t come back home earlier than promised, if he felt the same way you did. You’re all sweaty palms and a beating heart on the way to school -- it’s a new semester, but it could also potential lead to something else. You know that you and James hadn’t always had the best relationship, but then what the hell was he doing just about to kiss you?

“Good morning,” Sharon smiles as you enter the building and head to that old familiar locker, “Guess what I heard!”

“What?” you ask with a pitch too high, thinking that your closest friend has found out the only thing you haven’t told her. She raises an eyebrow at your strange attitude before going back to what she was talking about.

“Bucky and Dot eloped!” Sharon squeals like it’s some time of forbidden romance when it’s just two stupid teenagers doing stupid things (as your father would say later on about the event), “Went all the way to Indianapolis, and now their parents are trying to bring them back!”

You remember badly dyed blond hair and bright blue eyes -- and you let it die.

“Good for them, I guess,” you shrug, unable to say anything else. Sharon agrees, deciding not to say anything about your current attitude as the bells rings to signal the start of first period.

February.

James and Dolores come back towards start of the month, embarrassed and guilty with rumors running wild from her being pregnant to money being involved. It’s too crazy for the redhead that her parents eventually send to out of the city, to where you don’t know and James -- well, you don’t care about that. You are too busy with badminton, student council, and your high-level courses. It gets to the point that the counselor tells you that you could graduate a year early.

That wasn’t your plan of action, you wanted to enjoy senior year but you weren’t going to have it be in Shelbyville, as you informed your parents that you wanted to move to the West Coast to live with your favorite aunt -- as a way to prepare yourself for college since all your choices were there.

They agree with your level headedness, though with some rules placed here and there. They make you wait until the start of summer for one and you agree with a sigh. At least it’s only a couple of more months, is all you can think.

March - May.

He swears that he tries talking to you, tries to catch your eye when you’re walking down the hall or when you walking back to the school bus. Bucky is an idiot and he needs to explain a lot of things, but after the incident with Dot, nobody wants to listen to him. His parents barely let him out of their watchful eyes, but he doesn’t blame them. His friends look at him like he’s a different person, unsure of who the real Bucky Barnes is. Hell, he doesn’t know anymore either. The school only lets him back in because of his grades, though the principal watches him and tell him not to run afoul.

His sisters are the only ones that have his back. The only people that listened to his side of the story and it was only until the end, when Rebecca finally talks that he realizes the truth about the whole matter.

“ Jamie, are you in love with our next door neighbor ?” she asks and it was like a firecracker sparked in front of him. He had been in love with you since 6th grade when you walked alongside a very nervous him to school. Even though he pushed you away whenever the spotlight was on him, you were always there with a soft smile on your face waiting in the background, waiting underneath that starry backdrop after he hit your bedroom window with that first rock.

Now, he had lost you. However, Bucky has always been stubborn, especially when it came to you.      

He tries throwing a rock on your window one chilly May morning, he gets no response on the first, second, or third try. On the fourth, he sees something move from the inside. The air in his lungs freeze in anticipation only for his heart to stop instead when he sees the curtains close for the first time in years.

That’s the point that he confirmed that he had lost you.

June.

June marches in without notice as you prep the last bit of your items for the move. Your aunt having already received the major things over the last couple of weeks, now all that was left was a duffel bag and you ready to be sent the airport. All the goodbyes --to Sharon, to the Barnes sisters-- had been said and you were ready to move on and even though the bottom your throat ached at the thought of a certain boy -- you knew you were better than this. You couldn’t be stuck on Bucky Barnes forever.

Your mother gives you a hug and promises to visit you during the annual summer events the company has, as you promise to call her every other day. Your father is waiting in the front seat of the old car as you notice Rebecca Barnes, barely awake and in her pajamas, waiting near her home.

“We’ll miss ya,” she says with a sad smile as you pull her in for a hug. You promise to call or write when you can, but the little hiccup in your voice makes her realize that you are lying -- you’ll cut all ties to be a stronger person, that’s the type of person that she knows that you are. She wants to tell you that her older brother is in love with you, that he’s been a mess since the last time you had seen him.

“Take care of him,” is all you manage to whisper as she lets out a small sob because even with all the hurt you had felt over the years, over these past couple of months -- you still felt something. You just didn’t plan on ever acting up on it. Rebecca wanted to slap both of you over your heads, but it was too late.

She waves as you get into the car and drive away -- it’s like when she and her family first came here to find you. She just never thought she would see the day you would be leaving before them -- you always been a part of their lives and now she could only wonder how they would all deal without you. She gives your mother one last smile before heading back inside. She just didn’t expect to see Bucky waiting for her midway through the staircase, dressed and waiting for something to finally happen. Well, it had -- just not in the way he was expecting it to.

“Becca, why were you outside?” Bucky’s sleepy voice is hopeful from his position on the stairs. Maybe, his younger sister had finally been successful in being the mediator in this rough patch between the two of you. However, that happy thought is soon snuffed out at the sight of her sad blue eyes and scowl.

“I was saying goodbye,” she remarks as Bucky gets confused over her statement, “She left to the airport just now, going to Cali.”

“Like a trip?” Bucky asks. You and your parents had always gone these little trips during winter and summer breaks, which he had always hated since you left him all alone -- now he knew why. Rebecca shakes her head and Bucky’s heart stops.

He curses and hits the wall next to him with all his fury and anguish before heading back to his room. Bucky Barnes goes back and doesn’t come out for the next 3 months -- why would he?

You had taken the golden rays of summer with you and the world became a colorless afterthought.  

Part 2

[theconservativebrief]

“Take it off,” Bradley Cooper supposedly said to Lady Gaga.

“It” refers to the tiny bit of makeup Gaga was wearing at the screen test for what became her starring role in the latest reboot of A Star Is Born, according to a widely circulated story in the LA Times.

The story, which has now been repeated by its stars several times and elevated to lore in only a few short weeks, goes like this: During the screen test, Cooper, who is the producer, director, and lead actor in the movie, whipped out a makeup wipe and dragged it down Gaga’s face from forehead to chin. He then told her, “Completely open. No artifice.”

This narrative thread continued this past weekend, when Gaga and Cooper went on The Graham Norton Show in the UK. There, she told a tale about trying to sneak some makeup onto the set, according to the Evening Standard, “but Bradley wouldn’t go for it.” Cooper apparently jumped in and said, “It’s how the character is.”

Gaga’s character, Ally, is an unknown singer-songwriter who has pretty much given up on her dream to be a performer. She is also plagued by self-doubt because of her appearance. This no-makeup story has been getting so much attention in part because Lady Gaga has built her persona — multiple personas, really — using props that are sometimes purposely jarring. Makeup, wigs, shoes, facial prosthetics, a giant egg, and, yes, a meat dress have all been part of her repertoire. She likes to challenge what we consider norms for women’s looks and fashion, so seeing her with her natural hair color and no makeup is jarring in a different way.

View this post on Instagram

#AStarIsBorn

A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) on Sep 27, 2018 at 11:01am PDT

But does not wearing any makeup mean a woman is more authentic? It appears to be what Cooper and his character, Jackson Maine, both believe. In fact, it’s what a lot of people believe. As a society, we claim to value what’s “natural” when it comes to women and their looks, but when you dig a little deeper, that’s not really what we want. We want them to look beautiful without any intervention at all, which is an unachievable goal considering that society’s idea of what is beautiful is so narrow: young, skinny, conventionally pretty, light-skinned. It’s impossible for women to win, so celebrating Gaga’s makeup-free face as the ultimate sign of her authenticity is more complicated than the sound bites would have us believe.

Let’s unpack this Bradley Cooper makeup removal situation a little bit more: 1) Why the hell was Cooper carrying makeup wipes on his person? 2) Did he give Gaga the opportunity to cleanse her face properly, at least? Makeup wipes are not great for the skin! Next time you invade someone’s personal space to impose your beliefs on them, please offer them an oil or a gentle cleanser instead, Bradley.

All kidding aside, the reaction to this moment has been decidedly mixed. While some thought it was sweet, it was also perceived to be paternalistic or downright controlling. Nylon deemed it “weird as hell.” In a piece for NBC, Jennifer Gerson called it another example of someone policing women’s looks. Daily Beast entertainment reporter Kevin Fallon called it “gross and creepy” on Twitter.

The incident was repeated ad nauseam throughout the entertainment and popular press. It may have been a calculated anecdote because, as some pointed out, the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, starring Judy Garland. featured a scene in which her male co-star James Mason removes her makeup (using a nice-looking cold cream, I’d like to point out):

To be fair to Cooper, he ostensibly did this because that’s what he envisioned the character of Ally to be; he is hopefully not in the habit of whipping out makeup wipes on unsuspecting women at random red-carpet events. (But I’d also like to point out how he was not willing to be “completely open” himself, at least on the press junket, as this cringeworthy interview with Taffy Brodesser-Akner at the New York Times demonstrates.)

And, importantly, Lady Gaga was on board with it. She said ditching the makeup helped make her a better actor, helped her inhabit the role. “It put me right in the place I needed to be, because when my character talks about how ugly she feels — that was real. I’m so insecure. I like to preach, but I don’t always practice what I preach,” she said in the LA Times interview. Gaga has publicly stated that she’s been plagued with doubt about her own attractiveness since the beginning of her career and has addressed it on many occasions. For many women, makeup imparts confidence, and the vulnerability of a bare face is real.

In case you are not aware of Gaga’s extensive beauty canon, she loves makeup and uses its transformative power masterfully. She has been working with makeup artist Sarah Tanno for almost a decade, and the two have collaborated on some of the most clever and unique makeup looks in recent memory. They make art together. The looks are not natural — metallics and sequins and bright eyeliner figure prominently. Gaga’s signature look is that she has no signature look. She is also working on a makeup line of her own, called Haus of Beauty, as Recode reported in July.

In the movie, Gaga starts out makeup-free and her character later dyes her hair red and piles on more cosmetics. Cooper’s character pushes back against this pop star-ification, arguing that she is losing her authenticity. This is the opposite of Gaga’s career trajectory; she started out embracing full-on caricature, and toned down her visual statements a lot with her most recent Joanne tour, taking on a folksier image (including lots of floppy hats).

Lady Gaga in 2009 and at a Joanne photo call in 2016. John Shearer/Jun Sato/Getty Images

Which brings us back to the idea of authenticity. Gaga isn’t the only big pop star who changes her looks frequently and unabashedly uses makeup to craft a persona. Three of arguably the most authentic performers on the planet — Dolly Parton, Rihanna, and Cher — do as well. Cher and Parton have also been open and unapologetic about their plastic surgery.

Their characters and messages have been consistent through their careers, and surely most people would agree these three are not fake or superficial when it counts the most. But we still somehow think makeup means you’re faking something, conflating fake color on someone’s face with a superficial personality. Real authenticity, however, is intangible.

Cooper’s use of the word “artifice” in the LA Times interview is very telling, because associating makeup with artifice advances the narrative that women who wear it are trying to trick people.

It’s an idea that’s been around for centuries. An unattractive woman uses makeup or other sneaky methods to fool a man into thinking she’s attractive, thus snaring him forever. Micaela Marini Higgs detailed this history and mindset for a Racked story in 2017:

The use of womanly wiles and feminine trickery have been blamed for many things since the Garden of Eden, and makeup is seen as an extension of this inherent dishonesty. Women, we imagine, are willing to lie to get what they want, even if that involves trapping men through the long con of contour and lipstick.

There have been more insidious examples of this recently. In 2017, a man released an app called MakeApp that allows users to “remove” women’s makeup in photos. It was roundly panned as sexist. Heather Schwedel wrote at Slate, imagining its founder’s mindset, “Why not expose the dastardly tricks these harpies are using to disguise themselves? Makeup: It’s basically witchcraft.”

In its most current sinister iteration, the idea that makeup equals deception is something that incels, or “involuntary celibates,” believe. These bitter young men believe they are being harshly and superficially judged by women, because they themselves judge women that way. “They are obsessed with female beauty but despise makeup as a form of fraud,” Jia Tolentino wrote at the New Yorker.

In the movie, Cooper’s male gaze reigns supreme. If you have seen the trailer 87,000 times, or even just once, you know that he tells Gaga’s character Ally he thinks she is beautiful. That moment when he is driving off in the car and hollers out to her because “I just wanted to take another look at you” has become a meme. She does indeed look incredible without makeup in the movie. But we, the audience (and presumably Ally), are supposed to finally believe it when Cooper says it.

The idea that a woman without makeup is a woman in her ideal form has found its way into the biggest makeup trend of the last decade: “no-makeup makeup.”

At Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry in May, her makeup was light and natural. Her freckles were visible. Her lips looked like her own lips. Prince Harry “kept saying thank you. He was thanking me for making her look like herself,” Markle’s makeup artist Daniel Martin told InStyle. Elle UK estimates nine products were used on her face. It was no-makeup makeup.

Google the phrase and you’ll get more than a billion results. Look it up on YouTube and you’ll find hundreds of tutorials. The fact that one might require a tutorial to nail this look tells you everything you need to know about it. This trend is the real scam, not women wearing red lipstick and black eyeliner. You need upward of a dozen products to get the look popularized by Kim Kardashian:

Women have been wearing makeup since before Queen Elizabeth I slathered her face with lead to cover up her smallpox scars. They do it for a lot of reasons — because of societal pressure to cover up “imperfections,” as a way to express individuality, or just plain boredom with their natural lip color. Insisting that a woman’s authenticity can only be revealed by revealing her bare skin is a disservice. Gaga said herself at a press event that not wearing makeup brought out vulnerability in “someone that doesn’t necessarily feel safe [being] that vulnerable all the time.” Why is this the ideal?

In an interview for Vogue’s October issue, in which Lady Gaga appears on the cover wearing a “natural” makeup look, the author notes, “The biggest challenge for Lady Gaga was creating a musical character that was not like … Lady Gaga.” The irony here is that the “authentic” Lady Gaga we see in A Star Is Born is a fictional character. The real Gaga — fake eyelashes, stick-on gems, and all — is authentic as hell.

Original Source -> The problem with Bradley Cooper asking Lady Gaga to go makeup-free in A Star Is Born

via The Conservative Brief

[pbandjesse]

Today was a really good day. I think seeing my family was emotionally healing. I have had a couple moments of almost sassiness. But I've been able to shake it off easy. The weather helped. It was beautiful today. 

I slept pretty well but I am still having trouble falling asleep. But I woke up at like 8am and I felt alright. I knew James was going to work early and I didn't want to miss any little bit of time with him. 

I got dressed and hung out on the couch with him until he has to leave. I made him a new mask which he said felt more comfortable on his ears. So that's good. But something is wrong with my sewing machine and its just jamming so badly. Disappointing. I'm going to try to fix it but it probably needs a lot of cleaning and just general maintenance. In the meantime I sewed his by hand. 

Once James left I spent a little time playing animal crossing but most of today was a mix of cleaning. Art making. Sitting on the fire escape practicing my harp playing. I had my staff meeting. That was fun. I was trying very hard to be positive today but also not to let the work hours stress me out to badly. 

I worked on this heart hanging thing during the meeting and finished it in the hour before my first zoom class. I think it's really cute. Jess said it's very Instagramable. 

And my zoom class went pretty well! Only 3 kids came but it was so good to see them. We talked about what art supplies they would want to work with. So I'll order those tonight. And well figure out how to get those to them. It seems were doing some kind of pick up point at wild wood. I am glad it went as well as it did though. Because I have needed this structure of knowing I'm needed. Give me something to work towards and not feel so displaced. At least for the next month. 

Once I got off the call with them I did some yoga. Ate some snacks. Worked on drawing out the painting for our train scene. Which I want to work on more. 

I got the mail and the black masks I ordered came. And I put a little heart on one so we know it's mine. And I sewed the ears so it fits my head better. Will make me feel better going out I think. And if masks are just going to be the thing now I want fashions!! 

Soon James was home. And he was really bummed his new wheels still hadn't come. Ups claims they attempted delivery but that was a lie!? I put a sign on the door to ring the doorbell. And I never left today. Made me really upset because James was really upset. Hopefully they actually deliver it tomorrow. Cause James deserves to be able to bike cause it makes him happy and I want him happy. 

We hung out for a while. But then he had his dnd group. The old one! Finally getting together. I went and dyed my hair. And I've been chilling and enjoying sweetp's company. And then I washed the dye out of my hair and watched the sunset. And now I am tired. 

I hope you are all having a good night and you get some good sleep. I hope you are all staying safe. Love you guys.