#are these great lyrics? no they're a bit awkward in places. but i just like how recognizable they are in the novel haha

[russellsppttemplates]

Uh oh, I'm falling in love (Lando Norris)

Y/N and Lando both have jobs that require good sight and attention to detail and yet they're oblivious to their feelings for eachother

Note: english is not my first language. I'm in a very fluffy mood, so I got really excited when I got this request! This also makes my expectations even higher and calls me single in about seventeen different languages at once...

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Tw: mentions a needle (for sewing)

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog

"Hey guys! How's everyone?", Max said to the camera as you made sure the set up was right, the screen showing his and Lando's faces on one screen and the table on the other like it was supposed to.

"As per your many, many requests, we have brought our graphic designer at Quadrant, Y/N", Lando announced as you appeared on camera, sending a very awkward first wave to the camera, "today's stream is little different than our usual programming, but it was the only way she agreed to be in one! You guys really wanted to see her, so we had to be creative!", Max said as he moved the friendship bracelets making kit into view on the table.

"Hey, Queen Taylor said we should make the friendship bracelets, so we're just following her!", you chuckled, looking at all the coloured threads and colourful beads, sorting them out and grabbing a pen and paper so you could draw your ideas.

"Since you guys wanted to get to know Y/N, can I tell them to send in questions?", Lando questioned you, "sure, I'll answer them to the best of mu ability", you smiled.

You were picking the letters you needed for the bracelet you were making when Max spoke up, "first one: how did you start working with Quadrant? I'd love to work on the team when I finish my degree!".

"I saw the job offer, and I must admit at first I didn't really know much about the company. I looked it up, looked cool enough and I sent my CV and portfolio in. So keep your eyes peeled for any offers, I guess? We have them now on the website, which was my doing, so you can check them out there if you want to be part of the team", you offered.

"I need help, guys", Lando said as he fiddled with his bracelet, the orange and grey beads with his initials sliding on the elasticated material, I can't do the closing knot on my own", he pouted as you placed your bracelet down.

"You have to flip it like this, here. Just put it on your wrist and I'll do the rest", you ushered him, your fingertips gingerly touching his hand and wrist as you quietly laced it, "this way we don't get frilly bits out and it looks pretty, see? Pretty!", you smiled, modelling his wrist for the camera.

Pretty, that's what he often thought about you. Not only pretty, but it was one of the first physical traits that came to mind.

"We should all have matching ones!", Max said as he completed his bracelet, impressively on his own, revealing the colourful beads with Quadrant spelled in white round beads with black letters, "I'll make one for each of you", he said as he watched you show your own, pink beads and a lyric he assumed was from a Taylor Swift song.

"I'll make Y/N's, she helped me after all", Lando said as one brave fan sent a comment into the chat.

He's so giddy to make Y/N a bracelet, it's a shame it will snap because of his lack of skills

Am I delusional if I say that they'd make a great couple?

If you're delusional, then what do I call myself? I still think they're making heart eyes at eachother whenever they catch the slightest glimpse!

We're joining forces, I think it's a noble pursuit!

He's a dork, Y/N, but you should give him a chance

Have you always known you wanted to be a graphic designer?

"I thought about different careers before I settled on this one, for now at least", you explained, "engineering was in the running up, but then I figured out that I was curious about how things worked, but that didn't mean that I wanted to be the one working on it. And this was a way to express my creativity, my strategy planning as well, and at the moment it's been quite good", you smiled as Lando grabbed your wrist softly, "I need to make sure this fits", he interrupted, "and it won't snap because I've learnt how to do it, thank you very much", he blushed. So he, too, was reading the comments, choosing not to dwell in them.

"Look, this way you always have a lucky charm with you everywhere you go, even if we're not together. We're eachothers lucky charms!", Lando announced as Max mafe a fake gagging noise.

.

"Are you all ready?", you said as you and Tara walked inside the room, clasping your watch on your wrist and hoping to find the boys ready.

Quadrant had been invited to a gala dinner that celebrated the companies in the same line of business, inviting five people to take part in the meal. After some team members politely declining the invitation since they had things booked already, the group ended up being Lando, Max, Callum, Tara and yourself.

The dress required everyone to up their usual style, hence the long dress you were wearing. Even though it was far from your usual everyday attire, you felt beautiful in the dress you ended up with after browsing the online shops for a while. The cut was simple, the skirt widening from your waist down and complimenting your curves as the sheen from the midnight blue fabric looked soft and sweet against your skin.

Lando seemed to think the same, trying his best to not let his mouth hang open when you and Tara walked inside their room, heels clicking on the wooden floor as you hurried them, "does it really take that long to put on a suit? I had to help Tara with the laces on her back and we still got ready faster than the three of you?", you asked, shaking your wrist to check if the dainty watch wasn't going to fall and that it wasn't too tight either.

Looking up to meet Lando's eyes, you were sure you physically and audibly gulped. No one should look that good in a plain white shirt. The cuffs were still unbuttoned, but the shirt itself was tucked in his black pants. He didn't have any jewellery, so his tanned skin caught your eye as it contrasted with his clothes.

"Lando has a problem with his shirt and we are trying to solve it", Max said, a little bit too antsy given that, at the naked eye, there didn't seem to be a big issue with the piece of clothing you had been inspecting quite closely.

"There was a loose button, and I tried to fix it, but I made it worse", Lando said as he pointed to the button on his hand, the slight movement showing you the place where it was supposed to he holding the piece together and closed.

"Three people in this room and no one thought about grabbing the sewing kit from the amenities?", Tara suggested, looking for it in the box that was the same as it was in your room, "see? Simple as that! Can you sew it, Y/N? My hand isn't fully healed yet, I can't quite grasp something that small yet".

Tara had injured herself earlier on in the week, prompting her to ask to tag out of the gala until you pleaded her to go so you wouldn't be alone, so she couldn't do it. None of the other guys seemed to even know how to pull the thread through the needle, so you grabbed the kit from Tara's hand, "sure, I'll do it", you said, "if that's okay with you, that is", you looked over at Lando.

"Sure, anything to solve this. Do I keep it on or should I take it off?", he questioned, wanting to slap himself straight after at his offer. Why would he volunteer to be shirtless in front of you? It certainly wasn't the way to go, shoving himself like that.

"On should be fine", you muttered, missing the snickers going on behind you as you wet the thread with your tongue, careful to not transfer any of the lipstick on it and ruining the piece without point of return for good, easily looping it through and adjusting the size of the ends.

"Button", you put your hand out so Lando could place it in your fingers, "I will do my best not to poke you, let me know if I do so accidentally", you mumbled at the closeness to him you found yourself in. It was the third button from the top, and as much as you loved the sight of the shirt slightly undone, the dinner required his shirt to be done up. Looping the thread on the button a few times, you moved to pierce the crisp white fabric so it would be secure, your hands dangerously close to his skin as you could hear his laboured breath. Lando still remembered and thought constantly about your fingers touching his hand and wrist when you did the friendship bracelets video for the YouTube channel, and right now, it only added to his predicament.

"It's done, all good!", you exclaimed, looking up as you cut the thread and seeing Lando's eyes on you. The intensity nearly threw you off of your balance as you stood the tiniest bit crouched down on your high heels.

Scrambling to further the distance between your bodies, you smoothed out the non existent wrinkles on your dress, storing the supplies back in the kit as Lando managed to utter out a thank you, too stunned and intoxicated by your scent to say anything else.

"I sewed a button as neither of you look any more ready that you were when we got here? We're going to be late!", you hurried, sitting next to Tara and ignoring her smirk as you scrolled through your phone.

.

"That shoot will have to wait since Lando won't be back here soon, then", you said, moving things around in the online shared calendar, "when did you say you could again? I'm sorry", you asked, rubbing your forehead and squeezing your eyes, adjusting your glasses and looking at him through the screen.

"The first weekend of the next month", Lando assured, "are you okay, Y/N?", he asked. The bags under your eyes didn't fool anyone and you looked tired. And sick, he guessed by the layers of clothing you had on.

"I had a pretty shit day, actually", you admitted, "I had to go with the guys from storage because there was an issue. The supplier sent the samples and we wanted to get things moving so I could have some ideas for the description and the social media team also wanted to prep the draft for the whole story telling, but it all went under. I also think I caught some bug, so it's been a fun day", you exaggeratingly smiled, mocking your own misery.

"You look like you need a hug, Y/N. Do you need a hug?", Lando asked as you nodded, "Actually, that would be pretty good, but I live alone. The neighbours would think I'm pretty weird if I went around like this asking for one, too", you reasoned.

Even though he wasn't next to you, Lando still managed to pull a smile out of you as he got up from the chair he was sitting in, hugging his laptop, "did you feel that hug?", he loudly wondered, "it's full of Get well soon fairy dust!", he smiled charmingly.

"Fairy dust, mate?", Callum wondered, reminding you of his presence in the videocall, "you try and spend more than a few hours with a little girl and you let me know. Mila has taught me all about fairy dust and princess magic", Lando added.

.

"How will we get out of here?", you wondered, starting to regret joining Lando, Max and Pietra when they said they were going to watch a football game. You loved the sport and you figured it would be a nice distraction after a work loaded week, but now, things were looking less than a distraction.

"We will let them space out once the game finishes, free up the roads as well because getting out of here will be a pain, too", Lando suggested.

The game granted your team a win and three points in the championship, the crowd going wild as they clapped, whistled and waved their scarfs, slowly leaving the stadium.

"Should we make a run for it now?", Pietra said, holding her boyfriend's hand as she allowed him to pull her away.

You followed Lando, thanking his choice of a colourful hoodie to wear today as it made it easier for you to spot him, "go in front of me, I'll back you up", he switched positions. You weren't having too much trouble until you were met with a ramp, people carelessly shoving others as they tried to leave as quick as they could, all with the same intent of avoiding traffic and crowded roads.

"Here, Y/N", you heard Lando as he grabbed your hand, lacing your fingers in his and pulling you along, excusing you two as you approached Max and Pietra again, "we're here", you tapped the blonde woman's shoulder with your free hand.

"Goodness, that was and adventure", she said once you reached the stadium car park, the crowd clearing up significantly as there was maybe another ten people headed the same way as you were now, "is everyone alright? I think someone stepped on my foot quite a few times, or many people stepped on it at various different times", you reasoned, walking alongside Lando still.

"Don't we need to hand the bracelets back?", Max said as he looked at the sign, taking his bracelet off and depositing it in the box in the booth, Pietra doing the same as you seemed distracted.

"Are you okay, Y/N?", Max asked, seeing you and Lando were still holding hands and, because of that, not taking off your bracelets.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?", you scrunched your eyebrows, "we need to hand the bracelets back in, so I kind of need to have yours, too", he teased, looking at your hand still entwined with Lando's.

Removing your hand from Lando's as if it har started burning all of a sudden, you removed the bracelet, apologising quietly to the stadium employee as you thanked him, "shall we go now?".

"Dinner out?", Lando gulped, getting into the driver's seat, "Good idea, yes", Max added, sitting in the passenger's seat as you and Pietra sat in the back, your hand rubbing your other hand that had been laced with Lando's own one for a long time. Uh oh, you were falling in love.

.

The launch was finally over after an amazing response from the fans, leaving your heart happy and warm with a sense of mission accomplished.

"Is everything packed into the van?", you asked Tara, "yes, it's just this box. It has fragile things, so do you think you guys can take it in the car with you? It probably only fits at the front, so you'll have to squeeze in with the boys on the back", she smiled apologetically, "it's fine, we'll keep eachother warm like penguins do", you chuckled, holding the door open as she set the box safely.

Saying goodbye to her and the rest of the team, Max and Lando joined you, "You sit in the middle seat", Max pointed at you, opening the door ao you could scoot closer to Lando and he could get in.

"Could you tell me how long we have until get back?", Lando asked the driver, "with traffic at this hour, I'd say around 90 minutes", he smiled, turning on the blinker so he could leave the car park.

"Plenty of time for me to catch up on sleep, then!", you cheered, making yourself comfortable in the space you had, folding your scarf into an impromptu travel pillow, closing your eyes.

"Are you a snorer?", Max asked, making you blindly swat his thigh, "only when I'm sick, and lucky for you, I'm in presteen health, no blocked nose", you grumbled.

It didn't take you long to fall asleep. In the last week, all of the nights combined, you probably slept less than thirty hours, so your body was indeed in need of rest.

"And there it goes", Max said as your pillow undid itself, Lando lifting his shoulder in reflex so your head wouldn't drop drastically, landing on top of him, "Good thing she isn't our engineer, hm?", he chuckled, looking at how his bestfriend was looking at you like you hung the stars and the moon.

"I think I'm in love with Y/N", Lando whispered after he took your appearance in. You had forgone wearing make-up today, so he could see all your moles and scars, your pouty lips and the darkened skin under your eyes. It took everything in him to not bend down and kiss your forehead.

"Congrats on being the last one to find out, mate", Max added, shaking his head, "I genuinely thought you had some issue processing information, I'm glad to find out you don't.

"Now you just have to act on it, which is going to take you, what? Two, three more months?".

[trainfanz]

Further ramblings on London 2024 as I've now had a chance to listen to it! Below the cut! (I can't send out the audio, sorry.) SPOILERS ABOUND!

ACT ONE

"Stop that boring music!" IS GONE!

There really isn't a lot to separate the additional trains. Their introductions and little pre-race mantras are all "They're fast!"

Al Knott sounds great.

I appreciate they rewrote Crazy to actually make it more of an intro song for Rusty instead of just sticking it there.

Arguing before 'I Am Me' is hard to follow with no visuals!

"Friends!" "Friends!" "More than friends?!" "-just friends." HAHA

"Trucks will identify themselves! Fuel Trucks!" Honey, they're all fuel trucks.

Freight really doesn't get to finish and I don't think I really like that.

Stopping here to say that Hydra is the standout of this new incarnation. Going into his little mantra at every applicable moment and annoying everyone else is hilarious.

AC/DC is... fine. Still prefer the older sound.

New take on Pumping Iron however is pretty good!

I want to see Control offering Pearl a spot to sit so bad.

"Please welcome to the other side of the tracks: Momma McCoy." "HOW WE DOIN?!" That's great.

Shoutout to them for using my preferred little outro ditty for the blues. Hard to explain what I mean.

I get that the 4th qualifying engine isn't integral to the downhill final but to only have 1 winner in Race 2 feels weird.

Surprise El DeBarge Lyrics???

ACT TWO

The Rap is pulling a lot from the first two incarnations - "Race Time" shows up in the megamix but not in the actual song.

Dinah UGLY crying hhhh

Slick gets her own take on Wide Smile. Not sure if I like it but it's definitely unique.

Still think what immediately follows Race 3 ends up being 2 versions of the same scene stuck together, but that's not this production's problem.

It stings that Right Place, Right Time is gone. I get that it doesn't really work with the fuel trucks as apposed to the Rockies but I miss it!

No awkward key change in Starlight Sequence!! (If you've heard the current German version, you know.)

For how integral to the plot he is I expected Hydra to get a little more of his own number, but the "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when" is the most song he gets and the rest is just talking.

Aaand here's Lord Andy's big twist, Rusty explicitly converts himself to run on hydrogen. More on this in a few lines!

They REALLY get their mileage out of what they got Lord Andy to write for this production.

Ok, I see what people mean by them altering Prusty in 2017 to fit 'I Do' better instead of changing the song again. I get it now. I think.

Even as a sapphic, Greaseball still can't spell.

New lyrics in Light At The End of The Tunnel is WEIRD.

I don't hate that they try to work in a message about clean fuels but at the same time I don't think its necessary? Was the original Starlight really meant to convince the audience that coal is the future in real life? Not really. Especially at the end things feel a bit heavy handed but again, I don't HATE it.

Still amazed I am open to/liking this new take on Starlight as much as I am.

[merinathropp]

okay so I just saw the London production of Rebecca and BOY DO I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS

- score sounded rich and full (orchestra must be huge!!!!) and singing was magnificent throughout

- the English lyrics swung between Really Solid and then abruptly Bad depending on the song, with some truly bizarre structural choices in places (e.g. 'doch sie hat mich verraten' became 'utterly betrayed me' which was awkward and spread over too many syllables it made me wince). BUT overall the bones of the translation are there, it just needs more time and work...

- Danny was the best thing in it, Kara Lane absolutely killed it, I can't wait to go back and see her again so I can analyse every second of her performance; she had to sell some really botched lyrics and did such a good job selling them with her performance; she was cold, defiant, unhinged, vengeful, and eventually utterly broken. obsessed 10/10 would die for her.

- dear God the set was an unprofessional disaster. IKEA meets cardboard walls meets local am dram. I have literally seen village pantos with better sets. Rebecca's room had a bed with plain purple sheets, a backdrop with abstract green swirls (?), and a desk. literally just send someone to the nearest charity shop and buy a couple of candlesticks and some tasseled cushions, for goodness sake, it'll cost you ten quid. I know they have a tight budget but they're going to get laughed off the West End with a set like this.

- the lighting made everything Worse. it was flat and washed out but somehow kept putting the faces in shadow so you couldn't see them??? the colours and depth of the European productions are SO distinct, why are we lighting everything like it's a rehearsal room ffs

- Ich was a darling, very sweet and vulnerable with the voice of an angel, I wanted to close my eyes multiple times just to listen to her songs. she full-on sobbed during the beach scene with Maxim.

- costumes were okay, a bit grungy??? I really miss Ich having some brighter colours after she gains confidence and comes into her own, BUT Danny looked bomb they gave her a beautifully tailored black dress and Kara Lane has a figure to die for so that was 👏👏👏

- Maxim was great, but he looked about 20 and wore his heart on his sleeve??? very charming and funny and flirty which is...not what I was expecting, and honestly not an interpretation that totally works for the story, but he gave a strong performance and absolutely attacked Kein Laecheln, it was very very powerful

- no staircase, no fire, but the cast worked their butts off to ACT the fire and honestly full respect they did a really good job. I felt their panic and terror so vividly. Danny didn't appear onstage until the last 5 seconds of the song, and we only saw her from behind as she started up the stairs...bizarre timing??? but maybe an honest mistake as it was a preview performance

- blocking was very different in places. I liked some of it (e.g. Danny dressing up Ich in nightgown, lipstick, and doing her hair during Rebecca II was intensely creepy but perfect) but other things were a bit odd (e.g. Maxim being super kissy and cutesy and physical with Ich in a way that felt more teenage boy that older English gentleman lol)

- there are LOTS of structural changes, new songs, and things that have been cut (like Danny's entrance...criminal actually) but I'll make a separate post about those

send me an ask if you want to know about anything in particular, happy to provide details!

[daintyduck99]

“You’ve been looking at me like that all day. Something on your mind?”for PeterPatterLina please?

Julie smiles openly at her boyfriends from across the coffee table, content to watch them in their element for a moment.

Luke's muttering away, shuffling lyrics and drumming his fingers. He's got a pick clenched between his teeth, as usual.

Reggie has his chin hooked over Luke's shoulder as he hums melodies under his breath, which is pretty typical now, too.

Well, he's always kind of done the humming. It just comes naturally to him; he probably isn't even thinking about it. The proximity is sort of the same, familiar, but if she'd pointed it out a few months ago, he would've crumpled and withdrawn.

Literally and figuratively.

Now, though, if she pointed it out, he'd probably just smirk at her and say something flirty that would be guaranteed to make her heart flutter, or Luke laugh.

They're all getting settled together, learning one another, as pairs and a triad, and Julie loves parsing Reggie’s expressions. His face is always saying something, and it's still somewhat of a challenge for her to read, sometimes.

Not that she doesn't love reading Luke's expressions; there's also something special in the silent communication they've already built. Learning is just new, exciting.

She expects Reggie's focused face, creased with concentration, eyes fixed on Luke's lyrics, lower lip lost in his mouth.

Instead, she sees another look on his face, one that she's glimpsed a few times today when he thought they weren't looking, only for him to panic and avert his eyes.

But he's too intent on Luke to turn away.

His eyes are a little wide, but his whole face is soft, shining with something like awe. A light blush dusts his cheeks pink, and he's tracing the shape of Luke's nose as he mumbles, totally unaware. It scrunches as Luke hits a lyric he doesn't really like, and Reggie falters in his humming. His mouth drops open slightly.

Maybe it's…admiration?

Whatever it is, it looks lovely on him.

He jolts as his and her eyes meet, which pulls Luke from his lyrical stupor. Luke frowns, placing his hand on Reggie’s knee.

"What's the matter, Reg? Are you okay?"

"You've been looking at us like that all day," Julie says carefully. "Is something on your mind?"

Reggie goes completely slack jawed. He's gone from pink to deep red. His eyes pop.

"I—I'm fine! It's nothing, really, don't—"

Luke takes Reggie’s face in his hands.

"Baby, it's okay. You can tell us anything."

Reggie's breath hitches. "I don't know—"

"Luke, don't crowd him." Julie comes around the coffee table, kneeling in front of them as Luke releases Reggie’s face. She waits for Reggie to offer his hand before taking it and squeezing. "What is it, baby?"

He takes a deep breath. It all bursts out.

"I'm trying to tell you that I can't tell you because it's way too soon to tell you but it's really really hard because you're both so good to me and so amazing and it's all I can think about and it's great and insane and I can't help it because I love you!"

Before he can pale or crumple, she and Luke have swept him into a bear hug.

"We love you too," they say in sync, and they all laugh a little as Reggie relaxes.

"I don't know what I would've done if you guys had said anything else. God, that must always be awkward. It still was!"

Luke hums as they all slowly unravel.

"Well, with both of you, I sort of—it's like I knew that I would fall in love with you. Or that I easily could, if that makes sense. So if one of you said it before I felt it, I think it would've been fine. I would've said—that."

Julie nods. "And I was a nervous wreck the first time I told Luke. But with you, we both knew when we asked you out that we were…more than a little infatuated, already. So falling for you felt…surer."

A smile slowly spreads across Reggie’s face. He shines, beautiful and confident, only to turn pink as she and Luke exchange a look, laughing a bit bashfully as they pepper his cheeks with kisses.

Yeah. Love is a very good look on him.

[runawaycarouselhorse]

Goodbye to Ash and Pikachu and all their friends and rivals and everyone we loved so much for so many years! It was a great ride and it was fun to see different takes and concepts and adventures. It was also wonderful to have a series that's realistic in that the main character tries and struggles and fails, teaching kids it's okay to lose, as long as you get back up and continue trying another day.

A show where most of the heroines can have their own journeys, rivals, goals--they're not cardboard cut-out love interests without lives of their own... where women can hold roles similar to the men (Pokemon Champions, regional Professors, etc.), not just relegated to one or two stereotypical roles, things SO many shounen anime aimed at an older audience fail to do.

Thank you for not shaming kids for crying, thank you for comforting and meaningful lyrics (Soko ni Sora ga Aru Kara, Te wo Tsunagou, Smile, etc.).

Thank you for beautiful stories of characters overcoming trauma and abuse, being saved from or escaping bad situations, and shown genuine love and friendship (Chimchar's storyline and especially the Tears for Fears episode, Larvitar's storyline too, even Tepig's story ending with Evolution by Fire), thank you for stories of kids with phobias and repressed memories and all the recovery stories (Lillie, Sophocles...), the episodes dealing with loss (Mallow's mother), and the characters who were traumatized and couldn't fully overcome those fears but still found their place in the world (the Nurse Joy who feared she would drown as a child in The Joy of Water Pokemon and James with his fear of marriage, where even the word "fiance" triggers flashbacks, not to mention the sound of a whip... but he still found a place of belonging with his friends from Team Rocket), kids who were bullied and ostracized in school (Iris, Regina) but found friendship later on...

What a great show!

I got into this show a bit late (after Pokemania ended, because I was too young when it came out to appreciate it, but I still loved and cried watching the first Pokemon movie and the one cassette I had with four episodes, including Todd Snap's first episode--I think that first Pokemon photographer is why I love taking pictures so much!), but I got into it just as I went through big changes (the divorce of my parents) and trauma of my own, so I got very, very attached to the Team Rocket trio (especially Jessie), as they all had such tragic backstories, but they weren't one-note tragic characters who could never find happiness.

Especially with how Jessie lost her mother very young, being put into foster care by her very poor mother, and spent years being shifted from home to home, every career she pursued ended in failure, until she joined the same gang her mother was in (I don't know if she ever knew that)... but she found true friendship even in a dark place like that.

I also loved Iris and how she had trouble opening up to others because of what she'd been through; she was also a tomboyish girl who loved nature and didn't mind getting dirty and fighting, but also loved pastels, bows, and dressing up!

I also loved Trip and how much he changed from the sweet and happy child he used to be, to someone jaded and cynical and convinced he's an adult (but he's still a child... I also didn't think I was a child anymore at 12), how disappointed he was by meeting his childhood hero again, but also how he began to question what he previously believed and became a better person, even if he'd always be a little distant and awkward and won't be that child again.

I loved and related to Lillie feeling sad when her friends spoke about their mothers, when she rarely saw hers, when she lagged behind the others because her mother wasn't around enough to teach her things like how to cut vegetables, but also took credit for her learning things (in her absence!), the way her feelings were devalued if they weren't logical, so she'd insist any emotion she felt was rational or logical... she even named her Vulpix, in the dub, the same name I gave my cat around her age, a cat I had gotten after I'd just recovered from fearing touching cats (despite loving them since I was small, I was scared, after my mother's cat scratched me out of nowhere and scarred my ankle)! Her recovering the last of her lost memories and overcoming her fears was pure catharsis... beautiful to watch. To say nothing of finally finding her father and even being able to embrace a Nihilego as her sister.

I love them all so, so, so much.

[borealis-hopping]

((WARNING LMAO, this post turned out a lot longer than I thought it would, sorry. Autistic idiot rambles about Jack Stauber for multiple paragraphs.))

TLDR; Watching Jack get popular as a fan who was there before he went viral has been great, however, most people only seem to view his art as nothing but a vehicle for their own. Taking inspiration from other people's art for your art is wonderful and fine, however if you ONLY view someone's art as nothing but a vehicle for your own, it's not great. Doing so ignores the intention behind it, covers up it's original meaning, separates it from it's artist, and ultimately strips it of it's worth as an individual art piece, even if that wasn't your intention at all. ((Also pls listen to more than just the same 4 songs, he has a pretty big amount of music out there and it's all really good, give it a try and stop listening to nothing but "Buttercup"))

vv Thoughts below vv

________________________________

Look it's 1am so idk if I'll word my exact feelings on this as ideally as I'd want to but like, I have mixed feelings on the fan base that has formed around Jack Stauber's work.

While yes it is good he's getting popular, and yes it is good he's finding success after all his years of work, and yes I'm happy people are enjoying his music, I can't help but find the fan base that has formed around his music to be fairly disingenuous.

And by disingenuous I mean, most people don't tend to care about the art of the music itself, what any of it actually means, or the heart and intentions put into it, or really Jack himself. Now ik this makes me sound like a pretentious dickbag, but it comes from a place of care.

I love Jack Stauber's work because it's so interesting to me. Not cause "oh wow it's so weird and fucked up!! Jack must be such a fucked up edgy guy to make such surreal art LOL." But because of the amount of soul is in his work.

I think people are too fast to dismiss surreal art as meaningless or weird simply for the sake of being weird, completely missing any thought the artist put into it. Like, if you have the capacity to suspend your disbelief even for a second and look past his arts surreal aspects, you'll see just how /human/ Jack's writing and art is.

While I'm not generalizing EVERY thing he's made or is going to make, ultimately I think Jack's work is about humanity. Human struggle both internal and external, with relationships, grief, communication, and the complexities of self image.

If you pay attention to how he writes his characters, all the dialogue feels really authentic. Like yeah I can imagine passing a person in public who sounds like that or would say that, or I could totally see a person in that context talking like that. He seems to have a really good understanding of people.

The way he portrays them is honest but not nihilistic. They're just people, and sometimes people are a bit weird, or awkward, or just plain dumb. But they're still people and they're not evil for being that way.

Even in Jack's more surreal shorts or songs, if you pay attention to the lyrics and context clues, you can probably derive meaning from it that in one way or another is fairly human and sincere.

Ofc surreal art that is weird or funny or off putting simply for the sake of being so has plenty of worth as well, and I'm sure Jack has just had fun here and there making strange stuff for the sake of making strange stuff. (Think "Nerpo") and that's valid too!

But ig what I'm getting at here is that, more often than not the majority of engagement I see w/ Jack Stauber's work outside of his YouTube channel, is people simply using his work as a vehicle for their own characters or stories, or fandoms.

Now I'm in no way saying that doing that stuff is inherently bad. I do it all the time! Finding inspiration from other artists as a way to express and expand your own art is beautiful and extremely fun, HOWEVER-

That seems to be the /ONLY/ type of engagement there is. Which, sadly, isn't great. Using someone else's pre-made art, especially music, as a vehicle for your own fandom/art isn't bad, however, if you ONLY view that person's art as nothing BUT a vehicle, even if it's not your intention, you completely lose sight of the art you're riding off of. You separate it from it's artist, disregard it's original meaning, cover up the intentions behind it, and ultimately kinda strip it of its own individual worth as a piece of art.

Anyways! Enjoying Jack's work is good but I wish more people would appreciate his work for what it is on it's own, as well as who Jack is as an artist and look at his work with a more realistic and proper perspective even if it does look "weird" or "pointlessly creepy"

Also this is a bit more petty and just how I feel but PLEASE listen to more than just the same 3 to 4 songs. There's nothing wrong with having favorite songs or just listening to the same few songs from an artist and not exploring the rest of their work, and like idc if saying this makes me sound like a shitty hipster- if you're gonna do that just PLEEAASE stop walking around and telling people you're this BIG Jack Stauber fan when the only songs you listen to are "Oh Klahoma" "Coffee" and "Buttercup"

He has SUCH a big selections of tracks out there if you include both the extended and non-extended micropop songs, as well as his albums. My personal favorite album is "HiLo", it means a lot to me and is getting me through a pretty tough time in my life rn. I recommend ALL of his music! Even his very first album, and the stuff at the start of his YouTube channel.

There's even people trying to compile his "lost media" on SoundCloud. Old and unreleased music he never put on YouTube. It's a fun thing to look into if you feel up to it!

[princesssarisa]

For the character ask: Glinda and Dorothy (Wizard of Oz 1939)

Dorothy

Favorite thing about them: She's an all-around likable character; a nice, warm-hearted, relatable every-girl, whose "heroine's journey" is engaging and enjoyable to follow.

Least favorite thing about them: Hmmm... there's not much to dislike about her. Maybe that she tries to run away from home without considering at first how much her aunt and uncle will miss her and worry about her. But since she's just (approximately) a 12-year-old girl and desperate to save her dog's life, it can be excused, especially because she feels so guilty about it later.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I have brown hair.

*I'm sensitive and a bit of a dreamer.

*I love dogs.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I've never lived with an aunt and uncle.

*I don't live on a farm.

*I could never manage a long journey on foot in high heels (though maybe if they were magic, I could).

Favorite line:

"Someplace where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain..."

All the lyrics to "Over the Rainbow."

To Miss Gulch when she comes to take Toto away – a good scene to remember whenever critics accuse the screenwriters of robbing Baum's young heroine of her spunk:

"I won't let you take him! You go away, you....! Oooh, I'll bite you myself! You wicked old witch!"

To the fearsome giant head of the Wizard – more good lines to remember any time a critic labels her a weakling:

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, frightening him like that when he came for you to help!"

"If you were really great and powerful, you'd keep your promises!"

And of course, the iconic line when she first arrives in Munchkinland:

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!"

brOTP: The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and their real-world equivalents, Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke.

OTP: Safety and happiness.

nOTP: Any of the other characters; they're all too old for her.

Random headcanon: Her parents died in a fire. This explains why fire and smoke are associated both with the Wicked Witch and with the Wizard's initial frightening appearance in her dream.

Unpopular opinion: I don't think she's too much of a damsel in distress or a crybaby. Now, I understand why feminists complain that she's less spunky and no-nonsense than Baum's original Dorothy. But (a) she's older than Baum's Dorothy – it's natural for an adolescent-ish girl to be more emotional than a small child, (b) she's not without her own spunk – she still stands up to people who behave badly or threaten her friends, and even slaps the nose of a lion (not yet knowing that he's a coward) in Toto's defense, (c) Baum's Dorothy cries fairly often too – I don't know where the myth that she hardly ever cries came from, and (d) with all the danger and turmoil she goes through, I think she's entitled to a little terror and a few tears!

Song I associate with them: What else?

Favorite pictures of them:

Glinda

Favorite thing about them: Besides being such a kind protector of the Munchkins and helper to Dorothy, I like that she's a little bit ditzy in a funny way, or at least lacking in knowledge of humans and earth animals: e.g. asking if Toto is a witch. It saves her from being just a sugary "good fairy" stereotype. Also, her cheerful nonchalance in the face of the Wicked Witch's threats: true proof that in Oz, good is stronger than evil.

Least favorite thing about them: The fact that she knows all along that the ruby slippers can take Dorothy home, but instead of telling her, she sends her on the journey to the Wizard, putting her at risk of being caught by the Wicked Witch. "She wouldn't have believed me" is an awfully flimsy explanation why. Now, I don't think she has any dark ulterior motive – it's just the screenwriters' awkward patch-up of the plot hole they created by combining Baum's Glinda (who doesn't meet Dorothy until the end of the book) and the unnamed Good Witch of the North (who sends Dorothy to the Wizard because she doesn't know about the shoes' power) into one character. But if I could rewrite any part of the classic movie, it would be to change her explanation... maybe to say that Dorothy had to go on her journey to help her friends find their brain, heart, and courage and to destroy the Wicked Witch, as well as to learn that there's no place like home.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm female.

*I like to help others.

*I like pink.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I'm not a witch, good or bad.

*I don't have red hair.

*I don't usually wear sparkles.

Favorite line:

Her iconic first line:

"Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"

About Toto:

"Oh! Well, is that the witch?"

And to the Wicked Witch:

"Oh, rubbish! You have no power here. Be gone, before somebody drops a house on you, too."

brOTP: Dorothy, in a surrogate mother/daughter or fairy godmother/goddaughter type of way.

OTP: None; she's a happy, powerful single woman and this doesn't need to change.

nOTP: The Wizard or the Wicked Witch of the West.

Random headcanon:

(1) An "Oz is real" headcanon: Like Baum's original Glinda, she's centuries old and was in Oz long before the Wizard ever came.

(2) An "Oz is Dorothy's dream" headcanon: She looks like Dorothy's late mother. She might seem to be the only main character in Oz who has no counterpart in Kansas, but really she does.

Unpopular opinion: I wish more of the adaptations, spin-offs, sequels, etc. would portray her as a redhead again. She has red hair in both the original book and the classic film, so why do Wicked, Oz the Great and Powerful, and their like always make her blonde? Is it a legal issue with MGM, or is it just anti-redhead prejudice?

Song I associate with them: "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are."

Favorite pictures of them:

[ynscrazylife]

Hi there! Can I request a Percy Jackson x Daughter of Apollo!Reader, that's more hurt-comfort? I'm thinking that they're both 18-19 and bump into each other after their messy breakup when they were 15-16 and young and dumb and it's slightly awkward but they still both desperately love each other? Feel free to tie it up however you'd like! Thank you so much <3

This is my first PJO request so thank you so much! I hope that you enjoyed.

Note: Per the request this will feature a daughter of Apollo, but you should be able to switch it up in your head a little to match yourself if your godly parent isn’t Apollo.

ALSO there is a tiny bit of Annabeth bashing in this (I’m so sorry cause I love Percabeth) but know that this is just for the fic’s purpose!

Not Broken, Just Bent

(I feel like these lyrics sorta match their relationship so that’s why this is the title!)

Y/N had been fifteen years old when she had dated Percy Jackson for a year. And gods, it was the best year of her life. She had met Percy at Camp Half-Blood but they began Y/N had enrolled into his high school. She had been the daughter of Apollo and a mortal who knew of the Godly world, and she had dropped her off at Camp Half-Blood when she was born. So Y/N had never seen what life was like outside the boarder, but when she finally did, she had Percy there to guide her.

They had a fantastic time. He helped Y/N connect to some other relatives and they went to the beach together. It wasn’t long before they fell in love. However, when the summer rolled around, Annabeth came. Y/N had always been a little bit intimidated of Annabeth, but she also instantly recognized that the daughter of Athena had a crush on Percy. This stemmed the root of their breakup, as Percy was oblivious to her feelings. They soon got into fights, as Y/N was too oblivious to recognize that Percy was oblivious. She thought he liked Annabeth and he accused her of being jealous. It didn’t end well.

Since then, Y/N had “graduated” from Camp Half-Blood and was living in the mortal world. She hadn’t been there to here what Camp Jupiter was so she didn’t know she could go to New Rome. Percy, on the other hand, was healing from a couple months of being broken up with Annabeth. And as he did . . . He couldn’t help but think back to the woman before Annabeth. He couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing now . . .

So you could imagine his surprise when he was going to take his shift of patrolling the boarders and saw Y/N just barely past, having dropped to her knees. She was beaten and bruised and the very sight glued Percy to his place momentarily.

“Y/N?” Percy said, snapping back to reality. He thought that just for a moment that he had been imagining her because he was thinking about her, but he knew it was real when she let out a small cry of pain. The brunette rushed to her side.

“Y/N, what happened? You need to tell me where you’re hurt?” Percy said. He forgot all about how complicated their break-up had been and was only concerned about her well-being. There was worry glossing over his eyes as he didn’t know whether to take her arm or if that would hurt her, so he opted to putting a hand under her chin and tilting her head up.

Y/N’s eyes met his. She looked exhausted. “Monsters . . . They’ve been chasing me quite a lot recently . . . So I came here . . . One came out when I was almost at the boarder and I lost my sword . . .” With that, her head slumped forward and Percy grasped her shoulders as she passed out.

“SHIT,” Percy cursed loudly. He pushed her so she was still on her knees but upright, and then put his hands underneath her armpits. Percy then pulled her up with himself as he stood up, and maneuvered himself so at he was by her side so he could put one arm under her legs and the other around her back to pick her up. The Demigod did his best not to injure Y/N any further, and then took off for the medbay.

“WILL!” Percy yelled, bursting inside. The blonde teenager looked up and was alarmed to see his friend carrying his sister. Percy hurriedly explained what Y/N had told him, stumbling over his words as he was desperate. He was helpless as Will took Y/N from his arms and laid her on the bed.

“We’ll have to wait until she’s awake to give her ambrosia,” Will muttered.

“When will she wake up? Is there anything I can do to help? Is she okay?” Percy rambled out, glancing between him and his sister.

Will thought for a moment. “Can you grab some bandages? They’re in the back,” he said.

Percy nodded, nearly tripping over his chair as he stood up. He grabbed all of the bandages he could see and came back, basically shoving them into Will’s lap.

He then watched, tapping his foot anxiously, as Will wrapped her head which was bleeding and her wrist and ankle.

After finishing, Will stood up and got some ambrosia.

“That won’t be enough to heal all of her injuries,” Percy noted.

“I know, but if she takes too much then she’ll get feverish and we don’t want that,” Will said. “We can’t control what the ambrosia heals when she has multiple injuries, so let’s hope her head gets healed.”

Will put the ambrosia on her bedside table, and that’s when Nico burst in, out of breath.

“Training room - someone needs hurt,” Nico panted out, and Will nodded.

“Let me know when she wakes up,” Will said to Percy, and then added, “And take good care of my sister.”

Percy nodded and his attention returned to Y/N as Will and Nico left. He sighed, not left alone with his thoughts. He had realized when he held her and worried about her, that being in love with her never really went away . . . And that love was much more purse and heartwarming than his love for Annabeth. With Annabeth, he loved her, but maybe he wasn’t in love with her . . . Because it was difficult. He always worried about messing up or saying the wrong thing, but with Y/N, even if he was concerned for her, he remembered how comfortable it was to be with her, and how much she cared for him.

Oh, gods. He still loved Y/N. He was still in love with her.

He took a deep breath, and the only thing keeping him from beginning to freak out was when he noticed Y/N started to open her eyes. Percy waited with baited breath until she fully woke up and looked around.

“Percy?” She said, and he saw that she was confused.

“Hey,” he said softly, giving her the ambrosia. “A monster attacked you and you passed out. I took you back here - take this.”

Y/N nodded and took the ambrosia, shoving it into her mouth. After a couple of moments she groaned. “The dam ambrosia only healed my bruises and my wrist - not my head or ankle,” she said.

“If we give you anymore ambrosia you’ll become feverish,” Percy said, and couldn’t help but feel sad that she was in pain.

There were a couple of moments where they sat in silence, and that silenced allowed the awkwardness to grow like water allowed a plant to blossom.

“Thank you for, uh, taking me here,” Y/N said as their silence was creeping up upon a minute.

“Of course, of course,” Percy said immediately. “How have you, er, been doing?”

Y/N sighed. She was just going to go back to her normal life after this, so what did she lose in telling him the truth, anyway? Maybe she’d even get some closure from it.

“I know this is silly, but . . . I tried to move on from you and I never . . . Found someone that I loved and wanted to be with like you,” she was admitted, toying with the bed’s sheets.

She waited for Percy to tell her that he was happy and dating someone that was great and that he had moved on from her. So now it was Y/N’s turn to be surprised when he said the last thing she ever would have thought of.

“With you, today, I realized I still loved you, Y/N. I did date Annabeth after us but we broke up. You, though, you’re amazing . . . And you were right. She did like me. So I’m sorry about how our relationship ended - I’m sorry what I said to you. When you’re better . . . I’d love go out for coffee or something. Honestly, I never knew how much I was missing you until today, and I’m still in love with you, even more than Annabeth,” he told her, and that scared himself a bit. This realization came onto him so suddenly, but he was so, so happy when he did say it. He never stopped being in love.

Y/N looked over at him, her eyes widened. Seeing his smile, it was contagious. She smiled as well, and reached out to take his hand. “I’d love that,” she said, softly, forgetting about her pain.

Percy chuckled and squeezed her hand - and that’s when Will interrupted.

“Aye, Jackson! Lay off my patient, okay?” Will said jokingly.

Percy laughed and Y/N rolled her eyes.

“It’s good to see you, too, bro,” she said.

[watching-pictures-move]

Put On Your Raincoats #21 | Double Chinn Double (Double) Feature (with Hyapatia Lee)

By the time the '80s rolled around, Bob Chinn, best known for his collaborations with John Holmes (the inspiration for Boogie Nights), had been directing movies for over a decade. For much of that time, he'd been making them for peanuts (in an interview with the Rialto Report, he recounts being once asked to make a movie for five thousand dollars, which was handed to him in fifties on the spot), but in the early '80s, he was directing for Harry Mohney's Caribbean Films, working with respectable budgets (by porn standards). Some of these films starred Hyapatia Lee, one of the most popular porn stars of the era and one of the first contract girls. Now, I suspect these aren't necessarily the defining works of Chinn's career, and I do intend to get to some of his movies with Holmes. But Vinegar Syndrome had a sale and there were two double features of their collaborations going for dirt cheap, and because I am weak and foolish with money, they ended up in my cart and a few weeks later in my grubby little paws. How did this happen? Through the magic of Canada Post, of course! Anyway, what I found was that these didn't represents any extremes of artistic ambition. They were neither seeking to elevate the genre, nor were they hackwork. Rather, they represent a happy medium, movies that seek to deliver the genre's goods in a polished, diverting package. Slick cinematography, courtesy of Jack Remy. Catchy theme songs that wouldn't sound out of place if you caught them on the radio. Flashy titles. Lee recounted the atmosphere on set as one of professionalism and engagement, where everyone present wanted to do as good a job as possible. Chinn claims to have been losing interest in his work at this point, but the results onscreen are the result of confident execution by somebody who had been doing this kind of thing for years and knew how to put the production's resources to good use.

The first one I watched was The Young Like it Hot, where the operators at a phone company worry about being replaced by computers. To keep their jobs, they scheme to go the extra mile in helping their callers. As this is a porno, most of this help is sexual in nature, as when Rosa Lee Kimball stays on the line while an obscene phone caller played by Bill Margold finishes. (In an interview on the DVD, Margold says after shooting his scene, he was invited to record additional dialogue. Being the method actor that he was, he insisted on whipping it out during the recording session despite the lack of cameras.) Sometimes they are informative, as when Bud Lee (real life husband of Hyapatia at the time) explains why the perineum is referred to as taint ("cuz it taint cunt and it taint ass"). But the highlight of their efforts are Shauna Grant's increasingly life threatening home improvement advice to one poor sap played by Joey Silvera. Hyapatia Lee is ostensibly the star, and has a certain charisma, playing the supervisor, but this is really an ensemble piece, and she's joined by more experienced actors like Kay Parker and Eric Edwards. The latter I've occasionally found bland elsewhere, but he has a nice obnoxious quality that serves him well as the villainous manager whose idea it is the automate the operators' jobs. The movie reflects a very real concern (that's very much still an issue in the modern workplace), but overall this is a breezy, affable comedy.

A bit more serious in tone is Sweet Young Foxes, a coming of age story whose dramatic parts are more sensitively realized than I expected. The screenplay was written by Deborah Sullivan, Bob Chinn's wife at the time, and this is a case where a movie definitely benefited from having been written by a woman, and it seems like an earnest effort to capture the anxieties and yearnings of its young women protagonists. Lee moves closer to a real starring role, and is joined by Cara Lott and Cindy Carver as her friends, who aren't quite as strong actors as her but do have decent chemistry. I can believe they're friends even if their line delivery can be stilted. (That the movie has a good ear for genuine sounding dialogue also helps.) Kay Parker is especially good as Lee's mother, hitting some of the same notes as Taboo, and has a credibly emotional masturbation scene in front of a mirror that did not leave me unmoved. (In what way? That's none of your damn business.) This was shot by Jack Remy, the same cinematographer who worked on The Young Like it Hot. That movie looked nice and slick, but this one is a little more stylish, with the solo sex scenes in particular resembling magazine centerfolds. There's also some nice new-wave-ish music that shows up on the soundtrack, which I certainly didn't mind. I do wish some of the sex scenes didn't run quite as long (the previous movie kept them refreshingly concise) as I'd prefer more of the runtime was dedicated to the dramatic elements, but what's there is still good.

Body Girls goes back firmly to comedy territory, where Hyapatia Lee and the members of her gym are trying to win a bodybuilding contest despite a rival gym's attempts to undermine them. This comes in the form of a pair of schlubs in yellow tank tops who break into the gym after hours to sabotage their equipment, only to be foiled by Hyapatia and her girls who just happened to be having sex in the locker room as people do. Of course, despite Lee's attempts to teach them a lesson (which depending on your proclivities, may have the opposite effect), they don't give up, and during the contest threaten the judge at gunpoint. Not one to take things lying down (okay, poor choice of words here), Lee finds a way to influence the judge back in her favour. (The judge is played by Francois Papillon, bringing a dopey charm to the character as he fumbles through his lines in his French accent.) Her method is pretty ridiculous and certainly in service of genre requirements, but I did laugh.

Now, there's probably a dilemma in audience sympathy here as both Lee and her rivals are cheating, but Lee's methods are more agreeable and directed at the judge instead of her rivals so I guess we ought to root for her. She's also buoyant, charismatic and has a real star quality, and is joined by such fan favourites as Shanna McCullough and Erica Boyer, all of whom sport wildly different hairstyles. As can be expected given the exercise theme, most of the ladies have toned, athletic bodies (and given the decade, voluminous coiffures), with the exception of Tigr, who brings a wiry punkish energy that stood out to me despite her limited screentime, and she also performs the miraculous feat of making a mullet look cute. (I'd previously been moved by her work in Kamikaze Hearts, the great mockumentary about a porn production and her relationship with Sharon Mitchell. She didn't stay in the industry for too long, but I'd be interested in seeing more of her work.) The screenplay was written by Lee with her husband Bud (who plays the judge's assistant with an agreeable presence that's neither too alpha nor too schlubby) and is full of exercise-related dialogue. Most of this is pretty clunky and calling it wordplay might be a bit generous ("sexercise" features at one point), but I did appreciate the effort. Also as is requisite for the premise, the longest set piece in the movie is an orgy in Lee's gym with the various participants snaked around different pieces of equipment. I must note that one of the male actors resembles Barry Gibb and that Francois Papillon is shown to wear a tiger-striped speedo. Did I enjoy the movie? Yes, but not for reasons cited in that sentence.

At the end of Body Girls, Bud Lee suggests to Hyapatia, "Let's get physical", which is the title of the next movie. (Body Girls also features a character looking at dirty magazine with stills from Sweet Young Foxes and ends with a plug for some of these other movies, anticipating the MCU's narrative and marketing strategies by a few decades.) Now, all of these movies have had decent theme songs, but the one in Let's Get Physical has lyrics that are plagiaristically close to those of Olivia Newton-John's 1983 hit. (The delivery however is more shrill but not unpleasing.) This movie is a drama where Lee plays a dance instructor trying to put together a ballet performance despite her strained relationship with her impotent husband played by Paul Thomas. (In the interview I listened to, Lee speaks well of almost everyone she worked with on these films, with the pointed exception of Paul Thomas. If there was bitterness behind the scenes, it arguably helps their performances.)

Lee wrote the screenplay for this one, and unlike Body Girls with its surface level references to bodybuilding and exercise, the dialogue here feels packed with knowledge of the real thing, which is understandable given Lee's real life interest in dance going back to her childhood. (I looked up "Luigi jazz dancing" after finishing the movie and was pleasantly surprised to learn it was a real thing.) This movie goes all in on her star power, and features a number of dance numbers that seem genuinely interested in the form rather than just leering at the performers. (There is one scene where the song Lee dances to sounds suspiciously like "Beat It".) I did appreciate that the sex scenes were kept relatively concise and tied into the dramatic aspects, although in some cases, the choices made could be goofy, like the scene where Lee makes love to her student Shanna McCullough while Thomas, in a dramatically justified but still awkward gesture, watches from another room and jacks off. (I assume he's playing the audience in this scene. Also, McCullough's character remarks "I've never done this before" when going down on Lee, and yeah, okay Shanna.) Other highlights include a car stunt that may or may not have been lifted from elsewhere but still looks decently executed, as well as a dream sequence where Thomas (or his character at least) plays the piano and sings a song. This is held back a bit by the genre's demands, like when it places a completely superfluous sex scene at the end after Lee's reconciliation with Thomas, but on the whole this is probably the best one of the lot.

[male-readers-like-kpop-idols-too]

SVT Vocal unit: Falling in love With a Trans guy: Part 1

I combined a few requests because they were close. They may be a little longer so I split them. I'm tired and I dont want to half ass it

I was so upset because I spent about 2 hours trying to write for everyone and it was awful. Everyone was too much like another. Thank y’all for asking in and giving me a unit. 

Woozi

Woozi had the mindset of ‘It has nothing to do with me, as long as you're happy and doing what's best for you’ about (y/n) being transgender. He was still a friend before (y/n) told everyone the truth, but he didn't care. Jihoon didn't see the point in making a big deal out of it, (y/n) was still (y/n). Jihoon saw the way (y/n) looked at girls, how his eyes lingered on a beautiful or nice girl. Jihoon thought he was straight, Jihoon thought he was correct. But that didn't stop Jihoon from looking how (y/n) sipped his coffee/tea on their trips to the coffee shop, or how (y/n)‘s body reacted to stillness. Jihoon didn't want to believe that he was in love with his friend but it appeared that way. 

He was walking to the kitchen after waking up and saw the back of (y/n)‘s head, Jihoon knew that hair. In the other’s hand was a mug of the dorm and Seungkwan on his lap, half asleep. (Y/n) and a few of the other members we talking quietly, none of them could see the short, jealous man. Jihoon walked into the kitchen and got a mug a little angerly. He didn't want to believe that he was jealous, that would mean he was in love, with his friend. Jihoon was tired, he didn't know what he was doing. He put his mug down and spoke loudly, “(Y/n), Can you meet me in the kitchen?” Jihoon heard Seungkwan’s whines and he panicked. ‘Why did I do that, I have no idea what I'm going to do.’ (Y/n) came into the kitchen, his own mug still in hand. 

“What do need, Jihoon?” His brain was going haywire, Why did he do this? “I,” He stuttered, “I have feelings for you.” His once brave façade was gone, like the sleepiness he had when he had called (y/n) into the room. “I like you too, Jihoon. I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't like you.” (Y/n) felt like he was missing something. “No, Like you more than a friend. But I know you like girls, So I respect that and just-” (Y/n) had to stop him right there, “Jihoon, clearly what a person has in their pants doesn't bother me. I like a person for their personality and themselves, not if they're a guy, girl or anything else.” Awkward silence soon surrounded them, Jihoon tried to break it, “So, can we go on a date or what?” (Y/n) Tilted his head down and placed a smirk on his face, 

“How about our normal coffee place? I think the employees have been hoping for us to start dating for a while.”

Jeonghan

Jeonghan had been friends with (y/n) since high school. When he came out, Jeonghan had offered to show him some style tips, (y/n) responded by saying 'I'm not going to take advice from a guy who gets mistaken as a girl half the time. I'll ask Seungcheol.’ Jeonghan had his eyes on him before their friendship bloomed. He soon forgot about all about that as he realized how great of a person (y/n) was. Becoming Jeonghan’s friend meant that, sooner or later, That person will become with friends with all of Seventeen. 

Being a guy, Jeonghan thought that you liked girls. Like Jeonghan liked girls, he liked guys too but had never really explored that side of himself. He saw (y/n) and saw an opportunity. Jeonghan’s intentions were slightly skewed as he bonded with you greatly. As (y/n) became friends will his bandmates, Jeonghan became more stressed. He wanted to date (y/n) and if things went wrong, he could just drop out of his life. But his friends are friends with (y/n) now. Even with Jeonghan being your friend for so long, He couldn't tell if he was straight, bi or gay. Jeonghan was planning on confessing for a while now, but could never build up the courage to do it. It was a Friday night, in Jeonghan’s bed. 

A movie was playing on (y/n)‘s computer, they were both under the blankets. It was a romatic movie that was new and being raved about. The charters were engaging in overly sweet acts. Jeonghan’s hand crept over to the other's, his hand wound with (y/n)‘s. Jeonghan tried to focus in on the movie and not at (y/n)‘s burning glaze. He did notice that (y/n) didn't shy away, he held his hand and wasn't afraid of it. As the movie ended, (y/n) looked over to Jeonghan. “Jeonghan, Can I tell you something?” Jeonghan nodded, He was too afraid to look as their hands were still intertwined. “I really like you, more than a friend and by the way that you're holding my hand, I think I can say the same for you.”

“I thought I was being sneaky but I do like you. I would like to do this but much closer.

Joshua

Jisoo never thought he was gay. He never gave much thought of it. He didn't have anything against gay or transgender people. He knew they weren't widely accepted and didn't see why. His friend, (y/n), was a trans guy and made him understand even more. Jisoo was a strong ally because of him. Jisoo soon introduced (y/n) to the rest of his friends. He could see that (y/n) was getting along with his members. He was worried that his friends could or would say somthing.  Jisoo had a slow crush growing, he didn't notice it. It started with Jisoo having his arm around (y/n)‘s shoulders or waist, get each other their coffee from the café that has books and the soft chairs, or trying to play the guitar together. They were close friends but Jisoo could always tell that there was this underlying feeling. 

Jisoo had felt the look of (y/n)'s eyes on him. Jisoo often has those moments too. When (y/n)'s face mask was pulled down after a cold day, his cheeks pink from the cold and the slight bit of snow on (y/n)'s hair and clothes. Jisoo thought he looked ethereal. Another time is when (y/n) was wearing something he really liked, he got this type of confidence that made him look better. Jisoo had always thought that (y/n) was straight, he often positively commented on girl's clothing and fashion. He'd never seen (y/n) interested in guys other than to learn mannerisms from them. 

He could only imagine what the guy dealt with being raised the way he was. It was a weekend day at night, (y/n) had been playing his guitar and Jisoo had recognized the toon and started singing along softly. (y/n) had looked over and saw the way Jisoo was looking at the sheet of music. (y/n) could see the frustration on his face. He walked over to Jisoo on his bed and sat beside him. "Do you want a break?" Jisoo just shook his head to say no, (y/n) knew that he loved writing music but sometimes he forgot to take care of himself. (y/n) sat back and went on his phone. 

Jisoo looked up and saw that (y/n) had maneuvered around that they were shoulder to shoulder. (y/n) read the lyrics on the paper, it was a love song. Jisoo had frozen to see the other's reaction. The moment had a sense of romantic tension. (y/n) had slowly looked at him and slowly leaned in. Jisoo had the choice to go in for the kiss or pull away, Jisoo had been waiting too long to let this opportunity go. He leaned in and crashed lips with (y/n), a bit messy but the kiss was sweet. They pulled apart, Jisoo broke the silence but kept the eye contact,

"Please let us continue with this, just maybe like boyfriends?"

Joshua is bias wrecking me so badly rn

[thedeepdarktrashpile]

Ryden conspiracy theories/evidence/pls just be frens now...+ a short history of P!atd...(part 1)

DISCLAIMER I find all of this stuff on the internet so idk if it's yours just tell me and I will make sure you get credited anyways onwards...

Oh and another thing I don't hate Sarah. Sarah is a queen and Brendon and her are happy and I wouldn't want to ruin a happy couple cos that would be unfair anyhow oh and I also think it's important to have a bit of Panic! history that many people might not know about as it gives you an idea of the kind of time frame that im talking about also its intresting too.

And if u don't know what Ryden is (tbf idk why ur here but this will educate u) it's basically the ship name of Ryan Ross (ex guitarist and backing vocalist of panic!) and Brendon Urie (singer and last man standing)

Pre-Panic

Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith (ex-drummer of Panic!) have been friends even since they were little the photo below would prove this

They're so adorable 😊😊

In 9th grade they decide that they want to start up a band btw for reference Ryan and Spencer at that time attend (Bishop Gorman high school) and they invite Brent Wilson from Palo Verde high school to come and try out for bass along with another guy called Trevor they formed a band called Pet Salamnder this was when they were around 16 ish (They acctually still have a website for the band and you can go check it out if you want)

There some of the pics on the website but check out their bios as well because they made me laugh....

Here are some of their pics tho

Spencer and Ryan and the whole band together (Ryan😂😂)

Anyways don't really know what happened to Pet Salamander but in short they kind of lost Trevor (don't know correct me if im wrong but I think Trevor was the guitarist in the way things worked out it would make sense and I think there was another band they created in between these 2 bands but idk its not important) The band now needed a new guitarist. Brent who went to the same high school as Brendon told him he should audition for their band so Brendon did just that and became the guitarist. Orginally Ryan was meant to be the lead singer but Brendon then became the lead singer because they heard him do his singing and they though he was good. At the time especially Ryan and Brendon were having a hard time with their families and their education as they wanted to quit high school and as a result I think they both got kicked out of their houses . Brendon got a job at a smoothie shack to try and earn some money to pay for rent. He also would sing to people for tips. In other words they were hella broke.

Here is a screenshot from Ryan's livejournal (which he has now deleted) where Brendon would post underneath

I love ya' baby! wednesday. practice. be there of be....GAY!!

Brendon 😂😂

Anyways Ryan and Brendon started creating the demos for their album and Ryan decided to send them to Pete Wentz who was in the LV area recording under the cork tree with FOB. Pete listened to the demos and signed them up to his new record label decaydance after hearing them perform 2/3 songs.

I'm gonna leave you with some 2004 recording sessions this is filmed on a potato but is somehow high quality content of Ryan doing a this is our apartment tour its great

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So yeah that's cool and also hilarious in it's own ways (gay bars!! 😂😂)

AFYCSO era 2005/6

AFYCSO was released on the 27th September 2005 on that same day Ryan posted something in his livejournal (I'm not sure if it was just something to commemorate it being released or if he was acctually in a relationship at this time but here is what he put)

'Whisper babe...i'm as good as it gets in this town.whisper babe..i'm a fever you can't sweat out.These are my deepest thoughts and secrets under a microscope or spotlight.Forgive me if i'm not quite ready to give them to you.it's such a different feeling..when I see you smiling and singing back to me i'm still playing different pictures in my head that arn't so pleasent. I'm doing the best now to live in the song and not just the meaning.'

(Yes this could be about Brendon but when you read it again it dosen't sound like that at all it seems as if hes talking about the lyrics and the meanings of the songs of which have things he had to deal with in his childhood his dad being an alcoholic ect. But he tries to be happy with the fans who are smiling and singing and live in the moment not just the past)

Obviously AFYCSO became popular especially the song I write sins not tragedies came out but there's many different interviews and pic that i'm going to share below.

This is the one where Ryan says that Brendon washes his hair and he blushes red. It's adorable 😊

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Here is another 2005 interview by the same girl who thought Pete was called Jason 😂 but anyways it's old like just look at Ryan's hair he's in his troll phase still 😂

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This is another old interview that shows them acctually performing and only contain Brendon and Ryan talking about the band they're so awkward its adorable.

And here's a pic of them from a photoshoot

Idk but Brent looks so confused rn 😂

(Look at Brendon as well staring at Ryan...hmm..😉)

And here's an adorable pic of them together my bbs 😊❤

Look at them they're soo adorable ❤❤👌😊

Anyways 2006 is when it all became big for the boys who announced a tour and where becoming bigger than ever. At the end of 2005 to 2006 both Brendon and Ryan began dating scene queens Audrey and Jac. Pics below

Yup this is them together.

Idk when they breakup but they break up and some evidence that I've found online is very interesting.

Here is screenshots of chats that Audrey and Jac had online. The first picture shows that Jac is blaming Brendon for turning her bf (Ryan) gay

The next one shows kinda the same thing exept this time Audrey blamed Ryan for turning Brendon gay

Hmmmm... All very interesting I think....

(Note there's another conversation or so that I want to include in part one but it's way too long to put on this one post so i'm going to do a little post to finish off part 1. And also i'm obviously going to work on part 2 straight away but I just feel like the whole panic! and especially Ryden stuff needs to be updated abd i also find it super interesting as well. Also I feel I need to adress all the lyrics that could somehow lead to something to do with one another there's so much stuff out here and I need it all in one place cos im fed up of trawling the internet for all the theories and stuff never getting anywhere 😂)

[rndyounghowze]

The Wedding of Sophie and Sky set to ABBA Music hosted by Off Broad Street Players at The Levoy Theatre in Vineland, NJ

By Ricky and Dana Young-Howze

I was invited to a wedding of my second cousin twice removed, Donna Sheridan’s daughter last night at the last minute. I'm glad it was casual dress but I was sorry that I didn't bring a gift. If you get invited to this wedding at the Levoy Theatre hosted by Off Broad Street Players be sure to grab a drink at the bar (*see my note below), and listen to a slew of songs written by the Wedding Band, Abba. This wedding was directed by the wonderful wedding planner John T. Stephan and was a wonderful night!

Apparently my cousin Donna's daughter Sophie was getting married to a guy named Sky and wanted to get walked down the aisle by her father. Turns out though that my second cousin twice removed Donna hooked up with three guys a long time ago and they could have all been the father. So Sophie just up and invited all three of them. And they all showed up! How scandalous! It all went crazy from there!

Direction and Choreography by wedding planner John T. Stephan took on a real crazy undertaking and decided to go ahead and just make it harder. "Stage Mamma Mia with impressive vocals, amazing choreography, and a set that belongs in Disney World? Boring! I have to make it immersive!" I joke with John that he doesn't sleep ever. Well now on top of that I believe that not only that but he must have won a fiddle contest with the devil!

So let me tell you about some of the wedding party and the guests!

Sophie (played by Corrine Podolski) was such the stunning bride! Her voice has such a piercing quality and her acting chops have only gotten better since the last time I saw her!

Okay one of the crazy bridesmaids, Ali (played by Caitlin Geisser), was such a crazy good actress and it was really fun to see her again onstage! It was a great kind of role that I had never seen her play before. The other bridesmaid Lisa (played by Nicolette Barr) was also a great dancer and a great fit for the other two young ladies. Wonderful singing in “Honey, Honey”.

I could just not stop laughing at Tanya (played by Christina Fuscellaro). This is a woman who knows who she is and will run right over anyone who isn't ready for her. A very well seasoned performer! You just have to get to know this wedding guest!

Rosie (played by Kristy Joe Slough) had me dying right before the wedding in her rendition of “Take a Chance on Me"! It takes a lot of talent to be that deliciously awkward. Great job!

I really loved the performance of my second cousin twice removed Donna (played by Carmen Delia Bryant). She's got some mad pipes and can dance like she's got a fire within her soul! I've seen her many times on the Levoy stage but this time she has out done herself!

Okay some people would be tempted to say that Sky (played by Scott Bonerbo) is just too young to get married or mix it up with performers that are a bit older than him. They would also be stupid! He's a wonderful performer and I hope he and Sophie have a wonderful life together!

Pepper (played by Jerrod Ganesh) is really that greasy bartender we've seen at every wedding! But he really is a great dancer! Come watch him cut a rug!

Harry Bright (Played by Andrew Jarema) I've seen this guy play a lot of people before and this may have been my favorite role ever! So smooth and wonderful and if you know him you'll know that playing such a milquetoast man is such a feat for a guy who has played some really heavy roles in the past.

It's been a while since I've seen Bill Austin (played by Don Fransko) onstage and it was wonderful to see him again! He is just such a handsome gentleman and a confident performer! Great job!

I really appreciated the soul Sam Carmichael (played by Frank Dimauro) put on display. He allowed himself to be so tender and vulnerable and I was right there feeling it with him in his songs!

Okay again John Stephan assembled such a great mix of performers that I can't choose between them. So here's a collective background shout out to the entire ensemble of wedding guests and hotel staff. I have never seen an ensemble that is so cohesive and spectacular! Break a leg on the rest of the performances!

Special shout-out to Dance Captain Lindsay Nakai who must have danced her feet off for all these numbers! She has an excellent frame and masterful command of her young instrument. I've seen older dancers with less confidence and skill. Great work!

Music Direction by Mandy Milne led the nine piece wedding band through the greatest hits of disco icons ABBA! I really admired the work of the four keyboards in the band. Four keyboards!!! They were a hit!

It's really hard to do a wedding featuring an icon of the 70s but set in the early 2000's. But Costume Designer Katie Kiessling really nailed the vibe of both worlds with rich hues that just popped in all the heavy lights.

Again I'm looking at awesome hair and make-up by John Rattacasa (my theatrical good luck charm!) and it is totally on point! It's a big compliment to say that I couldn't tell what was a wig and what was really hair they were all so fabulous! I wish I was getting married all over again just so he could do me and Dana's make-up!

I really wish that there was a set for Set Designer Mary Boner to design but it seems like they just found a real Greek village that no one was using and got Wayne Wriggins and Tom Kiessling to airlift it to NJ and put it on the Levoy stage. This is too realistic to be a stage set. So sorry Mary didn't get to do anything this show. Well there's always a next time!

Lighting Design by Tyler Daddario combines a mastery of intelligent lighting and vibrant hues! I have a special place in my heart for good lighting done well and Tyler always has a even more special place in my heart as a great designer.

The lighting heavy on both awesomemess AND strobe lighting so please take the strobe and haze warning seriously if you're triggered by things like that. I too have a neurological condition and I'll let you know that there were times where it was hard for me to stay in my seat. I sat in the front row center so you don't have to. The wedding planner assures me it much less triggering in the back.

I have to give the sound designer of the year award to wedding DJ Sean Pedrick! I hardly ever talk about mic issues because every show I've seen has had some. They're just so prevalent everywhere. But this show had the smoothest sound and less issues than any show I've seen and by far this was the kind of show I would have forgiven several issues! Great job!

So apparently guys this wedding is going on multiple times at the Levoy and all of you are invited! You guys are really in for a treat. They've really out done themselves this time! And tell my cousin Donna and the other guests hi while you're there!

**Mamma Mia by the Levoy Theatre is a very immersive production of the Musical written by Catherine Johnson with music and lyrics by Benny Anderssen and Björn Ulvaeus which allows the audience to come onstage and mingle with the cast before and during the show. Characters will come out and talk to you. There is also heavy haze and strobe lighting being used. If you are very sensitive to such things and sensory overload I would recommend to sit near the back.