#i wish she would get cast in more dramatic roles

[yourlocalsmutwriter]

A dramatic overture - Bada Lee x reader

You were a bit of an unusual ballet dancer. To put it plainly, you were a bit of a fuckup sometimes. But wasn't everyone? Apparently not, according to your overbearing mother. And your choreographer, the infamous Bada Lee. How you landed in her troupe was a mystery.

Not only was she an insanely talented leader, she had been a phenomenal dancer beforehand. Other girls like Lusher and Tater flourished under her guidance. You, on the other hand still needed some work.

And that is exactly what you did. Day and night you practiced tirelessly. After all, ballet was an art, and weren't all the greats tortured and starving? You were eating still, the only pleasure you allowed yourself. The rest was wake up, go to dance, go home, and then repeat the cycle again and again. But your efforts paid off in the end.

And you had perfected your routine just in time for your audition. You were doing Swan Lake, a staple in the community for dancers and the audience as well. And of course, Bada wanted to put her twist on it. So at the end of the season there would be a special ''modern'' retelling of the plot, with all original choreography from her. You were excited. As stereotypical it was, you loved Swan Lake. It was the ballet that made you want to be a dancer in the first place. And Odile was your dream role ever since you were a child. So you tried to brush off your insecurity and worked for it.

You had been to the studio at such late hours that your parents started to suspect you had a boyfriend. You didn't have the heart to tell them that a boyfriend was the last thing they would ever have to worry about it. So you brushed it off and insted went in during your allocated dinner hours. And since you absolutely hated breakfast and really anthing early in the morning, you were down to one meal a day. It's not like you planned it and it wasn't affecting you that badly. At least thats what you thought at first. But by hour 4 of practice, you were exausted. You did a turn and felt your body go limp. You tried to break your fall in, but you still slammed to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Your fall must have been serious because Bada rushed in. You didn't even know she was in the studio then. You prepared fora lecture and her berating you on your stupidity and carelesness. But instead she let you lean on her and get to her office. There, you sat on a comfortable plush chair as she brought you a sports drink and an icepack. You were too tired to think about where her personal fridge was located and just how big it was. As your pain got lighter, you could focus more on what she was saying.

''And please, be careful. I see you work hard. But don't neglect yourself too much. The most important thing to focus on is your health. And as for the role, don't worry, there's plenty of roles, plenty of other shows.''

While she was right, you were stubborn. But you did not have a death wish, so you scaled back your practices by only 15 minutes, but it's the thought that counts. And also you started packing sandwiches. And little by little, it came time for auditions. Surprisingly, Odile was still popular, so you were up against the stars of your group. Still, they relied on their already existing talent and hadn't really bothered to memorize new techniques. And you had worked hard, building a completely new persona for your dancing. And that did not go unnoticed by Bada. So her decision was easy. Almost as easy as the way you cried tears of joy upon seeing the cast list. You had it. The role was yours. The pain was over.

Little did you know, the pain was just beginning. Now it was just a lot. while Odile was a background character most of the time, there was still her solo. And you dreaded it. Not only the dancing but also dancing with a man. It's not like you had anything against men. In fact, you were on good terms with most of the male members of the troupe. You just couldn't feel the necessary passion and attraction needed to dance with them. And you couldn't fake that love, even on stage for just a few minutes. But you managed. Bada had some minor critiques, which you corrected. And so the first cour of your performances began. Your choreographer had you do a limited summer run with the original production. Then, in the quieter ballet months you'd train again for her version of Swan Lake.

You were excited to play Odile twice. But little did you know, in Bada's version the cast would be all female. And you found out that last.

While you were on your last regular performance, she pulled you aside and told you there would be some changes to the cast list. She watched your face pale for a few seconds before adding that your spot would not change. And you swore she added a wink at the end, just to torment you.

Maybe it was worry. Maybe it was a stomach bug from all the supermarket sandwiches. But you were too sick to make it to rehearsal. You called your choreographer and almost tearfully apologized over and over again. Yet, Bada reassured you. Your role was not in the first acts anyway, so she'd focus on them now. But little did you know, she was simultaneously holding auditions. And she made sure to take down the new cast list before you return.

It was worth the hassle and the looks of bewilderment from the other dancers. Because she essentially saw you go through every stage of gay panic in the span of 5 minutes.

You walked in the studio, seeing her. She queued up the pas de deux music and walked over to the oposite side of the room. She stood on the blocking of your partner's position and motioned for you to take your place. When you were still frozen on your spot, she began explaining.

''We're in Bada's version now. And seeing how abysmall your chemistry was with the male leads, I made some changes.'' she said.

''If I was so bad, why didn't you say something. Why didn't you recast me.'' you questioned.

''You're a good dancer. And besides, it was just Swan Lake. I cannot be revolutional, I don't want to claim I can rewrite the story better. But making my cast all female of my own show, that's another thing. A modern retelling of a classic. With a strong message on how love isn't dictated by the gender binary. These tickets will sell like fresh bread.'' she explained

''And you're coming out of retirement to do this.'' you added, getting it now.

''Jackpot.''

''So you're doing this to get money.''

''I'm doing this for art. And to keep your fees from raising. Costume, set decor, rent on the studio, I'm guessing you don't want to pay that. Unless you do, then get in position.''

Her movements were so fluid. Additionally, she could lift you with ease. The thing is, every time she touched you, it felt like electricity was running through you. So you couldn't really focus and fumbled. Bada was a bit annoyed, but then she started over. Still, you were rattled. Why did this make you feel this way? Bada was attractive. But why would her appearance affect you so much? And now? So you continued to dance, pushing away the thoughts for some time. And it worked for a bit. You two managed to complete the routine. And did it again a few times again, to solidify it.

And then you did it perfectly. You would never use that word lightly, but it was true. It was a million times better than with your male partners. So you were confident that you would nail it.

''Okay, you have the energy now. Let's start learning the routine.'' Bada said.

You were confused. You knew your choreography, and you were wondering if there was a light misstep on your part. And then, Bada started a completely new dance. You wondered when she had the time to choreograph this. It was a completely different way of moving, looking more like a street style. You had never danced like this. But clearly, Bada had. She was so good, even better than with ballet. Was this on purpose? Or was it just her trying to showcase a skill? But why throw you under the bus? You could talk to her about it. Ask her to pull back on some moves, but still add that Bada flare. But you didn't do that. You just tried to copy her moves. You were a professional, so you could pick it up. And it's not like you picked up ballet in one go.

So you tried again. And again. And again. At first, Bada was guiding you very closely, being next to you, correcting your posture with her hands. After a few hours of that, she gets tired of this and sits down, just giving you oral feedback. That frustrated you. And the fact that she kept forcing you to practice over and over again. And at the end of the day, you were just tired and ended up just going home, with no progress on your end. The thing is, you tried again and again. You ended up having a sleepless night in order to get something done. And even though you were dancing like there was no tomorrow, there was little progress.

But you just kept at it. Rehearsing. Going home and dancing there. By the time you went to sleep, it was time to get up again. On days when you weren't training you'd just sleep and eat, calling it a day. You were becoming slovenly. Makeup and brushing your hair were becoming luxuries and so were laundry and showers. And the worst part is, you weren't improving. Street dancing was just not your thing. But it was everyone else's thing. Bada and the whole group could do it. Except you. You were the outcast again. And for no reason. It's not like you were bad at performing in your signature style. What pissed you off the most was surprisingly Bada. She was the incompetent one, not you. She couldn't lead you properly. You hoped she would help and you were called to her office at the end of the day. But instead, you got chewed up. Midway through her rant, someone stormed in, talking to her about a defaced poster and how it was going viral, but not in a good way. She excused herself and promised she'd be back soon. But 5 minutes past. Then 10. Then 15. And the whole time Bada's phone was buzzing with notifications. It was driving you insane. So you reached out to put it on silent mode. But something caught your eye. All the notifs were from a groupchat called TEAM BEBE and the picture was that of the troupe. So you looked at the messages and everyone was talking about you. Lusher, Tatter, even Cheche, they were all bad mouthing you. Making fun of you for the things, that were beyond your control. You had had enough so you just stormed out of there.

So you did the only thing you could think of. You dressed for revenge. First, you went to a salon to reverse the damage to your hair. Then you actually took time and booked a morning makeup session at the MAC counter, making sure to add a striking red lip. To top it all off, you decided to get some new clothes for the rehearsals. A few sexy and black pieces later, you had wiped out your salary. But none of that mattered.

While your transformation was already almost unbelievable, you knew it wasn't enough to shine to dazzle your so-called teammates. But the first person with a target on their back was Bada herself. After all, she was the one that got you into this mess in the first place. So you knew just how to make her regret it. But your plan wasn't exactly foolproof. And you were about to find that out.

First, you joined Bada in your usual practice room. It was surreal to see yourself reflected in so many mirrors while looking like this. You brushed it off. You began the routine and messed up horrendously, this time on purpose. You kept butchering it again and again until Bada stood up begrudgingly to help you. As soon as she got close enough, you pushed her back, watching her topple to the ground, her spine contorting into a graceful, sweeping curve. She was beautiful, even when falling. You wasted no time in straddling her waist, fully prepared to fight her. By then, she was fighting back too, trying to knee you, making you enclose your legs against her thigh. Bada pushes you back, but her hands meet your chest. And you fucking moan. She just raises an eyebrow and looks at you. Then she moves her hands to your hips, making you rock back and forth.

''If a good fuck is all you need to dance correctly, I'll give it to you princess,'' she said. You were about to protest, but she flexed her thigh and you were a goner. You let her take control completely. Bada made you grind your hips on her, to hump her leg like a horny pet. She snapped off the buttons of your leotard, so your bare pussy was rubbing against her. Your wetness was all over her black pants.

''Bada, I'm going to cum.'' with that your mentor bounced her leg up and down. You leaned towards her and kissed her as your orgasm took over you. She helped you ride it out and watched as you rolled over on the floor, panting and tired. Bada watched you for a minute and then said.

''Oh, my darling, I'm just getting started with you, so you better get up.''

Taglist: @withoctober

[rissararity]

Wrote a little fic inspired by this meme. Art is not mine!

Astarion/Half succubus bard oc. Cat calling, references to SA, comfort, friends to lovers, partners in crime, protective Astarion

Might eventually become a more put together fic, if it does it would be a slow burn friends to lovers

“Do we have any other takers? Any more bets? How about you, sir? Betting man?” the gorgeous bard beamed while she played a melody to raise anticipation on her lute.

“You know what? Sure.” The man tossed a couple gold into the pot.

The crowd cheered while Astarion gave a close lipped smile, eye fucking a couple of the women in the group.

A few more coins trickled in, clinking against the others.

“Now watch and be amazed as I throw this dagger, up to the second floor, it bounces handle side down off that, that then that,” he pointed to a couple of things, “and into the center of that barrel.” He announced with a flourish, parading around dramatically.

While he distracted the crowd, the bard cast a little spell to ensure he’d succeed. Astarion felt the power and confidence surge as her spell took effect, making a big show out of throwing the dagger.

While it flew through the air, Liv took the opportunity to pick a few pockets then make her way to the front before the trick shot was over.

As the blade hit home, the crowd was a mix of cheers and jeers.

“Aww better luck next time, friends!” She offered a supportive smile that hid the inward smirk she felt.  She validated a few peoples feelings and casually got each of them to walk away.

The bard scooped up the gold while the rogue retrieved the dagger. They smiled at each other for a moment before quickly and discreetly leaving the area.

To an outsider they’d look like lovers exchanging a look. But they knew they were shit eating grins of victory, and they were in fact not lovers, but 200 gold richer.

Each.

As they reached the end of the alley, they waved to Gale, who stood with hid arms crossed. “Again? Really?” he glared, falling into step on Liv’s other side.

“Oh relax, you benefit from the spoils too. Most of this ends up going to potions and gifts for you.” The half elf snickered, purposely hip bumping him.

The wizard’s glare softened and he ducked his head. “I suppose that’s true. But if you two get caught, you’re on your own.”

The elves smirked at each other, “Somehow I think we’ll manage.” Astarion turned his ruby gaze to Gale who rolled his own.

The men grew uneasy while the trio walked by a group of men who began to whisper after them, staring at Liv in particular. The vampire could have torn their heads off with his bare hands for the disgusting way they spoke about her.

Gale glared back at them, putting an arm around her shoulders protectively. “Honestly, Liv, we can’t take you anywhere civilized.”

“I’d hardly call this place…much less those meat sacks civilized.” Astarion agreed, now wishing he’d been the one to grab her first.

“I’m not doing anything on purpose.” She muttered, dropping her chin.

“Boo hoo, it must be so hard being effortlessly gorgeous.”  The vampire rolled his eyes.

“When I cant go anywhere alone without being hassled, propositioned or having wives threaten me for stealing their husband’s eyes-“ “And hearts.” Gale added.

“Right. A few of them did say that.” She pouted, “I know I can more than take care of myself but I get so…” she crossed her arms over her ample chest and shivered with a frown.

The group had noticed fairly early on she seemed fairly oblivious to the leers she got everywhere she went, and that  when she no longer was, the attention made her extremely uncomfortable.

She could flirt her way out of trouble no problem but was easily flustered and nervous if a man just started commenting on her body. It made a pit form in her stomach that stayed until someone else from her party found her.

Even Shadowheart had played the role to make the men think they had no chance.

She sighed, “And Astarion,” he looked at her. “You sound jealous when you say stuff like that. You’re too pretty to be jealous.”

Gale smirked as the vampire’s jaw dropped for a moment, blinking in surprise “I…er..um..you’re absolutely right.” He pushed his hair from his face and shook out his shoulders, “You passed the test.”

Liv rolled her eyes while the wizard shook his head, a small smile on his lips.

Red eyes grew annoyed as he saw this, prompting him to cross his arms and pout, “I’ll meet you back at camp.” He strode of into the masses of people on the street.

The pair laughed, keeping their leisurely pace.

“He adores you,  you know.”  Gale told her once their laughs became little giggles.

Her cheeks grew dark, “No, he would have made a move by now if he did. We’re just good friends.”

He arched an eyebrow, “Is that so?”

She mimicked him, raising her own and dropping her voice, “Yes, that is so.”

The wizard made a face, “You’re too good at that.”

Wind whipped her long blonde hair around while carrying her laugh.  “What can I say? I give a performance like no other.”

Liv yelped as a hand seized her elbow. “I bet you do, babe. Why don’t you come with me and give a private show?”

Her entire body froze as ice set in, eyes wide with fear as her legs stopped moving.

“I’m going to give you one chance to let go of the lady and be on your way.” Gale’s voice dripped with venom in a way she’d only ever heard in situations like this.

The barbarian sized him up then laughed, yanking her arm confidently, causing her to stumble closer. “Fuck off, mate. If you can’t defend your woman, don’t bring her outside.”

They couldnt go throwing magic in the middle of town, the creep knew that.

What he didn’t expect,  was Gale to cast a hold person spell, locking him into place.

He then gently unfurled the man’s fingers from Liv’s arm and put a protective arm around her waist. “You need to learn some manners. Best hope we don’t ever meet in a battlefield.”

The man’s eyes burned with rage as Gale pressed a kiss to the still shocked bard’s temple and led them back into the crowd.

She pressed herself into her companion’s side all the way back to camp, trying to match his breathing the entire way.

No one knew what caused this reaction in her, but they had an idea. None dared broach the subject and figured talk if and when she wanted.

Normally in battle, she was fearless and thoughtful. But when confronted with someone like that barbarian she locked up.

When they returned to camp, Astarion had already thought up a snappy quip-the perfect amount of sting and sass.

Unfortunately,  it died in his throat as soon as he looked over at them. One look and he knew.

Gale was softly rubbing her forearm, reassuring her while he led her to his tent.

The vampire frowned and exchanged a look with the wizard on the way.  He immediately regretted his hasty exit earlier. He noticed pursuers were more easily deterred when she was with more than one man.

Astarion silently crept over to listen, able to hear their magic friend leading her through breathing exercises. When she’d calmed down, Gale finally left the tent to get some dinner.

He was about to stand only for Shadowheart to beat him to it, heading toward Gale’s tent to comfort the half elf.

 Annoyed as he was, he knew for Liv’s sake that only one person could be with her at a time.

Much to his dismay, she stayed for an entire hour and a half.

He started to head over only to stop in his tracks when the tent door moved and Liv emerged, looking tired but otherwise okay other than her red cheeks and the fact that she used a spell to change her appearance to the one she preferred-the one that more clearly showed her half-drow ancestry.

Her skin kept its pink hue but her hair shortened to a pixie cut, blonde at the root morphing into silver tips that sat perfectly in place. Her blue eyes shifted to one bright blue and one silver. A ring sat in her septum above her lips that wore a coat of black paint, matching her winged eyeliner and eyeshadow.

Her pointed ears were dotted with two in her cartilage on both sides, and a silver ring on the lobe. She bore tattoos of solid black up her throat with flame-like tendrils licking at her jaw, a small flame adorning her forhead.

This was who she preferred to be. Who she felt the strongest,  and most confident as. It was also her defense.

The others knew not to be surprised or comment on what she decided to look like that day. The long blonde look was always used for public performances; it had even earned her the title “The Angel” by word of mouth.

Astarion thought she was perfect both ways, but he knew the other men liked The Angel, while Shadowheart and Karlach shared his adoration of who he dubbed the demoness, the little devil, and simply the drow.

She hadn’t noticed him,  and headed for her bedroll by the fire.

Astarion’s chest tightened as he realized he was too late to comfort her. If he hadn’t ditched her this probably wouldn’t have happened. They’d be sitting around the fire while she played her lute and told them legends and stories.

He should have stayed. This was his fault.

He should have stayed.

Jaw clenched,  he thought, I’ll never abandon you again, my angel. You have my word I will remain close at hand.

What he couldn’t see, was her small smile as their tadpoles relayed the message in his voice.

In fact, he'd been so distracted that all his thoughts of guilt and protectiveness were made privy to the blonde.

He didn’t know it, but they grew closer that night without him ever speaking a word.

--

The following morning when they returned to the little town of Hodge to continue their search for information. Gale noticed Liv go out of her way to insure they passed by the same intersection from last night.

It was fairly early and the roads were fairly clear,  blue sky above them.

As they neared it, Gale stepped forward and took her hand. To everyone’s surprise, she turned her blue and silver gaze to Astarion and held her other hand out to him.

Shadowheart pouted as the visibly confused vampire somewhat hesitantly took her hand and walked on her other side.

Liv squeezed both of their hands as they strode down the road like they owned it. When they got to the next street, she pressed a kiss to the back of Astarion’s hand and gave him a grateful look before letting go and repeating the gesture with Gale.

The vampire blinked in surprise as an odd fluttering feeling danced in his stomach, Gale’s cheeks darkened a little as he returned her smile.

He followed her blindly like they were magnetized, eyes wide as he tried to make heads or tails of this feeling.

Her still short hair shined like silver in the sun, contrasting the warm, sunny light from the blonde near her scalp. Even painted with dark makeup, she was breath taking-silver septum ring glinting back at him a top her confident smile.

Especially when she was exuding confidence like she now was, leading them through the streets to their first contact.

Her rapier carefully tucked into her overcoat, lute strapped to her back, she walked through intersection exuding joy once again.

Astarion’s maroon eyes stayed locked on her profile while he continued to remain at her side. Gale went to talk to Karlach, leaving the two side by side leading the group.

The vampire's eyes flicked down to her hand, yearning to hold it again; to feel her soft, dainty hands in his calloused but well manicured ones.

The butterflies in his stomach hadn’t quite settled down yet-he’d heard some young women gossiping recently and learned that’s what it was called.

Though if it meant what they insinuated it did he refused to believe that was what was happening to him.  

He supposed Liv was pretty enough…oh who was he kidding?  They didn’t call her The Angel  for nothing. She was beauty incarnate, in both of her forms. Her movements were naturally elegant and graceful, her acrobatics during battle were unreal.

Everywhere she went an air of lavender and vanilla followed. You couldn’t be in a bad mood when she was around-he would know. He tried.

She was exactly what Cazador would have sent him after.

At that, he looked away from her shamefully. He didn’t deserve to walk beside her, figuratively or literally. His steps slowed so he could merge with the others but this stopped when her hand brushed the back of his – making his breath catch for a moment as sparks shot up his arm.

She caught his eye and winked, a small smile on her soft lips.  “Walk with me, Astar.”

He was about to scold her for the nickname but for some reason from her he didn’t mind it.

“Gale holds your arm through town.” He murmured quietly as they walked.

Her cheeks darkened, “So he does.”

“It’s only fair-rr- I mean….proper.” He collected himself. “It’s only proper that a lady gets escorted.” He raised his chin, keeping his eyes ahead.

“Of course.”

“After all, you tend to get sidetracked and lost.”

“Sounds like me.”

“Hells forbid you see a cat!”

A  little annoyed now, she glared, “Are you gonna do it or what?”

“Of course I am, don’t be stupid!” Came his rushed reply just before he almost aggressively looped arms with her like Gale often did.

Behind them, the entire team silently laughed. Gale crossed his arms over his chest, batting away Shadowheart to pretended to try and loop arms with him. He turned away from her and glared playfully before pushing her into Karlach who caught her then gave her arm a reassuring pat before going back to minding her business.

Astarion glared venomously at any one that looked at them too long, thankfully only a few people due to her still being in little demon form. He felt like her bodyguard, and as such had to be the scary dog that made outsiders keep their distance.

And unlike most bodyguards,  he actually HAD bite.

Meanwhile, Liv was blissfully unaware of the mission he’d given himself, waltzing down the street casually.

When they arrived at their agreed upon meeting place, Liv wanted to go in alone but the entire group was quick to shut that down.

“Just in and out-it’ll be quick. Everyone leaves happy, no big deal.”

Astarion’s lips quirked up in a grin while he held his laughter, little sounds sneaking out. Karlach immediately began to belly laugh, drawing the attention of a few townspeople. Gale sighed and shook his head while the bard looked at him oddly.

“Sweet summer child.” He pressed a patronly kiss to her temple and hugged her cheek to his chest for a moment.

With knit brows, she let him hold her for a moment. “Anyway, any alternative plans then?”

“Well, you aren’t allowed to go anywhere alone so write that down.” The vampire rolled his eyes, missing her little smile.

“Our best bet here is to not arouse suspicion, and to appear as normal as possible to blend in. I think Liv and I should go in together,  since we look the most like the locals." The wizard spoke up.

“Human, you mean?” Shadowheart asked, crossing her arms at the other half-elf.

“And not head to toe in armor. Not exactly common garb in these parts.”

She relented, “Liv and I could go. Two women won’t look odd and I’m sure she has an outfit I can borrow.”

Gale gave a snappy retort, angering the Cleric. They bickered over who was going in with Liv until Karlach  physically turned their heads to show them Astarion had already whisked her away and toward little café, both in all their silver headed glory.

After casting an apologetic look over her shoulder, she spoke “You didn’t ask me to put on the angel.”

He paused, “I’ll never ask you  to change, darling. However you feel best is how I want you.”

She squeezed his arm, smiling up at him while he avoided her gaze.

Luckily everything went according to plan for once and they got another lead.

Before they returned to their team, waiting in the distance in the town square, they decided to slip out the back door  to see if they could make a few extra coins.

Liv put on the angel to aid in the con on her own accord, excitement in her stomach as she and Astarion approached a small group of people already with a game in progress.

---

“Where is she? I need to see her.” Astarion pushed past Shadowheart and headed toward Wyll’s tent.

“She’s going to live. Don’t interrupt her healing session. It’s…private.” She trailed after him, wishing Wyll hadn’t taken some personal time away so he could cast a hold spell.

Ordinarily  Shadowheart was stronger than Astarion, but now he was in a protective rage, eyes blazing like a wildfire as he sought his little devil.

This fueled him to overpower her, tugging free of her grip and delivering a sharp shove that sent her on her ass, blinking in shock.

He entered the bubble of silence cast around Gale’s tent and froze as he recognized the sounds of lust and sex, as well as the all to familiar scents that went along with it.

His blood ran cold as he hid and peaked in. He knew what to expect but was still aghast when he saw Gale on top of Liv.

Liv’s nude body was dotted with scrapes and bruises from their last fight, her head lulled to the side, eyes half open. She didn’t react much to the wizards deliberate, confident thrusts, her breasts bounced in recoil to punctuate each one.

Gale bit his lip, brows knit as he began to speed up. Liv's shallow breaths along with a few gasps softly joined the other sounds.

Astarion felt rage like never before and had the biggest urge to reach straight through Gale’s back and pull out his still beating heart.

But he knew that was a bad idea.

Liv’s head turned to the other side and she accidently met the vampire’s eyes, her own going from half lidded to wide, cheeks ablaze.

Feeling much like a scorned lover,  though not sure why, he silently sneered at her and left.

--

The following morning, the air was tense between the two troublemakers-Astarion and Liv.

Gale hadn’t noticed him, and she hadn’t told him.

She avoided her rogue as much as possible without drawing attention, seeking a distraction.

Otherwise back to her normal self, she pulled her violin from her bag of holding  and began to play an upbeat jig, a smile on her face as she watched Karlach and Wyll prepare breakfast.

Gale and Shadowheart clapped in time with the music, smiling and enjoying the morning.

His eyes narrowed at Gale as he approached, considering how he could catch the wizard’s robe on fire, stopping short to watch the end of the song.

Liv hesitated a bit upon seeing him, but being the professional she is, she didn’t let it hiccup the song. Gale noticed the jovial mood in her eyes dulled, and used his tadpole to connect to the vampire -immediately realizing what had happened.

The bard finished the song with a flourish of her bow then bowed for the applause  that came from everyone that didn’t drink blood.

Gale connected to Liv for a moment to see if she knew, appreciating that she told him the truth and didn’t make him search her memory.

I think it’s time to tell him, Angel. He’s the only one that doesn’t know and he’s clearly upset.

She sighed, I have to, now. We can’t keep going like this.

He gave a short nod, then made an excuse about wanting to show Liv how to feel the weave so they could both go into the woods together.

They were correct in assuming Astarion’s jealousy would have him tailing them.

Once they were away from camp, his body froze mid-step as Gale cast a hold person spell on him.

The pair turned around and headed over to him, ignoring the slew of curse words falling from his fangs.

“What in the hells do you think you’re doing?!” He growled at last.

“We need to talk- and by that I mean you need to listen. We can’t have you attacking Gale or running off before we explain.”

He glared at her, inwardly annoyed that the passing breeze carried over her lavender scent.

“I’m not sure what I saw other than the two of you acting like a couple of randy teenagers.”

Liv crossed her arms, nodding, “That’s exactly why you’re stuck right now.”

Gale’s lip quirked up for a moment at her flat tone before he spoke, “That’s all you saw? Are you absolutely sure there was nothing else of note?”

“Gale, darling, I’m not going to comment on the size of your staff if that’s what you’re fishing for.”

The wizard blinked in shock, blushing,  “No! No that’s not what I meant.”

Standing slightly behind him, Liv giggled, cutting herself off when Astarian glared at her again.

“Think back. Really think-I’ll even help you.” She cast a focus spell on him while he huffed and closed his eyes.

His mind’s eye took him back Gale’s tent, his eyes glued to the scene before him. Liv looked exhausted from their last battle. Her body was scraped and bruised here and there and bags sat under her eyes.

Her baby blues lacked the spark they usually held.

The vampire knit his brows, growling at the other man. “Did you do something to her?”

Gale’s jaw dropped, Liv spoke up and vehemently denied it.

“It’s not like that either. I look right as rain today, right?” she gestured to her face- bright and clear as always.

He nodded.

“You know I’m a half elf, right?”

“Of course. Drow-correct?”

Liv smiled, happy he remembered that given her normal, warm and sunny appearance. “Right. Well…it turns out…the other half wasn’t human.”

“I’m sure you’ve noticed Liv is much more adept at magic than a normal bard…hells I’ve been trying to convince her to let me train her as a spellcaster…”

She rolled her eyes.

“Anyway, the other half…my father…was an incubus. So…I’m half elf half-“

“Succubus.” Astarion sneered, “It all makes sense now. The power you hold over others with the simple toss of your hair.”

They waited to see what he would say next, giving him a moment to think.

“That’s why you look so much better than you did…last night.”

She nodded, “I seem to have an odd mix of traits and abilities. My little demon appearance can’t be washed away by any manor of magic because it’s still real. When I take after my father, I become the angel. But my mother was the drow.”

“It doesn’t trigger my detect magic ability either.” Gale added, “Because of her half succubus nature, every week or so she needs to be…reset, or she gets sickly and weak.”

“That’s why she’s gotten so much stronger since the began traveling together.”

Liv blushed and shuffled her feet, “Look, I’m really not as smooth as I pretend to be-its an act.”

The vampire was quiet for a long while, “So when you say you cant sleep alone-“

The half elf gasped, “Not every night! God’s Astarion I’m not an animal! Gale told you…once a week. I try to hold out for as long as I can though…” she looked down, “I know it’s a big ask. More often than not I just need to cuddle.”

Gale patted her shoulder, a kind smile on his lips. “I assure you it’s no toil for us. I admit it can be difficult when you’re…in rough shape but knowing it’s the best way we can help you-“

“Mmmhm nothing to do with the fact that you get to have sex with her, I’m sure.” The vampire cut him off, winking when he was done.

The wizard’s warm brown eyes widened, cheeks darkening-it was certainly not a chore, but an honor.

Liv quirked an eyebrow at him, stifling a laugh and trying to force the corner of her mouth down.

Astarion relaxed as he watched her reaction to this. His jealousy faded as he realized for Gale, and hopefully Wyll, this was a friends with benefits situation, not a romantic relationship.

“Oh do let me go now. I’m listening.”

After a nod from Liv, Gale released the hold spell.

Astarion straightened himself and pushed his hair back, shaking off the stiffness. “The girls were already aware, I’m assuming?”

Liv nodded. “Unfortunately, my succubus healing only seems to kick in with men. I guess I need a…bridge to transfer.”

“You had sex with Shadowheart?”

Gale raised an eyebrow, “You tried to.”

“Well yes, but for a different reason. It’s not the same.”

“If anything, my reason is better than yours.” Liv glared.

He tilted his head, “Is it? Who’s to say? Besides, it only makes sense to gather as many…potential healers as possible and keep one on hand at all times. It was smart of you to try, since the two of you normally pair up when we split.”

Silence for a beat.

"Though I must tell you, I thought we were closer than this, little angel.” He turned to her. “Why was I the only one left unaware of your…condition? Did you not want my…” he gestured to his body, “help.”

Gale turned to her, too, curious.

The bard blushed, keeping her eyes on the ground. “We've always been great friends and I didn’t want to risk making it weird.”

“So you didn’t think it weird to proposition your companions weekly to steal their energy when they orgasm?”

Silence.

“It's really not bad. One sip of a health potion and you're back to rights.” Gale defended her.

“Alright, well,” he approached Liv, who shyly looked up. “This doesn’t change anything between us, darling, not if you don’t want it to.” He tilted her chin with one finger. “But if you decide you do, I assure you I’m more than capable of not treating you any differently if we slept together; dearest friend of mine.”

Her cheeks blazed, lips parting in shock. Gale rolled his eyes and looked away while the two had a moment.

He knew his friendship with Liv was clearly different than whatever it was she had with Astarion, so hearing her admit that hadn’t stung like one might expect. It was no secret the two had more in common, more laughs and a knack for getting in and out of trouble.

Gale, as well as Wyll, knew what this was.

Giving the half elf a wink, Astarion turned around and headed back toward camp.

She didn't ask for his help yet, but he hoped she would.

And when she did he would be whatever she wanted him to be; a simple friend with benefits due to a caring heart and sense of obligation or...maybe...

Well he wasn't sure but he was looking forward to her helping him find that out.

[rudikawhy]

It's been two months and five days since I've started Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Today, I finished the very last episode. (I know I'm making this more dramatic than it is, but idc)

So, it's been a lot. So many good, great things, but also a lot of weird, disturbing things. Characters I loved all the way through (Hunter, Piper, Davis, Sousa, every Koenig (I think)); Characters I almost loved all the way through, except for a few episodes where they made some choices I didn't agree with or so (Fitz, Simmons, Bobbi, Coulson, Daisy, May, Deke, Enoch); Characters about whom I wouldn't say I loved them but I still liked them very much (Mack, YoYo, Trip, Mace, Flint); Characters who weren't exactly the good guys but still were somewhat likable to some extent (Ward, Radcliffe, Cal, Gordon, Jiaying, Sunil Bakshi, Robbie, Kora), and of course Characters who were written to be hated (The Malicks, Garrett, Whitehall, Lucy Bauer, Ellen Nadeer, Ivanov, Kassius, the Hales, Izel, Sybil) and everyone who I don't know in which category to put, or what to name their category.

I am so glad, that the phase in season five where I couldn't stand Daisy, was over as soon as season six started. I was surprised by how MUCH I loved her in season seven.

Season six was definitely my least favorite (and of what I've read I'm not the only one with that opinion). But I can't say it enough, how much I loved the parts in space of Piper, Davis, Daisy, and Jemma (and later only Daisy and Jemma) searching for Fitz and Enoch. I can't think of one single moment right now from that space part, that I didn't like. But I really hated Izel and this whole shrike thing, and Sarge and his team, so I was really glad when season seven started.

Because season seven started off just absolutely great! I already said that I loved their clothes. Sending Jemma in as Peggy Carter in the 50s was perfection. Daisy saying she already has a sister to save, her name is Jemma Simmons. May falling through the ceiling, punching Sybil and saying "The Cavalry". Fitzsimmons naming their daughter after a star. Piper's wish from Jemma being getting Davis back. The team meeting up (at least) once a year to catch up and not losing each other. All of that is perfection.

There is so much more I want to write about, but first, I can't put everything into words (right now), and second, this post would be way too long.

I am so glad that I started Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and I'm even more glad that I continued watching even though the first five episodes or so didn't convince me at all, and at first I only stayed because of the characters.

I am thankful for everyone involved, but especially those who decided that these wonderful actors would get the role they got, because honestly? I couldn't have asked for a cast that was more fitting.

I will start re-watch soon (at least in parts), because friends of mine started watching, but I have yet to convince them that it gets better than it currently is (they are in episode four).

[wonderinc-sonic]

Part 2! @primeministerofantarctica

Doylian

👍 What do you like about this dynamic?

I mean everything? The sincerity, and the sarcasm. The fact that they're not saccharine in such a wholesome cast makes them feel really really genuine to me. I like how different they are, I like that their dedication to eachother is mutually beneficial. I like that they're so unlikely, and they love eachother so much anyway.

I like that they're going to end in tragedy. I like that they're forged in tragedy, experiencing a brief sunlight, and then it's going to end. And it's going to hurt so bad. I like that it'll have been worth the pain.

I like that neither Rouge nor Omega is some hacked on call to Maria. They had their appeal on their own. I like that Shadow and Omega are nothing like Rouge, and they make her shine for being unique in a way she could have been lost had Sega done the other plan of put her in Team Rose. I like that Omega has never been made to change from who he is to be loved in Team Dark.

🔍 What do you read in them that you wish more people thought/ knew?

I don't think they have to be sibling coded. So often I see them written as Big Sister Rouge, Dramatic Middle Child Shadow, Chaos Gremlin Baby Omega. And that's okay, but it undersells all of them: Omega is actually pretty wise, both in first instance and now. Rouge is perfectly welcome to be chaotic and silly, Team Dark doesn't rob her of that in canon. And Shadow has both innocence and wisdom that we shouldn't forget about. They are more complicated than the roles we try to fit them in.

🔄What would you change about them, if anything

Bring them back :( but also on their own solo adventures. I want to see more of these characters in settings they don't normally go to. IDW has given us a few, get them outta their box more!

🐜 What's your smallest headcanon for them?

Omega involuntarily plays a few little tunes. They think it's adorable, but they've helped him turn most of them off because they embarrass him. Some examples:

Happy Birthday on Eggman's birthday. He was at Sonic's party when it happened, and it's a cutesy little jingle. He was mortified.

When starting up. He doesn't actually hear this one, as it's before the aural processor is booted. But Rouge often parrots it back (dun! Dun-da-da-dun, ding!) And he doesn't love that.

When he's surprised he bings. He mostly overrides it but sometimes they sneak through

When he's done something well sometimes the little *baba bing!* comes out. Shadow and Rouge also copy this one when he does it.

And there's a free space in here, so have a random headcanon:

Once a month, they have a scheduled day off from eachother to do their own thing, a tradition set up by Rouge when they had the teething problems of being a new team. This gets logistically awkward when they're on a mission together, and they often fail, but its become a meme. They'll spend their whole day off - on which rhey might be stuck on a rocket together - saying things like 'if I were speaking to you today, I'd ask you to pass the salt' 'UNIT IS NOT SPEAKING TO YOU. UNIT IS SLIDING SALT FOR PERSONAL GOALS.'

Thank you for the ask!! Prompt game is here!

[jakesuit0]

The Creeps Review

The main appeal in “The Creeps” are the interactions between Finn, Jake, Princess Bubblegum, BMO, Lumpy Space Princess, and Cinnamon Bun. It’s not a combination of characters we see much of. Like, apparently Cinnamon Bun has a crush on LSP. How cool is that? Him hitting on her is really funny and something I wish the series kept as a running joke. They also all have funny names for their alter egos, two of which refer to either farting or the lack thereof. I love everyone’s unique costumes, especially Princess Bubblegum’s. PB has a really nice swan shaped mask, a reference to her pet swan. LSP actually looks pretty for once in her red dress. Cinnamon Bun, the dumbest person in Ooo, wearing a top hat and monocle like he’s a scholar is hilarious. BMO looks cute, and Finn and Jake look rad, especially Finn’s wolf mask. The costumes, in addition to the haunted house plot, make this the closest Adventure Time has come to a strictly Halloween episode. Halloween doesn’t exist in Ooo, but they could’ve totally called it one like how “Holly Jolly Secrets” does for Christmas. The episode could have gone further with its cast selection. I like all the picks, but not including Marceline is a big missed opportunity. She loves pranks and her character fits the spooky atmosphere. Not sure why she’s never able to play supporting roles in the first half of the series unlike the rest of the cast. Tree Trunks would have also been a good addition. 

The episode reuses the murder mystery plot from “Mystery Train”. They lampshade this, with Jake accusing Finn or pulling a prank like he did in that episode. It’s nice having the characters casually mention events from previous episodes, which is still rare for the series. I think the characters and atmosphere differentiate it from “Mystery Train” enough, and even elevates it to a better episode. This also foreshadows Jake’s knowledge of Finn’s initial attempt at a prank. I like how it sets up a “who’s pranking who” mystery. Jake and BMO go off on their own. They have a conversation that some people don’t think makes sense knowing the episode’s twist. I give the writers more credit than that. Jake asks BMO if Finn is pranking him, because for all he knows, Finn could have hijacked Jake’s hijacked prank. And Jake screaming at BMO’s capture is just for dramatic effect for Finn’s ears. I like BMO’s speech in this scene, which is a bit iconic. It’s always heartwarming when BMO tries to cheer up Finn and Jake, and he’ll use his philosophy here to console Jake again much later on. 

We get a couple more great gags. Finn throwing PB off the railing is so wacky. Hearing the sound of a flushing toilet after LSP’s screams of agony is hysterical. I love her outburst where we find out why she and Brad broke up prior to “Trouble in Lumpy Space”. A “real ghost” appears, making Finn admit he was pulling a prank…up to this point. The melted Cinnamon Bun and BMO’s remains in the closet look very uneasy. Jake’s hijacked prank is very well done. He must have swapped the painting for the one with LSP in the darkness. Jake gets snagged by the ghost (more death foreshadowing), leaving only Finn left. He encounters a ghost lady, who has a fantastic and creepy design. He escapes, and sees the ocean waves crashing against the mansion outside. Seeing the ocean, his biggest fear, represents how traumatizing this whole experience is for Finn.

Jake, of course, was behind this. Lady Rainicorn was dressed as the ghost, and she talks about having sex with Jake in Korean. Sometimes I forget that she’s as much of a freak as Tree Trunks. I love LSP claiming she’s ready for Brad, even though that doesn’t come to fruition. I guess he’s moved on with Melissa. This is probably LSP’s funniest appearance in the series. Finn finds out that Jake wasn’t behind the ghost lady, leaving its identity a mystery for now. It’s not something that necessarily needs an explanation, as ghosts do exist in Ooo. I bought into the popular fan theory that she’s the ghost of Finn’s mom, which of course isn’t the case, but it was a cool idea. Finn puts his memory of her in his vault. He can suppress his traumatic memories at will!

Grade: A

[muchadoabout]

Don Carlo at the Bavarian State Opera

Music Direction Daniele Rustioni Producer Jürgen Rose Don Carlo Charles Castronovo Elisabeth of Valois Maria Agresta Filippo II John Relyea Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa Boris Pinkhasovich Princess Eboli Clémentine Margaine The Grand Inquisitor Dmitry Ulyanov | 28.07.2023

The grey and gloomy weather did not hinder the enthusiasm of the audience at the Bavarian State Opera, where they gathered to witness Jürgen Rose's masterful production of Don Carlo. I only managed to secure a standing place for this sold-out production. Nevertheless, it turned out to be an excellent location at a very reasonable price. My view remained mostly unobstructed, making it a better experience than the more expensive seat I had in Zürich.

The staging was simple, kept minimal for most of the time. The first scene started in the dark Fontainebleau forest, with a giant crucifix serving as the centerpiece and a constant reminder to the omnipotence of the catholic church in the storyline.

The best part of the staging was the auto-da-fé scene. The condemned heretics were tied up on a woodpile as the crowd sang the chorus. A red carpet was rolled out, welcoming the royal procession, followed by a parade depicting the Via Dolorosa, and ending with the presentation of La Pietà. The final scene of Act 3 peaked with the burning of the heretics (with REAL fire), which is often cowardly omitted by other productions. As the curtain dropped, it was greeted by a rapturous ovation from the audience (including me!).

It was a powerhouse presentation by the cast, but, in my opinion, the best performance award would go to Relyea as Filippo II. His commanding presence and emotive singing dominated every scene he was in. While Don Carlo is the title character, Filippo gets the best moments in the opera, from his iconic soliloquy to the duets with the other characters. This version also featured Lacrymosa, giving another opportunity for Relyea's Filippo to shine. I spoke to a young audience member during the intermission (we were probably the only ones who were still under 30). This was his third time seeing Don Carlo, and he said Relyea performed even better in München than in Covent Garden.

Castronovo and Agresta were solid as Carlo and Elisabeth, respectively. During the Fontainebleau duet, they constantly moved around the stage as if it was a rehearsed dance choreography, but it never looked unnatural.

As much as I was disappointed by Tézier's withdrawal, Pinkhasovich was still a top-class replacement. The audience went wild at the end of his bromance duet with Castronovo's Carlo. Ulyanov delivered exquisite vocalism as the Grand Inquisitor, although he sounded younger than Relyea's Filippo. I don't want to label Margaine as the weakest link here, but I wish she had put more subtlety in her attempt at hitting those high notes. Nevertheless, she was dramatically excellent in the role of Eboli.

TL;DR: I would stand up for 4,5 hours all over again for this production and THIS cast!

[drippingviolets3]

The Outing

It was no surprise that the perfect place for cloth shopping was the mall. There were multiple shops, a food court, jewelry, a movie theatre, any possible thing that was needed to keep the residents of the Devildom entertained.

You only visited the mall a few times whenever Asmo dragged you out, but it always amazed you whenever you entered. The store was always shining with different lights, and the smells were mixed with fast food and perfume, it was thrilling. At least, it was to you. Mammon and Asmo frequented the place so much this was like a second home to them, they just seemed at peace. Viveka was keeping her usual neutral appearance, her hands together and in front of her. “Such a filthy domain. You would think they’d take better care of a place as populated as this.” She grimaced, fists tightening at her sides. “Well, it’s not exactly the owner’s fault that the visitors here litter so much. But they could use some more custodial staff, I agree.” You nodded.

“Just stay away from the food court hon’, it’s the filthiest place here. Plus, the food is sooo greasy, I could never eat there! I’d risk ruining my perfect figure!” Asmodeus whined, putting the back of his hand to his forehead in a dramatic pose. “Yada yada, we need to get to work and find some casual clothes for Viv!” Mammon snapped, crossing his arms angrily. You saw Viveka narrow her brows again. “Do not refer to me so casually you plebeians.” That comment sent chills up Mammon’s spine, so he tilted his head away in embarrassment; Too scared to properly speak up and apologize. You could sense she had bitten her tongue before spitting out any threats, her eyes swirled with unsaid fury that reminded you of a brutal blizzard, unnaturally cold in those red gem-like eyes.

“Mc, what would you recommend?” Viveka asked, looking down at you. You snapped out of your trance and paled with the realization you had no idea what she was referring to. Quickly, you managed to somewhat dodge the question. “Uhh, I usually just follow the brothers if I’m being honest. Each store seems to have its own unique theme of clothing and such, so let’s just find one with casual clothes.” You said, forcing yourself to keep your voice steady. Viveka gave a curt nod. “Then let’s go, I don’t appreciate having to wait.”

Asmo jumped to the role as a guide and led the way to a simple clothing store. Next in line was Mammon, grumbling to himself, then there was you and Viveka side by side. Although Viveka seemed less interested in the clothing store now. She pulled to a halt to focus on a store. “What are you looking at? Did something catch your eye?” You asked. Asmo and Mammon stopped as well and followed her gaze. It was a jewelry store, but it was a unique kind. One that sold gems and other items that you assumed would be used by those with spiritual beliefs, but she seemed focused on it. When her attention finally tore away from it, she pointed directly at Mammon. “You. Follow me.”

“Wha-Me?!” the greedy demon exclaimed. Asmodeus elbowed him, casting a glare. Viveka raised a brow before speaking. “Hm, an unexpected and...quite disappointing reaction. I wish to take a look at what the store has to offer, and given that you clearly frequent this place almost as much as your brother, I would allow to accompany me so you may give me your judgement.” She spoke so professionally, like she was at a corporate meeting instead of a mall. Cold and smooth as the ice she represented. 

Mammon was easily won over by that statement. It wasn’t especially hard to learn how to work Mammon, he was see through, clearer then glass. “hehe, I do model on the side. I suppose my judgement isn’t all that bad.” He said, pretending to be sheepish but everyone could sense the pride just oozing off of him. Viveka seemed pleased though, the closest thing to a smile forming on her pale face. “I take that as a affirmative answer then? Lovely. Please accompany me then.” You could sense something was off. Viveka didn’t strike you as this kind, and while she might have some sort of soft spot for Mammon, you highly doubted it formed in the span of 10-15 minutes. 

Viveka turned to you. “Mc, I trust you and...him, will find some options for me until we get back.” She had paused when glancing back to Asmodeus, seemingly forgetting his name (which surely dealt a huge blow on the lustful demon’s ego). You just nodded, earning what felt like a more genuine half smile from her. “Good. I hope you realize I have high expectations of you.” With a nod she lead Mammon away, entering the shop and making the faintest chime of a bell ring through the mall.

You felt your face warm up a little from her words. Even if you couldn’t officially call it “praise,” it was the closest thing to it, and coming from a goddess felt like it was the richest tasting wine you ever had. Addicting, like it was flowing through your body and casting a haze over your brain, as if you couldn’t have enough.

Asmo’s clicking heels against the tile was what alerted you to start walking. He didn’t get far before turning back to you and tapping his foot against the floor, and suddenly your flushed cheeks became redder with embarrassment. Asmo didn’t pay you much mind thankfully, instead opting to grabbing your wrist and leading you away.

“Sooo, she likes cooler palettes right?” He must have wanted to double check with you, after all you were able to examine her wardrobe first hand whereas Asmodeus could only guess. You nodded, giving a thumbs up. “Yep, you hit the nail right on the head! But I think she likes a bit of red as well.” Asmo seemed to react well to the praise, but you wouldn’t deny the presence of something else in the air that made his aura feel…off.

Entering the store was like a blast from material gworls. The heavy stench of mixed perfumes and make up hit you like a truck, and the dark walls were highlighted with LED lights that made the shop feel more like a club then a store for clothing. “You sure that she’ll like the stuff here?” You shifted uncomfortably “We are trying to find something modest for her.”

Asmo huffed. “Yeah but she’s gonna want to look stylish too. Why do you doubt my judgement?” He asked, faking annoyance to tease you. You chuckled, trying to ignore the feeling that you did actually hit a nerve. “Ehe, you’re right.” Sucking up might save you from any sassy backlash the sinful beauty might throw your way, and seemed to work like a charm as he plastered his usual playful (and horny *cOuGh*) grin on his face. “That’s right! I have a knack for clothing as the most beautiful demon in the Devildom!” He dragged you to the clothes and thus, the hunt began.

You somehow could and couldn’t see Viveka wearing some of these outfits. Some were more casual like she wanted, others were quite revealing and could stroke her pride. She was built like a twig, tall and thin, but didn’t have many curves like these shirts were made to highlight. Of course if she were to wear them, it would be a given that people would salivate at the sight because haha tall stronk woman go brrrrr.

“Hey, Y/n? I wanna ask a teensy little question and you gotta answer truthfully, ‘kay?” Asmo didn’t remove his gaze from the clothes, picking out ones that seemed to be in Viv’s size and style, but you knew he was paying great attention to you and what you could tell him. “Uhh, sure? Why do I have the feeling you’re planning to murder me right now?” You asked hesitantly.

Asmo was silent, and you knew him long enough to know that he was struggling to pick out the correct words. “Do you think if we warmed up to Viveka that she’d let us rise to the heavens again? Or at least to her realm?” He asked. You felt your heart squeeze at this question, shards of emotions digging in to make the pain in your chest unbearable, like he really was trying to murder you with words and words alone.

Falling from heaven was a traumatizing experience for the brothers. It installed self doubt and a need for praise in Asmo. It made Mammon’s hunger for, well, everything he deemed as a treasure impossible to hold back. Levi became a shut in out of doubt, Beel’s stomach became a black hole that can never be satisfied, the list went on. They were happy as demons because of the freedom they were granted, but you couldn’t blame them for wanting to become something less….monstrous yet something just as powerful.

But Viveka didn’t seem pleased to be around them if her anger to Beel was proof enough. From what you gathered, she was pampered and spoiled, cold and cruel, yet there also seemed to be a melted patch in the blanket of snow that covered her heart. One that you only found by chance after winning the genetic lottery and being born a human. You felt your throat squeeze, like any words that tried to escape past your lips were being held back by their metaphorical tails. Asmo looked at you expectingly, but with a heavy sigh returned his attention to the clothing rack.

“I suppose deep down we both know the answer….but what if we could change it?” His voice sounded dreamy, like he was waking up from a pleasant nap and processing any dreams he had. You could only really shrug, forcing something, anything resembling a answer to exit your mouth. “Maybe you can. It’s too early to tell.” Was what you settled on. Generic, didn’t elude to something that could get his hopes up or crush them into dust, perfect.

With the time you spent in there picking out tops among other clothing items (and taking a few playful swats at Asmo for the items he tried to get for her), the atmosphere changed once again and you left the store in a much better mood then when entering.

Sure enough, who did you see walking your way? Mammon and Viveka, who seemed disinterested until her ruby eyes met yours. Viveka then picked up her pace, from walking to power walking with somehow equal parts elegance and grace as before. When she finally reached you, you were about to show her the clothes when you saw her start rustling through the singular bag she had, Mammon catching up with the rest.

“Here, I found these in the shop that I thought you would like.” She said curtly, placing some crystals in your hands. You could see one was clear quartz, another was a ruby, then a rose quartz and green aventurine. But she placed more in your hand that you began to review with the rest; There was now a amethyst thrown into the mix along with some pink topaz, jade and a garnet placed working the palms of your hands. Truth be told you were never one to think twice about crystals, maybe window shop or look at the cutting and think “wow that’s neat,” but having some in your possession felt…different, and exciting.

Viveka wasn’t halfway done though, taking another bag from Mammon who looked shocked for some odd reason. “I also got this.” She held up a necklace that you noticed had a mini cage of sorts for you to put some of the crystals in. Did she expect you to wear them like a badge perhaps? Still, she continued. “And I wasn’t sure when your birthday was so I got you one of each of these.” Now this made your eyes widen. The woman got you 12 different charm bracelets. One for each of the 12 zodiacs. That was the textbook definition of overkill in your eyes.

“Erm-uh, I-Isn’t this all a bit much-“ you cut yourself off when you saw Viveka stop rummaging through her bags. You felt a pit of dread wham into your stomach like a home run. Did she really go to the store just to buy gifts for you? Why?

Mammon finally rediscovered his ability to speak when he broke the silence. “I-I thought I was getting these for you!” He said in shock. Viveka raised a brow. “Did I ever state that they were specifically for me, or was that an assumption you made based on non-existent context clues?” She asked, straightening her posture. “Perhaps it’s my status that makes you assume such things, that I find pleasure in keeping rocks in my pocket to bring me wealth and good fortune. Pitiful. It’s common Wiccan practice for herbs and crystals to be used as gifts of worship for gods such as myself. Why should I, someone who is rising to the statues of a deity of worship, buy items that will find their way to me naturally?” She asked, a twinge of pride seeping through the cracks of her words.

Mammon swallowed thickly. “I…suppose you’re right.” He huffed, crossing his arms in annoyance. You deeefinetly sense he had more to say, but Viveka’s threatening aura was smothering everyone with fear so for once, Mammon completed the impossible and kept his mouth shut.

“Uhh….how about we show you the clothes we got in the car?” Asmo asked, a little anxiously. Viveka have a nod, a signal for the group to leave once again, except this time as a group.

Did she do something wrong?

Items like crystals and potions and other things mortals found charming were regular gifts for deities. Her mother would always have them on display and wear them with pride, and her siblings all ogled different food items they wished were sacrificed to them. Viveka was no exception, although she slowly hid her desires for materialistic objects as she grew older (which anyone can tell hasn’t worked out very well.) So what was she doing wrong?

The moral didn’t seem very impressed with the crystals or bracelets, perhaps because they were purchased with their friend’s money and not her own? Things were becoming more and more peculiar as Viveka learned more and more about morals….

[princesssarisa]

Fictional character ask: Audrey Fulquard from the musical Little Shop of Horrors

Favorite thing about them: How sweet and gentle she is, how full of dreams and yearning for a better life, and how she grows in self-confidence thanks to Seymour's understanding and love. (Although it's too bad that she thinks Seymour "purifies" her, since by the time they get together, she's the morally purer one.) Even though she's a little silly and caricatured, just like all the other characters, she really is the heart of the musical.

Least favorite thing about them: That she has to be abused so much, and then (in the original stage version and the director's cut of the movie) gets killed through no fault of her own.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I can be too much of a pushover.

*I sometimes struggle with low self-esteem.

*I think nothing is more romantic than sweet understanding.

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

*I don't work in a flower shop.

*I've never dated an abusive dentist.

*I'm not blonde (though she's probably not a natural blonde anyway).

Favorite line: The lyrics to "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour"

brOTP: Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon.

OTP: Seymour.

nOTP: Orin, Mr. Mushnik, or Audrey II.

Random headcanon: Like her most iconic actress Ellen Greene, she's Jewish by birth. She doesn't practice the religion, though, and as part of her idolizing the "typical" suburban American life, she loves celebrating Christmas.

Unpopular opinion: I wish more people would talk about the movie's two alternate endings as they relate to Audrey, not just to Seymour. Most people think the original dark ending is superior, because it's true to the stage version and because Seymour deserves comeuppance for the deaths of Orin and Mr. Mushnik. Others defend the reshot happy ending because the film makes Seymour less to blame for Orin and Mushnik's deaths. Just once, though, I'd like to see someone defend the happy ending because Audrey, a lifelong victim of abuse, poverty, and low self-esteem, gets to escape and have all her dreams come true, instead of just reaching the verge only to die as part of Seymour's karmic retribution. I'll concede that it's an ancient and often dramatically powerful tradition for a tragic hero's mistakes to doom the woman he loves. But I'd still enjoy hearing someone say "Audrey deserves better" instead of just arguing whether Seymour deserves better or not.

Song I associate with them: "Somewhere That's Green"

"Suddenly Seymour"

Favorite picture of them:

Ellen Greene in the original 1982 off-Broadway production, with Lee Wilkoff as Seymour:

And in the 1986 film:

Kerry Butler in the 2003 Broadway revival:

With Hunter Foster as Seymour:

Sheridan Smith in the 2007 London revival, with Paul Keating as Seymour:

Frances McNamee in the 2015 Salisbury Playhouse production:

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez in the 2019 Pasadena Playhouse production – casting a transgender woman of color in the role adds several new layers to Audrey's struggles and character arc.

[catgrump]

Sondham in a Theatre AU where Sonia is playing Heather Chandler and Gundham is the show’s makeup artist

🌻🌻🌻

Gundham was doing his best to control his breathing as he sat upright on a plush bench in the hallway backstage. “— beg in front of your boy toy here,” was heard over the PA system. Sonia will be backstage any moment.

He double checked his makeup arsenal to make sure he was fully prepared. He has the special effects stage makeup palette, clean brushes, and some eye makeup to smear on her face.

He’s done this routine before. All this week, he applied this makeup, getting notes from the director to make it bigger and more dramatic, but not so much that it looks fake in the front rows. Tonight, however, is the first night in front of an audience. Tonight, more than just the show’s team will see his work to make Heather Chandler look dead.

They truly cast the most beautiful girl in the acting department to play Heather Chandler. The role showcases her amazing acting prowess, as she has to be so cruel, when offstage, she is the human embodiment of kindness and elegance. “Corn nuts!” She exclaimed right before the music cue played. Heather Chandler has officially drank drain cleaner and died.

Gundham continues practicing his breathing, ignoring the other cast members hanging out in the hallway, while The Me Inside of Me begins. Sonia is going to come out once the song is over, and then it’s up to him to add a crucial detail to her appearance.

“Hi, Gundham,” Sonia whispered in case her mic was on.

“Hello, Sonia,” he did his best not to mumble as she sat down.

He also tried not to stare as she adjusted her costume. She wore a slinky red kimono robe over top matching red silk pajama shorts and a loose red silk top. It was hitting the curves of her body as she moved, and Gundham was fighting with all his might to not get distracted. Gundham cleared his throat as he dipped a brush into a pan of blue creme makeup. “How is the audience tonight?” He asked in a hushed tone, wishing to use his time to get to know Sonia better, if he could.

“Oh, they love it,” Sonia replied, her eyes lighting up, “Lots of laughs.”

“Excellent,” Gundham replied, “It is alright for me to touch your face, yes?”

“Of course,” Sonia smiled.

Gundham gently took his free hand, fingers softly feeling under Sonia’s chin, and started applying the blue creme to the corner of Sonia’s mouth.

Her lips are gorgeous, especially when they’re painted a glossy deep red. Gawking at them is going to get him nowhere, however. He dipped his brush back into the makeup, adding more blue to the inside of where he painted before.

Sonia giggled and her body trembled a bit in place, “It will always tickle,” she said.

“My apologies,” Gundham replied.

“It is not your fault,” Sonia said.

“I do wish to make the experience enjoyable for you,” he said as he shifted her face in his hand so he could better focus on Sonia’s eyes.

“Oh, this is plenty enjoyable,” she began, making her eyes look up to the ceiling, “I feel as though I am some sort of celebrity, getting this attention.”

Gundham smirked, his face turning red to match Sonia’s costume— and her lips, “You deserve the pampering.”

“Even though I am being made to look like a ‘hot mess’,” she giggled again.

“Still divine,” Gundham mindlessly said as he smudged makeup under Sonia’s eyes to make it look like makeup had been cried off.

“What was that?” Sonia perked up, trying not to move too much in Gundham’s gentle hold.

Gundham had a decision to make. He has limited time before Sonia needed to be back on stage, and his makeup application was almost complete. “I, um,” he turned his head away and cleared his throat again, “I said you still look divine.”

“Oh… my goodness, that is,” Sonia hoped the blush she applied would mask the heat creeping to her face, “That is lovely… thank you, Gundham.”

Gundham tenderly and slowly had his fingers trail a path under Sonia’s chin as he let go. “You always look divine.”

Sonia, heart tight in her chest, covered the microphone by her ear with one hand, then let her other hand rest on Gundham’s knee. She whispered as she got in close, “If we are being honest with each other, I have always thought you were rather handsome.”

She bounded up from her spot on the couch and darted off toward one of the stage doors, looking over her shoulder to wave goodbye before she had to be on stage again, leaving a speechless Gundham Tanaka behind her.

[gliyerabaa]

Not sure if anyone's asked you this one before, but what are your favorite parts or scenes from the musical? Or just any scene you'd like to gush about :)

oh you bet I'm gonna break this down cause there's SO MUCH I could talk about

act 1 favorite scene: I literally can't choose between popular and defying gravity so I will talk about both!!

popular. I used to think the whole scene was dramatic and too goofy for its own good. As silly as it is, when you have the right people in the roles, it can be a deeply moving scene as well. Of course there's moments of seriousness built into the scene ("my father hates me") but even the silly bits can carry weight when done right. the "miss elphaba, you're beautiful" ALWAYS hits, especially because of the music-- it's the "I'm Not that Girl" motif and if that doesn't describe peak yearning I don't know what does. I could go on more about different takes on the Popular scene but I think I'll just direct you to @dailypopular it's not active anymore but honestly it's your spot for all things Popular

defying gravity: literally I don't even have to do much explaining on this one. it's such a phenomenal showstopper of a song. I would literally give an arm and a leg to be able to see it live. besides the amazing song, the staging is incredible as well. particularly the part where the ensemble is all shielding themselves in fear whilst Glinda is reaching out to Elphaba. I also have a firm belief about the line "kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity" being directed towards Glinda but that's a post for a different day

Act 1 underrated scene: One Short Day

One Short Day does NOT get enough love cause it's always overshadowed by the hype of Defying Gravity but it really is one of my favorite scenes. this is really the only time in the musical, besides the Ozdust, that we get to see Elphaba and Glinda genuinely happy at the same time and that just makes me feel things. I wish they could be happy more. Also I love Glinda's dress in this scene the yellow just pops I love it

Act 2 opinions under the cut cause this is getting long haha

Act 2 favorite scene: For Good/Finale

I cannot possibly talk enough about how many Feelings the end of the show gives me. Even casting the shipping lens of everything aside, the sheer force of For Good as an expression of forgiveness and undying friendship and unwavering trust is enough to make me emotional. And then as if I wasn't already emotional enough, Elphaba's faked death and having to keep it a secret from Glinda AND THEN a reprise of For Good, calling out to each other, knowing they'll never see each other again???? oof. That's emotional enough, but then put it through the gelphie lens and I'm an utter crying mess.

Act 2 underrated scene: Thank Goodness/Engagement Ball

Right after the intermission. You're still reeling from Defying Gravity, so Thank Goodness doesn't quite match up in terms of thrilling staging and high energy. but even though the song lacks flash (until the operatic high note at the end, at least), it does an excellent job in terms of storytelling. We get so much more insight into Glinda's character, her wants, her true motivations. Same goes for later in the act when Elphaba shows up again. She's so relieved to see Elphaba alive (katie rose clarke plays this scene wonderfully) but even despite her own emotions she can't bring herself to leave. But then she winds up losing Elphaba again AND Fiyero as well. It sets up the tragedy of her character in such a heartbreakingly marvelous way. Long story short, Glinda's character arc makes me feel things. lots of things.

[joannerowling]

How do you think the Johnny Depp situation got so toxic so quickly? Is it just because he’s so famous? I do think the anti metoo crowd saw Depp as a good person to use to discredit the metoo movement and used him accordingly considering how famous he is.

I mean I remember the level of hatred he got in 2016-18 then it just changed so dramatically during the trial with seemingly so little effort. It felt so suspicious to me. I went from being pretty indifferent to feeling genuinely quite sorry for Amber. She was treated awfully and I have never really been a fan of hers. I wonder if he employed bots to help start a conversation in his favour considering it really seemed like he had very little positive media coverage before the trial. Although there were plenty of real people on his side on TikTok and Twitter etc.

I just wish he was never cast as Grindelwald. Jo and the crew got so much hate for keeping him as Grindelwald for CoG after allegations then got so much backlash for getting rid of him after a judge literally deemed him guilty. I do think it really damaged the fantastic Beasts films. I have a feeling it would have received a little more goodwill if another actor played Grindelwald from the beginning. Plus as a Grindeldore fan I really didn’t like him as Grindelwald at all and I’m genuinely sad now that anyone who plays Grindelwald will be tainted by the Depp fans who’ll always act like the character belongs to Johnny. No Grindelwald belongs to Jo!

Prefacing this with: i'm not really the best to ask about the Depp/Heard case, or actors in general tbh. I'm not the most knowledgeable and found the whole circus around the trial grotesque.

That being said, how did the situation get so toxic? First of all, the heavy involvement of Depp's legal team (as well as either well paid or very motivated third parties) in building his "defence" online in the years preceding the trials and weaponising the Internet against Heard. This is well known by now and includes falsifying evidence before leaking it to fans, use of bots to build a momentum, etc. But it doesn't explain how the sauce took so well, does it? Imo and in no particular order:

Social context online. Check out the first comment on this reddit thread i've found about the Netflix documentary that came out about the case recently: "The appeal of getting in deep with the case wasn’t so much to learn about law and defamation, it was the fun of joining in with others as a community and sharing reactions and emotions." Based on this alone you could have told this was never going to be about justice, but the internet equivalent of a rave party in post-Covid times.

Fashion. It was trendy to be pro-Heard, now it's trendy to be pro-Depp. "Don't you know new info came out that she actually was the abusive one all along?? Keep up!" is a much better story to gossip about than "yeah, Depp, that known abuser, we've known since 2016"

Reactionary response to the brief #MeToo era, or as we call it, the classic pendulum of misogyny coming back in full swing.

The extremely ridiculous American legal system allowing for trials to be filmed and justice to be made a spectacle of, under the very thin veil of education and "transparency". The only thing that's transparent here is that the US fucking suck but we knew this.

Neo capitalism. See this article : the real winners of the case are media content creators who "went all in".

I too wish Depp was never cast as Grindelwald, first because he's such an obviously poor choice for the role independently of his behaviour. But WB in general has a problem with casting the worst possibly individuals known to man (or rather women) in lead roles. See fucking Ezra Miller and the Flash disaster. But i think what actually damaged the movies much more than any celebrity business (least of all JKR's own controversy which the general public knows shit about) is that they weren't all that good.

[moebiusx9]

Fate/Dread

 I love a lot of Fate fan AUs so I had the courage to mention my own for a bit. Don’t really have the confidence for a full fic, so I’ll just mention the main ideas.

>Story is a prequel to the main Extraverse games (Extra, CCC, Extella, Extella Link)

>It is the Extraverse’s version of the Fifth Fuyuki Grail War, called the Terminus Grail War here as it is the last possible war to exist on earth with the quickly drying up mana

>Due to this, the greater grail was meddled with further, allowing for more Master/Servant spots to open up, akin to Apocrypha. So instead of just 7 servants (8 counting Angra Mainyuu, there are now 16. A second of all the main 7 class, plus an extra class)

> The original Hakuno is the protagonist. She is the most recent of a long line of continuous Morgan le Fay reincarnations throughout the decades akin to a fairy replacing another fairy in terms of “role” in LB6.

>Her family, the Kishinamis, broke off from those in the Blackmore Cemetary decades ago, and lived peacefully away from civilization with the role of preserving artifacts from Arthurian legend. Hakuno’s parents are deceased and she is left the last of her family.

>She is one of the first unfortunate victims of the recent Amnesia Syndrome outbreak some years before the story, and gets by as a mercenary for hire, going by the name “Morgause”. Forced to kill in a worn torn world, even if she knows it’s wrong, but has no choice. 

>Hakuno in general is very bitter and cynical, her laid back, optimism gone after all she went through, now focused solely on survival and preserving artifacts that disappeared from her family’s care (She’s been tracking down Avalon after it was stolen before the fourth grail war, and eventually tracks it down to Fuyuki) she’s basically made to be like a dark mirror to AI Hakuno, the person she doesn’t want to be, but still sees herself as.

>She plans to join the Fifth War to wish for her Amnesia Syndrome to be cured, since the only one who knew how to cure it, Twice, died not too long ago.

>She moves to Fuyuki and goes under the alias of “Shirano Tsunokuma” to lay low and scope out Fuyuki three years before the war starts. Here, she’d meet and become friends with some of the Stay Night cast, especially Rin

>In classic Hakuno, fashion, she starts catching feelings for Rin the closer the two get but is aware Rin the head of the Tohsakas, meaning they’ll be forced to become enemies once the war starts. This becomes one of her main conflicts as she’d accepted she’d have to kill to survive long ago, but not to kill someone she’s close with. 

>This leads her to use the “Morgause” persona once the war starts in a Lelouch/Zero sort of fashion. Later in the story, she’d be forcibly unmasked by Rin, in a similar, dramatic way.

>Story would also have Shirou as a secondary protag, expanding on his relationship with Artoria, and his journey to eventually becoming Nameless once Extra rolls around.

>Hakuno would immediately realize Shirou has Avalon and his servant is basically her childhood hero in King Arthur, causing more inner turmoil.

>As for Hakuno’s own servant, I’m not sure yet. I’ve thought of multiple ideas such as Nobunaga, Billy the Kid, Enkidu, Edmond Dantes, Daji/Tamamo, Berserker Lancelot, etc. but haven’t decided yet.

>Story would end with Hakuno casting aside her own wish at the very end so Rin can win the war and hopefully, make the world a better place, as Hakuno decides a killer like her has no place. (I also like to imagine it was Rin’s doing that Hakuno was safely put in cryosleep)

>Some shenanigans with Foreigners may or may not have been involved in some concepts.

Here are some servant/master ideas as well, let me know what yall think

[consumeronionbulletin]

See You in My 19th Life (2023)

I unabashedly love this show. The actors, the characters, the way it was shot, the convoluted dramatic plot that seems to bend back on itself, it all works for me. But you have to keep in mind that this is not a romcom: it's a weepy dramedy with big romantic feels.

What worked

This cast is so great. Beautiful people acting out big feelings while telling a good story. The cinematography was excellent, restrained when it needed to be and leaning hard into the fantasy to tell the story in other places. The plot didn't always make logic sense, but the writing was very good at getting across the feelings it wants you to feel.

What Didn't Work

Some of the musical cues bothered me, especially when it tried to play up this big mystery about Kang Min-gi. (Was he a bad guy? Yes. Did he deserve his own sinister background music when he came on screen? No.) Also, there were a few logic breaks that I feel like would have been ironed out if they'd had 16 episodes instead of 12. Finally, I'm not an expert, but people who have read the webtoon it was based on were disappointed with some of the departures from the original story. None of this bothered me, because it had so many high moments.

The Performances

Shin Hye-sun as (19th lifer) Ban Ji-eum. I would die for this character. I would love to see her play a short season of the Korean version of Doctor Who, because she would nail that role. It wasn't just the moments of a beautiful person looking sad about drama, she played the comic parts well, she played the angry parts well, she was downright weird at times in a way that was unsettling, and that totally worked for this character. I now have to go back and see everything this actor has been in before now.

Ahn Bo-hyun as (sad rich boi) Moon Seo-ha. This actor was also really good. He had to play it straight and stoic through much of the series, and that could come across as wooden in some scenes, but then they would let him loose in a scene and it was amazing to watch. His chemistry with Shin Hye-sun was so good, as well.

Ha Yoon-kyung as (spring sunshine) Yoon Cho-won. I loved her in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and this is even better. Her best role yet. The second lead couple in this was (somewhat) less emotional, and that made the slow burn more enjoyable in some ways. But I really loved the scenes with Cho-won and Ji-eum. Just as much fun to watch as the romantic scenes.

Ahn Dong-goo as (the driver) Ha Do-yoon. Somehow, this guy had to be more stoic than Ahn Bo-hyun's character, which made the moments when the emotions leaked out of him even more electric. I wish we'd had a few more episodes to get some happy romantic moments towards the end of the series, but he was still great to watch on screen and did an excellent job.

Cha Chung-hwa as (the niece) Kim Ae-kyung. She was good in Hometown Cha x 3, but I would riot if something bad happened to her character in this drama. Did I riot? Watch and find out!

Lee Si-woo as (the little brother) Ha Do-jin. A delightful character played really well by Lee Si-woo. It was always a fun scene when he showed up.

Lee Chae-min as (one weird guy) Kang Min-gi. I always felt unsettled when this guy was in a scene. In case you had doubts about the guy, he had creepy music following him around the entire series, but the actor didn't really need it.

Kang Myung-joo as (the sad mother) Jo Yoo-seon. I really loved her performances even though they were usually the saddest scenes. She had so few lines, and managed to do alot with them.

Bae Hae-sun as (evil stepmom) Jang Yeon-ok. I especially disliked her. The actor did a great job of playing a shameless, entitled backstabber. Nice to see her get a bigger role (liked her in It's okay to not be okay), even if it is as someone not very nice.

Baek Seung-cheol as (all time bad dad) Ban Hak-su. I hated this character so much, which shows the actor did a great job.

Moon Dong-hyuk as (bad brother) Ban Dong-woo. I loathed and pitied this character, overall another good performance.

Kim Si-a as (the 18th lifer) Yoon Joo-won. She did a very good job in some tough scenes. I'm always amazed at how good some of these young actors are.

Park So-yi as (the young 19th lifer) Ban Ji-eum. Very good in the episodes she showed up. Was fun seeing her onscreen opposite Ahn Bo-hyun.

Lee Han-na as (mystery girl) Han-na. They should have done more with this character or figured out how to do without her completely. They just didn't have the episode time to do her justice. Overall, an okay actor that was completely overshadowed by the other actors.

Seo-ha's Family. I'm usually indifferent to chaebol corporate nonsense, but the actors did an excellent job of making you feel like part of the family. A terrible family, that treated Seo-ha terribly. The uncle (played by Lee Hae-young) was a standout, but they were all good in their own way, including the step-brother.

The past lives. I really enjoyed the different past lives. They didn't always have alot of lines, but they still made you feel something as you got little snapshots of harrowing moments in their lives.

The bad rich boy society guys. Honorable mention. I didn't always know their names, but every scene where they mistreated Ha Do-yoon's character was still infuriating, and that was on the actors as much as the writing.

TL;DR

This show is something special. I highly recommend it if you have any kind of interest in the premise. I will definitely be rewatching it.

[appleslices]

last night i watched the glass slipper (1955) with leslie caron and while i wouldn't necessarily call it like a Good Movie i believe deep down it had potential to be one.

i really liked a lot of the creative decisions they made like not making the step-mother and the step-sisters physically "ugly" bc i think the idea of beauty = good and ugly = evil is so pervasive esp in fairy tales, the fairy godmother is an old "spinster" who becomes cinderlla's first friend and confidant which i thought was really lovely, i really loved cinderella's like peasant girl outfits which had this sort of gathered hem on one side of the skirt and like every one of her ordinary outfits were styled almost the same way which i thought was really neat

another thing is that cinderella sort of has vague fantasies of living in the palace but are really framed as sort of unproductive escapism because she is trying to imagine herself outside of her poor circumstances but she doesn't really Know what that would look like. and there's this charming sequence of her imagining herself sitting on a throne in her dirty cinder-stained rags and at first she's really pleased with this until she becomes bored- so she tries to further push into the fantasy and imagines herself in a nice fancy outfit- which is the same garment as her original outfit just in better fabric but she then again becomes bored with her fantasy as she is sitting on her throne with nothing to do- so she starts investigating her throne and these huge velvet curtains with ornate fringe until she accidentally pulls the whole thing down and her daydream collapses along with her throne. there's sort of this whole idea of her trying to rebel against the looming inevitability of giving into her step-family's treatment of her, but she doesn't have anyone who would support her so she lashes out in sort of childish and petty ways and daydreams all day because she doesn't have any other outlet and can't fully visualize life outside her servitude to her family.

^ the throne sequence. i can't find an image of it but this one has my favorite outfit which is basically the same as the above image but her skirt is a really pretty blue and has rhinestone embellishments.

the prince....i'm conflicted about. they meet before their dance at the ball, at this pond in the forest where he pretends to be the son of the palace cook and they build a report with each other and it would be quite cute if he wasn't like literally 20 years older than her. like that casting decision really gives a weird paternalistic vibe to all their scenes together and its not even like the age difference is played up in the movie it just is like a weirdly stark contrast the movie tries to ignore?? there's a great ballet sequence though where cinderella is fantasizing about the prince- but as a a palace cook, bc again he lies and says he's the son of the palace cook, which is cute. she like daydreams of them cooking together and at one point she gets "crowned" with a chef's hat like its very good i just wish the prince role went to someone closer to the actress' own age...

^second favorite cinderella dress, and my favorite sequence in the movie. (i'm not the biggest fan of the striped underskirt i kind of which it was more of a frilled petticoat but the dress does look beautiful in motion). i really love the ballet here it's really fun and silly.

i did start to get bored during the ball scene though and i think when you contrast the ballgown to the rest of cinderella's wardrobe it's sort of boring?? like it's weird though because the dress itself is really dramatic- it has a huge hoop skirt and roses everywhere all the lace and trim etc. but it's also like pale pastel pink and i mean it's Pretty it's Pleasant but that's all i have to say about it. i honestly got bored at the end and stopped paying attention after this but there's like a final dramatic ballet where cinderella has a nightmare the prince will marry a Egyptian Princess (she get's mistaken as and Egyptian princess at the ball...for presumably her dark hair?????? idk about this one guys. seems like a weird orientalist decision to me).

^^ ballgown. like yes it's pretty but i have really nothing more to say. actually this wouldn't have been a bad look for belle in that live-action remake of disney's beauty and the beast which unfortunately every time i remember the dress that was in that movie, i do get psychic damage.

all in all i really liked the characterization of cinderella, the ballet sequences, and sort of the attempt to build an actual Dynamic for cinderella and the prince as well as a few more smaller character moments and choices for mrs. toquet (the godmother) and the step-family. i think it would have been interesting to expand more on cinderella's evolving dreams and fantasies, maybe beyond just her desire to escape servitude and love for the prince- like i know its just a fairytale and like monarchism bla bla fuedalism this and that but to see cinderella's character become more interested in bettering the other impoverished people of her community- or rejecting the crown altogether. like idk there's a more interesting choice to be made than for her to marry the prince and become a wealthy princess and then have the end credits role but it's not like i Expected that to happen LMAO. i just like to think about different creative decisions you could make when adapting fairytales...

[albertonykus]

Doraemon Movie Review: Nobita in the Robot Kingdom (2002)

What is Doraemon? The title character of the Doraemon manga and anime is a blue robotic cat from the 22nd Century who keeps an array of high-tech gadgets in a portable pocket dimension on his belly, and has traveled from the future to improve the fortunes of a hapless schoolboy named Nobita. Although relatively obscure in the English-speaking world, Doraemon is a Mickey-Mouse-level cultural icon in East Asia (and some other regions, too). The Doraemon franchise was a big part of my childhood, and there are still elements of it that I enjoy now.

Doraemon has released theatrical films almost annually since 1980, most of which involve Nobita and his friends (kind Shizuka, brash Gian, and crafty Suneo) getting swept into adventures thanks to Doraemon's gadgets. Despite being of potentially broad appeal to fans of science fiction and animated films, there are very few English reviews of the Doraemon movies, so I'm embarking on a project to write about all the films that have come out so far. Good luck to me…

Movie premise: Nobita and his friends rescue a lost robot boy, who comes from a planet where humans and robots once lived in harmony.

My spoiler-free take: A compelling story that packs some strong emotional punches, but flubs a crucial character arc. I suspect it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, but I’d like to see a remake of this one!

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AFTER THIS POINT

Review: It must be something about robots that brings out the emotional stories in Doraemon movies. That probably shouldn’t be a surprise, because one of the most important themes of the franchise is, after all, the friendship between a robot and a human. The dramatic setup here is an interesting one for a Doraemon film, as we learn that the robot boy Poko was the childhood playmate of one of the major antagonists, the tyrannical Queen Jeanne, with both of them having grown up under the care of another robot, Maria. For most part, the movie gets a lot of mileage out of this premise, and the scene near the end where Doraemon and Maria deliver what they fully expect to be their last words to their respective charges is especially heartwrenching.

However, there is one way in which this movie drops the ball considerably on its emotional journey: the queen’s character development happens far too quickly! Barely a montage passes before she has a change of heart. I wondered whether this was also the case in the manga adaptation of this story*, so I had a look.

*Although the original author of the Doraemon manga, Fujiko F. Fujio, passed away in 1996, his company Fujiko Pro continued to produce manga counterparts to the films for a while following his death. My understanding is that the films and their associated manga that were made after Fujio’s passing were developed in parallel from a shared story outline, instead of one being directly adapted from the other.

As it turns out, it takes much more for Jeanne to come around in the manga, including getting smacked in the face by Shizuka!

(Damn.)

I have to say, I really wish this version of the story had been used in the film, not only because it would have improved Jeanne’s character arc, but also because Shizuka doesn’t get very much to do in the movie proper. In fact, many of the newer Doraemon films (remakes aside) don’t seem to know what to do with Shizuka, as has been summarized very well by @creepfactors​. Whereas Nobita, Gian, and even Suneo often get to display more rarely-seen sides of their personalities in the movies, she is mainly just cast as “the nice one”, which is already her default role in the group.

In truth, Shizuka is not such a one-note character in the mainline series. There are times when she can be very direct with her words and quick to anger towards perceived slights. Lashing out in the name of justice for a vulnerable child is absolutely something she would do, yet would be unprecedented in a Doraemon movie!

There are other elements of the manga that I would have liked to see in the movie, too. For example, Poko’s ability to remotely pinpoint Maria’s location seemingly comes out of nowhere close to the end of the film, but in the manga it is mentioned that he was unable to do so earlier in the story because he had a damaged antenna. The manga also indicates that the roboticist Dr. Chapek repaired Doraemon’s Time Machine so that the protagonists could return home at the end of the story, whereas the movie never explains how the Time Machine was fixed.

Given that this is a relatively recent Doraemon film, I’m guessing that it’s not high on the priority list for a remake. However, I think it would benefit a lot from one! Newer Doraemon movies are generally longer than those that came out prior to the 2005 anime reboot, which would give a hypothetical remake of Nobita in the Robot Kingdom more room to include the aforementioned items. Furthermore, the remakes often use material from the manga that was left out of the original films.

Do I have anything else left to note? This movie might contain one of Doraemon’s most impressive feats in the series: charging into the main villain’s lair by himself and taking down the villain unarmed. It’s also funny how ready Nobita is to go on an adventure in this film. The moment that Doraemon determines that they need to travel to another planet, Nobita essentially declares, “Leave that to us!” Quite a contrast to how timid he usually is in the regular stories!

Star rating: ★★★☆☆

[feelssogoodinmyarms]

Spring Awakening Fandom Tag

(By @winter-asleepening )

Doing this bc i miss springy wakening😔

1. how were you introduced to the show?

when i was really into hamilton in like 2016 jonathan groff was white boy of the month for a while and i was consuming all the groff content that i could and i came across that video of him talking about when he fucked up left behind. and then i listened to left behind and cried and read the wiki page and watched the obc boot and then i woke up here

2. Seen a production live?

yus i've seen 3

3. Dream role/character you relate to most

i've been in love with wendla since i laid eyes on her and i would die to play her. im obsessed with her, she's got so much more depth than people realize and that was cut during the transition from play to musical fuck you s*ter and i would love to bring that to my rendition of her. and i was also assaulted when i was her age, i was also suicidal, i was also confused af and my mom was not helpful, i also wanted to be loved so badly, i just see a lot of my teenage self in wendla. i related to her so much when i first saw the show and that's a big reason i got so obsessed with it.

4. Favorite male character

prob moritz or hanschen. they are 2 sides of the same dramatic ass coin. they also have daddy issues and are gay like girl me too.

5. Favorite female character

all of them? wendla holds a special place in my heart but like. there is so much to love about all of them even anna and thea who we know almost nothing about have the building blocks of great characters. i've always loved combining what we know about the characters from both the musical and the play to make more complete characters especially because s*ter cut so much of the girls characterization bc he's a sexist pos fuck you and i def do that with anna and thea.

6. Deaf West Revival or Original Broadway Cast?

dwsa for life but obc walked so they could fly

7. Favorite song

AAAAAA probably touch me just cuz it's soooooo pretty

8. Least favorite song

probably woyb bc im heterophobic and melchiorphobic

9. Favorite quote/line

musical: "giving yourself over to someone else? defending yourself endlessly until finally you surrender and let heaven break over you? i just put myself in her place. and imagine"

play: "won't you come visit me in my dreams now and then? i'll welcome you with outstretched arms and kiss your breath away"

10. Favorite TV performance

dwsa touch me on seth meyers i have to watch it daily or i get 1 level of exhaustion

11. Favorite cast member(s)

i can vouch that kathryn gallagher is cool as fuck cuz i met her at a ben platt concert but j groff and jgj seem pretty cool. alex wyse and jbw seem unhinged i think i could hang with them. smf and katie whoever are so talented i wish she wasnt an anti vaxxer. andy mientus attacked me with a candelabra just like riff raff did to rocky😔

12. Favorite cast member moment

when josh castille followed me back on instagram when andy mientus, kathryn gallagher, and josh castille covered sex by the 1975 and all the videos the cast made on various social media platforms

13. Do you write fan fiction?

unfortunately

14. Do you make fan art?

i have made 3 fan arts that i don't think i have anymore

15. Do you cosplay?

i am too poor

16. Don’t do Sadness or Blue Wind?

both bitch

17. Word of your body or the Reprise?

reprise cuz i love gay ppl

18. Touch Me or My Junk?

bothhhhh

19. Explain the song of purple summer

vague hope ig? like "the adults have failed everyone but we're all 15 and will be adults soon so maybe we'll be ok" with flowery language

20. Explain the song of purple summer (wrong answers only)

ilse and mulchy took acid to see their dead friends

im tagging @dwsavideos and anyone else who sees this and is into spring awakening cuz idk if any of my sa mutuals are still active😭