#i'm a stepmother but my daughter is just too cute

[lindoesntwin]

NOT-SEW-WICKED STEPMOM

A Snow White retell where the stepmother is a transmigrator obsessed with her cute daughter as she unravels mysteries and political rivals in the palace.

Other titles: I'm a stepmother, but my daughter is just too cute; I'm the stepmother, but my daughter is too cute; Not sew wicked stepmom

[nope-the-weeb]

yesyesyesyes that took a completely uncharacteristic dark turn but I’m here for it

[rush-mp3]

fjsjdkdkd HELLO???? VIVI???? 😭😭😭😭

[sugar-masochist]

a collection of historical shoujo manga "friends"

[roseeveee]

scara fans when he comes out and they can dump all their hard-earned (killing) ascension materials on him 😭

[gabigabigabby]

cristiano's daughter | j. félix

joão félix x ronaldo!footballer!reader

synopsis: joão steals your celebration as his way of telling you that goal was yours

a/n: plot is set during the euro qualifier game against luxembourg in march where he did that celebration with his arms crossed (ifykyk). joão is barça player bc it's perfect for this plot and y/n is barça femeni player. again, perfect for the plot. ALSO THANK YOU FOR 700++ FOLLOWERS, ik it's bee a while since i was on here but i really do appreciate all the love you give on my works 🥹🥹 so enjoy this one!

content/warnings: fluffy as hell, y/n taking a promise extremely seriously, dialogue in portuguese and spanish, eva and mateo being the cutest twin siblings ever, not proofread, lmk if i missed anything! 💫

🎵 streaming: infrunami - steve lacy

—

"papá nos estamos mirando. devuélvenos el saludo." gio begins talking, but you were in your football la-la-land.

i could've done a bicycle kick yesterday, you thought. it could've been my match.

don't you just love it? being in your own thoughts for the 500th time today. sense the sarcasm? "y/n," gio catches your attention, snapping you out of your head. "joão te busca, cariño." [dad is looking for us, wave back. joão is looking for you, sweetheart.]

your eyes run all over the pitch before landing on the squad, joão the second to last guy in the line-up. he sends you a wave, grinning to himself when he sees you facing him. he'd never know if you were making eye contact or not; he was just happy you were there. you wave back at him, not even bothering to hide your smile from your stepmother.

"estoy feliz de que estés feliz. y tienes suerte porque es un chico lindo," gio winks before you both share a laugh; something you missed sharing with georgina. because of your tight schedule and the fact that you play football in spain and don't live in riyadh with your parents and siblings, you'd missed out every single important thing that's happened in the ronaldo house. eva and mateo's sixth birthday, alana's first day of school, bella's first steps, junior joining the al-nassr academy. everything. "¿sabes lo que significa? bebés lindos." [i'm happy you're happy. and you're lucky because he's a cute boy. and you know what that means? cute babies.]

"mamá!" you try to stop gio from going any further. because babies? aren't you too young to be thinking about children right now? your career at barcelona had only begun to skyrocket, and joão had only recently began his season stint at the club. children and settling down should be the last thing on both your minds. although every now and then, you can't help but think about it. would you and joão last long enough for children of your own in the future? "i'm only 22." you mutter under your breath, soft enough for gio to completely miss it.

the referee's whistle snaps you out of your own thoughts — a place you'd often find yourself in when you're out of the pitch. you were worried about the fact that joão barely got to feel the ball. especially after he promised you he'd give you a strike tonight.

"no, i promise," his voice lingers around you from hours ago. "i'll make sure i get the ball, and it's yours, querida. eu prometo." [i promise]

well, he promised — and promises stick with you like gorilla glue. even at the ripe old age of 22, you still believe in pinky promises the way georgina still believes in romance movies. that's besides the point.

it was up till the point after your dad was awarded a penalty. he took it, it went in, your dad is a worldwide legend, blah blah blah. you knew it was bound to happen everytime portugal play. the game was inching up to 14 minutes as your legs begin to bounce nervously. what made it worse was that mateo was on your lap when it happened.

"querida, why are your legs shaking?" mateo's neck cranes to look at you. all you could give him was a weak smile.

"nothing, 'zinho. just nervous for papai like all of us, né?" you answer, hoping mateo will take it and leave it alone.

"you're nervous for joão." if there's one thing you could curse about mateo, it's how close he is to you, even though you no longer live with your family. on his day, mateo would feel lonely — even though he's a twin — and ask gio to facetime you. most of the time, he'd catch you at the right time; driving back home from training, going out for lunch with joão on an off day. and sometimes you wouldn't pick up, occupied with training for the upcoming game that week.

mateo would never fail to call you at least twice a month, understanding how tight your schedule is and that he has to leave you alone sometimes, afraid you'd be exhausted after a long day of training. sometimes you'd give him a call too, missing your queridinho on your day.

"não somos todos?" you nervously chuckle, your hands were resting on mateo's lap, its fingers slowly picking at your cuticles. [aren't we all?]

"si, but you're stressed," mateo pouts. "joão told me you made him promise to score tonight. and you know what, y/n? i hope he scores too." he gives you his typical mateo smile; the absolute sweetest thing you could ever see.

not even a mere few seconds later, a cross from bernardo comes in. you try to anticipate which portugal boy it'd reach. you released a breath you didn't realise you were holding when you see the ball making immediate contact with joão's head, as he nicks the ball in past the luxembourg goalkeeper.

the crowd was anticlimactic, though, you'd have to say. there is a totally valid reason for it. is joão offside or not? the referee blows his whistle, giving the goal to portugal as they now lead the game 2-0. you carefully picked mateo up as you stand, the boy's arms in the air as he celebrates the allowed goal from his hermano. you watch as joão turns to the grandstand your family is situated at.

you can only assume he's looking at you at that point, but gio turns to face you and mateo to state the obvious. "el te esta mirando!" gio screams in a whispery manner. you'd only assumed that, but you were wearing the white portugal away kit, allowing joão to identify you clear as day from the pitch compared to the rest of your family who were clad in black winter coats. you agree, the weather is a bit nippy in luxembourg.

joão looks you dead in the eye — or you assume — and crosses his arms. you immediately realise what it meant, smiling to yourself as your dad, bruno and bernardo begin to crowd him and give him words of congratulations on the smooth yet second nature goal of his.

you wait till after the game, where they defeat luxembourg 6-0 to regroup with joão and cristiano. cris, before anything, would engulf gio and bella first, giving joão full leeway to reach for you first. "did you see?!" the taste of excitement is still sweet and prominent on joão's tongue when he speaks.

"i saw! my celebration at barça. thief." you joke, pushing a fist into his bicep playfully.

"amo-te, linda. obrigado por estar aqui." joão smiles, not hesitating to squish your face into his chest. [i love you beautiful, thank you for being here]

"eu vim buscar o papai, mas tudo bem." you shrug jokingly before finding yourself in your papai's arms and listening to him thank you for coming to a portugal game — an away game, no less. [i came for dad, but okay]

[icallhimjoey]

Can we have a sweet and soft Christmas eve with Joey? Just the two of us? pretty please

this was requested at the perfect time, so thank you, and merry christmas my sluts! Wordcount: 1.7K

---

Still Love Me?

"I'm sorry, I'm not crying because I'm upset, d-don't worry, I just..."

You don't get like this very often. Usually, trying to be extra affectionate makes you scrunch your nose up, makes you squirm and laugh and cringe. Makes you push him away, not taking the extra hugs and kisses seriously at all.

Joe doesn't mind.

"What's wrong?"

It's actually nice to not always feel the need to give you more. To not be afraid that maybe you'd be upset after not immediately coming over to hug and kiss you when he'd walk in at the end of the day.

But something's different tonight.

It's likely the holiday stress that's getting to you. Nothing a pair of extra affectionate warm embracing arms won't fix.

"I thought we had more cheese, but all we've got left is this..."

You suppress a sob.

Unsuccessfully.

Joe knows the tears are only there because all of everything has come together for the perfect storm, and you're just about ready to fall apart.

It's sort of cute that it's a lack of cheese that does it, and Joe's secretly glad it's not something that he'd done or said that got you. That it's not his fault, and that he doesn't have to apologise over something unimportant.

It's fine, though, the crying.

Joe had been ready for it.

He's got steady hands and is prepared to catch whatever needs catching. Knows how to put you back together just fine.

"Why did I do this? I've got to stop sneaking things, I– look, there's no... this is all we've got..."

You've got family coming over tomorrow, and it's the first year that your place is the spot for the big get together. It's nerve-racking in new ways you didn't know existed before because you're bringing both sets of parents in, and all you want to do is make the family proud.

Be the perfect daughter.

Have the stepmothers and stepdads get along as well as all of the divorced people. All of the siblings. Step-siblings.

Fuck, there's too many people coming over.

Could you still cancel, do you think?

You just... you just want Christmas be wholesome, and festive, and cosy, full of laughter and love and just... have it be perfect.

It's almost become a bit of a passion project, and it's quite literally driven you mad.

Well. Driven you to tears, at least.

Joe looks over and sees you hold a little block of brie cheese. It's not much, and it's got a bite taken out of it.

"Wait, did you–" Joe's already smiling, because what the fuck is he looking at right now? His girlfriend's got tears in her eyes and is stood in front of the opened fridge door, holding a bit of French cheese that has teeth marks in.

Surely, you are able to imagine what this looks like from his point of view.

It's at least a little funny.

But another sob wracks from your chest and all Joe can do is step closer and wrap arms around your shaking frame.

He's allowed to laugh as he does so.

"I didn't know- I thought we had more, b-but this was all we have, and I snuck a bite last night, because I– I was peckish and just wanted a little something, and–"

"Hey," Joe leans back and gets your face in both his hands. He's still smiling. Can't not smile, because this is ridiculous, but you also look very cute. Red nose. Fat tears stuck in your eyelashes. The colour of your eyes about ten times brighter because of the unshed ones.

"We'll serve 'em dry crackers, and they'll fucking take what they're given, all right?"

You pout and hold up the evidence of your late-night-snack-run in your own kitchen from the night before. It's right in between your faces and gives Joe a chance to really see the cause of the outburst.

"Still love me?"

Joe looks at the brie a second and then lurches forward with a growl, sinking teeth into the soft cheese for a bite of his own.

"Still love you." he replies, mouth full of cheese.

You can't help the choking laugh, head cocking to the side as a defeated soft chuckle leaves you. It only makes Joe want to grab hold of you tighter.

"Hmm," Joe hums, now chewing, and he frowns. "This is good. We should–" he can't finish the sentence without laughing, knowing it's likely the wrong thing to say, but he's already started the sentence. You get a good eyeful of the cheese in his mouth, in between his teeth. "We should get more of this."

Well, you can't.

Hence the crying.

You pout once more and then groan. It's so stupid, you're well aware. You just need a bit of sleep. Your family won't hate you because there's no cheese.

And if anything, you could throw it into the group chat and are sure that at least three people have some brie to bring along tomorrow.

You really are just very tired.

"Tell you what," Joe says, now taking the little piece of cheese from your fingers, one arm still around you. "We'll finish this, have some hot chocolate and just... relax. Watch a Christmas film. Tomorrow is tomorrow and tonight is tonight, you've done enough prepping and it'll all be fine–"

"Perfect." you correct.

It's important that everything will be perfect.

"It'll all be perfect." Joe coos, voice smooth like butter.

You sniff and look at him a moment. He's still chewing. Smiling. Joe's being all playful and it's reminding you of why you love him so much. Glancing into the living room, you know Joe's right. Everything's ready. Everything's done.

It's Christmas Eve.

"Calm before the storm." you sigh, patting Joe where you're holding onto him. Then lower down, quick touch to the bum. Joe easily lets you.

"Calm before the storm." he confirms before you let go of each other. You move to collect yourself, wiping fingers below your eyes, and Joe opens a cupboard to get to mugs out and says, "And I'll go get extra cheese tomorrow, it'll be fine."

You're about to protest. Tell him that the shop you usually go to won't be open. It'll be Christmas. And everyone's stocked up already. Shelves are empty all over. But Joe sees it across your face before you can say anything and adds, "I'll find some, don't worry about it."

And so you don't.

You accept a kiss to your temple, a deep inhale of your hair and you tilt your head for a kiss on the lips. A quiet thank you.

After a squeeze of your arm, Joe gets started on the hot chocolate and you decide to see if there's anything good on TV or if it'll be Netflix for the night.

Before you've been able to make a choice, you hear mugs being filled and you scurry back into the kitchen. You get to the fridge before Joe does, which was the plan. You find the can of squirty cream amongst all of the food and drink - your fridge has never been this full. It's almost triggeringly full; so much food, yet so little cheese.

It takes you too long, and Joe joins to look over your shoulder, to see if he can spot it before you do.

He doesn't.

You find it and giggle excitedly, a little delirious (you've gone mad, remember?) as you shake it with a wild arm. Your demeanor is the opposite of what it was minute earlier.

No tears. Just manic laughter.

Makes Joe laugh just the same. His girlfriend's gone insane and, if he's honest, he's kind of into it.

You spray some cream into both mugs that Joe's filled with hot chocolate, and before you place it back into the fridge, you shake the can again.

"You just said you should stop sneaking things," Joe isn't exactly trying to stop you, but he knows what you're about to do. Feels like it's worth saying something, to maybe prevent a further break down.

It's of no use, though.

His comment makes you glance him pointed a look. It's ridiculous of him to assume you'd been serious. Of course you're not going to stop sneaking things. He doesn't see the deadpan stare you give him because he's busy placing mini marshmallows onto your drinks, but despite the advice, you go for it anyway.

You tip your head back and spray some of the cream directly into your mouth.

"My God," Joe says when you let it go for a little too long, and when he looks, he barks a laugh.

You've overdone it.

It's too much.

Well, is it ever too much? Not really. But it doesn't fit into your mouth and thus there's a problem. This is going to be messy.

With your head still tilted back, you release a small sound of panic at the inability to close your mouth and raise a cupped hand, ready to catch whatever is going to spill.

But Joe knows just the perfect fix, and he's quick.

Before you know what's happening, your boyfriend's got his hand on the back of your neck, digging in strong fingers and guiding your head forward.

Just before whatever your lips can't curl around is about to slide down your chin, Joe's mouthing at it and manages to get it all, tongue licking and lips closing around your opened ones.

What follows is a weird, full-cheeked sticky, creamy, sugary kiss that has you giggling into each others mouths.

It's still messy, but you'd easily do this again. Would it be too obvious if you just went for an insane mouthful once more?

Joe pulls back, sees he's missed a bit and doesn't hesitate to lick at the corner of your mouth, making you shriek with your mouth closed, pushing him away.

"You're gross," you say fondly after swallowing.

He's also adorably sweet, but he doesn't need telling.

Joe lets his head bobble back a little as he silently laughs, wiping at his own mouth with the back of his hand, glad to have been of service.

"Yea? Still love me?"

Tomorrow's going to be fine.

There's no cheese but for the little chunk you're about to share. It'll likely be all gone if you both have a single cracker with some on.

And there probably also won't be any squirty cream left, what with your plan to bring the can over to the sofa for top-ups after you've eaten all of it off. Or, you know, after you've sprayed more of it into your mouth just so Joe can eat it out of there again.

You families can have hot chocolate without any, and Joe's right. They'll fucking take what they'll be given and be grateful.

Or, Joe can find some tomorrow.

Somewhere.

Whatever.

You're no longer fussed.

It's Christmas. Christmas Eve.

"Still love you." you beam, because you do.

You really, really do.

---

The Taglisted

@adoreyouusugar, @alana4610, @ali-in-w0nderland, @alwayslindie, @babybluebex, @barfightzanddiscolightz, @bettyfrommars, @cancankiki, @capricornrisingsstuff, @chaoticgood-munson, @chrissymjstan, @choke-me-eddie, @demonsanddemogorgons, @did-it-work, @dirtyeddietini, @dylanmunson, @eddies-puppet, @electricmunson, @emma77645, @emmamooney, @everythinghasafacee, @figmentofquinn, @frootvelvet, @ghost-proofbaby, @ghostinthebackofyourhead, @harringtonfan4, @haylaansmi, @jasminearondottir, @jewellethief, @joesquinns, @kellyxo1, @kennedy-brooke, @lovelyblueness, @manda-panda-monium, @miserybeans, @nadixq, @notverywise, @pepperstories, @phyllosilicate-s, @roosterisdaddy36, @sherrylyn628, @sidthedollface2, @thebellenouvelle, @thewondernanazombie, @tlclick73, @werepartnersnow, @winterwakesthewolf, @witchwolflea, @yelyahcardella, @yunirgo

taglist currently full, sorry

[fairytale-poll]

ROUND 2B, MATCH 8 OUT OF 8!

Propaganda Under the Cut:

Ashlynn:

She's from one of my favorite childhood shows and she's cool

She's kind, pure, and hardworking. She never takes things for granted, and always appreciates the little things. She isn't afraid to speak up when she sees something she thinks is wrong. She's such a cute and cool character!

Just look at her, she’s such a cinnamon roll

she's cinderella's daughter and an overall sweetheart. she's super hardworking and can talk to animals!

She is the most adorable baby girl in this show (along with many other baby girls) and she's suffering from being in an impossible love story. She has an impeccable taste in fashion and shoes so she's deserving the win.

She's really nice and I'm very nostalgic for the show

daughter of cinderella doomed to repeat her mothers story. she’s cute she’s nice and she makes shoes for a living!!

she literally said "I can love him so much i can literally change destiny" and ykw? slay

She's from one of my favorite childhood shows and she's cool

She's kind, pure, and hardworking. She never takes things for granted, and always appreciates the little things. She isn't afraid to speak up when she sees something she thinks is wrong. She's such a cute and cool character!

Just look at her, she’s such a cinnamon roll

she's cinderella's daughter and an overall sweetheart. she's super hardworking and can talk to animals!

She is the most adorable baby girl in this show (along with many other baby girls) and she's suffering from being in an impossible love story. She has an impeccable taste in fashion and shoes so she's deserving the win.

She's really nice and I'm very nostalgic for the show

daughter of cinderella doomed to repeat her mothers story. she’s cute she’s nice and she makes shoes for a living!!

she literally said "I can love him so much i can literally change destiny" and ykw? slay

ASHLYNNNNNNNN OH MY GOD!!! she is SUCH a sweetheart and I know this isn't the point of the poll but her DOLLS DON'T MISS Also??? Look at her with pink hair Vote for Ashlynn PLEASE I BEG OF YOU

Reminder to vote for Ashlynn because she is so adorable. I love Frankie too but ASHLYNNNNNN

Danielle:

This is, imo, the single best retelling of Cinderella out there. She has a great character, her relationship with the prince grows organically rather than happening in a single night, and the scene with the bandits is top tier

The story is told as a historical romance instead of anything supernatural happening. Drew Barrymore is a cute Cinderella, Anjelica Houston is an incredible stepmother, and she's also really nasty to one of the stepsisters too, who ends up taking Danielle (Cinderella)'s side. Also Leonardo da Vinci is hanging around painting a portrait of Danielle at one point.

The Drew Barrymore Cinderella is fantastic. It’s got real history mixed with beautiful whimsy! I absolutely love the butterfly wings and how she spoke up for her step mother and sister at the end (and that they were still punished). I feel like I need to go watch it now.

she’s funny and smart and she’s resourceful (also her outfits are historically accurate!)

[sugaldean]

Is miss Muffet going to appear? Where is she?

I thought she came with them in the Lands In Between

YES ZAC YES ZAC

His nat20s are INSANE.

Oh we went hard Christian indeed

Oh no Lou. You broke my heart. "why other could? Why consequences not only never seemed to apply to other kids but were the ultimate for me. Why did I have to suffer every step of the way. Why must I suffer all the time whatever i do."

"For a moment you are all marionettes together". Stop it. Stop. It's too strong to hard.

Oh no not the turquoise hair fairy

Oh what was this second map with the sea?? Ariel? And I think they were other border of countries

Oh no Gepetto wth. Poor Pinocchio

I SHOULD NEVER HAVE MADE YOU??? What the what the what. Whaaaaat?

I'm crying so hard. I know he doesn't believe it but I hate it. I hate it. I hate it so much

Or there she is

Brennan showing absolutely perfect the danger kids are in when the people in their life don't show them love and affection enough. They get easily manipulated and are ready to give everything to the first glimpse of affection. Real or not. I don't blame Pinocchio, I will never blame him. But I HATE what the Turquoise hair fairy and Gepetto did. Oh you regret what you said? Apologize. Apologize NOW. You can't afford your kid being so neglected and deprived of your affection that the will run first thing to anyone. That's how grooming happen.

Oh the way they all jumped to tell him his dad loved him but it doesn't excuse that what he did and say was wrong

"Even though the moral is wrong Pinocchio still has to escape the moral of his story" oh this episode is breaking me

Oh so the fairies are not a united bunch, interesting

Still absolutely don't trust her tho

Okay so basically the Bad Things are happening because it doesn't match what the Authors want? But if the Authors would. Well. Disappear. What would happen?

Oh we're finally getting some insight on the relationships between groups

I fucking love the big bad wolf. Well I love wolf. I'm just sad he doesn't have a pack, he must me lonely

OH YES RED STORY YES YES FINALLY

Dramatic backstory: starting

Emily: Cinnamon Toast Rolls and Lollypopcorn

Bye broth! A caterpillar chasing their friend the butterfly

"Your ears are honking big" picturing the Wolf listening to the caterpillar and butterfly story while waiting to eat her. Story he already know ofc

They are just loosing it at "Honkin" and honestly same

I love the wolf so hard he is a tragedy that's incredible "why? I am a wolf"

Oh she waited so long. So so long. No wonder she killed the Woodsman.

She was so hungry. I love her. I hate The Wolf. I love the Wolf. I wonder what happened to him to end up there.

YES RED YES. She met death and death convinced her to live!

Gerard's story is so funny, tragic and very reflective but so. Funny.

The absolute chaos if Gerard just. Dies.

"do you go where the dogs are or to your frog pound" "pretty loaded question"

It's adorable that Murph just stated that years after it's still only Fred 2 and 3. Not like. 364.

Oh no they are dead

Oh their meet cute is so adorable

The plot thickens as we met the Gander

OH CINDERELLA

Oh no it's the Stepmother story

Yes it is

That's so much wider she loved her daughters

BABA YAGA OH YES OH FHKGFXHJ

Yeah same Emily EXACTLY SAME

Oh i'm so happy. She's so strong and old

She's going to be a pain in the ass

"your daughters won't be injured if you eat them, and then you will be able to save them" i'm not sure but that's something she could say for sure

There goes the witch way

To be the vilain in every story. To be cursed with never having a story. I would be mad too

How cruel that in a way she has the same goal as Cinderella

She big mad

But when does she eat her daughters?

No no no not her present. You are level 4 guys

Oh that's where she eats her daughters

Rosamund is so smart

The brick little pig being called a boar and a Baron (love the alliteration btw)

I understand from Brennan that while they were running for their life the book of mother Goose downloaded a shit load of information

Have they slept since they arrive in this new life? I feel like they didn't which is HORRIFYING

Any situation: involve a living being

Pib: I kill them

I really would like to understand the nature of that damn book fr

That Gérard&Pib interaction was gold:

Pib: idk how we're going to know someone who knows...

Gerard (vigorously) : yeah we just need to break him out

Pib (confused) : wait... We... No no I think we..

Love them to bits

"so you guys go camping?" well yeah Brennan THEY HAVEN'T REST IT'S A LONG DAY FOR THEM

They are children. "Can we sleap on the roof please?"

LONG REST

The dice sometimes tel' the story of a Frog who got a level of exhaustion from being outside, wet and dirty. Basic living conditions for frogs. While the wooden boy who can rot easily is sooo fine.

Mother Goose bless 🙌🙌

That envoy is absolutely spectacular. A Princess (slept for 100y)with her envoy, basically and old man, a puppet, a cat, a manfrog and a cloak

Rosamund: I AM NOT going to propose myself to be married. No. Not interested and I don't think that's something you do

30sec later: I'm here to offer myself in marriage

Zac and Emily's reactions>>>

Can't believe the Baron isn't call Beter

[princesssarisa]

Comments about "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" that can and should coexist

I think these comments address every feminist complaint I've ever read about the 1937 Disney classic, though I don't know if they'll all be "addressed" in the live-action remake or not.

"It's an old-fashioned convention for a fictional young girl's dreams to revolve around romance, based in the outdated, patriarchal idea that love and marriage are what female lives 'naturally' revolve around and should revolve around. It's only appropriate that more 'modern,' 'feminist' heroines have different wishes and goals."

and

"For a lonely, abused orphan like Snow White, whose only apparent friends at the beginning are birds, it's perfectly natural that she should dream of love."

"Love at First Sight isn't realistic, to portray it in modern media is out of fashion, and in real life, it would be ridiculous at best and disturbing at worst for a young man to just notice a pretty girl singing alone in a courtyard and promptly climb over the wall and sing a love song to her."

and

"Love at First Sight is a storytelling convention, and children can see it in fairy tales without assuming it's real. It won't make your daughter instantly run off with a cute stranger. Snow White and the Prince's romance isn't meant to be realistic – it's a simple, old-fashioned, idealized Romeo and Juliet-style romance, and we should feel free to enjoy it as such."

"Modern feminism doesn't like damsels in distress. It's only natural that in today's media, heroines should show more strength in the face of danger than they did in 1930s media."

and

"It's perfectly natural for Snow White to be petrified with fear when the Huntsman is about to kill her – instead of, say, trying to fight back – and frantic with terror as she runs through the dark forest. Not because 'girls are weak,' but because she's so young. A boy in the same situation would have just as much right to be terrified. Besides, after her initial terror passes, she proves remarkably resilient as she comforts herself by befriending the animals and singing a song. Not all strength looks 'tough,' after all."

"The original Grimms' tale and the 1937 film's emphasis on Snow White's cleaning and cooking reflects an outdated, patriarchal model of ideal femininity. It's probably best for a modern retelling to at least slightly downplay it, or omit it altogether."

and

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a nurturing personality and favoring domestic skills, regardless of gender. It's perfectly fine that as an individual, Snow White enjoys cooking and uses songs and imagination to make housework fun. Especially because of the Cinderella-like life her stepmother forced her into – domestic work is the main skill that she's learned, and it's all she has to offer the dwarfs in exchange for staying in their house."

"The 1937 Snow White is a bit too much of a 'mother hen' to the dwarfs, in a way that arguably borders on ableism. In a modern reimagining, she should remember that they're her elders, not children, and give them due respect."

and

"It's endearing to watch Snow White cajole, gently scold, and tease the dwarfs, and to gain power over a household of seven men in her own soft way."

"As the Queen's only (step)child, Snow White is presumably the heir to the throne. Retellings focuses on her coming into her own as a leader, leading a rebellion against the Queen, and finally becoming queen herself in the end are valid. So are retellings where the Queen is only Snow White's regent and wants to kill her not just for her beauty, but to keep the throne for herself."

and

"Snow White doesn't need to be a leader and her storyline doesn't need to be political in any way. That's not what the tale is about."

"Someday My Prince Will Come isn't a modern feminist song, just like I'm Wishing isn't one. It's out of fashion for a heroine's dreams to revolve around romantic love. The emphasis on the Prince coming to Snow White also places her in a passive role, rather than letting her be active like a more modern heroine and search for him."

and

"Someday My Prince Will Come gets a bad rap. Snow White isn't fantasizing about a prince she's never met. She loves him already, and is singing of her undying hope that they'll meet again, even though it seems unlikely that they will. Nor does she center her whole life around her dreams of him. Apart from the song and her wish on the "wishing apple," she never even mentions him after their meeting: as much as she loves him, she doesn't waste time pining for him, but moves on with her life while holding onto her faith that they'll reunite. Nor can she go looking for him herself, because she's in hiding from the Queen, so of course she dreams that he'll come to her."

"Snow White is painfully naïve to trust the Witch, and to let her in the house and take food from her despite having been warned repeatedly to beware of strangers. This earns her no points as a role model. It's no wonder that modern adaptations tend to make her 'smarter,' and either (a) have the Queen take the shape of someone she already knows and trusts, or (b) have her know the apple is poisoned, but eat it as a self-sacrifice to save the dwarfs' lives or some such thing, or (c) rewrite the story's climax to cut the poisoning altogether."

and

"Snow White isn't stupid, she's just naïve because she's young, and the Witch takes advantage of her kindness and her love. Despite knowing better, she can't bear to refuse a frail old woman's pleas to let her rest in the house. Then when she's told that the apple grants wishes and will bring the Prince to her, when she's been dreaming of him so ardently and still has no way of knowing if they'll meet again, she can't resist. It's a fatal mistake, but aren't heroines allowed to make mistakes? Must she be a role model in every moment? Why can't it be poignant that the Witch takes advantage of her youthful innocence and tender heart to mislead her?"

"The trope of the male hero saving the heroine was overused and outdated long ago. It makes sense for a modern retelling of Snow White to find some way or other for Snow White to save herself."

and

"The Prince waking Snow White isn't a particularly glaring case of 'boy rescues girl.' It's just a matter of love conquering evil. The Prince doesn't do any 'manly' act of heroism; all he does is give Snow White a kiss that he doesn't even know will revive her."

"The Prince kissing the seemingly-dead Snow White's lips has earned so much controversy over the years that it should be no surprise when modern retellings avoid it."

and

"The Prince's kiss isn't 'necrophilia' or 'non-consensual.' He's just giving his 'dead' beloved a sad, affectionate farewell. In later movies, is Belle being 'necrophiliac' or 'non-consensual' when she lays her head on the Beast's lifeless chest while declaring her love, or is Elsa when she hugs Anna's ice statue form in grief? This is no different."

"The Queen can be seen as a misogynistic figure, first of all by vilifying a woman in power, secondly because petty vanity is her motive, and any possible sympathetic explanation for why she's so desperate to be the fairest in the land (e.g. because society ties women's worth too much to their beauty) is ignored. It's understandable that a modern retelling should try to make her a more nuanced figure."

and

"The Queen is still one of Disney's most terrifying villains, despite being the first. She doesn't need more 'depth' or 'nuance' to be an outstanding character."

"Snow White is a passive character in both the original Grimms' tale and the Disney film. She's defined more by what happens to her and how other people feel about her than by anything she does. So of course modern retellings will tend to find ways to make her a more active player and give her more agency."

and

"A character doesn't need to be 'active' or have constant 'agency' to be a good character. We push for heroines to have 'agency' because women have too often been forced to be passive and rely on men, but for an individual character, in and of herself, 'active' doesn't need to be the rule. In the Grimms' tale, Snow White is passive because she's more of a symbol of youth and beauty than a real person: the real (villain) protagonist is the Queen. And in the Disney film, where Snow White is more of a person and more clearly the protagonist, what she does is be warm, friendly, and full of life and joy. In this way she earns others' love, and love saves her life. For some of us, this is wish-fulfillment and central to the story's appeal. Snow White is threatened with the Queen's terrible hatred, but just by being herself she earns a bounty of love, and love proves stronger than hate."

[manga-reviews-for-somebody]

I'm the Wicked Stepmother, but my Daughter is Too Cute/Not-Sew Wicked Stepmother

Okay. I wrote this review and saved it as a draft but because Tumblr is a garbage dumpster the draft is gone. So, I'll try and write it the same but ugh.

It starts at your typical transported into another's body/reincarnation story. The premise being the MC is now the wicked stepmom of snow white (they call her Blanche, which isn't the worst) and since in the MC's previous life she was a dress designer she's delighted to have a daughter to dress up. So lots of "holy shit I love my new daughter/how do I feel about her dad" found family tropes which I love.

But about 50+ chapters in it changes a little. The MC's original body was slightly overweight, and in her new body she again begins to struggle with her weight (more like just perception of being larger than she is because she's quite normal).

The setting plays a strong part in this, since women are trophies with value in their appearance only.

Since she was chubby in her previous life she struggles with finding value in herself even though she's a different person. There's an internal struggle as she thinks she isn't worthy of love because of her weight but she slowly begins to see the error of this as her daughter starts to mimic her dieting and worries about weight.

There's an emotional bit where she realizes that both her and the original body owner died trying to be beautiful/loved. (It's unclear how OG body owner died, but it's the kind of world where a woman might use arsenic to make herself seem more pale).

I almost cried at work. It really was well done and accurate to my experiences, but if course she realizes her value is more than her figure eventually, though she's still under confident.

There's some bad writing, lots of moments where I was like: yea this is a fantasy romance, real people are better communicators and have higher perception of how their words can have multiple meanings. But for a slow unrealized romance with found family tropes it was better than expected.

7/10 likely to read again. Though there were 108 chapters.

[offscriptif]

Hi, welcome back! I know you want to subvert some frequent tropes in isekais so I wanted to ask - do you have a favorite isekai trope? A least favorite trope? What do you think of isekais that poke fun at and parody its own genre? (My favorite one is "touch my little brother and you're dead.")

Hi hi hi! Good to be back even if my job search has me all over the place! Overall, I do love all isekai's, both those that take things too seriously and those who don't, because they are all fun to read. It's difficult to pick a least favorite trope, though, because it all depends on how the trope is played. For example, I tend to dislike the "the original heroine is actually a green tea bitch" trope because I don't think it makes sense most of the time if the work had established the original heroine as inherently good, but there are times where the trope is well done such as the way 'Please Don't Come to the Villainess' Stationary Store!' does it, or in 'Cheating Men Must Die'.

One trope I do really dislike is when the person that has been isekaied does everything possible to avoid raising death flags and they do it cleverly and we get stuck with the excuse of the story being self-correcting as to why the death flags are still raised just to add more drama for the reader. It just strikes me as a little boring for an explanation. Oh! And another, is when there is a large age gap between the main lead and the isekai'ed character and it is implied that they will end up together when the main lead grows up because they became obsessed with the isekai'ed character. I don't mind unhealthy romances because they can be fun to read but done this way in particular is mildly uncomfortable for me.

My favorite trope right now, is when the MC is isekaid really young and we have a more familial bonding focused story even as the MC goes through their shenanigans as a secondary plot. Examples can be 'Lord Baby Runs a Romance Fantasy with Cash' and 'I Acted As the Adopted Daughter Too Well'. But I have to admit that the 'I possessed the character after they have done some pretty shitty things but there is still time to turn things around and I will! Because I have a child relying on me" found in 'It's Time to Change the Genre' and 'I'm Only a Stepmother, But My Daughter is So Cute!'.

[genericpuff]

I really can't wait to see how you write Demeter! Is she going to be the villain?

yaay it's a good day for asks! sorry because I'm about to go on ANOTHER HUGE TANGENT LMAO but I hope it answers your question thoroughly enough ! 😅 (and if it doesn't at all lmk LOL) Demeter's gonna be an interesting one. I think you already know the answer to this, but I really can't stand how she's villainized like some Mother Gothel archetype, especially when it comes to how Rachel portrays it, because everything Demeter thinks/does/says is honestly justified, try as Rachel might to make her seem like some insane overbearing 'evil' stepmother. Everything always comes back to "Demeter bad!" whereas reading her depiction of Persephone is like watching The Little Mermaid as an adult.

(it's very frustrating, to say the least LMAO)

Personally I'm gonna be going for what LO started with, but never followed up on - Demeter wants to see her daughter gain independence, but is fearful of her being taken advantage of and hurt the same way she, her "sisters", and her "mother" was (and yes, I have my own way of tackling the incest and familial labels in a way Rachel could have but didn't, I don't wanna reveal too much but it's very fun and I can't wait to explore it haha). All this is gonna affect how her relationship with her daughter plays out - it won't be exactly like the Hymn of Demeter, focusing solely on Demeter's grief, but it won't be exactly like LO either where it throws aside the purpose and messaging of the original myth entirely. All the gods are nuanced and morally problematic in their own way, and that includes Persephone and Hades.

Honestly, I think the reason why so many myth 'retellings' like LO end up being this Flanderized in their characterizations ("Demeter bad, Persephone good!" and "Zeus bad husband, Hades perfect husband!") is because there's so little material surrounding Persephone and Hades compared to all the others. While this can make it fun for having more freedom in re-interpretations, it unfortunately has the opposite effect as well where people tend to forgo the entire point of the original story so they can have some feel good cute story where Hades was some "soft" husband who did nothing wrong and Persephone was some "boss babe" icon with no nuance in between.

I see this type of fetishization of the original myth in a lot of these interpretations but especially Rachel's work. I'm not sure if "fandomification" is a word that can be used here, but I definitely get the feeling Rachel idolizes and fetishizes Greek myth the same way a lot of young Westerners often idolize and fetishize Japanese lore and content, or, more personally, Indigenous cultures (as I myself am Indigenous, specifically Mi'kmaq) - by reducing it down to its most "consumable" formats and turning it into something more 'palatable' and 'fandom-y' for modern audiences that almost comes across as pandering and demeaning to anyone looking for anything with more depth than a teaspoon (and especially to those who belong to the respective cultures being portrayed through this lens).

This isn't to say that creators have to stick to their lane when writing about other cultures or myths, but you can tell when someone hasn't done their research and is working from a very romanticized template they've built up in their heads. Rachel's, in this case, feels like it's definitely come from her time on Tumblr back in the day, when Hades x Persephone writing prompts were all the rage and people were coming up with all sorts of feel good AU content. The thing with AU prompts like that though is they're just that - prompts, memes, mere thought experiments or hypotheticals, not something that can necessarily work as an actual serious long form story unless you know what you're doing. I think creators who want to go so far as to 're-interpret' these stories through their own lens have a huge responsibility to still recognize and treat the original source material with some semblance of respect. In this regard, LO in its current state really should have stayed as a slice-of-life type series if it wanted to keep things light.

And I'm saying this entirely as someone who grew up on weeb content in the freaking West and got more into Greek myth because of LO. That's why I don't entirely chastise it, fandom-y type stories like LO can definitely help introduce people to cultures and stories they wouldn't have batted an eye at before (as I've started to detest LO over the last year, it's made for even better learning because I've had to research the original myths just to see how Rachel is misfiring on them entirely LMAO) but there comes the added responsibility of making sure you're not erasing or reducing the original material in favor of the silly cutesy stuff. It's an entry point, not the entire course! And that's a responsibility that falls both on the audience and the content's creator, IMO.

Yay, more text dumps! Sorry if a lot of that seems weirdly gatekeepy, it's def not what I'm trying to get across, just trying to voice my own frustrations with the depiction of LO's characters as best I can, I feel like a lot of it comes down to Rachel just not having done proper research and relying solely on tropes and self-fulfilling fantasies. If LO stayed as a slice-of-life thing that would have been fine, there's definitely a place for that sort of feel-good goofy storytelling, but by trying to be super ultra serious, it's tripped over its own feet because that's just not what Rachel is capable of depicting at this moment. She's trying to write a super serious story, but doesn't come across as if she actually takes it seriously by extension and it shows.

TL ; DR: Basically, we're gonna actually hone in on Demeter's trauma from the Titanomachy and how it affects her parenting style and 'controlling' tendencies, not only of Persephone, but of the community of nymphs she's fostered over the years. It's not about whether Demeter is the hero or the villain, because that would be missing the point entirely - it's about her role and experiences as a mother and leader of her community, a woman in a struggling position of power among a patriarchal system, and a mother who lost her child to that same patriarchal system, whether by choice or through forced marriage. No matter how one wishes to tell it, whether it's in tragedy or celebration, you can't have the story of Persephone and Hades without Demeter. That is the core of what I want to focus on and bring back to the retellings of Hades and Persephone.

[aciakatura]

I'm just a Stepmother but my Daughter is too cute / Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmother fanart

[watermelinoe]

can you recommend some isekais?

ohhh anon you bet your buns i can!! so i'll just say that i love the villainess isekai trope, and i love historical political intrigue, aristocratic scheming, power struggles, etc. i personally like f/m but only if the male lead is secondary to the female lead. i like a male lead who falls in love first and devotedly supports his female lead while she does important plot shit, even better if she's completely oblivious to his feelings. but the second a good f/f villainess isekai exists? i will devour it so fast. (you have no idea how let down i was by i'm in love with the villainess. i may never recover.) ANYWAY here you are:

kanata kara (manga, complete): 90s shoujo fantasy romance, a young woman finds herself spirited away to another world where she is prophecized to release an evil monster currently sealed inside a wandering young swordsman. i really loved the worldbuilding and the fact that noriko has to learn the new language bc she doesn't automatically know it like in most modern isekai. and i love that it emphasizes the good in people, and the importance of the connections we make with each other. noriko is unquestionably vital to the narrative even if she can't fight. i also personally love the art style but i get that it's not for everyone!

sengoku strays (manga, complete): shounen with a female protagonist who knows kendo, no romance, written by a woman! totally underrated imo. a high school girl ends up back in the sengoku era right in the middle of nobunaga oda's rise to power and ends up fighting alongside his allies. i didn't expect to like this one as much as i did.

the villainess is a marionette (manhwa, ongoing): double-reincarnation story, princess kayena hill has already had two past lives. in this one she is working to survive the power struggle for the throne by gathering her own allies... most of whom so far are women - her maids - and she's really protective of her people (and they're really devoted to her). when she shows up to the rescue when her maids are in trouble, without spoiling the situation, i was kicking my legs bc she's just the coolest. there's the male lead, who's in love with her, but she's largely too busy with other shit. i would also die for her so i get him tbh. the art is gorgeous!!

a wicked tale of cinderella's stepmom/i raised cinderella preciously (manhwa, ongoing): 37-year-old protagonist, she wakes up in the body of mildred vans, apparently the wicked stepmother of three daughters (included stepdaughter ashley vans), and makes it her mission to help cinderella marry her prince and ensure her other daughters find good marriages so she can retire to a cottage somewhere. this obviously doesn't go as planned. the manhwa deals quite a bit with the misogyny of the time period and the girls trying to find their own way, while wanting to protect each other and mildred, so they all hesitate to go for what they really want. the female characters of the vans family are all well-rounded and devoted to each other. this is a slow burn with lots of secret identities and misunderstandings. i have my own theories based on what we know so far, but the big question right now is: is ashley really cinderella?

not-sew-wicked stepmom/i'm a stepmother, but my daughter is just too cute (manhwa, ongoing): another wicked stepmother isekai, in this one the female lead wakes up as snow white's evil stepmother, abigail friedkin, but all she wants to do is get close to her daughter and design clothes for her (she was a children's fashion designer in her past life). this manhwa deals heavily with misogyny and disordered eating - the female lead was always overweight in her past life and snaps when she finds out her stepdaughter's tutor is restricting her meals, for example. also, if you like rococo era fashion, you'll really enjoy the dress designs, especially the chemise dresses - the manhwa explores the misogyny surrounding women and girls being forced to wear uncomfortable clothing. this is also the second time i've actually seen period blood depicted in a manga or manhwa (the other was akatsuki no yona, which i absolutely recommend)! i do have to give a trigger warning for the reveal of past child sexual abuse. the perpetrator is dead before the start of the manhwa but the manhwa deals with the remaining trauma.

the villiness flips the script/it's time to change the genre (manhwa, ongoing): i really like the villainess genre alright. the female lead wakes up in the body of judith maibaum, abusive aunt to the male lead of a tragedy novel, a boy named luca winterwald. she plans to send him off with his uncle to live out the novel's storyline so she can live quietly, but instead he claims she's really his mom so that she has to come with him to the winterwald estate. he turns out to be quite different from the novel, much more jaded and quick-witted (obviously i'm pretty sure why that is but it hasn't been confirmed yet). i also really like the male lead in this one bc he's so straight-forward. it's not really a slow-burn in that regard, and most of the plot is focused on the political intrigue and trying to prevent the tragic events of the novel.

master villainess the invincible/i'm a martial art villainess but i'm the strongest (manhwa, ongoing): you guessed it, yet another villainess isekai! in this one the female lead wakes up in the body of the villainess of a martial arts novel, hae-won tang. when she eats a random root that unseals her chi, she discovers that she's actually an incredibly powerful martial artist. as she tries to help the people around her, she inadvertently becomes embroiled in the politics of her clan and the battle to prevent the rise of the demon clan, a role that was supposed to be fulfilled by the original novel's male lead... but he's not really up to the task. and not to be bi on main but... the female and male leads here, whew. also i don't want to give spoilers but when the women in this manhwa go apeshit, it'll do something to you, okay.

rn i have 55 manga/manhwa in my isekai list on my anilist so ummm yeah, these are just my very very favorites!! if there's one you wanna ask me about to see if i've read it/heard of it, go for it bc i feel like i'm the only weebfem here who's allergic to most shounen gjhfdkgjfd shoujo/josei supremacy

[cobycobsy2k]

Alternative, Season 2, Episode 15: "School Crush"

Pleasantview Public School

Angela and Ella were talking about everything they were going to do over the weekend.

Ella: Wow Angie you're lucky your parents signed you up for ballet classes with me!

Angela: Obviously Ellie! Although I imagine that your mom did enroll you in those piano classes… How boring, by the way, how long does detention last? My mom will find out that Lilith got into trouble again.

At that moment the twins Mandy and Mike Caliente-Bachelor arrive who came to bother the girls.

Mandy: Wow, wow, it's Angela Pleasant and Ella Goth! What a loser! Good thing you're NOT going to my super barbie girl pool party!

Ella: First of all we didn't even want to go anyway, could you go show off somewhere else Mandy?

Mandy: Ugh, see ya Silly! My mom and dad will help me throw the best party in the world!

Mike (while giving the black-haired girl a hug): Sorry Ellie, you know Mandy can be an airhead, and even more so with all this party stuff, see ya!

Ella: Mike is kind of cute, too bad he has such an idiot sister like Mandy!

Angela (Confused): Mike Cute?, Did you freak out Ellie?, eww…Mike doesn't even know where he's standing…

Ella: Ahh but you like Dustin! Aren't you jealous? ha ha

Angela: What happens is that Dustin is a true gentleman, he is super sweet and kind, from time to time I help him with homework!

At that moment Dustin, Dirk and Rose arrive.

Dustin: Hey girls!

Angela and Ella: Hi Dustin! Hi Dirk and Hi Rose!

Dirk: And where is Lilith?

Angela (rolling her eyes): She's in detention, oh look, she's already out!

Rose: Mandy invited me to her "Super Barbie Girl Pool Party" at her house, and I'm not going.

Dirk (Annoying her little sister a bit): And also remember the "little joke" you pulled on me!

Rose: Sorry, it was just because she was bored and you wouldn't let me watch TV!

Dustin: Hey Ella, you look so pretty today!

Those words made Ella blush, who was looking at Dustin with a little smile, on the other hand Angela was petrified when she heard that.

Angela (Trying to get Dustin's attention): Dustin I'm having my soccer practice today! Will you come see me?

Dustin: Sure Angie!

Angela had a crush on Dustin since they were both 5 years old, although Dustin also felt the same way about her, he was also beginning to have a crush on her friend, Ella Goth.

Later

Dreamer family home

Rose and Dirk had invited Lilith to spend the afternoon with them, while the three of them were talking, Darren and his new wife Gabriella (Rose's biological mother and Dirk's stepmother) were talking.

Darren: Wow, kids grow up so fast! It seems like yesterday when Dirk was 2 and Rose was just born haha…

Gabriella (hugging her husband): Yes dear! I'm really happy to be with you and our children! By the way, if you knew who called me yesterday.

Darren (Confused): Who?

Gabriella: My cousin Aldric called me, he told me that his baby was going to be born soon, I'm really happy for him! Don't you remember when he, Almeric and my sister Lola got drunk at our wedding?

Darren: Yeah haha! It was all a lot of fun!

At that moment Dirk and Rose arrive, who were talking about Mandy's party.

Dirk and Rose: Hola Mamá, hola Papá!, ¿Que tal les ha ido hoy?

Gabriella and Darren: ¡Hola hijos!, How was your day today guys?

Rose: Good! I was invited to a "Super Barbie Girl Pool Party"…

Darren: Really Rosie? Honey, our daughter was invited to a party! What about you Dirk?

Dirk: Ehmm, I didn't get an invite, but I think I'll go with Rose.

Gabriella: Sounds good son! It sounds good that the two of you go and enjoy a nice moment!

Later at the Bachelor-Caliente family home

Mandy was giving her "Super Barbie Girl Pool Party" not to say "Little Jacuzzi Party", she and Mike together with her parents Dina and Michael had bought some things to make everything fun.

Rose (Whispering to Dirk): Wow… And this is what we're supposed to be here for?

Dirk (Whispering to Rose): It would have been better to stay home…

Mandy and Mike: And now, we're going to sing a SUPER iconic song that everyone should know!

At that moment the two turn on the radio and begin to sing a little out of tune, the only ones who applauded were Michael and Dina.

Dina: Bravo Mandy!! Show all these losers who's boss!

Michael: My kids will be the next popstars in all of Simnation!!