#its spring and time for nutcracker!!

[herstoriies]

+ closed starter for @fitzjxmes +

Once upon a time...

As many seasons pass and return again, one of the most looked forward to festivities at Kimbleton Manor was the merriest year-end celebration, filled with banquets, dancing, laughter and cheer. And among the guests of honour was none other than ‘Uncle’ Sir John Franklin, brother in arms of brothers Sirs Charles & Thomas Kimbleton. Sir John’s presence was the most looked forward to by the Kimbleton and Franklin nieces and nephews as they always wondered what mysterious and surprising ‘inventions’ would be showcased. This time - a grand doll dressed as a decorated Royal Marine sergeant that could twirl and leap to music like a masterful dancer. And then its dancing companion - a white polar bear in a tutu.

When the time had passed from dancing and entertainment to exchanging gifts, the golden-haired Priscilla was presented with a wrapped box from Sir John. Her eyes sparkle when she opens it - to find a nutcracker. “ Why, Uncle! A master of your art you are indeed - he’s beautiful! “ she exclaims - while taking the nutcracker gently in her hands and holding it up to better see.

[providencehq]

The wolf pic is cool! I hope life becomes un-stressful soon!

thank you! it is slowly being less stressful and i'm hoping things will mellow out for myself in the coming weeks!

[simplyalicee]

☆ Your Darling ☆

Nutcracker AU by @sketchquill

Idea: Inspired by Sketch's recent art for their Nutcracker AU! You and Wally are out in the spring fields, simply enjoying your time together with one another. As you spend more time with him, you come to the realization that just perhaps, you are catching feelings for him.

Just a lighthearted, happy indulging fanfic <33 Warning for insane amounts of fluff and love!!

I know nothing about the Nutcracker, but enjoy!!

♡------------♡

Somewhere out there laid a beautiful piece of land that had yet to be touched by civilization. There was perfect weather; it's not too hot, not too cold, just right. There was a gentle breeze that would occasionally flow by, but even then, it felt nice and refreshing. No wonder why the spring fairies here adored this part of the world. You could even say it was perfect. No- it was perfect. But what made it even better, however, was having your friend accompany you.

"It's quite beautiful out, isn't it?" Wally spoke to you, smiling as he saw that you were still admiring the view in front of you.

"Oh, absolutely. It's nothing like I've ever seen."

You took a few steps in front of you, glancing around the trees that had colorful green leaves. You had mixed feelings. It was unfortunate that you never got to see nature at its full bloom, and yet, you were thankful that parts of the world like here were left untouched. You tried not to dwell on it and instead admire what was in front of you. You felt Wally take your hand into his. You turn your attention to him, seeing his signature smile that always left you breathless.

"I just remembered, there was something I wanted to show you."

You grew curious at what Wally wanted to show you. Was it a surprise, perhaps?

"Oh? Was is it?" You asked, tilting your head. Wally shook his head.

"It's a surprise! Close your eyes..."

Oh, of course. He wants you to close your eyes. Not that you minded, of course, but it was only driving your curiosity crazy. You closed your eyes, smiling as you grew excited. Although you couldn't help but notice that his grip on your hand grew a little bit tighter. You heard his faint laughter as he took you somewhere. You kept your eyes closed, but you only wondered what could the surprise be. Perhaps it was baked goods? Oh, how delicious that would be. But you don't smell any sweets nearby. Hm.

Wally stopped in his tracks, making you stop as well. He lets go of your hand and takes a step aside.

"Alright, Y/N, you may now open your eyes."

With permission granted, you opened your eyes.

..This was possibly the best surprise you could've asked for.

What stood in front of you was an open area that was surrounded by varies types of flowers. They ranged from sunflowers to daises, all up to roses and marigold. How he knew about your interest in flowers was beyond you. How could you ever repay him for such a generous gift?

"Wally, they're beautiful... did you plant these yourself?" You asked with great curiosity as you turned your head to him. Wally shook his head and chuckled.

"No, but she did." He reached his hand out in front of him. You grew confused for a moment, but you were quick to meet a spring fairy that swooped down from the tree above. She landed on Wally's hand, smiling brightly as she took a bow.

"Why, of course it was me! Who else could plant such beautiful flowers other than I, Sally Starlet?" Sally spoke with pride. You chuckled softly as you approached Sally, being careful to not startle her with your approach. She looked up at you as she stood in Wally's palm, it seemed as if she was examining you.

"Hmm... you look awfully a lot like someone who Wally's been talking about." She blurted, which both surprised you and Wally. Your eyes widened as Wally quickly turned his head away.

"Huh? Wally has been talking about me?" How can you process something like this? Not that you were taking it the wrong way, but it definitely caught you off guard. But for some reason, your heart fluttered from her words.

"Indeed, he has! I must say, fellow stranger, you are one lucky friend." Sally beamed with happiness. She took a step forward towards you with her fluttering wings.

"I'd love to chat more, but I have other plans to attend to. Until then, I hope to see your shining smile!"

Sally flew out of Wally's hand and towards your direction. To your surprise, she flew a few circles around you, heading up as she did so. You laughed happily as some of her pixie dust stuck to your pajamas. You watched as Sally flew away to the right of you, possibly headed to grow more plants.

Once Sally left, you looked over at Wally, seeing that he was still looking away from you. You tilted your head with a bit of confusion, yet you still smiled.

"Are you alright, Wally?" You asked him in curiosity. He looks back at you. He smiled back, but you couldn't help but notice a little bit of color on his cheeks.

"Fine as I'll ever be, Y/N. I was just in deep thought is all."

You both stared at each other for a moment. You wanted to say something, but there was just something about him. You didn't know what it was, but you couldn't look away. You both just gazed at each other, staring into each other's eyes. You felt your heart flutter, the heat forming on your face was quickly becoming noticeable. Wally placed a hand on his cheek as he gazed at you. He let out a content sigh as his smile grew. Your heart couldn't stay still, what was happening? You never felt this way before. It felt strange yet familiar.

Familiar because this wasn't the first time you felt this way for him, but strange because it is something you never felt for anyone else but him.

The longer you stared, the more flustered you became. After a few moments, you turned your head from Wally and chuckled nervously.

"I, uhm..." You tried to speak, but you were left a stuttering mess. You heard Wally laugh a bit, he took your hand into his and held it. Stop it, heart, stay still. But it disobeyed, leaving you with a fluttering heart and a sense of... comfort.

"The flowers weren't your only surprise," Wally told you.

"Wait, what?" Your eyes widened a bit. You felt the grasp he had on your hand tighten a little bit, making your face heat up a bit more.

Wally took a deep breath as he took a small step closer to you.

"I would like to dance with you, Y/N," he spoke with an excited tone.

You didn't know how to quite process it. You wanted to dance with him, you really did. But you were unsure. You have never danced before.

"Wally, wait. I don't know how to dance," You responded with a small frown.

"That's okay, I will teach you!" Wally smiled brightly at you.

You were still unsure, but that smile... You couldn't bring yourself to reject such an offer. With a sigh, you smiled nervously and nodded. Wally giggled happily, he was quite overjoyed to be dancing with you!

"Alright, we'll take it slow. Just follow my lead, Y/N." He spoke softly.

Wally let go of your hand and gently turned you around. After turning you around, he gently took both your hands and raised your arms up. You glanced over at him, locking eye contact with him again. Wally smiled softly at you.

"You're doing wonderful so far," he said happily to you. Oh, how nervous but excited you were. Wally lifted one arm up. You stood on your toes, slowly lifting one of your legs up.

"I think I get it, now," you whispered to yourself. As if on cue, Wally twirled you around slowly. You twirled for a short moment, giggling with joy. You placed your raised leg down and stopped twirling, now being side to side to him with his hand on your upper waist. You extended your right arm out for him, to which he took your hand softly. He extended his arm out, keeping your hand held. You had your other hand on his shoulder. You weren't as nervous as you were before, but now that nervous feeling was replaced with the feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Wally had a huge smile curled up on his face as he lead the slow dance. The both of you slowly spun each other around.

As you both danced, you couldn't help but look into his eyes. Wally laughed softly, being so happy that he was dancing with you.

"Awh, Y/N, you have no idea how much this means to me!" Wally sounded like he was geniunely happy to be given the opportunity to dance with you. Seeing his smile, hearing his joy, it made you feel more butterflies.

You opened your mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Stutters again, when will they ever go away? It was okay, however. Wally understood, he wasn't judging. He was just happy to spend time with you. The way he held onto you, being so caring and gentle. The dance lasted for a few more minutes before you both parted. Despite being unsure earlier, you were glad to be able to have this dance with Wally.

"Thank you for the dance, Wally," You spoke.

"Not a problem, Y/N. I am always happy to teach you!"

You couldn't help but smile, the fuzzy feeling only escalating. Your heart fluttered, your face flushed, you couldn't help but feel like this. You and Wally end up gazing into each other's eyes once more, the obvious tension in the air that you were oblivious to. You watched as his face turned brighter in color, was he blushing? You thought it was adorable to witness.

"Did you, uhm... enjoy the dance, Y/N?" Wally looked away, asking in a nervous tone.

"I did, actually. It was very... very nice." You replied, chuckling softly.

It was at that moment that you realized that maybe, just maybe, you liked Wally more than just as a friend. Had you been that oblivious, or were you just too shy to admit it? Probably both. And unfortunately, it became awkward between the two of you. You weren't sure why, but-

"Y/N, there is something I have been meaning to tell you," Wally spoke quickly, you could hear him taking a deep breath.

"I think I have something to tell you, too, actually," You responded, becoming more flushed. Were you wanting to confess just after a moment of realizing your crush on Wally? Yes, absolutely.

Wally looked back at you, a bit stunned by your response. He smiled softly, evident that he was nervous, but wished to hear you first.

"Go on, Y/N. What is it that you want to tell me?" Wally took a small step forward to you, which made you more flustered.

"O-Oh, uhm... Well, it's kind of hard to find the right words..." You stammered, looking away for a moment. You were so nervous to admit your feelings.

"It's okay, Y/N. Please, take your time," He spoke gently, taking your hand into his to comfort you. You looked back at Wally with a flustered look. He saw your expression, thinking he might've made you uncomfortable. He was about to let go of your hand, but you gently gripped his hand from letting go. Wally looked down at your intertwined hands, a smile curled up on his lips. He let out a gentle sigh, content with the situation.

However, you couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Wally, I really like you,"

"Y/N, I really like you,"

You... both confessed to each other. At the same time? How was that possible? You and Wally both looked at each other, eyes widened with surprise.

"Wally, what did you say...?" You asked softly, taking a step closer to him. Wally tripped over his words for a moment, but he found the courage to speak it up again.

"Y/N, I... I really like you," He spoke quietly. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't bring himself to.

You felt tears in your eyes, and your heart swelled with joy. You wanted to cry just from how happy you were. You couldn't help it, you ran up to Wally and threw your arms around him in a tight embrace. Wally was caught off guard but was quick to embrace you, cradling you in his arms.

"Y/N-"

"I love you, Wally," You whispered, hugging him tighter, but not too tight to avoid accidentally hurting him. Wally stood quiet for a moment, his eyes widened as he tried to process what you just said.

He finally said, "I love you, too, Y/N... so, so much."

You both held onto each other for what felt like hours. You didn't want to let go, but you knew at some point that you had to let go. You both enjoyed each other's embrace before slowly pulling away. You looked at Wally in the eyes, admiring him without the need to hide it. Wally's smile only grew larger. He placed his hand on your cheek, caressing it gently. You leaned into his touch. You felt your heart skip a beat when Wally leaned in to kiss you on the forehead.

And in return, you grinned and leaned in to kiss him on the lips. Wally was caught by surprise, but closed his eyes and happily kissed you back. You both held onto each other, enjoying the moment as you kissed each other dizzy. After a few moments, you both pulled away, as flustered as you've ever been.

Then you heard his laugh. Oh, his laughter... It was like music to your ears. You couldn't help but laugh along with him. You took his hand into yours, holding it. You felt him gently squeeze your hand.

This was your special place, now. And the best part was that you had Wally by your side.

Your loving, adoring Wally Darling.

♡------------♡

HEHEHEHEHEHHE <333 I HOPE you all enjoy this writing I did :> Wally loves you!!

also posting this in school lol hi

[averagewriter-inthedark]

Rooster’s Ballerina 🩰 | Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw Headcanon

Link to my TGM Masterlist

Rooster dating a professional ballerina would look like:

Majoring in dance at UVA, you met Rooster when he and some of his buddies decided to attend the university’s annual ballet rendition of “The Nutcracker,” their senior year because his friend was dating a dance student. You played the Sugar Plum Fairy & to be honest, Rooster was close to falling asleep until it his eyes landed on you, captivating the future pilot during your solo. Rooster could not keep his eyes off of you, leaning toward is friend to ask, “who’s she?” His friend replied, “oh that’s, Y/n L/n. She’s a junior I believe—and word on the street is the New York City Ballet Company has their eyes on her for when she graduates.” Rooster didn’t have to be a dancer to know that was a big deal, just the way his friend said it was enough to figure out the company was the best of the best. Kinda like how Top Gun was the best of the best for fighter pilots.

Your talent for the art of ballet was evident right from the moment you stepped foot in a ballet studio. So much so that your parents homeschooled you up until high school so you could dedicate all your time and energy into ballet. At one point you got the chance to audition for Juliard, but an injury to your ankle resulted in you having to miss out. Thankfully UVA had sent a scout to your hometown after your instructor emailed a bunch of universities to come see you perform when you were healed, and they offered you a full ride under their program.

After the show ended, Rooster couldn’t get you out of his mind. Even when he left to his apartment and throughout winter break, he often thought of you and the way you glided across the stage. The sparkles of your outfit shined against the light, pulling in everyone’s attention. Smile bright and eyes glowing, you were like a siren luring him in, moving so effortlessly Rooster never wanted you to stop. He could watch you dance forever.

Spring semester came around and Rooster couldn’t believe his luck when you were standing behind him in the Starbucks early one morning. Feeling bold, he whispered to the cashier, “this is to cover the lady behind me,” handing over an extra $10 bill on top of the payment for his order. The cashier gave a knowing look, Bradley moving to the side to wait for his coffee and trying (but failing) to not watch your reaction. A smirk had already made its way onto his face when you strolled up, “i don’t know if I should feel flattered or offended that you payed for my drink, Mr…..” “Bradley Bradshaw.” “Well, Bradley, care to explain why over our cups of coffee?”

Basically Rooster came clean to you saying he was the friend of your classmates boyfriend and saw you perform at the winter recital. “I’m sorry if you find it weird, but when I recognized you in line….I felt drawn to you. I just would love to get to know you better if you’d let me.” Needless to say that unintentional coffee date was the beginning of your love story with Bradley. You two were inseparable after that, falling in love each day and knowing you two were each other’s soulmate.

You attended his graduation and commission ceremonies and Bradley went to every recital/show you were in. Sometimes he’d pick you up from practice and would just watch you with absolute awe, other times he’d ask to lift you just for the hell of it. Always bringing you snacks, Bradley would scold you if you missed a meal because you were in a hurry or had a busy day and forgot. “Babydoll you gotta be fed before you train otherwise you’ll be tired quicker and feeling like crap.” You weren’t on a diet or anything so sometimes he’d bring you fast food or pick up a sandwich/salad at a grocery store just so you has some food in you.

Bradley was so supportive of you, and you were of him. A difficult time in your relationship was having to be long distance for about three years after you graduated. Bradley was finished with flight school, now an active duty naval fighter pilot which had him bouncing between bases whenever an assignment came up. You were recruited to the New York City Ballet Company, a dream of yours since beginning ballet, and was not going to pass up the opportunity of a lifetime. That meant you would be living in New York, while Bradley could end up who knows where. Thankfully his first duty station was on the east coast so he got to visit you a lot. And Rooster never missed a show—especially when you were the lead role. He was your biggest fan, giving you a standing ovation when no else would. “You were incredible, babydoll. The best ballerina out there—I’m so proud of you.”

Rooster is the type of guy who would have your picture on his desk/nightstand. The one at work is you during your performance of Swan Lake, which he loves to brag about when coworkers point it out. “Oh that’s my ballerina. She’s amazing—the best in the country.” On his nightstand is a black and white photo of you during practice up on arabesque, smiling at the camera. It’s one of his favorites and also keeps it as his screensaver.

After doing some time with the NYC Ballet Company, you wanted to be closer to Rooster, satisfied you lived your dream of dancing with the best dance company in the country, and had the honor of being the lead in Swan Lake & Gisele, while also being the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. There were plenty of other dance companies in the country, plus you always dreamed of opening your own dance studio—but that would come once Rooster retires and you two found a place to settle.

So, after you left the NYC Ballet Company you and Rooster got married after 5 years of dating and you followed him wherever he went. When he went to San Diego for Top Gun, you found a studio where the owner allowed you to practice free of charge if you helped teach the students. Of course you agreed and it just reaffirmed your dream of opening your own studio. The kids were so amazing and you loved sharing the art of ballet with them. Many asked for you to tell stories of your time in New York & asked you to dance for them after their lessons concluded. “What’s your favorite ballet, Miss. Y/n?” “Oh that is difficult to answer. I love all of them, but my absolute favorite of all time is Swan Lake.”

After several years of traveling with Rooster, he could tell you were longing to be part of a company again. So when the orders came he was assigned to the Strike Fighter Squadron 87 at NAS Oceana, he looked to the skies and thanked whoever above because it meant you could go back to New York & he would be in Virginia again. You nearly cried when he told you, especially when he encouraged to audition again, “really? You’re sure you wont mind? I know we talked about—.” “Baby, you’ve spent your whole life wanting to dance for them—you left once to support me, now i’m going to support you. We survived doing three years of it, we can do it again and I will be at every show cheering you on.”

Rooster kept his promise. You couldn’t believe the company accepted you back again, especially after so many years had passed and you weren’t 22-24 anymore. You were now pushing early thirties—but still danced like you did in college. A lot of the younger girls and guys looked up to you, asking for advice or a second opinion on where improvement was needed. Every Friday night Rooster was leaving Virginia for New York & would stay the entire weekend. You two would always explore, go on dates, and Rooster would even sit in on your afternoon practice—-which the younger girls would get flustered much to your amusement. “Your husband is very handsome, Y/n.” “I love how he’s so supportive of you. I wish my boyfriend was like that.” “Honey, if your man isn’t supportive of you and your career, then you deserve better.”

When Rooster was selected for the 2019 Top Gun special detachment, it had only been two years since you returned to NYC. Rooster encouraged you to stay, not wanting you to leave again after you’d been selected as the Sugar Plum Fairy once again for the upcoming performance of ‘The Nutcracker’. “It’s three weeks, Y/n. Before you know it I’ll be back. They wouldn’t have called me if they didn’t think I could get the job done.” “If they’re not telling you the details right now then it’s gotta be serious, Bradley. What if—what if I never you see you again. You’re my husband dammit—I’m not gonna sit here, on the other end of the country, worried out of my mind.”

In the end he won the argument, but on the condition he kept you updated with the details of the mission. FaceTimes were every night, with Rooster telling you on day one of training that Maverick was the instructor. You’d never met the man, meeting Bradley after their falling out, but had knowledge of all their history. When he told you Phoenix was there you had a sense of relief. Natasha was someone you could trust and would tell you if Rooster was hiding something. Worry filled you at the mention of Hangman being a candidate, well aware the pilot was a ‘every man for himself.’ You never formally met him, but the stories were enough for you to not trust him to have your husbands back.

Speaking of worry, you were worried to the point of throwing up when Rooster told you he was selected for the mission after confessing it was so high-risk, the higher up’s saw it as a suicide mission. Tears were shed over the phone, Rooster promising to come back to you. “I promise, baby, im gonna come home to you. I have to so I can watch you dance—I promised you all those years ago i would never miss a show.”

When he did return home, you nearly slapped him after he told you what he did. Disobeying orders to save Maverick and getting shot down. You were furious with him. “Were you out of your mind?! You could’ve fucking died, Bradley!!! What the hell were you thinking?!” “Mav told me not to think……”

A month later it was Christmas in New York. The night of the show you were backstage in your robe with hair and makeup done when the stage assistant said, “Mrs. Bradshaw, there’s some people here for you.” Following them out, your jaw dropped at the sight of the group standing in the backstage lounge. Rooster, Maverick and a group of gentleman—including Hangman—were dressed in their Dress Blues, each holding a red rose, and Phoenix wearing a gorgeous red gown. “Oh my gosh, what is this?!” You went to Rooster’s embrace, the man kissing your cheek to not mess up your lipstick. Taking the rose, you then greeted Nat—who also had a rose.

After the mission was a success, Rooster let it skip he was married when he said, “although I survived, I feel my wife is gonna kill me when I tell her what I did.” Immediately everyone—including Mav���was like, “Hold up, you got a wife?!” That then had an hour long monologue from Rooster basically telling y’all’s love story….and making it well known you were one of the best ballerinas in the country. “Damn, Bradshaw,” some said when he showed the program of the show you headlines. “Can I have some of that game you have?” The second he mentioned you had a performance coming up the squad was like, “looks like we’re going on a road-trip to see a ballet show.”

Introducing you to the squad, Bob, Fanboy, Hangman, Coyote, and Payback each shook your hand and presented the rose. You pretty much had a bouquet at that point with all of them together. “So nice to meet the lady who captured Bradshaw’s heart,” Hangman smiled, surprising you with how genuine he was. When you looked at Bradley, his nod signified he was cool with the pilot, so you welcomed Hangman with an open mind. Mav was really excited to meet you, shaking your hand while saying, “it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you, Y/n—.” You surprised the captain by pulling him into a hug, “thank you. Thank you for saving him.”

After some small talk and wishing you luck, you were called to dress and the audience was to take their seats. Rooster gave you a soft kiss, whispering, “you’re going to do amazing, baby. Good luck and dance your heart out.” Thanking him, you kissed him again and waved goodbye as the stage assistant ushered them to their seats.

Rooster wasn’t kidding when he told the squad you were one of best ballerinas in the country. You lived up to the reputation he had given you. Dancing to the music, the light bouncing off the sparkles of your outfit, they were captivated by you, just like Rooster was the first time he saw you dance. “Wow,” they all murmured during your solo. Hangman leaned into Coyote to whisper, “well there’s one thing for sure, if they have babies, they’re gonna be talented in whatever they do.”

It was deja vu for Rooster, coming full circle because once again he watched you as the Sugar Plum Fairy—only this time you were his wife and soulmate, not just the girl he admired and only knew by name. You were his ballerina.

……………..

TGM Tag list: @avaleineandafryingpan, @caitsymichelle13, @poppyalice2001

[miladyh]

Four the Love of a Nutcracker

Summary: One Christmas in Hyrule, a girl buys herself a nutcracker with four colors. Before she knows it, mysterious things begin to happen around her. What is the secret of her new “friend”? And who is the one-eyed man who seems to know him? A Linked Universe x Nutcracker crossover. Four x Reader pairing.

Genre: Fluff, Light Hurt/Comfort, Romance

Rating: G

AO3 Link, if you prefer: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52453850

A/N: Hello! Welcome to the first fic I've written in a very, very long time! It will be multi-chapter; it will not be finished by Christmas. I don't have a lot of time available for writing right now, so I'm aiming for spring on this. Rest assured: it will be finished eventually. Next, I recommend you read The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman (available in the public domain). While my story will not closely follow its plot, it will be fun if you can spot the references. ;) Lastly, have a Happy and Merry Christmas!

---

It was just the sort of evening you had hoped for. A small blaze crackled away in the fireplace, casting a cheerful glow across the floor. Shadows danced in the corners the light couldn't reach, darting and swaying with each pop of a log. A red armchair had been placed in front of the fire. Though it was bit threadbare in places, it was far less noticeable now than it had been in broad daylight. In the flickering firelight, it looked positively plush, inviting you into its soft embrace.

Placing a book and a mug of tea on the small table beside it, you surveyed your handiwork a final time before sitting. You had spent the better part of the day decorating your cottage for Christmas, and you were ready to rest. It had been several months now since you had come here. This land was quite foreign, but you had grown to love it. The people in town were friendly, and the scenery was pretty. You wondered what it would have been like to grow up in this place.

As you had worked and saved, you dreamed of how you might decorate a home of your own. Flowers in the spring and summer. Pumpkins and harvest wreaths in the fall. Fragrant greenery in winter. Candles everywhere (you were fond of candles and lanterns). As you pondered each season, you found yourself wondering about holidays. What was celebrated here? Were festivals a common occurrence, or were they on rare occasions? You had been quite curious about the local traditions. It was gratifying to find that this land also celebrated Christmas and in a very similar way to your own.

Naturally, your excitement was unmatched when you were able to afford a home. A small cottage on the edge of town: nothing large or fancy. However, it was now your home. It was a place of your own—no more staying at the local inn and being awakened by the sound of boots tromping through the hallways.

Your home – it had such a lovely sound to it. You had been settled for several weeks now, but the thought still brought a smile to your face. You had a home, it was in time for Christmas, and you had a quiet evening ahead of you. Yes, this was a peace you had craved for some time.

You settled yourself in your armchair, tugging a blanket over your legs (a wool blanket, of course—you had no desire to go up in flames. You were appreciative that Anju had gifted it to you). Curling yourself up comfortably, you glanced at the mantelpiece. Fresh greenery lined the edge, punctuated by sprigs of red berries. In the center, a wooden clock ticked quietly, flanked on either side by a pair of candles. It was simple but festive.

Your prized decoration, though, was the figure you had just purchased today: a colorful nutcracker. He looked quite charming standing on your corner bookcase, like he belonged there all along. Your thoughts drifted back to this morning. It had been an unusual day...

…...

The wind came suddenly. The first white flakes of winter had just begun to lazily make their way downward. The breeze, barely a whisper until now, rushed forth with renewed energy like a host eagerly welcoming his guests. For their part, the flakes saw fit to curtsy and bow, swirling around in a gavotte before whisking away to new ballrooms. They did not stand on ceremony.

As these harbingers of change greeted each other, the poor souls left on the street scrambled to find shelter. While wind and snow were all very well, they did not create favorable conditions for shopping.

It was far preferable to be indoors watching them rather than outdoors experiencing their bite.

The shop bell jingled merrily as you practically blew inside, and the wooden door banged shut behind you. You blew on your gloved hands, trying to shake off the cold the same way you had shaken off the snow. Glancing up, you noticed two or or three other customers who had clearly just arrived. They must have had the same idea you did: this would be a good place to wait until things quieted outside. Really, you had been planning to stop anyway, so it was rather fortuitous.

The shop was not large, but it had been packed to the brim with goods. Typical everyday items like plates, brooms, and pails were in one section. Another was filled with food items, like mushrooms and fresh eggs. Yet another held sundries like thread, sewing needles, and sturdy fabrics. You took your time browsing. There were all sorts of things from utilitarian to decorative, and you had plenty of time to work with.

“Oh!” You exclaimed as your eyes lighted on a tall cabinet in the corner. It had been stocked with new merchandise for Christmas: tins full of spiced sweets and sugared plums beckoned you forward, enticing you with the promise of rich flavors. Miniature evergreens made of dyed feathers created a small forest which any bird would be pleased to call home. Twisted glass that looked all the world like candy hung from special hooks, catching the light in their ridges.

To the right of the cabinet sat a small table stacked with bringers of light. Tin lanterns of various heights stood next to each other like a group of revelers. Each had a different pattern punched in it: moons, flowers, simple diamond shapes. Through them all, light twinkled like private constellations. Alongside these, clusters of candles lay neatly bundled, ready to be distributed and burned. The sweet scent of berries emanated faintly from them, carrying with it misty memories and nostalgic dreams.

You could have spent hours gazing at such beautiful things. There truly was a marvelous array of goods. As your gaze leisurely traveled over the shelves once more, a small cluster of wooden figures caught your attention. Upon closer inspection, you noticed that each one was painted differently. Some appeared to be soldiers, brass buttons gleaming down the front of their uniforms. Others showed their trade, such as a baker with his bread or a carpenter holding a saw. Still others were dressed for an activity, holding fishing rods, climbing gear, or even instruments. These were nutcrackers.

As you pored over them, a particular one caught your attention. It was nestled away in the corner, almost completely hidden. Gently moving aside the figurines, you picked it up. It was shorter and smaller than the others. You might not have noticed it at all but for the colorful tunic he was wearing. It was divided equally into four colors: blue, green, red, and violet, each with gold paint mimicking embroidery. Your gaze traveled upward, and you noted that the tunic culminated in a green hood with a tassel on the end. A sword sporting a single jewel in its hilt was strapped onto the back. Above this, carved strands of blond hair hung almost to the shoulders, a headband holding it back. The level of detail was astonishing. Whoever made him had clearly put their heart into it.

The only thing that you found a bit odd was the expression: it looked almost frightened, like a startled deer. Still, no matter. You very much liked him.

As you traced your finger over the figure's tunic, you heard footsteps behind you. In your peripheral vision, a tall figure leaned close. “That one is...quite unique, isn't he?” A bit surprised, you turned fully to look at the stranger. A well-built man, quite tall, and with middling-length blond hair smiled down at you. You immediately noticed the strange markings on his face and the scar over his right eye. You would have remembered such a face.

“Indeed,” you replied. “I've never seen one like him. I...enjoy all his colors.”

The man's eyes sparkled. “Oho! You do, do you?”

He offered no further commentary or explanation. You were unsure how to respond, so you abruptly decided to change the topic.

''...are you new here in town?” You ventured. “I'm certain I haven't seen you .”

“Not exactly. My companions and I have visited before, though we rarely stay more than a few weeks.”

“I see. I'm somewhat new here myself, but not enough that I can't make recommendations. I suggest you visit the bakery before leaving. I'm told they have a new holiday bread that shouldn't be missed. Even if you're familiar with everything, new things add spice to life.” Truth be told, you hadn't tried that bread yourself. Finances were a bit tight after buying your house. But everything from that bakery was delicious, so you had no doubt that you were doing the man a favor. “Oh, and please let me know if I can otherwise be of help.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

As you moved to put the colorful nutcracker back on the shelf, the man quickly interjected. “Oh, no, I think you should buy him now.”

“What?”

“You should buy him. Take him home, set him up somewhere. It would be...a good experience for him.”

“A...good experience?” You were confused.

“Indeed. Just now, you offered to help me. You could be of great help to me by getting this fellow here.”

...why was he so interested? His insistence was certainly strange. You started to wonder if you had been too friendly when speaking with him. Though town was generally safe, you still had a sense of self-preservation. You hoped you hadn't gotten involved with someone sketchy. But, the sensible part of you reasoned, would a dangerous person really be pushing for someone to buy a general-store nutcracker, of all things? It didn't make sense. He didn't do anything wrong or threatening; he was just pushy. It was more likely he was eccentric. Perhaps he was some sort of artisan that couldn't bear to see good work go unpurchased.

“You seem quite concerned with this,” you replied slowly. “Is it something you've worked with before?” That was vague enough. You should be able to determine something based on his reply.

The man's face remained neutral, though it almost seemed he was holding back laughter. “Indeed, it is something I have worked with before. Though I wouldn't call him my work.”

“What is your work, if I may ask?”

“In the past, I...” he chuckled. “Let's just say it involved time.”

Apparently, the man spoke in riddles. You wondered if the companions he mentioned dealt with this on a regular basis.

“Time...” The answer struck you. “Oh, like repairing clocks!” That would make sense. He would be able to discern quality woodworking, which would explain the pushiness.

His eyes twinkled. “Something like that.”

The man straightened. Something in his demeanor told you the conversation was ending. “If you need my assistance for anything, my friends and I are staying at the inn. Call me 'Time'. We may see each other in town again. ”

“And I really do advise you to buy him. You said yourself that new things can spice up your life. I guarantee that he will keep things interesting. But if you leave him now, he'll be gone in the blink of an eye.” With a friendly nod, he began to walk away.

You looked down again at the nutcracker. Just now, you had the distinct impression that he was glaring. You blinked. No, that couldn't be; the expression had not changed. It must simply be your own imagination, a passing fancy.

What a strange one the man with the scar had been. He had talked about this figure almost as if it was a real person. Perhaps that was the eccentricity of an artist.

You gazed thoughtfully at the decoration in your hands. Well, why not purchase him? You had budgeted for a few decorations, and he did catch your eye, after all. Carrying him firmly in your arms, you made your way to the front counter. Judging by the color of the sky, you'd be in here longer than you originally suspected. You might as well have a “friend” to spend it with.

….......

Returning to the present, you directed a glance at your “friend”.

“You're my first real guest, you know,” you said humorously. You had had visitors, of course, but each time had been brief. As of yet, no one had spent a whole evening in your company. Surely it wouldn't hurt to play a little and pretend he was a real visitor. “I'm sorry I can't offer you any food—you are a only decorative, after all. I would be a terrible host if I accidentally broke my guest's teeth on a nut.”

He looked a bit miffed at being called “decorative”, but he seemed relieved at your final sentence. (Of course, there was no way his expression could really have changed. This pretending business was rather fun, once you got down to it.)

“But,” you continued. “I can offer you a bit of entertainment.”

Picking up the book you had set out, you quickly flipped to the page at which you had stopped. This was one of your favorite stories. After briefly explaining the plot (you had to admit you felt a bit silly explaining it to an inanimate object), you began to read aloud.

The clock on the mantle ticked steadily and the fire crackled as your voice droned on. The occasional lilt and jump gave expression to the characters. It was a magical thing. Reading aloud made you feel so alive. You whiled away the evening in this pleasant manner, peeking up at your “guest” every once in a while. You must say, he did seem interested. You smiled slightly to yourself. What an imagination.

Directing a glance at the clock, you noted it was a bit earlier than you usually retired. Still, you had worn yourself out. It had been a long day, and all you wanted now was sleep. You carefully placed your book on the table beside you and carried your now-empty mug to the sink. Returning to your previous spot, you made quick work of banking the fire, making sure the coals would smolder through the night. While you could let it burn out, this had become a routine. Your mind had learned that as the fire slept, so could you.

You straightened up and stretched, taking one last look at your “guest”. As the firelight had dimmed, he had become more of a shadowy outline than anything else. Still, he cut a handsome figure. You smiled faintly. “We'll continue the story tomorrow. Thank you for your company. I'll see you in the morning.”

As you slowly trudged upstairs to your room, you blew out the few remaining candles. You didn't notice the faint light in the room behind you, gently emanating from the nutcracker.

(Chapter 1 of ??)

[cowpokeomens]

Pas de Trois: Part One

Pairing: Reader x Noah, eventual Reader x Nicholas

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: None! (Yet)

I was just thinking, like: Swans, right? But Noah and Nicholas. No beta we die like Odette and Siegfried!

It was as cold in the beginning as it was in the end.

You could pretend all you wanted- that the embrace of a not-quite lover could warm you enough to stay alive. But you both knew better by now. 

It starts the way it ends: at a pond. 

You need a breather from your mother and her love schemes. Something about a party at the Van der Whatever’s condo on the east side, the unwed men rumored to be in attendance.

All those years of safeguarding your virginity like a crown jewel, only to be whored out to the first eligible bachelor the second you turned 23 and expressed no interest in marriage. 

You roll your eyes at the thought of it; the idea of preserving your chastity whilst being surrounded by the scum of the earth in Bottega stilettos. It feels like you rub elbows with literal vampires most days: creatures that linger in the shadows, waiting to drain you of whatever they needed from you in that moment. 

At least Bela Lugosi never asked you about why you decided against Yale after your father’s hefty (and unrequested) donation. 

The air is crisp, biting at your cheeks as you walk. You wander into a familiar park near your apartment, the street lamps illuminating the freshly fallen snow in a gentle glow. All around you, trees creak and groan in the wind, as if they, too, were ready for spring again. It isn’t so secluded that you felt any real danger, but it was far enough away from the sounds of traffic to give your mind space to wander.

Faintly, you hear the sounds of people milling about on the street. There’s a theatre up the road- they’ve been hosting a ballet company performing The Nutcracker for the last month or so. Looking through the gaps in the bushes, you can spot a few people dressed in rich velvets and fur coats taking photos under the gleam of marquee lights. You haven’t gone to see The Nutcracker for years now. Your mother stopped taking you when you confessed that you did not have the talent- nor endurance- to be a real ballerina, the same time that she unenrolled you from dance classes altogether.

Humming Tchaikovsky's Pas de Deux to yourself, you meander through the park until you come upon a pond. A treasure in your heart, it’s a spot you come to often to clear your head- though this is your first nighttime foray. 

Longer than it was wide, the pond was not the most impressive in the city by a longshot. Most people didn’t even know of its existence, save the few dog-walkers who came through in the mid-morning and late afternoon. It was familiar, though, having been situated here as far back as your memory could recall. 

Winter crept over the small body of water in sheets of ice at the outer perimeter. If the temperature continued to drop (it would) the entire thing would be frozen solid by next week. As it was, the ice at the edges looked thick enough to hold up an entire person.

You fight back the melancholy this brings you, knowing the incoming freeze would take with it the many creatures that inhabit the pond. The ducks have long since left, flying somewhere further south, somewhere warmer. The fish have been awfully quiet the last few weeks as well, settling in for their winter rest. That really just left the-

Ah, You think, sounding hushed even in your head. There you are. 

They glide in silently, slicing through the water like moonlight. Long, graceful necks with great plumes puffing up behind them, the swans are pure magic in the stillness of the night. They make a triangle in the water, with four smaller fowl following the swan at the crest of the formation. Its dark eyes meet yours for a moment, and you feel so utterly vulnerable under its gaze that you look away, suddenly very interested in your shoes.

Must you be intimidated by everything? You sigh to yourself internally. Seriously, a fucking bird?

You felt silly as you built the courage to finally look back up, but the bevy had disappeared. Craning your neck around, you were halfway to considering searching for them on foot when a branch cracked behind you. 

Whirling around, your eyes scanned the tree line, pulling the mace on your keychain out with shaking hands. The neighborhood was safe, sure, but you weren’t stupid. A girl alone in a park well after the sun had set? Yeah, you’d seen the crime shows- no thanks. 

“Hello?” You call, your voice wobbling despite your best efforts. 

Another crack.

Your mace was up in an instant, poised and ready to fire. You are not a damsel in distress, you are certainly not going to be a statistic. As your heart pounded in your throat, a figure came into view. 

“Ew, there’s bird shit everywhere- Woah!” The stranger stumbled backwards, hands up in the air as he saw you. “Oh my god, please don’t tase me-“ 

“It’s not a taser.” Was, for some reason, your first response. Then, “Who are you? What are you doing lurking around in the dark?” 

His eyes went wide. “It’s a public park! I’m going for a walk!” 

Your eyes narrow, the hand wielding the mace never moving. “A walk? At 9:45 at night?”

Impossibly, his eyes grew wider. They were dark- familiar in a way you couldn’t fully place in your panicked state. The snow reflects off of them, reminiscent of starlight. “You are also in the park at 9:45? And you’re armed?”

Well, that was certainly a valid observation. You take two deep breaths, then lower the mace, though not pocketing it entirely. You spend a moment observing his appearance. 

He was tall- tall enough to be threatening, if he wanted to. Slim build, dark eyes, like you’d noted before. His hair was parted down the middle, brushing against the top of his cheekbones softly. He’s handsome, you think. Not the overly-manicured handsome you were accustomed to, though. He reminded you of the first dandelions in the spring; The delight you feel at seeing a living thing burst forth from the frozen ground, uncaring of if it's a weed or not. 

A huge sweater encompassed him, something light in color and soft-looking. The sleeves poked out of the arm holes of his jacket in a strange way, as if it took a great deal of work to stuff them in there in the first place. A hat topped it all off, giant pom-pom bobbing at you in a way that was far from menacing. 

“That’s a weird hat to wear while you creep on people in the park.” You quip, cocking an eyebrow at him. 

His mouth drops open in shock. “My grandmother made me this, fuck you very much. And it’s winter! Of course I’m wearing a hat. Are you always this bad with logic and reason?”

“So you don’t deny creeping?” You ignored his question. 

The face he gives you would have been comical under different circumstances. “Wha- Okay, look, I’m sorry for encroaching on your turf- even if that turf is city property-“ he mumbles the last bit to himself- “But I’m not like, a serial-killer-murderer. Pinky promise.”

He looks so earnest, it reminds you of a little kid. He is holding out a single pinky to you, a safe distance away. 

You eye him warily for a second, then sigh, taking a few steps forward to interlock your pinky with his. He beams at you, smile as bright as the snow that began to silently fall around the two of you. 

You introduce yourself, shifting on your feet in a way that feels awkward and uncomfortable, like you were suddenly too aware of your body’s movements. 

“I’m Noah.” He offers warmly, cheeks and nose tinged a rosy pink from the winter air. The longer you look at him, the less intimidated you feel. He was still large- but in the way that the inflatable noodle-people outside of used car dealerships were large. He didn’t flail, necessarily, though. His movements seemed fluid, controlled. Where you were rigid from years of posturing amongst socialites, he was naturally elegant, as at ease under your gaze as the swans in the pond earlier. 

Soft, your mind supplies. He looks soft.  

His voice is gentle when he speaks again. “So, what brought you to the park in the middle of a blizzard?”

You try to resist the grin that creeps across your face; you fail miserably. “If you think this is a blizzard, you’re in for a shock come February.” 

“Do you defer every question someone asks you, or am I just special?” His dark eyes are trained on you, head cocked to the side curiously. It wasn’t an attack- his expression was too open to be on the offense. He was genuinely waiting for your answer. 

“I needed to get away from my mother.” You answer honestly, shrugging, though not meeting his gaze. 

You can feel his eyes on you, though, searching for more. “You got into an argument?” 

Shaking your head, you cast your eyes back to the pond, hoping to get another glimpse of the swans. “Not an argument. We have the same discussion every week, knowing fully well that we’ll disagree and end up screaming at each other.”

You have not felt… seen, like this, ever. You aren’t an adamant rule-follower, but you’re far from a rebel, too, allowing you to safely pass through life unnoticed. Even your mother only really seemed to remember you after your older sister had been married off to some fishing industry tycoon. To have a stranger see through your facade was unnerving. 

“Disagreeing and screaming sounds like an argument to me.” He pushes, to which you hum noncommittally. Sensing your apprehension, he follows your line of sight to the pond instead. “The ducks left weeks ago.”

“I’m not looking for the ducks.” You answer shortly, perhaps a bit too harsh. 

“Oh?” Is his only response.

It’s obvious he wants you to continue. This was a safer topic than your mother, so you yield to his piqued interest. “I like watching the swans. They were here earlier, but I think you scared them off.” Your eyes slide over to him slyly.

He scoffs, looking insulted. “The swans probably left because they were scared you’d mace them.”

You whirl on him, poking a finger into his chest. “The swans don’t lurk in the bushes at the park like a weirdo.” 

His expression is unimpressed, but there’s a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “No one was lurking. Besides,” He grabs the finger directed at him gently, guiding it down to your side. “You don’t make a good damsel in distress. Anyone trying to steal you would just bring you back when they figured out how mean you are.”

“I’ve been nothing but cordial.” You sniff, brows furrowing at him. 

His smirk is a little overwhelming. “If this is you on your “Nice” setting, I’d hate to see you pissed off.” 

“Stop pushing your luck, then.” You respond dryly. He throws his head back to laugh, and the sound makes you feel warmer in your coat. 

You turn back to the pond, giving up on seeing the swans again tonight. You probably need to head home, anyways- you were expected at this stupid party, and suffering through it would be better than dealing with your mother’s nagging if you were absent. You let out a soft sigh, resigned to your fate. 

“I should go.” You say to no one in particular. 

You feel Noah’s eyes on you again. “Hey, don’t let me run you off. I can go if I’m bothering you-”

You shake your head, body turning to face him before you realize you’re moving. “No, it’s not you- really.” You offer what you hope is a kind smile. “I’m expected somewhere. My mother will be horribly cross with me if I’m not there.”

He’s giving you an understanding smile, eyes crinkling up at the edges. “Sounds like a real rager. Will I, uh-” He glances down at his shoes, kicking at the snow before continuing, “Will I get to see you again?”

The question genuinely startles you. You assumed your demeanor (and mace) would be off-putting enough for him to be quite happy not speaking to you from this moment forward, but he… wanted to see you again? 

“I mean,” You stammer, unable to find your words, “I’ll be around. At the park. If you’re also around.”

When he looks up, his face is alight. “Okay, yeah. I’ll also be around. Near the swans.”

A grin sneaks its way onto your face, unbeknownst to you. “Yeah, near the swans.” You avert your gaze, needing to look anywhere but at his hopeful expression. “See ya, Noah.”

He calls out a goodbye, but you’ve already scurried past him, the heels of your boots clicking rapidly against the sidewalk as you make your escape. You don’t dare glance back. 

Your home is a few minutes away, shorter than usual given the fact that you’re practically jogging through the winter night. By the time you’ve shut your front door behind you, you’re out of breath, chest rising and falling heavily. 

Your mother appears from the kitchen, her usual expression of passive annoyance plastered on her face. She calls your name, as if she needs to get your attention when you’re the only two people in the room. “Where have you been? It’s been snowing for half an hour, you’re going to catch a cold. And your boots are covered in mud- for heaven’s sake, really, we need to leave soon. Why are you grinning like that?” 

You don’t register the smile on your face, still panting. Schooling your features into neutrality, you mutter out a quick, “I’m going to change clothes, be down in a sec.”

She’s ranting about punctuality and manners, but you barely hear it as you run up the stairs, grin overcoming your features once more as you think about dark eyes and soft smiles.

[commander-snacks]

what are your favorite lethal company monsters?? when watching playthroughs everyone’s always moving around too fast for me to get a very good look at them hsdwdssdss but what i’ve seen of them they’re real cool

IM GLAD U ASKED

THE COIL HEADS ARE SOOO CUTE idk what it is abt them but i adore em. The simple yet brilliant addition of a loud spring neck that goes TWANGGG and bobbles around every time it moves adds a whole lot more scariness to the "creature moves only when you dont look" thing we've all become so familiar with in horror games.

i also love the forest giants, I wasnt able to get a good look at them at first so I was confused when ppl described it as having tons of eyes, but after seeing its model more clearly yep its got lots of mothwing-like eyes all over itself.

the nutcracker just came out in the new update and to put it simply its a walking nutcracker with a shotgun. i love how many questions are raised by the existence of monsters like this, like WHAT is this thing doing on an abandoned moon. Even better is that when it aims, its head lifts up to show a single fleshy eye coming out of it, implying its some kind of alien that just uses this thing as a shell

the jester is fucking awesome because again WHY is something this demented just chilling on an abandoned moon. Its a jack in the box with legs that just follows you around at first doing nothing, but eventually it starts winding itself up. once it does this your run is basically over and you have to usher your teammates to get the fuck out as soon as possible because it is extremely fast and CANNOT BE KILLED

its true form is a massive fucking skull. how badass is that. in-universe this things true form has never been documented because as soon as it pops out it means death

the hoarder bugs get my like and subscribe too bc i love their cute :O expressions

[alaskasbignaturals]

If you're up for it, I would love to hear ny/ma rambles. Like, just go absolutely bonkers

hehe youre enabling me jkhsdfa

this post got really long so uh its gonna be all under the cut teehee

honestly i think that theyre the typa couple that acts divorced but they have a super healthy relationship they just like to goof around and know each others boundaries

they both know what triggers the other and stays away from those type of things. they can be soft and will do it mostly in private bc they have a reputation to uphold but when the situation calls for it they wont hesitate to be comforting and soft out in the open.

also because mass was raising maine, when mass made like a good decision and said no to something maine would run and complain to york and york would saunter in all like hey the kid can have another cookie before bed! and mass is like bro PLEASE he will be off the walls i wont get any sleep please and york gives it to him anyways and then mass leaves him to suffer the consequences of his own actions hehehe.

i also think that since both the mta and mbta have their issues they will argue over which one is worse not better. and it will usually end in mass winning bc the mbta is the oldest subway system in the country and so a LOT of it still hasn't been updated bc of the constraints of the layout of the cities and towns. and york accepts defeat but basically goes "ok lets get you to bed grandpa" akljsdfhas

OH ALSO both mass and ny are very pigeon populated so id like to think they send messages with pigeons for fun :3 they can text but its nice to send a letter by pigeon once in a while, and it can also lead to some silly shenanigans.

mass once took york on the swan boats during the spring and then after that they walked through all the flowers and sat on the grass under a willow tree next to the water listening to the musicians and watching the painters and york nearly bawled bc it was so peaceful and beautiful.

similarly for new years york takes him right into times square for the ball drop and they get front row seats and have so much fun and share a kiss as the ball drops and every year they save the glasses and confetti as a souvenir.

id also like to think that york is a skier and mass snowboards. so they go together and do runs together in the winter. they go nightskiing/boarding as well which is always so much fun, doing tricks and flips in the dark illuminated by the spotlights. and then after they go to the lounge and drink cocoa and have waffles (for some reason waffles have been served at every ski mountain I've been too in new england)

they both have some of the best ballet companies as well. so they both dance very well. no this is not me self indulging as a person who did ballet since i was five what are you talking about. they both will attend each others nutcrackers every wintertime and they love dancing with each other. they will put on the soundtrack in their homes and dance out each scene together (i do this also bc i am deranged and mentally ill and i love the nutcracker <333)(its a good workout)

both the states excel in a lot of things so they love to do those things together ig is the gist of all that aksljdfhas

oh yeah and they both LOVE hugs, big ol squeezes. and they can just stand there for a long time. in comfortable silence. <3

i think thats all the ideas i have for now but there will always be more hehe

[princess-ibri]

I would love to know more about your Nutcracker and whether you'd introduce things from the book or ballet into a DisneyVerse version

Thanks for your patience anon! Ok, here’s the ideas I have, used some of the look of the live movie cuz I did like the designs for some of it but will be a completely different story, based somewhat on an old story concept I put together with my friend @im-fairly-whitty a few years ago.

I see it as starting out like your basic Nutcracker ballet story, it’s Christmas, Clara gets a nutcracker from her godfather Drosselmeyer, during the night the mice come in and the nutcracker comes to life to fight them. Mouse King doesn’t die though he gets away and Nutcracker is still a nutcracker and Clara goes with him to the magical candy land of Cockaigne, where there are peppermint trees and lemonade springs and gingerbread houses, usually sans witches. (Basically Barbie Nutcracker Movie set up a bit, but Clara goes as she wants to have an adventure/doesn’t feel appreciated at home, she’s running away.)

They travel thru the war torn candy land and meet the Sugarplum Fairy, the leader of the ‘human/human adjacent army against the—for lack of a better word— vermin army that has been besieging them. The army is made of mice and bugs and other unwanted creatures that over hundreds of years have eaten the magical food that makes up the land and gained sentience and anthropomorphic traits which brought them into conflict with the humans. They are looking for the Krakatuk Crown, a powerful object that could tip the scales of the war. The Sugarplum Fairy takes them to the ruler of Cockaigne, Princess Pirlipat, who says she is the Nutcracker’s fiancé and who wears a mask at all times, the result of a curse placed on her by the Mouse King’s predecessor. She sends them on a quest to find the crown and save the land. Clara and Nutcracker have to find it as the main quest, and along the way we would learn about the Nutcracker and Mouse King’s backstory:

Years ago the Princess Pirlipat was cursed by the Mouse Queen, in revenge for Pirlipat’s parents having caused the death of the Mouse Queen’s seven sons in the war. Pirlipat is cursed into a hideous form that she can only be released by if someone with a true hero’s heart manages to defeat the sorcererous Mouse Queen and places the Queen’s crown of her head. (The crown could be carved from a magical Krakatuk nut to reference the og story and it’s where the queen gets her magic from). The court magician, Herr Drosselmeyer, believes his nephew Andre could be the destined hero and brings him from Our World to Cockaigne.

Andre, who also wanted to escape his old life where he didn’t feel understood and be a hero, undertakes the task of attempting to gain the crown by infiltrating the vermin army, during time he makes friends with the Queen’s one remaining son, Alexander, and comes to see that the vermin army are actually just as ‘human’ as people are and haven’t been treated right. He feels conflicted about his quest, but still determines to steal the crown and be a hero, and maybe once he’s proved himself and married the princess he could start peace talks?

—But of course it all goes horribly wrong. The Mouse Queen ends up being killed, Pirlipat’s curse isnt lifted lifted due to Andre’s not having a true hero’s heart (valuing fame over decency) .The furious Pirlipat tells him she has no use for him now he’s failed, and she will take the crown and use it to destroy all the sentient vermin once and for all.

And Alexander, now king and literally haunted by his dead family’s ghosts (I wanted so bad to have 7 headed Mouse King but I don’t think it could viably by animated so vengeance driven ghost brothers driving him mad it is) swears vengeance on Andre, who in shame runs away, hiding the crown so it can’t be used for any more curses, using it only once to banish the memory of its location and the shameful events from his mind, turning him into a toy, something tossed about by someone else’s will, stagnant, stuck in his shame and guilt. He’s eventually found by his uncle Drosselmeyer in his exile andwhisked away from Cockaigne by his uncle to try and find a new hero to break his self imposed curse, which Drosselmeyer believed he had found in Clara, not because she was inherently destined, but because she had the heart to learn what needed to be learned to find the truth and grow as a person, and help Andre realize he could grow and make things right as well.

So basically the pair have to grow and realize a true hero means being compassionate and trying to understand those different from you, and doing what’s best for all, not just what will get you fame and glory, rediscover the truth of the Nutcracker’s memories and stop Pirlipat’s genocidal plans and save Alexander from his growing madness (the ghosts are very set on wiping out all the humans as well) and bring true peace to all the people of Cockaigne.

(And Mother Ginger is a good jolly kind person who runs an orphanage for war orphans, and I guess she can have an eyepatch still but yeah she’s like, a symbol of finding hope in hard times and the Sugarplum Fairy isn’t bad either, she’s a victim of Pirlipat’s propaganda and once she realizes that she stops the big attack their gonna do and helps Andre and Clara stop the mad princess and she and her cavalier are a kick-butt power couple who are ridiculously romantic for eachother…anyway rant over xD )

[princesssarisa]

Sleeping Beauty Spring: "Faerie Tale Theatre: Sleeping Beauty" (1983 TV series episode)

Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre is a cult classic among children of the '80s and '90s. So many of us grew up enjoying this TV series of hour-long fairy tale adaptations, with their celebrity casts, visuals inspired by the work of famous artists and illustrators, slightly cheesy special effects, and a blend of sincerity and quirky irreverence. I saw nearly every episode in its '90s reruns on The Disney Channel, or else on VHS with my friends at school during our parents' PTA meetings.

Sleeping Beauty is the fifth episode of the series. It stars Bernadette Peters and Christopher Reeve, who not only play the Princess and her Prince, but show off their acting range by also playing each other's unsavory romantic false leads, the "bad girl" Princess Debbie and the silly, spoiled son of King Murray. The rest of the cast includes Beverly d'Angelo as the sassy villainous fairy Henbane, Carol Kane as the slightly goofy yet sweet Pink Fairy who softens Henbane's curse from death to sleep, René Auberjonois and Sally Kellerman as the Princess's parents King Boris and Queen Natasha, and George Dzundza as the Woodsman who narrates the story.

Rather than the standard Western European country, this version of the story is set in Russia – mot likely in tribute to Tchaikovsky, whose music, not only from The Sleeping Beauty but from The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet, is heard in excerpts throughout. This creates a beautiful and unique visual aesthetic, inspired by the fairy tale illustrations of Kay Nielsen. The bulk of the story is told as a flashback, narrated by the Woodsman to a prince and his squire. Midway through (although the twist is predictable from the start), the "squire" is revealed to really be the Prince, and vice-versa. They've switched places so the Prince can better observe the moral character of the princesses he meets: a lesson he learned some time ago, when he was nearly ensnared by the seductive Arabian princess Debbie, who turned out to be the evil fairy Henbane in disguise.

The Woodsman's tale reveals that once upon a time, Queen Natasha longed for a child, but neither she nor King Boris knew how to have one, until a tiny fairy gave them some much-needed, discreetly whispered advice. When their daughter is born, they invite six fairies to the christening: distinctly Russian-looking fairies in white gowns and ornate headscarves, who all have strange-sounding voices and bright-colored skin. (Furthermore, one fairy is male, but dresses just like the female fairies and has the mannerisms of a sassy gay man.) Villainous Henbane has gray skin, while her sweet, lisping younger sister who softens her curse is pink.

Twenty years later, the Princess has grown up to be a kind, graceful beauty, who cooks food for the poor and expresses her longing for love with the classic Judy Garland song "I'm Nobody's Baby." (A jokey anachronism, yes, but also a showcase for Bernadette Peters' famous singing voice.) In a choice that recalls the Czech film How to Wake a Princess, her parents have arranged for her to marry the son of the visiting King Murray, in hope that in his kingdom she'll be safe from Henbane's curse. But the foreign prince turns out to be a foppish, cowardly snob. Horrified by the thought of marrying him, the Princess flees to a secluded tower... where, of course, Henbane waits in disguise as an old woman with a spinning wheel.

After the sleeping Princess is found, the Pink Fairy arrives, puts the grieving King and Queen to sleep, and freezes the rest of the court like statues. But not to be outdone, Henbane surrounds the castle with "man-eating briars," which move like snakes to grab their victims, and changes herself into a reptilian, fire-breathing giant (not quite a dragon like Disney's Maleficent, but close) to prevent any prince from breaking the spell. But of course, a hundred years later, these obstacles can't deter the Prince. Running off with the Woodsman's axe, he chops his way through the briars, then battles the gigantic Henbane and slays her by throwing the axe at her. Then he wakes the Princess with a kiss, and everyone lives happily ever after... except for the Woodsman, who never gets his axe back and is left trying to chop down trees with a knife.

Children will enjoy this Sleeping Beauty as a colorful retelling of the classic tale. Adults will enjoy it as a lightly fractured fairy tale, with quite a few grown-up jokes and innuendos, yet which strikes a good balance between silliness and sincerity. Either way, it's a memorable retelling, and a standout episode of the Faerie Tale Theatre series.

@ariel-seagull-wings, @thealmightyemprex, @faintingheroine, @reds-revenge, @comma-after-dearest, @autistic-prince-cinderella, @paexgo-rosa, @thatscarletflycatcher, @the-blue-fairie, @themousefromfantasyland

[smileymaste]

Barbie Movie Tier List

My opinions are fact and I will not take constructive criticism (lol jk this is all subjective don’t hate me if I hate your fave)

Also this is a work in progress because I decided to keep watching the movies beyond where I stopped watching as a kid so I will add more as I get to them

Here we go (below the cut)

Nutcracker- D+

It was the first movie, it was 2001,, It’s okay. The music really did it for me but I can’t give points for that because that’s all Tchaikovsky. The dizzying camera pans did not help. The plus is for the Sugarplum Fairy reveal because I had the doll and relived my childhood in that moment.

Rapunzel- A-

She’s an artist, she’s willful, she references modern art centuries ahead of its time, what more can I say. I know it’s still rough as the second movie but as someone with hair past my knees I’m legally obligated to love this movie. Minus for the ugly ferret, bonus points because I had the Rapunzel doll as a kid.

Swan Lake- C

Odette doesn’t... Do anything. I haven’t watched any other adaptation of Swan Lake so I’m not saying this is a Barbie thing in particular, but she just isn’t as cool as Rapunzel (but who is tbh) Loved the music again, but that’s Tchaikovsky. I enjoyed the little hedgehog guy and skunk girl.

(P.S. Does anyone else remember a Swan Lake computer game? Because that was all I could recall about the movie before I rewatched it)

Princess and Pauper- A

I’m just like you, you’re just like me. Phenomenal. I’m a sucker for a good musical and I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish. I will be rewatching it again because I liked it just that much. Serafina and Wolfie are amazing (bonus points because I had a Serafina toy), and even though Preminger is gross, his song is kind of a bop. How could I refuse to give this movie an A?

Fairytopia- B-

The beginning of the iconic Bibble... The Fairytopia movies only get better, so to start with a B- isn’t bad. I wish they explained more about the rainbow in her eye? And Laverna’s end is confusing because she just... disappears, and her fate isn’t explained until the next movie. All in all though, a solid movie.

Magic of Pegasus- B

We love a figure skater, we love a girl who refuses marriage to a weird magician. We don’t love Shiver just causing problems and not even being that cute. Bonus points for Annika being sassy as hell.

Mermaidia- B

Gay mermaids gay mermaids gay mermaids you can’t convince me otherwise. How come the fungi could leave the wastes but Laverna couldn’t (until...)? Elina sacrificing her wings to become a mermaid was a great moment, as well as when both Elina and Laverna ate the berries that showed their true selves. Bonus points for mermaids because I love mermaids.

Diaries- F

Why. Completely insipid and vapid and shallow and stupid as hell. Barbie being a curve-wrecker should’ve been a crowning moment but it wasn’t and I just can’t abide by a movie teaching kids that being good in school is bad. I must have erased this movie from my childhood memory because I didn’t recognize it at first. Bad movie.

12 Dancing Princesses- A+

A breath of fresh air after Diaries. I LOVE the 12 Dancing Princesses and (as of the writing of this post) it is my Favorite. I had the Genevieve doll, I named both of my (male) betta fish after Genevieve, and I named at least a couple of my Webkinz after other princesses too. The music is amazing, the story is amazing, the princesses are amazing (I don’t wanna hear anything about them being under-developed, there’s fucking 12 of em and it’s only 81 minutes long). Great movie. Best movie. Love this movie.

Magic of the Rainbow- B+

The finale of the Fairytopia trilogy, and the best one at that. Gotta love a totally-in-your-face rainbow motif, and I do. I don’t totally get how Laverna was able to leave the wastes if her punishment was to be trapped there but okay. I also don’t get how the Flight of Spring succeeded if Elina and Sunburst weren’t even participating most of the time but okay. Laverna trapping and assuming Sunburst’s identity was great villainy right there. I like Glee’s design :3 Bonus points for rainbows.

Island Princess- B

Admittedly, the video I watched of this movie seems to have had some parts cut out cuz there were some weird cuts, but I will judge thusly. Love me a musical, love the talking (to) animals, love the knowledge of medicinal plants. Otherwise too colonialism for me. I originally watched this movie during my “learning to survive on a deserted island” phase, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Mariposa- B+

I watched this movie to death as a kid, but I think that was mostly because it was the only movie we had unpacked while we were moving. Interesting change of pace having someone other than Barbie be the main character. I like Mariposa. I like her interest in constellations. Rayna and Rayla were kind of annoying but okay by the end (character development). Why are Zinzie’s ears backwards. Bonus points for the scene with The Fairy in the Cave of Reflections.

Diamond Castle- A

This is the first Barbie movie that I haven’t watched as a kid, so I’m watching this with fresh eyes and no nostalgia points. As always, musicals get bonus points with me. Alexa and Liana are gay you can’t change my mind (they invented the bi and lesbian flags with those dresses at the end). The twin dudes are just their boy toys, and I’m glad nothing really happened with them besides a dance. I would die for Sparkles and Lily and their dance moves.

Christmas Carol- B-

Another change of pace with Barbie not being the main chara, though I guess she can’t all of a sudden be British lol I’m glad that Barbie is raising money for hospitals irl (Barbie is real don’t fight with me) and that the orphanage in the story got funded as well. Good message. But gonna be real I’m not the biggest Christmas Carol person, so this movie didn’t stand the greatest chance with me. I like Catherine.

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: Fantasia 1940

If there was one old Disney film that I really wanted to see in full as an adult, it would be The Great Mouse Detective, then Valiant, then both Fantasia films. I'm surprised this was the 3rd film Disney ever made and I'm even more surprised they never made this more of a tradition. Now I don't want a Fantasia every other year or so, but I'm amazed that they never considered one for its centennial anniversary because I doubt anyone would've been against Disney making a theatrical animated concert celebrating 100 years. Maybe we'll get one for Fantasia's 100th anniversary.

Anyways this was a good movie and I decided with this review to rank the segments from least to greatest. Now while I rank this as the least good, it doesn't mean I hated it. None of these are horrible, but some elevate their presence better than others and the segments are equally great in terms of production and the synergy they have with the music. With that said, let's start the show...

Number 7, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite

Now to me, I always considered the Nutcracker Suite as a Christmas-themed composition; it was a ballet for Christmas Eve. So when they just made the animation about the 4 seasons in general, it just felt generic. Not that it had to strictly be about Christmas, but more could've been done with the concept. The dances are good, but not really memorable especially when there's a later piece that's better conceived. Fantasia I felt was about developing a theme that complemented the score's origins and I still don't think the animation fits what the song was going for. Not insulting or the like, but not memorable.

Number 6, Mussorgsky's Night on the Bare Mountain/Schubert's Ave Maria

This'll be a controversial take because I know so many people considered the Chernabog segment a very dark moment for a Disney film; literal demons and spirits dancing among the world. However, and this will be stupid I know, I wasn't feeling that part because while it fits the music perfectly, I was somehow reminded of Beavis and Butthead Do America and the desert trip scene. That did the idea of demonic chaos better in my eyes where yeah it wasn't operatic like this, but it stood out better. I remember Chernabog's presence more than I do anything else that happened. Thankfully, Ave Maria makes for the best closure you could have for this concert as a whole. Again, not a bad or even forgettable time but the other segments strike better to me.

Number 5, Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor

This is generally here because it's a strong start to the film and basically exists to flex the studio's handling of mickey mousing, an animation concept made by Disney themselves for when the animated movements match the exact rhythm of the music. Otherwise, there's literally not much to this segment because you might as well say it was the earliest version of a screensaver. This is where the music was what got this so high on the list.

Number 4, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

This segment was what got me into watching the film and is what I was talking about with The Nutcracker segment. If you're gonna warp the original interpretation of the composition, at least do more with it in terms of concept. Just saying, dinosaurs & the natural chaos of the universe go well for what is to be a dissonant piece. There's a more memorable flow with this, running nicely with Stravinsky's piece which was ironically about the Spring season. The fact it's the longest segment in the film makes for how I was engaged with it the whole way through. Maybe I love dinosaurs more than I let on, who knows...

Also bonus points for Scrunklo.

Number 3, Dukas & Goethe's The Sorcerer's Apprentice

A jolly good story that I'm glad was the genesis behind this overall concert. I felt like Mickey's never had a real theatrical movie though I can see where he works best with shorter stories like this. We get a mischievous-sounding piece that follows this Tom Sawyer-esque fable perfectly. Yen Sid's presence alone makes this as great as believed. Also, Yen Sid spelled bac-

Number 2, Beethoven's The Pastoral Symphony

Zeus is an asshole per usual. Otherwise, this might musically be my favorite piece. I was torn between this and Rite of Spring, but the angelic and softer look of the world in this warmed my heart more. I love the beginning and the party with Bacchus especially. There's such a cute, consistent joy all around even when Zeus shows up to be his typical self. And I saw the edited version which, yeah not missing much even if you know.

Number 1, Ponchielli's Dance of the Hours

It's a very Merrie Melodies/Silly Symphonies affair that's the most bonkers and embraces the music the best here. Animation-wise, it was my favorite hands down. I'm all for Fantasia being more operatic and less zany, but when it truly got to be cartoonish they reveled in it here. I'm unsure if this was the best one to be the penultimate segment, but at the same time, this stuck out in the best way anyways.

Overall, I give this an 8 out of 10. I was very satisfied with this even if it wasn't a consistent banger concert. I'll see the 2000 film soon enough to wonder if it was as mixed as many say. If you've seen Fantasia before, what was your favorite segment? I'm Monkey Makaveli and I look forward to hearing from you.

[rvtravellife]

Adventure through Crater Lake National Park Oregon

by Paige Guscott Embark on a thrilling adventure through the breathtaking Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Discover stunning landscapes, azure waters, and captivating wildlife. Experience the ultimate outdoor escape today!.... History of Crater Lake National Park Oregon, USA Crater Lake National Park was established on May 22, 1902, by President Theodore Roosevelt. It was the fifth park in the United States to be brought under the stewardship of the National Park Service. The establishment was a result of efforts by individuals like William Gladstone Steel, who advocated for the protection of the area. Prior to its designation, the region around Crater Lake had been recognized for its geological value and unique landscape, formed around 7,700 years ago when the then-towering Mount Mazama erupted. This massive volcanic event expelled so much material that the mountain could no longer support itself, leading to its collapse and the formation of a vast caldera. Over time, rain and snowfall filled the basin, giving birth to Crater Lake National Park Oregon. The Indigenous Klamath Tribe has long revered the lake as a sacred site. They witnessed the collapse of Mount Mazama and have passed down oral histories that speak to the event's profound spiritual impact. This history adds a rich cultural background to the park's geological marvels. Though not the deepest lake in the world, at 1,943 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the clearest in the world. The clarity is due to the water being primarily sourced from snow and rain, lacking the sediment that rivers or streams might carry into the lake. The Circle of Discovery Crater Lake National Park Oregon USA is a part of the 'Circle of Discovery', a collection of 5 national parks and national recreation areas in Oregon and California. The Circle includes Crater Lake National Park Oregon, Lava Beds and Tule Lake National Monuments, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Redwood National and State Parks. These areas are carefully managed to ensure that visitors can fully experience nature while also preserving the natural beauty of the land. These areas offer a wide range of activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing. They are the perfect places for families, friends, and individuals to connect with the outdoors. Plants and Animals of Crater Lake Within the borders of Crater Lake National Park Oregon lies a vibrant tapestry of ecological diversity, ranging from ancient forests to meadows abloom with wildflowers. Ecological Diversity in the Park Within Crater Lake National Park Oregon you can find a forest of trees that have stood tall for centuries. That's the old-growth forest of the park, a sanctuary for towering pines and firs that have weathered storms and seasons for hundreds of years. These forests are not only remarkable to look at, but also serve as a crucial habitat for a number of species. The understory of these woods is a maze of thimbleberries, huckleberries, and ferns, creating a lush green contrast to the deep blue of the lake. The park's diverse habitats extend beyond the reach of its trees. Alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers provide a kaleidoscope of colors in the warmer months, while marshes and springs offer a water source to the wildlife. Each of these unique ecosystems plays a role in supporting the park's complex web of life. Wildlife Residents of Crater Lake National Park Oregon From the tiny pikas that dart among rock piles to the stately Roosevelt elk roaming the meadows, the park is alive with creatures great and small. Birds of prey like bald eagles and ospreys can be seen soaring above, scanning the waters for fish, while Clark's nutcrackers fill the air with their distinctive calls. At dusk, you might spot a black bear ambling through the underbrush or hear the howl of a coyote in the distance. It's not just the land dwellers that captivate the park's visitors. Crater Lake National Park Oregon itself is home to two species of fish: the Kokanee salmon and the rainbow trout. These fish were introduced to the lake over a century ago and continue to thrive in the clear, cold waters. Anglers might find a quiet spot along the lake area to cast a line, but it's important to remember that fishing regulations are in place to maintain the delicate balance of this ecosystem. PlayCrater Lake National Park Crater Lake: Why It Captivates Visitors Imagine standing at the rim of a vast, impossibly blue lake, enclosed by sheer cliffs and silent forests. This is Crater Lake National Park, a place of awe-inspiring beauty and profound natural splendor. Visual Splendor: Crystal-Clear Waters and Panoramic Views Photo by mlle_farfalle on Pixabay The first glimpse of Crater Lake is often one that stays with visitors forever. Its waters, some of the clearest on earth, reflect a vivid blue that seems almost surreal. This clarity is due to the lake being primarily fed by snow and rain, with little to no impurities entering the water..... Read More... Read the full article

[pushovermediacritic]

Fantasia Short Rankings

Here's my ranking of all the shorts in both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, from best to worst. And I apologize, but I will be ranking these almost entirely based on the animation and how the music pairs with it. The songs are classical pieces, so there's no reason to rate one higher or lower based on just how much I like the song itself, it's not like Disney made them.

Firebird Suite (forest sprite vs volcano bird). Absurdly gorgeous animation, cute character dynamics despite only having 3 characters, and a really nice character arc of curiosity, fear, trauma, hope, and rebirth that perfectly demonstrates a real scientific phenomenon (life springing back after an eruption) is a beautiful manner.

Rhapsody in Blue (people in city). I love this short. It probably has the best music-to-animation synching out of any Fantasia short. This is one of the few Fantasia shorts where I can't imagine the song without this animation put to it. The animation style is fantastic, the four interweaving stories are great, and the overall tone is sympathetic and fun. My only gripe is John's wife getting way too harsh of an ending.

Pomp and Circumstance (Donald Duck Noah's Ark). The classic Noah's ark story with a different classic "two lovers separate and think the other's dead, just barely missing each other constantly" comedic set-up. I think this short is great, with gorgeous animal animation and great comedic timing. I think this short is better than The Sorcerer's Apprentice, though just by a hair.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Mickey the magic novice). I think Mickey's short is the best of the original Fantasia, but it doesn't hit the same highs of 2000. It has a really fun story, with lots of extremely iconic scenes and segments. There's a reason it's the only short that got remade into a full movie and even included in 2000.

Pines of Rome (flying whales). As nonsensical as they are, I like the flying whales, I'm a defender of this one. The CGI works better here than in The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and the use of light, ice refraction, and water is really pretty. And I don't mind the simple story, with the baby whale getting separated from its parents. The final sequence is beautiful.

Dance of the Hours (ballet of ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators). It's always funny to me that this is one of the more iconic Fantasia shorts. After Yen Sid and Chernabog, Hyacinch Hippo seems to be the most iconic Fantasia-original character. This is also one of the few genuinely hilarious Fantasia shorts. Even if half the jokes are fat jokes, they're usually fat jokes on the alligators being out of their depth as predators trying to hunt hippos and elephants, not on the hippos and elephants, who are as nimble and graceful as ballerinas should be. And the dancing is really creative and energetic.

Symphony No. 5 (light butterflies vs dark bats). Pretty basic "good vs evil" story, with abstract shapes to introduce the animation to music concept, similar to Toccata and Fugue in the original Fantasia. Except this short is much better than Toccata and Fugue because it actually has characters and a plot.

Night on Bald Mountain (demons and monks). As cool as the demons are, the entire second half with the monks really drags it down. That's probably just a me thing, though. As a Jew, anything Christian is just super annoying. I totally understand other people rating it much higher.

The Rite of Spring (dinosaurs). I liked this one as a kid, but nowadays, the inaccuracies in the dinosaur portrayals are too infuriating to ignore. The beginning with the world forming was longer than I remember, and the water animation here is really nice.

Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102 (The Steadfast Tin Soldier). Well, it sure is "Disney's 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier'", complete with a changed happy ending. Obviously it was inspired by Toy Story, but it doesn't really get across the same feeling. Not bad, just kind of mediocre.

The Nutcracker Suite. (flora, fauna, and fairies dance the changing of the seasons). This short always reminds me of Little April Showers from Bambi. Would rank better, except there's quite a bit of racism. Between the Chinese mushrooms, Arabian fish, and Russian flowers, literally half the short (3/6 segments) is stereotypes. Not sure why Disney isn't more ashamed of this short, since they censored The Pastoral Symphony.

The Pastoral Symphony (greek centaur party). Racism issue. Even in the censored version, there's still some racism left like the black zebra centaurs who carry Bacchus in and then don't get to participate in the party. The story is also lame and doesn't really amount to anything. They were gonna have a match-making centaur party, but then Zeus crashed it. That's it.

The Carnival of the Animals, Finale (flamingo with a yo-yo). Cute, but really underwhelming. Decent music synch, but it's just forgettable. Doesn't help that the flamingo is actually annoying to the audience.

Meet the Soundtrack (a white line). Boring. More interesting and humorous than Toccata and Fugue, but still lame.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (abstract lines and shapes). The first short of the first Fantasia sucks. I thought it was boring as a kid, I think it's boring now. I guess it's okay as an introduction to the concept, but I don't really think "animation set to music" was such a revolutionary idea that it needed an introduction, even in 1940.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Reprise). Sorry, but I legitimately hate that they just repeated Mickey's short again in Fantasia 2000, with no changes. Complete waste of time.

[kumarumang5566]

Bird Watching in Arnold, California: Best Spots and Tips for Enthusiasts.

Arnold, California, located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, offers excellent opportunities for bird watching. Here are some of the best spots and tips for enthusiasts: Click Here For More

Best Spots for Bird Watching in Arnold

Calaveras Big Trees State Park:

Description: Known for its giant sequoias, this park provides diverse habitats, including meadows, forests, and riverbanks.

Birds to Watch: Look for species like the American dipper, Steller’s jay, mountain chickadee, and various woodpeckers, including the pileated woodpecker.

White Pines Lake:

Description: A serene lake surrounded by forested areas, perfect for waterfowl and other bird species.

Birds to Watch: Common sightings include mallards, Canada geese, osprey, and various songbirds.

Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway:

Description: A scenic route offering numerous pull-offs and trails through diverse habitats from lower elevations to alpine areas.

Birds to Watch: Bird species vary by elevation, but you might see Clark’s nutcracker, mountain bluebird, and golden eagles.

Stanislaus National Forest:

Description: Encompasses a large area with varied ecosystems, providing numerous trails and secluded spots for bird watching.

Birds to Watch: Includes species such as the western tanager, hermit thrush, and spotted owl.

Tips for Bird Watching

Best Times to Visit:

Early mornings and late afternoons are typically the best times for bird activity.

Spring and early summer are prime seasons for bird watching, with many species nesting and active.

Equipment:

Bring a good pair of binoculars for better viewing.

A field guide specific to California birds can help with identification.

A camera with a zoom lens can capture distant birds without disturbing them.

Quiet and Patience:

Move slowly and quietly to avoid startling the birds.

Be patient and take time to observe; sometimes it takes a while for birds to appear.

Clothing:

Wear neutral-colored clothing to blend in with the environment.

Dress in layers to adjust to changing temperatures, especially in higher elevations.

Safety:

Be aware of your surroundings and watch for wildlife other than birds.

Carry water, snacks, and a first aid kit, especially if you plan on hiking in more remote areas.

Leave No Trace:

Respect nature and other wildlife; do not disturb nests or feeding birds.

Carry out all trash and leave the environment as you found it.

Additional Resources

Local Bird Watching Groups: Joining local bird watching groups or clubs can provide valuable insights and company.

Birding Apps: Apps like eBird can help you track sightings and discover popular birding spots.

Visitor Centers: Check out local visitor centers for up-to-date information and guided bird walks.

Enjoy your bird watching adventures in Arnold, California!

[summonerluna]

Some years, the date sneaks up on me.

This year, it has been like a train barreling down the track, whistle screaming in the distance while I wait, unable to move until it has passed, and still I am surprised by how much the impact hurts when it arrives.

I read an article right after she died, or maybe right before. About a man who, five years after his father died, would still have times at work when he instinctively reached for the phone to call his dad. About that moment where you forget, even though it’s been awhile, and you wonder how you can forget something so monumental.

Because she was here for 34 years of my life and has only been gone for 5, and when you put it like that, 5 years doesn’t seem very long.

But when I look at my son who was only two back then, 5 years is most of his lifetime. She doesn’t know how much he loves dinosaurs, and can tell you the difference in a triceratops and sinoceratops, or that our chickens are the closest direct descendants to the T-Rex. She has never watched him jumping on a small exercise trampoline while playing a video game, because his brain processes best when his body is in motion, although I am certain she has given me grief about letting them play games and also been amazed at how fast he is at solving the puzzles. She hasn’t seen how gentle he can be with small animals, even when gentle is not typically a word anyone would use to describe him.

And then, it is absurd that she has never seen our house in Maine. How can that be, when I have memories of walking with her from the creek to the garden? Of sitting on the front porch in early spring and drinking coffee and talking about how different the seasons are up here. When she has joined me on walks in the woods and helped me identify plants I wasn’t sure about. She doesn’t know that Kairi has continued to love dance and takes 5 classes a week, but she has watched her in this year’s Nutcracker and was so proud of her for it.

Or she has, until I remember that she hasn’t.

And then I realize, when wanting to make something symbolic for dinner, that I can't remember her favorite meal.

I remember things I know she loved. I remember her talking about dishes she wished she could have all the time. But all I can come up with is going out for Mexican, because that's what we did so often. My sister, the only other one who knows this loss and how painful and complicated it is, gifts us money to go out, and it is good, and I think of the place near Boston we discovered that has chile rellenos like she used to make. How the first time we went there before I had even taken a bite the smell took me to those rare afternoons when the kitchen would be covered in every bowl we owned, because she could never find anywhere on the east coast that made chile rellenos like she used to get out west but it was an all day labour to make them herself. I know she has had them there, even though I don't remember if she ever even made it to Boston, much less one of its northeast suburbs.

I say a few times, "it's the anniversary of my mother's death." Sometimes I cry, even though it's the in-between moments that usually make me cry, not the the ones you can mark on the calendar.

And then later, I get mad, because I can hear her voice lamenting that nobody would miss her anyway, because she felt so small and unimportant, and five years later I want to scream, how could you imagine your children would ever not need you? And I don't know if I am mad at her, or a world that made her feel small, or myself for feeling the same way some days.

Tomorrow I will wake up, and check my email to see if casting is up for the spring ballet production. And I will work on Sebastian's Link costume, and shovel snow, and snuggle the cats and pet the dog and let out the chickens and ducks, and I will live a life that has been built entirely in a world post-her-death, that is further and further from our last conversation.

The dead stay just on the edges, there until we glance their way and are reminded that, no matter how strongly we may feel their presence or how certain we are of times they have been with us, they are gone