#kinsey's drawing adventures

[skajador]

rooting for this as a Spanner arc

[fondueforall]

🎵You, you got your own opinions. But baby, I don't even need to hear 'em. It used to hurt me, used to bring me down. Do your worst, 'cause nothing's gonna stop me now. Don't let those losers take your magic, baby, yeah. 🎶 (let 'em talk by kesha plays automatically when you go on brittany's blog)

LIMA LOSER? OR IS THAT BRITTANY PIERCE? THEY MIGHT EVEN PASS FOR HUNTER SCHAFER IN THE RIGHT LIGHT. THEY'RE TWENTY-TWO, BUT STILL STUCK IN LIMA AT MCKINLEY. THEY'VE BEEN CALLED THE BLONDE AIRHEAD, BUT PREFER TO BE THE UNICORN. MAYBE IF THEY FIX THEIR AESTHETIC AKA LONG MOMENTS DANCING WITHOUT A CARE WITH THE MUSIC BLARING, GOSSIPING ON ALL THE DIRT OVER A TOO HOT POT OF CHEESE, AND GETTING SWEATY OUT ON THE FIELD IN A TOO SHORT SKIRT AND THE ROLLER RINK WITH THE GIRLS ON SKATES THEY'LL GET THEIR WAY. WORD ON THE SHOW CHOIR BLOGS ARE THEY'RE IN THE TROUBLETONES. SO GOOD LUCK TO THEM!

THE BASICS:

name: brittany susan pierce aka brittany s.pierce. 

nicknames: britt, b, bee, britt-britt.

pronouns: she/her. NOT IT, NOT HE/HIM. thank you.

gender: 🏳️‍⚧️ ♀️

birthday/zodiac: march 14th, pisces.

birthplace: lima, oh.

relationship status: single, but i've kissed just about every member of the senior and junior classes at mckinley.

sexuality: bisexual. 

occupation: host of fondue for two. 

sports/clubs: cheerios, dance, the muckraker, gay/straight alliance, mathletes. also it's not at school, but! i play on the local roller derby team here in lima, we're called the pinup punks. my name there is pierce the blade, i'm the jammer. i also play the drums in a band called high road.

major/minor: journalism and media communication.

languages: english, spanish, asl, and a language i invented in middle school!

social media handles: fonduefortwo professionally everywhere, fondueforbritt everywhere else for my friends.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

height: 5'10'’.

build: ⌛️

eye color: blue.

hair color: blonde, sometimes i clip in fun colors when i'm not in cheerio mode though.

piercings: i have a lot! four on each ear, three on my lobes and one a helix and on the other an industrial. i also have my tongue, nipples, and belly button pierced.

tattoos: i have a rainbow on my wrist, a unicorn on my lower back and a small ufo on my shoulder. a portrait of my amazing feline friend lord tubbington. (someone who is Not brittany typed that in and later brittany removed it)

other distinguishing features: good tits and a big heart. 

style: carefree and fun colors when i'm not in my cheer uniform. i love everything from bold patterns to simple ones.

PERSONALITY/INTERESTS:

traits: i like to think i’m loyal and creative, funny, friendly and pretty adventurous. but i know some people think i’m kind of stubborn and impulsive, probably naive and aloof too. also dumb or an airhead.

likes: to dance, fondue, my cats and the cats at love meow, art, math, performing, taking baths.

dislikes: bullies, being called stupid, ignorant people, conflict, injustice, feeling lonely.

fears: not being good enough or being hurt simply for being who i am.

skills: i can get out of handcuffs easily, bend pretty much my whole body, can put my feet over my head, do complicated math in my head, super good at reading peoples signs and i'm probably a lil psychic.

quirks: super bendy and flexible, does that count? double jointed, i can talk very fast, i do “voice overs”... mostly in my head.

hobbies: drawing, dancing, cheering, interviewing people, listening to true crime podcasts and alien/cryptid conspiracy theories, rollerskating, motocross.

music tastes: anything by kesha and beyonce, but also anything that i can dance to. ♪♫♬

myers-briggs: i did this because it was fun, but i can't remember i think it started with an e?

kinsey scale: 3, i'm equal opportunities.

strengths: i'm majorly talented, especially when it comes to dancing. i think people are surprised by how much i can lift too.. i also got like... an iron stomach, at least that's what my parents tell me. and despite what some people think, i'm pretty smart.

weaknesses: i get lost super easily.

She's the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker.

[anothertimdrakestan]

It's The Little Things (Batboys & YJ Boys HC)

think of these as lil mini hc's hehehe hope u enjoy!

Jason Todd:

- for jason, it's the feeling he gets when his eyes meet yours

- his heart does more intense flips than grayson when your eyes lock, sometimes his angry and swollen eyes meet your soft ones, and he realizes he'll be okay because you're there

- other times his heart flies at a million bpm when his eyes meet yours with a smirk, making you choke on air and die laughing only for him to scoop you up with a twirl and a kiss

- he could spend hours floating in the depths of your eyes, their his comfort, his lifeline, and the pair of gorgeous eyes he plans to love for the rest of his life

Wally West:

- for wally, it's the way you run your fingers through his hair

- wally is goofy, and fun loving, and bubbly but he also gets tired, and sad, and defeated. before you he didn't have a good way of recharging, sometimes just locking himself up for a day with a range of books to speed read while he tried to sort his feelings out on his own

- with you, he has a safe place, a person who will quietly hum while you run your fingers through his hair, letting him let out everything spinning through his head

- the first time you opened your arms to him he melted into your embrace, shocked that you were okay with him slowing down for once and trying to explain what was running through his mind at mach 20, now it's become a more frequent thing, and wally couldn't be more grateful his has someone to run home to after a long day (cue the damn song hehehe)

Damian Wayne:

- for damian, it's the sigh he lets out when he's finally returned to your embrace

- pulling you into a sweeping hug after a long day or a trechourous adventure he lets go of the breath that had been locked in his chest all day, replacing it with inhaling the smell of your shampoo and reminding himself this is why he fights to return home every night

- he wasn't big on hugging until he was hugging you, and he never realized how pent up he always is until he's completely free with you :)

Dick Grayson:

- for dick, it's your passion and zeal for life

- he's forever inspired with the way you want to change the world for the better and the way you're drawn to helping people, you constantly remind him that he fights to defend people like you, so that you can go on and change the world

- he admires how humble you are in your pursuit of your passion, the way you won't push some else down but rather help them up with you, watching you grind for your desires brings the biggest smile to dicks face and he couldn't imagine a life without you reminding him day in and day out that you're gonna change the world, even if you don't believe it yet

Bart Allen:

- for bart, it's the way you always defend him

- he was so used to be called the dumb one or being forgotten and having to catch up (not that he wasn't speedy enough to always catch up) but you were always the person who never forgets him and who never let anyone get him down

- "hey! bart is smarter than all of you combined shut up" "ooh that sounds fun! lemme text bart cuz he's out right now!" "hey B could you help me with this?"

- it makes his heart melt when you set time aside, remember, and appriciate him, it's truly one of the biggest reasons he fell in love with you

Tim Drake:

- for tim, it's the way you're always on his team, the way you're always there.

- his life is constantly changing rapidly, sometimes it feels like he has no one to hold on to and that everything is moving too fast- but there you are, an anchor in the storm for him to relax with and feel safe next to

- tim loves that even if you're questioning what he's doing you won't embarrass him in front of his family and friends as they often try to shoot down his ideas even when they're genius, but now, he always has you to side with him and question later. and he'll never stop being thankful for you being his light in the dark.

Gar Logan:

- for gar, it's the way you laugh at his jokes

- he had never heard a laugh as perfect as yours, the way it bubbles up out of your chest even when you're trying to roll your eyes at his cheesy grin or when you can't contain the laugh from one of your own jokes

- he loves the way your nose scrunches up and sometimes he can't refrain from tackling you and peppering kisses across your face until his favorite laugh is more of a breathless wheeze begging him to stop so you can catch your breath

- he promised himself that he would spend the rest of his life making you laugh like that, it's his favorite quality of yours

Conner Kent:

- for conner, it's the way you listen.

- none of his friends or family are the best listeners, two very busy dads trying to kill each other and super-friends who are usually mid battle or mid nap, it can all feel really isolating especially when one has got so much to talk about, but then there was you.

- for the first time in his life he had someone who cared for him and showed it through giving him the time of day just to listen, to talk, and to ask questions

- conner loves the way you help him grow and heal through words, his favorite "date" is chatting with you while he does chores on the farm or trains at the tower, and he loves that you're content to draw, or play games on your phone, or just watch him- all while listening and keeping conversation, he's fascinated by your empathy for him and will forever be thankful for it

-

-

tag list: @vintageroses10 @idkmanicantenglish @kishony-the-geek @foenixphire @how--are--you @psych0crybaby @romance-is-tragic @birdy-bat-writes @subtleappreciation @officiallydarkgeek @kinsey-scale-nightmare @tigirl-and-co

[myselfdisintegrated2]

OKAY. As promised. Re : Addison Montgomery Queen of Heterosexuality, Has Never Laid a Finger on a Woman Unless Her Job or The Male Gaze Demanded It.

I get it. I see it. I perfectly understand it. It makes sense, really, even if it hurts my soul. However.

I have many counterarguments. But for the sake of easing into it, and also, finally telling someone about this particular thought... let me just say... Savvy.

Best friend, ex-roommate, "hey, can I get a boudoir photoshoot done by you and you exclusively before they take my tits away, it will make you smile a hundred times more than Derek has in the entirety of this season", Savvy.

There is no way. No way. Those two didn't make out/sleep together at least once just for the thrill of it, no males to impress, no ovaries to take out. Just Addie, Savvy, bottles of wine, loneliness, stress, curiosity and my roommate is fucking hot thoughts.

(You can argue that that's the 0,5 in Addison's kinsey scale placement. That's fine. I can keep going <3)

back to Addison's maybe-possibly-or-not Sapphic adventures! Okay, first of all, I want your counterarguments! I bet they're great. Second of all:

"Addison Montgomery Queen of Heterosexuality, Has Never Laid a Finger on a Woman Unless Her Job or The Male Gaze Demanded It."

This made me snort. Thank you.

Okay, NOW. Back to Addison/Savvy. I like the picture you're drawing (heh) and now I feel like I'm going to fall into my usual downfall of "I can't picture it so maybe I'll just try to write it dow-oh yeah, I can see this." I still struggle with seeing it, though. Bottles of wine, loneliness, stress, curiosity, this I can see, but why are there no guys around? Because our Addison is very, very good at finding a guy when she needs to scratch the itch. Too good. Maybe I can figure out a reason why there are no guys around?

I want your counterarguments! Because I still keep seeing Addison as Charlotte in that one Sex & the City thing where she tries to fit in with the power lesbians and finally they're like "that's all well and good, dear, but if you're not going - "

(Which is like a conversation probably most of us have had to have at some point!)

But like. We all have hot friends we don't hook up with! (Right? Or am I just old?)

Anyway, I'm into exploring Addison/Savvy. So to speak. But just for the attention chance to write something different.

[a-froger-epic]

NASTALLY'S ❇️Q U E E N❇️ FIC

📝 = (semi-)regular updates

❓= will update eventually

🧊 = on ice

✅ = complete

Freddie Mercury/Roger Taylor

Froger - Love & Sex (18+):

Dawn of Aquarius [the epic] ✅ - Roger and Freddie meet in 1969 and change each other's lives. (romance, sexual awakening, coming of age, YA drama, period-typical homophobia, family drama, realism)

Good Company ✅ - collab with @quirkysubject The Queen boys accidentally on purpose watch porn together. (friends to... still friends but with interesting wanking habits, internalised homophobia, pining, humour)

Dreams of Tomorrow 📝- collab with @tikiniki A mad, medieval fantasy adventure with the Queen boys. (troubadour AU, adventure, fantasy, friendship, magic, origin stories, vikings, battles, a donkey called Tootsie)

Dawn of the Living Dead ❓ - It's the zombie apocalypse in 1971. (horror, dark comedy, blood & gore, insanity, friendship)

The Miracle ❓ - A slightly different take on the A/B/O trope. (mpreg, friends to lovers, kid!fic, parenthood, emotional realism, discrimination)

the eye of the beholder ✅ - Roger buys a video camera. (established relationship, script format, humour, light-hearted)

Time Waits for No One ✅ - collab with @bisexualroger Freddie and Roger's relationship through the years. (Christmas themed, sad, life has no happy endings, grief, acceptance, breakup, lovers to friends, death)

Sehnsucht 🧊 - Roger visits Freddie in Munich. They have a past. (Inspired by Dawn of Aquarius, pining, friendship, life has no happy endings, hurt/comfort, but mostly hurt)

Froger - Love:

A Kind of Magical Adventure (and the Spider from Mars) ❓ - collab with @plainxte​ The Doctor Who/Queen crossover nobody asked for! (friends to lovers, there was only one bed, fluffy Christmas space adventure)

The Only Exception ✅ - On a night out, something is rekindled between Roger and Freddie. (drug use, pining, past relationship, the one that got away, some humour)

Foxey ✅ - Freddie gives Roger an impromptu lapdance. (Dawn of Aquarius missing scene, fluff, humour, established relationship)

Secret ✅ - Brian is a good secret keeper. (Inspired by Dawn of Aquarius, handholding, angst and fluff, mostly fluff)

I put a spell on you (because you’re mine) ✅ - A Halloween special. (Dawn of Aquarius missing scene, breakup, angst, humour)

Incidentally Homosexual  ✅ - Roger wants to talk to Freddie about the Kinsey scale and sexuality.  (Dawn of Aquarius missing scene, internalised homophobia, pure fluff, soft boyfriends)

It’s Grim Up North (But There’s Light Up Ahead) ✅ - collab with @pumpkinlilyao3​ One time Roger saves Freddie, and one time Freddie saves Roger. (Friends to lovers, violence, slurs, angst, happy ending)

Promise ✅ - Roger and Freddie prepare for a special event in 2015. (Inspired by Dawn of Aquarius, Freddie lives, growing old together, pure fluff)

Tootsie’s Story ✅ - How Roger rescued a donkey. (Dreams of Tomorrow prequel, fantasy, adventure, troubadour AU, established relationship)

Ooh Love, ooh Loverboy… ✅ - Freddie through Roger's eyes. (established relationship, internal monologue, tooth-rotting fluff)

Romantic Drabbles ❓ - A mixed bag of Froger romance.

Froger - Porn Without Plot (18+):

A is for Amsterdam ✅ - Roger and Freddie walk into a sex shop. (Established relationship, bdsm, sex toys, dom!Roger, sub! Freddie, a bit of fluff and humour too)

B is for Bound ✅ - There's something Freddie would like to do. (Established relationship, bdsm, non-con play, dom!Roger, sub!Freddie)

C is for Control ✅ - There's something Roger would like to do. (Established relationship, mild bdsm dynamics, switching, top!Freddie, fluff)

D is for Discipline ✅ - Freddie turns a game into something a little more serious. (Spanking, bdsm, power dynamics, subspace, referenced cheating, guilt, dom drop)

Right until the ends of the Earth ✅ - Romantic piano sex. (Inspired by Dawn of Aquarius, mild bdsm dynamics, romance)

Tight Squeeze  ✅ - collab with @bambirexwrites fem!Queen; Regina and Freddie go shopping for shorts. Regina has some trouble fitting into them. Freddie helps her feel better. (Established relationship, body worship, semi-public sex)

One Fine Morning  ✅ - Freddie is trapped between two primal urges. (Established relationship, mild omorashi, morning sex)

Smutty Drabbles ❓- A mixed bag of Froger sexytimes.

Froger - Gen/shippy Gen:

Good Times (Better Times) ✅ - How Freddie met Roger, a Dawn of Aquarius prequel. (internal monologue, the Kensington pub, art student Freddie)

that special brew ✅ - That time Freddie accidentally drank marrijuana tea. (humour, Roger being a very sweet friend, light-hearted)

a joke nobody tells ✅ - Newly formed Queen dynamics or: not even Roger knows what is going on in Freddie's head. (group dynamics, insecurities, fear of failure, hurt/comfort)

Ghosts ✅ - Freddie’s arrival in Australia awakens some memories he would rather forget. (angst, referenced past sexual assault, friendship, hurt/comfort)

Including Love ✅ - Freddie and Roger love each other. But perhaps, not in that way. Or do they? (Roger-centric, character study, period-typical attitudes, male friendship, bromance)

Freddie Mercury

that which is good ❓ - Freddie meets Kenny. Two gay men struggling to find themselves, find comfort in each other’s friendship. (Angst, internalised homophobia, male friendship, hurt/comfort) 

Moments ❓ - A collection of moments in Freddie’s life. (Vignettes, angst, fluff, death, life, everything)

with my trust like a child ❓ - collab with @aboutnothingness A look at several of Freddie’s birthdays throughout his life (Hurt/no comfort, hurt/comfort, internal monologue, implied underage, heavy angst)

The God Abandons Antony [Freddie Mercury/Joe Fanelli] 🧊 - collab with @freddieofhearts​ On tour in the US, Freddie meets somebody new. (Internal monologue, angst, euphoria, new love, romance, cheating)

Rapture and Solace ✅ - 1991. (Internal monologue, fear of death, terminal illness, acceptance, background Jimercury)

to the bone (18+) ✅ - A police officer lets Freddie off the hook, in exchange for a favour. (Period-typical homophobia, abuse of power, sexual assault, hurt/no comfort)

Ménage à Deux  ✅ - An exploration of Freddie’s friendship with Barbara Valentin. (Dubcon, recreational drug use)

Naughty ✅ - Freddie's mind wanders while he poses nude for a life drawing class. (Internal monologue, some humour, internalised homophobia)

Don’t You (Walk Away) [Freddie Mercury/Winnie Kirchberger] ✅ - After a fight with Winnie, Freddie contemplates his life in Munich. (Hurt/No Comfort, toxic relationships, angst)

Freddie Love ❓ - Freddie-centric drabble collection.

Freddie Mercury/Brian May

As it Began ✅ - Freddie goes to write his dissertation at Brian's house. (Smile Era, boys with a crush, friendship, first kiss, angst, hurt/comfort)

Blacklight in Zero Gravity (18+)  ❓ - It's 2029, Freddie Mercury is working as a stripper and one night, the mysterious Brian May walks into his life. (Modern AU, sex & drugs, pining, humour, angst, fluff, romance, morally grey characters, smut)

Click! ✅ - Freddie meets a guy he just can’t get off his mind at work. (Modern AU, photographer!Freddie, model!Brian, social media, humour, meet cute)

the sun and moon and stars are you ✅ - Freddie and Brian are expecting, and getting ready for a Halloween party. (trans!Freddie AU, pregnancy, humour, fluff)

The Sound of Your Fear ✅ - Brian and Freddie stay in a very creepy hotel. (Ghost story, terror, haunted house, platonic/pre-slash Maycury)

Dreams of Tomorrow (18+) [Maycury, Froger, Joger] 📝 - collab with @tikiniki​ A mad, medieval fantasy adventure with the Queen boys. (troubadour AU, adventure, fantasy, friendship, magic, origin stories, vikings, battles, a donkey called Tootsie)

Freddie Mercury/Jim Hutton

Maybe I’m Amazed ✅ - Freddie is upset about an argument with Jim, who surprises him. (Angst, hurt/comfort, romance and fluff)

Interlude ✅ - Freddie has a great time at his 39th birthday party - for the most part. (Angst, non-consentual drug use, hopeful ending)

Sticks and Stones ✅ - Freddie reads a headline she wishes she hadn’t seen. (Fem!Jimercury, body image, fluff, happy ending)

Other Ships

Dawn of the Living Dead (18+) [Poly!Queen & Froger] ❓ - It's the zombie apocalypse in 1971. (horror, dark comedy, blood & gore, insanity, friendship, smut)

Kneel Down by Your Side and Pray [Maylor & Johnica] 🧊 - collab with @quirkysubject @tikiniki and @plainxte In a dystopian world where slavery is the norm, four young men struggle with their circumstances. (Dystopian AU, violence, blood & gore, sexual abuse, angst, friendship, hurt/no comfort, pining)

Sacrifice (18+) [Maylor] ✅ - Roger is being sacrificed to the God of Fertility. (Fantasy AU, humour, Monty Python-esque, technically non-con but not angsty, satire)

Colour Me Surprised [Joger] ✅ - Roger helps John with his make-up. (Yearning, gay panic)

a bona cackle [OMC/OMC, background Froger] ✅ - Dawn of Aquarius spin-off ficlet. A phone conversation in Polari. (Period-typical attitudes, queer history)

Gen

and the rest is history ✅ - The day John Deacon auditioned for Queen. 

lazing on a sunny afternoon  ✅ - A short, sweet fem!Queen ficlet.

The Sound and the Fury ✅ - collab with @quirkysubject​ Roger is struggling when the past catches up with him. Brian is a good friend. (hurt/comfort, friendship, angst)

Not Like Other Groups ✅ - Queen escape from an angry gang of skinheads by means of a car chase. (humour, friendship, action)

Maple Leaves ✅ - John struggles with Freddie’s illness. (heavy angst, death, grief)

Non-Fiction

Interview With A Queen “Groupie” - I interviewed a lady who knew the Queen boys back when she was at Ealing Art School. Yes, really.

[paperclipninja]

Younger post-ep ramble 6x09

After the very public outing of Liza’s real age last week, it was no surprise that this week’s Younger episode, ‘Millennial’s Next Top Model’, was all about the fallout. In true Younger style we were treated to some unexpected twists and turns, saw Kelsey take control at work and in her personal life and welcomed back my #1 mega-villain who I hate-love fiercely, Quinn Tyler.  This ep was written by Grant Sloss, who is responsible for a number of my favourite episodes and lot of my fave moments in the series and one thing I am always blown away by is his ability to craft character interactions in which the sentiment and emotion are really palpable (plus the one-liners are always top of the game) and we certainly saw a number of those this week.  Even though Liza is 100% responsible for the position she now finds herself in, my heart went out to her this whole episode and Kelsey, Charles and Diana’s show of solidarity right from the get-go pretty much sums up everything I love about this show. 

I need to say upfront that while I know this episode is all about Liza, it is hands down my favourite episode of Kelsey’s in the series. In a time of real pressure and stress, we see Kelsey step up in the role of publisher, starting with the damage control team meeting in her office. I have big feelings about this opening moment, in which Diana proves why she is an actual Queen who rises above past grievances and now offers unwavering support of Liza while continuing to have zero time for Zane’s bullshit (the ‘well mercifully they have a paywall now’ to Zane’s New York Magazine tidbit was all of the yes). We learn of the deal with Infinitely 21 (was it just me or did anyone else get heart flutters at the thought of Kelsey, Diana and Liza being their brilliant selves and brokering that arrangement? Just me? Cool) and I have spoken of my love for the way this show parodies real life things but this might take the cake. Alexa, what are synonyms for ‘forever’? I just adore that it is very clear that Kelsey is in charge and that Charles and Diana are offering up potential solutions (Diana’s ‘rest her a bit’ is so in character I cannot. Between that and Charles’ thoroughbred thighs from season 4 I fully expect her to have a couple of horses upstate somewhere called Charles and Liza by the end of this series), meanwhile Zane clearly still hasn’t caught on to the fact that these three are not going to throw Liza under a bus.

Enter Liza as he’s ending his tirade about her poisoning the company (and lbh, what he is saying isn’t actually ridiculous from a business p.o.v but he’s talking about the best friend, girlfriend and (old) maid of honour of the people in the room) and it’s awkward af and pretty awful and I want to climb through my screen, wrap Liza in a blanket and tell her it’s all going to be ok. Zane’s extreme over-estimation of his importance in Liza’s life continues when he tells her that what he’s saying can’t be personal because ‘I don’t know who you are’ (worth it for Charles’ ‘Zane’ reprimand though amirite) and as I said after last week’s episode, I can’t even count on one hand the number of interactions Zane and Liza have had so yes Zane, that is accurate and nothing to do with her age reveal. At least once he discovered that Kelsey has known about the lie he FINALLY has a reason to be hurt (maybe? Still a little fuzzy on this one) and look Zane saying they’re all insane might be somewhat accurate but everyone in that room loves Liza and I love all of them so I felt personally attacked tbh.

Keeping with the stellar guest star casting this season, Shelly Rozansky (played by Annaleigh Ashford) is every kind of irritating as brand rep of Infinitely 21. Kelsey and Liza’s meeting with her, in which Shelly explains that 'the tea’ is that their authentic brand cannot be associated with Millennial’s inauthentic one (I love the moral high ground re: brand but I’m pretty sure Millennial doesn’t have factory workers making less than a living wage so…) and this very real ramification of Liza’s lie paves the way for one of Liza’s best moments on the show to date.

Taking that tea of Shelly’s and throwing it in her face, Liza’s monologue that 'everyone is pretending to be younger’ reaches it’s climax with the zinger, 'Millennial is not an age, it’s an attitude and if you can’t sell that, we’ll go somewhere else’, and Kelsey’s look of pride, same girl SAME. One thing I have commented on in the past is that as a '26 year old’ Liza rarely, if ever, really stood up for herself. The few times we’ve seen her do so have been as the forty year old who takes no crap from anyone (David, Charles, Don) so I am here times a million for strong ass Liza to finally shed that guilt, know her worth and be able to show this side of herself now that the lie is no longer in play (I feel like Diana will dig this very much).

Turns out Shelly was quite into Liza’s feisty outburst too ('what you screamed at me today, justifiably, we’re still friends promise…it resonated’ = award winning line/delivery combo), as she calls to let Liza know they’re going to unfreeze the partnership and asks Liza to be the face (and legs) of Infinitely 21’s Spring campaign. This phone call takes place in a very delicious looking cupcake shop where Liza and Charles are playing cards with his daughters in an all round delightful family situation that gives us a glimpse of the Miller-Brooks dynamic and makes the point that after a pretty terrible day, Liza is grateful to have this in her life to counter all the drama. I am also pleased to see that Bianca and Nicole have been located (meanwhile Caitlin, Beth and all of Josh’s friends remain stuck in the Upside Down or have become bunker people or something equally ominous I fear).

I am very into a number of aspects of this entire scene: a) Charles eating candy just up and gets me for some reason. I don’t know why, I can’t explain it, but it’s akin to seeing him walking round barefoot, it confuses my brain but I’m pretty sure I like it; b) Bianca is clearly the fave child with her cute little, 'I won’t take your last bag of candy Liza’ (lol at Charles’ 'wow’ when Liza offers that up for the taking btw, he knows that’s a serious gamble) though I was 100% Nicole as a kid; c) those kids are so not sleeping after all that sugar so I hope they’re staying at Pauline’s, while Charles’ dad game is strong with the breakfast cupcakes and; d) Charles kissing Liza on the cheek as she takes Shelly’s call is so damn sweet (pun intended) and supportive and I love that Liza suggesting he go stand with the girls in case she starts crying again indicates she has been an open mess around him. It’s writing like this that I really appreciate when there is so much to fit into an episode, because it provides insight into the kind of relationship Liza and Charles have when there simply isn’t time to show it.

While Liza is drowning her sorrows in candy and cupcakes, Maggie is at the brilliantly cringy art exhibit, 'Masculinity Detox: A Softer Male Gaze’. Look I have to be honest, I was really happy to see Oded Fehr because he can play a skeeze with charm like no other, but I don’t know how I feel about this entire plot. I can only comment on it from a straight perspective, so I am aware that I’m not really in a position to express an opinion in relation to the impact of showing a gay character thinking it’s a good idea to sample a penis every ten years or so, but I certainly feel like it’s problematic. In relation to this character though, it is consistent with Maggie sleeping with Tommy Minetti (and his sister Tammy) as a result of Berlin’s 'Take my Breath Away’ (I don’t know why I remember that, I can’t remember what month it is yet this stuff is right there) and there is no denying that there were actual sparks between Maggie and Rafael in the loft, the palpable chemistry that Grant Sloss’ eps seem to draw out on full display. 

Another dimension of Maggie that I love seeing emerge in this ep is that while she is usually a total badass in absolute control, every now and then we see that her judgement of character is just way off. There was Montana, those weirdo art collectors who actually collect artists and now this guy. I love that there’s a side of her that gets a bit blinded by flattery so she thinks 'what the hell?’ and the inevitable 'oh I CAN-NOT with this bullshit’ that follows, usually very publicly - Exhibit A: Maggie countering dirtbag Rafael’s, 'I’ll change you mind, I’m a flipper’ with a literal flip of the restaurant table once she realises she was simply another conquest. She seems so unflappable that these reminders that she’s fallible (I legit sometimes forget she’s not an actual super hero) are really great and maintains the 'flawed human’ aspect this show does so well. Honestly, other than Liza in a full tracksuit (sweat clothes?? I don’t know what it is in American but that cute pink sweat top and sweatpants combo) thinking they were being robbed and very confused by what had happened (so were we all lbh and Kinsey 9 LOL), it was Maggie equating sex with a man to being suffocated by a damp rug that was the highlight of this entire storyline for me. So damn funny.

Diana continues to have Liza’s back as she heads to the photo-shoot to steer her away from anything pleather (I may need a spin off of these two or some kind of one off special episode that’s just an elaborate Diana/Liza adventure, maybe rescuing Caitlin and co. from the bunker??), but not before we catch Kelsey still slaying it as a boss as she leaves a voicemail for the increasingly petulant Zane. Hearing her so firm and sure of herself is brilliant and the friendship vibe between Diana and Kelsey is peaking and I am loving every bit of it. I am so glad we heard Diana asking Kelsey how she took the lie, while Diana was able to forgive and move forward it would have been strange if we didn’t see her still processing some of it this week. Plus it’s Diana who points out that Zane’s tantrum is not because Liza is who he is upset with (and THANK YOU Kelsey for pointing out that Liza and Zane hardly know each other). 

Rather than letting the whole Zane thing fester away, Kelsey continues to impressively show initiative by going to Zane’s and offering to cook dinner (which Zane knows is a lol and it’s not long before he’s cooking, so well played Kels) to give him the opportunity to ask anything he wants and she will answer honestly. Once a proper explanation of why Liza lied and why Kelsey kept it from him is given, Zane suddenly reverts back to being a rational human being which is a relief because he was fast becoming the worst (though his comment that they were all bad liars, what now?? Yes they be cray but their lying game is strong friend). I am not particularly invested in Kelsey and Zane as a pairing but I always appreciate good storytelling and writing, and revisiting the fact Zane told her he loved her in past tense was an example of both of these. In order for any kind of relationship between these two to progress believably this needed to be addressed and hearing Kelsey call Zane out on his shitty and manipulative behaviour was great, but even greater was seeing Kelsey drop her guard.

Opening up about being mad at herself too and that maybe if they were both more open about their feelings they wouldn’t have wasted so much time denying how they really felt; that she felt, no, feels, the same way, present tense; the resetting of the timer so she can finish what she was going to say instead of taking the option of backing out; the honest conversation…you know what all this is? Growth. Kelsey Lorraine Peters, I am just so damn proud of you because I am the first to admit that I was not sure this character could be redeemed for me after last season but here we are. The emotion for this whole scene, you could feel it and Zane’s, 'oh that timer was for food’ was fab, before he just casually drops in, ’ I love you, but stay out of my kitchen’. OK.  Smitten mode activated.

Meanwhile, Diana is no doubt enjoying Shelly’s disbelief that she and Liza are almost the same age about as much as a root canal and Lauren appears with a 'bowflex for your face’ to combat the 5 o'clock jowls. Side note: Lauren and Liza really need to have a convo asap because I definitely feel like Lauren is not ok with the lie since it’s been revealed. Scene of the ep goes to Charles walking into the trailer (with flowers for Liza *swoon*) while Diana is flapping that contraption, before he slowly backs away and I tell you, I was howling so hard I almost ruptured something. Liza’s hideous romper/scooter combo is just no on many levels, she clearly feels super unnatural and the photographer snapping Charles and Liza, who are not expecting to be photographed while her being made up to look so young obviously makes them look very far apart in age and a bit awks means that yes, the daddy/daughter dance vibe is strong, though that line made me vom in my mouth a little bit.

Between shoots our extremely excellent villain Quinn pays Liza a visit to show her support and her well-polling glasses. Her real talk that the good news about the publishing reaction to Liza’s lie is that 'eight blocks outside of midtown, nobody cares’, is what we were all thinking and is def to be filed under 'G’ for Gold. So naturally Quinn drags her into a completely self-serving NY1 interview (bless Liza for thinking they wanted to interview her) and I freaking love Quinn, she’s such a delicious character coz she’s awful and funny and pretty and a total smart ass. I stan.

Before we jump to the second part of the photo-shoot I have to say that the very obvious ploy to try and juxtapose Liza’s relationships with Charles and Josh felt like it was trying too hard and was mostly disappointing to me because it felt so forced. I want to be very clear that it has nothing to do with who I like Liza with romantically, it would have felt contrived regardless and was the only aspect of the episode that I felt could have been crafted with a little more nuance. Or maybe that was the point? Perhaps the obviousness was part of the humour of it *shrug emoji* 

Either way, Liza is looking pretty exhausted when Josh turns up at the bar photo-shoot for reasons (whose name I am betting is Lauren Heller because there is no way he would just turn up and it is 100% in her wheelhouse to send him along after seeing the expressions on her face at the earlier shoot. I feel like this will def come out at some point and that really this whole shoot is serving to bring about stuff in future eps) and he doesn’t get to explain why he is there because he’s teasing Liza about being a model and I really do love their banter. Shelly has no idea what’s happening but she likes it and is thirsting pretty hard as she shakes his hand and I enjoyed hearing Liza talk about Josh as patient zero, her 'would you correct him?’ as she squeezed his cheeks made me smile. I know there have been a LOT of feelings about this scene expressed on social media, but I found the reminiscing, as Josh talked about how when he first met Liza he thought she was smart and sexy and he wanted to keep talking to her, really sweet (and quickly countered by his joking about being really drunk and it being dark).  

I actually love this dynamic so much and if this show had moved these two properly into the friendzone I would be celebrating this as a pin-up example of how to show romantic-platonic relationship transition. I still may, because at this stage there is nothing to indicate that Liza is anything but committed to Charles and Josh gave no impression of pining for her IMO, but as an experienced TV connoisseur (aka obsessive tv show watcher) I am not naive enough to think that this interaction mightn’t be setting in motion a resurgence of the triangle. By the same token, I do not see any triangle in play at the moment and one thing this show does excel at is surprising us, so time will tell, but I am going to keep my faith in the writers to tell good, compelling stories that stay true to all the excellent characters and narratives they have in front of them, as they have done up until now.

While Liza’s colleagues aren’t going to throw her under a bus, Quinn is not only more than happy to, I’m pretty sure she’d drive the bus herself if it served her own self interest.  Quinn saying that she found out about Liza’s lie the week before in The New Yorker article, ooomph, did you feel that? It was the wind being knocked out of all of us, along with poor Liza, as Quinn counters Liza’s suggestion that she knew the truth before she invested on live TV. It was evident fairly quickly that Quinn was using the interview as a campaign platform and Liza’s expression as Quinn betrays her so publicly is yet another credit to Sutton Foster’s incredible talent.

My Kelsey love was brought home this week when she met Quinn following the NY1 interview. She is unrelenting in her backing of Liza and unwavering in her stance to Quinn when she is asks her to fire Liza. From the moment she arrives Kelsey is so kick ass, she sees every one of Quinn’s attempts to bully her into getting what she wants and Kelsey’s, 'please don’t minimise the strength I bring to this meeting’ was such a hell yes moment. There is something so satisfying about seeing Quinn in a position where she needs something from Kelsey and Kelsey standing so firm. Kelsey’s 'are we done here?’ before walking away was such a power move and the transition into her own office the next day, with Charles reassuring her that she did the right thing, was wonderful. Seeing these two as equals, talking business with a bit of a mentor/mentee dynamic is a dream. It was on my season 6 wish list and I can’t wait to see more of it.

It is upon discovering that Audrey Colbert’s manuscript delivery cheque bounced and that Diana just heard one of the Jennifer’s, the sloppy one from publicity (this line, I swear and also I need to meet her), say her direct deposit didn’t go through that we discover Quinn has thrown the ultimate tantrum and pulled her funding and Mercurennial is broke.

Poor Liza feels that it’s all her fault, I’m sure partly because of the way her colleagues turn and look at her when she walks in the office and partly because it is, but Charles continues to play the role of ultimate supportive partner as they stroll down the street after work, pointing out that Liza attracted Quinn to the company in the first place (and we ALL know it was not the company she was attracted to). I am simple folk and Charles saying he’s spoken for as he put his arm around her made me melt into a puddle and if anyone is feeling concerned about Liza’s level of besotted, watch this final scene as Charles reassures her that, 'you know what’s great about the worst thing happening? There’s no place to go but up. Only good things ahead’. I may have actually died from the sweetness of the entire thing and Liza does exactly what any self respecting person would in that situation and kisses him before they walk off hand in hand. To live happily ever after…jokes LOL I mean it’s television and it turns out Infinitely 21 has the most efficient marketing team on the planet because their campaign is launched and whattya know, it looks as though Liza and her ex will be plastered all over the city. 

File under 'O’ for OF COURSE.

[ofseymour]

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖌𝖊 * / 𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖊

001.  describe  your  characters’  relationship  with  their  mother  or  father,  or  both.  minimum  word  count:  150.

tba.

002. what  are  your  characters’  most  prominent  physical  features?   what  is  a  feature  that  they  are  most  insecure  about?  what  are  they  proudest  of?

it’s been long since isolde has regarded her body as something to revel ( or agonize over ). she likes the ambiguity of her features, how it tricks the general molding of the english, and ventures into marginal territories, burgundian, southern, traitorous. not insecure per se, since she inhabits all aspects of womanhood with ease, all but one: childbearing. she struggles against fertility, rather than towards it: the idea of giving birth has discomfited and unnerved her ever since she was young. it only increases tenfold with age, and so the duchess longs for the time when such worries will be rendered moot by nature’s course.

003.  how  vain  is  your   character?  do  they  find  themselves  attractive?  what  is  their   worst  flaw,  and  are  they  aware  of  it?

she might have grown to be vain if she did not have isabel as a childhood companion. the other woman’s beauty was so stark, so undeniable, and it embodied so many characteristics of desire as well as distant grace, that isolde found herself to be a lukewarm contrast. it was not a comparison that bothered her in the least: isabel’s beauty was a thing to be mirrored at times, but not held over your entire life. it was, like all heavenly boon, a burden. to carry that beauty would’ve required a strength and a determination she did not possess.

004.  what  is  your  character’s  ranking  on  the  kinsey  scale?

a three before her marriage with charles, as emotional bonds were always more readily established with women. she was very fond of all her fellow ladies in waiting when she belonged to the retinue of the old queen, and now she is even more invested in the lives of the younger women she must govern. after her union, it veers towards a two; the idea of becoming involved with someone who would serve no purpose to either isabel or to their duchy seems rather absurd.

005.  describe  your  character’s  happiest  memory.  minimum  word  count:  150.

tbd. ( i sense a pattern )

006. is  there  one  event  in  your  characters’  life  that  they  would   like  to  erase  from  their  past?  why?  minimum  word  count:  200.

tbd.

007. let’s  talk  favourites!  what  is  their  favourite  colour,  food,   and  season?   what,  in  a  modern  setting,  would  be  your   character’s  favourite  song? 

she is very fond of cream-white, the nuance you would see, for example, on lacework embroidery and church veils, as opposed to the glacial white of gauze and diamond.

as anyone who spent their childhood winters at court, she is fond of all tastes that forged an unwitting association with the feast days: sweetmeats, sugared almonds, poached fruit.

anything by soccer mommy but with a tad less nostalgia.

008.  can  you  define  a  turning  point  in  your  character’s  life?

the first time she understood that it wasn’t only the king’s heart isabel wanted, but also the certainty such a love could secure. the risks she evaluated (and of which she’d been warned by members of their circle) and still deciding to help nonetheless. the acknowledgement that nothing can compare with proximity to a world on the bring of change, except perhaps the sworn devotion to what has still stayed the same. 

009. is  your  character  an  early  morning  bird  or  a  night  owl?  at   what  time  do  they  get  most  of  their  work  done?

devotedly a morning bird. even when she had to stay awake through the late, informal parties tat took place in the private quarters of richmond palace, observing and tailing the ends of conversations like licks of flame, she was still adamant on getting up as early as possible.

010 a.  what  other  character,  a  npc  or  someone  apart  of  the  rp,   is  your  character  completely  real  with?  who  knows  them  best,   has  seen  them  at  their  most  vulnerable,  knows  their  innermost   and  basest  fears?  (b.  if  your  character  does  not  have  this  person,  why?  do  they  long  for  one?)

charles in recent years, but overall isabel. while her own brother kept to the sidelines and permitted isolde to associate with whoever she pleased, it was out of a lack of true understanding rather than a surplus of it. the older seymour never really did comprehend her; not that it would’ve been possible, when isabel had already taken that role for herself.

011.  is  your  character  a  neat  or  messy  person?

organized from the standpoint of mental information and daily responsibilities, and certainly preaching tidiness to the ladies she has under her wing, but sometimes erratic with trivial belongings (sheaves of materials, ribbons, letter kits). 

012.  does  your  character  have  any  irrational  fears  or  phobias?

nothing other than the common ladylike train of vermin, seasonal diseases creeping into the palace, statute ruin. unless you count childbirth as an irrational fear, in which case, yes.

013.  does  your  character  have  an  underlying  passion  or  trait  that  influences  all  aspects  of  their  life?

her need to preserve the status and privileges of those around her. they are inextricably linked with her own: there is no place where charles ends and she begins, no choices isabel makes that does not tug at her own strings. it is not sacrifice, it is not martyrdom. it the mutual egotism that sustains their love, separate and colluded, carnal and platonic.

014.  what  might  your  character’s  ideal  romantic  person  be?

certainly not charles lmao but she has stopped thinking about that ideal for so long that she no longer has any reliable memories. it might have been anyone: the isolde that concocted it, that breathed lifelikeness into its specter with her own desire, no longer exists. not because of some loss, of an identity shaken by something so great that it has no choice but to shift, but due to the normal workings of the world. the choices she made for herself (was allowed to make for herself) as a woman changed the wishes she’s safeguarded as a girl.

015. describe  your  character’s  hands.  are  they  small,  long,   calloused,  smooth,  stubby,  dexterous  or  clumsy?  do  they  wear   any  jewelry  and  would  they  wear  polish  in  a  modern  setting?

in a modern setting they would wear clear nail polish with a top coat. the sort that almost escapes their glance and certainly the sort that’s easily maintained. as it is, her nails are cut short and kept clean, and her hands are small, powdered, entirely within the confines of the ordinary. they work mediocre well with tasks such as embroidery and are far more suited for cerebral purposes like signatures and different calligraphy styles.

016.  how  does  your  character  smell?  what  is  their  favourite  scent?

she is fond of heady, earthly smells, like wood and incense; fragrances that are strong but flowing, associated with the things around them rather than drawing attention for themselves.

017.  how  would  your  muse  describe  their  religious  beliefs?

pragmatic with a twist (some would call that consciousness, others weakness. she loves people from both those sides.)

018.  what  rules  does  your  muse  live  by,  if  any?

see 013. and like half my bio lol (unbelievable i cbf to reiterate even for my own sake)

019.  does  your  muse  overshare,  or  are  they  more  private?

she can easily give the impression of oversharing when she congresses with the ladies of the queen’s household. however, it rarely happens on its own, or with people from which she expects no reciprocating information. she made that mistake several times in the past with her own brother, and as endearing as the duke of somerset was, he was not one of them.

020. is  your  muse  a  gossiper?  are  they  more  likely  to  argue  with their  fists  or  tongue?  what  does  their  voice  sound  like?

gossiper druid class, rolls 20 on tongue attack.

021. is  your  muse  a …  pessimist  or  optimist …  lover  or  fighter … believer  in  happy  endings …  believer  in  love  at  first  sight?

she believes in people designing the type of love that’s easiest for them to bear. those who need the comfort of destiny, divinity, external pillars to lay their heads against, rely on love at first sight. some rely on the sanctity of marriage - undeceivable, unyielding. other find comfort in opposite corners: in the absence of love, the impermanence of happiness, the war waged against all things everlasting. she no longer concerns herself with which is true. perhaps she never had: charles and isabel have long settled such dilemmas for her.

022.  what  sense  of  humour  does  your  character  have?

optimal according to situation. she is not a great wit (think og anne boleyn) but nor is she ignorant to the subtrends and styles in courtly conversation. she is usually most comfortable when throwing back-and-forth remarks with charles or witnessing his sparring matches with isabel, and more often than not she finds things to contribute herself. but she would never try to replicate that sense of humor and intellectual acumen with most members of court.

023.  what  bad  habits  does  your  character  have?

complacency, egotism, lack of desire to change perspective, often false certainty, duplicity, drawing out private information, outright lying, us against them mentality.

024.  how  does  your  character  feel  about  growing  old?

see 002. though she is plagued by conventional concerns such as her husband’s interest in her over the years (at no point in her life did isolde think her unorthodoxy exempts her from the woes of regular women) she finds the scales to be rather in her favor. the idea that she will not risk pregnancy, or an untimely death, is far more appealing than the risk of charles taking up five times more mistresses than decency allows. if she finds she has lost more than she has gained with old age, she will cross that bridge when it shows. she just usually doubts it will.

025.  does  your  character  prefer  adventure  to  safety  and  security?

she married a man that wants to restructure at least 4 governing systems in europe and is mortally devoted to a woman that’s literally just been poisoned..... choose for yourself

[modernlotrhobbitthoughts]

Kili, Son of Dís - Day Fourteen/Fifteen

Yay, here’s one of everyone’s favourite dwarves! (A day late, but here now! I decided to just skip yesterday’s post, because I’m kind of behind) Everyone loves Kili, and he gets a big part in both the books and films, so we know quite a bit about him. Let’s go!

Kili, by Marcianca

We know that Kili is a bit of a reckless and foolhardy bin child (by which I mean he’s trash, but like cute trash). We have to wonder about why he’s so reckless (at least I do), because we know that his father and Uncle Frerin were killed, presumable in battle. I don’t know, but there’s a possibility that he’s reckless in order to prove himself. I know that he’s obviously a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but it would be interesting to explore his need to prove himself.

He’s definitely one of the main characters, and (as we can see from the fandom), one of the favourites. However, in his family, he seems to be less of a contender for attention. His mom, Dís, doesn't get at that much recognition, but she’s the only named female dwarf. His uncle, Thorin, is the heir to the throne of Durin, and pretty much our main dwarf man in the films, whether he’s your favourite or not. Finally, his brother, Fili, is next in line for the throne, and often referred to as such by Thorin. Kili doesn’t really seem the type to be jealous, but we can’t really tell if he even subconsciously has a want for more attention.

Also, I want to bring up the subject of Kili’s parentage. We know that he looks different than many of the other dwarves (along with Fili and perhaps Thorin can be included in there as well). Thorin is Dís’s brother, but it’s been speculated that perhaps her husband is not a dwarf. Given that he’s completely unknown, we can kind of make up whatever we want about him. Take a look at this post, if you’re curious. Theory of Kili's Father

Okay, fanart. Needless to say, there is a lot of fanart. Also, y’all, stop drawing Kili and Fili as a couple. I just need to get it off my chest but stop drawing weird incesty art about the dwarves, that’s not what this is, and trying to make it that. Anyway, Kili!

Kili, by ewebean

Kili, by ???

Kili by @linane-art

Kili, by @evankart

Kili, by Monkoke Kitsune

Kili, by KerdzevadzeART

Sunset, by EM-MIKA

Kili, by Dominique Wesson

Okay, onto Kili and Tauriel. I already talked about their relationship from Tauriel’s side, but I know that it’s one thing to discuss the female side, but we know need to discuss it from the side of dwarven royalty. It’s kind of a stereotype, the prince falling in love with a woman he can never have, someone who his family would disapprove of. But they’re honestly just such a cute couple.

Kili and Tauriel, by karanapwnzfaces

Kili and Tauriel, by ???

It’s a disapproved of ship for some, but the idea of Kili, a reckless dwarf, meeting an elven warrior that could clearly beat the shit out of him and just fell in love. Also, they literally met with a dick joke, so honestly... iconic.

Modern Tauriel and Kili, by ???

Modern AU - personal thoughts time: Kili was obviously a popular kid in school. He was really good at art, surprisingly to some. He never involved in any sports, mostly for the fact that he doesn’t really get along with the jock type (read: Legolas). He graduated with good marks, and went to college for comic Art, with a minor in adventure education. Naturally, as an art student, he struggled, still living with his mom, but helping pay the bills as a rafting tour guide, a job he greatly enjoyed. After being physically attacked by an employee for a major company, his uncle Thorin filed a lawsuit against the CEO, Kili was called as a witness for the trial. The lawyer doing his deposition, a beautiful and brilliant woman named Tauriel, intrigued Kili and “stole his heart.” He made several advances on her, none too forward or creepy, and she finally agreed to go on a date with him. The two of them began seeing each other in secret, certain that their families would not approve. When the war came around, Kili enlisted along with his brother, serving under Thorin along with many of his family members. Tauriel enlisted similarly, and the two of them fought side by side in a final battle. Kili was killed in brutal fire by enemy, Tauriel by his side. He was sent home to his mother, and was buried by his father, two uncles, and brother.

Anyway, Kili is just a really good person, so nice and cute and, man, what a guy.

Young and Reckless, by Lydia Kinsey

[pvrestwolff]

---- i'll let you see the good if you know me; i'll show you all the bad if you love me; but oh, only i know the ugly.

trident’s task 002; personality exploration.

myers-briggs personality type indicator ----

//** due to erica’s borderline personality disorder, it is impossible to truly 'type’ her. because of this i have elected to take the test two times to show you how the results shift.

---- test number one: entj-t -- the commander.

commanders are natural-born leaders. people with this personality type embody the gifts of charisma and confidence, and project authority in a way that draws crowds together behind a common goal. however, commanders are also characterized by an often ruthless level of rationality, using their drive, determination and sharp minds to achieve whatever end they’ve set for themselves. perhaps it is best that they make up only three percent of the population, lest they overwhelm the more timid and sensitive personality types that make up much of the rest of the world – but we have commanders to thank for many of the businesses and institutions we take for granted every day.

--- test number two: istj-t -- the logistician.

the logistician personality type is thought to be the most abundant, making up around 13% of the population. their defining characteristics of integrity, practical logic and tireless dedication to duty make logisticians a vital core to many families, as well as organizations that uphold traditions, rules and standards, such as law offices, regulatory bodies and military. people with the logistician personality type enjoy taking responsibility for their actions, and take pride in the work they do – when working towards a goal, logisticians hold back none of their time and energy completing each relevant task with accuracy and patience.

the enneagram type test ----

true type ---- type 8: the challenger.

taking charge, because they don't want to be controlled.

eights are essentially unwilling to be controlled, either by others or by their circumstances; they fully intend to be masters of their fate. eights are strong willed, decisive, practical, tough minded and energetic. they also tend to be domineering; their unwillingness to be controlled by others frequently manifests in the need to control others instead.

wing ---- type 7: the enthusiast

pleasure seekers and planners, in search of distraction.

sevens are essentially concerned that their lives be an exciting adventure. they are future oriented, restless people who are generally convinced that something better is just around the corner. they are quick thinkers who have a great deal of energy and who make lots of plans. they tend to be extroverted, multi-talented, creative and open minded.

miscellaneous personality facts ----

western zodiac -- sun sign: capricorn. // moon sign: libra. chinese zodiac -- gregorian calendar: rabbit, yang fire. // lunar calendar: tiger, yin fire.

hogwarts house: slytherin.

element: earth.

alignment: chaotic neutral. d&d class: rogue, assassin archetype.

virtue: diligence. vice: wrath.

the kinsey scale test ----

three -- equally heterosexual and homosexual.

//** erica is pansexual, pandemiromantic and polyamorous.

the bdsm test ----

100% brat 100% brat tamer 100% switch 100% rigger 100% sadist 100% rope bunny 100% primal (hunter) 100% non-monogamist 96% master/mistress 92% owner 90% submissive 86% dominant 85% pet 81% masochist 81% experimentalist 71% exhibitionist 45% voyeur 43% daddy/mommy 38% slave 19% primal (prey) 1% vanilla 0% ageplayer 0% degradee 0% boy/girl 0% degrader

[writerofscribbles]

LEA CASTAIRE // [ member of the Library & main character of the “dark magic” series ]

Her eyes immediately went to Aedan and Teylie, the last two people in the world that she had. It was them and the twin swords strapped to her back. She could feel the magic within them through their leather sheaths, impossible to contain. They were whispering to her, trying to draw her into releasing them again. 

But she had bigger things to focus on. Like the long gash that tore open Tey’s shoulder and Aedan’s heavy breathing as he leaned on his cane. “Come on, we have to get out of the Library,” she said, and they nodded.

“Lead the way,” Tey murmured, pressing her fingers to her wound, blood gushing around her pale fingers. Lea pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, bloodied fingers reaching into the pocket to pull out a coin with a flame etched onto it. She knew exactly where to go. 

Lea Castaire is a main[ish] character in The Rise of the Sun and then a bigger main character in The Dark Huntress. She was born and raised within an institution called the Library where she was raised by her mother, Kinsey; her mentor, Aedan; and her best friend/basically-older-sister Teylie Rusher. 

At the beginning of The Rise of the Sun, Lea is working and training to become a Master of Knowledge, just like her mother. Lea grew up within the walls of the library. They called her the Mouse, because she was always hanging around, getting underfoot. She has curly brown hair, usually kept back in a loose ponytail. She has a freckled face, dark eyes, and a kind smile. 

After the events of The Rise of the Sun, she travels across the continent, looking for answers to questions and secrets that arise in The Rise of the Sun. Unfortunately, I can’t tell any more beyond that, but I have a lot of random facts and knowledge of Lea. She transforms into an adventurer and overcomes her own naivety within The Rise of the Sun and even more in The Dark Huntress. 

I highkey love Lea and Aedan and Teylie, so I’ll probably never shut up about them. And always feel free to ask me questions about them! 

Tag List: @sleepy-and-anxious @lonelyystargazer @folatefangirl @isaravenclaw​ (let me know if you want off the tag list or on it in the future!)

[recentanimenews]

Memoirs Most Charming, Part 1

I’ve read a handful of charming memoirs lately, and more are on the way!

I’m a Lucky Guy by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. This was a reader suggestion from Anne!

Here, Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. (writing without sister Ernestine, his sometime collaborator) recounts various happenings and misadventures from his early adulthood, beginning in 1929 when he’s headed off to college and ending somewhere around 1946, when he has returned from serving in the Navy and resumed his career as a newspaperman. These include things like going out for football whilst scrawny, being mistaken for a gun-toting gangster whilst attempting to hide booze (prohibition was still on) from the cops, pranking an odious professor (and, later, an odious superior officer), and repeatedly failing to live up to the standards of a demanding admiral to whom he has been assigned as aide.

On the whole, I found all of these stories entertaining, though the sole moment that made me laugh out loud was when Frank’s soon-to-be wife and mother-in-law completely excused the lascivious behavior of his friend, which a moment before had scandalized them, upon learning he was Methodist (their preferred denomination).

“You don’t think he’s a Ten Commandment breaker?” I asked. “Why, I’d trust him any place,” Liz said indignantly. “So would I,” said her mother. “I’ve always said that people shouldn’t be judged by circumstantial evidence.” “You’re so right,” I assured her. “Probably,” she continued, fishing around for a likely excuse, “probably—well, probably the doctor sent that girl over to your apartment to change the boy’s bandage, again, before he went to bed.” I was tempted to break into a high-pitched giggle, but I looked at Liz and caught a warning. “That’s probably just the way it happened,” I nodded gravely.

Unfortunately, it does seem Frank shares a little of the antipathy toward overweight people that his sister possesses. I don’t mind when he accurately describes a person’s physical characteristics—if a bosom is ample and an abdomen abundant, there’s really no getting around that—but when he makes comments about fellow student Sallye—whom he later proclaims to be “a real friend”—like no “male student in his right mind” would give her their fraternity pen, it’s just unnecessarily mean. True, Sallye has a tendency to be loud and overbearing, and I’m fairly sure that’s part of what he meant, but not the whole of it.

That criticism aside, I did enjoy this book and I’m glad I read it. Thanks, Anne!

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography by Eric Idle Initially, although it was an enjoyable read, I wouldn’t have classified this “sortabiography” from the Monty Python co-founder as charming. Idle recounts his childhood, school days, introduction to the world of comedy, the formation of Monty Python, the run of the original series, and the Python movies without a tremendous amount of detail. He does elaborate more about his independent endeavors, and I especially appreciated learning more about the creation of The Rutles. Using the song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” as a sort of framework, Idle chronicles the various circumstances after The Life of Brian where he was called upon to sing it, ranging from Graham Chapman’s funeral to the Royal Variety Performance to the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

As is common for a book of this type, there is a lot of name-dropping, but in this case a lot of the names were people I genuinely like, like Harry Nilsson, George Harrison, David Bowie, Stephen Fry, Peter Cook, Robin Williams, and Eddie Izzard. And, too, Idle toots his own horn rather frequently, which is admittedly justified when you’ve accomplished as much as he has, and makes sure readers know there were times in his life when he was having loads of sex.

Where he really shines, though, is penning touching tributes to friends who are no longer with us. My husband and I listened to Idle read the unabridged audiobook version together, and by the end of the chapter entitled “George,” we were both in tears. The chapter about Robin Williams is no less lovely. I cannot stress enough how wonderful these two chapters are; they alone are worth the price of admission. It does make one wonder why he doesn’t delve so deeply into the character of his comedy partners, and only makes a few mentions of Terry Jones’ dementia, but perhaps it is because they were all still living in 2018, when the book was published. I shall have to find out whether Idle penned any tributes to Jones on the sad occasion of his passing last year.

Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson I’d heard such good things about these books, but my reaction to Life Among the Savages wasn’t what I expected. True, some of the “lightly fictionalized” anecdotes Jackson relates are somewhat amusing, like the family’s struggle to find a house to rent in Vermont, or insisting to the hospital intake person that her occupation is “writer” as opposed to “housewife,” or her son’s fascination with all the gory details after he gets hit by a car. But the vast majority of the stories involve her children behaving badly, and I had very little patience with these at all.

I imagine that other mothers sympathize with these episodes. Perhaps they see their own experience reflected, and so they laugh but also feel all warm inside, in a loving, maternal way. Not so me, I’m afraid. No, whenever the son showed arrogant condescension toward his mother, or her daughter became intolerably fixated on proper decorum, or one kid or the other was insolent and disrespectful, it just made me angry. In fact, I might have said “Shut the fuck up!” aloud a time or two. This is why it is probably a very good thing that I am not a parent.

Thankfully, Raising Demons contains less of that sort of thing (though significantly more than none). I really loved the section in which Jackson waxes nostalgic about her adolescent obsession with making clothespin dolls and her snarky description of life as a faculty wife (who is expected to have “hemming dishtowels” among her hobbies). The story of how she got a new refrigerator was a highlight, as well.

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar Having seen and adored whimsical clips from The Amber Ruffin Show, I was very excited to see that Amber Ruffin and her older sister Lacey Lamar had written a book together. Although the topic is racist incidents the sisters have endured (mostly Lacey, who lives and works in Omaha), the approach at least attempts to be light-hearted. These aren’t stories where someone gets hurt or dies; instead, they elucidate the kind of crap Black people are just expected to swallow or forget.

I did laugh a few times, particularly at Ruffin’s effervescent line delivery—I listened to the unabridged audiobook read by the authors—but after a while, the unrelenting wave of absolutely flagrant ignorance and hate becomes overwhelming. The commentary on the stories is funny, but the situations themselves are stressful and horrible and eye-opening in the most abject, despair-inducing kind of way. I have never been one to deny that racism exists, but I admit to being surprised and horrified by a lot of these stories, espcially the awful things done to kids. A beautiful drawing torn to shreds, a group of teens accused of stealing car keys when none of them is old enough to drive, kids threatened at gunpoint by a crazy neighbor but nobody calls the cops because who will the cops believe… I also feel terribly naive for being surprised.

I’m glad I read this.

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay and Nuts in May by Cornelia Otis Skinner Note: The former was co-written with Emily Kimbrough.

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay recounts the three months in the early 1920s that two young American women spend abroad in Europe, written when they are older (“Emily and I have now reached the time in life when not only do we lie about our ages, we forget what we’ve said they are.”) and nostalgic for more innocent days. It’s written in Cornelia’s voice, though Emily provides many of the details, and tells of the time their ship ran aground, the time Cornelia caught the measles and evaded quarantine, the time they met H. G. Wells and Emily made an embarrassing first impression, the time they mistook a brothel for a boarding house, the time bedbugs gave Cornelia a swollen lip “shining like a polished tomato,” the time their dogs piddled in a swanky Parisian restaurant, etc. For the most part, it’s quite amusing, but there are a few comments that expose the girls’ ignorant attitudes regarding people of other races and sexual preferences.

Rather than focusing on one particular adventure, Nuts in May is a collection of humorous yet unrelated anecdotes Skinner wrote for publications like The New Yorker. Topics include but are not limited to: actors being asked to lend their talents in aid of charitable organizations, a Protestant family’s audience with the Pope, people who laugh at anything, dizzying real estate transactions, and being interviewed by Dr. Kinsey. Occasionally, the tone turns more domestic and reminds me some of Shirley Jackson, such as in “Bag of Bones,” when Skinner’s son insists that the bones they find on a Colorado trail belong to a dinosaur, or “Those Friends of His,” about her son’s reticence on the origins of his friends who come to visit. The latter also makes reference to a car “teeming with hamsters,” which is a phrase and a visual that I adore. Indeed, there were quite a few giggles to be had, and I reckon I might seek out more of Skinner’s work in the future.

By: Michelle Smith

[skajador]

original tweet base

resolving to not let my inability to draw get in the way of memeing

[3amigonauts-blog]

Director Profile - Mike Geiger, 3 Amigonauts

Meet award-winning artist and creator Mike Geiger, director of the summer’s “space-iest” animated show, 3 Amigonauts! We chatted with Mike about what he thinks makes 3 Amigonauts stand out from the crowd, and why you don’t want to miss out seeing a single episode of this madcap intergalactic animated adventure series!

1. To get started can you share a favourite life motto or quote?

Cut yourself some slack. Remember, 100 years from now, all new people.

2. What is your origin story? (How did you get started in your career?)

My interest spawned from skateboarding culture in the late 80s/early 90s. Artists like Jim Phillips, Twist (Barry McGee), Dave Kinsey, and Andy Howell who were designing graphics back then all had an illustrative style that lent itself really well to animation.

3. What does a day in the life an animation director look like?

Mainly reviewing leicas, scripts, cuts, records, mixes, and so forth. Just trying to keep things consistent with Kyle Marshall’s (the creator) vision as much as possible.

4. What did you love most about working on Season 1 of 3 Amigonauts?

The opportunity to work with a lot of artists I admire like Kyle Marshall, Firas Momani, Kid Koala, DJ Vekked, Terry McGurrin, Laurie Elliot and the whole writing crew, the voice talent, Andy Guiterrez, Oliver Costes, Dave Pietila, and the list goes on...

5. What do you think makes 3 Amigonauts one of the best new show in the galaxy? (What makes it stand out from the crowd?

From story to colour, the show does have a different vibe than viewers may be used to. I’m proud that we were able to lean into some new territory. All credit goes to Kyle for having the vision and our YTV exec Matt Sheppo for trusting us to execute on it. It takes a lot of extra work from the entire team to try to break convention, and I'm appreciative of our crew for believing in the show enough to accept that. 

6. Without spoiling too much, what is one of your favourite moments from the show?

Herby befriending a rock is one of my faves.

7. What is your number one reason why everyone needs to watch 3 Amigonauts?

So the next day you don’t feel left out when your friends are talking about the cool new show they saw. Remember what happened when you didn't watch Game of Thrones?

8. Which Amigonaut are you most like and why?

The Amigonauts are at their best when they are able to bounce off-of one another. So I'm cheating and going with the group. 

9. Anything you would like to share – like funny behind the scenes moments, interesting tid-bits about the making of the show that people might like to know.

Back in 2010, I used to be a contributing artist to a weekly comic site called THE SUPERVILLAIN with fellow artists Mick Harrison, Hobo Divine, Scott Macdonald and Kyle Marshall. Kyle's weekly contribution was called, none other than, The 3 Amigonauts! So it’s been fun to follow the idea from early comics to completed television show.

10. Social links to follow your work please list below.

http://www.mikegeiger.com/

For more Amigonauts:

Watch on YTV!

See more content on the Amigonauts YTV Website!

Play The Amigonauts Game!

Note: Hyperlapse drawing of Mike Geiger done by 9 Story designer, Francis Yeh.

[9storymediagroup]

Director Profile - Mike Geiger, 3 Amigonauts

Meet award-winning artist and creator Mike Geiger, director of the summer’s “space-iest” animated show, 3 Amigonauts! We chatted with Mike about what he thinks makes 3 Amigonauts stand out from the crowd, and why you don’t want to miss out seeing a single episode of this madcap intergalactic animated adventure series!

1. To get started can you share a favourite life motto or quote?

Cut yourself some slack. Remember, 100 years from now, all new people.

2. What is your origin story? (How did you get started in your career?)

My interest spawned from skateboarding culture in the late 80s/early 90s. Artists like Jim Phillips, Twist (Barry McGee), Dave Kinsey, and Andy Howell who were designing graphics back then all had an illustrative style that lent itself really well to animation. 

3. What does a day in the life an animation director look like?

Mainly reviewing leicas, scripts, cuts, records, mixes, and so forth. Just trying to keep things consistent with Kyle Marshall’s (the creator) vision as much as possible.

4. What did you love most about working on Season 1 of 3 Amigonauts?

The opportunity to work with a lot of artists I admire like Kyle Marshall, Firas Momani, Kid Koala, DJ Vekked, Terry McGurrin, Laurie Elliot and the whole writing crew, the voice talent, Andy Guiterrez, Oliver Costes, Dave Pietila, and the list goes on...

5. What do you think makes 3 Amigonauts one of the best new show in the galaxy? (What makes it stand out from the crowd?

From story to colour, the show does have a different vibe than viewers may be used to. I’m proud that we were able to lean into some new territory. All credit goes to Kyle for having the vision and our YTV exec Matt Sheppo for trusting us to execute on it. It takes a lot of extra work from the entire team to try to break convention, and I'm appreciative of our crew for believing in the show enough to accept that. 

6. Without spoiling too much, what is one of your favourite moments from the show?

Herby befriending a rock is one of my faves.

7. What is your number one reason why everyone needs to watch 3 Amigonauts?

So the next day you don’t feel left out when your friends are talking about the cool new show they saw. Remember what happened when you didn't watch Game of Thrones?

8. Which Amigonaut are you most like and why?

The Amigonauts are at their best when they are able to bounce off-of one another. So I'm cheating and going with the group. 

9. Anything you would like to share – like funny behind the scenes moments, interesting tid-bits about the making of the show that people might like to know.

Back in 2010, I used to be a contributing artist to a weekly comic site called THE SUPERVILLAIN with fellow artists Mick Harrison, Hobo Divine, Scott Macdonald and Kyle Marshall. Kyle's weekly contribution was called, none other than, The 3 Amigonauts! So it’s been fun to follow the idea from early comics to completed television show.

10. Social links to follow your work please list below.

http://www.mikegeiger.com/

For more Amigonauts:

Watch on YTV!

See more content on the Amigonauts YTV Website!

Play The Amigonauts Game!

Follow The Official     Amigonauts Tumblr

Note: Hyperlapse drawing of Mike Geiger done by 9 Story designer, Francis Yeh.

[crystalgraceandlilacs]

Hi! :) 3 and 13 for the codex prompts?

@cassandrapentayaaaaas sorry this took a few weeks, I’ve been in a bit of a writing slump lately.  I have plans for my Trevelyan between the game and Trespasser (which I’m sure you can guess when you read) so these two prompts go together.  I think I might end up using these when I get to writing this part of her story. 

Codex Prompt #3 Writing found in your OC’s trash can

28 Bloomingtide, 9:42 Dragon

Mother,

SorryI haven’t written to you sooner, it’s been a rather…eventful few weeks.  With Corypheus finally gone we’ve beenworking on tying up some minor loose ends - nothing too exciting regardingInquisition business.  

Iam glad to hear that all is well back home. Cullen and I have talked about visiting our families soon.  Although I’ve already exchanged some letterswith his eldest sister, Mia, I admit I’m a bit nervous to meet her and hisyounger siblings.  The same can be saidfor Cullen about you all (tell father and Bennett to be nice when we visitbecause William has already given Cullen the “you hurt my sister and I hurtyou” talk).  I will be sure to let you knowwhen we have an idea of when we’ll be there.

Thereis one thing I must tell you because I’m honestly both excited and terrifiedabout it.  Promise you won’t tell anyoneelse, I want it to be a surprise.  I’mpregnant.  Oh maker, I wish you could’veseen the look on Cullen’s face when I told him. He was so happy he even started crying, which in turn made me cry.  

Thereis so much more to tell you, mother.  Ilook forward to the day when I can finally see you and the rest of our familyin person.  I’ve missed you all so much.

 With Love,

Kinsey

Codex Prompt #13 Something written about your OC in thetwo years between defeating Corypheus and the beginning of Trespasser

16 Justinian, 9:42 Dragon

Dearest Kinsey,

Wordscannot describe the pain I feel for you and Cullen as I write this.  I wish I could be there to wrap you in myarms and assure you that everything will be alright.  I had always hoped this would never happen toyou.  Maker knows how hard it was for yourfather and I to lose our first child.  Ipray this is the only time for you two. You needn’t live through what I have. I wouldn’t wish it on my greatest enemy.

Iam glad you and Cullen have decided to visit relatives sooner rather thanlater.  The comfort of family always helpedme and I hope with you it is the same.  Everyoneis excited to see you, especially Bennett and Melanie’s children.  They can’t wait to meet their “auntie Kinsey”.  I’ve enclosed a few drawings they made foryou which I’m sure you’ve seen.  

I’llkeep this short as I’m sure your busy packing for your trip.  I look forward to seeing you and hearing allabout your adventures in person.  Give mywarmest regards to Cullen, your father and I can’t wait to meet him. 

With all my love,

Miriam

Thank you!

[warriorgays]

I'm going to ask the most broad and annoying question so forgive me, but what happened to everyone after Through the Gay Days ended? I have never been more invested in a group of characters in my life and I desperately want them all to be happy, whatever form that takes, in the end. Also! what other sources did you draw from besides Coming Out Under Fire? I was so impressed with how well researched everything was. 💖

OH MAN I didn’t expect to actually get a question, lol!! And that’s one I’m happy to answer, because I did think a lot about it. idk if I’m ever going to actually write a follow up, because my WIP list is soooo long and, tbh, the 50s are SO DEPRESSING in terms of LGBT stuff.

IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO WRITE THIS UP. I APOLOGIZE. UNDER A CUT BECAUSE HOLY FUCK. I apologize for any typos but I’m just publishing instead of proofreading because what the fuck.

In terms of sources... I really think Coming Out Under Fire was the main “intentional” one. I have a BA in history and I’m getting my MA right now, so I’ve READ a lot of history and probably unconsciously drew on a lot. the other one I can definitely think of is Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers, by Lillian Faderman, which covers lesbian U.S. history from the early 1900s to the 1980s. she draws on COUF for her 40s chapter (which is kind of a bummer because I was hoping for more WWII lesbian-specific content lol), but she’s good at covering some of the broad-strokes history of sexuality and LGBTQ identity. Becoming Visible by Molly McGarry is a really cool illustrated history, too, I’ve read that a few times over the years.

SO, for post-war lives, I’m going to warn you real quick it does get depressing for everybody for a little bit because uhhh the 50s fucking sucked? Faderman talks about this a lot, and actually Stephanie Coontz is a good source too--she has this book titled The Way We Never Were, which basically debunks the idea of “the ~traditional~ family” and looks at the ways our perceptions of society’s values have changed. and one thing she points out is that the 1950s are really the first time when society looks at single men--all single men--and thinks “there must be something WRONG with them.” before that, people were willing to accept that some dudes just didn’t want to get married, for plenty of reasons that had nothing to do with homosexuality, but in the 50s everyone was so gungho about The Family that anyone not into it was looked at with suspicion. add that to the whole “homosexuals are susceptible to Communist blackmail, better fire them all” and things fucking sucked.

I PROMISE HAPPY ENDINGS, THOUGH, because the whole “LGBTQ people lived depressing lives until these Enlightened Times” trope is my least favorite trope ever.

SO, for Gene Roe, my first thought for his post-war life was this Gaslight Anthem lyric that @antiquecompass prompted me for a Snafu/Roe fic foreverrrrrr again: “I’m in love with the way you’re in love with the night.” so I imagine that Snafu comes home, and they try to just settle into things as usual, but Snafu starts really pushing Gene’s buttons. being more snide, being disrespectfully obvious about being nonmonogamous (like it’s one thing to go cruising and another to bring dudes home to the apartment you’re sharing with your boyfriend, COME ON MAN), trying to pick fights. and of course the impetus for all this is Snafu struggling with PTSD and thinking that Gene is too good for him but not being able to end it himself. of course Gene doesn’t put up with this bs, so one day Snafu finally admits he’s doing this because he’s afraid the war turned him into kind of a fucked up asshole, and Gene’s like “you were always a fucked up asshole? what’s your point? I love you?”

so then things kinda simmer down. Gene’s not Officially a doctor anymore, but he and Snafu live in an apartment building in the poorer part of the city with a lot of ~ethnic~ folk nearby some black neighborhoods, so he does some informal community doctoring around those buildings, and that earns him enough goodwill that he and Snafu don’t really have to worry about getting caught out. it’s the kind of neighborhood where a lot of people have to... bend the law a bit to get by, to be happy, whatever, so people trade food and skills as needed and there’s always an alert if the cops are coming by. it’s a good place for them. they’re happy. I’ve only really thought ahead like ~ten years, but I can imagine them eventually moving on when the community moves on, you know, whether to another city or somewhere a little more rural, depending, and that being okay. and I think, with Gene’s influence, and seeing how strong the ties are between the Pansies with Parachutes(TM), Snafu is able to reach out to Sledge and Burgie and the rest more than irl/show canon.

Babe and Spina are the other two that totally make it, soulmates, heartbreakingly cute. but I promised a little heartbreaking, so basically my idea is that they actually move in together a little while after the war, but at some point Babe’s mom realizes what’s up and... does not take it well. gives him an ultimatum, break up with Ralph or she won’t let him near the family, which Babe finds agonizing because he’s really close with his family but Ralph doesn’t have very many relatives, at least not close by (in this verse at least), and even if he could bring himself to break up with Ralph, at this point he doesn’t think his mom will ever treat him the same anyway.

in my head there’s a really sweet scene when Ralph finds out what happens and a lot of hugging and comforting. but yeah. that briefly sucks. what DOESN’T suck is when Babe decides, after a few months, that he has to tell Bill (because Bill has gotten so close to the Heffrons that of course he notices when Babe suddenly isn’t speaking to them), and Bill proves himself to be a total Bro who decides that, well, the typical idea of a homosexual CLEARLY doesn’t fit Babe and Spina so... it’s all good? like c’mon they went through a war together, that’s worth something, right?

I think eventually Babe and Spina move, too. not super far, just maybe to, idk, New York, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, somewhere they can visit everyone but maybe far enough to put some distance between them and bad memories, and also because South Philly is small when your family isn’t speaking to you, you know? possibly they end up in the same city as Luz and Tipper (see next), I’m not 100% sure but I’m vaguely attracted to the idea of everybody ending up on a commune, lol.

so I think I’m probably meanest to Luz, because I imagine him getting arrested at some point. sorry, boo. his reaction is to pay the fine and slink out, and get out of dodge for a while to avoid his family getting any blowback, and he ends up visiting Tipper, who’s really frustrated (which I alluded to a bit at the end of Through the Gay Days) because he just doesn’t click with his old friends as much and he hasn’t had a lot of luck romantically. and again I have this clear scene in my head of Tipper helping Luz dress in drag for the first time, lots of giggling and teasing, but Tipper doesn’t really do drag anymore because he can’t keep his balance in heels, and they end up talking about their frustrations and venting and whatnot. and eventually Luz is like “you know what? fuck it! run away with me!”

and Tipper’s like “fuck it, let’s do it!” so they just kind of live a semi-nomadic life? idk, maybe not really nomadic, but they get jobs that let them move/travel, so they don’t have the pressure of expectations. I’m on the fence about whether they do this as lovers... I would say not, like, REALLY. like possibly a friends with benefits thing (and I’ll point out that Luz is one of the only other named characters who interacts with Tipper, other than Liebgott, because Tipper’s in charge of the map during the Major Horton scene, so that chemistry could totally work). because they’re, like, the two from the fic whose relationships don’t end up going anywhere, and I don’t want them to pine after the Joes forever, and they don’t, but sometimes people just don’t find their soulmates, it happens, and they can at least make each other happy.

this is one of those verses where I’ve decided Liebgott gets to keep his wife-and-kids dream. I do think he’s gay in this verse, and when he gets engaged he writes a letter to Tipper basically seeking closure, admitting he dealt with things in kind of a shitty way and admitting it might be nice to have a Gay Posse, but he also takes his marriage seriously even if it’s not a love match, and doesn’t seek romantic or sexual encounters with men. idk if Joe Toye actually gets married in this verse, but I don’t see him as gay. if we were to retroactively apply the Kinsey scale, I’d say he’d be a 1 or a 2, in which the situational aspect of war kind of pushed him towards interactions that he may have subconsciously desired, but definitely wouldn’t acknowledge in a normal time and place.

as for Chuck! I kind of like the future I give Chuck, partly because he conveniently is from the LA area. so for him, I imagine that at some point Ron Speirs just kind of shows up on his doorstep one day and they become, like, an actual Thing. and it’s good for a couple of years, but Ron seems... restless. and eventually Chuck sits him down and flat-out says “look, I really don’t think you’re cut out for this settled-down long-term-relationship kind of thing. we had a good run, we can part on good terms, but you can travel and have adventures and do all the stuff you want to do.” and then, correctly, points out that one of the reasons Speirs is so reluctant to do that is because he feels guilty for Chuck getting shot, which doesn’t really make any sense. Chuck’s only request is that Ron NOT GO BACK INTO THE ARMY, because fuck Korea, have you heard how many gay soldiers are getting kicked out of the military nowadays? Speirs agrees and they break up amicably.

(is Chuck still in love with him? yes. does it hurt like a motherfucker? yes.)

ANYWAY. the L.A. is where the Mattachine Society, the first official homosexual organization in the country, was founded in 1948... or maybe 49. I forget. the founder started asking around a while before he found people who were actually willing to join up. I figure Chuck eventually joins up and is the first of the Pansies with Parachutes(TM) to really develop a political gay identity. and through that org he eventually meets Beth, a lesbian who’s just broken up with her gf and is kind of panicking because now she might have to leave her apartment and go back to her parents in Nebraska, and they become fast friends and fuck it, why not get married? it’s good cover, and I could have also gotten a chance to talk about the working class lesbian bar scene in the 1950s, which is a cool topic.

if this were a formal fic, I would end it with 1952, when the entire group reunites in honor of the 10-year anniversary of them meeting at Toccoa. since it’s not, suffice to say they do have all-group reunions, and they also visit each other and call and write letters and stay friends 5ever. at some point Babe and Spina have a not-wedding (there’s a picture of a wedding in the 50s with two grooms in flower crowns in Becoming Visible, I love that picture) and they all come and celebrate. OH and at some point between Luz getting arrested and meeting with Tipper, he definitely visits Gene in Louisiana and they make out a bit. because, tbh, I caught a bit of UST in Through the Gay Days--I don’t know if it’s a ship I’d ship in any other verse, lol, but in this verse I feel like they need to make out.

anyway. eventually the 50s end. I want to say that by the time Stonewall happens, either Tipper&Luz or Babe/Spina (both??) are living in NYC and for three days everyone is frantically calling each other going “DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS???” and Chuck becomes totally into the California gay scene, and Babe’s nieces and nephews eventually reach out to him, Tipper and Luz either... idk, become real boyfriends or get hot younger boyfriends and become Wise Gay Dads to the younger crowd. Snafu and Gene grow old together, as hard as it is to imagine old Snafu.

EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND FRIENDS AND GAY, THE END.