#the skimble on the right is also because i was thinking about the way he positions his arms. it's very silly

[mysticalcats]

omg I just got into cats and skimble is my fave too I saw your stimmy skimble and it made me so happy if you don't mind I'd love to see more. Also do you have headcanons abt him like what his relationship to the rest of the cast is? Like some people hc that he's teazer/jerries dad

yay i'm so glad you liked it!! here's another stimmy skimble on the left, and a bonus skimble on the right just because !!

i really like the headcanon that he's a father figure to rumple and mungo! he's probably always stressing about them hehe. he's the only one who won't fall for their pranks so it makes for a fun past time for the twins to one day manage to successfully prank skimble (it'll never happen). i also think he's just very lovable to all the younger cats too :) everyone's favourite uncle

[statisticalcats2]

Seven Cat Calls 2024

Week 6: Jellylorum

Sara Jean Ford Kayli Jamison

(CW: Talk of character death)

Sara Jean Ford!Jellylorum goes with Christopher Gurr!Gus. They can be a tough watch because they bring so much sincerity and weight to the roles in regards to Gus's story. I talked a bit about this in my Gus post too, while Gus is always an elderly character, it's very clear in how they play it that Jellicle Choice or not, Gus is in his last days (in fact I'm pretty sure Christopher Gurr has said he thinks Gus died even right after the Jellicle Ball shown in the play) and they bring so much of that emotion to the scene. Jellylorum's keeping a smile on through Gus's song but her complex emotions are still so clear and she even seems close to tears at times. I adore this way of playing this storyline and it's a top-tier example of the deeper parts of Cats (it is a fun, feel-good musical about singing and dancing cats but it also has serious themes and it's always wonderful to see such sincerity brought to these parts of the story.)

(CW: talk of divorce (no, really))

On a lighter note (for a given definition of lighter) is Kayli Jamison, who is a Jellylorum I saw personally. She was a very sweetheart Jellylorum and deserves a mention because of that and because of her part in the little drama storyline that could be picked up on between Grizabella, Skimbleshanks, and Jennyanydots. This was the cast/run I've semi-jokingly referred to as "Skimbleshanks and Jennyanydots Get a Divorce: the Musical" and Jellylorum's in that story too, as she and Skimble gravitated towards each other a lot and had some very cute moments and I ended up with the perception of Skimbleshanks having growing feelings for her as his relationship with Jennyanydots breaks down for better or worse.

[certifiedwerewolf]

To try and help continue cats focus: do you have any thoughts on Jennyanydots?

OKAY I AM HOME NOW THANK YOU FOR ASKING

So I don't talk about Jenny very much but I really do like her very much! She is so delightful! I like that she's so very stern and bossy; she's very much A Responsible Lady, and takes it upon herself to make sure the kittens turn out all right (despite their best efforts). It's really cute to see the kittens being silly during the beginning of her song, and her shooing them off to get into costume, and when Munk sings part of her song while she's standing there he just seems so FOND.

Her song is also just really fun! The song itself, but also the way the kittens play around with her and their silly cockroach costumes. And the girlies! Dancing around and singing about how cool she is!

In my Regency au I decided that she and Jellylorum were married because I couldn't decided which of them should be the Etcetera siblings' Mama, so I went with both of them. I think it's cute!

It's also really cute how during the part of Old Deuteronomy where he's approaching the stage, she's one of the ones ushering the kittens forward to greet him.

Another fun moment is during Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat, when he says "and not a speck of dust on the floor" and mimes swiping at the floor, she gives an approving little motion with her head. It's so tiny and insignificant but it's also so HER. Like YEAH she WOULD approve of a lack of dust.

During Daylight, right before everyone gathers around Old Deuteronomy, Skimble's got his arm around her. That's also cute! I like how touchy the cats are :3

OH also the part where she goes "Jellicles wash behind their ears" and tweaks Electra's ear and they exchange this cute little look between them like "hoo hoo, we are so fond of each other :)". I like it when the cats just seem fond of each other.

[peterpandiedtoday]

hellooo the lord wanted to do some shock therapy on me today i think bc apart from the messy ticket buying they still had yesterday’s cast sheet up and i was v oh no not noticing the date but then i got treated to a (for me) surprise barbara obermeier griz and a luyben lonzo? <33 and. over the past few weeks, before too a little sometimes but especially recently i had noticed some performances feeling a bit empty? i don’t have a word for it bc they were never bad or just okay just.. like they were not..... radiating.... ? ..... anything??? but today everyone was so fresh? potentially bc of the rehearsal but they’ve done those before and it didn’t change this much. v happy abt it either way

[herooffire101]

This is actually specifically in the version of the human AU where Demeter and Bombalurina are sisters, though I could easily change it to the other one where they are not sisters and there is attraction between them even though Bomba never pressures her about it because it has to be figured out by oneself, not explained by others. Also, because there’s a lot more going on in Demeter’s brain in that universe. I…don’t think we should get into that right now. Also, naming several old swing characters. Also, I’m challenging myself with using this version of Demeter’s point of view on Tuggerlina, also because I think that this concept is hilarious.

And yes, this is my favorite one I wrote. I like humor. Also I retrofitted a line and two from my personal tomorrow's writing that I got writer's block from.

A Marriage Proposal in the wrong order

December 27th, 2006…

“Oh, when will they actually get married!” Demeter listened as she watched her mother and godmother Jenny rant about Bomba’s and Tugger’s relationship with now having Jemima between them yet again. Ever since Jemima was born in May, both Jenny and Jelly have been hinting to Bomba and Tugger about having a marriage and having Jemima as the flower girl, and Demeter was long suffering listening to this for the past several months. No one even knew if either of them proposed to get married! Last Demeter knew, there was an agreement between them since they were sixteen that if they didn’t kill each other first, they would marry each other after both of them turned 20. However, as is tradition with them, Jemima ended up happening. What happened was that they overslept the day of Electra’s first birthday, complete with a phone call from Demeter herself asking where they were, and it turned into one of those days that followed them to the surprise of a lifetime that altered both their lives forever, give or take some forgetfulness and absentmindedness on both parts including alcohol-induced idiocy the night before. In Bomba’s own defense, how was she to know that Bailey’s Irish Cream affected her that way?

‘Why are they trying to hint to the two most dense and ignorant members of our tribe.’ Demeter thought, mentally groaning at the conversation she was unwittingly part of because of course Munk wasn’t available for her to escape to because he was busy, Victoria and Michael were being watched by Skimble and Dad. ‘Don’t they realize that Bomba and Tugger can be the most difficult members, always being contrary and intentionally obtuse, even when Bomby lived here? Knowing Tugger, marrying my sister is a bit too impulsive for him. And who’s to say that Bomba doesn’t want the loud crowd that comes from the reception. I certainly remember her meltdown during Peter’s and Victor’s pseudo reception we had for them.’ Remembering how Bomba so didn’t like the loudness and partying that came with the wedding, with her shaking, and clutching her ears because of the noise level. Even when newly diagnosed at twelve when they went to the celebration and learning her limits. She can be on stage or in the orchestral pit, performing. That never affected her. But put her in the middle of the auditorium for a school assembly, on the gym floor surrounded by the rest of the school or even in an enclosed room filled with thumping music and a lot of sweaty bodies? That set her off. There was a reason why she didn’t go to Junior Prom or Senior Ball two years ago. Hating majority of the school populace and sensory processing issues, along with other reasons. To put it simply, Demeter knew what Bomba liked, and what she didn’t like, and knew that her sister highly wanted a controllable setting in certain scenarios. Weddings were one such scenario.

“We need to get it through their heads that being officially married will save a lot of headaches later on.” Jenny pointed out, taking a sip of her tea. “Demeter, dear.” Bringing the 17-year-old out of her thoughts. “Would you like to go talk to Beatrice about marrying Travis?”

‘Oh, an escape!’ “I get to see Jemmy along the way.” Demeter agreed, accepting the chance to escape the conversation between Mom and Jenny, “I’ll talk to her about it, though I don’t think that’ll work.” Saying the last part under her breath.

Mom smiled, waving her younger daughter off, “Have fun, dear. Just remember to talk to your sister about marrying that scallywag she loves. Heaviside knows that Etcetera is very insistent about Tugger and his attention...” Mentioning their youngest sister. Etcetera, or her legal name of Erica, was clearly becoming a handful with a cute obsession with her oldest sister’s partner. Bomba was already having some problems with Cettie because how much of a handful she was and that her loudness was setting off her sensitive ears.

“I’ll try, Mom.” Demeter said, standing up from the table and got herself ready to brave the cold Massachusetts winter that has already set in. ‘At least Bomba will have hot chocolate.’

~~~~~~

“I know that it’s been only two days since we saw each other at Christmas, but I really did miss you, Deme.” Bomba said, holding 7-month-old Jemima in one arm and handing her younger sister a steaming cup of hot chocolate in the other. Jemima was happy, her right hand held her favorite toy, a stuffed cat that was a darker shade of red, almost looking black in some places with a white bib, and the face was a calico that her mother made (A/N: This is completely intentional. It’s supposed to look like Jemima’s/Sillibub’s costume/markings as a cat. All members of the Tribe/Troupe have one, either sewn like Jemima’s and Tugger’s or crocheted like Bomba’s and Demeter’s) and her left hand held her mother’s darker red hair compared to her own only a shade lighter hair, with the curls she inherited from Tugger. Really, you would realize that Tugger was her father just due to the curls, but as agreed between all of them (this includes Cassandra, Alonzo, Coricopat, Tantomile, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer as well) that their classmates, former and current, are incredibly stupid and decided to think that Macavity was her father. Jemima considered Demeter in what Bomba called ‘Her favorite people in the world’ group, which really only contained all of the Tribe, so when Bomba opened the door for Demeter Jemima cheered. By now, you really couldn’t see that Bomba’s left cheekbone was even fractured, proving that the plates in her face did exactly what they were meant to do.

“Mom and Jenny were talking again.” Demeter said, graciously accepting the hot chocolate, “Dad and Skimble are looking after the kittens again.”

“Plato having fun with Victoria?” She asked, curious about her foster son that only the past year she knew that she loved him like her own son and through technicalities was only her foster son for 8 months. At the mention of Plato made Jemima squeal in happiness. “You love your big brother, don’t you Jemmy?” A giggle coming from the tiny girl, both of the sisters knowing that she loves her big brother.

“Victoria really loves to dance with him, and he’s so patient with the other kittens, though it is concerning about how much Pouncival and Tumblebrutus idolize him even though they’re only 22 months old.” Demeter said, taking a sip of the hot chocolate, warming her up from the cold. ‘Somehow, Bomba always makes good hot chocolate.’ She thought, savoring the taste. “Is she old enough to have hot chocolate, by chance?”

“I rather wait until she tastes chocolate milk before I introduce her to hot chocolate, though it’ll have to be lukewarm chocolate instead of hot…” Bomba said, Jemima babbling to both of them.

Demeter eyebrows raised. “That’s smart. Misto and Victoria do prefer your hot chocolate to Munk’s.”

Bomba scoffed. “That’s because they got your impeccable tastes. And Bustopher’s as well.”

“’In fact, he’s remarkably fat.’” She quoted Bomba’s line in his song that Bomba always put in intentionally a lot of snark in.

“Yes, he is the St. James Street Cat.” Bomba responded back, knowing full well that she was not fascinated and thoroughly confused on why their godmother had a thing for Bustopher Jones. Jemima babbled, hearing the word cat and waved her cat around. “Yes, I know. Bustopher Jones is one of the cats. You saw him two days ago! Did you think that he is quite incredibly large, compared to Grandpa?” Jemima again babbled, and Demeter smiled at the scene in front of her. Bomba, and Tugger as well, were besotted by Jemima, knowing that both of them thought of Jemima as a promise, of happiness and forgiveness. She remembered the day when Bomba revealed to her one of her darker secrets from the warehouse they were kept in, and how Tugger and her made a technical promise that if they ever have a little girl with her eyes and his curls they would name her Jemima. While they were two of the more notorious citizens of their town (not on the level of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer), they were the most loving, the most caring of the Tribe members. Munk and Old Deuteronomy explained to her that both of them did suffer from Mac’s abuse more than her and Munk himself when they were younger, Tugger being the youngest of the brothers and Munk being the kind protective dad-like brother he is. Bomba was Grizabella’s favorite student, alongside her. Demeter knew her sister had issues with Mac, but not to the extent that she thought until Munk set the record straight after both of them got out. It was then that Jemima yawned, which Bomba declared, “It’s naptime for Jemmy. Let me put Jemmy down and then we’ll have a proper sister talk.” Standing up from the couch they were sitting on and walked down the hallway to Jemima’s bedroom, with her sister singing 'The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage’ to her daughter, which reminded Demeter of how much of a Macadamia Nut her sister was.

Along in the open concept living room-kitchen-dining room, her eyes noticed something interesting on the wall next to the hallway, framed. Standing up and placing her cup on the wooden coffee table Tugger made only three years ago for a competition, she walked over to the framed piece of paper. As she got closer, she read the words written on it. ‘Certificate of Marriage between Travis J. Jellicle and Beatrice R. Ford’ With the signature of a Judge. ‘What. The. Hell. That little…minx! Mom and Jenny were trying to hint to them that they should get married and turns out that they fucking fooled us because they were already married!’ Demeter thought, growling at her sister. ‘And the date…June 20th, 2006?!? Jemima was one month old!’ “Oh, I am going to kill you…” Demeter growled, her Tanner Temper slowly building.

“Kill who?” Making Demeter turn to face her sister leaning against the wall next to her.

“When were going to tell us that you and Tugger were already married?!?” She quietly hissed at Bomba, pointing at her harshly.

Bomba gently pushed her offending finger away. “Because you know how I want control over certain things.” Her emerald green eyes razor sharp, glancing at the certificate. “I know that Mom and Jenny were planning a wedding behind my back. I didn’t want that.”

“Then how did you go through with this?!” Demeter hissed, angrily pointing at the piece of paper.

“It was Tugger’s idea.”

“Huh?”

Bomba started to explain…” Let’s get married.” He said early in the morning, watching as Bomba fed their month-old daughter.

“Huh? Married?” Pregnancy brain still hadn’t faded, “When?”

“Maybe today or tomorrow. It’ll make it easier for social services to grant us custody of Electra, confirm our custody of Plato, and protect not only you, but Jemima as well. Also, it’ll make filing taxes so much easier if we were married than not.” Explained Tugger, showing actual logic for once. “We can have Alonzo be our witness.”

“Because he won’t spill to our family?”

“Yes, also because it’s fucking funny. It’ll be hilarious to watch Jelly and Jenny trying to plan a wedding you don’t want and don’t need. And give Alonzo something to mess with Munk.”

“Do you think that we can keep it from Plato as well? Kids his age tend to not keep secrets well.”

“We can tell him that it’s a surprise and surprises are not meant to be told until we decide to reveal the surprise.”

“So, we’ll get married probably today or tomorrow, get Alonzo to be our witness, make sure Plato keeps the marriage a secret until we reveal it, and not tell our family that we got married behind their backs?” Bomba summed it up, seeing the hilarity and logic behind his plan. “Okay, I’ll marry you, Travis.”

“So, not only you’ve been married for six months, but fucking Alonzo knew?!?” Demeter harshly whispered, her temper fueling her anger.

“And Cass. Alonzo told her and why we were keeping it secret. Those jackasses decided to give us our gifts as ‘an early wedding present’ with the most shit-eating grin.” Bomba continued, rolling her eyes at the memory of their Christmas presents from them. “I so plan on getting them back next Christmas with the early wedding present.”

“Those two?!? The most enigmatic and quiet members of our group?!? And you thought not to tell me or Munk about it?!?” Demeter raged, keeping her voice low.

“Because.” Bomba said with a shit-eating grin, “It was fucking funny as hell. Our little secret. Tying everything in Legal Red Tape, bureaucracy at its finest. Worked so well with proving that Jemmy is Tugger’s. Now you know, want to help me plan the big reveal to Mom and Jenny?”

Demeter opened her mouth and shut it. ‘Oh, Bomba is so going to get it from Mom.’ “We’re going to tell Munk first, AND then Mom. Tugger has to tell Old Deuteronomy by himself.”

Bomba waved it off. “Eh, Tugger will be fine. He told Old Deuteronomy about Jemmy easily.”

“Mom won’t. She’s been planning it for ages.”

“More for you than me, Deme. You deserve it.”

“B-Beatrice!” Demeter gaped at her sister, astounded that she shook off that in favor of her.

Sometime later, at the family dinner…

“BEATRICE ROSEMARIE FORD, HOW DARE YOU GO BEHIND ALL OF OUR BACKS.” Demeter watched as Jelly scolded Bomba on how she and Tugger went behind everyone’s backs marrying each other in front of everyone. Jemima, sitting in her Pops lap (Asparagus Jr), just laughed as her Nana was yelling at her mother. Being the innocent giggling baby in this odd scene that would be considered strange to most of other people but not to the tribe. Or maybe will still be strange no matter what.

‘Sometimes, it’s good to be the younger sister.’ Demeter thought as she stood by Munk and watched as Bomba got yelled at, vindictive. She watched as Bomba not only cringed but covered her ears because of the volume. ‘Next time, just tell Mom about how you don’t want a wedding reception. Just let us celebrate and get some photos so that Jemima doesn’t ask questions when she gets older.’

I literally had this scene in my head, and it wouldn’t leave me alone.

[uppastthejelliclemoon]

Uppast's Cats Tour Comments: Act 1

note: i'm referring to the cats by their show names, however I may use the actor's name for a specific comment!

Overture

They did this SO well! I definitely missed seeing the cast in the aisles, but they projected the green eyes onto the stage, and it was the perfect amount of creepy/weird/hypnotizing.

I absolutely love the lights slowly being raised while shining all the spotlights, it sets the vibe PERFECTLY

also saying this now: the orchestra was incredible!

Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats

right off the bat, we’ve a super sweet Demestrap moment, with Munkustrap checking on Demeter after the car! It was adorable!

Devon's voice is SO good for Munkustrap, also the man is TALL OH MY GOD

Tugger didn't get his "can you say of your bite that it's worse than your bark" line, which I was a little disappointed about. However, Zach as Bill Bailey is absolutely 10/10.

Brianna… the babiest Sillabub… so precious... so small...

There were some Victor and Gus moments, with them either standing near each other or sharing looks/touches, so if anyone ships them, y'all got your rarepair moment!

THE BOOT WAS SO LOUD LMAO

They use the set so well!

The Naming of Cats

creepy, wonderful, everything I want from this number

A handful of the cats got right to the edge of the stage where the lighting was, so they were all glowing, and it was the BEST vibe.

Taylor was staring into my soul during the last verse so now I can say I've been vibe-checked by Coricopat.

Invitation to the Jellicle Ball

Hyla is the PERFECT Victoria!!!!! She's so incredibly graceful, she had the sweetest expression on her face, and ugh it was flawless.

Paul is also just an amazing Mistoffelees.

Munkustrap had literally the sweetest moment with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer and I almost started crying. Right before Jennyanydots' song, when everyone's getting into place, Mungo and Rumple immediately went to Munkustrap and were cuddling his legs, and he gave them pets, and just oh my god T_T

Gumbie Cat

OKAY SO I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THE KITTEN SQUAD SO MUCH MY HEART

When everyone's setting up for Jennyanydots' song, after the nuzzles, the lights start to switch, and the kitten squad was trying to catch the lights on the ground while Munkustrap was looking at them with the fondest expression and i swear i cried a little bit over how cute they were.

SKIMBLE LOVES HIS WIFE SO MUCH AND WAS HELPING HER GET THE KITTENS INTO THEIR MICE COSTUMES

Plato, Alonzo, and Mungojerrie were great cockroaches, 10/10

The Gumbie Trio was so good! Their voices sounded amazing together, and they were all just having so much fun!

SO MUCH MAMA JELLY AND SON TUMBLE I FEEL SO HAPPY

I'm going to go more in-depth in my Kitten Squad post!

Rum Tum Tugger

The way Zach said "Who will it be?" was absolutely amazing, i loved it, 10/10 character introduction.

Jennyanydots stomped off when he interrupted her accolades, she was very upset.

Zach and Devon nailed Tugger and Munkustrap's sibling dynamic PERFECTLY, Devon was the best Tired Older Brother Munkus.

Yeah, this number pretty much confirmed Zach as my favorite Tugger.

Mistoffelees and Cassandra did some lounging together in the background on the car.

Chelsea's Bomba is absolutely *chef's kiss*, I adore her

Obviously Tugger and Mistoffelees did their little dance, and it was wonderful. I'm not sure if other shows had Mistoffelees do this, but he went between Tugger's legs at the end of his little solo and Tugger was just vibing.

MY FAVORITE MOMENT THOUGH had to be near the end of the song, Munkustrap was 100% getting into it, and Tugger went over to him and was teasing him, poking him, and it was the cutest brother interaction.

They did have the camera! Zach did some very Tugger poses, and it was great.

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

haha Tugger went to hide behind the metal bars on the furthest side of the stage away from Grizabella, I'm in ✨pain✨

Sillabub goes to touch Grizabella, Grandpa Skimble pulls her back and starts scolding her, I want to hug the baby.

No, but I did really love that moment. It's off to the side, but you can see him giving her a talking to, and she's trying to say something back, but he's very firm.

Mungojerrie egged George on to scratch Grizabella, George sweetie don't be mean.

Taylor has such a perfect voice for Grizabella, and I loved her look!

OKAY SO LAUREN AND CHELSEA'S VOICES

Lauren's voice is so smooth and suave, and Chelsea's voice has a little growl that almost made me pass out, like ma'am i'm in love? But their voices mixed together, as well as how slightly different they are was such a great choice, and I kind of hope that other future productions take note and have two actresses with vastly different vocals for Demeter and Bombalurina.

Bustopher Jones

Mistoffelees and Victoria go to great Bustopher together and it was the cutest thing, they were so excited to see him!

Munkustrap immediately grabbing Mungo and Rumple by the necks and steering the gremlins away from the Very Important Cat.

Tugger was keeping watch so Munkustrap could be silly with everyone else during Bustopher's number, and that's not something I'm forgetting. Usually, obviously, Munkustrap's sort of in the background, standing, watching, and not really interacting. But Tugger switched places, and was up on the scaffolding watching, and it was CUTE!

My Tuggandra crumbs, thank you Zach and Lexy, I'm indebted to you both.

Tugger literally was just lounging on the car during the end of Bustopher's song, just waving his arms around, and I love him.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Elana (Teazer for this show) had the PERFECT Rumple giggle!

They're so silly, I love them

They made the best facial expressions, especially when Mungo "stole" Rumple's pearls.

Very dramatic gremlin twins, jumping all over the place, not caring about anything!

They were so confident at the end of their song when they went to walk off, and immediately went into "oh shit" mode when Munkus, Plato, and Alonzo came out.

Run through the legs of Munkus! See Munkus, this is why you need to not stand with your legs apart when you're attempting to control kittens.

Old Deuteronomy

Saying it again, Devon and Zach are SUCH a good Munkustrap and Tugger.

The babies were so excited to see Old Deut! They could barely contain themselves, and then got cuddles! (Also Tanto was with the kittens and i love that for her, let her be a kitten!! I definitely got "big brother Cori/little sister Tanto" vibes)

Everyone's getting Deut nuzzles!!

Tugger did a VERY dramatic shimmy at his dad, and Deut laughed, and I cried.

Tugger and Munkustrap standing on either side of their dad!!!! He's so proud of them!!

Jellicle Ball

Sillabub was hiding on top of the oven before the Ball, sweet baby T_T

George got to sing with Old Deut!! Happy boy!!

TUMBLE FLIPS TUMBLE FLIPS TUMBLE FLIPS

Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks being the Supervisors!!

There was a really sweet Jellylorum and Alonzo moment (def going to talk more about it in the Alonzo post), but my "Jellylorum is Alonzo, Tumble, and Pounce's Mom" hc is feeling SO VALIDATED TONIGHT

I've said this so many times, but I adore that Plato and Victoria get their own little solo before their Big Solo. It's so sweet, and Hyla and Adam have wonderful chemistry!

Tugger chases Bomba offstage before The Moment, and I love that for them

CUDDLE PILE!!!

Munkustrap and Demeter cuddled together in the corner away from the pile and I want to sob because they were just so sweet, her head was on his shoulder, and he was holding her, and literally everyone in this show has such good chemistry with each other.

Tugger looks up with the psychic twins during Grizabella's reveal, once again making me think that Tugger and Munkustrap have magic like their brother.

OH AND TUGGER DID THE STUPIDEST LITTLE DANCE WHERE HE WAS SHAKING HIS BUTT AND HAVING FUN AND MUNGOJERRIE LAUGHED AT HIM AND THEY HAD A MOMENT AND IT WAS GREAT

Memory

ouch ouch ouch

Jennyanydots blocks the stairs up to Deut's tire so Grizabella can't go to Deut, my heart

steering the babies away from Grizabella even though Silla wants to give her a hug.

Taylor you hurt me in the best way possible

I always get emotional over Grizabella's dance before her song, it's such a telling moment, but unfortunately I don't think everyone understands that it's supposed to be a serious moment and not funny.

Deut sits on his tire the entire song and it's HEARTBREAKING

At the very end, Grizabella does the reaching back, and Deut reaches forward, and if you're sitting in the right spot it looks like they're touching and i'm NOT OKAY

[sevenkittensinatrenchcoat]

Scribbled Screenshots: Rum Tum Tugger Part 1

Tugger’s taking a long time to work through because too many characters do too many funny things. I also got sidetracked by the Macavity Family AU and IRL Stuff. But, since it’s getting too damn long, here’s the stuff I got done a few days ago:

CW: It’s Tugger. There will be sex jokes.

Responsible Adults: shit.

Bomba: Oh!

Tugger: hey boy

Pouncival: omfgtugger!!!

Rumpleteazer: omfgtugger!!!

Mungojerrie: I can’t be in this number I still owe him a bag of catnip

Jemima: George wishes he could :D this hard

Tugger: You are fucking adorable.

Asparagus: I say!

Tugger: Check out this sexy kick!

Munkustrap: How am I related to you?

Misto: Fuck!

Skimble: So rude!

Tugger: Blame Plato.

Misto: You’re gonna die tonight!

Jemima: dat ass!

Tantomile: damn...

Etcetera: Tugger i luv u

Plato: We should have a threesome!

Tugger: Ready?

Plato: Fuck yeah!

Etcetera: *keysmash*

Misto: I’m plotting my revenge

Skimble: Have some pets

Etcetera: *keysmash*

Plato: I know right?

Skimble: This is obscene!

Munkustrap: Are you guys okay?

Tugger: Whatever’s in my hand probably isn’t edible.

Etcetera: Neither is your ass but I’d eat it

Asparagus: wtf?

Etcetera: Mmm! Tugger-flavored!

Tugger: lol

Plato: Lucky...and you’ve got a good ass too

Asparagus: Misto what are you doing?

Misto: My time has come

Munk and Misto: Point!

Skimble: There oughta be a law!

Tantomile: I’m so sneaky!

Cassandra: me too lol

Skimble: Dad conference! Pls stop him

Munkustrap: I hate this shit, but he’s not hurting anyone

Misto: brb

Skimble: nooooooo!

Electra: Why’s Cettie over with the boys?

Etcetera: I like playing with boys!

Skimble: This madness must be stopped before Misto’s innocence is corrupted!

Munkustrap: Are you talking about his virginity? He’s had seven kittens!

Misto: Bitch please

Tugger: Jemima, you have competition

Misto: You boring lol *maximum eyeroll*

Tugger: That’s hot

Misto: I’ll have to use my special technique! *full-body eyeroll*

Tugger: You are way too cute to upset me

Plato: that happened.

Etcetera: whatev

Jemima: dat ass!

Tantomile: I know, right?

Tugger: I’ve just been reminded that I haven’t been playing with the boys nearly enough

Pouncival: Please play gently!

Plato: whoa!

Etcetera: wee!

Tumblebrutus: Dude, there’s a butt on your butt

Pouncival: My ass is worthy of Tugger...

Tugger: Someone’s gonna fuck you tonight, but it’s not gonna be me.

Pouncival: Damn it!

Tumble: He’s only one cat on your wish list.

Asparagus: My son is injured!

Munkustrap: I can assure you that he is not.

Tugger: Someone had better be looking at my dick!

Plato: Once we’re done looking at your ass!

Misto: don’tlookathisbuttdon’tlookathisbutt...

Plato: My body is ready!

Tantomile: I can’t see Tugger’s ass from here, so I’ll check out Cassandra’s instead.

Pouncival/Tumble: Check out our cool moves!

Skimble: Don’t go down there.

George: How else am I supposed to get laid?

Etcetera: Plato’s got a boyfriend!

Tantomile: Lucky bastard

Cassandra: My boyfriend’s probably having a stroke from jealousy right about now.

Jemima: I want!

Plato: I have.

Tugger: I don’t even

Misto: I am neither bored nor horny I swear

Jenny: Why hasn’t Munk stopped him?

Jelly: idk let’s just wait it out

Bomba: The party don’t start til I walk in

Plato: Oh sweet it’s that foot thing that Cettie got!

Tumble: Babe alert!

Bomba: comin through

Pouncival: Bomba/Tugger/Me ot3!

George: I’m going in

Skimble: Not you too!

Misto: Hey I didn’t actually join!

Bomba: y’all are amateurs that man is mine

Tugger: Alright babe, go play with your friends

Jemima: <3

George: I want in on this!

Skimble: RIP George’s Virtue

Teazer: omfgbomba!

Tumble: Time to do the thing!

Pouncival: This is gonna be so cool!

George: Do I even know this thing?

(Meanwhile, Plato is thinking with his dick and it cannot be put into words)

George: I did it!

Pouncival: Notice us, Tugger!

Tumble: Yo!

Tumble: Did you guys see that?

George: resist urge to :D

Pouncival: Am I the only one taking this seriously?

Plato: Seriously, all I’m aware of is 8=D

Tugger: I’m ignoring all of them lol

George: fuck it. :D

Pouncival: Tugger look...

Tumble: Why am I less funny than my friends?

Plato: You’re Misto’s stunt double lol

Bomba: Bitch I’m flawless

Teazer: lemme talk to girls dad

Skimble: Don’t even think about it

Tumble: wait r u lifting me?

Plato: gotta practice

Pouncival: practice sexy dancing!

Plato: This is the Kiss My Paw move

Tumble: okay...

[the-cat-at-the-theatre-door]

Hi there! I was going through the skimblegus tag and I found an old ask of yours (hopefully not so old that I look like a weirdo haha) where you talked about their first impressions of each other and I loved it! I was wondering if you had any HCs about Jenny and Jelly meddling to get them together? I love the thought of those two scheming together 😊

As do I! Jenny and Jelly are professional meddlers. I like to think that Jenny does it because she personally finds it fun (and gets *very* smug when her feelings are correct on something/a match she suggests works out - she hand picks cats, you know), but Jelly has the tendency to get way too emotionally invested in how these things go (she also gets so excited that sometimes she’ll just blurt out that so and so likes so and so *right to them* - Jelly’s a bit of a terrible secret keeper for things like that) especially for her family and people close to her. She’s a bit of a fancy free type romantic, you know. 

It’s hard to be annoyed with her enthusiasm, though, because she always means well and is very sincere about wanting other cats to be happy. Asparagus is long suffering with this (though Jelly is well aware that if he ever starts or ends a statement with “Jellylorum” over literally any other nickname, she’s overstepped - that’s the only time he ever sounds like their dad and it’s spooky).

Jenny was the one who started scheming in the beginning, because she was the first to have met Skimbleshanks when he was fresh off the...er...train, having just come from Edinburgh (I like to think that Skimble was a later join to the Tribe, having emigrated with two of his sisters after their grandparents passed on. So not only is he the literal “baby” of the group, he’s also the figurative baby). She just happened to be in the area when they arrived, got to chatting as she does, and *oh what a handsome lad you are* (she gets a good vibe from this one and Jenny is always right), of course invited them somewhere they could stay should they wish, and you know Miss Jenny - he mind is already going a mile a minute. 

She immediately rushes off to tell Jellylorum about her little “discovery”, saying that she feels as though she has finally found the answer to their little problem. 

And of course, after they’ve gotten their greetings and acquaintances all in order, Jelly’s right on board (with a moderate amount of hesitance just because...well she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. She doesn’t know what kind of tom this “Skimbleshanks” is - but that’s soothed away pretty quick). She’s positively giddy because it actually seems like it might work out this time. They seem to get on well enough. Asparagus wouldn’t keep making the effort to talk to him if he didn’t like him somewhat - Jelly knows this. 

Everything from then on out is a series of gentle nudges and prompts and “Oh, actually Jenny and I can’t make it but you two go on ahead!”s or “Hmm, I thought the girls were joining us?” “So did I”’s (while they spied on them from up in the old milk crates). It’s also a lot of loud sighing and making conversations just a *touch* too loud so that anyone in the vicinity could possibly overhear and maybe be prompted into dropping a hint as to how they feel? What they think perhaps? (Skimble has fallen for this trap more times than he’d like to count - Asparagus is far tighter lipped). Jelly went so far once as to memorize one of the train schedules to figure out when Skimble would be back (because he’d been gone a while and don’t you think Jelly didn’t notice the rather sullen look Asparagus’ face had taken on recently. The schedules are *very confusing* and she really hopes Asparagus appreciates the things she does for him) and coax her brother out to walk with her, and they just *happened* to pass by and oh, look who it is! (And isn’t that the smile of the century that lights up beside her?)

But the boys...are slow. Painfully slow. They just...talk. And walk around. And do...whatever it is toms do together. And it’s like watching a very slow buildup in a silent movie and Jenny’s about to tear her headfur out, while Jelly’s slowly just coming to terms with it, even though she was really hoping on this one. 

But, like, Jenny *knows* they like each other. She’s *positive* they do. And Jelly knows her brother like the back of her paw and she’s *also* very convinced - he’s brought him up several times in conversation completely unprompted! Asparagus never does that unless he’s *thinking* about it. And that’s why it’s frustrating and that’s why they keep gently prodding even though with anyone else they would have moved on already. (Meanwhile the boys are...somewhat oblivious to the exact intent of the two meddlers - though they are *aware* that something’s cooking between them. They’re just a bit...distracted.)

It’s a few years, but Jenny is unbearably smug when it finally happens. There’s no living with her then. 

[rice-pudding-slaps]

A WILD thought just crossed my head but a Cats High School Teachers AU? It would be ✨glorious✨

Just imagine!!

Jennyanydots would totally be a language teacher That's how we call it in my country lmao language and communications. It's basically grammar and literature ANYWAY that is also kind of a mother for kids who need help. She would totally and absolutely be that Miss Honey kinda Vibes™ teacher that always has a kind word for you and if she sees you crying, she will protect you with her life (And also maybe she has this huge bag filled with napkins and sweets). She's strict tho. But not in a mean way. She doesn't just gift grades, she makes you work for it. You can turn up your paper again, but it will have 300 corrections. But she will praise your efforts and help you overcome your difficulties.

Skimble gives me such Math Teacher That Always Has a Story and Rarely Actually Teaches The Class kinda vibes. His class is always on the most absolute of silence and no one ever DREAMS of pranking him. The kids knoooow that they can say "Hey, mr Skimbles I heard you were on a train once" and boom he will tell you all these stories about his time being in charge of the Northern Mail. He has told the story sooooo many times that the children once put on a play with one of the stories for Teachers Day or smtn. He was moved to tears

Demeter would absolutely be an art teacher and be the most understanding teacher ever. She's patient and kind and she will give you a day more to bring in your work if you need it. She also always has a way to find hurt kids. Coming from an abusive background herself, she's quick to act whenever she feels a child migh need any type of help. She ended up being That Teacher That Every LGBTQ+ Kid Befriends and she is proud to be helpful and provide love to those who need it. She's very close to Munk and is always helping with the props for the plays.

Bomba is a science teacher because I said so. And because she has a similar vibe to most of my science teachers when I was in school lmao. She's funny and charismatic and pretty laid back. And you never know what to expect from her. The kids love her bc she might spend some class talking all about formulas and next class is "Hey kids wanna learn how to make EXPLOSIONS??" they never actually blow up something, but she makes the lab classes the best thing.

Munkustrap is an absolute history teacher. No questions asked. The man knows how to narrate every historical moment like you were there. He has a silver tounge (pun intended). And he always tries to teach the most he can, because history is just so broad and there is so much to talk about. And he definetely would answer all the questions, even the more weird ones. He's called by kids the Protector because even when he's easly the most strict teacher ever, he would never let anyone bad mouth his students. No matter how chaotic the class was, he will always tell them that as long as they learned something, they won. He also works in the theatre departement, so the theatre kids are in love with the guy. They tried to set him up with Demeter in a play, but gave up after a half hour speech on how they shouldn't be involved in their teachers personal lifes.

Tugger is obviously a music teacher. He is that laid back, friendly and overall awesome teacher that everyone just loves. He plays any instrument you can think of and will teach you if you ask. As a joke, a whole class asked to learn the bagpipes and when next class this rockstar of a teacher appeared with a fucking bagpipe and a whole lot for the kids they fucking LOST IT. He will help you with practice and if you want to get into serious music, then he will absolutely root for you. He has a song composed for every teacher and absolutely everyone hates him for this. He's also with the theatre kids and always helps with plays maybe to mess with Munk, maybe he likes the attention. He's also in charge of music and dance presentations and he abuses his powers greatly. And everytime a class graduates he says that he doesn't really cares that much (is the circle of life, baby) but will shed silent tears everytime bc he's gonna miss the kiddies.

Misto's obviously a dance teacher. Duh. He might be an ex student for the same school. He's fresh out of college and he sometimes doesn't know what to do, but he tries really hard. And he's harsh as fuck for the same reason. He always wears a tuxedo to class and a bowtie bc he tought it was a formal thing and now it's kind of like "his thing". He's kind of cold at first and doesn't talk really that much, the kids first tought he hated them, but later found out that he just goes non verbal sometimes and designed a whole system to communicate instructions and corrections. Misto was so happy. And that's why there is a board on the classroom they use to dance. He's also one of the teachers that every LGBTQ+ kid loves, and he tries his best to support each one. And yes, every day they ask "DO THE CONJURING TURNS MR. MISTOFFELEES" and he gladly does. There was this rumor that he was magic bc once a kid saw him in a presentation out of school and they swear he sparkled out of the blue. He knows, and sometimes he would do little tricks for the kiddos for funs, and other teachers just to mess with them. He also goes to the teathre departement and it's constantly working with Tugger so the music and dance kids do presentations together. The kids ship it so hard

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are the best gym teachers ever. They also are very new to this, but they make class the most fun thing ever. They teach sports and gymnastics with ease. And they have no mercy on dodge ball. No. Mercy. They once were playing on the field with the kids and hit Tugger on the head. The legend says that they ran across the school for all night. The truth is that they outrun Tugger, but not Munk.

Jellylorum is the school's nurse. She always has a tecito de hierbas for you. And she will always hear you and try to get you to be better. She has infinite patience for eveyone. And she always carries pads and tampons for the kids who may need it. And if you ever need a shoulder to cry on? She's there too. She and Jenny have their officed flood on Mother's day because they are the second mothers of so many kids. She also catches up with ex-students and remember every name.

Gus is the official Theatre teacher. He is this old man who is so wise and strict, but just because he loves his craft so so much. Every year there is some kind of rumor that he might retire, but it never seemed to happen. He has a little office with so many photos and diplomas and it's just filled with memories. He is very harsh on the kids. Very. But they love him because he also can spend hours talking about his greatest performances on theatre. When he actually had to retire because he was starting to have very fragile health, everyone cried. They held a big play and he played Growltiger. No one had a dry eye that night. And he still visits the school from time to time. He goes to every play.

You might say that Old Deuteronomy is the principal and you would be very right. But this man was a teacher in his day. He taught philosophy and history and english and literature. He has more degreed that a high school teacher had to have, but he loved dearly the art of teaching. And he remembers every kid. Every morning he sits at the entrance and says to every one of them by name. He plays with the kids when his health let's him. He has a framed photo of him and Gus on their first years as teachers just along side a photo of the year Tugger joined Munkustrap on the school staff. And everyone is very sure that he might let Munkustrap take the position one day. He's also a kind soul. And will let kids tug on his beard. There was this christmas when he dressed up as santa and it was the sweetest thing ever.

Tantomille and Coricopat are philosophy teachers. They take turns doing classes and you will never know wich one taught you last class because they are in perfect sync. Their test are the most outlandish thing ever, and give points for "originality" wich is mostly just wich kid said the most weird but true thing. The kids are kinda scared of them. Just enough to not to mess up their classes.

I am not completely sure, but Alonzo being a spanish teacher just brings me so much joy. He's always teaching them songs and little games to learn spanish and the kids take total advantage of that just to mess with him. He never gets truly mad if they play a prank on him. And he's the Protector number 2 to the kids, bc he would absolutely turn up to a teachers reunion wet from head to toe and instead of tattle on the kids, he would just say it was an accident. Munk knows and always ends up catching the culprit, not always with Alonzo's help.

The Rumpus Cat is the school mascot.

[0zzysaurus]

I really loved your tags on that Alonzo GIFset, and I'd love to hear more of your headcanons about Macavity's hideout! :)

I'm actually in the midst of writing a massive outline for my fanfiction, so I'm going to give you what I have so far up to Part 4!!

Part 1:

Munkustrap and Macavity are currently involved in the first ever Jellicle Leader coalition. Macavity has been preaching and proselytising that Munkustrap isn't fit to lead and will destroy the tribe, and has convinced Old Deuteronomy to allow him to co-lead. He claims that the contorting of traditional Jellicle law will bring the wrath of the Everlasting Cat, though this is just fearmongering that he's using to try and persuade tribe members to put their faith in him as Leader. Munkustrap can see right through it, and knows Macavity is just bitter for not ever even being considered for Jellicle Leader, and is hungry for control and power. Coricopat advises him not to censor Macavity's preaching because it could convince more tribe members into thinking what Macavity is saying - that Munk has the potential to be tyranical if left to lead alone - could be true. Munk takes this advice, but does his best to assure those close to him that Macavity is talking out of his ass.

Meanwhile, Macavity has known since the beginning that the coalition is unstable and will most likely break down, so he's been establishing his own clan in Aldwych station. Any strays, or rehabilitated ferals are brought in and convinced to join through promises of shelter, food, leadership, and the protection of a tribe. Grizabella is Macavity's biological mother, but not Munkustrap or Tuggers. She personally believes Old D refused to consider him for leader because he is her son. She sympathises with Macavity and helps to establish and run the Aldwych Clan when he is away. As far as the other cats are aware, Grizabella simply abandoned the Jellicle Tribe.

The next Jellicle Ball will be Tugger's first, and he's due to perform his coming of age dance. While he is performing, Macavity begins to feel spiteful, and starts an argument with Munkustrap over how poorly Tugger has been trained. It escalates into a shouting match and eventually a physical fight - ultimately this is the final breakdown of the coalition. Tugger will blame himself for this split in the coming months. The coalition split causes a dramatic shift within the tribe itself. Sympathisers and followers of Macavity propose an exodus, and Mac encourages them - while Munkustrap maintains that no one should leave. Mac uses Munk's desperate feelings over this to further convince his followers that the Jellicle tribe is a cult, and they should go. Demeter and Rumpleteazer are both convinced to leave - Demeter being Mac's mate at the time, and Teazer being sympathetic to the idea of being an older sibling who has been neglected over the younger (Etcetera is her younger sister, and seems to get a lot more attention from Skimble than he gives to her. Clearly, Teazer is the most naive of the followers.)

Part 2:

Ultimately, Mac's followers leave and are surprised to find that they've been brought to a pre-established clan. They're brought to the main platform and sorted into toms and queens, that are then led to different sections of the station. Teazer and Demeter are brought to the harem, where both react with significant disgust and reject the proposal immediately. Bomba steps in to defend Demeter when Mac threatens her physically, and Macavity decides he'll leave them to talk - he expects Demeter and Rumpleteazer to comply by the time he gets back. Bomba reassures Demeter and says that she's safe - but Rumpleteazer refuses to stay, and leaves.

Unsure of where she should go, and being utterly lost in the tunnels, Teazer follows the sound of fighting and discovers a henchcat den where a gang of cats are harassing and bullying a smaller tom around her age. Still feeling heated from before, she doesn't stop to consider the danger and steps in to defend the tom. Her feisty nature and confidence actually works in intimidating the harassers, and they leave. She introduces herself, only to be completely rejected by the tom. She's surprised, calls him ungrateful - which she regrets later - and leaves. Teazer takes note of a map pinned on the wall that was once used by Underground workers to navigate maintenance tunnels. Now abandoned, the tunnels are now only home to the clan, and patrolling hench cats who are capturing and disposing of deserters. She takes note of where the den she just exited is before exploring. She ducks into a vent when she smells Macavity approaching down the hall.

Demeter explains to Bomba what happened at the tribe, and Bomba is equally as confused - not knowing that another tribe even existed in the area. She tells Demeter why the queens are here, and that Macavity has been trying to get kittens from them for months, only not to succeed. Either the queens simply are not getting pregnant, or those who do mysteriously disappear. Demeter is nervous, but is positive that her mate won't hurt her. The other queens give her unsure looks, but no one questions her.

Teazer hides in the vent until she is sure Macavity has left the hall, but as she's about to come out, she falls through a weak sheet of metal into another den. She lands right on a sleeping Alonzo - the Deputy of the henchcats, and almost has to fight for her life, until Alonzo realises that she's just a young moggie. He dismisses her, only to be met with fervent assurances that she can handle herself and could take him out if she really wanted to. Alonzo calls her reckless, and that her fighting skills are lacking. After some deliberation, he decides that he will train her as a henchcat. He lets her sleep the night in his den since it's late and curfew is already enacted.

Part 3:

The next morning, Demeter wakes up early to find Grizabella in the Queen's den - tidying an empty nest. Before she can say anything, the older cat slips away, and she falls back asleep - convinced it was a dream. Macavity makes an announcement on the intercom. He welcomes all new members, vaguely noting that those who have complied and remained have integrity and strength beyond their cowardly peers. Alonzo brings Rumpleteazer to the Morning role call, and when Macavity questions her presence, Alonzo simply assures him that she is his latest apprentice. Macavity scoffs at the idea, and tells Alonzo to return her to the harem when he finally gives up on her. The other henchcats laugh at this, but the tom from before stands nervously, watching her. She turns away from him and he leaves with a group of other cats. Teazer is about to follow them, but feels Alonzo's paw on her shoulder, and is reminded that she has training to do.

Demeter wakes up again and overhears Bomba and Cassandra talking with each other. Cassandra expresses concern for Demeter - that she has the "most potential" out of them all - presumably but not explicitly said to be the next to bear a litter. Demeter gets up and interjects with a morning greeting, and Cass slips away back to her nest. Bomba apologises on her behalf, explaining that she is a clairvoyant and can predict events, as well as read auras. Before she can explain more, Macavity enters the den and calls away one of the queens. She goes without objection, but looks back at Bomba with anxious eyes. Demeter asks what is going to happen to her, and Bomba reiterates that Macavity is trying to have as many kittens as he can - presumably to boost the clan's population as well as grow his bloodline. So far he hasn't been successful.

Meanwhile, at the Jellicle tribe, Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy discuss the upheaval of their tribe. Munkustrap is concerned that the tribe will not be able to recover from this loss, and is quick to blame Coricopat for failing to advise him of this future. Old D firmly corrects him that it's not within Cori's powers to predict the future - and also reminds Munkustrap that the tribe - now more than ever - requires a strong, steadfast leader who can keep them together. Munk laments that he is not fit for this role, but Old Deuteronomy points out the cluster of cats in the clearing waiting for him to lead them. Old D also reminds him that he will not be around forever to lead the tribe, and that Munk must work with his advisers and community to restore order. Skimbleshanks is distraught at his daughter's absence, and begs Old Deuteronomy to bring her back. Old D explains that he can't force her to return, and she has to make her own way - but Skimble is adamant that she is in danger. Munkustrap assures him in confidence that he will do his best to bring her back for him.

Part 4:

Back at the Clan, Alonzo and Teazer have begun their training. Alonzo is quick to point out that Teazer is quick to enter fights that she may be unable to finish - and explains that not getting into fights at all should be a priority. Mediation bores her, and Teazer complains that there will surely be times that this decision is not within her hands - and that there will be times that she must fight. Alonzo agrees, and acknowledges her impatience, and they begin to practice defensive techniques. Teazer finds it difficult to defend against heavy blows, and is knocked on her ass a few times. Alonzo explains to her that she can't just stand there and take the hits when her body type isn't build for handling it. Instead he encourages her to use evasive tactics, noting that she was quick to slip out of his angry grip when they initially met. After practising this for a while, she becomes impatient again that she hasn't had the chance to deal any damage. Alonzo is about to lecture her on how wearing out an opponent with dodging could allow her to knock them down with weaker attacks - until the intercom blares, and Macavity calls all henchcats to his den. Alonzo postpones their training.

Macavity's den is like a large meeting room, with a side cupboard that contains his nest. In the meeting room, all the hench cats congregate. Beside him, the tom Teazer defended stands anxiously. The other hench cats he had left with prior also seem to be extremely nervous. Macavity is clearly holding back anger. Macavity begins lecturing the room that failure isn't something that can be brushed off as a simple mistake. It is an active threat upon the future of the clan and must be punished with significant force. Teazer is afraid, and whispers to Alonzo - asking what's going on. Alonzo explains that Macavity will often send cats out on missions for him - spying, reconnaissance, theft, etc. Anything that provides useful resources or information. Whenever a group fail to retrieve anything of worth - or worse, compromise his plans, Macavity becomes enraged, and often kills whoever is at fault. Teazer becomes terrified for the safety of the tom and asks Alonzo if he will be okay. He tells her that the cat is called Jerrie - and he usually takes the blame for anything that goes wrong in any expedition he goes out on. Teazer asks why, and Alonzo explains that Macavity - while seemingly not giving a single shit about the rest of their wellbeing, has allowed Jerrie to get away with allsorts - and hasn't killed him yet. Because of this, everyone pins their mistakes on him - knowing he won't be killed, and knowing it will save their own hides. He notes that the only downside is that public executions and beatings are, well... public, and they're all forced to witness it. He advises Teazer to think of a happy time in her life, close her eyes, and try her best not to listen too much.

Back in the Queen's den. Bomba and Demeter are talking about their childhood. Bomba tells her about life as a street cat, but explains that she hadn't always been alone. After the recession, her humans had abandoned her, and she ended up here - lured in with promises of somewhere safe to sleep. She'd been under Macavity's control ever since, and her scars are from fighting back against him. At this point, Mac has given up on her, but keeps her around as a bodyguard for the harem - acknowledging her strength. Bomba says she'd almost feel flattered if she didn't hate Mac's guts so much. Demeter tells her that she had always been part of the Jellicle tribe, and that her mother had passed away only recently. Macavity had been there for her after her mothers death, which led to them developing romantic feelings for each other. Bomba is surprised - claiming she'd never seen Mac express a genuine emotion in his life. At this point, the queen who had left before returns. Her fur is ruffled and she refuses to look any of the other queens in the eye. Cassandra approaches her at her nest, and holds her paws over her for a moment before shaking her head. Bomba dismisses herself from the conversation with Demeter and brings the queen water and food.

Once all the henchcats have finally filtered out from Macavity's den, Teazer waits at the doorway to try and catch Jerrie in a conversation, but the tom doesn't seem to be leaving. When she spies in through a crack in the door, she sees Macavity tending to the tom's wounds and fixing his fur. Jerrie doesn't recoil from the clan leader. Utterly confused - Teazer is about to enter again, but is distracted by Alonzo's voice calling to her from the hall. She quickly returns to his side and asks why Macavity is bothering with Jerrie at all. Alonzo expresses his own confusion. He tells her that Jerrie had been there the longest out of all of them, and has spent most of his life in the clan. He notes that the tom is good at what he does - exceedingly good. He's an excellent thief, and incredible escape artist, and one of the few cats in the clan who can actually read written English. Rumpleteazer suggests that this must be why Macavity doesn't kill him - but Alonzo rejects this, noting that Macavity has killed off much better spies and thieves than Jerrie for much smaller mistakes. Regardless, they head back to the henchcat den for food and a mental and physical rest.

After taking a short nap, Teazer wakes up to find the den mostly empty. She finds a catscratch note from Alonzo explaining that he'd gone out on an expedition and would be back after curfew. She sighs in frustration that they wouldn't be able to spend the afternoon training, and alerts the attention of Jerrie, who is quietly sifting through the pantry for something to eat. Teazer offers him the rest of her tin of tuna, and he shakes his head. Growing more frustrated, she yells at him that she isn't bad like the others, and that he needs to accept that she wants to be his friend. He expresses to her that he doesn't think she's a bad cat, but that he doesn't want her to be targeted for being an ally of his. She laughs, and assures him that she can take care of herself, explaining that Alonzo is training her. Jerrie laughs that Alonzo always picks the strangest cats to train, and the two of them share the remainder of the tin. Teazer apologises for her brash and rude behaviour when they first met, and Jerrie also apologises for being dismissive of her. Teazer also expresses guilt at abandoning Demeter in the harem and says she wants to visit her to ensure that she is safe. Jerrie agrees to escort her there once they have finished eating, as he is a regular visitor to the queens, and is one of the few toms that Macavity allows inside their den.

Part 5 and onwards of my outline will come at a later date!!

[afairytalestray]

The Dawn of the Age of Skimblegus

One of the most underrated ships in all of Cats.

Part 9 of my Cats pre-canon headcanon series (masterpost here), coming at you after delay caused by me taking forever to write this rather long instalment basically from scratch! But anyway it’s here now, and we’re back on character backstories, this time: Skimbleshanks, Asparagus, and a wee bit of Tumblebrutus being a mischievous sunshine smol. This one is maybe the longest one I’ve done yet; this was entirely unintentional and unplanned - it literally came to me as I was writing it. There is far too little Skimblegus content out there so I am creating the content I want to see! Just a content warning to start with: this one gets a bit dark - there’s a character death. Nothing too gruesome, but it is there. However, due to who I am as a person, it does have a happy ending. Without further ado, please enjoy!

Skimbleshanks, despite having god-tier dad skills, never actually has any biological kittens of his own. He’s something of an uncle figure to many of the Cats in the Junkyard (and the future adopted father of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer - coming in a future post), and is perfectly happy with his lot. In his youth, he was very much a free spirit. He had itchy paws, and when he discovered the trains he became obsessed with travelling up and down the country on them. His time on the trains became a delight to the human rail workers and regular passengers, and he became quite well-known as the Railway Cat - the workers even set him up his own little office (like Tama!). At first, he split his time fairly evenly between the trains and the Junkyard - as much as he loved to travel, there was one thing he loved more: his best friend Asparagus (Jr.).

Skimbleshanks and Asparagus grew up together and were nigh inseparable from each other for most of their kittenhood. Skimble couldn’t tell you when exactly his feelings shifted from platonic to romantic, it was a very gradual thing. Asparagus can - the first time Skimble went away on the trains for more than a day, he realised he missed him more than a normal amount and it quickly clicked into place. It was normal for Skimble to set off in the morning and bounce back in the evening, but this time felt like forever. Never being a shy one, Asparagus resolves to tell Skimble when he returns. Even though he doubts Skimble feels the same way (Y’ALL), he hates keeping secrets from his best pal, and he’s confident their friendship is strong enough to survive it.

But when Skimble came back the next day, he just couldn’t do it. Skimble was high as a kite; he went on for an age about all the things he saw, how amazing the trip was, how amazing all the trips were, how the longer ones were so exciting, how he wants to go here, there, and everywhere etc…. And all Asparagus can think about is that they seem fundamentally incompatible. Asparagus has always been a homebody. He’s quiet, likes the comfort of his own den, always being close to his family, and has never had that adventurous streak that fuels Skimble’s every move. And the thought that even if Skimble did feel the same it wouldn’t work, that is far too painful to entertain. He would want to be close to Skimble, but knows he could never be happy constantly flitting from place to place. He also could never ask Skimble to give it up knowing how happy it makes him. So, Asparagus makes the call to swallow it all down for now, and then let it go. This choice, unfortunately and unintentionally, causes a bit of a gap to grow between them, as Asparagus struggles to act normal around him and needs a bit of space to get over the feelings.

At this point, Skimbleshanks is aware of his own feelings, but for the life of him can’t work out how to express them. He desperately wants to, and is constantly thinking of new ways to do it, but keeps binning them when they’re not totally perfect. It has to be perfect! He also notices that Asparagus has been acting weird around him, but can’t get him to talk about it. It worries him, but he doesn’t want to push the issue, and he has his trains to distract him after all. A week or so later, he sets off on a multi-day trip, resolving that if Asparagus is still off when he gets back, he’s going to trap them both in the old wardrobe so they can hash it out properly, Skimble can confess and then they’ll all live happily ever after. 

There was nothing that could’ve prepared him for what he came back to.

Asparagus was right back to normal, albeit with the small caveat that he had met someone. A queen, a pretty ragdoll queen who was calm, clever and cautious, a little shy and reserved. When Asparagus excitedly introduced them Skimble felt his heart break, but he plastered a smile on his face and let Asparagus tell him all about how they met and how crazy their instant connection was. Asparagus had never meant to meet someone else, but he thought the best way to get over Skimble was to try and make some new friends, so despite his dislike of interacting with the general public and talking to strangers, he trotted on over to one of Bustopher’s clubs where he met Caorann. They both had a lot in common and hit it off right away, both of them bonding over trying to hide in the same corner since neither of them were comfortable in a room full of unknowns. Genuinely, the only other Cat Asparagus had had such a fast and strong connection with was Skimble, and since he had resolved to let his feelings for him go, he thought it would be a good thing to see where this might lead. The two of them fell in love quickly.

Skimble wanted to be furious, he really did, but he couldn’t. Caorann was nervous around him but always very sweet. Although she never knew about Skimbleshanks’ old feelings for Asparagus, she knew he was very important to him, and always strived to make a good impression. He was miserable and wanted to hate her, and at first couldn’t see how the two were a good match. But he could never bring himself to even dislike her, because it became very obvious very quickly that the two were more than a good match. Skimble, bless him, had never really considered the long term ramifications of being in a relationship with Asparagus, and was abruptly slapped in the face by all the same things that had occurred to Asparagus before: that the two were very different, and that their lifestyles just weren’t all that compatible. Caorann was a good match for Asparagus: neither of them were particularly adventurous, their idea of a perfect day involved little more than basking in a quiet patch of sunlight, and they shared the same lack of concern for the bustle and goings on of life outside their little happy bubble and the same desire to be comfortably settled. Fundamentally, at that time, Caorann was the better choice. Despite that, Skimble can’t help but think he might have given it all up for a chance to be with Asparagus.

But that hurt too much to think about, so Skimble went back to his trains, unable and unwilling to break Asparagus out of a happy relationship with someone else, but it never quite brought him the same joy as before. But it was a whole lot better than constantly seeing the Cat he loved in love with someone else, so he spent more and more time away from the Junkyard. The hurt lessened, after a while. It never really went away, but he found he was able to genuinely be happy when Caorann became pregnant, and vowed through joyful tears to be the best uncle in the world for little kitten Tumblebrutus when he was born.

On the day it happened, Skimbleshanks had recently gotten back to the Junkyard when a loud screech and a wail shattered the calm of the evening. Running towards the sound, the source was a sight that still gives him nightmares to the present day: baby Tumble screaming and crying as he lay trapped under the motionless bodies of his parents. It came out later that the three of them had gone on a family walk together, and on their way back as they crossed the road to the Junkyard, a car suddenly skidded round the corner and hurtled towards them as fast as lightning. Without thinking, Caorann and Asparagus threw themselves in front of their son. It worked. Little Tumble was almost completely unharmed, but Caorann was killed instantly, and they thought Asparagus had been too. However, as they were moved off of the road, they noticed Asparagus was breathing. It was extremely weak and laboured, but he was breathing.

Skimble can barely remember the weeks that followed. He only has flashes of burying Caorann, mostly remembering how it was wrong that Asparagus wasn’t there. All he can really remember was that everything hurt and was awful, and that he did whatever he could to help Jennyanydots, who took sole charge of Asparagus’ care (she and Jellylorum were already fully trained healers then, but Asparagus is Jelly’s little brother, and it was very difficult for her). He also tried to help look after Tumblebrutus, who was too young to understand what was going on. It took Asparagus a fortnight to wake up properly, and several more weeks to be able to move about independently again. When he woke up, he was deeply altered. He was in terrible physical pain, but also became emotionally despondent when he learned about Caorann. Skimble stayed by his side the whole time, trying to coax him into talking, maybe even smiling, and very gradually they made progress. Asparagus mourned his partner deeply, and was only able to pull himself out of it when he realised that Tumble needed him. It took a long time, but eventually Asparagus came back to himself.

To most other Cats, at least. Skimble was probably the only one who saw that Asparagus still had moments of deep sadness. To the others it just looked like he had zoned out for a moment, but Skimble knew those were the times when he was thinking about Caorann. These moments got easier for Asparagus to deal with over time, and although at times he missed her, it became pleasant for him to talk about her with Tumble, and he could remember their time with happiness instead of sadness, and eventually even realised that he was ready to try being with someone else.

The problem with that though, was that the accident had greatly damaged his body. He has chronic pain; he can no longer really dance like he used to, and can’t move around very far - leaving the Junkyard is no longer really an option for him. To his surprise, his old feelings for Skimble started to resurface. Although, he shouldn’t really have been surprised. Skimble had hardly left his side at all since the accident happened (the trains are in CHAOS), he’d been there through all the setbacks and progress, his meticulous nature shining through in his diligent care. He was such a constant in his life to the extent that Tumblebrutus was genuinely shocked when he learned that Skimble actually wasn’t related to him in any way (he basically sees Skimble as a second dad). However, Asparagus is more decided than ever that they wouldn’t work as a couple, seeing as how now he couldn’t join Skimble’s journeys even if he did want to. Skimble, though, is the deepest romantic at heart. He never stopped loving Asparagus, but knew he was needed as a friend first and foremost, so that’s what he was. He always says to himself that if they were ever to be more, he would never want to replace Caorann, so it would only be when Asparagus asked. So naturally, nothing ever happens.

Until Tumble puts his paw down. As he gets older, he struggles to understand why his two dads aren’t together. He knows about his mother, of course, but believes with his whole heart (correctly) that she would want them to be happy. He begins to plot ways to get them together, but doesn’t make much progress with the two stubbornly resistant Cats until Mistoffelees helps him. 

When Misto arrives in the Junkyard he’s looked after by Skimble, who introduces him to Tumble. Misto is painfully shy and quiet, but with Asparagus as his dad Tumble is very used to quiet Cats, and Misto becomes a tentative friend. By the time Misto is mated, more confident and moving out from Skimble’s care, he wants to thank him for everything he’s done and how kind he’s been, and asks Tumble for help. Tumble immediately tells all about how grossly in love his dads are, but that they aren’t together for some reason despite his best efforts. The two of them decide that the dawn of the age of Skimblegus is nigh, and come up with a plan.

The next day the two of them separately lure Skimble and Asparagus to a secret location under the guise of “it’s a surprise”, which works despite its simplicity as Skimble is very fond of Misto and Asparagus is Tumble’s loving father. The secret location is revealed to be a nice picnic setup, and the boys each leave their respective parent figure with the cryptic message of “do yourself a favour and tell him.” Skimble and Asparagus decide to play along, but all mystery is very quickly dropped, as the picnic is very clearly romantic and intended to be a date. Things are a bit awkward at first, but the two soon fall into their usual easy rhythm. That is, until Asparagus jokes about this being Tumble’s idea of a date (“I mean, it’s not like it’s bad or anything, but like, yeah…” “Haha, yeah, as far as romantic gestures go it’s pretty good.” “It is kinda romantic, isn’t it?” “It is a bit, but like, that’s not a bad thing of course!” “Of course! I can think of far worse dates to be on!” “And Cats to be with!” “Is this… I mean, are we, you know, on a date right now?” and so on).

And then finally, finally, it all comes out. Skimble finally reveals that he’s been in love with Asparagus his whole life, but never got the chance to tell him before, then didn’t know if he could or should after everything; and Asparagus says that he loved him before and again now, but just doesn’t know that it would work. It all gets very sappy and mushy, but they ultimately decide to give it a go. And it works! The two of them have always gotten along like a house on fire, but now it’s more, and better! Tumble is ecstatic, and of course takes all the credit for himself (with the exception of the 20% he grants Misto). Skimble does go back to the trains, he’s missed them, but now he spends maybe only ⅓ of his time there, and the other ⅔ in the Junkyard with his beloved Asparagus. They’re both extremely happy with the balance, and always spend hours catching each other up when Skimble returns. Although Skimble is very much still an adventure-seeker, now that he’s a bit older and more mature he definitely enjoys a long nap curled up with his partner! They’re a happy, healthy couple who support each other, make each other laugh, and make the worst dad jokes you can possibly imagine.

[hansrlow]

i saw the cats national tour, these are my act one thoughts

a cast list: Alonzo: Vinny Andaloro, Bombalurina: Chelsea Mitchell, Cassandra: Lexy Bittner, Coricopat: Taylor Rosenberger, Demeter: Lauren Louis, Grizabella: Kelliann DeCarlo, Jellylorum: Kayli Jamison, Jennyanydots: Michelle Carter, Mistoffelees: Paul Giarratano, Mungojerrie: Max Craven, Munkustrap: Devon McCleskey, Bustopher Jones/Asparagus: John Anker Bow*, Plato/Macavity: Connor Bermingham, Pouncival: Kieran MacDonald*, Rumpleteazer: Kelly Donah, Sillabub: Brianna Kim, Skimbleshanks: Sean McManus, Tantomile: Alexia Waites, Tumblebrutus: Kieran MacDonald*, Old Deuteronomy: John Anker Bow*, Victoria: Gracie Anderson

*Split Tracks. Kieran was in Pouncival makeup/costume and was credited on the cast board as Pouncival, but he covered both pounce and tumble and did both bow slots. I can’t remember what costume John was in for the Jellicle Songs, but I believe it was Victor because he was credited on the cast board as Victor/Old Deuteronomy. kieran was basically just Generic Male Kitten, and john was old deut for most of the show, only being in costume for gus for gus: the theater cat and TABOTPATP.

the rest of this will be under a read more because its looonnnnnnggg. sorry in advance if you actually read this .

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats: jesus christ is devon a good munkustrap. everyone else was great too but standouts for that song specifically are devon and taylor, who has Coricopat DOWN . EVERYONE in the great cobb hall was getting vibe checked . the cats were all so upset about the man who doesn’t know what a Jellicle cat is i felt so bad for them </3

The Naming of Cats: i only looked at Mungojerrie during this song and im not sorry about it . he just looked so heartbroken that people didn’t know how cats were named .

The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball: gracie is such a cute and adorable Victoria oml I love her . paul is also a very, very cute Mistoffelees . and until tugger comes out he makes everything about him

The Old Gumbie Cat: only two mouse-kittens, silly and pounce. "this is mistos world and we’re all just living in it." <- real thought of mine during this song . Michelle is a great jenny and I love a good tap number . also mungo, plato, and alonzo were the cockroaches and they absolutely HATED it , all three had the Angriest faces

The Rum Tum Tugger: surprisingly I don’t have much to say about this song other than I think zach is the best tugger. He’s just so Captivating and its hard to turn your attention elsewhere. Also, during the abouuuuuwowouts he went to the front of the stage and asked for applause, but he didn’t get it right away and he got upset about that, and during the longest abou-a-wow-t he mimicked checking a watch to see how long he could hold it (also misto was Feelin Himself during the entire song, and Munkustrap and Alonzo Schemed before the terrible bore line, and were upset that tugger continued on with the song after they tried to intervene, i think they also made plans to try again but then . didnt)

Grizabella The Glamour Cat: mungojerrie is the cat who attacks her and my thought during that was “no! nasty, nasty boy!” anyways , Munkustrap is incredibly protective of his entire tribe Except for demeter . its like hes reluctant to stop her from going to griz, and leaves it up to her to stop herself. Also Skimble jumped in between griz and silly and he Hissed at sillabub and I think that’s just a bit much, Skimble, shes a KITTEN. Kelliann is an incredible Grizabella, and griz and munk clearly have a History because the way they were staring each other down . hoo boy.

Bustopher Jones: I enjoyed watching munk scare Mungorump off the stage (which I assume is why then then decide to go steal things) but then I noticed tugger and I lost interest in Bustopher. Tugger tried getting the attention of some of the queens (only one I can remember is Victoria) and got upset when they ignored him . he tried a few more times and then just , animatedly watched the rest of the performance when he realized that no one was gonna pay attention to him. Oh as I was typing this I remembered that at the start of the song he walked out and expected applause and was annoyed he didn’t get any.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer: the chemistry between max and kelly is incredible. Max is honestly top two mungos for me. That’s really all I have to say about this song because I feel like Mungorump is a song that speaks for itself . its just so good

Old Deuteronomy: Munkustrap was visibly surprised when tugger started singing, like he opened his mouth to start singing and then heard a voice that wasn’t his and was like “wait what?” also the wait for old deut to finally appear on stage is kinda awkward when hes not walking down to the stage and is just .. off-stage

The Jellicle Ball: plato and victoria are so fucking cute, top tier couple . also I, an Asexual TM, really love how the “sensuals” part right before the white cat lift is seemingly 100% platonic for all of the couples, like its obviously not meant to be read as a Cat Orgy like some other productions are. finally ,,, Misto controlling the lights is perfection and id die for him .

Memory: kelliann has an amazing voice and you can just feel her hurt/anger/sadness . I feel like every version of this part is the same and theres not much more I can say other than kelliann is like . top 3 grizs for me

[jellicle-jemmy]

Here is part 2 of my CATS (2019) thoughts that I wrote when I watched the movie for the first time 2 years ago!

Beautiful Ghosts

Francesca you’re doing wonderful sweetie

You’re obviously not a trained singer, but for the purpose of your character’s plot point and reason to be singing it fits so perfectly

Though the arc of beloning with the jellicles came too fast and too soon in the film

She should’ve sung verse 1, chorus, verse 2 and maybe another chorus now and then the bridge later in the film

Moments of Happiness

Judi Dench no

Bring in Syllabub

That is all

Dialogue Interlude

Okay I didn’t mind this bit

However Victoria had already had the arc that she belongs with the Jellicles so her apprehension didn’t make sense

Gus The Theatre Cat

Does ALW suddenly have something against duets?

God Bless Ian McKellen but this number was really quite bleh

I did notice Skimbles putting his tap shoes on side stage

Would’ve been cuter if Misto did the duet with him

Magic Misto boy was cute at the end tho

WHY SO MUCH YOWLING THO??!!

That “I could do it again” comment was a nice nod though

I’m still not entirely sure how Macavity makes Gus disappear but alright then

Skimbleshanks

This is another number that I really enjoyed

Munkymoo again ur doing so good

Also ur little duet with your daughter syllabub - I saw that and I loved it

Tap dancing skimbles is not something i thought i’d like, but I did really like it

It was a really fun number

How they got to the traintracks, idk but ya know what who cares

Thinking about it now, the transition from the tracks to carriage, I’m just imagining like several minutes of awkward silence as they all shuffle onto a carriage and then “5, 6, 7, 8-″ and the number continues

Plato and Socrates being the guard asking about the tea was adorable

It took everything in me to not shout “WEAK OR STRONG”

Also not totally hating on Skimbles redesign

Deadass though, 2019!Skimbles X 2019! Jenny wouldn’t work

But yeah this is a fun number

OKAY NOW SKIMBLES IS A FAIRY FLYER OKAY THEN

He Jay Jay Jetplaned right up there huh

All the other kidnapping, Macavity put actual effort, but Skimbles just went fwoop fwoop fwoop up into the sky

Macavity The Mystery Cat

Okay

Okay then

Here we go

Taylor Swift

This number would actually be good if the CGI didn’t look appalling and Taylor Swift wasn’t singing like that

It’s so breathy and weak wtf

Are you trying to be sexy? That ain’t sexy hun. That ain’t it cheif

Low key want a bedazzled thing that says catnip ngl

This choreography is really.... somethin’

Honestly, the best thing about this number was the cinema’s horrified gasps when nakey nakey macavity showed up

Listen listen, mac’s appearance wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t look like he had oil on him, rather than fur!! longer fur please i beg of you

shortest short hair in the history of the world

ALSO DRUGGING OF THE CATS

WTF

The catnip looks like fireflies from hell

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer being Bomba’s assistants? Gold. Love it

Why didn’t you do more with Griddlebone? Why didn’t you do more with Griddlebone?!

I never needed to see Taylor Swift and Oiled Up Idris Elba as cats dancing, let alone up a staircase straight from a 1940′s Broadway Musical

Kidnapping Interlude

Dooch (Old Doot Dench) really just said “access denied”

“I judge a cat on his soul” “he has soul!” “i’ve got plenty of soul”

The way that Lonz (???) and Munk all but flying over to M&R - fuckig superb you funky protectors

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer you wonderful chaotic dumbasses what did you think was going to happen

All of the contestants tied up? Yeah okay. Skimbles looks like he’s suffocating and everyone else is just fine with it I guess?

“Walk the plank”

Magical Mr Mistofelees

In case y’all haven’t heard, Laurie Davidson aka Mr Mistofelees is babey

Who is biting on Misto’s hat?

Also Syllabub you are so into this and I love it!

I’m about to say something controversial please don’t come for me - I think it worked that Munk and Misto were singing Mr Mistofelees

Who needs a hype man when you’ve got the Jellicle Tribe?

Cass’ face is a mood and a half and I high key want a gif of it

Victoria’s faith in him is beautiful

Oh no I’m shipping them

oh no

that wasn’t part of the plan

Syllabub you are literally the most fascinated out of the whole group and I adore you so damn much

The summoning attempts went on maybe a little bit too long and there wasn’t as much theatrics about as I had hoped

The happiness on the Jellicles faces is wholesome as heck though - especially Munk and also Tugger

And then misto flew and honestly I am so proud of him

He is my son! Look at my son go!

Also the ending bit with Vic and Misto dancing together in the middle for some reason gave me flashbacks to the end of the Greatest Showman

But very cute

Memory (Reprise)

Let’s first of all address the elephant in the room: I am still furious that they gave Syllabub/Jemima’s roles to Victoria and that definitely showed while I was watching it BUT-

I don’t think it would’ve worked in the film if Syllabub sang those bits

Syllabub works in the show, not the movie

Ummmm why is Victoria touching Griz before the “touch me” line???

Everyone’s - especially Munk’s - distaste for Griz as Vic leads her in was just really good and I liked it

The reprise is better than the original

The way that Cassandra’s expressions and actions change, especially during this number really makes it seem like she is the daughter of Griz and deadass I’m here for it

Still mad about Syllabub’s not getting to sing her but but it’s fiiiiiiine i guessss

Also there is a shot of Syllabub and Demeter together somewhere during this scene and I 1) don’t care that they don’t look anything alike and 2) don’t know who I have to sell my soul to but I will find it and treasure it

MUNK CRYING HURT MY SOUL AND HEART OF HEARTS

THAT’S NOT OKAY

NOT AT ALL

MY HEART IS ACHING

Macavity Battle

What the heck is this? It’s epic music that our pal Munkystripes uses to fight Mr Macaroni but it’s... a comedy?

“Don’t mess with the crazy cat lady” Rebel why

Also why did jenny unzip herself again i didn’t like it the first time, why is it even worse in the second but

oop Macavity’s not there

Ahh the use of the Firefrorefiddle line to scare Growltiger off, I genuinely adore

Journey to the Heaviside Layer

Ughh those harmonies always get me going

Again I am all eyes on Sillabub

I wondered how they were going to do the ascension into the heaviside layer

Not like that

Not like that

Chandelier and hot air balloon............oooookay then

All the cats on the lion being happy to see their kidnapped pals was genuinely sweet

Also Syllabub got to stand with all like the other named cats, and not with the ensemble which makes my heart happy

Macavity wtf

The Addressing of Cats

God, I really do ship Mistoria in this film huh? Was the plotline rushed? Yes. Does my hopeless romantic heart care? Nope!

Dooch really just went 😐 huh

I hate it

No

Nope.

The adressing of cats should be a final part of the ceremony not a fucking fourth wall break jesus christ

Okay, but Munk’s reaction when Dooch started talking about food

hhhhh Babey

Though if Dooch could stop staring into my soul, that’d be appreciated

“I believe you are a Jellicle Cat - a dear little cat”

I liked that line for two reasons. 1) It is a nod to the origin to the phrase “Jellicle cat”. 2) It makes me think that that is the only true qualifications to be a Jellicle, making Victoria undoubtedly a Jellicle because have you seen her??

Was that final shot of the balloon necessary?

[simptasia]

Cats 2019 😌

Oh, thank you, I’m gonna gush about this movie without even a DROP of that “i knoooow it’s bad” stuff, y’all know that I know. Okay maybe a few drops sneak in, in a back handed way, but MOSTLY this is me gushing and fawning

For context, since i’m putting this in the tag, the prompt was this was somebody gives me a topic and I respond with what i like about it. Like, the opposite of that “send me a thing and i’ll tell you what i hate about it” one

sometimes, like half the time, the CGI actually slaps. like, the close ups are amazing. proper look at some of these cats and it’s like, wow

mr. mistoffelees is precious. he’s my favourite and he’s adorable and his song makes me cry! specifically the bit where old deut is back and it cuts to his happy “oh my gosh i did it” face. triumphant! heck, i just like that whole song, as like the character thing that it is. and yeah anyways, misto is a cutie pie, he’s so shy and awkward and nervous, i wuv him uwuwu

misto is my fave but munkustrap is actually the best character in this movie. i cannot gush enough about robbie fairchild’s acting, singing and dancing in this. he is the backbone of this movie and i adore him! there’s a reason i’ve reblogged a bagillion gifsets of him being so expressionate, he’s so good! you can tell robbie loves being a part of this. and like, very often munku will absolutely be the best aspect of a scene

plus he’s beautiful too. munku, misto, victoria. beautiful kitties

now that i’ve adjusted to the art style, i find these kitties adorable. i love the ears and tails, they make me happy. i like how misto’s tail curls and the movement of everybody’s ears

i really like the music, shoulda mentioned that first. like, when its good, its really good. memory is of course a powerhouse. skimbleshanks is the movie’s highlight, so fucking good. i like mr. misto’s song, fight me. jellicle cats is a fucking bop. rumpleteazer & mungojerrie, I Just Like It. robbie’s performance in... well the whole movie... but also in old deuteronomy is beautiful and soothing. i’ve actually gotten every song in this stuck in my head.... SKIIIIIMBLEEEESHAAAANKS THE RAAAAILWAAAY CAT

legit, making that number include tap dancing was an actual stroke of genius and i cannot praise steven mcrae enough. whomst is also australian, im so proud. i also like skimble’s pants

OH ALSO regarding the music, another thing i love about this movie is that it introduced me to the concept of this musical. i never had any exposure to cats the musical before this movie happened. all i knew before was a couple of references i saw and i had heard memory. but i didn’t know that memory was from cats. and like, think of all the great songs i wouldn’t be aware of if this movie never happened. i’ve also, by extension, become enamoured with the 1998 version of cats too. because of this! i wouldn’t have had a reason to care before! i had no interest! so besides the fact that i actually do like this movie, there’s that

this is true of the stage musical thing, but a lot of cute and fun character moments are gleaned from like background stuff and facial expressions, that sorta thing and i find it really fun to notice stuff (or see somebody else point stuff out). like it’s all very simple but still with some depth, ya know?

the dancing in this is so good. so so good. especially munku because his actor is a magnificent dancer. it’s also funny and cute how misto clearly isn’t as good a dancer as everybody else, so they have him doing clumsy doofy stuff in the background. but im not insulting laurie davidson’s dancing, he’s actually good considering he had to learn for this movie. i just have to praise the dancing in this movie because i’ve seen people say that “the dancing isn’t impressive in this movie because it’s CGI” and i WILL EAT YOU WHOLE. no n no no people HAVE to know that the actors are actually doing that. robbie and francesca are professional ballet dancers, most of the people in this are. the movements are real, they just painstakingly overlayed CGI cat stuff over it. the stuff that isn’t real is like, stuff humans can’t do, like the big fuck off leaps, they used wires for that

Rumpleteazer’s Lesbian Energy Is Palpable

Munkustrap’s Chemistry With Everybody Is Stunning

victoria, misto and munku are OT3 and they’re bicons in my heart

oh i already mentioned the music but i just wanna say i think beautiful ghosts is a lovely song/motif/character thing. i haven’t mentioned victoria much, i think she’s rather sweet in a like endearingly dumb way. and her singing and dancing is, of course, lovely

the sets are practical, they built that! bruh

i have to give my respect to the poor overworked effects artists who worked on this movie. they were pushed so hard and for so long and i think they did a great job and they don’t deserve even a drop of the scorn they have received

i love misto’s jacket, it’s so good. and the pencil as a wand is clever!

the last scene is refered to as a living hell by a lot of people but i love it because just. watch munku’s face the whole time. so good. just watch munkustrap, he makes everything better

ooh on that note, i like how they made it so munk lives in a flat thats literally right by the junkyard. i find that a nice touch and fitting

i like the nuzzles <3 (furthermore i love how misto is so much taller than victoria so he has to bend down so far for a couple of those nuzzles)

i dunno, you can tell most of the people doing this were like really into it, like really loved doing this movie. like these performances are good, y’all! and like, these cats come across as so happy to hanging out and dancing and being together (for the most part, there is bickering and... cattiness too) that it’s like infectious. it makes me smile!

and there’s like a bagillion little things here and there that i like, like my list could go on even more. for example, shout out to that one cat that kept smiling when skimble was spinning upwards into the air (due to being kidnapped) probably under the assumption that skimble can just fucking do that djksakjdsa

so yeah i can’t exactly call this a Good Movie but i can genuinely call it a movie i enjoy, that i adore even, because i’ve never liked anything ironically in my life! also im autistic and this has become my special interest, so choo choo, this trains a chugging. i’m having a lot of fun, and i think that’s good enough

and i feel like it’s already on it’s way to becoming the world’s most expensive cult classic. like, friends getting together and watching it and having a good time, for one reason or another. and i like that. i hope in like 5 to 10 years time, people are gonna be endeared and nostalgic for cats 2019, cuz that’d be neat

[synnefo-nefeli]

Ace Attorney Head Canons: The Theater Kids

It’s canon that Phoenix was an Art Major - most people assume he was a fine arts major...but it’s been said in interviews that Phoenix was actually studying Theater. His interest being Shakespeare’s works for the soliloquies and the dramatic posing.

Which I love immensely because people naturally want to make Miles the snooty cultured partner in the relationship - but actually, it’s Phoenix.  Miles *likes* the theater but he’s only really interested in mainstream Broadway and opera and stage plays of his favorite animes (he collects the box sets). He doesn’t really seek it out unless Phoenix, Trucy, or Fran makes a fuss over going.

Phoenix is the one who drags Miles to the obscure stage plays, the one-person shows, the Operas that aren’t Carmen or the Magic Flute, and makes Miles buy them season tickets to their local theater house for his birthday gift.  

The fact that people think that he’s the less cultured of the pair when it comes to them showing up the Performing Arts Center’s season openings, amuses Phoenix greatly.   

It’s also the reason why he’s super supportive of Trucy’s magic career - Phoenix wanted to be a performer himself before he decided to become a lawyer.

Despite his love for musical theater, Phoenix can’t sing well.  So in High School Drama club he would do Tech Theater when the club but on a musical, and act in the stage plays.

Phoenix's tech theater knowledge comes in handy with Trucy’s shows.  I imaging to save money when Phoenix's primary income was from his card-shark days - Phoenix can man the lighting booth during her performances and help her rig something up to make her shows more exciting,

You know who else is also a former theater kid?

Klavier.  (big surprise)  

When he wasn’t fast-tracking his way through Themis, getting his badge at 17, and starting an internationally acclaimed rock-group, Klavier preformed in a lot of Themis’ musicals and in the local community plays.

Being the son of the parents who produced, Kristoph, Klavier grew up going to Theater events, Operas, etc. .  So Klavier couldn’t not be a theater-kid, especially with his penitent for performing 

You know isn’t a theater kid? Apollo.

So essentially Klavier and Phoenix bond over this - much to Apollo and Miles’ sometimes irritation. Normally they don’t mind, because it’s nice to have their partners actually bonding over something that they themselves just enjoy for their partners’ love of it. 

However sometimes it gets to the point where Miles and Apollo will ride together separately from Phoenix and Klavier because they don’t want to hear the pair of them attempt to sing every part from “One Day More” from Les Mis.  

Or during game nights, where they play Encore, Miles will ban any card with Broadway prompts, because it essentially goes down to Klavier and Phoenix in an endless cycle of who can come up with the most obscure musical lyric to fit the parameters of the prompt, while everyone else just sits for 30-odd mins watching.

But there are times when Miles and Apollo do enjoy their Theater Nerds because yeah, you do learn some interesting things and you see a lot more plays that aren’t the instant-ticket sells outs.

Once, Apollo and Miles made the mistake of asking “What *is* Cats, even?” and Phoenix and Klavier were this odd mix of “Oh yay! We can tell you” and “Oh god...why”...and “Do you want to proceed down this path, because there’s no turning back...we love you both but we need to know that you really want to do this.”

K:  Andrew Llyod Webber decided to adapt a bunch of children’s poems by T.S. Elliott...it’s literally about cats in a junkyard...being cats on a magical holy day of their tribe.

Phoenix: It’s play meant to really show off the physicality of it’s dancers...one of the sequences is a 10-min straight dance-

K: That scene is a cat orgy.

A&M:  A WHAT?

Phoenix: Well, you know...they’re cats... and a bunch of them are going through their first heats.The whole point of them meeting is to sing, dance, mate, and converge to make a choice for the tribe.

M: And this is one of Broadway’s longest running plays?

K: Yup.  

M: So what’s the story?

Phoenix:  I can tell it badly, and yet I won’t be wrong: A bunch of Cats preform American Idol for their leader to see who gets to go to space in order to be reborn.

A:...

K: He’s not wrong.

Apollo: oh god, my bracelet didn’t even move during Mr. Wright’s statements.

P:  Oh yeah, it’s the play where “Memory” is from.

M: Are you kidding me?

P/K: No.

K: I was Busterfer Jones and Gus in my school productions.

P: What, no “Rum Tum Tugger” for you?

K: Nein, I may be able to sing and act, Herr Wright- but I am no ballerino...also Tugger was severely neutered in the High School productions-Besides... only John Partridge is allowed to play Tugger.

P: Ah yeah, that 1998 stage movie made me realize some things about myself...

K: Same.  I don’t know why mein parents thought it was appropriate for me- I watched it non-stop when I was four. My tape was worn around Tugger and Mister Misto.

Miles: Is this some sort of joke? None of this can be real.

P: Unfortunately it is real, and we can pull it up for you to watch online right now

A: I don’t know...

K: Nein...the trainwreck is happening, so you must witness it.  Also I want to watch the Skimbleshanks sequence.

P: I love Skimbles...

A to Miles: I stg they’re trolling us.

*Phoenix and Klavier are already down the hall heading for the TV room* : “SKIM-BALL-SHANKS the RAILway CAT- THE CAT OF THE RAIL WAY TRAIIIIIN”

Miles and Apollo are totally unprepared for what they soon witness, and both tell Klavier and Phoenix that they just had a collective fever-dream.

Klavier is later vindicated when he hears Apollo quietly singing “Magical Mr. Mistofeles” to himself; they do sing it together in the privacy in their own home after Apollo’s made Klavier swear to never video them doing so.

[uppastthejelliclemoon]

Uppast's Cats Tour Comments: Act 2

act 2 for my tour comments! this finishes the show, though i'll make another one or two posts about specific characters!

Moments of Happiness

Deut just... walked out with about 5 minutes left to intermission, and it was the best. I got some good Deut pictures because of that!

Coricopat and Tantomile greeting Cassandra was precious

I definitely get the vibes that Coricopat and Tantomile are Deuteronomy's "advisors" or something like that, because they're ALWAYS around him.

Ugh, Brianna has SUCH a sweet voice for Sillabub.

Tugger laying on the oven, he likes being tall 😌

The part where they all jump up and stand frozen??? Chills, literal chills.

Gus the Theater Cat/Pekes and Pollicles

The babies love storytime with Gus!!!

Plato was sitting behind the Kitten Squad, and I got massive big brother vibes from him, he just needs to make sure they aren't getting into trouble!

Demeter and BOmbalurina were on either side of Old Deuteronomy with Munkustrap standing behind them, and Mistoffelees was sitting on the pipe!! Family photo!

Tugger's still on the oven, i love it.

I love Kayli as Jellylorum! She's got the mothering personality down perfectly!

John is SUCH a great Gus, I love how dramatic he got.

Tugger and Mistoffelees exchanging a look and having an exchange with one another during the song, i love them.

OH OH SO once Munkustrap leaves to take over "Pekes and the Pollicles", Tugger goes to sit with Old Deuteronomy. He is literally having SO MUCH FUN during the play, he and Old Deut are so proud of Munkustrap.

ALSO DEUT WAS GROOMING TUGGER'S FUR HE'S SUCH A GOOD DAD

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat

First off, Christopher is Skimbleshanks. Just... he's Skimbleshanks.

Okay, so Skimbleshanks waved to Jennyanydots because she was up on the scaffolding watching, and my heart exploded.

Tugger was having the time of his life. He didn't steal the spotlight, but there was one moment where he was straight up headbanging and I couldn't stop laughing.

Christopher's mannerisms as Skimbleshanks were just perfect! He got the Skimble vibe down!

Tumblebrutus being blown away by Skimble's glass green eyes, RIP Tumble

Macavity/Macavity Fight

OHHHHHHHHHH HERE WE GO

Macavity costume? Perfection, no one can tell me otherwise.

As soon as Macavity showed up, Munkustrap IMMEDIATELY went to shield Demeter from him. He had his back to Macavity and everything, and was looking down at her making sure she was okay.

Macavity attacked Munkustrap before kidnapping Old Deut, and the positions changed! Demeter crouched over Munkustrap, and Bombalurina and a few other cats went to check on him as Macavity left.

Lauren and Chelsea's vocals AGAIN!! Lauren's Demeter was perfect, she was bitter, a little reminiscent, but you could TELL there was very bad blood between Demeter and Macavity. Chelsea was such a good jaded Bombalurina, and their dynamic was amazing.

I love the idea of Sillabub being the youngest at the Ball, so she has to be shown what to do, follow the leader style, so she was the last queen to join the Macavity dance!

So I don't think we were meant to see, but right after "Macavity the Mystery Cat" ends, Macavity sneaks past Munkustrap to stand amongst the queens, most likely to surprise them. But I really love the idea of Macavity using his magic to surprise everyone by just appearing.

HOOOOOOOOOOOO BOY THE FIGHT

THE MUSIC

THE CHOREOGRAPHY

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCENES IN THE SHOW

Everyone has their choreography, and Demeter was the ONLY one who wasn't in unison. She was crouching on the edge of the stage, watching the fight, and it was SO well done.

Also the Fake Macavity (while Macavity in the Deut Suit... haha) had a Macavity mask that was actually kind of terrifying.

Mr. Mistoffelees

SOFT DEMESTRAP SOFT DEMESTRAP SOFT DEMESTRAP

Okay, but I ADORED the way they included the "Don't scoff" line. Tugger begins introducing Mistoffelees, everyone's kind of like "this isn't going to work", and they all start to leave the stage, and THEN Tugger says the line, almost pleading, and everyone's still a little hesitant but they listen.

Munkustrap wasn't very sure, but he listened

Zach is such a perfect Tugger (y'all i'm going to have a WHOLE post on him), and he and Paul just played off of each other so perfectly!

During the little mirror dance at the beginning of the number, Tugger just started doing his own thing, and it was the cutest, dorkiest thing.

They did sort of a strobe light thing, where the lights went off and on for like a second, and every time the lights went on Mistoffelees was in a different position, and it was great.

I love Cassandra's light-up costume!! And Tugger got so excited when she changed colors!!

I just really enjoy the lighting during this scene, it always makes me happy.

OKAY OKAY OKAY

SO

RIGHT AFTER MISTOFFELEES BRINGS BACK DEUT AND RIGHT BEFORE THEY DO THE LINE THING WITH THE HOLDING HANDS

TUGGER AND MISTOFFELEES DO A LITTLE SHIMMY (THE FUR SHIMMY THAT TUGGER DOES) AND IT'S VERY CUTE YES

BUT THEN THEY NUZZLE

LIKE FULL ON, NUZZLE THE FUR ON THE HEAD AND THE MANE

ADKJGABDVKSLDB GOODBYE

Anyways, Paul is such a perfect Mistoffelees, 10/10 would want to rescue me from an insane magical cat.

Memory (Reprise)

Everyone's touching each other right before, like reassuring each other, it was so sweet

Sillabub is tall!!! She's adorable!!

Everyone's turned away from Grizabella except for Deuteronomy, Munkustrap, Victoria, and Tumblebrutus!

Tumblebrutus looked SO nervous, but he didn't stop looking at Grizabella until she made eye contact with him. Then he looked down, but he looked back up. After that, everyone started to turn!

Taylor's voice is OTHERWORLDLY WOW

her emotion is just spot-on

"Touch Me" made me cry, as it always does

It looked like she was walking towards Tumblebrutus, but then she paused and reached behind her for Victoria! Tumblebrutus was the second one to touch her though!

Journey to the Heaviside Layer

Grizabella being accepted by everyone!!!

Old Deuteronomy, Coricopat, and Tantomile bowed to her!

Before they got on the tire, Grizabella held her tail, almost like a security thing T_T

For a hot second I couldn't breathe because of the fog machine, I was fine though

They didn't do the harness, which I was super happy about! They brought back the shiny Fancy Stairs, and that was SO cool.

The tire still flew, but the stairs came straight out, and then Grizabella stepped on and went offstage.

Ad-Dressing of Cats

I do have to say, this has never been my FAVORITE number.

I do really love seeing all the cats lined up though!!

Everyone's reactions to the food mentions were great, you could tell that they really thought about how they'd react.