heyyesimtrash-whatofit

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

I’ve realized now that I’ve never actually went into depth abt my fix it AU: “Monty’s Grand Apology Extravaganza.”

And I’m officially moved in now so-

A timeline of Monty’s Grand Apology Extravaganza

The Events of the musical up to Glitzy Finale happen. The confrontation, the tenseness, the celebration- that doesn’t change.

The gang gets separated again. Off to their respective places and departments, without talking much.

Monty tries to pretend the whole deal with the script never happened. He tries to talk to Jean and Charles and Hester as if he didn’t shatter their trust. In return, for one of the first times, he gets the cold shoulder - truly the cold shoulder - and can’t shake it. He’s unsure why, so he pushes it down.

It starts to wear on him though. His fuse gets shorter and he jokes less. People notice but no one dares bring it up. Doing so will just get you snapped at

People try and ask all members of team mince what happened. They all dodge in their own ways.

They continue to work, obviously, there’s a war still going on, but things are tense around all of them. That is until Charles starts to fall back in with the typing pool girls, who take a liking to him after seeing him bounce ideas with Jean just for fun.

And that upsets Monty. Not that they’re getting along, that’s great, but because they’re doing fine while hes struggling. Sure it’s his doing, but he won’t admit that yet.

Then the whole deal with Jean happens. (That’s a link. Click to read) and Monty gets one hell of a reality check.

It takes him a total of nine months post Mincemeat filled with drinking and angry snapping and dodging Fleming who keeps going on about his stupid novels and eventually Hester dragging him into his office alone but he does apologize to the gang.

Sure, first he breaks down in front of Hester - having no clue Charles and Jean are watching - and spills all his fears that would’ve drowned him if it wasn’t for his forced optimism throughout the mission, but he does apologize and that’s the first step.

It takes more than just an apology tho. Sure, they start talking again, but people still catch the small things. The guarded fear Monty can’t hide when he finds someone looking for something on his desk, the way Jean is too quiet, the way Charles still sticks to the shadows and Hester buries herself in work. Those don’t go away fast

Hester is the first to offer an olive branch, in the form of a setup for a joke. While prepping outside a meeting room, Monty comes running, almost late (and apparently making an effort to be punctual), and she asks if Bevan sent the hounds after him finally. Monty takes a moment to make sure he heard her correctly before laughing softly and straightening himself out

Jean is next, but a while after Hester. She’s called into a meeting with him one day and after he spouts some half assed idea she’s caught mumbling a teasing comment under her breath (smth along the lines of “that another idea that seemed too good for the silver screen?”). She, already scared out of her mind after the whole slap ordeal, starts apologizing rapidly until Monty hushes her with a hand. Then he starts to laugh. Genuinely. He tells her that no, this particular idea would make a rather terrible film, and thanks her for keeping him on his toes once again. Jean walks a little taller and speaks a little louder after that

Charles is last, having been hit arguably the hardest by Monty (although Jean is rather close behind him). It takes him hearing Monty praise him and even fight for him to multiple colleagues without knowing he was the there and one very tearful time when he did notice for it to click that Monty was serious. Also the fact that he damn near bit some poor man from military deception’s head off helped a bit. Monty is already apologizing, the time that he’s caught, for calling Charles a genius again but he really does mean it- and Charles says it’s fine. He’s teary eyed, but smiling, and they both walk away a little lighter that day

The changes are slow, but the four can’t be kept from each other forever. They work too well as a team and always seem to jump to the other’s defense if need be - even if they don’t know what for - so they eventually get reassigned together on another project. Better than trying to make a ton of others try and understand their particular brand of weird

And ofc, I know it’s not historically accurate, but I could see Monty joining the fight to get Jean a rank. She is smart. He knows this. She can go toe to toe with him in any meeting and neither of them will get bored. That’s big for him. If she can do what Eton boys can’t, why shouldn’t she have a rank?

They all support each other, rather loyally too. Everyone knows better than to mess with the basement dwellers of MI5

And I think that’s about it.

I’ve wanted to ramble about this au for a while but I have been super busy packing and all that so I’m glad I could finally put this out there. Hopefully I’ll have some art coming soon.

Hope you enjoyed!

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

I wonder how annoying Fleming (THE CHARACTER, NOT THE ACTUAL PERSON) was when James Bond as a series absolutely TOOK OFF

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

AHHHHHH OMG GUYS EVERYONE GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW ITS SO SILLY

OP- AMAZING JOB

I have just finished writing a fic, would be very happy if you went and gave it a read :3

It's based on the wonderful @heyyesimtrash-whatofit's fanart which can be found here:

Please go and give love to it :))

Also ignore that my AO3 is currently woefully devoid of Oppo fics, I've got something deep in the works that I really hope I can manage to finish and post guys trust 💪💪

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

any head canons for Willie Watkins?

Hmm, can’t say I’ve thought too much abt the silly man, which is a shame really, but over the past two days I have come up with this short silly little list

Note: OP has never left the US of A so far as of writing this so she’s got the internet to go off of and is trying her best 🥲

Hope u enjoy :)

Bro is so serious in his uses of phrases like “Geez Louise!” And whatnot. Like it’s not at all meant to be funny, that’s just how he is

He also always has a new one he’s using. Somehow. Always smth new in his vocab

I know bro is written to be your “typical American” in the eyes of the rest of the world, but there are a few aspects of that which i genuinely do connect to his character

He is extremely kind. Like overly so. I’ve heard a lot of Brits online mention how it’s almost unnerving how just- friendly and open Americans can be and I fully believe that applies to Willie. Bros here for a good time

He’s also…just a tad thick when it comes to European customs. This was before the time of the internet so the cultural disconnect was even larger. He has to be reminded quite often that certain things that are commonplace in the states aren’t necessarily the norm overseas

Speaking of reminders, I think most of them come from Hasselden(I think that’s how you spell it???) unironically. That is to say, I think the two of them became friends of some sort once Willie washed up in Spain.

It would make sense. Hasselden was stressed out of his mind trying to get those documents stolen and a friendly face was something he desperately needed. Then bam, fate drops this loud, overly friendly, very optimistic American right in front of him fresh out of the sea

They become quite the pair, those two. It’s like when families have two dogs where one is so obviously filled with anxiety and is always shaking and the other is the dumbest yet sweetest thing

Willie forgets a lot that he’s now in Spain and that his new friend(s) do not, in fact, use the imperial system for measuring things

I think he gets very used to the weather very fast. Going off of the constant fun poking by Americans at Europe for calling 85°F (around 29/30°C) hot, I think it’s safe for me to assume that the US, particularly the south, gets much hotter than Europe. For that reason, Willie adapts to the Spain heat quite well while Hassleden has a bit of a harder time

Willie is DETERMINED to bring his new friend(s) to the grand ol US of A at least once after the war ends. In return, Hasselden brings him to Britain the next time he visits

On their way there, Willie asks why they don’t just drive. Sure, 22 hours is a bit long, but not too bad. He’s driven worse. Hasselden is horrified by the concept that he’s driven longer trips

Speaking of going to Britain, the Mince crew are in for quite the treat when the pilot that damn near derailed their entire plan shows up grinning next to Hasselden

Charles damn near gets his hand crushed and the wind knocked out of him when Hasselden points him out as the one to come up with the plan in the first place

I think he earns points with Jean rather fast. That is to say when he hears about how she and Hester put in as much work as Monty and Charlie he praises them right there, in the middle of MI5, as equals. Just this loud, very American, lowkey kinda himbo energy giving man going “well of course they did as much work! It’s always all hands on deck when it comes to defending what’s right, you know. Man or woman, everyone should get to help if they want to!”

I lowkey think he’d accidentally be really in favor of equal work opportunity’s and whatnot for women. Sure, it stems from the “all hands on deck!” Mentality of wartime propaganda, but I don’t think he ever got the message that women were supposed to stop after the war.

Bro saw how effective everything could be if everyone could work and help and said “well why isn’t this what we do all the time???”

Anyway, accidental feminism gains him points in Jean’s book. Girl is grinning at the praise

Knew a bit of Spanish before crashing, got real good at it after

And I think that’s it for now. Hope you enjoyed and that this was as entertaining for you to read as it was for me to imagine and write lol

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

I’m afraid the Operation Mincemeat binge listen to James Bond binge watch pipeline is VERY real for this idiot

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

I know in most of my hc spams I mention how Monty’s tendency to be misogynistic has “gotten better” but I never really elaborate on that and I want to because yeah, he’s….hes like terrible to Jean in the show. So without further ado:

How Jean Leslie single-handedly smacked the misogyny out of one (1) Ewen Montagu, literally and figuratively.

As usual, this pertains to the CHARACTERS. Not the real ppl.

Let me start off by saying it was not easy. Not in the slightest. When you’ve got someone like Monty who’s misogynistic tendencies are so deep rooted in him that he doesn’t even flinch when utilizing women’s lack-of-rights against them it’s not going to be. However, I firmly believe that if anyone could do it, it would be Jean.

Not only does she know how to play into Monty’s ego in just the right way, as seen in Act as If, but she also can play the similarities card with him. They’re both loud, proud, and charismatic. Her only difference is that she’s a woman, which doesn’t even mean all that because personally I think she could pack a punch.

So already she’s got two cards in her deck. Sick. But you know what else she has that Monty doesn’t that also happens to be considered dangerous? Feminine rage. And THATS how I think she finally managed to flip the switch in Monty’s head.

Picture the scene for me: it’s been a few weeks since the mission ended and Jean still isn’t over the shit he pulled. Hester tells her to drop it daily but she won’t, she can’t. He was so cruel and now just wants to act like nothing happened? Screw that. So she’s cold with him, much like Charles is also doing right now. They talk, having both been manipulated rather deep by Monty, and form a little alliance.

Unlike Charles, who’s very well adapt at simply disappearing making him extremely hard for Monty to catch, Jean is eventually cornered. Monty tries the same shit to get her to listen to him but she calls him on it immediately. When he scoffs at her still being wound up about that she snaps. The playing field suddenly feels rather level to her and she’s up in his face before she can think to stop it.

She lays out the facts clear as day for him: how she’s sick of being treated as less for her gender, how using her desire to climb higher against her was sick, how he should be utterly ashamed that he weaponized her dreams against her, how stupid she felt for actually thinking she had a chance, how Charles - “his dear genius” - felt the same damn way, and more. He tries to cut in multiple times but is unsuccessful. Eventually he tries to grab Jean’s arm when she turns to leave and Jean, already in a bit of fight or flight due to being cornered by a man who clearly won’t listen to her, slaps him. Hard.

Which doesn’t go well. She panics, basically immediately, stumbles out an apology and, again without thinking, a bite about seeing him at her termination meeting, and then runs. Hester finds her having a panic attack in a closet.

Now, don’t get me wrong here, Monty considers going to the higher ups about that. For a long time. For some reason he doesn’t, even when he tells himself that he will, but he definitely sits on it. What tilts his perspective is when he passes the typing pool’s little kitchen one day and hears one of the girls talking to Charles. She’s telling him about what happened and how terrified Jean’s been since, which he thinks is good, when Charles’ response strikes him almost as hard as Jean’s slap did: “Well, someone had to do it. Unfortunate that Jean broke first, but he deserved it.”

He deserved it.

That gets Monty thinking. Really thinking about everything that’s happened since the start of Mincemeat. He turns everything over, putting himself in the shoes of each member of the team and slowly coming to the realization that he’s been just a bit of a massive douchebag. But does he do anything?

No. It takes him nine months and being cornered by Hester to even start finding the right words to say (cue installation one of “Monty’s Great Apology Extravaganza” because it’s gonna take more than one apology to fix what he did) but he does get there. Sure, Jean lives in utter fear of her job for nine months and gets very very quiet because of it - something Monty still kicks himself for because she was quite bright - but she eventually bounces back, especially with Monty’s genuine backing (although it takes him a whole lot of work to prove he’s being genuine there too).

Suddenly Monty’s name is back in the gossip of the typing pool. Although this time it’s not because Jean smack the life out of him, but rather because Jean’s been called to meetings with him so often as a brain to rival his and keep him in check they’re starting to wonder if she’ll somehow walk in with a rank one day

(Unrealistic as hell, but this is my hc and I do what I want and I say Jean should get herself a rank)

ALSO

If you wanna throw in the lovely trans Monty hc as well, that just makes this whole thing worse! Because Jean’s rant hits closer than she knows with Monty knowing what she’s been through and having the horrifying realization that he inflicted on her what used to (and still does) break him.

TL:DR - Monty tries to brush the whole misogyny thing under the rug and Jean gets so mad she smacks some sense into him, literally and figuratively.

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Dead in the Water - An Operation Mincemeat Animatic

GUYS ITS DONEEEEEEEE

(Feel free to show this some love on my YouTube as well - @that_1_art_account)

After weeks of work - including but not limited to sketching, more sketching, staring at pictures of David Cumming from different angles in costume, drawing Charles a bajillion times, and listening to this song so many times that I can now hear it without actually playing it - it’s finally done. My biggest piece for Operation Mincemeat yet: an animatic. And here I thought the character singles was gonna take that title. How foolish I was 😅

In all seriousness though, I’m so very proud of this project. My editing skills have greatly improved since my last one (or so I like to think) and I can no longer look at this project without my heart palpitating out of pride. This musical has taken over my brain, as you all know by now, and I’m so happy I was able to do something like this for it. I hope you guys enjoy it 💛🖤

As per usual, don’t repost without giving me credit please. I worked too hard on this for too long to not get credited 😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏

Until we meet again!!!!

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Dead in the Water - An Operation Mincemeat Animatic

ITS DONE GUYSSSSSSSSSSS

After weeks of work - including but not limited to sketching, more sketching, staring at pictures of David Cumming from different angles in costume, drawing Charles a bajillion times, and listening to this song so many times that I can now hear it without actually playing it - it’s finally done. My biggest piece for Operation Mincemeat yet: an animatic. And here I thought the character singles was gonna take that title. How foolish I was 😅

In all seriousness though, I’m so very proud of this project. My editing skills have greatly improved since my last one (or so I like to think) and I can no longer look at this project without my heart palpitating out of pride. This musical has taken over my brain, as you all know by now, and I’m so happy I was able to do something like this for it. I hope you guys enjoy it 💛🖤

As per usual, don’t repost without giving me credit please. I worked too hard on this for too long to not get credited 😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏

Until we meet again!!!!

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

HOME STRETCH FOR THE PROJECT™️

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

OP I don’t think you understand how much I adore this. All of this. Theres not a part of this that doesn’t have me kicking my feet

share a headcanon for any character that you havent seen anyone talk about before!

Ooooo this is a hard one because I'm not sure if anyone has talked about this before but Charles would objectively be the worst glasses-wearer.

I'm imagining he would have had glasses most of his life since his eyes are really bad so they probably got worse as he grew older. Initially when he got his glasses he would have been very paranoid about breaking them or getting them dirty, but he very much grew out of that.

He has to constantly be reminded by the others in the basement of where he left his glasses. He will toss them down without a care as to if they will break or get scratched. His glasses are constantly dirty, and others tell him to clean them, and he'll say he will, but he never does.

Hester is especially annoyed by this as she likes to keep her glasses very clean and pristine, than you very much. One time, she takes matters into her own hands and cleans them for him, and Charles is so surprised how well he can see afterwards. Point proven. Though he still doesn't take her advice.

When contact lenses become more popular in the 60s, he tries to use them, but hates them. He hates them with a passion. He's too used to seeing himself wearing his glasses that he couldn't possibly show his face in public without them. Have his eyes always looked that small? Besides, why are contacts so hard to put in, and why do they make his eyes feel so dry?? Something about touching his eyeball just doesn't sit right with him.

I also think he would have chosen one style of glasses frames when he was younger and stuck with it the rest of his life. He never wanted to change them, other frames just looked too strange on his face for his liking. Everyone else in the basement agrees that he's one of the rare few people who the thick, round glasses actually look good on.

One time, Monty stole Charles' glasses and did a really bad impression of him while Charles blindly chased him through the basement around the desks. Monty was shocked at how strong Charles' prescription was, and promtly tripped over a stray telephone cord. Charles came right after, toppling onto Monty. Hester watched from the sidelines, unfazed.

One time, Jean asked Charles to take off his glasses and tested how bad his vision was by holding up fingers right in front of his face. Charles had to confirm that yes, indeed, he was myopic, meaning he could still see things that were close to him. Jean stepped back about a metre, and was shocked and appalled to find just how bad Charles' vision actually was. Charles just shrugged. And asked for his glasses back.

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Been thinking about that line in Did We Do It?. The one that goes “the lies yet hidden / since forgiven. / All your misdeeds fade from vision. / When you write the book you’re off the hook.” Or smth along those lines (I’m at work, gimme a break)

That doesn’t feel right. It’s out of place, especially considering what just happened. So you know what I think it is?

I think it’s a reflection of Monty’s “everything is fine” mask being pulled up so far and cutting so deep that it literally twists what he’s hearing the other characters say. Bro is so scared of what the others might actually be saying he’s actually delusional.

I could go deeper on this, maybe I will later, but for now have this thought that’s been tormenting me all shift :)

Also-

Have this shitty Charles doodle that I did while trying to maintain some sanity :D

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Every time I draw Charlie his glasses get bigger I stg-

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Various Mincemeat Thoughts I’ve had while at work recently

Monty runs cold (going off of what I’ve heard abt the lovely UK weather), Charlie runs hot (Australian Upbringing coming in clutch for summers but kicking his ass in the winter), and Jean is lowkey just there chilling

Hester makes note of all three of these facts and puts them to good use by prepping to battle the challenges they bring

Aka blankets for if Monty starts complaining, a small fan if the basement gets hot, and respectively hot/cold drinks on standby

Again, team mom.

Speaking of, Jean referring to Hester as “mum” isn’t anything shocking. Almost all the typing pool girls do. Monty making jokes? Also not shocking. Charles slipping one day and doing so, with Monty following not long after? Now that was a bit more shocking

Hester being there has lowkey saved the team (Monty) from Bevan’s wrath a few times

Back to my previous headcanon of Charles getting close with the typing pool girls because he’s simply nice to them: I think he ends up being a bit of a gossip. Not on purpose! It’s just- well he was talking with the girls one day and one of them mentioned a rumor that these two officers were shagging in the bathrooms and well isn’t that an interesting topic of conversation? Especially when they have evidence???

Jean thinks it’s hysterical how he’s slowly being dragged into the typing pool girls’ group

He’s given shit for it by other male agents around MI5, naturally, but that stopped pretty quickly after someone heard him mumble something personal that he absolutely should not have known under his breath in retaliation

Hester and Monty had to keep a very flustered officer from breaking down the basement door trying to get at Charlie after he hid in there

There’s a tally set in the corner of the basement’s blackboard titled “Monty’s Accidental Misogyny” with a tick for every time he pulls some shit. Every 10 and he owes Jean or Hester a favor

He’s actually gotten really better since working on Mincemeat, and that’s not just under the threat of the tally system. The typing pool notices and talks abt it

Charles becomes more outspoken after Mincemeat and whatnot. He’s willing to talk, to give ideas and suggestions, although it certainly sends him reeling the first time he speaks up and is instead met with genuine interest rather than mocking

The team are all proud of him :)

Monty’s “I will sit on any flat surface available” attitude bit him square in the ass one day when he completely ignored the literal warning sign on it and jumped to sit on a side table in a meeting and it crumbled. That’s was definitely embarrassing

There was one time Monty needed to reach something that was high up, and rather than grab a ladder or something of the sort he enlisted Charles’ help. That is to say, he called Charlie over and basically scaled him as if he were a human ladder with little to no warning beyond “hold still.”

The next time anyone saw them they were on a heap on the floor, the box Monty was trying to reach overturned on Monty’s head, papers everywhere

Hester has developed a habit of reminding all members of the team to take breaks and take care of themselves, as every single one of them developed a terrible tendency to completely ignore all needs in favor of working during the mission

Of course, this started with her girls in the typing pool, then extended to Jean, then Monty and Charles by the end of the mission when she’d come in for days on end and find the two of them passed out at the desk

Charles will still shiver and look around if you mention “that strange man with the top hat and cape”

Charles is the heaviest sleeper of the team, given he’s able to relax and actually fall asleep fully

Charles unfortunately falls to the “hey have you seen my glasses?” While they’re right on top of his head bit a lot. Moves them to clean them or wakes up on the desk and will wander for a good 15 minutes before he remembers, which is painful to watch considering how shit his eyes are

Jean and Monty get angry more often, Hester and Charles are scarier when they are

I think that’s abt it for this round. Idk wanted to post smth after being dead for so long and I’ve had a lot of time to think abt the sillies lately so woe, mincemeat headcanons be upon yee or smth like that

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

THE SKETCH OF THE PROJECT™️ IS DONE

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Sometimes the grind looks like working at the newest big project for hours.

Other times it looks like scribbling down notes on a piece of parchment paper at work while looping the inspo song for said project because that’s all you can do at this point

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

Today I’ve drawn Charlie as a variety of bugs (and an amphibian) and honestly it’s incredibly easy to make said bug feel like Charlie by just giving them glasses and a worried expression

[heyyesimtrash-whatofit]

I think I’d quite like to hear/see Charles “you haven’t seen me tango!” Cholmondley sing/dance to The Masochism Tango by Tom Lehrer, yes indeed