justastrugglinghotchocolate

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Have you heard of Dorian: The Musical opening July 4 - Aug 10 at the west end ✨✨

Some parts of the preview are not exactly my cup of tea but that person who i assume plays henry,,, :]

I have not! Send pics lmao 👀👀👀

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

waves very enthusiastically at you >_<!!

👋👋👋

HI HYA!!!!! :D

It feels like its been two hundreds lol---How have you been?

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Have u ever thought about trans henry who says shit to try and fit in

Who did like and care for Victoria but never told her because he was afraid and just covered it up with the idea that they just married for status things

Who resents the idea of marriage in general because of that fear

Who only ever told Basil and loved the fact that Basil loved him anyway

Who secretly resented Basil when he drifted away cause Henry thought that maybe he didn’t like him anymore because he wasn’t a “real man”

Whose father would rather have never acknowledged his existence but given the death of his younger brothers and the disownment of his elder wasn’t left with much of a choice (at least he had another “son” to be his heir which also made henry hella conflicted cause at least his dad acknowledged him as the man he was but he knew his dad didn’t really believe that)

Who wishes for a more hedonistic world so maybe then his existence won’t be so taboo

Idk just a thought 🤷

Hey, Q, hey buddy, beloved mutual, friendo, this is a fantastic idea that one day deserves a fanfic and will be on my mind for the next week—are you trying to make sure I never finish TLG???!/joke/lighthearted

On a genuine note, that sounds like such a cool idea to explore! Not to impose my understanding of the characters, but that gets so interesting because I have one of Victoria’s biggest struggles being that she feels she’ll never live up to what a ‘woman’ is supposed to be. Henry could’ve found a lot of respite from her—since she is already open to the notion that 1) gendered roles are dumb and harmful and 2) they aren’t something set in stone. But, because Henry is who he is and lives in the time period he does, that wouldn't be enough reassurance to ever tell her.

Also since Gwendoline (Gwendolen???) is the only sibling Henry often comes around to hang with and is only two years apart from him (for my Henry), perhaps she knows but just immediately accepted it and has never seen Henry as anything but her brother—idk could be some cute sibling support. 

I think it would be a fascinating exploration of gendered roles in line with the og book as well! You have Dorian, a man who is often coded with feminine attributes and language (for the time) and then on the other hand Henry who has struggled with his identity for so long and yet sees Dorian succeeding in his assigned gender while maintaining those very feminine traits. It could be why Henry needs Dorian so much, because Dorian serves not just as proof that a taboo world would be the ‘better’ world but also that reaffirms his gender identity. Moreover, it could asks questions about why masculinity is always internally pitted against femininity and the roles 'men' and 'women' are expected to play.

But I will leave it there, because I have not done enough studies in transgender history and experiences for me to feel any more comfortable in adding any more (I am pretty sheltered and have been for a while. Even though, I am unsure of my own gender identity, I do not wish to contribute to any misconceptions of any group of persons). But, hey Q? You should totally explore this more!

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Hi choco :D

I have not been involved in gothic litblr for a While because school. Do you know if anyone has made a community for it yet? Bc I just got access to the feature and the impulse to just. Make one despite not being involved for like a year is strong

Hi!! Honestly I am probably the worst person to ask about this, because I too have been away from tumblr on a self-imposed hiatus until my fic is done ;-;

I have no idea what the community feature is but hey, if you make one, let me know! I would be happy to find out lol

Have a great day :)

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

New Dorian-angst One Shot just dropped

who dis?

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Lord and Lady Henry c. 1885

Henry and Victoria came from very prestigious and affluent families, so both were pressured into marrying as soon as possible. Having met when they were in their teens (Henry 17, Victoria 16) and realizing that they had quite a bit in common (both were second children, both had rocky relationships with their older siblings, both were being pressured to marry, both were avid readers [Henry secretly reads romance novels, but is too embarrassed to admit it, Victoria figured it out because Henry offhandedly referenced Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy was, of course, his favorite character, but he’ll die before admitting it.]). Since neither liked the idea of getting married, but saw an immediate advantage in courting each other (Henry had books he didn’t want anyone finding, Victoria was willing to hide them, so long as he acted as her excuse to get away from home and snuck her any physician books he could find in Oxford), they decided to go through with it. They assumed it would last for a few months. 

Two years later and it was too late to back out. On the bright side they were friends and did enjoy each other’s company. However a few months before their wedding, Henry met Basil—we all know how that turned out.

A few more Henry and Victoria headcanons under the cut!

Henry read all of Jane Austen, which was how he discovered his role model for life, Beau Brummel (French Influencer who got it up so hard in Versailles, he caught syphilis and died in a madhouse). Pride and Prejudice was his favorite and he probably had a crush on Darcy, but didn’t have the words to explain the weird yearning he had. Not until Victoria pointed it out and later when Basil entered his life.

Victoria struggled (since basically forever) to fit in with the role she was expected to play as a woman. She had always had a temper and strong will (and awful suitors didn’t help) and was often compared to her older sister. Victoria took advantage of Henry having her hide all his ‘improper’ books and read through all of them. This was a big reason they became friends because Henry could talk to her and she’d listen to his rants and understand and add to them. It also helped that Henry didn’t care for someone quiet, so she could rant right back at him. Shit-talking, especially of their older siblings, became their favorite past-time.

Victoria was technically the one who proposed to Henry. He had jokingly brought it up once, but then as the pressure from her family increased as she got older and since the ‘courtship’ had lasted so long, Victoria revisited the idea. Henry refused at first (once for the funnies, twice because of fear of being restricted in marriage and losing his then best-friend to such an arrangement), going as far as climbing up a tree to get away from her. He then, stupidly, made the deal that if she could climb up there and ask him, he’d marry her. 

One shredded dress, lost shoe, and bruised rib (Henry fell out of the tree when she suddenly appeared next to him) later and he was standing in front of her parents, defeatedly proposing to marry her.

In the modern reimaging thingy I am working on: After Victoria founded her university and in an action which baffled everyone else (because they had all heard about the divorce and assumed it was bitter), she hung this photograph on the wall of her new office. It stays there even when the modern trio attends far in the future.

Last thing!

The dress is referenced from the Metropolitan Museum of Arts (MMA) fashion plates! Wedding 1870-1929, Plate 048 to be exact.

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

@justastrugglinghotchocolate punk 80s henry lives in my brain now

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

I see your "Henry Wotton is a Redditor Incel" take, and I raise you "Henry Wotton is a Victorian Manic Pixie Dream Girl"

Think about it. Everyone agrees he's weird but can't help but be fascinated with him. He has a whimsical philosophy on life. He makes life that much more interesting for Dorian. He's not like other girls---he's not even like other men. He listens to old classical music and reads books, not the papers like the vapid other people.

All he needs now is a bright hair color.

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Honestly thinking about how henry getting a parrot after victoria leaves him is so pathetic man core

You say that as if everything Henry does isn't pathetic-man core

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

This started as a perspective/anatomy practice (it-- it was procrastination--I am procrastinating my life rn) and then evolved because, as said before, this au will not leave my head (i’m sure it’s just a passing fancy lol). So here’s a few more things.

This was Henry’s first big controversial moment in his career, his ‘iconic moment in pop culture’. From his outfit (the first one Basil was in charge of styling/designing for him) to his pose and the fact his fly is just intentionally fully open (he knew who his fans were and what they wanted), this all cemented his provocative reputation. Also it was the 70s, people were looking for anything to call controversy. After that performance, Basil became Henry’s main stylist (despite just wanting to paint a portrait of him lmao).

Henry, despite claiming to be (and certainly trying to present as) punk rock star, always had more of a natural proclivity to the rock star part. No one considers him punk, even with how much star power he has. Him being the second son to a lord and also rich just confirmed he wasn't for everyone who was actually punk.  At most, he’d pull shit like the above and then people would kind of see why he thought himself punk. He even had to learn how to do a London accent because he naturally speaks in RP, aka he sounds like a rich man. 

tldr: Henry is a complete poser.

The outfit used references from this one picture of the Sex Pistols and these two Vivienne Westwood pieces. All referenced images and my reasonings for choosing them (because I like to yap and yall can’t stop me) will be under the cut.

The Sex Pistols were one of the 'faces' of 70s punk (go listen to some of their music---it's good!) and their style felt like something Henry would imitate. I wish I could tell you more about them, but admittedly, I just started listening to them last year. (i, like henry, am a poser, i'm so sorry/lh). Anyways that top was fun to draw!

These are the two references by Vivienne Westwood (Dress [right], Shirt [left]). I took the ruffled part of Dress to add to the top Henry wears because, keeping with the idea that Henry is being dressed/styled by Basil, Basil probably leaned into Romantic influences, while trying to match the punk vibes Henry wanted. The little leg strap in Shirt became the weird edgy straps Henry has on his wrists. On my end, that was just for vibes lol.

The Vivienne Westwood items can be found on the Metropolitan Museum of Arts website :)

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

I'm a Dorian simp now. There's nothing sexier than being homo-cidal and some good ol self worship.

Understandable! Self care can indeed be a wonderful thing :)

Really sorry for the late response, this didn't show up in my inbox until now 😓

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

HELLO i have just discovered your work and it is SOOO good. amazing. fantastic. wonderful! makes me very happy! I just wanted you to know :D

Oh wow, thank you so much!

I am so sorry for the late response!! I have no idea why, but this just showed up in my inbox today. But, again, thank you-- I really appreciate this :3

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Other Dynamics between Henry and Dorian which I would love to see more:

(No hate intended for anyone who disagrees or likes a different dynamic! This is just my own opinion lol)

Accidental Brotherly Affection from Henry’s End—Yall Henry is an older brother. You bet your ass he roughly ruffles Dorian’s hair out of nowhere or gives him *the stare* when he wears a subpar outfit or bullies him relentlessly before turning around and threatening someone else who decided to join in. Can you imagine how funny it is when viewed from Dorian’s end? Dorian, who grew up alone and neglected, suddenly getting the full sibling treatment and not knowing how to respond? It’s comedic gold. Bonus points if Henry has no idea he’s doing it too.

Rivalry— This is one I’d especially love to see in the “Dorian was already bad” interpretations. Imagine Henry meeting his match in the person he set out to ruin. Especially if their dynamic is push and pull of Dorian quietly learning what he can before setting it loose on Henry? Sure, it’s not super one to one with the book but neither is Basil being a cat person, lmao—Give me a more openly villainous Dorian, especially towards Dorian.

Rivalry (one-sided)— For Henry, this would be a lot of passive aggression that goes over Dorian’s head. You can do a more villainous/cruel Henry with this one, where he is constantly hurting Dorian who keeps excusing it because he is too attached to let go (could even explore Dorian’s past abusive relationship with his grandfather and the cycle of abuse and such). So if you like Dorian Whump, this is for you.

For Dorian, this would be Olivia Rodrigo’s Obsessed. Dorian would constantly feel undermined and inferior to Henry especially where Basil is involved. Dorian is constantly struggling between discovering himself or simply imitating Henry instead. It's a mix of admiration, envy, desire and irritation. It also could be a very fun way to explore Dorian’s character.

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Yall the 80s rock au has not left my brain so here’s some random ideas:

Dorian is a rising pop star (possibly even moving away from being a child star) who meets Basil in the same way he does in the book. Basil paints him and then introduces him to Henry. The only difference is that Basil does this out of the belief that Henry might be able to talk Dorian out of becoming a full pop star. Obviously, that doesn't happen. Henry becomes Dorian's producer/songwriter while also taking on a more mentor-like figure for Dorian. A lot of the songs Henry has Dorian perform are much more provocative and explicit than what Dorian used to do. 

Basil is still an artist, just with a small expansion from portrait painting. He still does that, but now he also doubles as sort of a talent scout/Henry’s designer/muse (he doesn’t know, but all of Henry’s songs are complaints about/odes to him and their relationship).

Henry was specifically a punk rock star in the 70s, in lieu of the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Henry was popular because he was controversial, charismatic, and pretty, all things that captured the hearts of the UK. However, much of popularity was contained in the UK, though he had like one or two world wide hits. Still his name is still considered legendary for the time. 

By the time Dorian meets him through Basil, Henry has long stopped performing his own songs, more or less writing and producing them for other stars. He despises Pop as a genre but since that is what sells now, he has had to pivot away from punk. Dorian becomes a sort of new hope for him because Dorian, being pretty and charismatic, could be the mix for the two genres.

Also this AU/Adaptation would take more of a focus on the complicated rivalry/relationship between Dorian and Henry. Because Henry, despite being hopeful of what Dorian could be, is also very resentful for the fact he is basically making his own replacement. I am using the “Henry as a bitter ex” characterization, so, along with that whole thing regarding Basil, now Henry literally has to watch Dorian reach higher heights in the same career he had. I think that conflict would take mainstage in the third act, replacing the Hetty Merton thing.

Dorian's corruption is a mix of the og book’s and 80s entertainment industry. While some stuff is definitely Henry’s fault, a whole lot of it is also just the entertainment industry being an exploitative place in general. Dorian grows worse as the years go by and Basil’s portrait of him does its usual thing.

CW: for mention of false accusations and grooming

Also, I think I figured out a way Basil doesn’t die! So England in the 1980s also had a moral panic regarding the LGBTQ+ and grooming (exactly like the ones of today). When Basil finds out about the portrait, Dorian doesn’t get the chance to murder him (for reasons) so instead, he outs Basil and falsely accuses him of grooming him, Basil’s rep is shot to pieces and he has to flee from his home country because no one is willing to believe his side of the story (except Henry, but at this point he is far too involved with Dorian to make a difference. Maybe this is the point where Henry’s dream breaks or something else which transitions into the third act.)

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

last thing before i disappear again for another month (lmao i joke now, but that final chapter begs to differ)

I appreciate and thank all you sweet people for engaging with me, you're all very kind.

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

yes

I fully forgot to add this the 'things henry does that confuse and scare me list' but finally

Says "I am only ten years older than you [Dorian] are, and I am wrinkled, and worn, and yellow."

"only" ten years.

"ONLY" ten years.

Henry. Dorian was learning long division in fourth grade while your ass was entering University, lmao, ten years is a long time. You look old cause you are lmao

[justastrugglinghotchocolate]

Things that I would sell my soul for and kill a man in an attic to see in a tpodg adaptation (and still probably won't ever see ;-;)

Henry played by an actress. Despite the lack of analysis of it, tpodg has some great openings for the nature of gender and gendered roles. If Henry is played by an actress, WITHOUT changing the gender of the character and simply presenting the actress as masculine I think there could be some very interesting analysis to be had especially because of the character’s weird relationship with women (see previously list about henry). Also it would be kinda neat imo!

An adaptation set in 1930s hollywood. Tbf this exists and it’s called real life. But there’s never not a good time to call out the scummy ways young, beautiful (and queer!) people are abused by the establishment.

An adaptation where instead of Henry being adapted to be some weird conservative mouthpiece he’s adapted to be as cynical as he is meant to be. People often forget that underneath the misogyny is some actually very interesting dialogue, such as a call for individualism, disbelief in the establishment/his own country. All I am saying is that if you get past the edgelord bs, you can actually see something that makes sense.

An adaptation set in 1960s England. Out of all the periods one could pick, the 60s feels like the most fitting for the novel’s original story. The 60s was when youth culture became the dominant culture of the Western World, it was a break from traditional norms that were literally inspired by Victorian sensibilities. It is the first time we start seeing traditional masculinity challenged through Mods and the Peacock Revolution. Also the fashion would be fun.

Basil not dying somehow. Idk how it would be done without ruining the climax, but I would love an adaptation that doesn’t kill Basil for once.

Basil being a cat owner. (PLEASE)

Hetty Merton’s part not being adapted into a redemption thing for Dorian.

Actually pretty sets that match the beauty of the written setting. Stop with the dark academia bullshit— this book does not have the vibe of a stuffy academic and dark dorm room (that’s Frankenstein, yall). Give me bright gardens of roses and sickly yellow laburnum. I want to be able to smell the lavenders because their purple hue is so abrasive to my eyes. Give me the color palette of Utopia (UK ver—the US ver is so bad ;-;), dammit!

If someone does a period adaptation of the 80s again, can Henry please be a modern rock star and Basil as his friend/designer/manager–idk. It would be very fun and give Henry an actual connection to something that got a moral panic. Also England’s rock and pop tended to be quite queer in this era—ie “relax” by frankie goes to hollywood.

Can someone smarter than me figure out how to create an adaptation where Basil lives please? Ty ily <3