#(Actually that’s Peter and Harriet but whatever)

[herbofgraceandpeace]

why do I never remember remember to put Marguerite St. Just on the female blorbos post??

She’s the cleverest woman in Europe, she doesn’t know who her own husband is, she’s a great actress, she gave it all up for love, she’s a triumph at court, she’s miserable at home, she’s friends with the Royal Family, she hated aristocrats once, she’s pining for her own husband, she’s blackmailed into being a spy, she’ll risk her life for the ones she loves, she’s bitter and beautiful and misunderstood and I LOVE HER

[beatrice-otter]

Fic: Tea for Two

The third yuletide fic I wrote was a treat for a pinch-hitter, which was an excuse to write Wimsey fic. Now, I love the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, but I have only once been brave enough to write Peter himself--and that was only for a few scenes in a crossover. I minored in English, but that is simply not enough to give one the depth of knowledge of pre-20th-century British literature that one needs to be able to write Peter, who drops allusions and quotes like nobody's business. I spent so much time doing keyword searches through poetry archives, it was ridiculous. So instead, I wrote about Harriet and Mary, who I think would get along well together.

But in the course of doing canon review, I looked for a timeline, and discovered that Mary is much older than I thought she was--she's only five years younger than Peter! He, the Dowager Duchess, and the narrative all treat Mary like she's some silly young girl in Clouds of Witness, and she's actually 28! She and Parker don't marry until she's 35! She's older than Harriet! She served as a nurse in WWI, and she was old enough that she might have served in France itself! (Younger women were only allowed to nurse in British hospitals.) That changed a lot about how I saw her and interpreted the few scenes she's in, and also changed how I saw her and Parker's relationship. I now headcanon that the reason it took so long for Mary and Parker to marry is that at first he was hoping she'd grow out of her radicalism, and she wasn't willing to marry him on that basis, and also had to work out if she was okay with someone as socially conservative as Parker is. Which left them with some things to work out.

Title: Tea for Two Fandom: Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers Characters: Harriet Vane, Mary Wimsey Author: Beatrice_Otter Written for: tucuxi in Yuletide 2024 Rating: Gen

On Dreamwidth. At AO3. At Squidgeworld. On pillowfort.

Harriet regarded the invitation with some suspicion. She had resolved to put Lord Peter—and all the tangle of gratitude, resentment, and admiration he provoked in her—out of her mind, at least for now. He was out of town, on a case, and Harriet had rather been hoping to use the time to settle her mind a bit.

She was beginning to plot out the next Templeton novel, and it was going as well as it ever did at this stage—meaning she was wondering why on earth she'd ever thought detective novels should be her passion, as she poked holes in every possible complication she dreamed up, and the ones she couldn't poke holes in would require ever so much research. But it would come; it always did. When she could focus; Lord Peter was not always conducive to that.

And here, as Lord Peter (and all his distractions) was safely out of the way, came a note from his sister, Lady Mary—or, as she styled herself, Mrs. Charles Parker, with an invitation to tea. Not at the Parker residence, but at a restaurant. There would be little danger of seeing the detective, and thus being unpleasantly reminded of her recent sojourn as a target of the judicial system. The restaurant was a respectable one, well within her budget, and easy to get to.

Much as she was grateful that Lord Peter was out of town for the moment, she was curious about him; what had made him, and why he was so interested in her. Lady Mary might answer some of her curiosity, without having to deal with the confounding man directly.

Harriet wrote back a courteous note accepting the invitation.

***

Mary Wimsey Parker was a beautiful blonde woman in her mid-thirties. She was dressed in a sensible dress and coat that were closer in style and expense to Harriet's own wardrobe than she would have expected a duke's sister to wear. Obviously, whatever money she had brought to the marriage, they were choosing to live mostly on the Inspector's salary.

They exchanged the usual pleasantries and sat down at a table. Looking over the menu and making their choices moved the conversation along until the waitress departed, and then a bit of a silence fell.

"I admit I was a bit surprised to receive your note, Mrs. Parker," Harriet said. "Did Lord Peter ask you to keep an eye on my recovery from my ordeal, while he is away?"

"No," said Mrs. Parker. She looked down at her hands and gave a sad smile. "I was complaining to my brother about how few friends I had, and he suggested that you might be an interesting person to know."

"Oh?" Harriet said. "I'm sorry to hear that. Is it your marriage?"

Mrs. Parker sighed. "No. Or, not only. I'm afraid I've never had the knack of making friendships that last. During the war I was very close to some of my fellow nurses, but then it turned out that when we were no longer living and working together we had very little in common. Then I started doing social work and ran in some very radical circles, and made an awful lot of friends in that scene. I almost married a communist speaker, you know, and when I couldn't marry him because of Gerry that was fine, it was the tyranny of the social order, but when I discovered that he was a coward and fell out of love with him, that was betraying the cause."

"As if your devotion to your principles should be expressed first and foremost through your marriage," Harriet said, dryly. In her case, Philip had expected her principles—or his, at any rate—would be expressed through lack of marriage. The underlying idea of a woman's chastity being her most important contribution, and not her ideas, struck her suddenly as very similar. "Which is a terribly old-fashioned way to think about it, and not in line with the political ideas they claim to espouse." She wondered what the other woman thought of Harriet's relationship with Philip Boyes, and if this might be someone who would understand. Sylvia and Eiluned supported her and always had, but they'd never really cared for Philip, and neither had any experience with learning that someone you loved was not what you thought he was.

"Very true," said Mrs. Parker. "I would have liked to continue on in those circles, but of course they all supported him. It didn't matter that I still supported the message; he was the Great Man to be adored, and I the scheming aristocrat who threw him over—never mind that several of the girls gossiping about me were at least as aristocratic as I am! And never mind what he'd done."

"Yes," Harriet said, fiddling with her napkin. "It always seems to be the woman's fault when something goes wrong, isn't it. No matter what actually happened."

They were interrupted by the arrival of their tea and cake. Harriet fixed it to her taste and sipped as Mrs. Parker went on.

"After that I was so disgusted with the hypocrisy of them all that I dropped out of that circle, and started looking for another one," Mrs. Parker continued. "Mother put me in contact with some of her friends who ran charities and would let me work for them; that was good, and fulfilling, but of course most of it is merely bandaging up the wounds caused by social inequality and so there was a bit of frustration there. And the ladies I worked with were all very kind, generous people, but … they all thought my politics were a phase I should have grown out of, already, and they were all very self-congratulatory about what good people they were for being so generous, and I never got close with any of them."

"We get the same sort of philanthropists in Bloomsbury," Harriet said. "All itching to show how generous and open-minded they are by patronizing the right artists and throwing the right parties. I was always glad that my sort of writing pays for itself without a patron, and is too low-brow for their tastes, anyway. Some of them are very nice people, whom I would be pleased to know in other circumstances, but the need for gratitude becomes grating."

"Exactly!" Mrs. Parker said. "I certainly wouldn't want to be beholden to someone whose generosity depended partly on their need to be seen to be generous, and although they were always gracious about it—"

"—there's a limit to how much graciousness matters, in those circumstances," Harriet said. She had refused Lord Peter because of it; but she had had a career that would support her, and the financial freedom that she could refuse it. Not everyone had that luxury.

"I've always thought so," Mrs. Parker said. "Which rather got in the way of my finding a close friend among them. And then I got married."

"Are your husband's friend's not to your taste?" Harriet asked.

"No, they're lovely," Mrs. Parker said. "Unfortunately, most of them are a bit overawed to find a Duke's sister in their midst, and that does put a damper on things."

"Ah," Harriet said. "Whereas the socialists probably fell all over themselves to keep from being overawed."

"Exactly," Mrs. Parker said. "I'm sure they'll get used to me eventually, but it will take time, and then of course I would prefer to have a social circle of my own, not just my husband's. So I threw myself on Peter's mercy. He has such a large circle of acquaintance, you know; all sorts of interesting people. In retrospect, I should have asked him earlier, after leaving socialist circles, instead of letting mother set me up with her friends, but at the time I didn't know just how many—and how odd—his friends were."

It was not exactly the sort of thing Harriet had wanted to know about Lord Peter, but it was close. "Oh?" she said. "Sounds interesting. I'd love to hear any stories you have."

There passed a pleasant hour. Mrs. Parker had a facility with describing people, and recounting their odder mannerisms, and had a string of amusing anecdotes about people she'd met in her brother's company, and some she'd met in the course of her work. Harriet responded with stories of some of the odder members of the Bloomsbury set, and then of course there were so many eccentric authors.

By the time they were to settle the bill, they were on a first-name basis. "This has been such a pleasant afternoon, we must do it again sometime," Harriet said.

"Oh, certainly, that sounds marvelous," Mary said. "I do hope I'm not taking you away from your work—you needn't feel sorry for me, I probably shouldn't have gone on so about my lack of friends—"

"No, nothing of the sort," Harriet said. "I don't have an abundance of them right now, myself." She sighed. "So few of the people I counted as friends stood by me through all of it. It's not as if they didn't know Philip and I were living together without benefit of clergy, and they all claim to believe that I really didn't do it, but somehow having the whole mess splashed through the papers changed things."

"Now it's public, instead of private gossip," Mary said. "Which shouldn't make a difference, but it does."

"And then of course there are people now who want to meet me, only they're not interested in me, they're interested in the scandal, and they hope I'll do something equally thrilling."

"How tiresome," Mary said. "People can be so awful. We had a bit of that, after the whole mess with Cathcart and my brother on trial for his murder."

Harriet had almost forgotten about that; she'd read about it in the papers, of course, but that had been years before she'd thought there would ever be a personal acquaintance with the Wimseys, and of course when she'd met Lord Peter her own case had overshadowed everything else in her mind.

Harriet nodded. "Then you know what it's like. But worse than that is the men who believe that because I lived with Philip, I have neither morals nor taste, and will happily sleep with any man who asks."

"I thought the whole point of the trial was that you had both, and that's why you'd left him?" Mary said. "Though I shouldn't be surprised, many men can be so tiresome about only believing things about a woman that are convenient to them."

"And here we are, we've spent quite a pleasant hour talking, and my recent travails have only been brought up now at the end, by me speaking of them." Harriet spread her hands. "You didn't even dance around the subject uneasily. It's been marvelous."

"And I suppose Peter could see you needed a friend too," Mary said. "But you'd have denied it if he asked."

"I don't know that I'd have denied it," Harriet said. "I do value honesty quite highly, and that's one thing Peter and I have always been, is nakedly honest with each other. Even when it would be more convenient not to be. But I wouldn't like having something else that I'd have to feel grateful for."

"Whereas now, since I'm the one who went to him for help finding a friend, there's no need for any such thing," Mary said. "Peter has always been good at arranging things delicately." She checked her watch and made a face. "I really do have to go—same time next week?"

"It's a date," Harriet said. "I look forward to it."

[descendants-headcanons]

Harry Hook Headcanons

- This man

- Goddamn

- First off I have to say he is absolutely my favourite character in this franchise so I am 100% biased but what the hell if you're reading this chances are you are too

ON THE ISLE

- OK so straight up right now I have to say that Hook in my mind is one of THE WORST parents you could have on the Isle

- Harriet basically kept Harry and CJ alive but sadly with Harry being a boy he reminds Hook of Peter Pan very very often and it doesn't end well for the kid

- So I headcanon that Harry ran away at a young age (I know you can't run away on a tiny island but it's the idea of it) and that's when he met Gil and Uma and the legendary Sea Three were born but I'll cover those three in depth in a later post

- I actually headcanon that Harry fakes his deranged and maniacal laugh because, and hear me out, the idea of Harry having one of those really squeaky laughs that is just so goddamn cute is too amazing to pass up on

- Like the first time Uma or Gil hears it its by accident and he absolutely clams up about it and refuses to acknowledge what's just happened

- Jokes on him they'll do anything to make him crack (in private of course, they have reputations after all)

- (He has a thing for really bad puns. They never fail.)

- Also this goes without saying tbh but Harry definitely inherited his father's Neverland curse and it makes him so goddamn miserable

- I read a fanfic where Harriet would try to find medication on the barges, can't remember which one, and some made him feel better but some made him feel worse and honestly I can see that being how it actually is on the Isle

- Just taking any pill that comes over in the hopes of being able to navigate his hallucinations and ignore the voices in his head

- People think Uma is the only one that can control his bloodlust (when his eyes bleed red) but what they don't know is that Gil is more efficient

- However he's not allowed to soothe Harry's bloodlust in public because it involves copious amounts of cuddling

- Speaking of which

- HARRY IS A CUDDLER

- Give. This. Man. Physical. Affection.

- He LIVES for that shit

- The world could be ending, the Lost Revenge could be on fire, but if he was in Uma and Gil's arms he would not give two shits

- Blushes really easily and he hates it so he wears whatever makeup comes over on the barges to cover that traitorous skin

- Seriously he goes bright red at everything and it's hilarious

- Gets hella snarky when he's embarrassed and tries to deflect

- I genuinely think he'd go easier on the kids, idk, he genuinely does give off the big brother vibes of 'I'm a dick because of my reputation however if I found someone being mean to you their corpse would mysteriously turn up the next day'

- Also the idea of Harry somehow ending up as a dad figure for the crew makes me cackle

- "BONNY GET AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF THE SHIP IF YE GO FALLIN IN THERE AM NOT JUMPIN IN AFTER YE"

- Of course as soon as she falls in Harry goes diving after her what kind of first mate would he be if he didn't??

- Weak for his Smees.

- And Gil.

- And Uma.

- Absolutely allocated himself the role of protector because Gil is sunshine incarnate and Uma is too busy being the leader so someone's got to have both of their backs

- Absolutely had a thing with Jay

- Probably had a thing with most of the Isle tbh he's hot for a deranged pirate

- Many Isle residents would tap that

- Sometimes finds it hard to distinguish reality from illusion and can get lost in his own hallucinations

- Not even Uma can bring him back when he gets that lost so they have to gently drag him back to the Captain's Quarters and keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't accidentally hurt himself

- tw self harm but he has absolutely delved into that realm before

- Uma had to make him swear on her life not to do it again because he nearly died

- Gil cried

- Has cut off Ursula's tentacles when she's tried to punish Uma

- Persuaded Uma to sell it as calamari. In Ursula's shop.

- Ursula left them both alone for a whole month after that.

- Will run head first into battle regardless of injuries.

OFF THE ISLE

- God I feel so bad for him because off the Isle initially he has no idea what to do

- His whole life revolved around violence and intimidation but now he doesn't have to do that and his brain just *buffering noises*

- He, Uma and Gil share a room. They're not supposed to, but Ben turns a blind eye and Uma managed to cast a spell which convinces most people that only Harry and Gil are there

- He's not allowed his hook at first. For some reason, the lack of it sent him spiralling. Tw suicide - he tried to commit

- He was allowed his hook after that. And was pushed into therapy

- Absolutely got a therapy dog and it is 100% a newfie called Teddy.

- The dog is almost as big as he is and gives great cuddles so Harry is set

- Somehow gets known as the person who if you need a hug you can just go up and initiate one and he will hug back

- Which is surprising considering on the Isle he was the person you went to if you need to hide a body

- Popular with the kids because holy duck this guy is a great storyteller my GOD

- Sings sea shanties for the kids and they love it

- Decided that he didn't want to be catered to hand and foot and decided to ask Mrs Potts for cooking lessons

- He is now Mrs Potts unofficially adopted son

- He, Uma and Gil didn't show up for lunch for like 3 weeks and the Core 4 and Ben eventually found them in the kitchen

- Uma and Gil were doing homework while Mrs Potts was teaching Harry how to make croissants from scratch

- And Ben got offended because 'HOW DARE YOU COOK WITH MRS POTTS WITHOUT ME??'

- No joke though Harry's a great cook

- It makes him happy seeing how Uma and Gil enjoy the food he makes so he keeps learning from Mrs Potts and they keep praising him and honestly these 4 are so sweet my HEART

- One day they're having a charity bake sale but Mrs Potts is running behind because no one appreciates her so Harry skips all his classes the day before to help make biscuits and cupcakes and cakes and pastries for the bake sale

- Fairy Godmother comes in frantically looking for him only to see Harry peacefully icing a cake while Mrs Potts takes out a tray of gingerbread men

- Dammit just let's Mrs Potts be his mum I've made these 2 my favourite platonic duo now

- Mrs Potts knits him things to wear for his birthday and Christmas and they might be cheesy but Harry will hear no slander

- She also knits for Uma and Gil too

- Deliveries of snacks in class times for these 3 because 'You're too thin dearies here have a biscuit'

General Headcanons

- Head scratches put him to sleep and its really cute

- Travels well on a boat but in a motor vehicle? He gets really badly travel sick :(

- Actually pretty smart, just not book smart. He knows lots about ships, literature (Don't get him started on The Cask of Amontillado) and dinosaurs

- Hates movies. Would rather read (surprisingly)

- Falls asleep really easily and in the weirdest spots. There is an Instagram tag specifically for Auradon Prep students to post where they've found him. The teachers follow it out of concern. Jay follows it to make fun of him.

- Has been roped into modelling for Evie's fashion lines many times.

- Has also been roped into modelling for other projects as well, by lots of other girls.

- Actually doesn't really know how to flirt that well. He has like 3 lines he has practiced to perfection that work but if you reciprocate the flirting his brain goes bye bye and those cheeks go RED

- Really talented at poetry for some reason

- Looks after his friends aggressively

- Like, whereas Evie would kindly remind you that 'hey, you haven't drunk in 2 hours' Harry would slam a bottle of water right in front of you and refuse to leave until you drank half of it because 'Hydration, BITCH'

[kitkatopinions]

RWBY is one of the weirdest shows, because we’re eight seasons in and people are still actually wanting basic things that should’ve happened seasons ago to happen.

Ruby has had four - arguably five or six - different mentor set-ups during the course of the show, but her early humility and ability to listen to people with more experience than her petered out and fell apart. Ozpin was dismissed as a lying bastard who needs to now just shut up and let Ruby do what she wants. Oobleck just vanished from the story after a couple episodes (though admittedly, he was one of the least likely to be a consistent mentor figure and I don’t have much of a problem with how he was used.) Qrow was the uncle she’d clearly looked up to who had way more knowledge than her who the story seemed to be setting up as something of a group mentor/parental figure, and then volume six happened and Ruby told him to either shut up and let her do what she wants or leave, and now Qrow’s been written to do things like assure her she’s way better than Ozpin (for no real reason.) Maria also was set up to be a good mentor figure for Ruby, but outside of being like “lol guess magic exists and Qrow sucks” she basically just fulfilled her purpose of saying “this is how Silver Eyes work” - which is something that could’ve been supplied by Ozpin or Qrow - and then just... started going along with whatever Ruby wants and acts silly sometimes. James and even Harriet could’ve been set up as great mentors to Ruby, but she got training and special treatment and new weapons and a hunter license, and then the story narrative launched James and Harriet both into ‘bombing people’ levels of bad so Ruby can be self-righteous and now free to completely ignore them. So now people are wondering if Theodore the Vacuo Headmaster might become a mentor to Ruby, somehow.

Main characters still haven’t even developed friendships. Blake and Ruby talking in season eight felt so forced and out of character because they haven’t talked outside of a group setting since season one if even then, and they’ve definitely never had enough development for me to consider them close. Blake and Ren have barely talked, Oscar and Blake have barely if ever talked, Nora and Yang have barely if ever talked, etc. etc. Yang ‘calling out’ Ren felt like she was inserting herself into an acquaintance’s business when they have no connection, because... They’ve never had a connection of any sort. Qrow has never been given much of any sort of connection to anyone other than Ruby, Yang, Oscar, and somewhat Jaune, and none of those relationships but Ruby have been cultivated for seasons. So we’re still sitting here like “Omg do you guys think one of the main title characters will talk to the main protagonist in a way that organically makes them feel like they’re developing a real friendship in season nine?”

Our main antagonist, Salem, has only just entered the fray and has had only one conversation with our main protagonist that wasn’t even in person, and that conversation was basically just Salem giving her a zinger and then moving on like she considered Ruby nothing but an inconsequential and temporarily amusing nuisance. And we figure that Salem’s going to still be benched during this next season while the main group is over on some mystical island. So we’re sitting here being like “Do you guys think after a decade’s wait, the main antagonist is going to act like the main protagonist is a threat?”

The bad thing is, a lot of development and world building and character dynamics have been wholly or almost completely neglected, but doing the work now of establishing them in natural ways would feel... Actually unnatural, because of how the writers have just pretended that there were never any issues. Blake and Ruby can’t start reconnecting and developing a real friendship, when just this last season, Blake randomly announced that she looks up to Ruby as a heroic figure of hope and believes in her whole-heartedly. Ruby getting a mentor figure in Theodore feels like it would be both incredibly unlikely and incredibly frustrating with how hard she’s rejected the idea of needing adults or needing to listen to anyone other than herself with characters like Qrow and Ozpin, and it would be especially unnatural and frustrating if it came without Ruby acknowledging flaws, apologizing to people, and resolving to try to do better (which is something I would be shocked to see happen.) Emerald’s redemption arc, Qrow being sad about losing Ozpin’s inner circle one by one or dealing with any sort of withdrawal, Ruby actually reacting to some of the more violent things she’s either had to do or did without having to do it, Blake and Yang actually talking through any of their issues and starting a relationship, Ruby apologizing for literal anything, main characters who haven’t so much as spoken to each other before actually talking... Idk, there’s probably a lot more stuff that I feel like should be developed.

But because the writers have glossed over a lot of stuff and have just acted like it happened already, if they went back and corrected these things now, it’d all feel like backwards retcons. And leaving things as they are and just pretending that all this stuff happened already still feels freaing unnatural and forced and shallow as all get out. So the writers backed themselves into a corner on this, just like they do constantly.

I’d take the retcons over everything feeling forced and fake, though, which is how it feels when any problems like ‘Blake and Ruby have barely talked since season one’ are smoothed over with solutions like “well now Blake adores Ruby unquestioningly.” It’d be a retcon now for Ruby to be like “I feel like we barely even know each other, did you ever even want to be my friend” and Blake to be like “yeah let’s have an actual conversation about my trauma manifesting in a desire to keep my distance and how my progress with Sun made it so that I’m now more open to being closer friends and our subsequent interactions after this heart to heart can lead to a blooming, natural friendship.” But it’d still be better than the writers’ attitude of ‘eh, it doesn’t even matter, don’t look behind the curtain, the fandom will fill in the blanks.’

[fremulon]

OKAY both @heavens-bookshop and @mintly tagged me in this fic ask meme THANKS GUYS so here we go, under a cut bc VERBOSE:

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 41!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 358,803

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they? My AO3 has fics from 5 different fandoms: 30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, Good Omens, and Parks and Recreation. I have also written and published BTVS fic and Harry Potter fic that I took down and will...not be putting up again because it was that bad! So.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

1) Appropriately enough, You’ve Got Kudos (Good Omens, 4K, M, they both write fanfiction and it’s very silly)

2) muddle through somehow (Good Omens, 27K, T, let’s fake a relationship for Christmas)

3) i’ve found a way (a way to make you smile) (Good Omens, 40K, T, what if they all worked at a paper company)

4) some faith (the slow show fandom remix) (Good Omens, 7K, T, what if slow show but it was from the POV of the fandom, cowritten with allegra/attheborder)

5) let us sport us while we may (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 24K, T, high school AU)

Notably these are all either AUs or social media/odd-format fics or both!

5. Do you respond to comments, why or why not? Extremely erratically although when I finish a multi-chapter fic I do try to thank everyone who’s been reading and commenting! As to why not, I just feel suuuper awkward writing “thanks I’m so glad you enjoyed it!” over and over and I never know what else to say! Obviously I do LOVE getting comments and I do read all of them and if you have a question or a typo correction and you comment with it I will most likely answer/fix it!

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? I was all ready to be like LOL footage not found but then I remembered that the many-venomed earth ends with Aziraphale vowing never to see Crowley again so...that, probably.

7. Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written? I have! The only one I have written so far is a Parks and Rec/Community crossover that was actually the first fic I ever wrote. I DO have a crossover that I really really want to write and have been mentally plotting for when I get the chance but I will leave the fandoms in question to your imagination.

I do write a lot of...fusions, I guess? where I take a plot or setting from one piece of media and put the characters from another into it.

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic? Nope!

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind? I have and it has been put on AO3 but it is not under the curtaincall moniker and as to what kind...whatever you are imagining, it’s probably wrong. I WILL NOT BE TAKING FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not to my knowledge!

11. Have you ever had a fic translated? YES I have had a few translated into Russian and I have also had one particular fic translated into English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Italian, Polish, Greek, and Spanish by awesome multilingual friends!

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before? As mentioned above I co-wrote the slow show fandom remix fic with allegra! And I had a writing partner back in my Parks and Rec/Brooklyn Nine-Nine days, who I don’t think is around anymore.

13. What’s your all time favorite ship? Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane but as to ones I have written fic for, probably Ben Wyatt/Leslie Knope!

14. What’s a WIP you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? Well, all the ones I want to finish I hope will GET finished! I do have a Brooklyn Nine-Nine one on there that will probably never be completed.

15. What are your writing strengths? I have a very strong narrative voice and I am funny!

16. What are your writing weaknesses? PLOT oh my god (says the girl writing a mystery), I have trouble coming up with plots which is why I tend to...steal them...from existing media properties...and I am still working on pacing and foreshadowing and all that good stuff. Also describing anything physical.

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? I think a well-placed line of explicit Latin is never amiss.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for? Community/Parks and Rec!

19. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? Right now, probably The Fine Print but that may be recency bias! But I think it did the best job I’ve done so far of combining plot and humor and romance and character development.

UM I am gonna tag @indieninja92 and @mortifyingideal and @emjee if you want and you haven’t done it!

[traccigaryn]

20 answers for a fanfic 2020

Thank you to @curator-on-ao3 for these questions! I'm a few days late, but who cares?

1. fandoms you wrote for this year

All Star Trek, all the time: Voyager, Picard, and DS9/TNG

2. favorite fic you wrote this year

Oh, that's such a hard question. I love them all, but I think the one that means the most was Tousled, an unrepentant bit of froth about Chakotay's hair. I hadn't written anything in months and was feeling sad but not bad about that. Despite the fact that I started out trying to make it crackfic, I think it may have been the first really truthful thing I'd written in some ways. Also, writing both Tuvok and Seven's voices, making them distinct and distinctive, was so. much. fun. 

3. favorite fic you read this year

One thing that fell to the wayside in 2020 for me was reading fic. Still, I read some absolute gems and look forward to unearthing more some time soon.

It is the destiny of stars to collapse by @amoderngirl (T, Chakotay/Janeway). This story. THIS STORY. Months later, and this is still all the coherence I can manage.

Siren Song by @curator-on-ao3 (G, Tom Paris & Cristóbal Ríos). This melancholy and hopeful story was beautifully written and captured Tom and Cris to perfection.

Your Shadow Falling (Caesar) by @coffeeblack75 (E, Chakotay/Cristóbal Rios). Coffee took all these conversations we had, all her insights into these characters and turned them into something joyous and true, smutty and searching.

Not Star Trek at all and not a new story, but Gentle Antidote by x_los was everything I could want in a Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane story that also happened to be a soulmark fic.

4. favorite opening line/scene you wrote this year

"I took another sip of tea and longed for coffee." - From I Thoroughly Lived. Mostly because that is how I feel every time I am drinking tea. 

5. favorite ending line/scene you wrote this year

"But in the morning he smiled at her, and she was lost all over again." From Touched. 

6. a trope you wrote this year

I think the only out-and-out trope I wrote was a stuck-in-the-turbolift story. Man, I need to do better next year. 

7. pairings you wrote this year

To the surprise of no one, mostly J/C, but with an increasing amount of Gen, which was an absolute dream to write. 

8. a fic regret from this year

I wrote something I was really proud of, but it hasn't had a chance to see the light of day yet. Hope springs eternal. 

9. a song that helped you write

I always feel weird admitting this, but I'm not a big music person? I spent several days listening to Patsy Cline in December, though, and it got me thinking about a whole series of angsty, melancholy stories based on her songs. Stay tuned. 

10. total number of fics you posted

Eleven stories. My goal for the year was ten, so suck it 2020.

11. total number of words you posted

63,653 (one piece was co-authored, but I can totes claim all those words for these purposes, right? :D )

12. most popular fic written this year

If we're talking hits and kudos alone, A Sensible Understanding - I mean, it was a smut fest with feels, what's not to love? It was an AU (of sorts) of a rather different story from a few months prior and became its far-more-popular younger sibling. I kind of love that about fic writing. 

Between Decks 4 and 5 has also chugged right along and struck a different chord with readers: two people, stuck together in many ways, really just needing to actually talk to each other. 

13. least popular fic written this year

Ship, a little drabble I wrote about Harry meeting Voyager. I don't mind. 

14. longest completed fic you posted this year

I Thoroughly Lived, coming in at 15,208 words. That was a fun one to write: first person POV, a period AU, and an attempt at gothic mystery. Also corset smut.

15. shortest completed fic you posted this year

The aforementioned Ship (100 words)

16. favorite character to write about this year

Well, that would be Chakotay, wouldn't it? Always and forever. I find the glimpses of layers and contradictions and growth endlessly fascinating. I particularly enjoyed getting to explore his relationships with others this year: Tuvok and Harry, Gerron, Seven, and Cris. Definitely planning on more of that for 2021. 

17. a fic you didn’t expect to write

Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) was probably the most unexpected. It was the first time I'd stretched beyond writing for Voyager and the first time I'd written a pairing besides J/C. @coffeeblack75 and I had so much fun analyzing Cris, thinking about how he'd interact with Chakotay, what brought them both to where we see them. So far, our stories are still the only two in that pairing, but we have more planned. And hey, we all need a rare pair, don't we?

18. most memorable comment/review

I received so many lovely comments this year, and I treasure each one like the baubles they are, but I think my favorite one came from BlackVelvet on Wherever We're Lost (Jupiter) because it encompasses steps forward for me as a writer and the feeling that I am starting to progress:

"You could say i'm an unlikely fan of this story. I haven't seen Picard, have no idea who Rios is, rarely read m/m. Then again, i am a fan of your writing. And it's a delightful feeling to pick up a story, whatever story, and start reading it with a certainty that whatever happens, it'll be amazing, cause you trust the writer. You do not disappoint."

19. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

I've had several stories involving B'Elanna that hadn't quite bubbled to the surface yet, but I think (I hope) 2021 will be their year. 

20. something you want to write next year

The B'Elanna stories. The next chapter in the Mythology series. And I want to keeping branching out into other fandoms. That Nancy Drew/Frank Hardy story I've had half-written for a couple years now. Maybe some one-offs in other fandoms that give me some closure.

[tchimurenga]

Harriet

March 2021 [][][] I didn’t see the film Harriet starring Cynthia Erivo when it first came out, but I did see it. Not a boycott ... just late as all hell. Back before I realized that #ADOS was trash, I allowed the noise chorus to influence me that it was no big deal to see this film. More than the trash about Erivo being Black British and her having said offensive remarks about NuAfrikans*, I allowed the cacophony of #blackmaletears to overload my senses. The concern about a “fictitious Black male brute of a slave catcher invented for this film, only to be killed in the end by Harriet’s former master thus positioning himself as a sort of white savior,” is how the story went. I should have known betta. I do now, and I promise to do betta from here on out. Now that I have seen it, here are my thoughts.

I hadn’t planned on this happening, but in this film I saw several positive portrayals of Black men, at least five:

Walter

Former slave-catcher-in-training, portrayed by Henry Hunter Hall. All the noise and fuss, all the whoopin’ and hollerin’ and cryin’ I heard about a Black male slave catcher in this film; how come I never, ever, not once, heard there were TWO Black male slave catchers, one of whom switched sides and became a slave free - er? How come I never, ever heard about this young brutha who says to Araminta**, “ ... since you talk to God and God OBVIOUSLY talks to you, maybe I should help you?” ? How come I never, ever heard about this young brutha who proves himself to the point where Araminta entrusts the safety of her family to him? Makes him promise her that he will get her family to safety and he says yes? How come I never ever heard about this young brutha? Because he did not fit in with the #ados (which is trash) talking point, that’s why.

Ben Ross

Araminta’s father, portrayed by Clarke Peters (my man Lester from HBO’s The Wire and Big Chief Albert Lambreaux from Treme). I saw a loving and devoted husband and family man; one who surreptitiously aided enslaved Afrikans in their escape to freedom. A father who understood his child needed to be free and instead of his love smothering her with worry and trying to keep her “safe” on the plantation he encouraged her to run. It was Araminta’s father who put her in touch with her first crucial link to the Underground Railroad, Reverend Green. When she tells her father she doesn’t trust the pastor he tells her to do as he says. Fortunately Araminta was an obedient child. When Peters’ character refuses to open his eyes to look at her before she leaves I found the scene amusing. It was done so he would be able to truthfully answer that he had not seen her. Later in the film when Araminta returns to take her brothers and a few others with her to freedom, Peters’ character now has a blindfold on so that he cannot see them. Still amused, I thought “this man really does not want to be able to see them.” I soon realized what was truly in play: the last sight of his children leaving for what could perhaps be forever may have been too much for him to endure. Lastly, when Araminta returns and informs her father that he is in danger because of his aiding and abetting enslaved Afrikans and that he must leave with her now, he realizes his baby girl’s words are wise and he doesn’t argue with her. No “man tones” or “mansplaining,” he agrees and he leaves. End of discussion.

Reverend Green

When we first meet Rev. Green, portrayed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, he is leading folks in the singing of “Keep Your Hands On The Gospel Plow,” a traditional Black church hymn. Many of us will recognize it because the rhythm is that of “Keep Your Eyes On The Prize,” sung during the Civil Rights Movement and as the soundtrack for the documentary series Eyes On The Prize. This was our first clue: Reverend Green had Black folks singing about freedom. Araminta does not trust Rev. Geen when her father tells her to go to him, and Araminta’s older brother tells her the exact same thing when they set out for freedom, and for good reason. For no sooner than he finishes leading them in a chorus of The Gospel Plow does he tell the enslaved Afrikans that they must obey their earthly masters even when the masters aren’t around. The quintessential handkerchief-headed, fried-chicken-and-biscuit-eatin’, non-violent-turnin-the-other-cheek Negro Christian pastor. Not. Rev. Green is the trickster. The OG Spook sitting by the door (to freedom). It is Rev. Green that Araminta sees when she first sets out for freedom, her first contact on the Underground Railroad. When Araminta returns after one year and brings her family members and others to Reverend Green’s door, not only does he embrace her and tell her how happy he is to see her; not only does he bring them into the church sanctuary and give them the information they need, when it is time to hide them under the church there are at least three other people down there waiting. These other individuals bypassed Rev. Green all together and just hid out. With a look of “surprised but not”, the pastor tells Araminta “the word about her returning to take folks to freedom has “gotten out.” Obviously, the word was also that Rev. Green was the man that needed to be seen. Shout out to Kasi Lemmons for the family hook-up in hiring her husband.

William Grant Still

Conductor on the Underground Railroad, portrayed by Leslie Odom. My my. Brutha Still. Looking good. So handsome. And sharp. Fine clothing. Able to read and write. And absolutely committed to breaking the law of the land to free the enslaved. William Grant Still was absolutely, positively breaking the law. And he absolutely, positively didn’t give a damn. Once he and Araminta’s relationship deepens he tells her she is too important to simply just go off on missions whenever she chooses. I appreciate this aspect of his strategic and tactical mind. What I didn’t appreciate is when interviewing Araminta upon their first meeting Still noted that she may be suffering from “brain damage” because she said God talked to her. He ain’t had to go there. Be that as it may, Still asks Araminta if she wants a new name now that she is free. She decides to take her names of her mother and husband. Araminta Ross is now Harriet Tubman, thanks to Still asking the question. Towards the end of the film when news of the Fugitive Slave Law is announced, Still shows up with white abolitionists toting guns, with real bullets, who let off actual shots. Still does not carry a firearm but he shows up on the scene with the folks who do and that’s alright with me.

John Tubman

Husband of Araminta/Harriet Tubman, portrayed by Zachary Momoh. Next to Walter, this is my favorite character. The film opens with Araminta/Harriet laying out in an open field and Tubman coming upon her. She has had one of her “spells,” blackouts from a horrendous head injury inflicted by an overseer when she was a child. Momoh’s character gently caresses her face and calls her by her nickname “Minty”. Tubman does not lose his patience or his temper with her; there is no wondering of how long he has to put up with this or why he even has to; no asking of why she doesn’t get a grip or get “over” whatever this ailment of hers is. There is a loving acceptance of who and how she is, and worry that she might forget his name. Minty begins to repeat his name, assuring him that she knows who he is and that she will never forget him. One of the most touching and loving scenes I have ever witnessed between a Black man and woman. My only other comparison of this film would be to the version that Our Mother Cicely Tyson did in the 1970s. Though young when I saw it, I got the distinct impression from that film that John Tubman “punked out” (as we used to say) and was too scared to run away with Harriet once she returned for him. In no way shape form or fashion did I get that impression from this portrayal of Tubman. The only impression I got from this film was that John Tubman LOVED-DE-DED him some Araminta. I said he LOVED-DE-DED him some Araminta. Tubman wanted to make the trek with her but we are reminded that she wanted him to stay. She did not want him to risk his status as a free man, so she made the decision to run alone.

When Araminta/Harriet returns after one year to bring her husband to freedom and he informs her that he has remarried, to say that she is shocked angered hurt and heart-broken are the least of the descriptors we can use. But it is here where Tubman details his love for her. He tells her that when she left without him, he prayed for her. When her master “whipped the sight out of his eye” (a scar crosses his face from forehead to cheek covering his eye) in an attempt to get Tubman to tell where Minty was, he prayed for her. Tubman tells Minty when he heard, erroneously, that she had drowned trying to be free, he prayed for her. “I would’ve died for you,” he tells her, “if you’d’ve let me.”

GAHT DAMN! Where dey do that?!

If the love had been any thicker it would’ve stopped the playback on my laptop.

At least five positive, redeeming qualities of Black male characters in this film about one of the greatest Black women who ever walked this earth. How sad and miserable must some folks’ lives be that they didn’t have the eyes to see this?

But I digress.

From Araminta to Harriet

This was not a film about Black men but about a Black woman. One Black woman. Although this film did not begin with Harriet’s childhood it did a good job for me of showing her develop into a confident Black woman who understood and embraced her purpose. Despite naysayers surrounding her, Harriet not only knew she needed to bring others to freedom, she knew she would be victorious in doing so. This portrayal of Harriet Tubman has made real for us the dictum of “if God be for us who can be against us?” Harriet not only believed God told her she must free others but that God guided her missions safely so she would never, ever lose a “passenger” on the Underground Railroad. There is no earthly explanation for an event such as this; you simply say Ase’ and keep it moving.

On a related note, I appreciated the film’s portrayal of Harriet’s “spells” as visions where the audience gets to see what she sees. I always appreciate when something is made manifest before my eyes as it draws me in to the story more. I love suspending disbelief. I want to be taken on a journey; it’s why I’m here!

“No Black People Were Harmed During The Filming of this Movie”

Years ago, decades, I would see that disclaimer at the end of a film about animals and wonder, why don’t we have one for Black people? This was well before we had both the phenomenon and the language of trauma porn. The energy of the past few years has confirmed that this is an actual phenomenon that concerns a critical mass of Black people; to the point where former Shadow and Act editor Brooke Obie has coined the term “Hurston-Walker Test”*** for it.

On this point, then, I was saddened and a bit unnerved at the demise of Janelle Monae’s character at the hands of Harriet’s former master and his hired slave catcher. She was violently murdered. Fortunately, if that can be said, that was the only instance of trauma porn I detected. And yet, it existed. Six of one, half dozen of another.

As for the White Savior, I saw none. I saw a demon who gave an instruction to a brute. Said demon killed said brute when the instruction was disobeyed because hey, that’s what the system of white supremacy allows. I then saw said demon attempt to kill Harriet Tubman, who disarmed him by shooting him in his hand. Should Harriet have finished him off? Of course she should have, and she would have had Thandisizwe Chimurenga been the director. But there was no white savior in this film. None.

I’m glad I saw Harriet. I wish I had seen it when it first opened and I had written this then.

Sonia Sanchez asks us what work does this do? Each of us must ask this question and answer it for themselves. I have stated above the work I think this film does. I make my commitment to doing so in writing on other films from here on out.

*NuAfrikan or New Afrikan: descendants of Afrikans enslaved in the United States between 1619 and 1865, designated at the 3rd Black Power Conference held in March 1968 in Detroit, Michigan.

**Araminta, Minty for short: Harriet’s name at birth.

***Hurston-Walker Test, named for Zora Neal Hurston and Alice Walker: “Those who love us never leave us alone w/our grief. At the moment they show us our wound they reveal they have the medicine.”

[365days365movies]

February 27, 2021: Love Actually (Part 2)

In case you hadn’t noticed by now...this movie is a lot.

I won’t dwell, and I’ll get back into All Around, but just trust me...this is a bit too much. All I know is that they packed way too much in this film, which is also somehow too long? It’s a lot, yeah? OK, first part of the Recap is right here, let’s get into the second half before I lose my nerve.

Recap (2/2)

So, good news is, Rodrigo and Sarah start dancing at the party, then start to hook up at her place! But the sad news (not bad, just sad) is that it’s interrupted by calls from her brother, Michael (Michael Fitzgerald), a very mentally ill man who lives in an asylum. Their love affair is cut short, and Sarah visits him the next day, where he lashes out at her and claims the nurses are trying to kill him, before being subdued. YIKES. Fuckin’s whiplash.

A little more sadness, as Karen’s convinced that Harry’s fallen out of love with her, having seen how he interacted with the attractive Mia at the party. That’s going to cause some friction, I’m sure. This is folllowed by Mia’s flirtations the following afternoon, which are once again accepted by Harry with no words to the contrary. He also calls her as he’s out, and he appears to be giving into the flirtation, rather than denying them. And as he’s meeting Karen for shopping! Dammit, Harry.

At the store, he buys a necklace for Mia from jewelry salesman Rufus (Rowan Atkinson!). Rufus asks is Harry wants the necklace gift-wrapped, and he agrees. And Rufus...Rufus is the best gift-wrapper of all time. Seriously, the man is a fucking ARTIST. His attention to detail is astonishing, and I love him. Harry doesn’t, as it’s taking way to long. YOU CANNOT RUSH PERFECTION, HARRY! But, yeah, it’s taking too long, and Karen shows up. Harry abandons the necklace, and poor devoted Rufus.

One week until Christmas, as holiday shenanigans take place with everybody! Jamie’s learning Portuguese for Aurélia. Colin (yeah, remember him?) is headed to America, while his roommate Tony is back to work at the film set, where Judy and Jack are being stand-ins for a myriad of sex positions, and Jack asks Judy on a date, which she accepts! A very cute couple, all things considered. They go out on a date on Christmas Eve, and the two kiss on the doorstep. They are legitimately adorable.

Colin arrives at a bar in the United States, and as soon as he orders a beer, his accent IMMEDIATELY draws the attention of Stacey, Jeannie, and Carol-Anne (Ivana Miličević, January Jones, and Elisha Cuthbert). And...IT FUCKING WORKED? These girls are all immediately into him, and invite him to stay with them at their place. However, they only have a small bed, and no couch. Not to mention the fourth girl, Harriet. But he bites the bullet, and accepts the invitation. And once he gets there, the sex proceeds in shadow. I cannot believe it worked, and it’s kind of hilarious.

Meanwhile, the jig is up for Harry. He did indeed get the necklace, and Karen finds it in his pocket before Christmas, assuming that it’s for her. However, when Christmas comes, Harry gives her a Joni Mitchell CD instead, and she realizes that the necklace was for Mia. Which is...shattering. Karen’s extremely hurt by this, fucking understandably.

Christmas Eve! Billy Mack’s song, despite the odds being completely against him, has reached the number one spot on the charts. He appears to be quite happy at a party celebrating him, although his manager appear slightly less so. Wonder why. Jamie, meanwhile, heads to the airport, quite on impulse. Wonder why.

Karl bids Sarah a good night and a Merry Christmas, and she cries when she realizes that their chance of getting together again is shot. Damn. She goes to visit her brother, and I gotta say - she’s a very loving sister. And then...well, it’s the scene. The most famous scene in the movie. You know the one.

And here’s the thing about this scene: is it superficially romantic? Yeah, sure, I guess. And it’s true that Mark doesn’t actually expect anything to come from this, but...this is still an AMAZINGLY shitty thing to do to someone in a committed relationship that involves your friend. Because it could potentially sabotage their relationship. I mean, maybe she’d be tempted to kiss you in a brief moment of infidelity that initially seems romantic, but is kinda fucked up when you really think about it.

Yeah, yeah, LITERALLY JUST LIKE THAT

OK, after that terrible idea, Bill shows up by surprise at his manager Joe’s place, and notes that he could be going to a big party at this point, but Christmas is a time to spend with his family and loved ones, and that the closest thing to that is, in fact, his manager, who is in fact the love of his life. Not sure if that’s necessarily romantic, but that is still sweet. Anyway, they get drunk and watch porn together. Yup.

David, meanwhile, gets a bevy of Christmas cards, one of which comes from Natalie. She apologizes for the kiss situation, and refers to herself as “Your Natalie”. Time to get in the fuckin’ car, David. He drives down to her neighborhood, and goes from door-to-door until he finds Natalie’s place. Her and her entire family are headed to a school concert, and David offers to give her and her little brother a lift there.

On the way there, the two begin to admit their feelings for one another, and Natlie notes that the President forced herself on her, but nothing else happened. While he’s reluctant about the whole affair, she brings him into the concert backstage. As he enters, he runs into his sister Katie, who’s glad to see him, and is clearly holding back tears because of the Harry situation. Judy and Jack are also there, as well as Daniel and Sam (who’s in the concert).

The kids’ concert takes place, and its headed by a solo from Sam’s crush, Joanna (Olivia Olson), who...WAIT, OLIVIA OLSON? As in...

...Huh. Of all the members of this ensemble cast, she’s the one I least expected! But OK! As expected, she’s an excellent singer, and headlines a rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas”. Which seems mildly inappropriate for a kid’s concert, but whatever, sure. She points at various people when saying “is you” in the song, but never at Sam, who’s on the drums. Oof. Sorry, buddy.

The song ends, and the curtain drops, and...

Well, uh...shit. I ean, I’m happy for them both, but David’s officially FUCKED at this point. However, the crowd seems to receive it very well, and that’s lucky. The night ends, and everyone disbands for the night. Harry and Karen are amongst them, and Karen confronts him. She asks what would he do if he were in her position, revealing her knowledge about the necklace. And it’s...affecting, goddamn. He’s made a fool of himself and of her, and she’s struggling.

Daniel congratulates Sam about his performance, but notes that it didn’t work Still, Daniel encourages him to tell Joanna his feelings for her, and he goes to get his things first. Daniel bumps into Carol (Claudia Schiffer), and there’s a connection. Daniel and Sam go to speak with Joanna, but they’re on their way to the airport. They run to meet her there, like in a terrible romance movie. Wait - 

At the airport, Daniel and Sam are too late, but decide to make a run for it while Rufus (KING OF GIFT WRAPPERS) is holding up the attendant while looking for his boarding pass. Sam bolts, unnoticed, and Rufus walks away, giving Daniel a knowing look as he passes by, LIKE A KING. Sam bolts through the metal detectors, as the post-9/11 airport attendants RIGHTFULLY FREAK OUT ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION. However, they’re once again distracted by Billy Mack on TV and he catches up to Joanna before being taken away by the fuzz. However, she gives him a kiss on the cheek, and Sam and Daniel hug. Supportive father-son relationship is sweet. 

Jamie goes to find Aurélia in Portugal, and the entire village ends up following him until getting to the restaurant were he works, and proposes to her in INSANELY broken Portuguese, which is hilarious. And she accepts...IN ENGLISH! Which is saccharine as fuck...but also sweet.

We cut to a month later, and everybody’s at the airport for the Epilogue. And we’re gonna do this...well, bit by bit.

Billy Mack and Joe: Career’s going well, and a comeback is imminent. Not in a romantic relationship, but still extremely close friends...I think.

Juliet, Peter, and Mark: Juliet and Peter are still together; Mark is still single, seemingly. They meet up with...

Jamie and Aurélia: Coming to England for the first time together, and still in love.

Daniel and Sam: Went to see Joanna at the airport, and Daniel is now dating Carol, which is nice!

Harry and Karen: Oof, icy. They definitely don’t appear to be on good terms, and we never learn why Harry’s been away, but yeah. Not looking good for their relationship, understandably.

Jack and Judy: Married! FUCK YEAH! Adorable. They run into...

Colin and Tony: Colin’s back, and he’s brought back Harriet (Shannon Elizabeth) and her sister Carla (Denise Richards), who IMMEDIATELY takes a liking to Tony and they make out at the gate. Can’t believe that Colin was right, goddamn.

David and Natalie: David’s back from a visit somewhere overseas, and he and Natalie happily reunite right in front of the press, and it’s sweet.

And we’re full-circle, as countless people at the airport reunite in loving embraces. And, I gotta say...it is sweet, but you ever been to a crowded airport around Christmastime? Dude, I’ve been to JFK around that time period, and lemme tell you, it’s less happy reunions, and more pissed-off TSA, lost luggage, stressed out EVERYBODY, and Cinnabon. That last one’s not a complaint...I just really want Cinnabon.

Mmmmmmmm...OH RIGHT, THAT’S All Around (AKA Love Actually). This has been...a lot. BUT, I’ll get into the whole thing in the Review! See you there!

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

The Not-So Worst Day of Peter’s Life

This fic is a part of the @friendly-neighborhood-exchange for @fromsiberia

                      Rating: General            Warnings: N/A   

I enjoyed writing this - I hope you enjoy reading it! 

Peter takes a class trip to Stark Industries. What could go wrong (or right)?

Read on ao3

“So, we have a field trip planned,” Peter mentions casually while eating lunch on Sunday.

 Tony swallows the food in his mouth, “Great kid. When and where?”

 “It’s this Friday, and it’s at Stark Industries,” Peter’s mouth contorts into a strained smile. “Did you do this?”

 “I did not, cross my heart and hope to die,” Tony runs a finger across his sternum. “It was probably someone in our HR department. Why, you don’t want to go?”

 “it just puts me in a tough spot because I’m ‘working’ here,” Peter makes finger quotations, “and no one believes me but Ned and MJ, but that’s because they know my alter ego.”

 “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to call out sick and not go in that day? Or do you want me to acknowledge you and just rave about your intelligence? I’m good with that, too.”

 “No! Just do what you normally do. If we run into you, you can just say hi to me to prove you know me, but I don’t need a whole letter of recommendation or anything!” Peter scoffs.

 Tony nods understandingly, “I will be the ultimate professional, but I cannot speak for Happy. Or Bucky, if he’s around.”

“If I’m around where?” Bucky saunters into the room, dropping a kiss on Tony’s cheek.

 “Speak of the devil,” Tony smirks. “Peter’s class is going to SI on Friday for a field trip.”

 Bucky’s eyes glitter. “Good to know.” He grabs a water bottle from the fridge and walks back out. “Going for a run with Steve.”

 “Make sure you shower afterwards!” Tony yells after him.

 Peter turns on Tony as soon as Bucky leaves, “Please don’t let him embarrass me.”

 “I will do what I can,” Tony ruffles Peter’s head. Standing up, he takes his plate and sticks it in the dishwasher. “Hey, I just got some of that stretchy material in. Wanna test it?”

 Peter eagerly follows him into the lab.

 +++++++++++++++++++

“So, Tony didn’t set it up?” Ned asks, biting into his pizza.

 “No, he had no idea. I guess they do field trip things fairly often, so they just have someone in HR schedule them.” Peter wrinkles his nose. “Really Ned? Pineapple and sweet peppers? Ugh, that’s nasty.”

 “You just have boring tastes, extra-cheese man.”

 MJ shakes her head, “Bacon’s where it’s at.”

 Peter and Ned look at each other and shrug. Neither of them can refute the fact that bacon is one of the better pizza toppings.

 “So, Penis, are you going on the field trip on Friday?” Flash Thompson walks up to stand at the end of their table. “I wouldn’t blame you for not going, you know, because it’s going to be so embarrassing for you when we all confirm that your Stark Internship is all in your imagination. Right guys?” Flash’s little posse of friends all agree and laugh.

 “I’m going.” Peter smiles at Flash.

 “Alright. It’s your funeral,” Flash replies then turns to his crowd. “IF we see Tony Stark, maybe he can tell us about Spiderman! Unlike this idiot here, Spiderman actually works with Iron Man! He’s like the coolest superhero out there. Okay, let’s go. Bye losers!” He does a little wave at Peter’s table. Peter gives him a thumbs up in response.

 “I mean, it’s funny to me that Flash loves you and hates you, but why do you put up with that?” MJ comments.

Peter shrugs, “It doesn’t really bother me. If he wants to run his mouth, trying to make me feel small, let him. At least he’s doing it to me, and not someone who will actually be affected by it. By the way, tomorrow night, we’re watching Clueless. Bucky hasn’t seen too many rom-coms, and I mean to change that. Tony said you are welcome to come. He’s making like six different types of popcorn.”

 “I’m in.” MJ nods as Ned raises his hand and waves it to show he also will be there.

 The bell rings to indicate the end of lunch break, and the trio splits up to go to their respective classes.

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tony meets Peter when he gets to the Tower after rotations. “Hey Pete, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you that Harley’s going to be here this week.”

 ‘Oh ok, maybe we can finish that project now that… OH NO! Don’t tell me he’s going to be at SI on Friday!” Peter groans as Tony grimaces.

 “Unfortunately, he will be, and you know there’s nothing I can do to stop him once he’s on a warpath.”

 “My life is over,” Peter mourns. “Why can’t his college have normal spring break just like everybody else?”

 “Probably because the universe is just bent on screwing you over.” Peter hates just how amused Tony sounds.

 He folds his arms. “You’re the worst dad ever.”

 “Sure son. Want to talk it over a game of catch?” Tony has his biggest shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

 Peter shakes his head. “No, I just remembered. Aunt May said she’s going to have supper ready at 6:30 so I got to go. Love you, Dad.” He quickly hugs Tony then runs out the door.

 “Love you, too kid!” Tony calls after him.

 “Look at you, being less and less emotionally stunted as the days go by,” Rhodey comments from the doorway.  “I guess Barnes and the kid are doing you good.”

 “Oh, shut it, platypus.” Tony shoots back good-humoredly. “You were the one who started the process.”

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tuesday night, dubbed “Movie Night,” comes, and Tony, Bucky, Peter, Harley, Ned, and MJ are watching Clueless on Tony’s huge theater-sized TV. JARVIS turns on Clueless, and everyone soon gets lost into the hard high-school life of one Cher Horowitz.

 Peter sympathizes with Cher’s driving issues as he also had a hard time learning to drive. He cringes, thinking of the time he had to drive Flash’s father’s car to chase Liz’s dad. Tony shudders at the fashion, or lack thereof, of the 90’s.

 When the movie ends, Harley points out that although Cher’s last name is supposedly Horowitz, her report card is labelled as Cher Hamilton. MJ tells them she doesn’t like that Josh is Cher’s step-brother – it just weirds her out. Peter asks Bucky what he thought of the movie.

 Bucky thinks about it for a second then asks, “Isn’t this basically modern-day Emma?”

 “Emma?”

 “Yea, the Jane Austen novel. Like, Cher is clearly Emma. She’s so happy she got Dionne together with Murray so she thinks she’s good at this stuff. She takes Tai in order to help her become popular. That means Tai is Harriet Smith. Cher tries to set her up with Elton, whose name is taken straight from Emma – Mr. Elton. Cher thinks she’s in love with Christian, who is pulled from Frank Churchill. The only difference here is that Christian is gay, not already engaged to Jane Fairfax. Josh, of course, is Mr. Knightley, except that he’s Cher’s stepbrother, not a family friend. Because Elton says he’s in love with Cher, not Tai, Tai feels unwanted. When Josh starts showing her attention because Cher asked him to, Tai starts to fall for him just as Cher realizes she’s in love with him. This is equal to the scenes where Mr. Knightley dances with Harriet when Mr. Elton snubs her. Harriet believes he is interested whereas he’s only doing Emma a favor. Harriet tells Emma that she thinks she loves Knightley. As a result, Emma gets a reality check. In the end, Tai dates the skater boy Travis, who is the modern-day Robert Martin, deemed as unworthy by Cher/Emma.” He pauses when he sees everyone just staring at him, open-mouthed. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

“Oh my gosh,” MJ whispers. “I think I love him.”

 “Sorry, he’s mine,” Tony wraps his arms around Bucky. “Bucky, darling, I don’t know because I don’t read mushy stuff like Jane Austen, but based on MJ’s reaction, you must have hit the nail on the head.”

 Bucky nuzzles Tony’s cheek with his nose until Harley fake gags, “There are children present!”

 “The book is better, but the movie was ok,” Bucky wrinkles his nose.

 Peter clutches his chest, “It’s a rom-com classic! I can’t believe it!” He dramatically falls off the couch onto the floor, acting as if his heart had failed him.

 “Oh, no, we lost him. What ever shall we do?” Harley deadpans, stuffing a pillow on Peter’s face and holding it there until Peter rolls over.

 “You are all a bunch of children,” Tony laughs. “Honey, don’t you feel like the parent of some very unruly children.”

 Bucky snorts, “Gee, I wonder who they got it from.”

 “Gasp. Betrayed by my own boyfriend. Now I have no one in the cruel, cold world.” Tony splays a hand across his arc reactor. “Woe is me.”

 All too soon, though, it was time to go home, and Peter wishes all his nights could be like this. As Peter leaves one last lingering look at Tony and Bucky on the couch, he feels Harley nudge him. “Hey, at least you can leave,” the blond nineteen-year-old grins. “I’m going to have to deal with them, and I don’t think they’re going to wait until they get to their room to start. Seriously, I may have to gouge my eyes out by the end of the week.”

 Peter pats Harley on the shoulder, “I’m sure you’ll manage. Have a good night.”

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Peter spends Wednesday night with Aunt May, but Tony asks for his help in the SI lab on Thursday. Two hours into working on improving Peter’s suit, Peter admits, “I’m a little nervous about tomorrow.”

 Tony immediately puts down his tools, “Ok… talk to me. What’s wrong?”

 “I just… don’t know what’s going to happen, and I don’t want to make a big deal about the whole internship. Like, I don’t even care if they don’t believe me. Now it either becomes a big deal, or they'll all still think I’m a liar. And what if someone makes the Spiderman connection?”

 “Hey, kid. You'll be fine, but if you don’t want to go, don’t go. You’ve got nothing to prove to anyone. I’ll support you with whatever you choose.  And the Spiderman thing? I don’t think anyone’s going connect the dots. They'll probably think Harles is Spiderman before you." Tony knocks his shoulder. “All I’m saying is I will be happy to see you if you decide to go, and I would never be ashamed of being seen with you. I’ve basically adopted you. If you want to add fuel to the flames, I can even call you son.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

 “No! Please don’t! I don’t need that as well.” Peter groans.

 “Ok ok fine!” Tony holds up his hands. “But let me know if you need me to be a school emergency contact. I know May’s been having longer shifts, but she won’t accept my help.”

 “She’s a strong independent woman, Tony. She doesn’t need you.”  Peter jabs playfully.

 “No she does not. I admire her. The only person I admire more than her is Pepper. And I’ve met Thor, Peter.”

 Peter gasps dramatically, “Don’t diss on my Thor!”

 When Peter goes to leave that night, Tony pulls him into a hug. “Love ya, son.”

 “Love you, too, dad.” Peter’s heart fills with happiness. He supposes tomorrow won’t be too bad.

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Friday comes, and May wakes Peter up for his class trip. He groans but gets up. “Ugh. Today is going to be a train wreck.” He tells her.

 “You know, you don’t have to go on your class trip,” May remarks, looked amused.

 “Yea, I know, but I feel like I should just go.”

 Peter gets to school, and Flash seems to be waiting for him. “Oh, hey guys. Here he is! We’re going to see today just how pathetic Parker is. I hope you’re ready.” Flash smirks at him.

 “Oh, believe me, I am not ready for this trip,” Peter concedes, “but for reasons that are so much different than what you’re thinking.”

 “Ok, boys, enough fighting. It’s time to go,” Mr. Harrington calls from the front of the classroom. “Everyone, pair up and get on the bus.”

 Peter and Ned fall in line together, followed by MJ and Betty. The pretty blonde taps Peter on the shoulder. “Hey Peter, for what it’s worth, I believe you.”

 “Thanks Betty! I appreciate it.” Peter smiles back at her.

 The four of them sit together in the back of the bus, ignoring all the chaos going on in front of them. “It gets worse,” Peter confides to Ned, “Harley’s gonna be there. You know it’s his goal in life to make me as uncomfortable as possible.”

 “Relax, Pete, he’s like your brother. That’s what family’s for.”

 The bus ride takes approximately thirty minutes to get to Stark Industries. Once everyone is out and lined up two by two, Mr. Harrington leads them up to the facility. He fumbles with the paperwork as he walks up to a security guard. Once the guard is satisfied, he takes them in to the front desk. Bambi is working the desk, as usual. She hands out visitor’s cards to every member of the party, and her face brightens when she sees Peter. “Oh, hi Peter! I didn’t realize this was your class. You should just be showing them around, don’t you think?” She winks at him.

 Peter loves Bambi. She treats him like her own grandchildren. “Hi, Bambi. It’s good to see you. Today, I think I’m just following along with the rest of them.”

 As the rest of the class had already left the receptionist desk to wait for their tour guide, no one heard Peter and Bambi’s interaction. Mr. Harrington calls him over, and Flash looks at him suspiciously. “What, did you ask her to act like she knew you?”

 “No, she just knows me. That’s Bambi.”

“No shit. Isn’t that what her name tag read?” Flash retorts, and Peter mentally nods. Flash does have a point there.

 “Midtown High?” A voice says, and Peter freezes. No. He knows that voice. He turns slowly to find that his fear is, in fact, reality. “Hello, my name is Harley Keener. I’m a part-time intern of Tony Stark, and I will be your tour guide today. Does anyone have any questions before we start?”

 Annabelle raises her hand, “Will we see Tony Stark or Pepper Potts today?”

 “You are in luck, because Tony himself instructed that I show you his lab today. Ms. Potts is the CEO of the company, so I can’t really say if we will see her or not. She is a very busy woman.” Harley smiles. Peter feels his eyes on him, and when Peter looks up, Harley’s smile becomes a smirk. Peter’s spidey-senses tingle with a sense of foreboding.

 Flash nudges Peter, “Hey Porker, that is what someone who interns for Tony Stark would look like. He’s mature and actually attractive… unlike you.”

 “You think he’s mature? He’s the devil incarnate. The only reason he is leading this tour is because he wants to make my life miserable,” Peter hisses.

 Flash scoffs, but he just rejoins his partner at the front of the line.

 “Hey, kid.” Harley addresses Flash. “I’m sorry, but I need to ask you to stay with your partner in a two-by-two line unless I say you can spread out. I don’t want to cause problems, but I’m sure you understand that we have precautions that we must take in order to let guided tours through here.” Peter holds in a laugh when Flash looks properly chastised.

 Ned leans close and says, “And that’s where family has your back as well, even after you call them ‘the Devil incarnate.’”

 Harley leads them through department after department, explaining how each of them work. After explaining, he would ask if anyone had any questions. Finally, on the sixth floor, Flash can’t resist any longer. “I have to ask, Mr. Keener, do you know anyone by the name of Peter Parker?”

 “You mean Tony’s other intern? Yea I know him. He’s a little shit most of the time, but yea. Any other questions?”

 Everyone in the class turns back to Peter, who can’t help but smile smugly. “I have a question,” Peter asks, “Why did you decide to guide this tour? This isn’t your normal job here.”

 The blood drains from Peter’s face when Harley just smiles and says, “It was something I wanted to do, and Tony owed me that favor after he lost the bet.”

 “Oh crap.” The foreboding tingles are back.

 Mr. Harrington looks confused, “I’m sorry. I guess you two know each other?”

 “Yes, we have worked together on many a project with Mr. Stark,” Harley informs him. “We just have a little harmless rivalry – like to poke fun at each other.”

 Flash looks like he’s just going to faint. Peter wants to laugh at him, but he’s mature. He’ll laugh about it later.

 Harley continues, “Now, if no one has any questions about this department, I will take you up to the next floor. Please be warned, this is Tony Stark’s R&D floor. We will have to confiscate any phones as we do not allow any videos and pictures on this floor.” They climb the stairs. “Before we go in, please hand all your phones and/or recording devices to Alessia here. She will return them to you once we come back out of this room.”

 Once everyone forks over their technology, Harley puts his hand on the scanner, and the doors open. “Please line up against the wall, and don’t touch anything.” He tells them.

 Peter groans aloud when he sees the view in front of him. Bucky frickin’ Barnes is sitting on the frickin’ table where Tony is fixing his frickin’ arm! He knows Bucky and Harley have something up their sleeve.

 “You ok there, Parker?” Harley asks, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

 “Yeah. I’m great.” Peter grits out.

 Tony and Bucky seem to be in their own little world because neither of them looks up. Tony closes a plate on Bucky’s arm and runs his hand down the arm until he clasps Bucky’s hand in his own. Bucky touches Tony’s face with his right arm, and Harley clears his throat loudly. Bucky slowly drops his hand, and they both turn to look at the class, Bucky’s eyes seeking Peter out.

 Tony smiles his press smile, “Welcome, guys, gals, and non-binary pals to where the magic happens. This lab here is my personal lab, and very few people have access to this select lab. Consider yourselves lucky. Sergeant Barnes here just had some problems with his arm, and, as I was working here today, came to visit me. If you see over there, I have my helper bots.” Tony walks over to ELL-E. “This darling here is one of my newer ones. Say hi, ELL-E!” Everyone awws when she raises her claw and waves. “I have three of these at home, all built when I was in college. Since I work most days at the tower, I keep them there. DUM-E was the first AI bot I ever made. He’s a mess, though. That’s why his name’s DUM-E.” He claps his hands together. “Now does anyone have any questions… actually, wait, I have a question for you kids. We are in the process in updating the Stark phone. Does anyone here own one, and if so, do you have any suggestions in improving it?”

 Raoul raises his hand, “Well, I must say I do love the latest update… the easy access to setting up disability features really helped my mom use her phone better. She used to make one of us use her phone for her because most phones either don’t have the features or make it hard to find where to turn them on.”

 “Thank you. Fun fact – that update was drawn up and coded by your very own classmate over there, one Mr. Peter Parker. I don’t know how much of a bragger he is – I sure was one when I was his age – but that young man is brilliant. I am honored to have him working here as an intern.” Tony sends a smile towards Peter.

 Flash raises his hand, “Hi, so if Peter interns for you, and you mostly work from the tower, does that mean Peter works at Stark Tower around all the superheroes?”

 “Yup,” Tony smiles. “To be honest, I think he had the biggest freak out when he met Bucky over here… or maybe Thor. Sorry, Buck, I think Thor is his favorite.”

 A few other students raise their hands to ask questions, and Peter zones out. A loud clapping sound wakes him from his reverie.

 “I hate to interrupt, but it’s almost time for lunch,” Harley speaks up. “Do you want me to take them down now, or is there anything else you want to say?”

 Tony spins back around to face them, finger in the air. “I just had a brilliant idea. Why don’t you join me and Sergeant Barnes for lunch? We’re going down to the cafeteria. Just order what you want on my dime. We’ll accompany you down in a minute.”

 “Sir, you don’t have to,” Mr. Harrington sputters. “The students did all bring lunch…”

“Oh, it would be my pleasure. I have more money than I know what to do with. I insist,” Tony says. Then he smirks and says, “I know, Ms. Jones, that I should sink my money into charities and things. Please provide me with several of your choice, and I promise to make a large donation.”

 MJ’s mouth opens and closes, then she nods. “Fair enough.”

 “Ok kiddos,” Harley says, “let me take you down to the cafeteria. If you want your phones back, please make sure you pick them up from Alessia.”

 Peter and Ned are the last ones to leave the lab. Peter turns right before he walks out. Bucky and Tony wave at him. He groans, “They’re going to do something at lunch. I can feel it.”

 Five minutes later, Tony and Bucky arrive in the cafeteria, holding hands.

 “Holy shit! Are they actually together?” Adria gasps in a loud whisper.

 Ned rolls his eyes. “Of course. What, have you been living under a rock?”

 After the power couple get their food, they sit at the table where Peter and Harley are sitting. “So, did we do ok, kid?” Tony asks.

 “Well, now the whole world is going to know you’re dating. They’re not ‘just speculating’ anymore.” Peter smirks.

 “Babe, we can have a make out session on the table now!” Bucky’s eyes twinkle. “We don’t have to hide anymore!”

 “Gosh no, please, please no!” Peter groans. “Ugh. I hate you all right now.”

 “We love you, too,” Harley coos.

 Twenty minutes later, Harley and Mr. Harrington round up the class to proceed with the tour. Bucky pulls Tony up and says, “Come on, Mr. Stark, you have a meeting with Ms. Potts to which you must not be late if you know what’s good for you.” “Oh, are you giving me orders, Sergeant Barnes?” Tony asks back, and Peter knows his face is bright red.

 “Just… go.” He mutters, and he’s sure only Bucky was able to hear him. Bucky takes it as a cue to leave. He takes Tony’s arm.

 “Here is where I must take my leave,” Tony, ever the showman, bows. “Thank you all for touring my humble company, and I do hope you all have enjoyed yourselves. Bye, Petey.” He wiggles his fingers. Peter hides his face in his hands.

 “Kill me now,” he pleads to Ned.

 The rest of the field trip goes off without a hitch, and the ride back to school is peaceful. Peter imagines everyone is on Twitter going on about Winteriron or something. He realizes that Tony and Bucky did this so that no one would bother him about the internship. Once again, he is choked up to see just how caring and thoughtful Tony is.  The next person who says differently can catch these hands. He thinks.

 Peter leaves quickly when school ends so he doesn’t miss his bus that has a tendency to show up early. Tony is waiting for him at the tower when he gets there. “So how did we do today?”

 “You guys were embarrassing, but I guess I’ve come to terms with it.” Peter grumbles. “That’s what family does. Thank you for taking all the attention off of me. You didn't have to go semi-public with your relationship.”

 “Let you have the spotlight? Never! Don't you know I need it all?” Tony jokes, then smiles softly. “I only did what Rhodey would’ve done to me.”

 Peter smiles, “Rhodey is a gift to this world.”

 “Peter, my dear, you are brilliant, but let me tell you, that is the smartest and most correct thing you have ever said,” Tony takes him by the shoulders. “But if you ever tell my honeybear that, I will deny it vehemently.”

 “Understood. Hey want to play a game of chess?” When Tony agrees, Peter gets the chessboard out that Wanda had given him. Apparently, it had belonged to her father. Peter just likes the glass pieces.

  Epilogue

On Monday, Flash apologizes to him when they return to school. “Hey Parker, I… uh… I’m sorry for all that shit I said about you. I guess it just seemed unreal, and I shouldn’t have made fun of you like that.”

 “Yea, you shouldn’t have. Being a dick doesn’t make you cool; it just makes you look like a dick. But I do understand. My life is pretty surreal. No harm done – just don’t do it anymore to anyone.” Peter tells him.

 Flash nods, “Yea, I know. So, have you met Spiderman? Is he as cool as he seems?”

 “Nah, I hate him. He’s a total loser. He once stole my ice cream sandwich and didn't replace it or apologize.” Peter smiles. “Now, Thor? He’s not called a god for no reason. He would never do that.”

 Peter walks out of school much happier than usual. Maybe this field trip wasn’t so bad.

[amarguerite]

This is a question about an AU of an AU but I do wonder if in that WWII AU of your soulmate AU if Lizzie got to go to college? I always felt sad that she and her sisters never got a real chance at higher education in their own era.

Oh yeah! I think maybe I talked with @rain-sleet-snow about it in the comments somewhere but I did think that Lizzy went to Shrewsbury College in that AU— the one Dorthy Sayers made up for Gaudy Night. I think we figured out that if Lizzy was 21 in 1941, she’d be the right age to run into Lord Peter Whimsey and Harriet Vane when they were there investigating a poison pen mystery in 1936. It would have been in her first year, and she’d have to stay an extra to get an MA in order to be home in time for the regular P&P plot to take place. The whole affair was likely to have passed over her head for the most part, except to give good girl Lizzy a fascination with bohemian scandal in the form of Harriet Vane’s sordid past and her romance with Lord Peter. Not enough to actually do anything immoral or scandalous— just to question recurved wisdom to to enjoy hearing about people’s travels in the Weimar Republic.

Mary would definitely go to Oxford to read history, but I think Kitty and Lydia would not even want to sit for the entrance exams. I think Lizzy would want to go to Oxford at first to annoy her mother and to please her father, and then discover a) how she genuinely she enjoys being outré in an acceptable way, and b) how interesting she finds it, and c) how nice it is to expand her female acquaintanceship network, a thing that I think all Austen heroines do or learn to do over the course of their novels. I don’t know what she’d study though! Maybe natural sciences m? And as Lizzy doesn’t have the patience to teach and didn’t meet her soulmate at Oxford Mrs. Bennet considers the whole thing a waste of time. What on earth is Lizzy going to do with an MA in the natural sciences/ the classics/English literature/ whatever?

(Join the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry of course!)

[musicallisto]

Can I have a matchup for Marvel, Maze Runner, and Harry Potter. I am 5'7 and have really short hair. I'm an African-American and straight. I am optimistic, a little bit lazy, and a talk a lot if interested. I tend to sleep a lot, but stay up all night. I love lacrosse, dance, and singing. I have glasses and really can't see a thing without them. I am smart and I like to read and listen to music. I love affection, but tend to get a little shy with public affection. I'm a female & Sagittarius too.

I Ship You With...

Miles Morales

I considered pairing you up with Peter Parker for a minute, but then I decided against it: in my opinion, Miles’ golden personality as a popular kid who just wants to be normal, far from this superhero mess, would be a better match to yours. I think you’d bring out the best in him and your presence and support would make him feel more confident than ever.

On the nights when you can’t sleep, Miles takes you on mini road-trips to the outskirts of New York, driving aimlessly around the city, talking about whatever is on your mind, and eventually stopping by a bridge overlooking Queens in the distance. You can enjoy the view - unless Miles has taken your glasses to mess with you, in which case you’ll spend more time fighting to get them back than actually admiring the landscape -, and he can let his creativity flow by painting graffiti on the concrete. You’d play soft music and feel like you’re transported to another universe.

Miles gets super enthusiastic when you’re haging out together, so he may go for a hug or a kiss when you’re out and about and you make a comment that reminds him of how much he loves you. He knows, however, that you’re not big on PDA, so he won’t force it upon you. Once you feel more comfortable with quick kisses or hand holding in public, he won’t refrain. He loves you a whole lot, even more than this city he’s sworn to protect, and he wants you, as well as everyone else, to know it.

Newt

You capture Newt’s attention without even trying. When the the boys and Teresa meet Group B, they won’t stop talking about Harriet and Sonya, the charismatic and slightly fearsome leaders, and even if there’s a certain familiarity about Sonya that Newt can’t totally place, he can’t help being mesmerized by you, your presence, your intelligence, your bright mind, your outspoken nature, how you don’t let the others push you around and yet are never an intimidating person. You can hold a conversation like no one and you’re actually a great companion to Newt. Sometimes he gets overwhelmed by the other boys’ brawly voices. But you’re always kind and gentle, interesting to talk to - and about.

And soon, the other boys can’t take a second more of his rambling about you. It’s like he’s constantly praising whatever last thing you did, telling the other boys to “think like she would”, wondering what you’d like... “shank, you need to tell her how you feel, or else I will” “whatever you’re on about?” “Newt, your heart eyes are visible from space...”

So he finally decides to confess his feelings, not because he particularly wanted to - every logical thought advised him against it, you wouldn’t be together for a long time, the world was uncertain, you could be separated by the Trials, by the Flare, by anything -, but because he had to give it to the others: he would burst, and kill the others, if he kept quiet. Fortunately, you’ve never been one to think logically - less than Newt, anyway.

Of the rare moments where you can catch a little bit of peace, the nights are your favorite. When everyone is asleep, and the desert is silent, you find your spot in each other’s arms, and slowly dance under the moonlight... he’s not the best, and he often gets insecure about his limp, but you reassure him and teach him. With a little practice, he’ll soon be as great a dancer as you are. all the more reason to stick together.

Ron Weasley (Golden Trio Era)

You’re a little bit lazy? You like to sleep in? Well do I have great news for you. It’s not that you don’t do a lot with Ron - you have a very active relationship, given how much you both like sports, but it’s always nice to have a long cuddle session after a long day. More often than not, other Gryffindors will find you snuggling together on a couch, Ron’s arm lazily draped over your waist, fast asleep together - and God help them if they ever mention someone snoring. It’s an intimate form of connection that you really love.

Of course, your days are filled with a lot of entertainment and magic, literally speaking... when you’re not busy fighting the forces of Evil or whatever dark mage is trying to take over the wizarding world now, you like to watch and practice different sports. Ron always attends all the Lacrosse tryouts and matches that he can, and even brings his father along, because he knows it will cheer him up to see a Muggle sport. When you were still attending Hogwarts, you would also watch every single one of Ron’s Quidditch matches, unless you were yourself on the team, obviously.

You could even expect a grand kiss after the match when Gryffindor won. He would wait until you were in a more secluded area because he knows you’re not a fan of public displays of affection, but the adrenaline of the game hasn’t worn off just yet, so the kiss is still as magical ;)

Just like he used to do with Harry... he’ll tease you with your glasses, but just a little bit. He knows that’s not your preferred topic of teasing, but it’s just so much fun watching you get all riled up and insisting that you’re not blind, you just really need the glasses. As a fellow heavily near-sighted individual, I empathize with you lots.

[firstmatey]

► — now announcing their royal highness, [ THOMAS DOHERTY ]  ! oh , wait . that’s just [ HARRY HOOK ] , the [ BAD ] child of [ CAPTAIN JAMES HOOK ] they are currently a [ 25 ] year old [ PROFESSIONAL SAILOR ] of [ AURADON ] , but were originally from [ THE ISLE ] . people say they remind them of [ MANIACAL GRINS & CHAOTIC FILLED LAUGHTER, A GLEAMING, SHARP POINTED SILVER HOOK, CHARMING ACCENT AND WORDS TO FOLLOW ] & that they are [ + LOYAL , + CHARMING ] but also [ - IMPUSLVE , - VIOLENT ]. welcome , to the beginning of the new united world

trigger warnings: violence, child abuse, mental illness

to begin off here is a link to harry’s wiki since he is a canon character to give more of a brief overview of himhis personality has not changed at all. he’s still very snarky, prideful, wild, and pretty darn unpredictable with what he’ll do or say. he has very little love for the ak kids and will, more often that not, give them a hard time and just be as difficult as he can

i do headcanon that while harry is unaware of who is mom is, she is a siren which makes him half-siren. however, he has no knowledge of this whatsoever so it’s a complete mystery for him.

harry is a flirt. a really, really big flirt. comes with his charismatic personality, and a lot of the time he uses it as a tool to get what he wants. harry knows he’s attractive. he knows people find him attractive. he’ll flirt with vks and aks, doesn’t matter to him. he has no preference whatsoever. he’s not at all ashamed of being bisexual and he’ll sure as heck flaunt it around to mess with people, just to flirt, or whatever. it’s a fun time for him

he is extremely attached to uma and gil, though. super attached. he is very loyal and would never leave their sides. ever.literally would die for uma. he would do anything she asked, very rarely questions it

at the same time, he’s so attached and willing to do whatever for uma and the crew because he’s afraid that if he doesn’t, then they won’t need him anymore and toss him away.

harry has a bit of a thing with living up to his dad and aspiring to be like him. he carries a hook on his hand so he can resemble his dad more, and that hasn’t remotely changed one bit. he did try to get tic-tock to bite his hand off before so he could have a real hook like his dad, but the crocodile just looked at him and went back to sleep

harry isn’t completely mentally stable. he has more than a few issues that he refuses to acknowledge. uma and gil are the ones that keep him together rather than falling apart

he had a pretty big reputation on the isle. one, very cruel and someone not to be messed with. two, he sorta was a man whore. got around a bit and has absolutely no shame of it whatsoever.

at a younger age he used to be a lot different. more carefree, open. friendly. but his dad saw too much of peter pan in him, and that was quickly snuffed out. harry has dealt with abuse most of his life, physical, mental, and emotional.

plays the piano and is actually really good at it. but only uma and gil and his sisters are aware of this particular habit

do not touch his hook. or his left hand. just.... don’t.

harry is an extremely violent person who will resort to violence as his first instinct. he is incredibly prideful of who he is and what he can do, and tends to have more of a wild and unpredictable nature to his actions. despite this, he is charismatic and is known to draw people close. harry has no concept of personal space boundaries, and uses touch as a form of intimidation.

Current Life

he definitely has no love for auradon and most likely never will. especially after the sea 3 were willing to help until they learned that opening the barrier had been a complete lie. harry wasn’t going to do a damn thing with that knowledge.

remaining on the isle for the years that he has definitely has.... put him into an even worse mental state than before. though he’s unaware of it, he does suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder ( c-PTSD ) and body integrity identity disorder ( BIID ) specifically with his left hand. he’s definitely gotten worse over the years without getting the help he needs or having that freedom.

so he’s not happy. he’s angry at auradon for keeping them trapped while they got to live their happily ever after. and he’s for damned sure ready to tear it all to pieces. 

does work in auradon as a professional sailor mainly to keep an eye on things and to spy. 

in an open relationship with uma. the dynamic works very well for them and has since they decided to be honest about their feelings for one another. sure, harry might flirt with other people and sleep around still but his heart belongs to uma and he never fails to return to her every day. 

definitely has quite a few tattoos. honestly too many to list right now but eventually.

Wanted Plots and connections

friends from the isle that he’s known for most of his life

flirtationships

i’d love his sisters, cj and harriet around honestly.

rivals, both  vks and aks

aks that are trying to be friendly with him but harry is difficult and not making it easy at all for them

friends with benefits kinda thing cause he would not be opposed to that at all

vks that have a bad history with him on the isle

past relationships, exes, past flings

maybe someone who has feelings for him that he’s never going to return. an unrequited situation 

i am up for a lot of things honestly so if you wanna do something definitely come to my ims and we can discuss things and plot and make some connections !!

[islecaptain-a]

Harriet Hook - Parentage Headcanon - main verse

In partnership with @wearethedescendants​ kids.

Harriet Maeve Hook was born in Mermaid Lagoon on the coast of Neverland two months before the Isle was created and the barrier trapped it’s residents to Captain James Hook and the Queen of the Neverland Sirens.

In Siren culture, daughters are revered and son discarded and left for dead. In the past, the Neverland Sirens have had a pact with Peter Pan that he could have any boy children until he got bored of them and was then free to do whatever he wished to get rid of them. But their start in life is all the same, the children of sirens are born in the sea, and their first breath is that of sea water to ensure the Siren legacy lives on within them. They are then taken above the water in Mermaid Lagoon and left on the rocks. The boys are taken away by Peter or left to perish. Daughters are taken by one of the Siren on the land to spend a night above the water before returning to the pod.

In some rare instances where the father lives, those daughters can be left with their father until they are older. Captain James Hook was always the villain of the Neverland tales, and none would refute he was a villain, but he was also cultured, well-read. a romantic at heart and when he first laid eyes on one of the Sirens, it was hatred at first sight. The Siren detested him, were scared of him. But when he rescued one of the siren,  freeing her from a net fishing trap set by the lost boys, they fell in love as he nursed her injuries.

In the meantime, another Siren hearing that Hook was raising his daughter until she was required to return to the sea gave birth to a son by a notorious pirate by the name of Jack Sparrow. Pretending to the crew that Harriet and Caspian were twins, and pretending to the Siren’s the boy was Smee’s by some tavern wench in Tortuga, he made it work and vowed to raise the boy as his own.

It wasn’t until two months after their daughter was born, when the Auradon Guard came for him, and took the infants from their father’s arms on the ship that the truth came to light - his love, Harriet’s mother, was Queen of the Neverland Sirens - she came and fought with them, but when her brother-in-law King Triton intervened and told the story of Athena’s death at the hands of a feared Neverland pirate, that the Queen reluctantly handed her daughter over. Inconsolable as Hook and the infant sirens were led away - as a sign to Auradon that not even Royal families were above the Isle of the Lost laws.

Harriet grew up on the Isle not knowing what she and Caspian were. There were tells, but only three people know of the children’s true heritage until Harriet turned seventeen - Hook, Smee and Veronica - the Queen of Hearts. There was signs, but nothing that anyone other then The Queen of Hearts clicked onto Harriet’s true nature.

Harriet could last underwater longer than most.

A sign that no one realised was that when she first started wrestling crocodiles and Tick Tock’s son Tizoc, the little pirate spent too long under water while wrestling. But given that no one was there except Harriet and Tizoc and they were busy wrestling, the sign wasn’t picked up

Captain Hook refuses to let Harriet sing on the ship.

He knows the barrier is in place but when Harriet was young, her humming seemed to make the crew glassy eyed (though never affected them more than that) out of fear he powers could grow more under the barrier. He banned her from humming or singing, saying it was bad luck for a women to sing on a ship.

Harriet had super fast reflexes which helped her to pick up swordfighting as a natural.

Harriet’s screams can shatter glass.

This was what alerted the Queen of Heart to Harriet. Of course Harriet attended the Queen’s dance lesson’s with Raven Fae, and of course Harriet hated Raven leading. One day she screamed in frustration. But curious over the fact that the sound was ethereal and the glass in the room shook, the Queen of Heart pried the information about Harriet’s heritage from Hook and she was immediately signed up for the Queen’s out of Dragon Hall classes. 

When Harriet was seventeen, some of Judge Frollo’s men tried to drown her because a woman leader so young was unnatural and clearly the work of satan.

That was the night that the entire isle realised what she was, her powers came into their own, breathing underwater fully, her eyes began to change colour during heighten emotions.

Even then though, Harriet is only aware she is a siren. She is not aware of who her mother is, or her mother’s importance in Neverland. To Harriet she’s the woman who left her with villains.

Highlights:

Harriet Hook’s full name is Princess Harriet Maeve Lagoona Hook 

I’m using the fandom theory that Athena (Ariel’s mother) who was canonly killed by a fearsome pirate, was actually one of the Neverland Mermaid’s (see picture below, it’s pretty uncanny).

I’m expanding on that by making Triton/Athena’s marriage royalty/royalty, where the likely met while their parents were discussing business and fell in love that way - but Athena and Triton were true loves.

Harriet’s mother is Athena’s elder sister and Queen of the Siren (technically a different Kingdom from Mermaid because different powers), which meant Athena was Harriet’s aunt, and Ariel is Harriet’s maternal cousin.

[mymelancholiesblues]

Just wondering, what your head canon for Leon's family?

Oh my god, I was planning to post this huge compilation of my RE Headcanons soon (starting with what I have for Leon) when I got your ask’s notification. Are you a mind reader? Hahaha. But really, thank you for providing me with a justification to start posting them.

I would like to please invite you to sit because I have plenty – honestly PLENTY – of things to share over this specific matter (Leon’s family). And, of course, to ask you to bear with me through them.

For anyone else whose interest might be picked over this: keep in mind that these are (obviously) my headcanons for Leon’s background and family and in no way is anyone else under the obligation to accept nor fully agree with them.

I wrote them down because I think A LOT about storytelling devices, stories structures, characterization and characters studies, world-building, fiction tropes, etc. and, since I’ve been a Resident Evil fan from age eight to this day, I also tend to spend a lot of time thinking about its characters – and the overall rest of its lore. Furthermore, as a way to help me write them in fanfictions or even in meta-analysis, I’m always thinking of what would make sense within these characters narratives and to their personalities.

Anyway. Back to Leon and his family!

There’s a very solid theory in RE Fandom that Raccoon City is set in Missouri. I really take this into account when I think about RE Characters because it helps me “placing them” before Raccoon, since not all of them were originally born/living there. Leon, for example, according to canon material, only decided to apply to be a police officer in Raccoon because “he was intrigued by the bizarre murders cases in Raccoon City” going in the news. 

Because of this, *my* Leon S. Kennedy:

– Was born in small Galena/Illinois. His parents moved to Chicago/IL when he was around 8;

– So, huge fan of the Chicago Bears (and the Chicago Bulls);

– Leon was lovingly raised by a very Catholic couple, Liliana and Isaac;

– Since Kennedy and Scott are, respectively, an Irish surname and a Scottish name and Leon is not an unusual name in Polish (check out about Polish Americans in Illinois and you’ll have a more proper comprehension of my thought process) and German cultures, I think Isaac would be a man of mixed Irish and Scottish heritage, and Liliana of Polish and German heritage;

– Although, his biological parents were actually Roberto (Italo-American punk) and Abigail, Liliana’s youngest sister;

– Robby was a drunken deadbeat, while Abbie was an airhead obsessively in love. Leon was conceived when they were both very young – his mom had sixteen and his dad eighteen;

– Liliana had three daughters (ages 10, 13 and 15) by then (1977), but she and Isaac always dreamed of having a little boy. They even tried to, but the attempts led to miscarriage after miscarriage, so when Abbie gave birth to Leon, the couple was pretty much devoted to their nephew, always visiting to see him and make sure he was properly being taken care of;

– Robby took note of all that and when Leon was only barely one year old, he packed his and Abbie’s stuff and imposed that he was leaving and that she should go with him, leaving the baby behind, telling her that surely Liliana would raise him as if he were hers;

– Indeed she did, albeit feeling distraught by her sister’s complete negligence;

– Isaac adored the boy, and Leon’s three cousins always treated him as their little brother;

– Also: Liliana decided she wanted to erase Abbie’s true connection to Leon, so she got rid of all the photographies that led to those deductions, leaving only the ones that showed baby Leon alone or the ones with the rest of his relatives, but not with his biological parents. Isaac never agreed with this, though. He believed that once Leon got older, he had the right to know his origins, believing that if their love for the boy was true he’d love them back and recognise their role in his life, so there was no need to lie. Thus, he kept a photo that featured Robby resting a hand in Abbie’s shoulder while she was breast-feeding Leon;

– Isaac was very ill when Leon was nearing his eighteenth birthday, and passed away just five months prior to Leon turning nineteen (Isaac was sixty-three years old by his time of death). Leon found that hidden photo after Isaac’s death since his dad left most of his personal belongings to Leon;

– Leon never confronted his mother on it, putting together two and two and realising his biological parents haven’t thought twice before abandoning him, so he shouldn’t bother with them either as he was raised in a genuinely loving and supportive family;

– As I said, Leon has three older sisters: Lydia (born 1962), Meryl (born 1964) and Olivia (born 1967). Two nephews from Lyds’ side, and a niece from Liv’s;

– Parents personalities: I picture Leon’s dad as a mixture of both Jonathan Kent (DC Comics) and Eddard Stark (ASoIaF). A firm, caring, kind, upfront and sincere man with high moral values, strong ethics and unwavering sense of justice, who valued honesty above all else and always believed in the best of people and in helping others, true to the “love your neighbour as yourself” commandment. Liliana was the more stern parent (especially with Lydia, always wanting and expecting her to set out a good example for her siblings), so I picture her as a fierce, proud and honest woman, passionately protective and supportive of her family, that dedicated herself entirely to whatever she put her mind into (domestic activities, city projects, EVERYTHING); 

– Lydia would be the “Patricia Arquette’s character in Boyhood (2014)” kind of woman. Kind-hearted, hardworking and amazing, but guilty as charged of the serious flaw of always being romantically involved with scumbags. A Geriatric Nurse, divorced twice, mother to Kilian and Luke – both kids from her first marriage;

– By the way, Kilian is a problem-child and Lucas is the emo kid. Leon has trouble dealing with both;

– On top of it, Leon have several difficulties dealing with Lydia. Being the most distant from him in age terms, Lydia always came off as a bit distant to and unnecessarily strict with him;

– Meryl is Leon’s lesbian best buddy. Confidant, a bit arrogant, always open to give advice, prone to bluntly point out faults in her loved ones and to get angry with Lydia. She graduated in architecture and is a state employee, working as an Urban Planner. Has cleaning OCD;

– Olivia is the sister Leon was closest to since it was with her he had the “smallest” age difference. Driven, headstrong, empathetic and an introvert, she’s actually the one who inspired him to join Law Enforcement and is now a detective in Massachusetts. Liv has a long-time relationship with Peter, whom she met during her childhood in school, and they have a daughter, Harriet (any coincidence with Olivia Dunham from Fringe (2008-2013) is on purpose since Olivia would be Leon’s perfect older sister, ok);

– Leon’s sense of humour takes much after his brother-in-law’s one, Peter, considering he spent a lot of time with him as he would be a frequent guest to their house;

– He fell in love for the first time when he was in middle school in his seventh grade with an eighth grade girl, Allison, who was an exceptionally good basketball player and would kick his ass in all the practice games;

– Allie has very evident native-American heritage, skin and eye colour, hair;

– It was Allie the long-time girlfriend who broke up with him right before Raccoon. She felt he was being distant even prior to his decision to be a cop in Raccoon City. In truth, what happened was that Leon feared his future being set stone too early in his life the way things were going. His wishes to have more agency over the shaping of his own destiny started driving him further and further away from Allie as he felt she was expecting their relationship to progress over time to the building of a family etc.;

– Meryl and Olivia both loved Allie and to this day they don’t get over the fact that Leon didn’t marry her;

– Leon unwillingly distanced himself from his sisters, though, only contacting them for birthday calls and holidays alike because of all of that government recruitment stuff and classified shit and also dealing with a heavy emotional load after surviving Raccoon;

– The only reason Hunnigan found out that Leon had living relatives was that Lydia called to give Leon the news of Liliana’s death in 2010 (by seventy-two years of age) on work-time. Leon, of course, was very shaken with the news;

– While Leon only knows what Ada herself lets him about her past, family, childhood and the circumstances that put her precisely where she is now, Ada knows everything there is to know about his past, family, childhood and the circumstances that placed him precisely where he is now because she’s very competent at her job and did her homework as a spy (this will die with her, but for countless times she fantasized about him confiding all of those mundane details of his life and backstory in her);

– I’m very convinced that in one of those nights Ada visited him for some hoochie coochie after like, six to eight months without seeing or talking to him at all, Leon had to break up the news that she came in in a bad time since he already planned for a Thanksgiving dinner with his sisters. Ada accepts the challenge because she’s been REALLY missing him (horny on main). Ah, and he’s quite upset with her because of that “six to eight months with no news at all” “little” issue. So, picture that. Please.

And that is all I have for “Leon’s family” headcanons. For now. As I warned: PLENTY. Hahahahaha, sorry! Hope this can provide some entertainment and delight to you.

[kitkatopinions]

The more I think about Ren's new semblance ability and the scene with the Ace Ops, the more I hate it. Long post full of crit ahead.

No one else is discovering new semblance abilities in tense situations other than Jaune, who discovered his one ability. Llike, maybe the Fall of Beacon would've been stressful enough people would be discovering new abilities? And Weiss doesn't count, because her ability was treated like just another glyph, only this one is special. Whether getting new powers is experience and skill based, or trauma based, long time hunters like Qrow and James should have way more abilities than they do, and the Ace Ops and Winter all should have at least two powers. CRWBY is very choosy about how and when they use their ill defined rules about auras and semblances.

Ren is in control of this power right after getting it, and chooses to use it on the Ace Ops and Winter, but not Yang or Jaune. This implies that Ren doesn't read their emotions because that's a breach of privacy, but feels free to not only breach the Ace Ops privacy, but talk about it out loud. Because trust is for friends, and so are basic boundaries. It would make sense to me for Ren to use his new powers on Jaune and Yang as well, since he's doubting everyone’s capabilities and strength right now. But whatever. Why would we need to know how they feel?

But on that… Why do we need to know how the Ace Ops feel??? We as an audience already know Marrow is sad and doubting his place, Harriet is angry incarnate, Elm is also angry, and Vine seems fine. This doesn't do anything for the story except let Ren try to divide them more than they already are, during the worst time possible. Sure, while Salem's at Atlas's doorstep and literal children are probably dead, tell one of the members of the most elite team of Atlas graduates who were just tasked with a vitally important mission to ditch his position. Winter seemed fully convinced by Jaune actually having a good plan, so Ren figuring out a new power and turning into a mood ring didn't do anything. Also, Ren doesn't just tell them what they're feeling, he also reads their motivation and where they belong at the same time. Because 'Harriet angry' apparently translates into 'Harriet is incredibly torn up about Clover dying and trying not to feel it!' And 'Marrow sad' apparently means 'Marrow no longer fits in with this group and is actually a good person!'

And then Ren reads Winter's emotions and sees that Winter is feeling everything. So like… Okay. Are the Ace Ops Tinkerbell in the Peter Pan book? Only able to feel one emotion at a time? Harriet isn't angry and sad, she's just so angry it's all Ren can see! And Vine isn't sad, or angry, he's just (presumably) calm. But Winter is feeling all the emotions equally. Which of course, means she also doesn't belong here.Most adults feel more than one thing at a time, by the way. Idk why this makes Ren think Winter is special and different, rather than him wondering how the Ace Ops can only be displaying one emotion.

Ren also tells the Ace Ops the reason they fail is their terrible team work, since they won't admit they're friends, despite the fact they fought amazingly as a team at the start of the last season. Everyone jot that down. Strategy, planning, experience, knowledge of each other's skill set, and common goals all mean nothing. The only thing that can make you a fully functional team is friendship. We're ignoring the fact that Blake and Yang scoffed at the idea of working outside of their duo, never mind that the group literally drew their weapons on Qrow in V6 and demanded he do what they want or leave. Never mind that Yang and Ruby are currently fighting, Yang and Blake are apparently fighting, Yang and Ren are fighting, and Ren and Nora have been distant, cold, and frustrated with each other for one and a half seasons now. They still haven't had any problems fighting as a team because underneath it all, they're friends! In a normal, fun romp anime or cartoon, I might be able to be okay with this. But isn't RWBY marketing itself as a hopeful grimdark? Or at least, aren’t they saying this is a more mature, nuanced tone than the fun romp that only hinted at more darkness in the early seasons? You can't have 'morally gray characters that drift between ally and antagonist’ just lose because they aren't admitting they’re friends in even a hopeful grimdark. And it’s not strong plot for the most powerful graduates of a strict military school who have been on the field for at least a couple years (except maybe Marrow) lose to the first year drop outs THEY HELPED TRAIN because they're hiding their feelings for each other. I'm sorry, I thought this was a show where skill and consequence mattered.

On top of all this… We all know that portraying women of color - specifically black women - as constantly angry and hiding her emotions is a racist stereotype, right? I don't mean 'having a black women displaying anger is racist,' but again, the show had Ren sense her emotions and figure out what's wrong with her, and she was only angry, and Ren decided she's hiding her feelings behind a wall of thick anger. Elm is the same way, even going so far as to try and attack Ren. And it's not just this instance. They've been overwhelmingly angry since the end of volume six. Whether or not CRWBY thought this through, they should've done a google search that could've let them know not to do it. Vine is almost as bad in being the stoic, calm, at peace, Asian. I'm only holding off on calling him just as bad because I don't know for sure that green represents peace or calm.

Don't get me wrong, there were things I liked about that scene. Ren choosing to act and do what he could was a great choice, he clearly took what Jaune said to heart, and decided inaction due to doubts and fears wouldn't help anyone. I hope this doesn't mean the end of Ren doubting things and challenging the team (since his concerns are very valid and weren't solved,) but I like that direction. Winter really shined in this scene. I just wish the writers would put as much care and complexity into Harriet, Elm, and Vine. And the main star of this scene in my opinion was Jaune. He didn't fight the plan to blow up the whale, only requesting that they be allowed to go in ahead and try to rescue Oscar and laying out the benefits. I love this. Jaune isn't asking her not to do her job, he's not doubting that it has to be done, he's not blaming her for it, and he's accepting that if they go in, they may become part of that sacrifice. But he's trying to save a friend that's important to him anyway. I think this might be the best I've ever liked Jaune, actually.

But the cons of this scene, in my opinion, severely out weigh the pros.

[ciegeinc]

Movie Review...Luce

(4.5/5)  We need to talk…cause man!  My mind is trying to figure out what I just witnessed (not in a confused or unsatisfied manner but more so speechless).  I definitely wanted to check this film out because of the lead Kelvin Harrison Jr. The first time I saw him was in the film, It Comes at Night, from then I knew he was one to watch and he didn’t disappoint in his latest film.  But will talk about performances later…I want to focus on the themes.  This film was heavy thematically.  Themes and stories like the pressures older black generations put on younger generations on not to be stereotypical (which a lot times comes from wanting to be accepted by whites), the harsh treatment and higher standards they place on the younger generations to prevent them from becoming stereotypical, mental illness, white privilege, peer pressure, political adaptions, past trauma, the view or mindset that as black men we only have the option of being a saint or monster with no room for grey area and a lot more. 

The one that stuck out to me above the rest was the notion of “Truth.”  As the plot progressed and as Luce was practicing his final speech (a speech he was earlier tutored to make more about himself and his story), featured a line about how he was proud to be an American now, and how now he could start over and could be who ever he wanted to be…how he could make himself into a new person. Superficially it sounds positive and uplifting but in the context of the way the world is moving…it’s actually quite sinister.  America now has become a place where truth doesn’t not matter and information can be manipulated into to making people believe whatever for the most part.  This was illustrated flawlessly throughout the plot as I found my belief and my trust, swing from character to character as they told their version of the truth.  Just to found out this was all be orchestrated by one person. 

Luce found out the DNA of how an American world works and was able to tap into it and use it to its fullest potential.  That was witnessed in one of the last scenes in the film while giving his speech.  In the audience there were people who knew the truth and ignored it because of their own convictions, there were people in the audience that even helped him keep up his façade and then there were people who were none the wiser about his truth and with all that, they were all mesmerized and captivated from the light (Luce) of his artificial persona.  From a cinematic stand point…the director and director of photographer captured this in a genius way.  As Luce is talking the camera is panning over the audiences’ faces and there is an eerie glow/glaze over the audiences’ eyes, they’re almost zombie like or hypnotized. Superb performances across the board but Kelvin takes the cake.  I can never look at his smile the same after this movie.  This is a must see.

It's been ten years since Amy and Peter Edgar (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) adopted their son from war-torn Eritrea, and they thought the worst was behind them. Luce Edgar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) has become an all-star student beloved by his community in Arlington, Virginia. His African American teacher, Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer), believes he is a symbol of black excellence that sets a positive example for his peers. But when he is assigned to write an essay in the voice of a historical twentieth-century figure, Luce turns in a paper that makes an alarming statement about political violence. Worried about how this assignment reflects upon her star pupil, Harriet searches his locker and finds something that confirms her worst fears.