#(i act in physical theaters so it’s different but still)

[ihavea-natural-curiosity]

me looking at the fact that the only disabled characters in the atla la were cast with abled actors (as far as i know):

it just really hurts to think about how actors who are in wheelchairs, and even actors who are like me (not in wheelchair but still are actually disabled and have trouble walking) feel about this.

like how many disabled actors auditioned and were so excited to finally have a chance and have a roll but some abled guy got cast instead, i don’t even have a wheelchair yet and im upset, i can’t imagine how they feel. (i’m not upset at the actors for this, im upset at the directors and other people in charge of casting people)

i probably shouldn’t have put so much faith in netflix to cast things like this well, but still. i don’t even have the energy to be upset about things like this anymore, im just. tired.

(also if either of these actors are actually physically disabled, please tell me, i really hope i’m wrong)

[beloved-child-of-the-house]

I had this idea for my 8th year fic (that I have mostly dropped bc I felt like this storyline was making the fic too complicated) about the muggle studies class doing a play and Ron and Draco are playing the leads bc they’re the best actors in the group but the leads happen to be a married couple so they have to (petition to of their own volition bc it’s not in the fucking script) kiss onstage.

[ed-wwarren]

When Ed said he loved sports that might have been an understatement. For him, there were three things in life and they were God, fixing cars, and sports. Not necessarily in that order. Growing up, he didn’t have the easiest home life. His father, the asshole, was verbally abusive and liked to dabble in the physical abuse when he got drunk so his mother, the angel, would make sure Ed was out of the house as much as she could.

So, when he wasn’t at school or working at the local theater, he was volunteering at church, at practices and games, or fixing people’s cars for free just for the fun of it.

But while he was still in high school, he was going to live up the sports. He would be able to work a job, volunteer at church, and fix cars the rest of his life but he knew after high school, sports were over so he dedicated a lot of his time to that. He was smart but didn’t have a desire to go to university so this was it for him. His senior year.

He had a sport for every season too. In the fall, he was a football guy. In the winter, he was all about the swim meets, and in the spring he was always outside playing baseball.

The funny thing about it though, he didn’t consider himself to be a jock. He understood what the word meant and he knew that’s what the whole school would refer to him as, but he didn’t think he fit into that stereotype. He had friends that absolutely did but they weren’t his close friends. Especially not the jocks who acted like jocks. The ones that would bully other kids or just be arrogant assholes. It made him sick.

School was already underway and it was getting towards the end of winter which meant there were only going to be a few more swim meets before they got into the spring and started baseball. Ed was at his locker getting books for his next class when he saw Natalie, one of the cheerleaders, making her way over to him. He sighed and stuck his head back in his locker pretending to be looking for a book. He was not the biggest fan of this girl. She was constantly hitting on different guys at the school and when one wouldn’t pay her any attention or she got bored, she would moved onto the next. It never ended.

“Hey, Ed,” Natalie cooed with a grin, moving close to him. “I can’t wait to see you at the swim meet today,” She said slowly, her eyes traveling bluntly down to his crotch. What she meant to say was, she couldn’t wait to see him in the tiny speedo they had to wear.

Ed slowly looked over at her and gave her a small smile. “Hey. Yeah, it’ll be umm…kind of weird. It’s my last one ever.”

“Oh,” Natalie said with a pout. “Well, I’ll be cheering for you. I hope it’s a good one.”

As she walked away, she brushed her hand along his arm and grinned. It made Ed shiver but not in a good way.

@giftedclairvoyance

[aubris-fox]

HelPol 141 Headcanons

hello, hellenic polytheist here, projecting onto characters i like because i can. rbs are appreciated!!! im open to suggestions for other characters (no promises i will 100% do them, it depends on my motivation), and if you're going to be an anti-paganism asshole just fuck right off.

-----------------------------------------------------------

notes:

realistically there's little difference, but for this; deities under DEVOTED TO are deities they consistently worship and actively consider themselves devotees of, and deities under ALSO HONORS are ones they offer and pray to but not as frequently.

the boldened text in every list of domains is what each character focuses on in their worship.

FEELINGS ABOUT RELIGION and RELIGIOUS JOURNEY are lumped together because for most of them they're heavily intertwined, and also the sections would be too small if i were to separate them

-----------------------------------------------------------

JOHN 'SOAP' MACTAVISH

DEVOTED TO:

Hephaistos / Hephaestus : forges, fire, metalworking, technology, sculpture, craftsmanship, physical creation, art

Ares : war/battle, dance, violence, fear, rebellion bloodlust, courage, civil order, masculinity

ALSO HONORS:

Dionysos / Dionysus : alcohol, madness, cycles, rebirth, parties, agriculture, feasts, theater, fertility, release, inspiration

Hermes : trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel

PRACTICE STYLE:

probably on the modern end. rushed, simply due to his work. i'd imagine he left Catholicism in this AU due to the strict structures it had (+ probably some trauma, lets be honest), and therefore he would prefer the leniency of a more new-age practice. i also think Soap would like how much of a puzzle it can be. he'd like figuring out every what works for him, doing the math and finding out the best ways he can go about each thing. he'd be knowledgeable of historical practices, but in an "know the rules so you can break them properly" sort of way.

FEELINGS ABOUT RELIGION/RELIGIOUS JOURNEY:

in the beginning, he probably felt hesitant. a little overwhelmed , too. growing up in a majorly monotheistic religion, it took him a while to get comfortable with branching out in his worship. once he did, though, he was much more open and himself in his practice. he loves it. he loves finally praying and actually getting answers. he loves offering, loves divination, loves building kharis. he especially loves learning the other ways people practice; he finds it all fascinating (major projection lol).

KYLE 'GAZ' GARRICK

DEVOTED TO:

Aphrodite : love, sexuality, the people, war, self-confidence, relationships, beauty, passion

Ares : war/battle, dance, violence, fear, rebellion bloodlust, courage, civil order, masculinity

Hephaistos / Hephaestus : forges, fire, metalworking, technology, sculpture, craftsmanship, physical creation, art

ALSO HONORS:

Athene / Athena : wisdom, battle strategy, weaving, crafts

PRACTICE STYLE:

also modern, but probably more in the sense where he's adapting historical practices to fit a modern lifestyle. i think that he, while he still gives physical offerings, prefers and enjoys doing devotional acts that are connected to the gods in some way (i.e; physical training for Ares).

FEELINGS ABOUT RELIGION/RELIGIOUS JOURNEY:

i dont think he really felt guilty or hesitant about it; even though his parents were firmly Christian, i like to think that they were very accepting and allowed their kids to learn and explore different things. while they brought them to church and raised them with exposure to their faith, they didnt force him or his sister to follow their beliefs. i imagine that Gaz did follow those beliefs for a while, and that his switch would've been him just.. growing out of it, and feeling a stronger pull to polytheism overall.

maybe he felt that monotheism was limiting, maybe he desired fewer expectations about 'how he should be acting' than being a Good Christian Boy gave him. regardless, i think he's glad he made his decision. i also think he's a total lover the religion's mythology; when he isn't using his free time training and spending time with the team, he's spending hours researching and reading.

JOHN PRICE

DEVOTED TO:

Zeus : storms, the sky, fatherhood, law, justice, oaths, kingship, hospitality, prophecy, order

ALSO HONORS:

Any Diety : Price seems like he would offer and pray to whomever he wants/needs to in the moment

PRACTICE STYLE:

i unfortunately don't have much to say for Price. admittedly, characterizing him is difficult for me. i think he gives mostly fuck all about going about proper reconstructionism, though, and has his own much more casual way of doing things. does he respect the historical stuff? yeah. doesnt necessarily mean he wants to engage in those ways, though.

FEELINGS ABOUT RELIGION/RELIGIOUS JOURNEY:

converting was like reuniting with an old friend, for John. as a lad he'd heard of the myths, listened to the tales. he was always intrigued by it, but nothing more. he didn't have a religion for the longest time—didnt think he wanted one. he started simply because he was curious, and liked what he found. i like to think he leaves the rest of his cigars burning when he's done smoking as little offerings for Zeus.

SIMON 'GHOST' RILEY

DEVOTED TO:

Nemesis : divine retribution, revenge, justice, balance, indignation

ALSO HONORS:

Artemis : wilderness, the hunt, instinct, plague, healing/purity, archery, dance, music, chastity, transitions, care of children

Dionysos / Dionysus : alcohol, madness, cycles, rebirth, parties, agriculture, feasts, theater, fertility, release, inspiration

PRACTICE STYLE:

he respects historical tradition, and probably has a secret desire to be able to participate in those ways. though outside of that he definitely isnt picky in how he chooses to do things. he does what he's capable of in the moment, nothing more. huge believer of the phrase 'if it works, it works'.

FEELINGS ABOUT RELIGION/RELIGIOUS JOURNEY:

Ghost is probably hesitant with worship—faith is something that evaded him after the horrors he went through. he found Nemesis after escaping Roba, and holds a lot of affection for Her especially (i dont think his desire for revenge on Roba was specifically influenced by Her, i definitely think that was of his own volition. though it did get Her attention, and he definitely had Her support). he does appreciate the gods, even if it's hard some days because of all he's been through and who he is.

-----------------------------------------------------------

TAG LIST:

@idiotrxccoon

@spaceperson64

@the-angst-zone

@parvulous-writings

@same-marie-same

@material-ghoul86

@sciencehadbabies

@sharkiiv

@pyxrin

@chaosundcoffee

(if you liked my post offering to tag people in this, i assumed that meant you wanted to be tagged and added you to this list. apologies if there was any misunderstanding there and you didnt want to be)

[xbellllax]

My problem with season 2 of the Last of Us HBO adaptation is that Abby being physically stronger than Ellie was a choice they made for great reason and are decidedly ignoring that. I don’t doubt Kaitlyn Devers ability to act, but Abby is supposed to be the “big bad”. Someone our main protagonist needs to beat and at first we personally want to beat. I’ll put it like this, Ellie’s sly like a fox, Abby’s as strong as an ox. They are independent and able to move throughout the world with their own strengths and reasons to survive. It is the reason that Abby initially beats her during the theater encounter. She is in fact, physically stronger. We all know that Ellie puts up a good fight but what can a fox really do when cornered? Abbys character was formed to challenge that idea. Abbys ability to win that fight with no weapons against a (very) deranged Ellie with a knife is only possible with her power. If you take away Abby’s strength, what is her ability to survive? Is she more like Ellie? Doesn’t that feel overdone and repetitive? Yes, it does. For that exact reason they made the choice during game development to make a whole new movement set for Abby’s character model. To display their difference, her strength, the way someone with her build carries themselves. Her set is eerily like Joel’s, a very strong, very capable grown man. The only time we see Abby physically weak is in flashbacks and the leading up to, and final boss fight of the game. The one on one fight which finally seems even, but it’s not, because even as physical equals Ellie still uses dirty advantages in gameplay, such as the use of her knife. Even so, Abby puts up a fight, despite being slashed with a knife repeatedly and stabbed. Abby at her weakest, allows Ellie the opportunity to decide whether to get the revenge she’d lost everything for, or let her go. This is the driving theme between these games. Grief can and will destroy you if you let it. I personally think if Abby was still in peak condition during the final fight she would’ve killed Ellie, and Ellie wouldn’t have been able to make that final decision for herself. To say that Abby’s muscle has little importance to the story is a touch delusional. Without her strength you could basically roll the credits right after the intro to the game and call it a day.

[joe-spookyy]

What is the Gay subtext between David Kissler and Jack Goodman ?

so the subtext in this one is not super overt like it is in like. reanimator. but it’s definitely there. first i’ll start with the basics. full essay under the cut.

now, the werewolf is one of the easiest classic monsters to read as queer. i mean, it’s right there. someone who walks among “normal” people, who are completely unaware that this person carries a “dark secret” that sets them apart from everyone else. i could be talking about this person’s status as a werewolf. i could also be talking about their queer identity that they choose not to disclose. the idea of living a sort of double life and hiding part of yourself is prominent in werewolf media and also in depictions and the real lives of queer people. additionally, the transformation aspect is something many trans people find easy to connect to. the point is, it’s pretty damn easy to read lycanthropy as a metaphor for queerness of any kind.

and 80s werewolves have it even queerer. just like 80s vampires, they’re a monster that spreads their disease through physical contact. a bite. a scratch. and of course. usually a lot of blood. what else was big in terms of blood in the 80s? yeah. you probably guessed it. the aids crisis! i could write a whole different essay on this but the fears that came with the aids crisis are, just like most other societal fears, reflected in the horror films of their time. here’s a snippet from the AAWIL essay book that comes with the arrow dvd release.

so, even though the aids crisis wasn’t quite around when the film was released, it still had a connection to the culture, which adds to the potential for a queer reading. and it’s quite interesting that director john landis chooses specifically to compare david’s affliction to aids. also if you want proof on this point just check out how many werewolf and vampire movies came out during the 80s and the aids crisis. it really makes you think.

okay. now we’ve covered the basics. but what is it exactly about an american werewolf in london, and more specifically, jack goodman and david kessler, that reads as queer? well. let me tell you.

first of all a little more on the aids point. david’s condition is, like aids, infectious. and it affects almost exclusively men - david only has one female victim from his first night of “carnivorous lunar activities.” and you know what else disproportionately affects men? aids. and it’s also quite interesting that his victims are predominantly men with the idea of lycanthropy as a representation of his queerness - his preference for men in his nighttime activities can certainly be read as representative of something other than being a werewolf.

now, my favorite point and the one that i find most compelling. as we know, david and jack are on a little trip when jack is killed in front of david, and jack then returns to haunt david throughout the movie to encourage him to. yknow. kill himself. so what about that is queer? i’m so glad you asked! if you pay a little extra attention, you’ll notice that every time jack shows up, it’s after david’s just had a heterosexual experience. when he appears the first time, david’s just been flirting with his nurse, alex. when he comes back, it’s right after david and alex have just had sex. in fact, jack and david have a conversation here while david is fully naked. neither of them even bat an eye about this. and finally, jack and david have their last big talk while inside a very loud and very heterosexual pornography theater. kind of odd, right? it’s almost as if something other than jack’s ghost is haunting david. he can’t shake off visions of another man while he’s with his woman? here, jack could easily serve as a reminder of david’s sexuality, and he acts to rip david from his attempts at returning to normalcy after the attack. he just keeps coming back to tell david he’s a werewolf, and if we, as above, read lycanthropy as a metaphor for queerness, it easily reads as a blatant reminder for david that he is out of the societal norm (either in his existence as a werewolf or his queerness) and can’t go back now that he knows it. so, he’s reminded of this fact every time he tries to push himself to move on and be with alex. the final scene with the two of them in the porn theater is an even bigger nod to this idea. he’s literally in a pornography theater with a naked woman massive and on the big screen and all he can focus on is the fact that jack’s there, and of course, the fact that he is indeed a werewolf - permanently different from everyone around him, and, as far as he’s been told, dangerous and not deserving of life, which is a sentiment i’m sure many queer people can say they’re familiar with.

there are a few other nods to the idea of queerness in the film. of course, they’re not taken terribly seriously or presented as anything but jokes, given that it’s an 80s horror movie made by a straight man, but they do sort of add fuel to the fire of a queer reading of this movie. most notably, when david wakes up naked in the zoo after a night of werewolfing, he just kind of runs off with the nearest unattended clothing item. this piece of clothing happens to be a long women’s coat. bright red, with fur trim. wearing nothing but that, david almost looks like he’s wearing a dress, and it certainly doesn’t make him look more masculine. as he’s waiting in line for the train to return to alex’s, we’re shown all the men staring at him with disdain, as he whistles and makes small talk like nothing at all is off. david appears perfectly comfortable in the situation - it is just the judgement of others that makes him seem out of place. the coat emasculates him, and now the people around him are reading him as queer, whereas in his typical clothes, no one would look twice. later on, in an attempt to get himself arrested, david hurls obscenities in a public park, most notably (imo), “queen elizabeth is a man! prince charles is a faggot!” queerness is the butt of the joke here, of course. but if you squint real hard you can read david as queer and just decide he’s allowed to say the f slur. cause he can reclaim.

also, the film takes an interesting route - rather than “defeating” david’s otherness, by somehow returning him to a human state and saving his life, and thus allowing him live out his days with alex, they let the werewolfism win. david ends up tragically dead, despite alex’s please and love confession. in this film, heterosexuality Doesn’t win. now, i’m not necessarily saying queerness wins. it’s not like david gets to live happily ever after with jack. however, we as the audience are fully aware this is the only way things could have gone. david’s condition was permanent (as is queerness), and there was no way to change him. no way to make him fit that societal norm. instead he goes down, just like jack did. in a way, i guess they are presumably together in the end. i don’t really know the afterlife logistics in this universe, but they’re both dead and presumably at peace and not walking the earth, since david’s death broke the curse.

so! there’s a little rundown of most of the queercoding in an american werewolf in london. it’s a bit late so forgive me if anything doesn’t make sense. i’ll take follow up questions. peace and love.

[magentagalaxies]

Kids in the Archive: Episode 10

welcome back to kids in the archive! to celebrate my college graduation + KITA's 10th installment + finally honor the request i received from @oliviaskithworld multiple months ago (thank you for your patience!) today i'm going to be showcasing the classic s1e3 sketch "Citizen Kane"

even if there are other sketches that i would choose as my personal favorite, i respect "citizen kane" so much as a feat of comedic timing. the premise and dialogue are funny enough, but what puts them over the top is the perfect rhythm kevin and dave establish - fast-paced dialogue that's occasionally repetitive in its text but each repetition leads to escalation in the performance.

Citizen Kane: June 3rd 1989

I actually have two copies of the script for Citizen Kane: both dated 06/03/89, and nearly identical, to each other and to the version of the sketch that aired. There really aren't many differences to point out: some sentences are shorter or longer for the purpose of timing, and there is one specific line missing from the "white" pages that's present in the "pink" pages

i assume the version i have may not be a first draft - this was likely a scene performed at the rivoli for years before making it to the screen. or perhaps this scene was mostly created via improv, so the first time on paper was less an act of creation and more documenting what already existed. the only "big" changes are removing a section of brief physical comedy before picking up the newspaper (which was not being held by another customer).

honestly, as much as i wish i could've honored this request in a timely manner, the wait has allowed this episode to be so much better. this could have been it. i would have had to stretch these tiny differences into 3 bullet points because i just couldn't show you how the sketch evolved. except, as i write this on december 21st 2024, now i can. but we have to push a bit further...

Citizen Kane: ~2002

the kids in the hall tour-film "tour of duty" was unavailable to stream for most of this year before finally being reuploaded by a fan in november. i've previously put out a full essay with general thoughts on tour of duty, but let's examine the show's version of citizen kane.

tour of duty's "citizen kane" barely changes, especially compared to some of the other sketches in this show. sure, the words don't always line up exactly and the rhythm is a bit slower (a product of enunciating for a large theater vs recording a sketch for television), but most changes are physical. in the original sketch, a fake-arm was made for dave foley for the purposes of stabbing his hand. in this one, a prop-knife was used for the effect, freeing up both hands for motioning. most notably, this version ends with dave falling out of his chair and flipping 360 degrees before landing on the floor.

immediately following the sketch is a transitional scene with bruce and mark, where they essentially replicate the "citizen kane" bit of forgetting a name and refusing to admit you're wrong, only this time they're trying to remember the name of the sketch they just watched. it's cute.

Citizen Kane: November 25th 2024

so that's all well and good, but still not a lot of differences to parse through. what would it take for them to take citizen kane in a completely different direction?

well, what if 22 years later the kids in the hall reunited to put on a show in support of paul bellini's medical expenses, but dave foley wasn't able to attend due to pneumonia and the other kids barely had time to rehearse?

a high-quality version of the full show will be available in the new year, but recently i found a fan's uploads of a few iconic sketches from the november 2024 show, including the perfect finale to my citizen kane post, because oh boy did they go off-script. for starters, the original "citizen kane" as uploaded onto youtube is 4 minutes and 16 seconds. the "tour of duty" version (not counting bruce and mark's tag) is just under 6 minutes long. the november 2024 version is NEARLY TEN MINUTES LONG

and uniquely i am actually in a position to explain how these changes happened: scott was chosen to take over dave's part in the sketch the day of the show. they added mark walking on as "constable bobby" as a way to acknowledge dave's absence (and i was actually riffing with mark, kevin, and scott when they decided the character's name. in rehearsal, mark improvised a bit about his character going undercover as a teenager). but scott responding to kevin's "was it citizen kane?" with "yes"? bruce walking on as another officer? kevin kissing scott's forehead when scott apologized for forgetting his line? that was all truly improvised, and i was standing backstage watching it happen.

prior to the show, citizen kane was one of the sketches scott was the most nervous about since it's actually quite difficult to memorize: so much of the comedy relies on repetition and timing. i've probably watched the sketch more times in the past year than he has and even i wouldn't get it word-for-word. but once you're out there onstage, you can't beat yourself up over forgetting a line. you make that part of the gag, and suddenly the sketch becomes citizen kane on top of citizen kane: a sketch about someone forgetting something and ignoring their friend's corrections becomes about scott forgetting his lines and ignoring kevin's corrections.

there's no way the kids in the hall could've replicated everything about citizen kane on the evening of november 25th 2024: the sketch was at least 35 years old, it was being performed with minimal sets and costumes in a 1500-seat theater, and the person whose comedic voice it most represented wasn't around. but in my opinion, citizen kane 2.0 reflects exactly what a live version of a pre-existing kids in the hall sketch should be: using the well-known framework as a basis for improv while still being grounded to the important beats. this attitude carried over into the night's other sketches, even ones which didn't feature dave at all like "salty ham." it gives fans new and old something new to appreciate, and allows the KITH to focus on making each other laugh. after scott got off the stage, he wasn't upset for flubbing citizen kane. he was smiling ear-to-ear, whispering to me "i forgot how fun this was". i would take this over "tour of duty" any day

or maybe i'm just saying that because i now own 2024 citizen kane's prop-knife

oh, and don't think i've forgotten the one line that changed between my two scripts, both dated 06/03/89.

"that's a hayley mills vehicle, that's not even close"

and because of scott's role in the 2024 show, i now know that's the one line HE contributed, leading me to believe the "white" pages were just kevin and dave's writing, and the "pink" pages were after the input of the other KITH on the same day.

god, i love how things become full-circle.

...

PREVIOUS KIDS IN THE ARCHIVE EPISODES:

Episode 1 - armada finale ("do we make it?") Episode 2 - fran & gordon: the vacation Episode 3 - comfortable Episode 4 - cathy & kathi: is he? Episode 5 - danny husk: kidnapped! Episode 6 - trappers Episode 7 - sizzlers & the bank Episode 8 - darcy & francesca Episode 9 - show within a show

thanks for reading!

[bambi-kinos]

I really enjoy your meta and look forward to more mclennon analysis. Out of curiosity, you mentioned that you think they started being physical in 1964 - is there a reason why that year specifically? Personally, I've always thought they started sleeping together in 1963, and my reasoning for that is they seem much closer in videos/photos, not to mention it was the year they "broke through", so to speak.

Would love to hear your thoughts on that!

Hmm well I guess it depends on how they, and we, define their sex life. John and Paul were sexually intimate starting since they were teenagers because John brought Paul into the group wanks. (tbh it's a miracle Paul didn't brain John with something heavy thanks to all that Winston Churchilling.) There's really no telling how it progressed from there, anything is possible with these two. Until Paul tells us the details (and I do not put it past him) then he and John could have been hooking up at literally any point in their relationship. When I think of them getting physical with each other, I'm thinking of them getting each other off with intent and purpose, and considering the style of the time this would mean penetration. Everything else can be handwaved away.

I pick 1964 because of this post: https://www.tumblr.com/got-ticket-to-ride/739464905120497664/its-the-anniversary-day-of-john-and-paul-in-paris?source=share

It's just something about it, y'know. John and Paul are in their city. They stayed up all night and well into the morning and then slept deep into the afternoon, almost evening. And then as GTTR says, "And then they emerge from their hotel room looking like a newlywed couple."

Well, there's just a certain satisfaction radiating off them isn't there?

But I do see your point: why wouldn't they be hooking up earlier? Why wouldn't it escalate physically before this? Why would they wait until Paris 1964?

I have a few reasons, they are admittedly flimsy but since we are all just making shit up then it's fine, right?

Julian was born in 1963. I've read bits and pieces of Beatles 1963 by Rees and that book is full of little chunks about John running home to see Cynthia and the baby (usually not even for a full night/day because he was so busy.) Their schedule is also packed, they are constantly on the move especially during the night because this is where they had to start being smuggled out of theaters and such. So I genuinely think that John and Paul did not have the time or the space to have sex with each other. I know I am saying this when they had time to hook up with groupies between shows but considering who John and Paul are, and what they mean to one another, I just struggle to imagine them acting that way with one another. They would want to take their time with one another and get it right. They're hopeless romantics at heart, they're both deeply enamored with the idea of "you're special, you're different" so I genuinely think they would want to take their time with each other physically and do it right. I don't think they had that time in 1963 with the way they're running all over the UK.

Then there's the Absolute State of John and Paul's relationship in 1963. Remember that the halcyon days of Paris are way in the rearview mirror at this point. In 1962 Stuart died, Cynthia got pregnant, and John had to get married to save her reputation. I can't imagine Paul reacting well to any of this though I'm sure he put his cheery stoic mask on. Then in 1963, Julian is born. Barcelona happens and John seduces Brian to get the songwriting credit that he wanted and screws Paul out of their deal. Considering this is something Paul is still angry about to this day, I can't imagine how he blew his fucking top at John when he found out that May:

I don't think Paul was in the mood for any hooking up in 1963. John has a baby with a woman, is married, then he fucks off to have a gay experience with their manager and then when he comes back he's screwed Paul's side of the business on the downlow? I would be on the fucking six o' clock news lmao, John would not have escaped my wrath. It's really no wonder Paul made a specific point of hooking up with Jane Asher isn't it? He was making a point to John specifically and John seethed about it.

However I do think that something happened in 1963 that healed the rift in the Lennon-McCartney relationship:

Paul got sick from the gastric flu and he fainted dead away in the dressing room. John was very upset and was seen pacing the room when the doctor arrived to check on Paul. This is how we know that Paul actually fainted for real, if he was just feeling feverish John would be concerned but maybe not like that. @james-winston has a pair of really fantastic posts about the aftermath of the fainting incident that I have taken as gospel and I fully apply this to any McLennon analysis I write about this period. The key point though is this:

I have a headcanon that Paul being sick caused something to happen between John and Paul that left them both feeling awkward around each other. I don't think it is was sexual, I think it was more likely that John (who thought he was cursed to have all the men he loved die on him) was afraid something might happen to Paul, and reacted emotionally to it.

This all took place in November, after the Wooler thing, after the burn from Barcelona has had a chance to soften, after they both have had time to get used to the idea that Julian exists and has a place in their lives now. I think this was enough to mend things between them. And you know what else happened the night Paul fainted? Brian secured The Beatles their spot on Ed Sullivan:

So once Brian comes back and tells them the news, John and Paul flip right back into the honeymoon phase. The wounds of the past are forgotten (for now) and they're right back in each other's pockets. I think it's around this time period that Paul was taking photos that now make up Eye of the Storm.

TBH I can imagine John and Paul hooking up at this date. If someone looked at this and said "well this looks like a prelude to sweet love making to me" then that's perfectly reasonable. There's some suggestive photos in Eye of the Storm where Paul is taking John's picture from what looks to be a bathtub while John makes faces at him. It could have been then, absolutely.

But I like the idea that Paul wanted to wait until the next year. 1963 was rough on all of them and he and John are both big on getting new starts. Wait for 1964 to roll around. Brian says we're going to Paris in February. I can wait until then.

And just this once, it was worth it.

[fancyfeathers]

I love your blog! Your darlings are so well written, you want to be mad at them for accepting their fates but their backstories are so complex that you actually cant get mad?!

And Eloise is my favorite of the kids.

In one of your posts you compared the noble boy she meets to a Young Vincent Phantomhive… but how messed up would it be for the Moriarty plan if she met O!Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian instead… Eloise is very smart - O!Ciel is too, as well as very determined and a manipulative little shit (which we love).

Good luck Moriarthree dealing with this Queen’s Watchdog and his pet demon.

I know black butler is not in your possible requests but I found the idea pretty entertaining.

Keep up the gréât writing!

*Turns to Kitty*

“Wanna help?”

“Oh yes I do.”

Co-writers on this one baby!

Father Like Daughter (Yandere William James Moriarty and his darling having a genius daughter)

While this would definitely be an AU but it is definitely fun together, if they ever met it would be during the public school arc and I imagine even through it is a boy’s school that all the children in the Moriarty family would be sent due to them needing to be away and safe during a particularly dangerous mission that could take awhile, the girls’ enrollment is managed through Albert and William pulling a few strings with a few friends who work there, along with Eloise’s high IQ, Hyacinth’s high literacy level, and Madeline’s and Marguerite’s high physical performances.

Andrei would be placed in Red House at age seventeen, Hyacinth in Purple House at age fourteen, Marguerite and Madeline in Green House at ages fourteen, and Eloise in Blue House at age sixteen which would place her in along with Ciel.

Due to the the special circumstances I believe one of the members of the crime gang would be keeping an eye on the children, James Bonde and or Miss Moneypenny. Of course Eloise’s circumstances would draw attention especially because she is a lady, but not just a lady but a lady with an insanely high IQ, and any stupid welcome house traditions will be stopped immediately by James Bonde who is posing as the caretaker of the Moriarty children due to their special circumstances which is another curious thing about this family.

Both Sebastian and Ciel notice her lack of effort in her classes and personal studies but still having extremely high marks even in the most difficult of studies. When Sebastian checks up on her as housemaster during quiet time she is reading her own personal fiction literature, and Mr. Bonde has to explain to him that little Eloise had always excelled since she was a little girl, studying Shakespeare and advanced sciences when she was barely five years old, and her cousins and sister were just as talented but in different ways, her sister Madeline of Green House being a top tier fencer and mathematician, her cousin Marguerite of Green House being a skilled markswoman and equestrian, her cousin Hyacinth of Purple House being a talent in the theater along with having a deft hand in sewing and art, and then her eldest cousin Andrei of Red House being the heir to the title of Earl of the Moriarty family and being skilled in the psychological sciences.

When Ciel is late to tea, he spotted Eloise and and Andrei in the gazebo as well which quickly shows the quick favor the Moriarties had won from the prefects. That evening when Ciel is complaining to Sebastian, Eloise comes knocking with her little charming smile but when the door closes her little act fades away.

“You have no actual intentions as a student here do you? You are up to something and that is painfully obvious.”

“How did you-“

“Know? You have no idea what my family life is like, you learn a thing or two in the Moriarty Estate. I have a proposal for you, I can help you if you help me eventually, and need I remind you I have a relative in each of the houses. So do we have a deal?”

“…I-“

“I will let you sleep on it, it is the only fair since I am your senior. You can let me or Mr. Bonde know, or perhaps Miss Moneypenny… but she is looking after Hyacinth in Purple House.”

So the next day when Ciel goes to speak to her, he catches her at a time where Mr. Bonde is at her side, but speaking to her in a tone in much more of a scolding than his usual tone to her, showing that he is no servant of the Moriarty family that he was led to believe, much on how Sebastian is not an actual housemaster.

“Eloise, you cannot have others dragged into the affairs of your family, your father and uncle sent you lot here to keep you safe.”

“I am sorry alright, but something is not right about any of this, that Ciel boy is not hear for school, something is clearly wrong-“

“Stay out of it, or else I will alert your father, do I make myself clear?”

“…Very.”

When Bonde steps out, giving Ciel a smile as he walks off to check up on the other Moriarty children in the other houses. Ciel steps into her room and sees her in pure anger.

“Who is your father exactly-“

“And who is your butler? It seems we find ourselves in a stalemate of secrets.”

After the incident with Cole, I think Andrei would be the one to take his place due to his high level of manners and being the heir to the Moriarty name. Putting more Moriarties in Ciel’s radar, and honestly why he does not really need help from Eloise anymore, he is now curious about what she wants and who exactly her family is. So when speaking to Andrei one day and bringing the topic of Eloise.

“Number one, my cousin is far too old for you to court if that is what you are after, but then again she is already being courted by that gentleman at the university. Number two, if you are trying to find out about our family, we would be fools to tell the Queen’s guard dog, now wouldn’t we? Leave family affairs to the ones who bear the Moriarty name.”

Then he tries his luck with trying to talk to shy, little Hyacinth, but she just hides behind the other students or Purple House.

Then with Madeline and Marguerite in Green House but the two of them refuse to give him any of the answers he seeks.

Their family is so secretive is as if they were related to the Lord of Crime himself

(Both Kitty and I doubt Eloise and Ciel would be friends, rivals at best, enemies at worst since their personalities would clash rather easily)

(Kitty honestly had the idea of Ciel meeting Eloise’s lover and immediately remembering his father and also the idea that her lover could be the reincarnation of his father but that really wouldn’t work because of their ages)

(Also just imagine when the Moriarty kids are all at the gazebo and their father’s pay them a visit and the bunch all just are surprised and slightly yet clearly worried and distressed at the sudden visit, Eloise especially)

[pippinlvr]

a little rant <3

so this is completely random but i've gone into a panic about the school year, especially with the talks about colleges picking up this year. i've always wanted to do something with theater. originally, it was acting but honestly I've really fallen in love with the idea of directing a musical show or even a movie. but there's also always been a passion of math and physics and computer science- significantly different from what I'd be doing in the theater world. there's so many people (including myself if I'm honest) telling me that I need to pick something stable- like an engineer or something like that. I go to an "academically challenging" school where they mostly produce doctors, lawyers, or other high-earning careers. i'm just so fucking scared of being the one that ends up not doing anything right and wasting my hard work in school for something that won't get me anywhere. I can't be stuck with my parents forever (there's just a bunch of reasons that I won't get into lol) and I honestly also want to make them proud. it's really heart breaking when I tell people (specifically my family) I want to be a director and they tell me that should just be a hobby. but I also get their point.. like should it be something I do at a local theater or wait till I'm older to pursue?? I genuinely have no idea. and that's what scares me the most. that I have no plan. and the other thing is: if I do end up getting a job in theater, will it ruin it for me as a fan? like will I want to continue to watch shows if my whole life revolved around it?? my brain is just spinning at this point, and I know it'll all be okay in the end and I'm still very excited for what the future has in store for me <3

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for being upset when excluded from food related to an activity i declined?

///

weird title, sorry.

i(15fm) have mixed feelings about leaving the house. i have a relatively low social/'being-away-from-where-i-sleep' battery and my willingness for physical(especially outdoor) activities really just depends on my mood. i'm also involved in some after-school activities (theater tech + debate club + the occasional school event) which can cause plan conflicts and drain my batteries by the time i'm home. for more context, i sometimes walk home for exercise(or just when lacking a ride) and this is a 2 mile trek. (roughly 2 hours + it leaves me a little achy the next day if i walk nonstop)

my family likes to go out for activities all the time: things like taking walks, eating out, and light sports(frisbee, minigolf, swimming). i'm always given an option to come or not, and we have a bit of an unspoken rule where if somebody opts not to come nothing from the activity is guaranteed for them afterward(leftovers, prizes, etc). this is fine and i accept this rule wholeheartedly.

///

on this particular occasion, i was aware a few days beforehand that my family planned to play frisbee. i made the choice not to come, then learned that i had tech responsibilities anyway that would 100% interfere with frisbee. i communicated this. once i saw these through my family was already on the way there, which i was prepared for and chose to walk home.

what i wasn't aware of, was that after the activity they went out to eat at a favorite place of ours as a family. the only communication that really took place was me calling my mom when i got out of school(to figure out if i needed to walk), then texting her when i got home safe(which got no response).

when i learned about the food i mentioned that i didn't appreciate it(both the act and the lack of communication), but i tried not to express anger because it's an issue we've had before then had a talk about. my uncle and mom both slightly ribbed me for my saying that, telling me it was my fault i missed out. we came to a compromise where my mom did buy me some fast food to sort of compensate, and while i'm still snacking on those fries i'm not totally *angry* over it but i guess a little frustrated, and want to know if it's still warranted.

///

i did mention before, this is an issue that's happened before and been seriously talked about - the family would leave for one activity then end up elsewhere afterwards. i've missed out on, like, 3 separate expensive purchases that my little sisters each got(that i know of), plus the one time they genuinely were the AHs and chose to eat out on the morning of my birthday while i was sleeping in. final tidbit of background that is relevant but i'm genuinely still skeptical about, my dad and older sister both think that i'm treated differently by my mom and her side of the family - that being, they're all step family minus 1 half sister. but i don't remember a time in my life before these people were my family, my mom married in when i was young(+ a lot of adoptions and fostering on that side that suggest non-blood-related family), so i don't think they have any reason to treat me differently.

///

AITA?

(can't wait to forget that i submitted then perhaps be jumpscared by an insecurity that's kinda haunted me since that birthday i briefly mentioned)

What are these acronyms?

[t34-mt]

hi, i hope you don't mind this question, but what sport does nau'stikah exactly play?

surprised an anon knows he plays sports, i don't remember if i even mentioned it on my blog honestly? also no i don't mind character asks im just shy :>

organized combats in the style of southern momui'oma region, specifically Nuinuk colony, which is the biggest momui'oma colony and holds the biggest festivals of the region. Some would argue out of every coastal group that Nuinuk festivals are the best to attend to, a must even. The main sport nau'stikah practices are organized theatrical combats, usually taking place during the renowned festival month where they're presented several times a week, the schedule being quite tight sometimes for the actors.

although theatrical combats are held all year, but the most prized and memorable happens at this month which is momui'oma's new cycle celebration. Other combats will be held for small festivities of the colony and do not attract so many voyagers. Passing by people will be here sometimes because of Nuinuk being a big colony in general. other sports are mainly a hobby because he enjoys physical activity (and showing off but that's a detail he wont admit). One of them being wrestling which is a sport born in northern regions, believed to have been started in polar maanul groups. It was imported in Nuinuk via northern immigrants. the wrestling is different and incorporates things from the southern continent theater standards thus creating its own sub genre in momui'oma. It works quite close to staged wrestling we have!

organized combats are mainly staged, wearing gears that look closer to a festival costume but still have the required padding on the stomach area to endure talon kicks. While the talon kicks wont cut them, they still can get out of here with nasty blue marks if the combat was intense. The shows are over the top, and incorporate almost dance-like performances too. Since they happen during the theater play acting is part of the sport too. The combat recreates either folklore or mythology tales, or made up storyline between fighters! The combatants are seen as popular sports figures among colony but the favorites will hold an almost "unbeatable near living diety status. Which is what nau'stikah immigrated here to achieve, and he did! he did acquire his own unique title as many fan favorites do. His being "fire catcher".

talon kicking combat is a thing worldwide, with different rules and gear worn, and levels of dangerosity in it. For example talon kicking in plateau region inside the mountain range is quite violent. little to no gear worn, they're short, around a minute or less but quite damaging. They firstly originated from a plateau kyhuine courting practice, where "female" members would fight violently for the prettiest "male" (i put " " because the way their concept of gender works there isn't through assignment via birth sex like humans generally do) as a show off of their capabilities, and while that practice is still alive it also derived into a sport with rules. But the intensity of it is still very present.

babbling -> i still want to develop one that requires swinging (not throwing) an instrument. But at the same time, i have to make a diagram of arm movement and how far they can move them around. since their arms arent on a ball socket joint, they can't do a full circle rotation. they can move it up to a certain degree and rotating it backwards is very limited. I think id be enough for what i have in mind though. Their butterfly joint is limited but not bad though. Also if they ever had sports that require throwing it would be thrown like a frisbee, again using the butterfly joint instead.

people forget this often but humans are like little freaks that are extremely good at throwing things and other primates arent able to do it as well as us. a lot of our sports when you think about it revolves around running around and throwing things, which are the 2 things our bodies excell at. and i think its fun and cool, humans are cool in their own ways ok. anyways, for maanuls and kyhuines their sports generally will also revolve around running around, length jumps and talon kicking

[jujumin-translates]

★ Main Story | Act 13 - Budding Spring | Chapter 25 - I’m Home

Izumi: Can everyone see everything okay? Is the sound working too?

Citron: “It is a-okay for me~!”

Sakuya: “I’m good too!”

Tsuzuru: “Sakuya, where are you right now?”

Chikage: “Isn’t that the Edo period?”

Citron: “Are you a time graveler!?”

Tsuzuru: “It’s time ‘traveler’.”

Sakuya: “Ahaha, when I told the supervisor about our remote rehearsal, he kindly lent me the theater’s stage to use for it.”

Izumi: I’m glad to see that you all seem lively. It’s kind of a relief since it’s been so long since I’ve seen your faces.

Tsuzuru: “For us, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since we’ve been talking on BlooCha.”

Izumi: Oh yeah, you did mention that you were going to try using that. Is it different from LIME?

Sakuya: “Because of our time zone differences, there’s a lot of times when we barely manage to bump into each other, but it’s still really fun. It’s kinda like a message board or collective diary.”

Tsuzuru: “If we get our timing right, it really does feel like we’re all in the same room.”

Masumi: “And you’re all just as annoying as ever when I’m trying to study.”

Tsuzuru: “That reminds me, when are you getting your temps, Masumi?”

Izumi: Huh, you’re getting your license?

Masumi: “I’m in driver’s ed right now. I’m just about to get my temps. I can’t wait to have you in the passenger seat, Director.”

Citron: “Leave the backseat to me!”

Sakuya: “You seem like you’d be really good at driving, Masumi-kun.”

Chikage: “I guess we’ll hand over the role of Spring Troupe’s designated driver to you, Masumi.”

Masumi: “I’m getting a two-seater.”

Tsuzuru: “You really only want Director riding along with you, huh?”

Izumi: Seems like Itaru-san is running a little late. Let’s go ahead and start warming up without him.

Izumi: The purpose of today is to prepare you for when you all come back next week and pick up rehearsals again, so just take it easy, okay?

Izumi: If you can move, move. If you don’t have the space, just run through your lines.

Izumi: I’ll let you know of any changes in direction as things pop up.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Izumi: --Alright, let���s stop here for a moment. It’s been a while for all of you, but you’re all doing a great job of remembering things.

Sakuya: “This is the first time we’ve done remote rehearsals, but it was kinda refreshing.”

Masumi: “We’re further away than when we’re in person, so it’s kind of like we’ve got to rely on your memory to know how everyone else’s acting goes.”

Chikage: “There’s still a bit of a timing delay due to our mode of communication, though.”

Citron: “I cannot wait to practice with you all phase to phase again~!”

Masumi: “Face to face.”

Tsuzuru: “By the way, Sakuya, your sword fighting really has improved a lot.”

Sakuya: “Huh, really!?”

Sakuya: “I’ve actually been really practicing my sword fighting skills for my current performance so I can apply them to when I play Romeo.”

Izumi: I can really see the results of that.

Tsuzuru: “Ah, right--.”

Itaru: “Sorry I’m late.”

Izumi: Good work today.

Sakuya: “Good work!”

Citron: “You are just in time!”

Izumi: Let’s start with the scene with Mercutio, Tybalt, and Father Lawrence.

Itaru: “Roger that.”

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Izumi: You guys were a little stiff at first, but once you started getting a feel for practicing remotely, you really managed to get back into the swing of things.

Izumi: It’s reassuring to see that Spring Troupe’s atmosphere hasn’t changed a bit.

Sakuya: “We’re still able to act together even when apart.”

Tsuzuru: “Even though we’re physically in different places, it’s nice to feel like we’re all still connected while standing on the same stage.”

Izumi: Alright, I’ve given you all my direction-related feedback, so let’s call it here for rehearsals today.

Masumi: “Do you have a minute after this then?”

Izumi: Sure, what’s up?

Masumi: “I just sent you a plan proposal on LIME. Can you take a look at it?”

*Phone notification*

Izumi: …A promotion plan? Huh!? Did you come up with all of this, Masumi-kun?

Izumi: (This is incredible, it’s got as much detail as a real corporate-level proposal…)

Masumi: “I’m doing an internship with the promotion department right now, and this is some of the stuff I’ve learned.”

Izumi: I see… I think this is really well organized and put together. I’ll be sure to discuss the contents of this with Sakyo-san.

Masumi: “Am I being useful?”

Izumi: Of course! It couldn’t have been an easy task for you to put this all together on your own. Thank you so much!

Masumi: “It’s nothing. I’m glad that I got a better understanding of just how hard you’re always working.”

Masumi: “So I want to help you from now on, too.”

Izumi: If you’re sure, then I’m glad. You’ll be a huge help.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

*Door opens*

Sakuya: “I’m back home!”

Izumi: Welcome home. You’re the first one back.

Sakuya: I was actually planning on coming back tomorrow, but the supervisor was nice enough to arrange for me to have today off…

Sakuya: I really wanted to be the first one home so I’d be able to say “welcome home” to everyone else.

Sakuya: It made me really happy to have everyone else say that to me when I went on my solo trip…

Izumi: I see. I’m sure you can’t wait to see the others.

Sakuya: Yeah. I want to practice with everyone as soon as possible. I’ve been thinking about my acting plans a lot while I was away.

Sakuya: Thanks to all the motivation and knowledge I got from the other theater company’s performance, I was able to come up with a lot of different ideas…

Sakuya: So I’ve got so much to talk about while testing out new things.

Sakuya: Actually--I’m gonna head to the practice room for a bit!

Izumi: Huh? Right now?

Sakuya: I just really feel like I wanna move right now!

Izumi: Ahaha, don’t tire yourself out too much, though.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: One, two, three, four…

Sakuya: (This will always be the most relaxing place for me to be. It really makes me feel like I’m back at home.)

Sakuya: (That reminds me, I wonder where all the other guys are right now. I’m guessing Citron-san and the others who are overseas right now have started making their way back…)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

tsuzuru has entered the chat.

tsuzuru: Morning

tsuzuru: I’m packing things up to start heading home now

Having some trouble because I don’t have enough space for souvenirs

tsuzuru: I wonder if I’ll be able to make all the souvenirs for everyone in the troupe AND my little brothers fit somehow

tsuzuru: Ah, right, better not forget my laptop

I’m gonna be working on stuff until the very last minute, so I need to remember that

Curry has entered the chat.

Curry: i’ll remind you about your laptop tomorrow

tsuzuru: Thanks, Masumi, what would I do without you

TorORo has entered the chat.

TorORo: i am jsUbt about to eatb Breakfasrb. i will beh heaDifn to the Airportb around noon. i caNnot waiite to Be surrounded by everEyone

UC has entered the chat.

UC: I’ve got a connecting flight, so I’m about to catch a plane to Narita. I’ll probably be back to the dorms around tomorrow afternoon.

Saku has entered the chat.

Saku: I got back a day earlier than I thought I would. I hope you all have safe trips back!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya: (Itaru-san’s rarely in the chatroom. He must be really busy…)

*Door opens*

Tsumugi: Welcome home, Sakuya-kun.

Banri: Welcome home.

Sakuya: I’m home!

Tenma: Practicing already? I’ll join you.

Sakuya: Thanks! Would you mind being my sword-fighting partner then?

Sakuya: I was just gonna take it easy, but I just get extra eager the moment I step foot in this practice room.

Tsumugi: I can understand that feeling.

Tenma: I’ll hang around until you’re satisfied.

Banri: Aight, I’ll help ya out with some of the direction-related stuff.

[ ��� Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[pureanonofficial]

hey op where did you get that photo of a blonde freddie in aviators and black and white for your chess valentine’s day cards. i cannot for the life of me figure out what production it’s from. thank you so much have a lovely day.

So I'm going to go into far more detail than you asked for, because this relates to one of my favorite Freddie actors of all time!!!

The photo originates from the San Jose Civic Light Opera/American Musical Theatre of San Jose production in 1992. I pulled it the facebook page SJCLO AMTSJ Alumni. The theater group is sadly no longer around, having declared bankruptcy in the early 2000s, but it's still well-loved due to having passionate former members, particularly one who uploads the theater's proshots on youtube. Including a proshot of this Chess! The shows are generally very good--a shining light in regional theater! You know you'll get a competent show with them.

Below are a couple of links and the photo in question!

The Freddie pictured is Kim Strauss, and he is my very favorite Freddie of all time.

Now, there is a proshot of him in the aforementioned production!

I would not recommend watching him first in the aforementioned production, as it is Kinda Bad. The set design is really wonderful, one of the best in Chesses, and Strauss is very good, but the script makes more baffling choices than usual, and the rest of the cast isn't that great. However! What you should watch him in! Is LONG BEACH CHESS!

This! Is one of the best Chesses of all time! It's one of the most coherent, well-directed, and well-cast versions. If you're not familiar with the Broadway version of Chess, this is an excellent place to start with that plot! And this bootleg is subtitled! Even better! The Florence in this production is Jodi Benson (of The Little Mermaid and Broadway fame) and she is maybe my favorite Florence ever. She's so passionate and intense in the role. She's just my platonic ideal of the character! So hurting, so fierce, so alive and human--I can't describe her Florence any better than the casting description for Broadway Chess does--"She is clever, theatrical, touching, vivacious, volatile." That's her Florence!

To gush a little more about Kim Strauss -- he really is my favorite Freddie. And he did the role at least four times in different productions throughout the 90s, so clearly 90s Chess productions agree with me. XD His Freddie is such a deeply awful person and yet horribly pathetic and sad at the same time. His Freddie is deeply possessive of Florence, controlling both physically and mentally, and yet utterly driven to convince himself he does not need her. Yet he reaches for her hand before the first chess game in a quiet asking for reassurance. Yet he kisses her before Pity the Child in a desperate bet of maybe this will work. Yet he stares at her throughout all of Endgame, winning almost in an act of spite against her, yet it is still abundantly clear that it's all hollow because he does not have her. And he has this really interesting, needy tenor that works so well for the character, as well as the MOST Chicago accent that I cannot imagine Freddie without now. And he's got such a great physicality to him. His Freddie is always antsy, always fidgeting, almost always hunched over or running his hands over his face or something. He's never still. I just love his take on Freddie so so so much. He's a really fucking bad man, like he does not let you get away from the fact that Freddie is a terrible person, and yet he's still interesting to watch!

Also his Pity the Child is my favorite performance of the song ever, and I have linked the bootleg below at that point, because if nothing else, you need to see that!

I'm sorry for all this excessive detail anon, but if you are interested, GO WATCH LONG BEACH CHESS.

[musicalobsessed-spacialanomaly]

My Hatchetfield OCs

A quick foreword: Only one is canon to my little AU. The other three were more inspired by a what-if rather than any actual interest in creating a story with them as the character. But all four of them end up blending together anyways.

I figure that, considering the infinite possibilities of timelines, who's to say these aren't possibilities?

This will go in chronological order (as chronological as it can get with as many timelines as there are):

Pokotho's Anomaly

Type: Non-canon

The first version of my character (named Remy, after myself, because these are all shameless self-insert characters) is one entirely unaffected by the Lords in Black. Born and raised in Hatchetfield, your average teenager.

And then the events of TGWDLM happens, with the meteor crashing down in the Starlight Theater. Remy had arrived early to see the show, as they have "Early is on time, on time is late" engraved into their mind as a mantra. So, with this in mind, they were one of the first infected by Pokotho's world takeover.

But it was odd, because they were still somewhat conscious in their own mind. They could control their physical actions, somehow.

Their entire molecular structure had been rewritten and for all intents and purposes they were very much deceased. But their mind and soul were still bound to their infected body, and still a part of the Hive. They still sang and danced, of course - They're a theater kid, in case it wasn't obvious - but they forcefully stopped their body from the more... violent acts.

It scared them, seeing their own hands tear innocent people - friends and family and aquaintences and strangers - limb from limb. To dig into their torso and rip out their organs. They'd vomit if they weren't just the mind, at that point.

And of course, The Singular Voice noticed the discrepancy. The error. And he threatened them to follow along or he would ensure that they would face far worse horrors than what they'd already seen.

So they shut up. They still pulled their own body away from any gore, but... they didn't let that influence the Hive as they'd been doing before. A spectator who waited for all of it to end.

T'noy Karaxis' Plaything

Type: Non-canon

This one also finds its roots in TGWDLM. And somewhat influences the prior instance.

They die, of course. A bit more brutally than before, but still. It happens. They're dead.

But for some odd reason, they end up in The Black (and White). Yet another anomaly (you can probably tell I like this word).

And T'noy Karaxis is the one to find their wandering soul. Well, not really wandering. After all, they wound up as a sort of nothing that happened to have the capability of sight and hearing, but they weren't corporeal or visible in any way. Except, of course, to the permanent residents of the place they were stuck in.

And sure, Tinky has this obsession with the Spankoffski family for some unknown reason- but a kid can like dolls and still play with cars sometimes.

He finds them, lost, and he's curious. He knows the timeline they came from, of course, and he knows that his brother would never bring anyone into The Black (for reasons of everyone besides himself being unbelievably annoying). So how did this one end up here?

Well, that doesn't matter. Finder's Keepers, after all.

He decides: What fun it would be to send a random person, with no power or ability - outside of entering the Black and White post-mortem - through each and every timeline, and see how long it would take for them to go insane? Sure, he knows the results of someone seeing everything all at once- but what a fun experiment this could be!

Though, despite being quite confused initially, Remy Rosario is not Theodore Spankoffski. Their sanity slips, sure, but not into amnesia and homelessness. More... Mad scientist.

But existing in the Black and White, even for moments at a time, affects every version of themself in various different ways.

Nibblenephim's Favored

Type: Canon

Nibbly caught word of his brother's new toy and decided he wanted one for himself. He knows better than to steal, though - sharing is not caring, at least with Tinky - so he finds an unaffected timeline and decided to enter at it's very start.

And what do you know, the beginning of the Timeline Split happens to be when Remy's at an amazing age for an Imaginary Friend to name an appearance! Not to mention just how fun they seem to be!

Sure, maybe Nibbly got a little attached, but how often does an Eldritch God find such a kindred spirit? Okay, maybe it was his own influence that gave them such a bottomless stomach and the yearning to eat just about everything put in front of them- But that just means he's a good influence on this kid, right? He was disappointed, however, to hear about the illegality of cannibalism. Maybe he could work something out with this timeline's Church of the Starry Children...

And yes, maybe a lot of other humans looked at Remy a bit weirdly. Most kids sucked their thumb, they bit at their cuticles until they bled (the doctor said it was early signs of anxiety, and while they did have anxiety, that wasn't the reason). Most kids didn't talk to themselves so loudly, even if it was to an imaginary friend. And most kids didn't eat batteries like popcorn with no negative consequences-

But dammit that just meant Remy had the best imaginary friend ever. Who cares if they don't usually last into the double digits and having aphantasia should mean that visible imaginary friends weren't exactly a possibility! It really goes to show how good of an imaginary friend he is when he stayed even after Remy decided they were too old for an imaginary friend. Who needs their own individual subconscious, anyways, when a literal god can fill the role for you?

Bliklotep's Experiment

Type: Non-Canon

This one is more of a literal shameless self-insert. I mean, we've already decided that Blinky was the "Watcher with One-Thousand Eyes" mentioned in Trail to Oregon. Which implies that our own universe is one he can see and interact with, even if his brothers seem to have no knowledge of it.

And he sees his brothers having fun, but decides that taking a version of this random teen/young adult from a preexisting timeline is boring. Why not take one from a higher universe - in which Hatchetfield is naught but fiction - and see how they interact with the world around them?

(An exerpt from my OC brainstorming document:

Then they had an odd dream. A shifting purple form that couldn’t seem to make up its mind before it settled on some kind of indescribable creature. But the violet fur and the yellow eye(s?) were unmistakable. They first chalked it up to them watching Nightmare Time and Nerdy Prudes Must Die on repeat too many times, but the conversation was fun. The idea that there were multiple versions of them in different timelines across the Hatchetverse? They considered it plausible. As the entire multiverse theory suggests that for each change, minuscule or gargantuan, there is a corresponding timeline. Who’s to say that there isn’t a version of Hatchetfield with a person identical to them, or to their best friend, or even their teacher? Makes the idea of fanfiction in their universe a plausible story in theirs.

And then they were asked a question. If they could live in Hatchetfield, with all of the knowledge they currently had, would they?

They thought, and figured, as a normal person? Absolutely not. With everything they know, they’d like to have some sort of ability. Like access to the Black Book, or some sort of power like the kids at the roller-rama have.

Bliklotep assured them that, with the influence of a Lord in Black being the reason for their presence there, they could be on the same level as Hannah Foster. So they laughed and affirmed that, Hell yeah, living in Hatchetfield would be cool.

Then they woke up.)

So basically... an Isekai without the prerequisite of dying.

[destinyc1020]

I think the point is that many Tom fans are tired. For example, Z has Dune, Euphoria and now The Drama lined up, while Tom only has Spider-Man. It's as if we're living in a loop. We have no confirmation of any other projects that look promising, absolutely nothing, not even a glimpse of a new character or an interesting movie. And I know he's just done a play, but it's not the same, not everyone was able to see the play.

For those of us who are fans and don't live in London, it's as if we've been waiting forever to see only Spider-Man again, and that's the frustrating part. 😩

And I hate the way most people on Twitter treat Tom and now we're back in the same place, with people comparing his career to all the other white boys in the industry today, but this time there's no defending it, because in a way they're not entirely wrong. 😭😭

I understand your frustration Anon, but try to keep things in perspective here:

True, we haven't seen Tom filming a big screen movie since SM NWH, but most of us saw NWH in Dec 2021.... AND in Jan 2022 (let's be honest, we didn't just see the movie once lol 😏), then, right after that, we had "Uncharted" come out in Feb 2022.

We also JUST had Tom's series TCR come out last summer, where we saw not just 2 hours of footage of Tom (like a regular movie), but 10 episodes of the series, which is essentially like 10 HOURS of Tom footage... which basically equals out to him being in five 2-hour length films.

He also decided to take a much-needed and much-deserved break last year, which was ironically also the same year that a LOT of actors weren't allowed to film anything or even promote any of their films due to all of the strikes going on. 🤷🏾‍♀️

He just did a play run in London, and while most of us didn't see it, he was still keeping busy, and he also has SM4 coming up. I'm not sure what's going on with the FA biopic and whether or not it's still going to be smthg he's attached to, but I'm excited to see him take on that role as well in the future if it comes to fruition! 😃

Sometimes, some of these filming projects take TIME. There are also a lot of factors going on bts beyond the actor's (and even director's) control, so if there's a delay, then an actor just pivots, just like Tom did, and goes on to do smthg else in the meantime! 🤷🏾‍♀️

We also don't know what Tom might have going on in his personal life. He might be deliberately slowing down on some projects because he has some things he wants to do on his own. I just learned about Tom and Harry supposedly starting up their own production company last week lol 😆 We really don't know all the facts.

Some actors go 2, 3, even 4 years in btwn a filming project. Leo is notorious for this. I don't see his fans complaining. 😕 They just know that he takes his time, and they will be there in theaters to support him when another one of his films come out. Maybe when Leo was younger he was doing more back-to-back roles, but he's now pushing 50 REAL hard, and maybe he's just slowing down a little, or wants to work with specific directors on very specific projects. He can afford to do that.

Same with Tom! 🤷🏾‍♀️ If he can afford to take long breaks in btwn roles, then that's fine! Spiderman is a very physical role. It can take a lot out of your body. Plus, he's doing a lot of his own stunts. He might need breaks in btwn from those types of roles.

Another thing.... STOP ✋🏾 🛑 comparing Tom to Zendaya. They are two different people. They are two different actors. Just because they are in a relationship with each other, it doesn't mean that they have to have the same exact career journey.

Zendaya's acting journey is her own. Tom's acting journey is his own. Fans don't need to compare them both. I've never seen people compare both actors in a romantic relationship with each other in my life.

If you're a fan of both Tom and Z, then when one has some down time, you can enjoy whatever the other has going on work-wise on their end. 🤷🏾‍♀️