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simplyclary · 11 months ago

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I Loved How Good You Looked: A TZP 2023 Fashion Wrap-Up (Part 1)

(Edit by yours truly)

In the world of fashion, every outfit tells a story, and 2023 has certainly been a memorable year for rising Hollywood star Taylor Zakhar Perez.

From his lead role in Amazon Prime's hit movie "Red, White and Royal Blue" to his unforgettable fits throughout the year, Taylor shows no signs of slowing down in both the acting world and the fashion world.

As 2023 comes to a close, it's time to take a glamorous stroll down the Taylor Zakhar Perez fashion memory lane! I'll unravel the variety of trends that graced the catwalks, adorned the red carpets, and became street-style staples.

This TZP fashion wrap-up promises a dazzling lineup of looks that defined the essence of elegance and daring creativity that made 2023 unforgettable, especially for Taylor and his ever growing fanbase.

Join me as I unwrap the fashion moments that left fans breathless, inspired, and utterly in love with the one and only Taylor Zakhar Perez.

So get comfortable, grab a drink and some snacks and let the fashion show begin..

Vanity Fair London- February 2023

Ahhh, look at how dashing he is in that black suit? Already slaying and it's only February!

Anyway, Taylor in this black ensemble is nothing but perfection. Also, the way that his hair was styled up and his clean-shaven look adds a bit of a pristine vibe to the overall look.

Give me Taylor in a black suit any day and you would just catch me swooning over it for the rest of the day.

Cyclops x Moncler Genius Show- February 2023

This is the lighter contrast to that of his look during Vanity Fair London, because instead of donning an all-black outfit, Taylor opted for more lighter colors like white, light blue and a dark(ish) aqua green shade.

For this event, he opted for a t-shirt with the name of the brand on it under a plaid flannel like shirt and dark aqua green pants that also has the brand's name on it.

The one thing that I didn't really like is the shades that he wore. It's too big for me and I would've preferred that he went without the shades. However, if he was going for an outer-space alien vibe with this look, I think he nailed it because those shades definitely looked like the eyes of an alien that's coming to invade or seek peace on Earth.

Versace Cruise 2024 Show- March 2023

This is one of Taylor's look that live rent-free in the minds of fans. I mean, how can it not? He looks so handsome.

This mesh tank top with leather pants is a combination that I never thought would work but it actually could, on Taylor at least. I love how his bits of jewelry added a bit of sparkle to the overall darkness of the outfit, similar to stars in the night sky.

I need Taylor to rock more outfits like this come 2024, because this look definitely had fans wanting more.

Green Carpet Fashion Awards-March 2023

I swear to the angels, this look is giving me real Rhysand vibes, and I'm not mad about that.

Just another all-black Taylor outfit for the year (trust me, I know you know this ain't the last all-black outfit he wore), and dang, he looks absolutely handsome. With the clean-shaven look and his hair that styled up, this is a vision of a Night Court prince right here.

Yep, I'm just here throwing out my fantasies, but it is what it is.

Woolmark Trip to Australia-March 2023

One of his memorable supply chain trips that he took to further understand the fabrics that go into the very clothes that people wear.

For the first photo, it was a good choice that he wore a sweater to Australia because he went there during the fall season in the country (which runs from March to May). It's also a good pop of color and compliments really well with the green of the grass (and the white of the sheep).

As for the second photo (which was taken when he was in one of the shops looking at fabrics), he wore a plain whitish-grey shirt underneath a navy blue blazer. It exudes simplicity with a dash of elegance. I also love how it was during this time that he made a custom-wool suit for himself.

I love a man who cares about the environment. Men like him are a rare breed nowadays.

BMW x Coachella- April 2023

Be honest with yourselves, when you look at this picture, what did you look at first? The scenery? The car? Or Taylor? It would be the third option, obviously.

This was a collaboration of BMW with the summer music festival Coachella and to have Taylor as a model for it is perfect because it's like mixing together adventure (with the car) and music & fun (I mean, that's one of the reasons people go to Coachella, right?), which sums up Taylor's personality in a way (adventurous and fun-loving).

For this, Taylor wore a summer look, with a white tank top underneath a black jacket with black shorts and green rubber shoes. I love how the green adds a touch of color to his overall neutral outfit. It's a simple combination but he makes it look like a masterpiece, if I'm being honest.

Ralph Lauren Event- April 2023

Taylor, why are you wearing gray? What do you have against color (Kidding..)

To be clear, I have nothing against the color gray. It's just not my first pick for a color. It comes off as dull and boring for me, but that's just my humble opinion.

For this event, Taylor wore a grey and white ensemble, with a gray shirt paired with a gray blazer and white pants. The overall look may lack color, but do admit that Taylor looks good in it (he looks good in whatever color he wears, to be completely honest).

International Woolmark Prize (IWP) Event- May 2023

Knowing Taylor, he would not pass up on an opportunity to advocate about fashion sustainability while still being fashionable himself, which I honestly love.

During this event with The Woolmark Company, he wore a navy blue ensemble, which is composed of a white tank top and a striped navy blue button-down that is layered by a navy blue coat. He completed his look with black loafers and a pair of necklaces, which add a little shine to his outfit. Again, a simple combination but on him, it looks like a masterpiece.

Take it from Taylor, folks. This is how you advocate for a good cause while also looking good yourself.

Prada (Spring/Summer 2024 Menswear Show)- June 2023

*This is also an excuse for me to post Taylor's unforgettable shirtless entrance photo*

The iconic Prada SS24 Show!! Taylor's fashion week debut (he said so himself during the "Get Ready With Me" video). He really said "this is my first fashion week so I gotta make it memorable". And it was memorable indeed, maybe more for the fans, but regardless, it was an iconic event.

Taylor's photos from this event was one of the first photos that I ever saw of him the moment I became a fan, and it will be one of those events that will forever live rent-free in my mind. I mean, how could I not? Look at the stunning assembly of looks he pulled off for the show. From stepping out of the car shirtless to wearing a white Prada tank top at the end of the day, he surely made the 2023 summer even hotter.

I also love how he made it a designer summer. Prada is a designer brand and then he combined it with some summer essentials like a white tank top and sunglasses. Personally, I love that theme.

Maybe Taylor will be able to beat this on 2024, if he gets invited to the Prada event again (I have faith that he will be).

Givenchy Event- June 2023

It's one fashion show after another, I take it. After Prada (or before, I'm not sure), it's Givenchy.

I got to be honest, this all-black jumpsuit outfit is not my favorite, but I'll make an exception because it's black which is one of my most favorite colors on Taylor. What I love about this is that he made the jumpsuit ensemble not too plain-looking by adding silver jewelry and sunglasses.

This is more of a practical look but hey, something that's both fashionable and functional is what people really look for nowadays.

Tag Heuer Event- July 2023

Let's be honest, it's not Taylor if there was no picture where he does the peace sign.

In this particular photo, I love how his outfit was the dark contrast to the light colors of his background and even to the very couch he's sitting on. His dark outfit is something I can see a warrior in a fairytale wear and I'm not one to complain about that.

This ensemble is something people can wear in the summertime, consider the varying degrees of heat that the summer season brings in every country during the summer months.

Miu Miu Event- July 2023

I would like to point out that this look is very similar to the one Taylor wore to the Tag Heuer event, only with a different brand, but I'll look past that, I guess.

With this look, it still has the summer vibes. I can see people wearing this type of outfit during the summer time where people often opt for sleeveless clothes.

Maybe pair this outfit with your favorite pair of sunglasses, get on a boat and go sailing off into the ocean with the sea breeze in your face and you'll have an unforgettable summer.

Red, White and Royal Blue Billboard Sighting and NYC Street Style- August 2023

Ahhh August, the month where Taylor was catapulted into even more fame (and also the month that I knew of him).

August was the month of the premiere of "Red, White and Royal Blue" where Taylor played his first lead role as Alex Claremont-Diaz. It also premiered in the middle of the 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike, so sadly, there was no red carpet event for the movie but Taylor had to show off his style one way or another.

In the first two photos, it's just Taylor casually walking in the streets but he still looks so good. In the first photo, he wore a blue-black ensemble (two of my favorite colors on him) and the second photo was a contrast to the somehow dark ensemble of the first photo because it shows him wearing a much lighter outfit, which includes a cream vest and green track pants with sneakers.

The third photo is special because it was when Taylor was in New York (Times Square to be exact) with his parents and they went to see the billboard that had the poster of RWRB on it. His outfit is a wool (or cotton) shirt with a mix of orange, brown, black and white colors paired with dark jeans. It was a more casual outfit as compared to the magnitude of what he saw on Times Square that night.

Aperol Spritz Event- August 2023

I suddenly want to have a drink with Taylor and just chill. I mean, don't we all?

With this event, Taylor wore a white tank top underneath a blue striped button-down with matching pants of the same design. I honestly love how the color of his outfit compliments the color of the drink (In art class, blue and orange are known to be complimentary colors because the darkness of blue makes the lightness of orange pop off).

The darkness of the grassy green background also makes Taylor stand out, especially with the angle of this photo, so this outfit is a yes from me. Plus the slightly tousled hair and the little scruff adds more to the chill vibe of the event.

Vogue World: London- September 2023

This was the event that cemented Taylor's status as a prince in my mind. As an avid fan of fairytale stories, his two looks during this event was how I sometimes imagine princes when I read.

The white top with the attached waistcoat and the flared bottoms gives me the vibes of what people in the olden eras of London would wear. Think Victorian/Edwardian era. The second look of the night was this sparkling sleeveless number which is also unforgettable and provided a good contrast to the pristine white top.

I would also like to note that the grey sleeveless top is cropped so a bit of midriff was shown but I'm not complaining since Taylor is cut and fit anyway. These two outfits were really fit for a handsome prince like Taylor who is off to a stunning night in London.

Burberry (Spring/Summer 2024, London Fashion Week)- September 2023

If there's one thing I'm sure about, it is the fact that Taylor will slay even the most common of clothing. In this event, he wore a trench coat that is almost like a raincoat over a plaid long sleeve. It could be a common outfit for people who experience the rainy weather more often, but Taylor rocks it like a masterpiece meant to be exhibited in a fashion show, which is also a lovely idea.

I don't adore this outfit as much as I do the others, but one of the things that I like about this one is the practicality of it. It's a trench coat that can be used as a raincoat if one does not have an umbrella on hand and the rain suddenly started pouring.

Another thing was the idea that Taylor went to London Fashion Week and it generated like the highest media value. Like, that is a record and I'm not mad that he was one of the reasons that happened.

London and Milan Street Style- September 2023

Taylor is one of those people who could make street style look absolutely stunning. He could wear like a super casual combination of clothes like jeans and sneakers but combine that with his charm and you get a photo of him walking the pedestrian lane as if it's a fashion runway or him standing outside of his hotel yet it's gonna look like he posed for a fashion magazine shoot.

His street style in between the gorgeous ensembles he wore attending fashion weeks in London and Milan had fans gasping. Why? Because he looks so good in them.

These are four of my favorite Taylor street-style looks because it’s style and comfort, casual and preppy at the same time. All his clothes look plain at best but it still has the element of shimmer because of his accessories like his signature necklaces and bracelets, which is always lovely to see.

Ferrari (Spring/Summer 2024)-September 2023

Taylor was in his Doctor Strange era during this fashion week and I was so here for that era. It also made me scream because if you don't know, Doctor Strange is one of my most favorite Marvel characters ever!

Taylor could've played a variant of the character because to me, he kind of pulled the reverse version of Doctor Strange. Instead of wearing an all-blue outfit like the character, Taylor wore a dark red turtleneck top with a set composed of a dark trench coat and pants. He kind of completed his Doctor Strange look with tousled dark locks and a bit of stubble.

Honestly speaking, he also gave me a bit of Sherlock Holmes vibes with the trench coat which I honestly love, because I love the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Other than the fact that I completely rambled and disassociated, this look gives immense fall vibes to me, and it's perfect for that chilly stroll around the city while drinking a cup of cocoa or a cup of pumpkin spice latte.

That's A Wrap....for now...

Well, due to the limited amount of images I can put on here, I'm gonna need to put a part 2 for this fashion wrap up. This only means that Taylor had so many good looks this year that this site couldn't keep up with the insane amount of photos (kidding!).

But anyway, here's a link to Part 2 of the TZP Fashion Wrap-Up, so head over there if you want to see more of Taylor's fashion for the year.

#taylor zakhar perez #red white and royal blue #rwrb #fashion show #fashion #style

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themovieblogonline · 3 months ago

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D23: What to Expect from Wizards Beyond Waverly Place

The Russo family is back, and they’re bringing a whole new level of magic to our screens with the highly anticipated “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.” Slated to premiere later this year on Disney Channel and Disney+, this series is more than just a nostalgic nod to the beloved original—it's a magical expansion into new territory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqX7X6OfMUE A New Chapter in the Wizarding World “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” follows an adult Justin Russo, now fully immersed in a normal, mortal life with his family. But when his sister Alex shows up with a young wizard-in-training named Billie, it’s time for Justin to dust off those magical skills. The series promises to blend the charm of the original show with fresh, high-stakes adventures as Justin juggles everyday responsibilities with mentoring the next generation of wizards. The series stars David Henrie reprising his role as Justin, along with Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie. And let’s not forget the iconic Selena Gomez, who’s back as Alex Russo for a guest appearance that’s sure to delight fans. The ensemble cast also includes Alkaio Thiele, Max Matenko, and Taylor Cora, with David DeLuise making a return as Jerry Russo. Behind-the-Scenes Magic What makes “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” truly special is the team behind it. With executive producers like Selena Gomez, David Henrie, and industry veterans Gary Marsh and Jonas Agin, you know you’re in for a treat. Andy Fickman, who directed the pilot, is also set to direct multiple episodes, ensuring that the show retains the magical touch that made the original a hit. The first look at the series was unveiled during the Disney Channel premiere of “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” giving fans a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes moments and never-before-seen clips. From the returning cast to the new faces, this first look promises a series that’s both familiar and fresh. Why Fans Should Be Excited If you grew up watching “Wizards of Waverly Place,” this new series is your chance to relive the magic with a twist. The blend of old and new elements is sure to attract both original fans and a younger audience. Plus, with Disney’s track record of reviving beloved franchises with a modern touch, expectations are sky-high. But it’s not just about the nostalgia. “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” is set to explore new themes and stories, making it more than just a reunion show. Whether it’s the new challenges faced by an adult Justin or the introduction of Billie as a new wizard-in-training, there’s plenty of new magic to discover. Final Thoughts “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” isn’t just a trip down memory lane—it’s a journey into new adventures that promises to captivate both old fans and new viewers alike. With its all-star cast, top-notch production team, and fresh storylines, this is one revival you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars, because the Russo family is back, and they’re more magical than ever.

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zoehennesseystyle · 5 months ago

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Top Trends: Celebrity Stylist LA's Must-Have Looks!

In the glamorous world of Hollywood, fashion is more than just clothing—it's a statement, an expression of identity, and a reflection of the times. As a leading celebrity stylist in LA, Zoe Hennessey is at the forefront of fashion, curating looks that grace red carpets, magazine covers, and social media feeds around the world. Join Zoe as she unveils her top trends and must-have looks for the season, straight from the streets of LA to the wardrobes of the stars.

1. Effortless Chic: Effortless chic is a timeless trend that never goes out of style in LA. Think sleek silhouettes, neutral tones, and minimalistic accessories. Zoe recommends investing in tailored blazers, high-waisted trousers, and oversized sunglasses for a polished yet laid-back look that exudes sophistication and confidence.

2. Bold Prints and Patterns: Embrace your inner fashionista with bold prints and patterns that make a statement wherever you go. From vibrant florals and eye-catching geometrics to playful polka dots and animal prints, don't be afraid to experiment with bold patterns and mix-and-match textures for a look that's as unique as you are.

3. Athleisure Elegance: The athleisure trend continues to reign supreme in LA, blurring the lines between activewear and everyday fashion. Zoe recommends incorporating luxe athleisure pieces such as sleek leggings, oversized hoodies, and statement sneakers into your wardrobe for a comfortable yet chic ensemble that effortlessly transitions from the gym to brunch with friends.

4. Sustainable Fashion: As awareness of environmental issues grows, sustainable fashion is gaining momentum among celebrities and trendsetters in LA. Zoe advocates for investing in ethically sourced and environmentally friendly clothing brands that prioritize sustainability without compromising style. Look for organic cottons, recycled materials, and eco-conscious manufacturing processes to make a positive impact on the planet while staying fashion-forward.

5. Vintage Revival: Take a trip down memory lane with a vintage revival that celebrates iconic fashion trends from decades past. From retro-inspired silhouettes and vintage denim to statement accessories and nostalgic prints, channel your inner fashion icon with a nod to the past that feels fresh and modern in today's fashion landscape.

Conclusion: As a celebrity stylist in LA, Zoe Hennessey is constantly pushing the boundaries of fashion and setting trends that inspire and influence the industry. From effortless chic and bold prints to athleisure elegance and sustainable fashion, Zoe's top trends reflect the diverse and dynamic style landscape of the City of Angels. Whether you're strolling down Rodeo Drive or attending a star-studded event, embrace these must-have looks to make a statement and turn heads wherever you go. With Zoe's expert guidance, you'll be ready to step out in style and conquer the fashion world like a true Hollywood star.

#Celebrity Stylist #Celebrity Stylist LA #fashion #Fashion Stylist #fashion tips #stylist #Wardrobe Stylist

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llpodcast · 11 months ago

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(Literary License Podcast)

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth produced during the Disney Renaissance, it is inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet with elements from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses and Disney's 1942 film Bambi. The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff (in their feature directorial debuts) and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer.

The film has led to many derived works, such as a Broadway adaptation in 1997; two direct-to-video follow-ups—the sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), and the prequel/parallel, The Lion King 1½ (2004); two television series, Timon and Pumbaa and The Lion Guard; and a photorealistic remake in 2019, which also became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release. In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The Lion King is the first Disney film to have been dubbed in Zulu, the only African language aside from Arabic to have been used for a feature-length Disney dub.

The Lion King is a 2019 American musical drama film directed and co-produced by Jon Favreau, written by Jeff Nathanson, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Fairview Entertainment. It is a photorealistic computer-animated remake of Disney's traditionally animated 1994 film of the same name. The film stars the voices of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Florence Kasumba, Eric André, Keegan-Michael Key, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and James Earl Jones reprising his role from the original film.

Plans for a remake of 1994's The Lion King were confirmed in September 2016 with Favreau attached to directed following box office successes for Disney remakes such as The Jungle Book (2016), which was also directed by Favreau. Disney hired Nathanson to write the screenplay in October 2016. Favreau was inspired by certain roles of characters in the Broadway adaptation and developed upon elements of the original film's story. Much of the main cast signed in early 2017, and principal photography began in mid-2017 on a blue screen stage in Los Angeles. The "virtual-reality tools" utilized in The Jungle Book's cinematography were used to a greater degree during filming of The Lion King. Composers Hans Zimmer, Elton John, and lyricist Tim Rice, all of whom worked on the original's soundtrack, returned to compose the score alongside Knowles-Carter, who assisted John in the reworking of the soundtrack and wrote a new song for the film, titled "Spirit", which she also performed. The film serves as the final credit for editor Mark Livolsi, and it is dedicated to his memory. With an estimated budget of around $260 million, The Lion King is one of the most expensive films ever made.

Opening Credits; Introduction (.37); Background History (1:02.08); The Lion King (19940 Trailer (1;05.30); The Original (1:06.41); Let's Rate (1:51.58); INTERMISSON: (1:56.58) Introducing a Film (2:07.01); The Lion King (2019) Film Trailer (2:04.06); Lights, Camera, Action (2:05.51); How Many Stars (2:43.21); End Credits (2:58.34); Closing Credits (2:59.34)

Intermission Music: He Lives In You (Reprise) – Ensemble – The Lion King, Jason Raize and Tsidii Le Loka. Taken from the album The Lion King, The Original Broadway Cast Album. Copyright 1997 Walt Disney Records. .

Closing Credits: Shadowlands by Shadowland · Heather Headley · Tsidii Le Loka · Ensemble - The Lion King. Taken from The Lion King, The Original Broadway Cast Album. Copyright 1997 Walt Disney Records.

Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast.

All songs available through Amazon Music.

#SoundCloud #music #Literary License Podcast #Disney #The Lion King #Make/REMAKE #Animation

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denimbex1986 · 1 year ago

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Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival has announced its last brace of ticketed live and cinema programming for its 2023 instalment in September, in Cork city.

Taking place between Thursday, September 7 and Sunday, September 10, the festival has added a new film from Cillian Murphy, new theatre work from Enda Walsh, and an expansive live music offering to a four-day line-up of previously-announced music, performance and conversation events, which organisers are calling "the biggest to date".

Friday, September 8 sees the Irish premiere of All of this Unreal Time at Triskel Christchurch - a short film starring Cillian Murphy, written by celebrated author Max Porter (Grief Is The Thing With Feathers), directed by Aoife McArdle, and featuring music by festival co-curators Aaron & Bryce Dessner (The National), and UK electronic producer Jon Hopkins. The 24-minute film was originally commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival in 2021.

On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10, the festival stages a co-production with the Abbey Theatre of Untitled Song Cycle, by festival co-curator Enda Walsh and Anna Mullarkey, at the Cork Arts Theatre; sung by Aoife Duffin with projections by Jack Phelan - a work-in-progress detailing the impact of bullying and memory on a woman who leaves her small town.

American composer and musician Alex Somers, and special guests, head to the Marina Market on Saturday, September 9 at 10pm, providing "a way of experiencing music in a live environment where slowing down, focussing on your senses and being present in the moment are the aim", according to the Sigur Rós producer - patrons are encouraged to bring their yoga mats.

Seanie Buttons presents Mayfield punks Pretty Happy at the Opera House's Green Room on Friday, September 8; and Cork-based singer and songwriter Elaine Malone launches debut LP Pyrrhic on Saturday, September 9, at the same venue.

Meanwhile, at the newly-refurbished Pavilion venue on Carey's Lane, Saturday September 9 sees a midday performance from Rónán Ó Snodaigh (Kíla) and Myles O'Reilly, with songs from new album The Beautiful Road representing a crossover of tradition and ambient music. American songwriter and producer Caroline Rose will also perform at the venue that afternoon.

The Pav also plays host to the festival's late-night club, with DJ Sally Cinnamon anchoring proceedings with special guests on the Friday and Saturday nights.

Speaking on a heavily-loaded announcement, Festival Director Mary Hickson says: "This is the biggest SFSH to date - we are really pushing the boat out this year. We have one more piece of information to come later this month that will connect everything. You'll see special guests listed on many events, we plan to share these details with you soon.

"Working with The Abbey is a huge deal for the festival, we're thrilled to be working with them to bring Enda and his team back to Cork for the week to workshop ‘Untitled Song Cycle’ and share their work in progress with an audience. The final work will be produced for The Abbey Theatre at a later date.

"Presenting the Irish Premiere of ‘All of This Unreal Time’ in our home town of Cork is very important for Cillian and I. Add our incredible director, Aoife McArdle to this and we have a lot to celebrate together on Irish soil."

The announcements join a stacked festival line-up, including major independent music artists like Feist, Wilco and supergroup Bonny Light Horseman; Ye Vagabonds' Lighthouse Constellations residency, including Anna B Savage & Brìghde Chaimbeul, Cormac Begley, Crash Ensemble and more; and experiences like Teac Damsa’s How to Be a Dancer, Luke Murphy’s Volcano, and much more besides.'

#Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival #Cillian Murphy #All of this Unreal Time #Max Porter #Grief Is The Thing With Feathers #Aoife McArdle #Cork #Enda Walsh

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fearsmagazine · 2 years ago

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SPACE WARS : QUEST FOR THE DEEPSTAR - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Uncork’d Entertainment

SYNOPSIS: Father and daughter team, Kip and Taylor, are space scavengers racing against a band of evil mercenaries to reach the legendary treasures on board a lost mythical freighter, Deepstar. Their quest will force them to navigate a universe filled with giant monsters, aliens, robots and a mortal enemy seeking vengeance.

REVIEW: In an age where cutting edge digital effects are available to the novice of filmmakers, SPACE WARS : QUEST FOR THE DEEPSTAR has some practical elements that make this film feel reminiscent of the Roger Corman school of filmmaking.

The film looks great. The cinematography looks great as it blends visual effects with passable sets, some interesting props and desert locations reminiscent of the first season of “Star Trek.” The space crafts could have looked a bit stressed given the battle sequences and the creatures were interesting, as were their fight sequences. The sets seem to be rather small and when more than two characters were in a scene it looked cramped and that an actor could easily end up pushed out of the scene.

The screenplay is a basic quest plot with a family angle added. There are numerous “winks” to classic sci-fi films. Everyone is after Captain Kip, and his reputation overshadows his daughter. The humor is a bit dry and when multiple characters are in a scene it feels flat. It seems that every character has a background story and they all get their moment to fill in the details. I wouldn't say it was bad; it comes off utilitarian and as exposition to fill in the plot gaps.

This is an interesting ensemble cast. Veteran actor Michael Paré anchors and delivers the majority of the one liners. Given his previous screen roles you would assume he would lead some of the action sequences, but ends up with only one fight sequence. His co-star Sarah French, who plays his daughter, gets the majority of the action sequences. Actress Anahit Setian adds some comic relief while Olivier Gruner, with his accent, plays the principal bad guy. The performances lack a bit more energy and I am not sure if it is due to a lack of caffeine or direction.

I enjoyed Joel Christian Goffin’s score. It easily could have been derivative of other sci-fi scores, but has more of an action film feel. It adds depth to the action sequences with lyrical and playful movements and underscores emotional scenes.

This is Garo Setian’s fifth film directing. A filmmaker since 1994, the majority of his credits are in editing. His work on SPACE WARS : QUEST FOR THE DEEPSTAR elevates the production values of the film. The performances could have used a bit of vibrance. The “Space Wars” in the title doesn’t feel relevant, but I understand the reference on several levels. There is an aspect to the film that also reminded me of the classic sci-fi TV series of the 1970’s such as “Space: 1999,” “The Starlost,” or “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” to name a few. It’s a family friendly film that might offer you a trip down memory lane while entertaining younger audiences, but sophisticated teens might easily turn to their smartphones given their exposure to more sophisticated film franchises and television.

CAST: Michael Paré, Sarah French, Olivier Gruner, Tyler Gallant, Rachele Brooke Smith, Sadie Katz, and Anahit Setian. CREW: Director/Editor - Garo Setian; Screenplay/Producer - Joe Knetter; Producers - Joanna Fang, Sarah French, Bill Klinakis, Robert Parigi, and Ben Stobber; Cinematographer - Michael Su; Score - Joel Christian Goffin; Production Designer - Anthony Pearce; Costume Designer - Jean Heathen; Practical Creature Effects - Jeffrey S. Farley; Special Prop Fabricator/Producer - 'Evil' Ted Smith; Visual Effects - CKVFX. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/GQLDsZ6rses RELEASE DATE: Digital May 2nd & DVD May 9th 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #space wars: quest for the deepstar #uncork’d entertainment #garo setian #joe knetter #michael paré #sarah french #science fiction #horror #quest #futuristic #joseph mauceri #joseph b mauceri

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chrancecriber · 2 years ago

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1.FM - Chillout Lounge Radio (January 04, 2023)

23:58 Scubba - Fool 2 Cry 23:52 Frank Borell - Wake Up in Paradise 23:45 Deep-Dive-Corp. - Enjoy 23:41 Jose Ramos - Acalento 23:35 Michael Ruland - Embrace in Space (Progressive Chillout Mix) 23:30 Air - Alone in Kyoto 23:27 Synthetic Substance - out of Other 23:21 Ohm-G - Relax 2 the Max 23:18 Morcheeba - Under the Ice 23:13 Sofa Surfers - Sofa Rockers (Richard Dorfmeis 23:09 Senda Urbana - Chordless Theory 23:02 Bangralution Hippies - the Last Chill Resort - Singh Space Night Mix 22:58 Michael Hornstein - Carma 22:51 Melibea - Antologia 22:45 Sweet Velvet - Recalling the Rising Sun 22:37 Daniele Nacci - Aurora Borealis 22:31 Polished Chrome - Mala (Original Mix) 22:27 Va - for Want of Her 22:21 Coco Steel and Lovebomb - Yachts 22:15 Victor G. de La Fuente Feat. S - Tu Despertar (Original Chill M 22:13 Rue Du Soleil - We Can Fly (El Eterno Verano) 22:07 Kiss Audio - the Voice of Freedom (Spiritual Version) 22:01 Pep Llado - Vai Vedere 21:56 The Dining Rooms - Existentisalism 21:50 Naoki Kenji - My Destiny (The Sushi Club Remix) 21:45 Ltj Experience - Moonbeat 21:36 Aural Float - Dreamer’s Dream 21:34 Simone Fedi - Bitter Devotion 21:24 Joey Fehrenbach - Grandfather 21:19 Cameo Culture - Told You so (Original Mix) 21:14 Vargo - the Moment 21:08 Timo Garcia Ft Manu Delago - the Hang Drum Track (Timo’s Balearica Remix) 21:03 Sunyata Project Feat. Miyabi - Inner Lights 20:59 Kaya Project - Under the Spell (Original Mix) 20:55 Mystery of Soul - It’s a Shame 20:50 The Temper Trap - Fools 20:46 Kimbra - Cameo Lover (Electric Empire Remix) 20:42 Gelka - Have You Kept Your Ticket 20:38 Alex Cortiz - Phusion 20:34 Vanilla - Dreamcatcher 20:29 Bent - Beautiful Otherness 20:22 Joey Fehrenbach - Particles 20:19 The Fairchild - Piano Colors 20:14 Collective Sound Members - Journey to a Dream (Original) 20:07 Aural Float - Still Here 20:01 Schwarz & Funk - Night Over Bangkok 19:56 Kimble Studios - City Vibes Feat Ben Cawood 19:50 Weed - Path of Rose Petals 19:46 Mystique - Essences (Rico van Basten Chill Mix) 19:41 Mahoroba - Faire on Tour (Jazzmatic Lounge Mix) 19:35 Puff Dragon - Lava 19:29 Chilloutlounge - Track 5 19:24 Avalona - Empty Streets 19:15 Detson Engeneering - Wonderland 19:10 Alessandro Boschi - Sentosa 19:05 Phillip Ashmore - Luxury Living 19:00 Jo Manji - Lazy Loungin 18:54 Teddy Rok Seven - Feel 18:49 Sleepingroom Armada - Hope (Feat Inocencia Comas) (Easy Erotic Groove Lounge Mix) 18:42 Yagya - the Phantom of Us 18:36 Adrien Aubrun - Always the Same Thing 18:31 Triangle Sun - Beautiful 18:27 Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar 18:21 Hugh Mane - Control Drama 18:15 Lovers Lane - Island Memories 18:09 Royksopp - Beautiful Day Without You 18:04 Kid Stone Feat. Lovely Laura - Rio 17:58 The Bria Project - Ticon - the First Moment 17:54 Numaro - First Icon (Afterlife Mix) 17:48 Hirudo - Waiting For the Sun to Rise (Out of Style Mix) 17:42 Alex Cortiz - Glow 17:36 4tunes - Where Are You Now (Feat. Hed) 17:31 Elcho - Lazy Summer Days 17:26 Tiger Tanaka - Aki 17:22 Tout Est Bleu - Ame Strong 17:19 M83 - Holograms 17:14 Drops of Honey - Pura Vida - Puro Del Mar Sunset Mix 17:09 Cesar Martinez Ensemble - Contigo Para Siempre 17:05 Synthetic Substance - Eternity 16:59 Jessie Pinkman - Do I Know You (Lost in Lust Version) 16:54 Potholes - Chauma (Manolo Remix) 16:49 Uomo - Mad World 16:44 Hannah Ild - Right Beside You 16:38 Le Vent - Le Vent M’A Dit 16:31 Jjos & Fede Garcia - Foolish Game (Feat Deary’s) 16:27 Verano Portenyo - Nutmeg 16:23 Out of Sight - Comfort (Afterlife Mix) 16:20 Appreciation - Jelly & Fish 16:12 Salt Tank - Sargasso Sea 16:09 Marsmobil - Dark Star 16:03 Re:lounge - Fast Love 15:57 Alex Cortiz - Afterworld 15:52 Exit Mars - Gliding (Comfort Version) 15:48 Uko - Sunbeams 15:43 No Logo - Matter of Time 15:37 Luminius - Hold On 15:32 Direct to Dreams - Le Miroir Bleu 15:31 Costes - Stéphane Pompougnac - Green Tree 15:25 Cafe Americaine - Kashmir Wanderer (Nylons Cut) 15:19 Fenomenon - Pacific Memories 15:17 James Newton Howard - Archer & Solomon Hike 15:12 Rhian Sheehans - Garden Childre 15:06 Blank & Jones With Jason Caesar - Hideaway 14:59 Fresh Moods - the Touch (Enchant Mix) 14:54 Airlock - Alpha 14:49 Domestic SOL - the Living Room (Femme Fatale Mix) 14:44 Chris Coco Mts Afterlief - Home 14:41 Chicane - Barefoot 14:35 Citrus Jam - Nice Holiday 14:30 Alejandro de Pinedo - Aquarius 14:25 Soleil Fisher - Beautiful Nights in Ibiza - Tribute to Cafe Del Mar Mix 14:19 Moon de Lounge - La Mer Se Calme ( Mounier Oriental Sunset Dub Mix) 14:15 Dreamscape - Electric Emotion 14:10 Cafe Easy - Summerbreeze 14:08 Sofa Surfers - Sofa Rockers (Richard Dorfmeister Remix) 14:01 Balearic Lounge Boyz - Leaving Home (Feat. Guitaragi) 13:56 Sam Swift - Wonderful World 13:53 Mel T. Waters - Welcome Blue Hour 13:49 Chilling Crew - for Better Moments 13:44 Deeper Than You Think (Uplift Session) - Skindive Inc. 13:38 Steen Thottrup Ft. a. Berg - Save a Little Prayer 13:32 Cafe Del Mar - Leftfield - Fanfare of Life 13:27 Mahoroba - Atmospheric Pearls (Wide Open Space Cut) 13:22 Night Loungers - a Little Lazy Morning in Paris (French Kiss Del Mar Instrumental) 13:17 Lofty Right - Lazy (Urban Lounge Mix) 13:13 1.fm Promo - Our Words 13:07 Ficci - Edge of the Night 13:01 Afterlife - Breather 12:56 4tunes - Where Are You Now (Feat Hed) (Kandi Hotel Enigma Mix) 12:50 Jjos - Lonely (Feat. María La Caria) Manu López-Saxo (Lounge Mix) 12:46 Skye - Love Show 12:42 Anarchy Group - Fade to Grey 12:38 Loner - Road Song 12:32 Art of Lounge - Moments in Love (Buddha Bar Mix) 12:27 Guss - Milesing 12:18 Leo Abrahams - Spider (Jon Hopkins Remix) 12:11 Alucidnation - Give Me a Reason 12:04 The Thrillseekers - Dreaming of You (Tranquilo’s Ambient Mix) 11:59 Coastline - Adriatic Sea (Dj Lounge Del Mar vs. Milews Ambience Mix) 11:53 Joey Fehrenbach - Particles 11:47 Kaxamalka - True Vibe 11:43 Ac - Meditarrean Sundance 11:37 Bent - Always 11:33 Ibizarre - Smooth Temptation 11:28 Sunsea - Light the Fire 11:24 Chilling Crew - Frozen Time 11:18 Sangar - My Breeze 11:12 De Clive-Lowe, Mark - Day by Day 11:06 Reflekt Ft. Delline Bass - Need to Feel Loved 11:01 Yuri Petrovski - True 10:58 William Orbit - Love My Way 10:52 Kosta Rodriguez - Purple Sky 10:47 Ascension - for a Lifetime 10:41 Ohm-G & Bruno - One 10:36 Paul Murs - Sun Goes Down 10:32 Andras & Oscar - (I Know) What You Want 10:28 Thomas Pascal & H.p. Hoeger - Dadunda 10:20 Little Big Bee - Searchin’ (At Jazz Remix) 10:16 Tennishero - Alone 10:11 Luxury Traveller - Eagle Will Rise Again 10:05 Albert St.barth - Mesmerizing Moonlight (St. Tropez Chill out Mix) 09:58 Muki - Track 7 09:53 Limelight - Oxygene 4 09:47 Euphonic Traveller - Cafe Champs Elysees 09:41 Stephane Pompougnac - Pnc Aux Portes 09:38 Bryan El - Ascension 09:32 Zenyatta - Swimming Into Vibrations - Ibiza Downbeat Vocal Mix 09:26 Caya Levantado - Caribbean Daydreaming ( Jazzy Del Mar Cafe Lounge Mix0 09:22 Lazy Hammock - Star 09:16 Chill Bros. - Cafe Del Mare 09:08 Oxen Butcher Feat. Lisa Eaton - Love & Happiness (Original Mix) 09:05 Gelka Feat. Phoenix Pearle - Flying on Clouds 09:00 Aly & Fila Ft Sue Mclaren - Still 08:55 All India Radio - Mexicola 08:48 Sundial Aeon - Stock on You 08:42 Phil Mison - Lula 08:38 Timecode Feat. Zak - Enigma Machine (Part 2) 08:35 Ingo Herrmann - a New Day Is Dawning 08:28 Citrus Jam - Pacific Snow 08:22 Sven Andersson III - Journey to Your Soul (Cosmic Cycle Buddha Lounge Bar Mix) 08:15 Verda - Es Vedra 08:12 Mel. T Waters - Glass Reflections 08:07 Coyoteeve Feat Saro - Tribastone 08:01 Gifuto-Chekku - Yasui 07:54 Royspop - Mid Summer Nights (Luxury Deluxe Del Mar Mix) 07:49 Stereo Mutants & Jannae Jordan - I Wanna Go (Afterlife Remix) 07:43 Banderas - This Is Your Life (Easy Life Mix) 07:37 No Logo - Ancestral Melody 07:32 Poly Sphere - Child Play 07:31 En’deavour - Across the Island (Interlude) 07:26 The River Gods - Acadia House 07:21 Dj Milews - Children (Ambient Del Mar Winter Cafe Mix) 07:13 Kosta Rodriguez - Blue Grass 07:10 Bissen Ft Victoria Gross - Like I Do (Chill out Mix) 07:06 The Avener & Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (The Avener Rework) 07:00 Woody Pak - Sugar Plum Fairies 06:54 Motorcycle - As the Rush Comes (Gabriel and Dresden Chillout Mix) 06:49 Brazilian Love Affair - Georgy Porgy 06:46 Michael Wik - Waiting 06:41 Khruangbin - August 10 06:34 Magic Waves Feat. Mirjam - Tonight 06:27 Youandewan - 1988 06:22 Solid Gold - Save a Prayer (Nick Tatler & Phil Blohm Instrumental) 06:15 Thievery Corporation - Incident at Gate 7 06:11 Camille - in a Manner of Speaking 06:03 Dido - Worthless 05:59 Nylon - Rio70 05:55 P.m F.m - Chinchilla 05:50 Ku You - 40 Degrees 05:43 Ibiza Sunset - Tibet Wake Up 05:35 Puff Dragon - Spacefunk 05:27 Sven Andersson III - Lost in Mind - Rolling in the Deep Lounge Mix 05:22 Trio Electrico - Creeper Lane 05:18 York Ft Asheni - Iceflowers 05:14 Doctor Rockit - Cafי de Flore (Charles Webster’s Latin Lovers Mix) 05:10 Canis - La Strada (Turn Off the Lights) 05:04 Leila Pantel - Energia 04:59 Purplastic - Nathalia (Ambient Mix) 04:53 Chicane - Saltwater (The Thrillseekers Remix) 04:47 Maricopa - Sun Scope 04:42 Amethystium - Fable 04:36 Andrey Denisov - Night Highway 04:30 Ypey - Love in Spain 04:25 Moorcheeba - Moog Island 04:22 Cleusa - Cleusa 04:18 Jjos - Breathe 04:13 Belinse & Lavejazz - Groove Operator Feat. Tasty 04:05 Pablo Bolivar - Midnight Frogs (Fosky Remix) 04:00 Sofa Sweeper - Voice of Core 03:57 G-Club & Banda Sonora - Guitarra G 03:52 Polished Chrome - Beautiful 03:47 Modi - Clementine 03:43 Chris Coco - Cape Clear 03:38 07 - Paradise Circus 03:31 Noel - Hold Me (Relax Lounge Cafe Chillout Mix) 03:26 Omnimotion - Cozy Life 03:21 Erotic Lounge Buddha Chill out Music Cafe - Te Amo (Chillout Music) 03:17 Moby - Porcelain 03:11 Staedler & Waldorff - the Big Swell 03:05 Liquid Kings - Hang up, Feel Free (Lounge Mix) 03:01 Airstream - Electra 02:55 Sine - Dreamin 02:50 Shakrag - From Singapore to Ibiza (Tribute to Cafe Del Mar Mix) 02:46 The Charly North Michael E Project - the Rapture 02:34 The Style Counci - Long Hot Summer 02:29 Atb - Remember That Day 02:24 Ficci - the Solden Gauge 02:18 Timewarp Inc - Epic Tones Feat Rxn (Sundayman 02:12 Hot & Chilled - Follow the Sun (Day at the Beach Mix) 02:08 Vio Beach - Piano Chillout (Ambient Dream Mix) 02:03 Alex Baratini - My Play (Chill out Mix) 01:58 Sinan - 99 Reasonsfeat. Omenzeter 01:52 Synthetic Substance - the Depth of Ocean 01:46 Jjos - Foolish Game (Feat. Deary’s) (Evolution Vocal Mix) 01:41 Melibea - Lamento 01:36 Various - the Cure (Sunshine Mix) 01:28 Belinse & Lavejazz - Hypnotize Feat. Tasty & Lampoe 01:23 Sunsea - Light the Fire (Chillout Mix) 01:16 Chillsurfer Armada - Relax Your Mind (Cafe Buddha Del Mar Luxury Lounge) 01:12 Madrid de Los Austrias - Mas Amor 01:07 Heso - Never Ending Time 01:06 Moby - Everything Is Wrong 01:00 Guenter Haas - Ai Fu Lin 00:53 Alex Cortiz - Ibiza Trumpet Thing 00:46 Milews - Miami Beach View - Sunset Del Mar Cafe Lounge Mix 00:40 Shastro - Embrace 00:35 Bomb the Bass - Winter in July 00:31 Juan Belda & Carlo Galimberti - Wine Sessions 00:26 Ra-Qi Gong - Rainy Days in Shanghai (Buddha Cafe Del Mar Bar Mix) 00:20 Sangre de La Tierra - El Sueno Del Mar 00:14 Blue Chakra - Free From You (Half Tempo Long Chill Mix) 00:10 Trentemoeller - Miss You (Live at Roskilde 2007) 00:05 Ibizarre - Las Brisas 00:00 Coco Puttnam Feat. Cathy Battistessa - Starlight

#1.FM - Chillout Lounge Radio #Chillout #Lounge #Downtempo #Ambient #Trance #2023 #January 2023

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themovieblogonline · 3 months ago

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The Magic Faraway Tree Movie: Rebecca Ferguson Joins Classic

Enid Blyton is getting the Hollywood treatment once again, and this time, her beloved children's classic The Magic Faraway Tree is about to be brought to life in a way that’ll have both nostalgia enthusiasts and newcomers intrigued. With the final casting announcement now out, one name that’s causing quite the buzz is Rebecca Ferguson. Known for her roles in Dune, Mission Impossible, and Silo, Ferguson is set to play Dame Snap, a character whose name might sound charming but whose demeanor is anything but. A Darkly Magical Tale The Magic Faraway Tree isn’t just another stroll through the enchanted forest—it’s a deep dive into the world of make-believe, where every tree branch hides a new world and each character is more whimsical than the last. However, don’t let the whimsicality fool you. With Ferguson’s casting, it’s clear that the filmmakers are leaning into the darker, more sinister side of Blyton’s creation. Dame Snap, the terrifying headmistress, is one of those characters that kept kids (and probably some parents) up at night. Ferguson’s portrayal is bound to add an edge that will make you question your childhood memories in the best way possible. Director Ben Gregor couldn’t be more excited about Ferguson joining the cast, describing her as “a towering screen presence, one of the finest actors of her generation.” And honestly, when you look at her filmography, it’s hard to disagree. Ferguson has played everything from a seductive spy in Mission Impossible to a powerful aristocrat in Dune, and now, she’s set to become one of Blyton’s most iconic villains. Imagine Dame Snap with a touch of Ferguson’s intense energy—sounds terrifyingly delightful, right? Star-Studded Ensemble But Ferguson isn’t the only big name attached to this project. Andrew Garfield, the versatile star who’s swung between indie hits and superhero blockbusters, is also on board. Whether he’s playing a soldier on the battlefield (Hacksaw Ridge) or a ticking time bomb of creativity (tick, tick... BOOM!), Garfield has proven that he can do it all. Now, he’s set to bring that same level of depth to The Magic Faraway Tree, a story that’s as much about the internal journey of its characters as it is about the external adventures. And let’s not forget Claire Foy. With her Golden Globe and Emmy-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, Foy has shown that she can handle complex characters with grace and nuance. In The Magic Faraway Tree, her role is still under wraps, but given the talent attached, you can bet it’ll be one to watch. Nostalgia Meets New Age For those who grew up with Enid Blyton, The Magic Faraway Tree is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. But this film isn’t just about recreating a beloved book; it’s about reimagining it for a new generation. With its blend of dark fantasy, adventure, and a hint of the eerie, the movie promises to be as enchanting as it is unsettling. And with Rebecca Ferguson leading the charge as Dame Snap, it’s safe to say this is one adaptation you won’t want to miss. Should You Watch It? If you’re a fan of fantasy films, classic children’s literature, or just great acting, The Magic Faraway Tree should be on your radar. With its stellar cast, experienced production team, and a story that has stood the test of time, this movie is poised to be a hit. And if you’ve ever wanted to revisit your childhood, but with a bit more edge, this is your chance. Read the full article

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mariska · 1 year ago

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oh my god LMAO this was such a huge teen fangirl phase of mine that i havent thought about in ages and just randomly had this old ass post recommended to me by tumblr...spontaneous decade-old memory lane stroll incoming cus now i have to tell The Story of how bonkers and fun this whole thing was:

these were from my profile on an official fan site of the music duo i mentioned in the caption up there in the original post, FEMM (it stood for Far East Mention Mannequins iirc, they were from/based in Japan) where they encouraged everyone who signed up to make these two separate alias profiles on there (thats why one is called 'assistant agent' and the other is called 'angels' with a profile ID) because the two girls in the music group portrayed these characters where the backstory was they were both fashion mannequins who had been suddenly brought to life in order to make Absolute Banger Electro-Pop Hits. so on the fan club site you had dual semi-fictional personas and your 'real' persona was an agent assigned to oversee the Cool Electro-Pop Aesthetic Adventures of your desired mannequin character persona (i think there was like different categories of What Kind Of Mannequin ur character was which is why mine says 'angels', i dont remember the other ones or what they all meant lore-wise though lol)

anyways the reason why im describing all of this in detail is because it all adds some context to what is personally my favorite detail of that official fan club site: when you made ur account and they explained the whole dual persona lore thing they encouraged you to genuinely have fun and be creative coming up with your own personas/characters/lore etc and suggested wearing sunglasses or censoring/covering your eyes in your 'agent' profile pic, kinda like ur some important professional bodyguard for your mannequin-brought-to-life character/persona, and with the mannequin one they suggested using a pic where you look different from your agent-self and there were so many people with these great cosplay-esque ensembles for that part of their profiles specifically (this was also heavily inspired by the girls in the music duo, since the story was that they were specifically fashion mannequins they'd always have these great matching outfits for the album covers and music videos of their releases and neither of them really had one single defined Look)

it also had you pick whatever you wanted your name to be for both personas (this was before i started using Mariska as a name for myself outside of stuff just related to the video game character i took it from lol so i was just plain ol' Maya for my agent character, my mannequin character was named Sola cuz i was also very much hyperfixating on Star Wars at the time and thats the name of Padmé's sister who was barely talked about in SW media at the time). also in my mannequin character pic i decided to recycle a pic of me from a 'casual/regular outfit' Starfire closet cosplay i put together once before i had any actual costume for any version of her fjshdhgssvsjdhsjsf thats why i have orange tinted skin and green eyes in that pic for no acknowledged contextual reason LMFAO

AND WELL. thats the story about that i guess not rly much more to add. just enjoyed the very hyper-specific niche memory of All Of That and wanted to share it. idk if the music duo is still active these days but their songs really were a blast to listen to, some of my personal faves i can remember the titles of off the top of my head were 'Fxxk Boys Get Money' which was spelled like that on purpose with the x's fjshdhshskf, 'UFO', 'Kill The DJ', and 'Kiss The Rain'......they had way more but i remember listening to those ones specifically on my old ipod constantly

ok so like theres this new j-pop band called FEMM and it’s a girl duo band and they perform as these mannequin robot-beings called FEMMs and they have a website where u can be a robot mannequin thing and all their songs they have so far are on youtube and iTs sO COOL AND I REALLY LIKE IT

Y'ALL SHOULD CHECK THEM OUT TBH

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Pp-ffsPH8ozLKFMdxOvFw

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nichehouse · 3 years ago

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Best Movies To Binge Watch this Valentine's Day

There's something special about going to the movies. The big screen, the surround sound, the suspenseful silence as everyone watches the unfolding story... But let's be honest, going to the movies can be a bit of a pain. Dealing with long lines, overpriced snacks, and noisy crowds is enough to ruin any romantic mood.

This year, why not celebrate Valentine's Day by binge-watching your favorite movie at home? You can make popcorn in the microwave, raid the fridge for snacks, and cuddle up on the couch with your loved one. Best of all, you won't have to worry about someone kicking your seat or talking during the film.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the perfect film for a date night. The story follows a married couple who discover that they are both assassins working for competing agencies. As they attempt to kill each other, they also start to fall in love all over again. The film is full of action, romance, and comedy, so there's something for everyone.

And with a runtime of only 105 minutes, it's the perfect length for a date night. So if you're looking for a fun and unique movie to watch with your partner, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the perfect choice.

50 First Dates (2004)

If you're looking for a great romantic comedy to watch on your next movie date night, you can't go wrong with 50 First Dates. The film stars Adam Sandler as Henry, a marine researcher, and Drew Barrymore as Lucy Whitmore, a patient suffering from short-term memory loss.

Together, the two characters navigate the ups and downs of their relationship as they try to find a way to connect with each other.

Aside from the touching story, you'll also fall in love with the beautiful location of Oahu, Hawaii, where the film is set. So if you're looking for a romantic comedy that will make you laugh and warm your heart, be sure to check out 50 First Dates.

Valentine’s Day (2010)

Valentine's Day is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. The film stars an ensemble cast including Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, Patrick Dempsey, Eric Dane, Jamie Foxx, and Topher Grace.

The plot follows a group of young Los Angeles urbanites as they navigate the pressures and expectations that come with the holiday season. Breakups, make-ups, tears, joy, and everything in between are all here.

Valentine's Day was a box office success, grossing over $216 million worldwide. Critics were divided on the film, with some praising its light-hearted tone and charming cast, while others found it to be formulaic and unoriginal. Regardless of its mixed reception, the film is sure to be a hit with audiences looking for a romantic movie to watch with their own valentines.

Flipped (2010)

Do you remember your first crush? The butterflies in your stomach, the constant daydreaming, the way your heart skip a beat when they walked into the room? Flipped is a movie that captures all of those first love feels. Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) has been in love with Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe) since the second grade, when he moved in next door.

Bryce, on the other hand, has never given Juli so much as a second glance. But as they enter seventh grade, things begin to change. Slowly but surely, Bryce starts to see Juli in a new light and begins to return her affections.

Flipped is the perfect movie for anyone who loves a good romantic comedy. It's sweet, funny, and will leave you feeling nostalgic for those wide-eyed days of young love. So cuddle up with your special someone this Valentine's Day and enjoy a trip down memory lane with Flipped.

La La Land (2016)

La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic drama film directed by Damien Chazelle and written by Chazelle, Justin Hurwitz and Benj Pasek. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist and Emma Stone as an aspiring actress, who meet and fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. Jacob Benjamin "JB" Smoove as Keith, John Legend as Keith's friend, Rosemarie DeWitt as Mia's co-star and Finn Wittrock as an actor Mia meets.

First of all, the visuals are gorgeous. Every shot is like a beautiful painting coming to life. The colors are so vibrant that they almost jump off the screen. Secondly, the acting is superb. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have great chemistry together and their performances are both grounded and full of heart.

And finally, the music is just outstanding. Justin Hurwitz' score is gorgeous and inventive, and the songs are all catchy and will stay stuck in your head for days. La La Land is simply a joy to watch from beginning to end. It's a love letter to the city of Los Angeles, to the history of Hollywood musicals, and to the power of dreams.

Binge-watch this movie this year in the comfort of your own home

There's something special about cuddling up on the couch with your loved one and watching a good movie. This Valentine's Day, why not ditch the crowded theaters and expensive tickets, and binge-watch a movie at home instead?

You can make your own popcorn, grab your favorite drinks, and snuggle up together without having to worry about other people. Plus, you can pause the movie whenever you want!

Whether you're looking for a romantic comedy, a tearjerker, or an action-packed adventure, there's sure to be a movie that you'll both enjoy.

So curl up together this Valentine's Day and have a marathon watch party. It'll be one of the best ways to spend the day!

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mamapriest · 4 years ago

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Style Flashback: Sophia Loren 🖤

PART TWO

Sophia Loren is well-known as a muse in the fashion world, both to fans and designers alike. Giorgio Armani created a whole collection inspired by the international star, as did designer Sofia Sizzi. And it's easy to see why. Loren has timeless taste and embodies the classic Italian woman. She loves her fur coats and her designer labels, and always has diamonds sparkling from her ears or throat.

Take a walk down memory lane and scroll down to see some of Loren's best looks through the decades. *Courtesy of itsrosy.com

Bold Hats

For Loren, heading to the airport meant she got to don fabulous hats. This pink lace floral number is no exception.

Most of Loren's hats come from designer Jean Barthet, who was Paris' most thriving milliner. His business was booming in the '60s when other milliners were closing down shop. His order book had A-list names like Brigitte Bardot, Queen Farah of Iran, Elizabeth Taylor, and Princess Grace. And each time that Loren visited the milliner, she bought in bulk.

Roman Chic

Even when Loren played an ancient Roman, her outfits were modern-day chic. Here the actress is in her role of Lucilla, the daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in The Fall of the Roman Empire, a 1964 movie. While she might have been dressed for an ancient empire, her ruched dress and jeweled baubles looked stylish enough to wear during the modern day.

Bold Fall Looks

Loren really knew how to work her outerwear. In 1965, she arrived at London Airport for the premiere of Lady L, and her bundled-up outfit proved to be the epitome of fall style. Her checkered coat was topped with a bold bow, which she accented with a crocheted hat and color-tinted sunglasses.

Fierce Cat Eyes

In 1967, Loren displayed some fierce cat eyeliner while at a Hollywood event. She dressed in glittering accents from head to toe. Her dress was a sequined designer confection, which she matched with a diamond and sapphire necklace. The show-stopping Bulgari necklace is one of her favorites: she also wore the same one to the 1966 Cannes Film Festival a year prior.

Grand Ball Outfits

Forget red carpets — Loren truly shined at balls. She especially turned heads while attending a grand ball hosted in a casino in Monte Carlo in 1969. It was her first public outing since the birth of her son, and she decided to go all out by sporting an elaborate headdress.

The outing was a "Dîner De Têtes" costume ball, where she and her husband rubbed elbows with Grace Kelly. The princess actually had some trouble getting to the party with her own big headdress.

Groovy Seventies Attire

Loren perfectly captured the changing fashions of the seventies with this Mod outfit. It consisted of a floral print mini dress with matching go-go boots. Loren wore this scooter dress ensemble on the set of La Femme du Pretre (The Priest's Wife.)

Street Style

Loren looked every inch of the stylish New Yorker while heading to a movie set circa 1978. Her black silk and lace dress was both daring and elegant, and played up her bombshell status.

Late '70s Style

Loren always looked like she walked straight off of a runway in her airport outfits. Here she arrived in Heathrow from Paris wearing a chunky fur coat, turtleneck sweater dress, and knee-high leather boots. She looked like she hopped out of a Vogue editorial, but in reality she was just waiting to get through customs.

Loren's style has always been so impeccable that in 1999 she received the CFDA Fashion Award for "a lifetime of glamour." The actress made it her mission to embody timeless Italian style and luxury. "During her long film career, Loren made bosom-baring an art, with all manner of sensual dresses and tops. Later, she became the elegant patron of top designers such as Valentino and Gianni Versace," the Philadelphia Inquirer observed.

The Age Of Excess

Loren embraced the Age of Excess in the '80s and piled on the glitz and glamour during her red carpet events. In this outfit, her red dress had elaborate bead and tassel shoulders, which she accented with stacked gold chokers and chandelier earrings.

She wore this outfit to a dinner honoring her as Grand Marshall of 1983's Columbus Day Parade. The annual parade on Fifth Avenue is famous for honoring Italian-Americans, but that year they shined the spotlight on an Italian-Italian. And even a bigger deal: Loren was the first woman to lead the parade in its 39-year history!

Nighttime Florals

Spring time florals aren't just reserved for day dresses and picnic skirts. Loren wore head to toe floral while in Moscow in 1991. She had a matching wrap and a flirty high-low hemline. The floral frock was vaguely familiar of another white floral dress she wore back in 1955, proving that Loren's style was timeless.

This was about the time that Loren began wearing glasses to red carpet events, much to the surprise of many.

"She suddenly began turning up in magazines and at black-tie functions wearing glasses, rather glamorous glasses to be sure, but glasses nonetheless," wrote Vanity Fair in 1991. "Somehow, it was jarring. Somehow, you didn’t want to see Sophia Loren... (in) spectacles. She was... the last of a dying breed, and now she was pushing frames with little curlicues on the side, manufactured by an outfit called Zyloware?"

“I’m doing it for fun,” she insisted. “It’s something I could design, I could draw myself. That’s why I did it.” They were always gorgeous glasses, so why not?

💜💜💜

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dunkelfuerstin · 4 years ago

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List of my favorite Touhou OST

Touhou 1 – The Highly Responsive to Prayers:

Eastern Strange Discourse (Theme of Hell levels 6-9)

Now, Until the Moment You Die (Makai final stage's 1st theme / Sariel's 1st theme)

Touhou 2 – the Story of Eastern Wonderland:

Love-Coloured Magic (Marisa Kirisame's theme)

Touhou 3 – Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream:

Reincarnation (Mima's theme)

Vanishing Dream ~ Lost Dream (Kana Anaberal's theme)

Sailor of Time (Chiyuri Kitashirakawa's theme)

Touhou 4 – Lotus Land Story:

Bad Apple!! (Stage 3 theme)

Alice Maestra (Stage 4 theme)

Faint Dream ~ Inanimate Dream (Yuuka Kazami's 2nd theme)

Crescent Dream (Bonus track)

Touhou 5 – Mystic Square:

Dimension of Reverie (Stage 2 theme)

Legendary Illusion ~ Infinite Being (Shinki's theme)

Touhou 6 – the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil:

Apparitions Stalk the Night (Rumia's theme)

Lunate Elf (Stage 2 theme)

Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea (Stage 3 theme)

The Maid and the Pocket Watch of Blood (Stage 5 theme)

The Young Descendant of Tepes (Stage 6 theme)

Septette for a Dead Princess (Remilia Scarlet's theme)

U.N. Owen Was Her? (Flandre Scarlet's theme)

Scarlet Tower ~ Eastern Dream... (Staff roll theme)

Touhou 7 – Perfect Cherry Blossom:

Paradise ~ Deep Mountain (Stage 1 theme)

The Fantastic Legend of Tohno (Stage 2 theme)

Doll Judgment ~ The Girl Who Played with People's Shapes (Alice Margatroid's theme)

Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble (Prismriver Sisters's theme)

Mystic Oriental Dream ~ Ancient Temple (Stage 5 theme)

Bloom Nobly, Cherry Blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life (Yuyuko Saigyouji's theme)

A Maiden's Illusionary Funeral ~ Necro-Fantasy (Ran Yakumo's theme)

Necrofantasia (Yukari Yakumo's theme)

Sakura, Sakura ~ Japanize Dream... (Staff roll theme)

Touhou 7.5 – Immaterial and Missing Power:

Wanderings (Pre-battle theme)

Love-Coloured Magic (Marisa Kirisame's theme)

Septette for a Dead Princess (Remila Scarlet's theme)

Memory of Forgathering Dream (Title screen theme)

Lunar Clock ~ Lunar Dial (Sakuya Izayoi's theme)

Demystify Feast (Feast day theme)

Broken Moon (Suika Ibuki's pre-battle theme)

Memory of Forgathering Oriental Dream (Staff roll theme and Arrange of Night Disc)

Touhou 8 – Imperishable Night:

Stirring an Autumn Moon ~ Mooned Insect (Wriggle Nightbug's theme)

Nostalgic Blood of the East ~ Old World (Stage 3 theme)

Love-Colored Master Spark (Marisa Kirisame's theme)

Lunatic Eyes ~ Invisible Full Moon (Reisen Udongein Inaba's theme)

Voyage 1969 (Stage 6 theme)

Gensokyo Millennium ~ History of the Moon (Eirin Yagokoro's theme)

Reach for the Moon, Immortal Smoke (Fujiwara no Mokou's theme)

Eastern Youkai Beauty (Last word theme)

Touhou 9 – Phantasmagoria of Flower View:

Spring Lane ~ Colorful Path (Reimu Hakurei's theme)

Ghostly Band ~ Phantom Ensemble (Prismriver Sisters's theme)

Higan Retour ~ Riverside View (Komachi Onozuka's theme)

Eastern Judgement in the Sixtieth Year ~ Fate of Sixty Years (Shikieiki Yamaxanadu's theme)

The Flower Like the Fantasy (Ending theme)

Touhou 9.5 – Shoot the Bullet:

Sleepless Night of the Eastern Country (Photo 3 theme)

Retrospective Kyoto (Photo 4 theme)

Touhou 10 – Mountain of Faith:

The Road of the Misfortune God ~ Dark Road (Stage 2 theme)

Dark Side of Fate (Hina Kagiyama's theme)

The Gensokyo the Gods Loved (Stage 3 theme)

Fall of Fall ~ Autumnal Waterfall (Stage 4 theme)

The Venerable Ancient Battlefield ~ Suwa Foughten Field (Kanako Yasaka's theme)

Touhou 10.5 – Scarlet Weather Rapsody:

Sky of Scarlet Perception (Title screen theme)

Dancing Water Spray (Genbu Ravine theme)

Skies Beyond the Clouds (Iku Nagae's pre-battle theme)

Flawless as Clothing of the Celestials (Tenshi Hinanawi's pre-battle theme)

Oriental Sky of Scarlet Perception (Staff roll theme + Arrange Disc version)

Septette for a Dead Princess (Remilia Scarlet's theme)

Broken Moon (Suika Ibuki's theme)

Touhou 11 – Subterranean Animism:

Walking the Streets of a Former Hell (Stage 3 theme)

Heartfelt Fancy (Stage 4 theme)

Lullaby of Deserted Hell (Stage 5 theme)

Corpse Voyage ~ Be of good cheer! (Rin Kaenbyou's theme)

Last Remote (Extra stage theme)

Hartmann's Youkai Girl (Koishi Komeiji's theme)

Energy Daybreak ~ Future Dream... (Staff roll theme)

Touhou 12 – Undefined Fantastic Object:

At the End of Spring (Stage 1 theme)

Beware the Umbrella Left There Forever (Kogasa Tatara's theme)

Interdimensional Voyage of a Ghostly Passenger Ship (Stage 4 theme)

Fires of Hokkai (Stage 6 theme)

Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind (Byakuren Hijiri's theme)

Touhou 12.3 – Unthinkable Natural Law:

Did You See That Shadow? (Title screen theme)

Shanghai Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea (Hong Meiling's theme)

The Legendary Titan (pre-battle theme)

Touhou 12.5 – Double Spoiler:

Youkai Modern Colony (Photo 2 theme)

Bell of Avici ~ Infinite Nightmare (Photo 4 theme)

Touhou 12.8 – Great Fairy Wars:

The Refrain of the Lovely Great War (Stage 1 theme)

Year-Round Absorbed Curiosity (Stage 2 theme)

Great Fairy Wars ~ Fairy Wars (Three Fairies of Light's 2nd theme)

Touhou 13 – Ten Desires:

Night Sakura of Dead Spirits (Stage 1 theme)

Let’s Live in a Lovely Cemetery (Stage 3 theme)

Desire Drive (Stage 4 theme)

Old Yuanxian (Seiga Kaku's theme)

Omiwa Legend (Mononobe no Futo's theme)

Starry Sky of Small Desires (Stage 6 theme)

Touhou 13.5 – Hopeless Masquerade:

A Popular Location (Pre-battle theme)

Spring Lane ~ Colorful Path (Reimu Hakurei's theme)

Hartmann's Youkai Girl (Koishi Komeiji's theme)

Futatsuiwa from Gensokyo (Mamizou Futatsuiwa's 2nd theme)

The Lost Emotion (Hata no Kokoro's theme + Arrange in Disc 2)

Morning Clouds (Ending theme)

Touhou 14 – Double Dealing Character:

Mist Lake (Stage 1 theme)

Dullahan Under the Willows (Sekibanki's theme)

Illusionary Joururi (Benben Tsukumo and Yatsuhashi Tsukumo's theme)

The Shining Needle Castle Sinking in the Air (Stage 5 theme)

The Exaggerated Castle Keep (Stage 6 theme)

Touhou 14.3 – Impossible Spellcard:

Cheat Against the Impossible Danmaku (Stage 1 theme)

Romantic Escape Flight (Stage 3 theme)

Reverse Ideology (Tutorial 2 theme)

Touhou 14.5 – Urban Legend in Limbo:

Forms of Manifested Folklore (Pre-battle theme)

The Arcane is Revealed (Staff roll theme)

Emotional Skyscraper ~ Cosmic Mind (Byakuren Hijiri's theme)

The Lost Emotion (Hata no Kokoro's theme)

The Arcane is Revealed (Staff roll theme Arrange Disc Version)

Bell of Aeons (Story mode battle theme Extra Mode Disc PS4)

Occult Attract (Story mode battle theme Extra Mode Disc PS4)

Touhou 15 – Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom:

Faraway Voyage of 380,000 Kilometers (Stage 5 theme)

The Sea Where the Home Planet is Reflected (Stage 6 theme)

Touhou 15.5 – Antinomy of Common Flowers:

An Odd Couple (Pre-battle theme)

Constant and Unchanging Temple of Worship (Hall of Dreams' Great Mausoleum theme)

Shining Armillary Sphere (Divine Spirit Mausoleum theme)

Possession Flowers Yet to Bud (Staff roll 1 theme)

Immortal Red Soul (Bamboo Forest of the Lost theme)

The Inverted Castle Lit by the Setting Sun (Shining Needle Castle theme)

Dream World Folklore (Outside World theme)

Flawless as Clothing of the Celestials ~ Yellow Lily (Pre-battle theme)

Bhavaagra as Far as the Eye Can See (Heaven theme)

Eternal Spring Dream (Doremy Sweet's theme)

Touhou 16 – Hidden Star in Four Seasons:

Swimming in a Cherry Blossom Colored Sea (Stage 3 theme)

No More Going Through Doors (Extra stage theme)

Touhou 16.5 – Violet Detector

Lunatic Dreamer (Wrong week theme)

Eternal Spring Dream (Story 3 theme)

Touhou 17 – Wily Beast and Weakest Creature

Jelly Stone (Eika Ebisu's theme)

Electric Heritage (Stage 6 theme)

Touhou 18 – Unconnected Marketeers

The Perpetual Snow of Komakusa Blossoms (Stage 3 theme)

Lunar Rainbow (Stage 6 Theme)

The Sunday after the storm (Ending Theme)

#touhou #touhou ost #text #favorite #my favorite themes #touhou music #long post #long text post #i did it!!! :3 #i have way to many #but they all sound so good qwq

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the-cashewpeia · 4 years ago

Text

Rain and Cocoa (Isara Mao x Reader)

Fandom: Ensemble Stars

Additional Character(s): Sakuma Ritsu

Genre: Fluff

Words count: 2153

Request:

Note: I didn't expect it to take so long, but I hope you like it! ☆

⭐

"I don't believe I forgot my umbrella in a time like this."

School was over minutes ago, but you were stuck between going home as soon as possible or staying a little bit to check for the weather. Some students were staying to practice for their performance or doing their club activities. But since you didn't join any club at the moment, you chose to go home and do your producer work. Even though maybe you would be stuck somewhere because of the pouring rain.

"Aren't you going home?"

You were too focused on your own world when someone tapped your shoulder, earning a high-pitched screeching from your mouth. When you turned your head to see who was disturbing you from your train of thoughts, your eyes met a pair of green orbs. Shock was reflecting in them, as the owner pulled their hand from your shoulder.

"Isara-kun?"

Isara Mao, the treasurer of the school council as well as a member of Trickstar. How could you forget his voice? After all, you helped his unit due to your job, as the producer, for several times. Even though it was harder to see him, because the two of you attended different classes.

"Only 'Mao' is alright, no need to be so formal with me." He grinned. "And sorry, I don't mean to scare you. I was just curious though, why haven't you gone home yet?"

Your shoulder slumped when hearing his question, "I was about to leave, but I'm afraid that the rain will pour soon."

"I can-- WAHH!" His words cut short when another boy plopped himself from Mao's behind. He clung to the poor boy's neck, while sending a questioning look towards you, "Ricchan, you shocked me!"

"Maa-kun, why are you running away like that?" The ravenet nuzzling his head like a cat would do to its owner, "let's just go home...."

Ritsu put his weight upon his best friend and it was clear that Mao struggled to stand on his feet while balancing himself, even though he didn't say it out loud.

"May I help you? I can bring your bags." You said.

"Ah, no pr--"

"Here." Without further notice, the younger Sakuma was half-throwing his bag towards your figure, while peeling Mao's bag off from its owner. Thankfully, he didn't fling the later bag just like before. Instead, he gave it to you, but almost dropped it in the process.

You could hear a sigh from Mao, "Sorry."

"It's okay! After all, I could still catch the bags." You showed him the additional bags that hung in your fist.

The red-violet haired boy shook his head slowly and you could see that he forced a grin to form on his face, "It's not the bags. I mean... sorry to trouble you."

"Don't sweat it! After all, I want to help you." You couldn't help but beamed a smile to ease the mess in his mind.

Smiles were exchanged between you two, as another voice interrupted the moment and reminded you about someone's existence.

"Maa-kun...."

"Ah, right. Sorry, Ricchan."

The walk between you three was silent, moreover because Ritsu unwittingly dozed off on his best friend's back and you didn't have any topic to be discussed about. All you did was follow Mao and made sure that you could lend him a hand if he needed it.

"Ricchan, we're here."

You couldn't help but be stunned in silence as you realized how big Sakuma family's house was. Even a big house was an understatement and you thought that 'castle' was the right word to name the enormous building before your eyes.

The younger Sakuma just yawned, before muttering his best friend's and your name to an invitation to his house.

"Come on, let's get inside!" Mao called for you, while flashing his signature smile, "it's okay, I'm here."

A blush soon masked over your cheeks, as you realized that he saw you gaping. It wasn't your fault though, that you were amazed by the immensity of Ritsu's house.

When the three of you walked inside the building, you thought that you would be greeted by a line of maids with charming smiles. But the reality was the dimness and the lack of sunlight that filled the room. It couldn't help but to make you shiver due to the low temperature.

Mao just waltzed to a room without another thought, as if he knew the house like the back of his hand. Not wanting to be left behind, you scurried away and followed his trail.

After almost being lost, you arrived at another dim room filled with bed and some furniture like cupboards and shelves. Without questioning anything, you knew that it was Ritsu's room.

The red-violet haired boy put his friend down on the bed and tucked the blanket up his chest. He then motioned to put Ritsu's bag on one of the shelves, before bidding the ravenet a good night.

As Mao left the room, you complied with what he just asked you to do. But when you turned your heels to follow the Trickstar member, you could hear someone whispering to you, maybe.

"Good luck...."

Wait, what was that? Did that person really pray for your luck? For what? And it must not be Ritsu, right?

But, well... he was the only one in the room other than you, so... perhaps?

Just when you closed the door to Ritsu's bedroom, Mao heaved a sigh, "sorry. You've must reach your home by now."

You knew that he didn't like to weigh anyone down with additional tasks, noting how much he apologized to you until now. But you also knew that it wasn't a burden at all. After all, he always worked so hard and you want to do nothing other than supporting and helping him in any way you could.

"It's okay." Once again, you said those words while handing him his bag, "don't worry. I want to help, after all."

Silence engulfed the two of you after those lines rolled off your tongue. Neither you nor Mao knew what you should say, until the sound of downpour hitting the roof ringing in your ears.

And somehow it worsened the boy's mood.

"Don't say sorry." Before he could mutter anything, you stopped him in his tracks.

He seemed shocked, unable to grasp the fact that his green orbs told you everything.

"Heh." The sound of his laugh could be heard, "you know me so well."

"Of course! I've known you for months." You replied back by mimicking his grin as well.

He smiled softly, while whispering something into the thin air, "I think you don't know much about me."

"What?"

"Nothing!" Mao cracked a wide smile before leading you to the front door, "You should stay in my house until the rain stops."

He opened his compact umbrella and motioned you to join him under the shade. It wasn't big enough for two people, and if you stayed further, one of your shoulders would be drenched in no time. But....

"Sorry, but you must walk closer." He was the one who moved an inch towards you, until your shoulder bumped his upper arm. Another apology left his lips, but your mind was filled with his scent and warmth that it left no room for you to think straight.

The quiet walk soon ended when you arrived at a simpler house--at least if you compare it to Sakuma household's castle--much to your dismay. You thought that you should say something to cut down the awkwardness, before arriving at his home. And now that you had reached his place, the low courage, that prevented your brain from functioning, took control of your entire body.

The peacefulness you didn't hope for soon broke when you followed the red-violet haired boy inside and found a girl with the same hair color as him. She beamed at him, but his smile turned brighter even more when she saw you.

"Oh! Nii-chan, you bring your girlfriend home!" Her spirited voice was enough to paint your cheeks in beet red.

Mao's younger sister darted towards you in a curious manner and it was enough for the boy to pull you towards him.

"Stop it. She was just take a shelter until--"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." The younger girl stuck her tongue out, "anyway, nii-chan, mom and dad haven't gone home yet. But don't do anything inappropriate, okay?" She teased her brother, then left while giggling and ignoring Mao's annoyed expression.

He let out a tired sigh, "sorry about that. My sister likes to tease people and seems like I'm her favorite victim."

You couldn't help but laugh at their antics, "no problem." You said.

His lips turned upwards, as he led you to his room. He then took care of you first, before darting off to make a hot beverage.

While waiting for him, you wrapped yourself in a warm blanket he gave you and looked around his room. It was not too different from any boys' room you could imagine, with necessary furniture and posters of basketball players hung on some faces of the wall.

And it was when you finally noticed a moon-shaped plushie on the bed. It was yellow, but the color became pale due to its age. And a smiling face was adding a touch on one of its sides.

Just when Mao came back with two mugs of hot cocoa on a tray, you put it back but he caught it in the corner of his green eyes.

"Don't say sorry." He mimicked you while grinning, "it was Ritsu's, but he insisted on having it."

You hung your head low, felt bad because he discovered you picking up on his things. But the melodious laugh that escaped his lips somehow made your emotional state better.

"It's okay. You know that me and Ritsu knew each other since we were children, right?" He asked, "he often came here and played with me. And when I realized it, he was attached to me like... well, you already saw how he behaved around me." Another string of laugh filled the room, while you tried to shoo your anxiety away with sipping the hot beverage.

You couldn't help but peeking at his nostalgic face over the rim of the mug. His face alone told you about the friendship they built over the years, the growth of two young boys, and how they actually needed and helped each other in those dark times.

"I always wanted to be there for him, because he's been relying himself on me. It feels like... I don't want to disappoint him, as his best friend." Mao beamed, as he was down on the memory lane.

Words were stuck in your throat as you couldn't weave anything to reply. Of course he sensed this and laughed wearily to lift the mood up.

"Sorry, that must be boring right?" He scratched the back of his neck, while averting his gaze on the surface of the chocolate beverage.

At last, you shook your head, "no. I was just thinking about something...."

"Hm?"

"I...." You inhaled deeply, "I want to be there for you, just like the way you did for Ritsu. And I want you to rely on me, when you need someone to lean on, as... a friend."

Silence engulfed both of you, before Mao took action to break the invisible ice between the two of you.

"I'm glad you feel that way. But...." A soft smile touched his lips, "I don't want us only to be friends or best friends."

Shock was controlling over your mind and made you tongue-tied. You wanted to say something, to ask about the thing that made you giddy all this time. But, it was hard.

Once again, Mao took control over the conversation, "do you get it?"

There was no way you didn't get the hint. It was crystal clear to you. But, how to respond?

The red-violet haired boy leaned closer, his eyes shut as the distance between you grew shorter. You did the same until you could feel his breath fanning your burning cheeks, before his lips met yours in a slow manner.

It was quick and tasted like cocoa. Did the first kiss always taste sweet like this?

"I... like you." You muttered those words.

He expected it from you, but never anticipated you to say it first. Moreover, before he confessed his feelings towards you.

"I guess you get it then. But...." He tried to hide the fact that his cheeks were burning with happiness, "how could you steal that line from me?"

A grin plastered on your bright face, "I just feel like it?"

Your attempt at cracking a joke made the two of you burst out laughing. Both you and him already forgot about the heavy rain outside, as the soft pitter-patter carried out a tune of the blooming youth love.

#ensemble stars imagine #enstars imagine #isara mao x reader #isara mao #trickstar #chie fics

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athingthatwantsvirginia · 4 years ago

Text

What about Byron?

PART THIRTY-EIGHT OF THE DO YOU SEE HER FACE? SERIES

Pairing: Jess Mariano x Original Character (Ella Stevens)

Warnings: mentions of surgery/appendicitis, mentions of family trauma, plentiful pop culture references, this is just fluff I know guys but I needed something to restore my faith in humanity even just momentarily

Word Count: 5.5K

Summary: The first Thanksgiving in Ella and Jess’s new apartment doesn’t go exactly according to plan.

Humming a She Wants Revenge song under her breath, Ella leaned back against the cabinets and dried the fragile dishes. She was reminded of their days at the diner as Jess stood over the kitchen sink washing them. From her spot sitting on the counter right next to him, she could admire his profile and feel her cheeks heat up at the sight. He had grown into himself so well. But his beauty and her comfort at his presence were probably the only things keeping her nerves at bay. The dishes, her mother’s, had come in the mail from Fiona only two days earlier. White faux China adorned with pinkish-red roses. Ella had taken a few moments to recognize them, since there had been no note along with them. But then she remembered family holidays when her mother would take them out, only used for the most special occasions. Even though they were chipped in some places and had been bought at a rummage sale just after her parents had gotten married.

The dishes were where the plans for the holiday truly started to form. Chris, Leo, Matthew, and Mabel all had other engagements which took them out of town for Thanksgiving. Ella and Jess were still unsure of what they were doing. Adam was going to Noah’s, Fiona was going to her sister’s. Still, no word from Jake. Jess was wary of staying in Stars Hollow, though his time at the community center therapist’s office had been doing him well. They bounced him around to a different counselor each time he went, and talking to a complete stranger about all his issues hadn’t come easy, still wasn’t coming easy. But maybe just the fact that he was trying made him feel better.

On a whim, at the sight of the dishes, Ella had a wild idea. Instead of going to Stars Hollow, why not bring Stars Hollow to Philadelphia? The dishes were meant to be used. She couldn’t neglect them like an instrument unplayed. Not her mother’s dishes. And when she’d run it by Jess, he’d been more receptive than she’d thought he would be. Maybe he was just surprised she was open to contacting anyone from her family at all. She still seemed so standoffish about them, since the graduation ceremony. And the apartment wasn’t big, but certainly they could handle a few people over for one afternoon. Julie, Michael, and their girls would be in attendance. Along with Luke and Lorelai. But, when Liz and TJ heard Luke and Lorelai were coming, they somehow managed to invite themselves.

Jess wasn’t thrilled about it, and neither was Ella, but they were trying to keep level heads. Plan everything in advance and keep the day-of to a low-stress affair. It was only Monday, and they were already washing the dishes. It made Ella feel slightly more secure. And she had the whole week off, leaving plenty more time to prepare. Luke and Lorelai were also coming on Wednesday and staying the night at a motel, though Ella and Jess insisted they didn’t need to help. Ella was shocked Luke was willing to be away from the diner for more than one day, let alone Thanksgiving. Maybe getting back with Lorelai after Rory’s graduation had changed his outlook on life a bit.

She uttered a small sigh as she dried yet another dish, stressing herself out with the storm of thoughts raging in her head. A throb was starting behind her eyes.

“What’s up?” Jess asked, handing her another plate, his hands reddish and dripping from the hot water.

Ella shook her head slightly. “Nothing. Doesn’t it just seem a little bourgeois of us to have a set of dishes?”

“I don’t know. I think we’re exempt, considering you got these from your mom, who got them from someone else,” Jess pointed out, his voice light. “Sharing is caring for the proletariat.”

Snickering, she let a small smile cross her lips. “Well, it’ll have to be, considering we’re trying to fit eleven people in a shoebox.”

“It won’t be that bad,” Jess continued, trying to sound reassuring. She had been quiet and fidgety all evening, and he wondered just how wound up about the event she really was. Ella had a tendency to spread herself too thin and regret it when it was already too late.

“Look at you, Mr. Sunshine,” she quipped as she dried the last plate.

Jess shut off the water and watched the soapy foam begin to circle down the drain. He wiped his hands on his jeans, eyeing the tall stack of dishes which sat on Ella’s other side. She was right. Even a chipped set of plates didn’t look quite correct in their faded, out of date kitchen. But he only shrugged off the nerves. They were in for it, and there was nothing they could do about it. He came to stand in between Ella’s legs. She brought her arms to rest on his shoulders as he shifted closer.

“I’m working on my positive outlook.”

She snorted a laugh. “Good luck.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Well, that wasn’t very convincing.”

“I just don’t know if I’d be able to handle you waking up to a motivational tape every morning,” she said, shrugging.

Jess smirked. “That’s cute. But it’s not 1985 anymore. It would be a motivational CD, at least.”

“Maybe you could start with reading that self-help book again?” she suggested, teasing. “Maybe Luke could bring it up for you on Wednesday?”

“Touché,” he replied.

“Hey,” she began, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, “I kinda like that you read that book.”

He scoffed. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” she said, searching his face for a moment. “Just seems exactly like something you would do...in a good way. Are you sure you’re okay with seeing your mom and everything?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I promise,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Okay. But just tell me if you’re not okay. I can kick them out without a second thought,” she said with mock gravity. “There’s a reason I was Luke’s favorite waitress.”

Jess chuckled. “Good to know.”

Then, she took a deep, tired breath. Tilting his head at her, he noticed the constant tinge of pink on her cheeks, and the way she seemed to sit as though the weight of the world was on her limbs.

“You okay, Stevens?” he asked.

“Other than the sense of impending doom...yeah, I’d say I’m doing alright,” she said.

Furrowing his brows, he brought the back of one hand to her cheek.

She groaned in annoyance at his needless concern. “You can’t get all Mother Hen on me now, Mariano. We’ve got pies to bake and a turkey to roast.”

“Elle, if-”

“I’m fine, Jess,” she continued, swatting his hand away when he attempted to move it to her forehead. “It’s just PMS. I have cramps, too. Don’t worry about it.”

After a moment, he finally managed an unconvinced: “Okay.”

. . .

Wednesday afternoon brought flurries of snow in stray showers throughout the day. A crisp, biting wind blew through the Philadelphia air, but it still felt a bit warmer than Connecticut to Lorelai. She could already smell the fragrance of pie as they approached the door of Jess and Ella’s apartment. It was odd, to say the least, standing in the dingy, grayish hallway of the building in front of the door, adorned with a rusty ‘7.’ A flash of memory crossed her mind, sitting in the living room of her home, braiding Ella’s hair. She’d warned Ella back then not to get involved with Jess, told her he was trouble. Sometimes, when she heard through the Lane grapevine about fights the two had, Lorelai wondered if she should have done more to protect Ella. She remembered nights comforting her on the couch after her mother died, feeling helpless and unable to get Ella to work through her emotions. Often, Ella would just sit there staring at the television screen, with the same glazed expression no matter what they were watching. Even after Rory fell asleep, Lorelai would stay up with her. Just to be there.

She knew what it was to be alone at such a young age. And she knew what it was to fall for a boy who didn’t deserve you just to escape the isolation. Sometimes, Ella reminded her more of herself than even Rory. But Rory had been on her mind every waking second in those days. And she had, somehow, let Ella slip through the cracks. Go on a rocky path with Jess. Not that it hadn’t turned out alright in the end. Even Luke approved, despite how against it all he had been at first. But Lorelai was still unsure of Jess, even after so many years. She was civil when they crossed paths, but actually spending a day inside the home Ella shared with him was a different matter entirely. All she’d ever seen of him were the angriest, nastiest moments. She didn’t like the idea of Ella having to weather such a storm for the rest of her life, simply because she and Jess had been together for so long.

“You gonna knock, or what?” Luke asked, his wide, expectant eyes flicking between the door and Lorelai. His hands were full of the sides he’d made the day before. One tupperware with garlic mashed potatoes, the other with glazed carrots; he knew how much Ella liked them. She’d always taken the leftovers from the diner when they were offered.

Lorelai nodded. “Yes. Just preparing myself to right walk into a John Hughes movie.”

“I told you, Lorelai,” Luke said gruffly, rolling his eyes. “He’s changed. They both have.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, you’re getting the chance to. Just please knock on the damn door before my arms give out,” Luke said.

Lorelai scoffed, then raised a gloved hand and knocked. She was surprised how quickly Jess came to greet them, a thin smile on his face as he took their coats and the tupperwares from Luke. He seemed rushed, and there was a pink, checkered apron tied around his hips. It stood out against his otherwise all-black t-shirt and jeans ensemble. She was surprised to see a respectable haircut on his head.

“Hey. Make yourself at home. I gotta make sure the sugar doesn’t burn,” he said, then hurried back into the kitchen as they took off their shoes.

“Thanks,” Lorelai muttered, looking around the place.

It was surprisingly cozy, homey, considering the run-down state of the building. There were a few throw blankets draped over the back of the couch, and cacti planted in small pots on one of the end tables near the sliding glass door. Through it, she could see two mismatched armchairs next to each other on the tiny balcony. Art lined the walls. A few posters, famous photography, paintings and drawings Lorelai could recognize as Ella’s from their mixture of horror and botanicals. Stepping into the living room as Luke immediately offered to help Jess, she spotted a couple pictures in small frames, sitting on the end table sans cacti.

In one, Ella sat on Jess’s lap inside what looked to be a dive bar. Ella’s left arm was hooked around the back of Jess’s neck, and she used her free hand to gesture. Her lips were curling up at the edges as she spoke some word frozen in time. Jess had his head thrown back in laughter at whatever Ella had said. The sight made Lorelai’s eyebrows raise just a touch. She didn’t think she had ever heard Jess truly laugh at anything. The next picture saw Ella and Jess together in a train seat, the scenery passing them by through a small window. They were both asleep, Ella’s head on Jess’s shoulder, and Jess’s head on top of Ella’s. In another, just Ella was in the shot. She was glancing at the camera, not quite smiling but looking serene as she sat on a beach towel, the waves captured in mid-crash behind her. Still, Lorelai’s surprise grew. Ella hated the ocean.

“Nice apron, by the way,” Luke said, smirking at Jess as he rounded the corner to take a seat at the island.

Jess gave a sardonic grin in response, looking down at himself and blushing. “Thanks. Eleanor said it wouldn’t really feel like a pie day without it.”

“Oh, God, the pie days,” Lorelai piped up, groaning fondly at the memory. She came over to take the stool next to Luke. She had to admit, watching Jess stir a pot on the stove in a pink apron like a portrait of Donna Reed made a giggle rise in her throat. “I don’t miss those.”

“You weren’t the one she was waking up before the sunrise to get inside and use your oven because hers didn’t have convection!” Luke argued.

Lorelai snorted. “No, but I was the one who had to hear you rant about it before you gave me my morning coffee.”

“Need I remind you all that we always sold every slice?” Ella chimed in, emerging from the bedroom.

Lorelai smiled as she swiveled around on the stool. Ella wasn’t wearing any makeup and she was dressed in a large flannel and leggings. Her hair was messy and down. Maybe her style had changed since the grunge-goth diner phase.

“Hey! I told you to stay in bed!” Jess said, raising his eyebrows and pointing a wooden spoon at Ella from the kitchen.

Ella rolled her eyes, going over and giving Lorelai and Luke hugs of greeting. “Why would I stay in bed when there’s so much excitement out here?”

She waltzed into the kitchen next to Jess, eyes roaming over the mess of flour and spices and bowls and pie tins he had laid out next to the stove. She could tell by the smell of the apartment the apple was currently in the oven. It looked like he was working on the pecan next.

“Maybe because you just got your appendix taken out, like, twelve hours ago?” Jess said emphatically, eyes widening at her.

“What?” Luke asked.

“Is that why Jess is doing his Leave it to Beaver routine? I thought he was filling in because you were getting ready,” Lorelai said, a startled lilt in her tone. “But instead you just got your organs rearranged?”

“I had a minor surgery and I’m fine now,” Ella said, casual and content. The medicine they’d given her at the hospital hadn’t quite worn off yet, but she had been high around parental figures more than once. She could hold her own. She could even ignore the troubling notions about gender roles deeply ingrained in Lorelai’s comment, in the spirit of keeping arguments to a minimum. She glanced at the mixture Jess was beginning in the big blue bowl. “Just make sure to-”

“I’m following the recipes you gave me,” Jess cut in defensively. “If you’re not gonna stay in bed like you should, can you at least sit down and not backseat bake?”

Lorelai gave the two a suspicious glance. There was the bite in Jess’s voice. The one she could remember so well.

Ella gave a heavy sigh through her nose. Of all the weeks to get appendicitis. Pie-making was probably her favorite part of the winter months. “Fine. But I’m playing my Joni Mitchell record and you can’t complain about it.”

“You’re sick. You’re allowed to play whatever you want. You’re just not allowed to rip your stitches open,” Jess said, shrugging and gaining a teasing tone again. The smirk returned.

“I’m not sick, jackass,” she snapped.

Lorelai pursed her lips, looking over at Luke with eyes full of nostalgia. “Is it just me or have we been transported back to 2002?”

“Seems like it,” Luke mumbled, watching them bicker like they always had.

Before Ella could turn on her heel to leave the kitchen, heading for the record player in the corner of the living room, Jess put down his spoon and stopped her with a: “Hold on.”

“What?” she asked.

He took a couple steps towards her, wiping his hands on the apron before placing his palm on her forehead, feeling how warm it was. Then, he transferred the backs of his fingers to her rosy cheek. “Do you need more Ibuprofen?”

“Not for a couple hours,” she replied, more honest than he was expecting. Banter aside, he could see the fatigue in her glassy eyes. “It’s fine. The doctor said I could have a fever for up to forty-eight hours after surgery.”

“I know. Just checking,” he said, then dropped his hand as she made her way out.

Again, Lorelai’s confusion deepened. She couldn’t hide the crease on her forehead as she furrowed her brows at the interaction. Was Jess really playing nurse? Without complaint?

“I can’t believe you got her to a doctor at all,” Luke said.

Jess scoffed, looking down at the mixture as he stirred. “Only after she passed out on the bathroom floor because her fever was so high.”

“What?!” Luke repeated, instantly panicked.

“Tell them every detail of our lives, why don’t you, chatty Kathy?” Ella grumbled as she put the record on. “I’m fine now.”

A wave of relaxation washed over her as Joni Mitchell’s voice sounded. She went to the couch and threw an old blanket over herself, facing the kitchen.

“My God, Ella. It’s just like that time you broke your arm,” Lorelai said knowingly, going over to join Ella on the couch. She put a comforting hand on Ella’s knee. “Seriously, sweetie, you can’t just expect an organ to abracadabra out of your body.”

“Damn, if only Jess was still doing those magic tricks,” Ella teased in retaliation, narrowing her eyes at Jess as he glared at her through the opening to the kitchen.

Soon, he and Luke were enveloped in their own sporadic, monosyllabic conversation and it made Ella crack a small smile of nostalgia. She raked her hands through her hair as Lorelai began to ask about the apartment, how school was going. It was strange having such a long conversation with her. They hadn’t engaged in their old, pseudo mother-daughter dynamic in a long time. Part of Ella felt as though she were back to being fifteen again. But another part of her felt so elementally different. Able to recognize how much Lorelai had helped her in a way she simply hadn’t been able to comprehend as a teenager. Sure, she was beyond grateful even when she was young. But, now, she wondered if and where she would be if Lorelai hadn’t been there to help her following her mother’s death, or even in her life before. She probably wouldn’t have gotten a job at Luke’s, considering Lorelai was the one who had initially asked Luke to help the Stevens out and give them leftovers every once in a while. Who knew if Ella and Jess would have ever gotten together. The ‘what-ifs’ spinning around in her head only served to fill her heart with warmth for Lorelai. Not only due to the lingering effects of the hospital drugs.

“You said Rory’s still following Obama?” Ella asked, leaning against the side of the couch. She had never had surgery before, and never knew how absolutely exhausted she would be afterwards.

Lorelai nodded, taking a sip of the water Luke had brought her. He was currently fighting to get in the kitchen with Jess, who was still insistent on making the pies entirely by himself.

“Yeah, she’s gonna be with him until the inauguration in January,” Lorelai explained. “She’s Woodward and Bernsteining it up in Chicago right now. They’ve been making stops all around the country for months.”

“Wow,” Ella said, a soft smile still playing on her lips. “She’s really doing it. I can’t even imagine how happy she must be. I mean, I always knew she would. But it’s finally happening.”

“I know. Just a few steps closer to Christian Amanpour,” Lorelai agreed proudly, beaming. “But, hey, you don’t seem to be doing too bad yourself.”

“Yeah. Only a few more months and I’ll finally have that damn degree. The dean’s been talking to me about teaching after I graduate, at least part-time. I don’t know, though. I’m still mulling it over,” Ella said, thinking back to the meetings she’d been having recently. Her own classroom, her own office, her own space to create and guide others to create. And, of course, she could still work making art for Truncheon. The more she thought about it, dreamed about it, and talked it over with Jess, the more she could see herself staying at Penn for longer than just the end of the spring semester.

Lorelai’s face was unreadable for a moment, as she swallowed dryly and looked down into her drink. “And you’re really happy here? This is...this is what you want?”

Ella’s face fell just a touch. She had thought maybe such a question was coming. Lorelai had never loved Jess, never even liked him. Part of Ella thought it was completely understandable. An angry teenager who steals beer and pulls stupid pranks and walks out of town without a word? Dick moves, all of them. But Lorelai had never seen anything else from Jess. She had never made the effort to. She didn’t know him.

As she met Lorelai’s eyes once again, Ella gave a careful, sincere nod. “Really. I get to work on my art every day. I get to collect records and plant cactuses and I get to...I don’t have to live for anyone else. I even get to make pies, when I don’t have nine stitches in my side. I never wanted...I never wanted much else.”

“I know,” Lorelai replied, voice hushed with emotion. She glanced back over at her shoulder at the two men in the kitchen, now begrudgingly tag-teaming the desserts. “And Jess?”

. . .

The light was fading to an orangey glow by the time everyone had finished up dessert. Julie, Michael, and the girls had to start the drive to New Britain back almost right after, since Michael had work the following morning. Ella was sad to see them go. They were the ones who made her ache for her mother in a not altogether unpleasant way. The day Ella had lost her mother, Julie had lost her big sister. Forever, the two of them would be linked by the trauma. But not just the trauma. Julie provided a home away from home when Ella needed one. And Ella was a makeshift babysitter whenever Julie called. Julie was the only member of Ella’s family who was truly reliable, the one she could count on. Aside from the family she had found in Philadelphia.

But the apartment was still lively with noise as afternoon slowly melted away into evening. Liz and TJ danced near the kitchen to the sound of the Grateful Dead record on the turntable. Off in their own strange world. Ella didn’t mind. She’d been giving Jess’s hand comforting squeezes all day long, noticing how his shoulders were just a touch more tense and his words came out in short, anxious bursts when he spoke to his mother. He wasn’t completely miserable, though. At least, that was what he told her each time she asked.

Maybe the work of setting up the apartment and serving the food helped, keeping him busy. No matter how many times she tried to help him arrange the card tables for everyone to sit at, or put out the dishes, or clean any noticeably dirty surface, he’d only shrugged her off with some snarky remark and made her sit down. Once Luke and Lorelai got there, she could barely shift in her seat without one of the three pairs of watchful eyes landing on her in concern. It was sweet of them, really, but still made her squirm under their gaze. And pissed that she couldn’t enjoy the first Thanksgiving in the apartment the way she wanted to.

Stomach as full as it could be (the surgery had left her appetite at next to nothing), she sat comfortably on the old couch, Luke and Lorelai in the folding chairs across the card table from her. Luke was busy ranting about how corrupt Black Friday and malls in general were to Lorelai, making a sentimental twinkle spark in Ella’s hazel eyes. She was glad they’d had enough room to fit three tables in the space, with four seats at each. The set-up was arguably too tight, but they’d managed. Erin and Annie had only spilled two cups of milk over the course of the night.

Ella felt a sleepy calm beginning to settle in her body. Through the sliding glass doors, she could see a little sliver of the sunset. Soon, the sky would cloud over and there would be another spray of early snow. The room smelled of wintry spices and hot gravy. Jess still hadn’t reached Luke’s level of perfection, but he had done a pretty damn good job with dinner. And, she had to admit, the pies weren’t too shabby either. It shocked her how seamlessly he had pulled it all off, in his element as he put it together. Though not without a scowl and some huffy breaths.

Ella looked back at Jess, sitting to her left. He held Doula in his arms. She sat on his lap, facing him, as his hands gently supported her back. She was a little over six months old, and almost able to sit up on her own. But, Jess figured it’d be best to keep his hands where they were for some insurance. The baby had somehow tugged the pendant of his necklace out from beneath his shirt, and was alternating between staring at it in wonderment and sucking on it. Jess was having some murmured conversation with her, and she occasionally responded with a gurgle or a coo. Even a laugh when he tickled her stomach.

Ella watched in awe. She remembered how terrified he’d been when he’d first met her nieces, at a Thanksgiving long past. But, now, he handled his sister, along with her nieces, with such ease. He had found a deck of cards for old time’s sake, put on a little magic show for the kids during the lull between dinner and dessert. He’d convinced Annie the smaller half of the wishbone was still lucky when Erin had broken off the bigger half. Just because it didn’t look as big, he said, didn’t mean the magic wasn’t as big. When he realized Ella had caught him saying it, he’d looked away with a scarlet flush and cleared his throat. Sometimes, she could really see the writer in the way he spoke.

“What about Hemingway?” he asked quietly as Doula looked up from the pendant with giant brown eyes and drool dripping down her chin.

Doula gave a little squawk of noise, then swatted one sticky hand up to pat Jess’s face. He scrunched up his nose and chuckled. Then, Doula went back to marveling at the small, circular pendant.

“See?” Jess said, tossing a glance at Ella. He could feel her soft gaze. “Doula likes Hemingway.”

Ella scoffed. “Then her taste is just as bad as her brother’s.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Jess said to the baby, leaning in with a conspiratory whisper. “She likes poetry. Like she can criticize anyone for their taste.”

Narrowing her eyes playfully at Jess, Ella put an arm around his shoulders and inched closer to the two of them. “What about Byron, Doula?”

Doula didn’t look up, instead grabbing the pocket of Jess’s t-shirt in her pudgy fist.

Jess smirked pointedly at Ella.

Ella rolled her eyes. “You’ve taken her to the dark side already.”

“If you mean the right side, then yes,” Jess shot back.

Snorting a laugh, Ella pressed a kiss to Jess’s cheek. Her freckled face became almost wistful. Her raspy whisper near his ear was so sincere it made Jess’s stomach do a flip. “I love you.”

“Love you back,” Jess replied, his voice barely audible over all the others in the room.

She was almost surprised he said anything at all. She hadn’t expected reciprocation with so many people around, and it made a joyful tingling spread from her center out to her fingers and toes. She ran an absent hand through the ends of his hair, a smile painted on her lips.

“Thank you for doing this, Jess,” she said. “You’re the fucking best.”

“Language, Eleanor,” Jess scolded, gesturing playfully to Doula, who still fiddled obliviously with the necklace.

Ella snickered. “Right, sorry, sorry. I’m just...you didn’t have to do all this. I’m sorry about everything. I didn’t mean to go and get appendicitis.”

“It’s not your fault,” he said, eyes still trained carefully on the baby in case something unforeseen happened. He was more confident in his childcare abilities than he had once been, but there was still an untrained fear within him that she would tumble straight out of his lap. “Don’t worry, Stevens. I don’t do things I don’t wanna do.”

“Sure you don’t, James Dean,” she teased. “You’re not a good liar.”

“Look who’s talking,” he quipped in return, a smirk still present on his face. “Besides, it was better than scraping plates in the diner all day at Thanksgiving. After doing that a couple years in a row, it’s pretty much nowhere to go but up from now on.”

“It’s true,” she said. “Maybe I should do the dishes, just in case there’s any rogue knives in the sink.”

“Very funny,” he deadpanned, thinking of the scar which had almost completely faded from his left hand. “But I’m still not falling for it. You’re not helping me clean up. You’re gonna watch Carrie and then fall asleep so we don’t have to go back to the hospital with your guts spilling out.”

“I’m not allowed to swear in front of her, but you’re allowed to say stuff like that?” Ella asked, laughing through her words.

“Hey, I don’t make the rules,” Jess joked coolly.

“You really don’t need to clean up by yourself,” Ella continued, not budging. “My stitches aren’t even in the double digits. I could at least help you put the leftovers away.”

“The next time you find me passed out on the bathroom floor with a high fever, then you can tell me all about how much you want to see me cleaning the apartment,” Jess said.

Her smile disappeared. Sighing through her nose in embarrassment, Ella nodded. She swallowed dryly. “Fair enough.”

She couldn’t have been out for more than thirty seconds or a minute. She didn't hit her head or anything. The bathmat had cushioned her fall almost entirely. But she had never passed out before. She’d felt almost as terrified as Jess sounded when he practically carried down to the car and sped to the emergency room. He was right. If the situation were reversed, there was no way in hell he’d be cleaning up alongside her. Especially not a day and a half after surgery. She had to remember the last time she hadn’t been feeling like herself. With a migraine and period cramps right when she felt as though everyone was expecting the most from her. But it was just in her head. It was okay to let go every once in a while. It was okay. She reminded herself that he wasn’t trying to tell her what to do. He was only asking her to take care of herself. That, she could try. She didn’t ever want to put him out like this again. And she didn’t ever want to see the look she had seen on his face when he’d been driving to the hospital again. Not if she could help it.

“But, if it’ll make you feel better, we can have everyone over next weekend and do Thanksgiving food,” Jess suggested. “Chris was pissed he was missing the pies. I don’t think he’d mind if we had a do-over.”

“Yeah, that sounds good, Mariano,” she said. Then, after a moment’s pause: “I’m sorry. I know I can get so wound up.”

“Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed,” he teased.

“I was just excited for my pies,” she admitted. “But, just for the record, you did a kickass job with them. Sorry I was freaking out.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said with a nonchalant shrug. “So, you’re not a good patient. Who cares? I was excited for your pies too. Just please don’t make rhubarb. All the rhubarb makes me think about is Kirk running naked through the town square that time after Christmas.”

And she felt a beaming smile spread over her face as she laughed and gave him a nod of confirmation. She pressed another kiss to his cheek and told him she would make him any pie he wanted. And she felt even more sure of the words she’d spoken to Lorelai the day before. Lorelai had been surprised to hear them, but Ella couldn’t bring herself to be even the least bit shocked as they’d come out of her mouth. She felt it more confidently than she ever had before, seeing him cradle his baby sister in the aftermath of a Thanksgiving he’d put together all by himself, without being asked. Because Jess was Jess. And it was just what he did. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

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drshebloggo · 4 years ago

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Ask box: JUSTICE FOR LANE KIM, a breakdown.

Anonymous asked: Do you know why Lane disappeared from the show as Rory's best friend over time? She appeared every now and then, yeah, but it has always bothered me that she slowly faded from being Rory's best friend to nobody... am I remembering things wrong?

I do not know! The Palladinos make decisions that sometimes are simply beyond my comprehension.

It’s been awhile since I watched Gilmore Girls in its entirety (and I kind of selectively ignore a lot in the last two, three seasons) but I don’t think you’re remembering things wrong. I will say, though, that the show faced a challenge with all of the Stars Hollow supporting ensemble when Rory went off to college. It’s these kind of problem-making focus shifts that I find really interesting, and they are UBIQUITOUS across teen/high school shows when a character or ensemble graduates.

Most of them that I can think of are done poorly, maybe with the exception of Friday Night Lights. But in defense of these shows, it’s HARD. How do you embrace a fundamental shift in the entire premise of your show? How do you deal with the new geographies of this shift, and the way they ripple into beloved character dynamics? How do you evolve a character through an engaging and meaningful arc without abandoning the foundation on which they were built? And how do you still capture your audience’s attention when there’s a risk that you’re leaving behind the magic that captivated them in the first place? IT’S HARD.

So in the case of Gilmore Girls, Rory at Yale is the shift that moves the show into a new paradigm, and it’s a big one. She’s separated from Stars Hollow and slowly beginning her emancipation from Lorelai, which is, on principle, painful for the audience because it’s directly against the show’s premise. (It’s no coincidence that the Palladinos starts seriously building the Luke-and-Lorelai-of-it-all once Rory’s away at college. Give that empty-nester some new story!)

Of course, Lane is right behind Lorelai in the list of People in Stars Hollow that Rory is Leaving Behind. How is Lane supposed to stay a part of Rory’s story when Rory is in a new context, and Lane is not? But, truth be told, Lane was ALREADY in this role. In seasons 1-3, LANE, not Lorelai, was #1 on the list of People in Stars Hollow that Rory is Leaving Behind. Ultimately Gilmore Girls is a story of two worlds, and Rory going to Chilton begins her passage across the into the New (Old, with Baggage) World. Lane is already being left behind, to some degree, and in seasons 1-3, there’s still room in the show’s universe to address those issues and give Lane some good storylines of her own, especially in conjunction with Rory.

So it’s possible that the issue is not necessarily one of screentime or setting. Whenever I hear the rebel cry of JUSTICE FOR LANE KIM resound in my heart chambers, I mostly think of the kinds of storylines that befell her in the later seasons, not simply in their detachment from Rory. Heeding her mom’s insistence that she attend Seventh Day Adventist college. Fracturing her relationship with her mom in order to pursue her dreams. Getting kicked out of her home. Living with her two boy bandmates who are very stupid and very messy. Never really getting the band off the ground. Her first sexual experience being terrible. Her first sexual experience being terrible AND yielding a pregnancy with TWINS. Why do the Palladinos hate Lane Kim!!! The only thing I wholeheartedly love about Lane’s later storylines is Luke hiring her to work at the diner and then being completely overwhelmed by her sheer competence.

It’s probably important to note that the mere construction of Lane Kim’s character is a bit tragic. The Palladinos are VERY good at building conflict and tension into what seems like simple character descriptions. Here’s this girl that loves rock music to an obsessive, encyclopedic level, wants to play drums in a band, and she’s from a strict religious household where she can’t express any of that. The description itself inherently means that things are going to blow up for Lane at some point. That’s okay, to some degree - that’s conflict, that’s drama, that’s good story.

So if we look at Lane’s arc pre-blow-up, and post-blow-up, the satisfying thing would be for Lane to experience some kind of happiness or success living unstifled in her dreams, to offset the trauma that her family relationships are ruined (at least for the time being). But the Palladinos don’t even do that! It’s encapsulated in the incident that tears apart Lane’s relationship with her mom: she goes to play at CBGB, her mom finds out and kicks her out, and the band doesn’t even get to go on!! The Palladinos love PAIN.

And okay, fine, there’s still some defense that that is well-designed drama and story. (And Lane and her mom do reconcile eventually, and it was at least very affecting, from my memory.) I guess you could argue that Lane IS happy with how things turned out after the lifelong lie she’s lived completely unravels and she’s able to just exist, unguarded. But also... the Palladinos wrote her that way??? And regardless, for me, the issues arise more down the line with Lane essentially staying in Stars Hollow. Wouldn’t unshackling herself from the yoke of her mother mean that she’s free to pursue her dreams? And wouldn’t pursuing her dreams necessitate her to ALSO leave Stars Hollow, like Rory herself? Would she not try to scrape together money to move with the band to New York City and hit the big time? (Bear in mind, I have no idea how the music industry works.)

Ultimately, Lane’s story in the later seasons puts the writers in a Catch-22. If she leaves Stars Hollow and goes somewhere else to pursue her dreams, she’s almost certainly written off the show. She’s a supporting character, and they can’t open up a new world beyond Stars Hollow and New Haven, just for her. On the other hand, if she stays in Stars Hollow, in keeping with the geographies of the universe, she stays on the show, and just... gets really disappointing storylines. I’d be inclined to keep giving Keiko Agena a paycheck.

(Now, the fact that WB threw money at a backdoor pilot for Jess Mariano to go to California and open up a new world for a weakly-premised spin-off, and did no such thing for Lane Kim, is some bullshit. Literally “moving to the big city to live a dream” is SUCH a well-worn trope that all the storylines are essentially handed to them, and it’s almost inherently refreshed because Lane is a Korean-American woman and not a brooding white guy or a quirky white lady. You FOOLS, you could’ve made that show with your EYES CLOSED.)

Anyways.

I’m going to meander my way further off the main point for a moment to kick up some dust on JUSTICE FOR RORY GILMORE as well. When you write ten paragraphs lamenting Lane Kim’s eternal relegation to supporting role, it’s hard not to be cranky about affording world-opening and story-building for a main character instead. (Spin-off Jess very much deserves the crank, though.) But, frankly, the unyielding walls that the Palladinos built to construct their very effective Two-World Universe don’t do a lot of favors for Rory Gilmore either, in the end.

Basically, this construct of Stars Hollow ensemble and New Haven future means that Rory is the only one who will “get out” of Stars Hollow, because she is structurally decreed to do so. It’s the massive conflict that the Palladinos smartly built into their little generational premise: Lorelai fled her parents’ world, and Rory will slowly be lured back into it. Pain ensues. This is good drama. This is good story. This is story that will last seven seasons and six-hour revival.

But it also inadvertently makes Rory the Chosen One, in a story that doesn’t need one. This is not Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces, and I’d like to believe that even Paris and Rory wouldn’t want it to be, much as they love the Power of Myth. Lorelai divests her entire life into Rory’s success; the town of Stars Hollow wants Rory to spirit out of their small town and Be Great; Rory’s grandparents expect her to follow in Richard’s footsteps and also carry out their orphaned dreams for Lorelai. And then the Palladinos choose little things that further this: Lane doesn’t ever leave Stars Hollow; Paris doesn’t get into Harvard but Rory does; Luke interrogates any boy that comes near Rory because no one is good enough. (I confess, I’m charmed into forgiving the last one.)

It’s much too much to put onto one character and leave unaddressed!!! It’s also why some audience members just really hate Rory, in a really unfortunate knife-twist on an otherwise-winsome main character. They hate the unwillingness of the narrative to acknowledge this very obvious dark and specific underside to Rory’s specialness, and the unwillingness of people within the narrative to name this very obvious dark and specific underside about Rory. But to paraphrase Jessica Rabbit: she’s just DRAWN THAT WAY!

Rory’s storylines never really confront the idea that she has had FAR too many unrealistic expectations put on her by literally everyone that’s ever existed in her life, and what it might mean if she doesn’t live up to them. What does it mean if she’s not Christiane Amanpour? What does it mean if she’s scared of disappointing people? What does it mean if she’s trying to live up to other people’s standards rather than examining what she really wants?

The Palladinos completely ignore this, and simultaneously give Rory multiple meltdowns (cheating with Dean, being cowed by Mitchum Huntzberger, stealing a boat, quitting Yale, an aimless/struggling career) and they never QUITE dig into the complete dark and specific issue at the core of Rory’s character construction... which just exacerbates the Rory hate. Rory has no self-awareness; the writers give her no self-awareness; we go in circles, and every few years there’s a slew of thinkpieces about how selfish and awful Rory is.

What makes it worse is that those questions outlined above are essentially applicable for two other women on the show: Lane Kim, and Lorelai Gilmore II, herself. Lane, like Rory, doesn’t quite bust through and answer them wholly. Lorelai, however, comes into the show having already answered them, years before, when she was a headstrong and tenacious teenager. The idea that neither Rory, her actual daughter, nor Lane, her spiritual inheritor of Parental Disapproval, are ever able to grapple with those concepts in a real way, and blossom into self-defined adulthood the way that Lorelai did is maybe the bottom line on where Gilmore Girls went “wrong.” Lorelai’s legacy is not that she’s hyperverbal, loves junk food, and got pregnant young. It’s that she rejected the expectations of her forebearers and carved out a place in the world for herself by her own definition, for better or for worse. It’s why Lorelai comes out of the narrative like a Super Mom, when in fact she’s still just as deeply flawed as Emily or Rory, and why Stars Hollow is overall magical and cherished despite it serving as a small-town hometown for Rory to leave behind. And it’s why A Year in the Life was SO satisfying for Emily Gilmore, because she proved it’s never too late to answer those questions and break through to the other side. Perhaps we’ll get enough revivals to see the same happen for Rory, and for Lane.

But enough dust about Rory. I think, after all this nitpicking, there were two options for the best way to have handled Lane Kim after Rory went off to college:

1. Give her a backdoor pilot and spinoff to Band Dreams NYC. Which, of course, was not in the Palladinos’ control, so, y’know, fine.

2. Keep Lane in Stars Hollow and give her a chance to answer those questions about self-definition and live out a few years of Lorelai-like hard-but-happy independence (and better sex) before saddling her with Zach and two babies (if you MUST). Bonus points if she moves in with Lorelai and they bond over being fundamentally disappointing to your parents and also missing Rory. A very good obvious choice.

Secret option 3. Just let Lane move to New Haven and live with Rory and Paris off-campus, and give me the goddamn roommate comedy of my dreams. Honestly this is what they should’ve done. Forget everything I said. This is my answer.

Tiny footnote: I cannot BELIEVE, that after twenty years, I am just now realizing how on-the-nose it is that Lorelai escaped from the clutches of New Haven and started a new life for herself at a place called INDEPENDENCE INN. Truly, it was right there in front of me and I didn’t even notice. This oversight might weaken the integrity of the thousand-paragraph essay I rattled off above...

#long post #ask box #JUSTICE FOR LANE KIM #there's also justice for Rory Gilmore in here too #I haven't done this in ages and it's... long.#I am watching approximately zero new television but I'd love to relitigate TV from the early 00s and 10s #Gilmore Girls

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