#Griz Smith

[banrionceallach]

Mask of the Rose blorbos (Part 1)

I have new blorbos courtesy of Mask of the Rose by @failbettergames. Behold the beloved characters. I want to put them all in more Situations.

Griz (Griselda) Smith neé Everly. The Fall of London has given her the chance to work in government herself instead of settling for just marrying someone who does. She is making the most of this chance to use her natural talents and wear a waistcoat and pants. Adorable romance has never before involved a comparative checklist.

Archie Reid. Gloomy scottish medical nerd. Proto-revolutionary. A real sweetheart who just wants to help people and really does not deserve what happens to him. Mild to moderate himbo tendencies. Absolute champ at respecting people's emotional boundaries.

Constable Harjit Singh. Pathfinder. Extremely devoted boyfriend. Absolutely not getting paid anywhere near enough for all the nonsense he has to deal with. Dispenser of common sense and logic, which in this game should earn him some sort of award.

[swinglatte]

I always enjoy a good waistcoat lady.

[February 9, 2021]

[the-masterless-press]

get kisst, eejit

[im-ej-arts]

Time for my annual or more Mask of the Rose brainrot,,, I missed my girls

[tr1ck5]

10 songs 10 people

I got tagged by @chainsawmascara like a hundred years ago and just now found some time to do it! Woops 😅

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Oops! All EDM haha though you guys are used to it from me by now I hope!

I tag @angelosearch @gardengalwrites @suleikashideaway @sevlinop @thewillroar @irishais @foxtrottcantfindshit @aleheartilly @wandererstorytellers @ohshitthisbloghasothercolors

No pressure of course!! Discovering new tunes is fun! :B

[just-a-pollicle]

Yeah. I think that [Bombalurina] has empathy for Grizabella, and she feels for Griz because she was almost Griz. I think she was, like, one step away from sort of turning to the dark side and one, you know, line of cocaine away or, like, whatever. You know? She kind of almost turned to there. So I think she, wants to protect the younger cats from her and not as much in a judgmental way, but just in a you know, "you really don't wanna go down that road". 

Christine Cornish Smith (Bombalurina in the 2016 Broadway revival), talking about Bombalurina on The Wrong Cat Died, episode ten.

[finerandbonnier]

Much Nicer than Paperwork

There is a corridor toward the back of the Bazaar where the Tragedy Commission keeps its offices. You would not know it. This hallway is poorly signposted, dimly lit and often mistaken for a broom closet by the more junior staff. This is because the Commission does not get visitors.  Except today.

Aka Betty pesters Griz at work.

Rated: Teen || Words: 2,536 || [AO3]

My fic for @the-masterless-press as part of the secret swap portion of @fallenlondonficswap.

When Grizelda Smith entered her office at the Tragedy Commission, her arms loaded down with a stack of paperwork she could only just see over the top of, she had expected it to be empty. A woman of reason, her grounds for this belief were twofold:

One: The only people who would have a reason to visit her office (or indeed knowledge of its location) were her colleagues in the Commission or perhaps one of the Masters. Both categories were comprised only of exceptionally busy people who would have made sure to schedule an appointment to avoid missing her, or in the event of an emergency requiring her attention they would not have waited around for her but instead have left a note, of which there was none. And,

Two: Her office had been (until she had opened it) very, very thoroughly locked.

Which was why the appearance of Betty Horvat sprawled across the arms of a Gainsborough chair that should have been unoccupied, eating biscuits from a plate that should have been tidied away came as something of a shock to Griz.

“Please tell me you did not walk in through the front door,” Griz said.

“‘Course not,” Betty replied with a grin, “I scaled the building instead, slipped in through the window.”

They were on the eighth floor and the window in question had been locked and barred. There was a pause as Griz’s brain attempted to take in that knowledge and produce an intelligent response. It failed.

"That’s not funny.”

“That was not a joke,” Betty replied, although the mirth in her voice suggested that she was finding this quite amusing.

Choosing not to respond to that beyond a resigned shaking of her head Griz instead walked over to her desk and deposited the paperwork she was still carrying onto it. Ignoring the loud, contented chewing noises coming from the chair opposite she gave an idle flip through some of the documents, dipped her pen into the nearby inkwell and made one brief amendment before giving up and turning to face Betty.

“I’m sorry but you’ll need to leave,” she said in a voice sterner than her face appeared.

“You don’t want to see me?" Betty asked with mock hurt, "And after I came all this way?”

“I don’t mean it like that, but you know you cannot be found here. You’ll have to leave.”

Betty hoisted herself from the chair and began to move across the room in the opposite direction from the door.

”Not out the window!” cried Griz as she realised Betty's intended destination.

“But you said I wasn’t to go through the front door?”

Griz sighed, “No, you’re right.” Betty might be being facetious, but she had touched on a genuine issue. “Damn it, you’ll just have to wait here until the coast is clear. Which I hope you realise may be some time.”

“Brilliant!” Betty replied as she returned to her seat and Griz’s attention drifted back to the documents in front of her, now satisfied her partner was not about to take a running leap out of the building. “So, what do you want to do?”

“I want to finish this paperwork, which will take me most of the evening, while you sit quietly in the corner.”

“Well that’s boring.”

“Perhaps you should have considered that before you broke in here to bother me at work.”

“Oh, it’s not all bad. The view’s quite nice.”

Griz glanced back up to find, perhaps unsurprisingly, that Betty was not looking at the view of the city skyline but staring directly at her, waggling her eyebrows in a manner that should have been ridiculous but instead left Griz’s cheeks flushed pink.

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem sitting there quietly while I work,” Griz said, fighting to keep her blush under control as she picked up her pen again.

“For a bit, perhaps. I’ll just try my hardest not to distract you with my beguiling gaze.”

To her credit Betty stayed true to her word, remaining quiet and, for her at least, still while Griz made progress through the overly loquacious text on the forms in front of her. Even so, Griz found her presence distracting. Normally it was easy for Griz to compartmentalise, to leave the parts of herself that would get in the way of her job at the doors of the Bazaar when she strode through them each morning and focus on the task in hand, whatever it may be. It was something she prided herself on. Now her eyes kept drifting up to Betty as the other woman fidgeted just on the edge of her vision and Griz found her mind continually wandering to more interesting things than paperwork.

The peace couldn’t last however and by the time Griz had worked her way through the first few documents Betty, having clearly become bored with what little entertainment Griz provided as she worked, got up out of the chair and strode across the room. Griz braced herself for whatever mischief she was about to be subjected to but to her surprise and slight disappointment Betty only stopped by her to open the top drawer of her desk. The disappointment quickly gave way to annoyance once Griz realised exactly what Betty was rooting around for.

Putting her pen down Griz moved to intercept. “Leave those biscuits alone, they are for guests.”

“I’m a guest,” Betty replied, not pausing her search for even a second.

“No, you are an intruder. Intruders do not get biscuits.”

“This one does,” Betty replied with a wolfish grin as she found her quarry and swiped another biscuit, one of the fancy pink ones, before Griz could remove the packet from her reach. Her fingers had only just cleared the edge of the drawer when Griz it slammed shut.

Betty wasted no time in tucking into her prize before speaking, “You nearly finished?”

“No,” Griz answered with a sigh.

“What’s it all about?” Betty asked, gesturing at the form Griz had been working on with her biscuit bearing hand and scattering crumbs across the paper.

“Something private and extremely boring.”

“Try me.”

“Alright then. If you must know, it’s a document detailing the recommended response procedures should London find itself attacked by a swarm of Burrowing Vesperwasps.”

Betty leaned forward over the desk to peer at the writing. “That’s not boring! That’s positively interesting. Do you think I could take a Burrowing Vesperwasp in a fight?”

“One, certainly. A dozen, perhaps. An entire swarm? No.”

“Ye of little faith. But seriously, if this is the sort of stuff you’re looking at perhaps I could help. I do know a bit about fighting monsters.”

“Oh, by all means.” Griz picked up the top file and began reading from it, “In the eventuality of an oversteppening of the covey of Vespula vesperinfodio most recentally beholden in the vicinihood of Bullbone Isle it is our advisement that the aegisening of London must take a tridential approach—“

“Woah, woah, woah, woah. What in the hells is that?”

“Ah, you’ve noticed the issue. This was drafted by a colleague who until recently worked under Pages, apparently it has rubbed off on the poor man.”

“Poor man? Poor you having to read through that tripe. Couldn’t you just… trip and lose the papers into the fire?”

“Obviously not.”

“I could toss it in the fire for you?”

“No.”

“Could—”

“The document is not going in the fire. The information contained in it will play a vital role in the defence of London one day. Or at least it might once I’ve translated it into English.”

“Are they all like that?” Betty reached out to leaf through the stack of documents before Griz slapped her hand away.

“Not at all. Some are an illegible combination of euphemisms, acronyms and shorthand, some take several thousand words to say nothing at all and the few that are written in clear, concise English will inevitably be completely and utterly wrong.”

“I’m beginning to see why you can be so sour when you leave work.”

“I am never sour!” Griz sputtered, “I’ll concede I might be a little tired sometimes after a long day but I do a very good job of leaving my work, and any mood it may have put me in, at work!”

“If you say so love” — Griz shot Betty a glare that suggested she very much did say so — “but you might want to take a break, you’re doing that furrowed brow thing you do when you’re feeling sou— er, a little tired.”

Griz’s initial instinct was to strenuously deny the accusation and attempt to relax whatever her forehead was apparently doing but on further consideration a break didn’t sound wholly unreasonable; she wasn’t making much progress between Betty’s presence and the headache she could feel forming at the base of her skull. She could shoo Betty away, pick up her pen and attempt once more to extract some form of meaning from the text in front of her. The progress would be slow and painful though, and the task wasn’t really urgent. It could wait until the morning when she was well rested.

Perhaps it should.

If there was anything this job had taught her, it was that sometimes the wisest course of action was to recognise when one had been beaten and capitulate without kicking up a fuss.

With a little nod of her head Griz acquiesced, “Let me get these next few documents in order. Then, perhaps, I could be convinced to take a… comfort break.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Betty interjected, a sly grin on her face.

“No! Absolutely not, not in my office! Anyone could walk in.”

“You know for some people that adds to the experience. But fine. Cuddling’s still an option though? Perhaps kissing? Somewhere over by the fire, under all those books and papers there appears to be a rather sweet little loveseat which would be excellent for cuddling. Or is that off limits too?”

Griz looked equal parts tempted and exasperated and wholly adorable. “I— Fine. Let me lock the door. I really should have done that earlier.”

“Aw, did I distract you?”

“No,” Griz lied.

Griz made her way quickly across the room and locked the door. Then she joined Betty by the fire where the other woman was hastily transferring the mess of books and random parchment from the top of the settee into an even more haphazard pile on the floor. Once the seat was clear (bar a few loose pages stuck between the cushions) Betty spun on a heel and threw herself dramatically backwards onto it, one hand reaching out as she did so to grasp Griz’s wrist and pull her unsuspecting partner down with her. Griz let out a little squeak as she fell. One arm still in Betty’s grip Griz just about managed to catch herself with the other before she fully collapsed onto the chest beneath her.

There wasn’t much distance between the two women but even so Betty seemed dissatisfied by the gap. Her arm slipped around Griz’s back and with a firm tug pulled the other woman flush to her chest as she shuffled backwards, getting herself comfortable on the bare cushions and Griz comfortable on her. Satisfied with the new position her head dipped down to press a kiss just below Griz’s ear, followed by another and another and then a quick nip at the sensitive skin.

Lips still flush against Griz’s neck she mumbled, “There, isn’t this much nicer than paperwork.”

“Hush,” Griz replied in a slightly breathy voice.

Betty hummed as she continued her ministrations, quite happy to comply with Griz’s demand; after all there were much better uses for both of their lips than talking. Had she been feeling more patient she might have considered teasing Griz, she might have trailed her kisses up along Griz’s jaw, might have drawn out the moment. Instead she moved to capture Griz’s lips with the speed and precision of a hunter going in for the kill.

It was a searing kiss and one that was responded to immediately and enthusiastically. With one hand remaining against Griz’s back, pressing the other woman somehow even tighter to her, Betty brought the other up to meet her partner’s neck. There she traced across the pulse point with her thumb before continuing down to release the top two button of Griz’s tightly starched shirt collar. Relief paired with the soft touch of a nail that was closer to a claw trailing down the centre of her throat left Griz gasping for air around the kiss.

Griz reached up to cover Betty’s hand with her own and locked their fingers together as their lips continued to dance. Then she dragged Betty’s hand lower, between her breasts and across her stomach where only the thin material of her shirt separated soft flesh from Betty’s touch. She had almost managed to move it to her waistband when a sudden knock at the door echoed through the small room.

Startled Griz threw herself backwards off Betty and landed sprawled across the carpet with a thud.

“Commissioner? Can you spare a minute?” A voice called out from behind the door.

“Hide!” Griz hissed at Betty, her voice torn between staying quiet enough she couldn’t be heard by the intruder and loud enough to express her displeasure at almost being caught fooling around like a naughty schoolgirl.

“Where?!” Betty replied in her own exaggerated whisper.

“I don’t know! Look, just duck behind the settee and stay still while I get them to leave.”

“Better idea, I’ll answer the door and kill whoever it is for interrupting us.”

“Absolutely not!” Griz struggled to keep her voice low.

Betty, on the other hand, barely seemed to be trying to keep quiet. “It’s not like it would be permanent!”

“Still no!”

“Griz there is nowhere for me to hide in here where I wouldn’t be instantly spotted. Either you let me handle this or…”

“Or?” Griz asked, knowing she would not like the answer.

“Or I leave the way I came in?”

The knocking on the door intensified, followed by the muffled voice from the other side speaking out, “Commissioner? Is there someone in there with you? Please let open the door, this is very urgent.”

Griz swore under her breath as she resigned herself to Betty’s solution out of necessity and nothing else. “Fine. Just don’t hurt yourself. Or let anyone spot you.”

Moving without any particular sense of urgency Betty crossed the room then removed the bars from the window with ease and bypassed the lock. All the while the knocking at the door continued. Hopping up onto the windowsill she paused for a moment, holding herself half in the room, half in the cold night’s air as she spoke, “You know, this was fun, we should do it again sometime. Oh, and you might want to tidy yourself up a bit before answering the door. You’re looking a little… dishevelled.”

Then, before Griz could respond with what was sure to be a particularly outraged curse, Betty allowed herself to slip backwards, disappearing into the dark London streets below.

[bramblebee]

trying to solidify designs (pt 1???)

[junkyard-gifs]

‘Griz and Alz’ episode 11: The One With The Other Diva.

Robin Lake and Joanna Ampil, 2018 International Tour. With Elizabeth Futter as Jellylorum and Mathieu Serradell (musical director) on piano. Nico Kirschstein Smith, their resident physio, is also tagged in the video, and I assume he’s the one massaging her leg. I’m not sure who’s fanning her and feeding her grapes though!

(‘Griz and Alz’ masterpost.)

[holyissovain]

updated mah shop!

[even-gods-must-die]

A Science Fiction Comics Reading Guide

“World civilization right now is teetering on the brink... so in that sense also, science fiction is the realism of our time. Utopia and dystopia are both possible, and both staring us in the face.” - Kim Stanley Robinson

//Sorting...Alphabetical

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

[001]

[Title] Don’t Go Without Me

[Writer/Artist] Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

[Year] 2020

[Summary] A tryptich of lesbian sci-fi/fantasy stories. An alternate dimension that drives two lovers apart. A malfunctioning spaceship leaking memories. A party on the eve of prophecy.

[Publisher] Shortbox

[002]

[Title] Give Me Liberty

[Writer] Frank Miller // [Artist] Dave Gibbons // [Colorist] Robin Smith

[Year] 1990

[Summary] Randian libertarian wonk Frank Miller and “prestige” superhero artist Dave Gibbons try to do some kind of centrist satire of liberalism-gone-too-far in the style of British comics mag 2000 AD, and instead accidentally create a environmentalist revolutionary tract. Funny, in-your-face, and jingoistic. Worth it for Robin Cook’s incredible colors alone. Don’t read the sequels if you can help it.

[Publisher] Dark Horse Comics

[003]

[Title; JP] Gunnm // [Title; ENG] Battle Angel Alita

[Writer/Artist] Yukito Kishiro

[Year] 1990-95

[Summary] Kishiro’s classic class-conscious robot fighting manga is full of gruesome violence, apocalyptic cityscapes, roller derby action, melancholy piano playing, and voluminous 80s hair.

[Publisher; JP] Sheisha // [Publisher; ENG] Kodansha USA

[Volumes] 9

[Further Reading] Holy Night & Other Stories; Last Order; Mars Chronicle

[004]

[Title] Habitat

[Writer/Artist] Simon Roy

[Year] 2016

[Summary] Simon Roy is the undisputed master of “hard science fiction” comics, and basically all of his other books (listed below) could have been on this list. Habitat is Roy’s definitive work, about a massive orbital space colony where civilization has collapsed and the remaining feral inhabitants fight for limited technological resources they don’t understand.

[Publisher] Image Comics

[Further Reading] Jan’s Atomic Heart; Tiger Lung; First Knife; Grip of the Kombinat; Griz Grobus

[005]

[Title] Hollow Heart

[Writer] Paul Allor // [Artist] Paul Tucker

[Year] 2021

[Summary] The real monster... is love.

[Publisher] Vault Comics

[006]

[Title] Homunculus

[Writer/Artist] Joe Sparrow

[Year] 2018

[Summary] A scientist creates a sentient supercomputer, an immobile thinking machine that can only observe as its environment changes around it. This book makes me cry every time.

[Publisher] Shortbox

[Further Reading] Harvest, Cuckoo

[007]

[Title] I.D.

[Writer/Artist] Emma Rios

[Year] 2016

[Summary] 3 strangers meet in a cafe to discuss whether to undergo an experimental procedure to transfer their consciousness into new bodies.

[Publisher] Image Comics

[008]

[Title] Land of the Lustrous

[Writer/Artist] Haruko Ichikawa

[Year] 2012-Ongoing

[Summary] Humankind split, leaving behind a race of petty, brittle gem people guided by a mysterious Sensei. Phos, the youngest gem, is too weak, clusmy, and rude to be a warrior. Instead, Sensei orders Phos to write a natural history, and uncover the mysteries of the planet and its many lifeforms in the process.

[Publisher] Kodansha

[Volumes] 11

[009]

[Title] Mirror

[Writer] Emma Rios // [Artist] Hwei Lim

[Year] 2016-19

[Summary] On an asteroid colony, a scientist creates a menagerie of sentient animals, who rebel against him. A mouse, a bear, a bull, a sphinx, a curse. A doomed romance between a boy and his dog.

[Publisher] Image Comics

[Volumes] 2

[010]

[Title] Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin

[Writer/Artist] Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

[Year] 2001-11

[Summary] In Universal Century Year 0079, the spacenoid Principality of Zeon declares was on the Earth Federation. The earth’s only hope is an experimental new mobile suit, the Gundam, piloted by surly teenage prodigy Amuro Ray.

A long-form remake of the seminal 1979 mecha anime Mobile Suit Gundam by its original character designer and animation director Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. The Origin has it all: action, comedy, romance, mecha, space colonies, and gourgeous watercolor pages in each chapter.

[Publisher; JP] Kadokawa Shoten // [Publisher; ENG] Kodansha USA, Vertical

[Volumes] 12

[Further Reading] Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt

[011]

[Title] Planetes

[Writer/Artist] Makoto Yukimura

[Year] 1999-04

[Summary] Hachimaki dreams of buying his own spacecraft and exploring the solar system. Easier said than done for a working class astronaut with the tedious job of collecting tiny debris orbiting the Earth before it can cause catastrophic accidents. Planetes is an essential classic of realistic, humanist science fiction.

[Publisher; JP] Kodansha Ltd. // [Publisher; ENG] Dark Horse Comics

[Volumes] 4 (2 Omnibus)

[012]

[Title] Prism Stalker

[Writer/Artist] Sloane Leong // [Letterer] Ariana Maher

[Year] 2018

[Summary] Against her wishes, Vep is forced to become her people’s representative in the Chorus Academy, a school devoted to interplanetary colonization. Far from home, Vep has to cope with unfamiliar environments and violent combatants. Prism Stalker is one part rumination on colonial diaspora and one part brutal fight comics.

[Publisher] Image Comics

[013]

[Title] The Seeds

[Writer] Ann Nocenti // [Artist] David Aja

[Year] 2018-21

[Summary] A young journalist enters the demilitarized zone following rumors of alien invaders. Expecting to uncover a conspiracy or a hoax, she instead gets wrapped up in something weirder: doomed love. The Seeds is lyrical, prescient, and cutting.

[Publisher] Dark Horse Comics, Berger Books

[014]

[Title] Stages of Rot

[Writer/Artist] Linnea Sterte

[Year] 2017

[Summary] An alien whale dies and new societies and natural ecosystems rise from its rotting carcass. Quiet, contemplative, and surreal.

[Publisher] Peow Studios

[015]

[Title] Tartarus

[Writer] Johnnie Christmas // [Artist; Issues 1-5] Jack T. Cole // [Artist; Issues 6-10] Andrew Krahnke // [Colorist; Issues 6-10] Hilary Jenkins // [Letterer] Jim Campbell

[Year] 2020-21

[Summary] Tartarus is a fast-paced action adventure about an imperial cadet dropped into the center of a galactic conflict when she discovers she is secretly the daughter of the galaxy’s most dangerous criminal.

[Publisher] Image Comics

[Volumes] 2

[016]

[Title] Terraform

[Writer/Artist] Zack Morrison

[Year] 2018

[Summary] A robot tasked with reshaping a planet finds itself changed instead.

[Publisher] Self-Published

[017]

[Title] Test of Loyalty

[Writer/Artist] Sam Alden

[Year] 2016

[Summary] Horsepunk.

[Publisher] Hazlitt

[018]

[Title] To Your Eternity

[Writer/Artist] Yoshitoki Ōima

[Year] 2016-Ongoing

[Summary] A mysterious stranger sends an immortal shapeshifter to study the connections between all life, and protect it from a mysterious threat. Starts out as a sad boy-and-his-dog tale before evolving into a vast alt-historical epic spanning centuries. Lush, heartbreaking, sentimental, and brutal.

[Publisher] Kodansha

[Volumes] 16

[019]

[Title] Voyage

[Writer/Artist] Molly Mendoza

[Year] 2015

[Summary] Voyage transforms a historical account of the Voyager 1 and 2 space missions into a dreamlike tribute to discovery, human connection, and the beauty of the universe.

[Publisher] Self-Published

[Further Reading] Skip

[020]

[Title] The World of Edena

[Writer/Artist] Moebius

[Year] 1983-01

[Summary] Originally an advertisement for French car manufacturer Citroën, the Edena stories grew into a sprawling epic about a pair of explorers from a sterile society who become lost in a series of surreal alien environments. Moebius influenced multiple generations of sci-fi artists with his precise illustrations of fantastical landscapes.

[Publisher; ENG] Dark Horse Comics

[Further Reading] Art of Edena, Arzach

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

[Addendum] Essential science fiction novels for comics fans:

[001] A Fire Upon the Deep // Vernor Vinge

[002] Aurora // Kim Stanley Robinson

[003] The Dispossessed // Ursula K. Le Guin

[004] Lilith’s Brood // Octavia E. Butler

[005] The Word for World is Forest // Ursula K. Le Guin

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

[/end]

[banrionceallach]

One thing I really, really appreciate about Mask of the Rose is Archie and Griz's relationship

(Spoilers from here on, especially for Griz's route.

They're very clearly of opposite views when it comes to 'Is Mr Pages/The Masters In General to be trusted?' and they're both written as having already developed feelings for the player character prior to the start of the game's timeline, but they both care about each other a lot.

Archie spends half his first in-game conversation with you worried about the Masters banning maps of London and the other half going 'Hey Player Character, seems like Griz is really into you, you should tell her you're interested back.' If you then imply you don't return Griz's feelings, despite this giving him a better chance with you, his reply is essentially 'oh no, really? Are you sure? Griz is going to be really sad! D:'

To put this in perspective, Archie's dialogue if you're in a relationship with him, more or less states that he has been in love with you for months. He hasn't said anything, because he doesn't want you to feel awkward if you don't return his feelings, given that you're living in the same house. (Gotta love a guy who respects boundaries) He also is pretty clear about the fact he thought he couldn't compete with Griz for your affection. And he still spends half the first conversation trying to get you to notice Griz's feelings for you because he doesn't want her to be sad.

When Archie is arrested, Griz absolutely rejects the possibility of him being guilty. She immediately speaks (unsuccessfully) to Mr Pages about Archie's arrest, hoping the Masters will free him, despite insisting prior to the arrest that trying to use her influence with Mr Pages for anything would be unfair/unethical/etc. (Which, tbh, she's not wrong.)

She will also attempt (if you help her) to re-write the laws of London in a very risky eldritch manner, in order to save Archie, so that even if he is guilty he becomes retroactively 'not guilty' and cannot be hanged. Once Rachel comes looking for help, Griz will demand she help Archie in exchange. And she also emphasises how important it is for the residents of Chapman's not to do anything that might upset the Masters because of how it could reflect on Archie and affect his case.

If you speak to her after the arrest while in a relationship with Archie she will also ask you how you're doing and say she knows the situation must be hard for you, but not to worry you've got Griz on your side and she'll think of something!

All this to say, there's a real sense of a bond between Archie and Griz (and the Player) which you would expect from people who have gone through and are still grappling with traumatic experiences together.

Archie wants both Griz and the Player to be happy and unless it's made clear to him that you're absolutely not into Griz, he's willing to work against his own hopes if that's what's required. Griz might prefer the Player choose her rather than Archie, but that is secondary to saving his life so he can come home and she can have arguments with him at the dinner table.

[cryptidvoidwritings]

Act 1 down here is a desperate list of moments

-Tanto and Cori flubbed the moment when he’s supposed to lift her so he just sort of bridal carried her in a spin

-chorus Tugger has a cute moment with Bill Bailey right at the end of Naming; Bill Bailey is at his legs and chorus Tugger reaches down to hold him

-chorus Tugger also dramatically motions (thing that one meme of Will Smith) to Munkustrap when they get to his name in Naming

-Skimbleshanks lays out long during Gumbie (while the kittens mice are coming out) and Quaxo sort of lays out on top of his side, Skimbleshanks pets his head.

-Cassandra and Alonzo get changed into the beetle costumes on the stage

-“TERRIBLE BORE”: Tugger wraps the left arm around Quaxo’s shoulders and taps his chest with the right hand and makes a face like “oh you scamp you love this”

-Pounce made a hilarious face just before Tugger sat on him

-Tugger does a little “come here” wave at Admetus, Admetus does a “who, me??” and makes the chair, steals a nuzzle from Tugger

-Alonzo shoos away Bill to join the fan club line up with Mungo, Cori, and Admetus

-Quaxo spent most of the number after terrible bore up above the stage

-poor baby Pouncival got so bullied into swiping at Griz by Admetus and Pounce (Munkustrap got mad at them)

-Demeter went twice to touch Griz; the first time she shied away but the second time Munk stopped her

-Bombalurina told Munk to back off when Demeter started singing about Griz

-Pouncival and Bill Bailey tried to swat and bat at Bustopher’s feet when he’s doing the wind-up step at the end of the number

-Tugger watches Munkustrap singing his part of Old Deut while grooming himself lazily

-Munkustrap is wary of Tugger’s solo but trusted him to behave enough to take over the solo line

-Then Munkustrap and Tugger trade back-of-hand pats as they start the duet; it stared with Munkustrap kinda waving for Tugger to come down from the tire and then they just kept touching the back of each other’s hands

-Munkustrap trying to hold the kittens back until Deut opened his arms for them and then RELEASE THE KITTENS still gets me

-Mungojerrie couldn’t get his shoebox to stay on his head during Pekes and Pollicles and had to do without

-Munkustrap was much less harried by Alonzo-Rumpus kicking over his head, which made it seem more rehearsed

-sorry not sorry it was DAMN GOOD to see Gillian Lynn’s uninterrupted choreography during the ball

-Tugger kneels down by Rumple right after his “nothing to do at all” line and squishes her cheeks

-Tugger, Demeter and Munkustrap are all together during the nap orgy. Tugger hangs with either Tanto or Cori for a moment during the actual pas de deux, but goes back to the two of them for the cuddle up and wavy arms.

-Quaxo and Pounce are together during pas de deux and it’s not particularly platonic

-Tugger touches Alonzo’s waist going by him to get into place during the ball, Alonzo holds his hand as he passes

-Quaxo is down center front a lot y’all I keep staring into Sinisi’s eyes and it’s weird

-they all hiss a lot

THINGS I FORGOT TO MENTION BEFORE ACT 2 started

-Electra is the one who goes crazy at the end of Tugger’s number; he went to put his hands by her mouth to hush her but she was moving too much and knocked into his hand instead- she kissed it and he giggled out the last “about it”

-Skimbleshanks playing the tennis racket as a guitar during the ball

-the absolutely ginormous hug Tugger gives Deut after he bows to him and helps him onto the tire (which by the way he was perched with one leg up in the tire and one on the step and holding out his hands in preparation to take Deut’s hands so he could help him up); Munkustrap and Tugger held a hand each once Deut was safely facing the crowd and just hugs everywhere.

-Tugger kissing Jenny’s hand during the ball right before the pas de deux starts

-Munk having so much fun during Pekes and Pollicles; wiggling his fingers with increasing urgency at Rumpel and Pounce because he needs them to be dogs and bark omg why aren’t you ready??? all the while smiling

-when Griz comes out after the ball Electra goes to Tugger for comfort

-Jenny and Tugger are totally friends they joke around in the back a lot they probably have a stitch n bitch night like one a week

-Jenny is still such a mom

[the-masterless-press]

In which Mabel comes to Griz to beg for food + a self-indulgent pointy ear version

A successor to this post

[lepoppeta]

Old D and/or Gus for the character songs!

How about both? As a treat, just for you.

OLD DEUTERNOMY (The nice version)

Cecily Smith (Bonus Track), Will Connolly (Fly by Night)

I have a couple of songs that are about the relationship between Deut and Griz, but nothing really for Deut on his own? This one is also not really about him, but it's the only one that's not a Duet or a multi-cast member song. It really drives home how young Deut and Griz were, and how whirlwind their romance was.

ASPARAGUS

Into the Fire, Douglas Sills (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

This is such a quintessential Gus song, and I have you to thank for it, @scriptrix-eclectica ! He's a romantic and a storyteller, and a drama king to boot. I can imagine him singing this to his three grandsons, weaving tales of bravery and heroism before everything went to shit.

[incorrectcats]

JELLICLE QUEENS APPRECIATION MONTH

Last round of my beautiful lovely amazing queens let’s GOOOOOOOOO ✊ Okay this has taken SO long, holy molly. @jelliclequeens​ 

June 6th - Griddlebone

What do you love about this queen? She’s SO extra. Literally. Looks like a cotton cloud, sings opera, kicks everyone in the ass. An icon.

What is your favorite version of this queen? Honestly, I’ve only seen like... 2 versions of Griddlebone? She always looks big and fluffy and I love that.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? I’m gonna say Bonnie Simmons because it’s the version I prefer out of the ones on Spotify.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Good question, because I have no idea. I’ll say... Bombalurina. Because, you know what? These two could rule the world of they wanted to.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? When she goes “bye” and disappeares when the shit hits the fan lol

June 7th - Tantomile

What do you love about this queen? I think by now everyone knows that until a couple of weeks I actually didn’t like her. 1998 Tanto & Cori creeped the fuck out of me BUT I’ve found some super adorable Tantos out there and now I lover her.

What is your favorite version of this queen? I love the classical “rolled ears” style but I must admit that blue-haired Tanto from the Opera Populaire production is beautiful af.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Helen Gulston and Brittany Tooms Peel, they’re AMAZING and I’d die for them.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Cassomile, it has so much power. Also I’m starting to warm up to Tantoteazer uwu

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? Whenever she does dumb stuff like pulling Tuggers tail (in the Dutch tour, I believe). She’s so cute.

June 8th - Cassandra

What do you love about this queen? EVERYTHING, SHE’S FREAKING AMAZING. She’s so beautiful, captivating, but also caring and lovely and so athletic, she’s just a goddess.

What is your favorite version of this queen? Hmm... I like most of them, I find them pretty similar. Buuut when the ears are rolled back? I love those wigs.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Rebecca Parker from 1998 movie, because I’m basic and I’m in love with her. But also Mette Towley from 2019 movie, she was one of my favourites in the movie!

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Cassomile, but I think that Cassalurina or Cassmeter would slap too.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? When she’s picked by Misto to do the magic trick. She’s super excited, a cutie pie.

June 9th - Victoria

What do you love about this queen? She’s so elegant and beautiful and I just want to be half as fab as her.

What is your favorite version of this queen? I like the versions where she’s mostly white with light brown/pink details, better than the ones with black details.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Phyllida Crowley Smith (1998 movie) and Hannah Kenna Thomas (Vienna 2019)

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Victeazer, of course. My two amazing ladies being amazing together, QUALITY CONTENT.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? The solo; even after watching it a thousand times I still find it fascinating. I love it. The solo and when she finally touches Grizabella. Make me cry, Vic, I deserve it.

June 10th - Rumpleteazer

What do you love about this queen? Okay, shit gets real here. I love EVERYTHING about Rumpleteazer. She has been one of my favourites ever since I saw the musical for the very first time. I love her. She’s funny, cute, super athletic, playful but with a soft side. She’s amazing istg I love Rumple.

What is your favorite version of this queen? All Teazers are good Teazers. (I’m not kidding, I love them all)

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Jo Gibb will always be my number one! However, Naoimh Morgan (both stage and 2019 movie), Shonica Gooden, Rose Iannacone, Anna Carina Buchegger and Georgie Leatherland are amazing too and I love them all.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Victeazer! Rumple stealing jewels for her fancy girlfriend. That’s all I need.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? Every time she’s on stage is the best moment. Okay, I’ll be more selective: her whole number, her enthusiasm during Skimble’s song, and whenever she’s cute with any other cat. Oh, and during the Jellicle Ball, she’s AMAZING. Underrated dancer. And the “Are you lean like a lynx?” moment.

June 11th - Demeter

What do you love about this queen? Again, she’s one of my favourites so... Everything. She’s so brave and strong and I enjoy every single moment she’s on stage. One of the things I love the most about her is how despite the hardships she’s been through, she still wants to be happy and to enjoy life while she’s young.

What is your favorite version of this queen? London-based designs are my favourites most of the time. I love when her wig has this spiky style. A kind punk, that’s my girl!

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Linda Mae Brewer (Aeva May), Guadalupe Lancho, Erca Jayne Alden and Emanuelle N’Zuzi.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Demelurina, obviously. Queens of queens. This ship will end us all.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? Her number with Bombalurina. They could kill me. And whenever she reunites with Munkustrap or Bombalurina after Macavity’s attack.

June 12th - Bombalurina

What do you love about this queen? Did I mention... Everything? She’s amazing. I love her confident attitude, how she doesn’t give a shit about anyone or anything. She’s sexy, she knows it, and she’ll do ehatever she wants because she can. However, she’s also caring and loving and is always watching over the younger cats and at the same time has a great relationship with the older queens. She’s an icon.

What is your favorite version of this queen? Oof, all of them. 2017 Asian tour was particularly gorgeous and whenever I see that design I cry for hours.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Rosemarie Ford, Suzie Melloy, Paqui Sánchez Melchior and Nadia Strahan.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Demelurina!

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? When she shows her protective side. I’d die for her, I’m not lying ;; And her solo moment during the Jellicle Ball, what a moment to be alive.

June 13th - Grizabella

What do you love about this queen? She’s quite a complex character, honestly. I love how prideful she is, and how she always keeps her head up. Go for it, queen!

What is your favorite version of this queen? I like the old school curly hair Griz better than the new version, honestly. Mexico Grizabella is super beautiful too, I love her.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? Elaine Paige, Rosemarie Ford, Mamie Parris, Ana Milva Gomes, Rocío Banquells and María del Sol.

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Maybe a young GrizxJelly could be cute, but I’m still bitter that they didn’t make a canon Fem!DeutxGriz in the 2019 movie.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? Memory. It’s very basic, but honestly, it makes me cry every time. 

June 14th - Exotica

What do you love about this queen? I’m gonna be honest... I never payed much attention to her. Sorry Exotica ;; 

What is your favorite version of this queen? Okay maybe this is weird but... Do you know how she has two costumes in the 1998 movie? I like more the one that appears less lol, the “tabby” suit.

Who is your favorite actress that played this queen? I only know Femi Taylor!

What is your wlw ship with this queen? Hm... ExoticaxCassandra could be interesting.

Your favorite moment of this queen in the musical? I’ve heard she has a couple of cute moments with Jellylorum at some point, but I don’t remember when ;;