#I know its so hashtag girl but are these men not hashtag girl already

[yuusakuhanazawashole]

[gh0stch3rri3]

I need opinions from like the three other people under The Rifleman hashtag but I wonder so often what it would be like if Lucas had a daughter instead of a son. The social standards of the time have to be considered but also put off to a degree since throughout the series Lucas goes against what would be considered the norm. Like what I often wonder is would she be expected to conform to what is considered ladylike or would she be permitted to just be a kid like Mark. There is a certain expectation for him as a father but I think the series would be VERY different if he had a daughter to raise.

First, would he have remarried? If you think about it the reason he does so well with Mark even though at the time women are solely responsible for raising children is they are both men or will be. Lucas was a boy once too and its his part anyhow to make sure Mark becomes a respectable man as he grows. If he had a daughter, there would be no relation like there is between him and Mark. So in that case even stricken with grief would he have remarried so he wouldn’t be at a loss as his daughter grew?

Second, how much different would the things his daughter would be allowed to do be from Mark? Through the course of the series he goes into town with his father, he goes and plays with his friends but most importantly he goes to and from the ranch on his own. Though women at the time weren’t seen as independent it’s already kind of established that he doesn’t think as lowly of women as most men do. But, throughout lots of western media there is this common theme of women being injured, harmed or forced, would this show up in The Rifleman? There are many times, almost every episode where Mark is kidnapped, held at gunpoint, or some harm befalls him to force Lucas’ hand. I cant help but think by putting the two of these together Lucas’ metaphorical daughter would be an absolute doomsday of a situation. In this case she would be in constant harm and at risk of sex crimes by even being around the rough characters we see so often. This would also force a new level of protection than we already see. Take a situation like the episode where Mark is kidnapped by Apaches and Lucas goes after him. When he finally catches up to the men who took Mark he goes what I can only describe as apeshit and strangles the leader while muttering that they took his boy. In certain scenarios I think his reaction would be equal but in others like the previously mentioned episode there is unfortunately an even higher risk of a different and more serious harm befalling a girl.

Third, would she be forced to do all the cooking or washing that Lucas and Mark split. In each episode where there is a woman present at the ranch even just for a visit she cooks and cleans like she has lived there her whole life. Personally, I think if he had a daughter she would be expected to do all her “womanly duties” but not to a point where it’s suffocating for someone who is still a child.

Fourth and final is dynamic. There is a great flow between Lucas and Mark when it comes to them being an iconic father son duo. But if Lucas really did have a daughter rather than a son, what would a simple interaction be like? Would she be a subservient girl or would she have the same light hearted and good nature we already see with Mark?

I don’t know if I missed anything big but if y’all have any thoughts of your own I would love to hear them. This sparked when me and a friend spoke about it and we roughly agree on most of the things I talked about but I would like to see some other views.

[aliensunflower-fics]

Marinette The Perfect Daughter In Law: A Prompt

[ I've seen a few ‘everyone loves Marinette AU’s’ and a couple Marvel DC ‘all the mentors want THEIR kid to end up with Marinette AU’s’ and well frankly! I felt inspired! So I present to you my new prompt / AU thing! In which all the most powerful / rich / popular people in Paris decide to play matchmaker… ]

It starts when Adrien and Kagami have a less than AMICABLE break up according to their parents and the media anyway in reality it was a really REALLY dull break up. The pair have been ‘dating’ (using each other as an excuse to go out and experience normal teenage stuff) since they were 15. Now at 17 soon to be 18 the pair decided to publicly break up in order to pursue other people and interests. The problem is they never told their parents the truth so both Gabriel and Kagami’s mother Tomeo feel protective and concerned about what must surely be an upsetting first heartbreak for their child. And okay maybe both parents take that out on each other and both get a bit defensive and protective. And MAYBE it ends with Tomeo vowing to get revenge for her daughter. Enter, Marinette. Up and coming fashion designer for the rich and famous! She’s single, talented, and as far as Tomeo knows Gabriel is interested in the girl for her talent. So what better revenge could exist but having Marinette take an interest in Kagami!

Kagami has no idea why her mother suddenly has an interest in Marinette but she wont complain about having more time with her very cute designer friend. And all the outfits Tomeo is paying Marinette to make for Kagami is giving the young fencer plenty of up-close and personal moments with Marinette. And okay Marinette is VERY cute and Kagami wont question why she suddenly has all this tine with Marinette, eating ice cream with the girl and having brunch. But she knows shes absolutely head over heels when Marinette shows up at her fencing tournament gives her a luck charm and cheers her on wearing HER colors. Obviously Kagami wiped the floor with all the competition she cant be seen hesitating in front of Marinette!

On Tomeo’s side of things she makes sure that the paparazzi still lurking around after Kagami and Adrien’s breakup catch photos of what could easily be interpreted as dates between the girls. After all this is a revenge ploy but also Marinette is fantastic so Tomeo is 300% down with Kagami ‘bringing her into the family’ something she tells Kagami after the first paparazzi ‘date photos’ leak into the news. Kagami still has no idea this was an orchestrated affair and just thinks her mothers caught on to her feelings and is overjoyed that Marinette is approved of because after the cheek kiss Marinette gave her for winning the fencing tournament Kagami was preparing to fight her mother for the right to pursue the young designer seriously. After all she never hesitates! 

But Tomeo never realized Gabriel isnt the only one interested in Marinette. Audrey Bourgeouis has been keeping an eye on Marinette trying to find a way to get Marinette on to her side and away from Gabriel. So when she sees the photos of Kagami and Marinette she sees an opportunity. After all if Marinette isnt exclusively into men (and those photos of her flushed cheeks as Kagami cleans ice cream off her bottom lip are a clear indication shes not) then Audrey smells opportunity. After all Marinette was Chloe’s first crush! How cute would that be! The next day Marinette is being offered yet another opportunity to intern under Audrey this time with much looser restrictions. When Marinette accepts she suddenly finds herself working with Chloe… A LOT. The pair are modeling together, often paired together for shoots in perfect complementary clothes that screams ‘opposites attract’. Chloe is also helping manage Marinette’s brand and the two start to get along very well. The model photos and their business lunches are soon plastered alongside the Kagami and Marinette outings with parisian gossip blogs finding their interest picked by this potential love triangle.

Chloe for one, was confused at first. Sure she knew her mom was interested in Marinette but she never thought SHE would be working so closely with her first crush. And Chloe tries to ignore it, after all those are dead feelings! And Marinette woud never forgive her anyway so why even- Wait. Is that Marinette in a downright gorgeous golden dress? A-and she will be posing right next to Chloe for their shared shoot? Well… Chloe always thought herself deserving of royalty and damn if Marinette aint the princess of her dreams. Sorry Adriken’s you had your chance to get the girl, but now its winner keeps all and Marinette is the only prize shes interested in. For the record Alya is freaked out by Chloe being nice, but shes more weirded out by Chloe being protective and handsy and downright shamelessly flirty with Marinette. Audrey is pleased when she hears the news and is quick to give her daughter encouragement acting as if none of this was premeditated at ALL.

Oh but they have no idea that this is just the beginning. Because guess who's moved back into town. Adrien’s favorite cousin and aunty. And Felix’s mom is quite the busybody and dammit Felix needs friends! And maybe a cute girlfriend! And oh whos that pretty girl on the magazine cover? Marinette? The one her celebrity connections have nothing but praise for? Perfect! Shes invited to lunch with Felix and herself on friday to discuss movie costumes! And oh Audrey dear dont you think Marinette would look fabulous sandwiched between TWO blondes! Felix hasnt modeled in a while but come now. So suddenly Marinette is being spotted with Felix guiding him about paris and modeling with him AND Chloe under AUDREY’s brand NOT Gabriels.

Felix thought hed really hate Marinette; he tried to ignore her he really did. But shes funny, witty and sweet. Not to mention trustworthy, so a good candidate for a business partner. And thats it, but then he has to admit hes impressed when he rolls up to a photoshoot and Chloe! The definition of brat personified is acting… Bearable. Yes, somehow Marinette has done the impossible! She has tamed the beast known as Chloe. And yes fine he will admit shes drop dead gorgeous and how intelligent of her to learn all sides of the fashion industry and boost her rep with modelling! Soon hes spending more time with her, he tries to argue he needs a guide, that shes the most bearable person to be with! That she is just a friend- Oh god. No it cant be! He sounds like-! Like ADRIEN! And Chloe already told him about THAT mess! No! Absolutely not! He will not lead on Marinette like his idiot cousin! Marinette is a rare and beautiful woman! She could be his queen! And god he has to admit it much as he loathes too Marinette’s smile is enough to make him thank every non-existent god. He will win her heart, show her that she deserves better than his brain dead cousin! Felix is sure mother will approve of his decision to pursue the girl, now he just needs to do more shoots with Marinette...

And that's what finally gets Gabriel to snap. Because REALLY Felix!? Is there no loyalty to FAMILY. Not to mention he was totally drafting a potential contract for Marinette when Audrey snapped her up the witch! But its fine! Marinette has always been interested in Adrien! Surely she still is? Surely she's not been swayed by any of her new suitors! Right? Gabriel knows he can't mess with Audrey’s contract so he goes through Adrien, freeing up his sons schedule and telling him to spend time with Marinette to help her ‘adapt’ to the harsh world of fashion and modeling. He uses Adrien’s heroic nature to make it sound like hed be saving her from Chloe and Felix. And sure enough Adrien bites, using his friendship with Chloe to worm into fittings, meetings, and photo shoots. At first hes just there to make sure Chloe and Felix arent hurting sweet Marinette. But when he sees the blondes fighting for her attention, flirting with her, posing with her in some rather romantic settings. Suddenly hes less worried and more… Jealous? No! Not him! Hes concerned, confused, suspicious! Obviously he needs to spend more time with Mari- Wait! When did Kagami get here to take Marinette to lunch! And why are they all ignoring him!!!

Now Marinette is fully in the public's eye. Gossip blogs are being fed bits of info writing up each ‘candidates’ appeal as THE romantic partner to the Marinette Dupain-Cheng paris new darling, the girl with a heart of gold too oblivious to see the trail of hearts following her around! But there is still another contender yet to enter the game! Jaggeds been away on tour teaching Luka his up and coming protege all the tricks. And lets not lie Luka has his own fans now, enough to rival all the others. Jagged sees Luka as his own son, even calling him as much! Hell hes even adopted Luka and Juleka and when I say adopted I mean Jagged literally got shared custody of the kids when their real dad tried to start trouble once Luka started gaining fame. Luka and Juleka for one love their adopted father and his wonderful fiance Penny. But back to Jagged, being Jagged. 

The moment Jagged is back in Paris he's checking up on his favorite designer and hopefully future daughter in law! When… WHAT'S THIS?! All the other ritchies in Paris are playing his game! Trying to get Marinette married into THEIR families! Not rock and roll at all! He was here first! And so being Jagged he decides to make Luka’s stake in the race for Marinette’s heart clear! By spamming social media with photos of Marinette being cute with Luka, taking his measurements, going out with him, the pair babying Fang, the two passed out against each other after a long concert. And he has photos going back at least a year or two! Soon Luka’s fans pick up the hype starting a trending hashtag finding the pair cute! Jagged feels confident that hes won! When Audrey retaliates, and from there its a complete train wreck. Before long each pair has a hashtag filled with cute moments and arguing over whos dating the model / fashion designer! 

Meanwhile Adrien is drowning in denial as he goes through each hashtag seething about how many MORE photos everyone else has with Marinette, when HE is her very good friend and was here first! Felix, Chloe and Kagami on the other hand have declared open war after they tried to talk to each other about the hashtags reasonably only for it to devolve into “so you agree Marinette is best with me!” - “WHAT! No! Thats not what I said! Besides she clearly is best with me!” - “Ridiculous!” And so on. Poor Luka is having an entirely different reaction hiding in shame unsure how to face Marinette because he WAS going to ask her on a proper date now that she seems over Adrien, because even with everything she's the melody playing in his heart and he had a plan! But now his mom and sister are texting him and teasing him and apparently he has MORE competition! Who do these people think they are to deserve Marinette! No! Luka won't lose Jagged has been teaching him to be bold and confident! And Marinette is worth all of his efforts! Jagged REGRETS NOTHING even if Penny confiscated the tv remote!

Marinette meanwhile has no idea what's going on because the whole class made a dumb bet on when the designer would notice with one of the bet conditions being that no one could tip Marinette off and that they have to keep her away from Paparazzi so they dont spoil it either. And sense Alya is helping manage Marinette’s social media Marinette hasn't looked at it yet so she has NO idea what's happening. But her birthday is coming up next week and Chloe definitely didn't get dibs on planning a surprise party for her all so she could spoil the girl and RUB her GREAT relationship with Marinette into her competitions FACES! The competition however (and Adrien JustAfriend Agreste) have decided that they really aren't going down without a fight!

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[deanmarywinchester]

my best sf/f/horror read in 2021!

top 5:

The Xenogenesis/Lilith’s Brood trilogy: an alien race saves the last of humanity but also links itself irrevocably to humans’ families, lineage, and culture. themes of love/coercion, paternalism, the lines that humanity in general and men specifically won’t cross. the second book UNZIPPED me.

the sparrow: what if jesuit priests made first contact with an alien species and delighted in the gift of being able to meet god’s other children. what if that mission ended with its sole survivor mutilated and psychologically broken. how did he get that way? where can he go from here? themes of communication, god/fate, purpose, loneliness

ring shout: I’ve rec’ed this approximately ten times already but READ THIS. a group of female vigilantes fight demons who are in league with the KKK. NOT anywhere near as campy as it sounds. themes of anger and who it serves, community, what is a monster

harrow the ninth: what if you were a baby immortal who ascended to immortality to serve the undying space emperor, your God? what if something was fucking with your memory and your brain might be haunted by more than just the beautiful corpse you’re in love with (that part you already knew)? what if the line “hi not fucking dead, I’m dad”? what then. NO themes JUST vibes, insane lesbian wizards, and bones <3

the three-body problem: hey guys? you’ve never heard of this one, right? Obama himself doesn’t have a blurb on the back, right? anyway. read for aliens, what humanity will do in the face of a world-ending threat, and surprisingly well-drawn character moments for a book on such a huge scale. it’s like 500 pages and I finished it in two days

honorable mentions below the cut

honorable mentions:

my heart is a chainsaw and the only good indians: supernatural horror is stephen graham jones’ world and we’re just living in it. the first is about a teenage girl mapping her life onto the slasher movies she’s obsessed with to cope—she thinks a final girl has come to her town, so that must mean it’s about to get bloody. the second is about a group of men being stalked by the ghost of what they did together as teenagers.

the once and future witches: I thought this book would be very hashtag girl power but it’s actually great. a sweepingly large-scale story of witches during the american women’s suffrage movement, by the author of the ten thousand doors of january (also a winner)

the chosen and the beautiful: the Gatsby retelling everyone’s talking about—what if Gatsby were about jordan baker, a vietnamese adoptee and casual practitioner of magic? i’d call the vibe dark academia except that it doesn’t suck and there’s no academia, but you know what I mean.

the ballad of black tom: novella about a street musician who gets caught up in a rich man’s plot to raise a lovecraftian horror. cosmic horror with a narrow focus.

black sun: in a precolumbian-inspired high fantasy world, a strangely ritually-injured man must be conveyed across the sea by a dashing sea captain (xiala my absolute beloved) before a deadline she knows nothing about. across the sea, nobles and religious figures plot. first in a forthcoming series

sorrowland: hello????? hello??? rivers solomon you are kissing me on the forehead with this book. a very human version of gothic horror tinged with folklore with a dash of dystopia and octavia butler — it’s got Parable-slash-Fledgeling vibes. about a girl running away from a cult with her two infants and developing her own life with them. great but Unkindness of Ghosts is still my favorite Solomon.

the terror: is this a “good” “book”? yes and no. do I recommend it if you’ve already seen the tv show? not unless you can erase it from your brain. was it so intense that it boiled my brain and gave me physical symptoms that made me afraid I had covid? absolutely. read this for (relatively clumsy) anticolonial period horror and to feel like you’re there with them, counting out the cans that are left for your desperate journey home as you’re dying of disease and starvation and cold and a monster polar bear. yay

paul takes the form of a mortal girl: a college student uses his newfound ability to shapeshift to take on different genders and identities. irreverent, funny, and with deeply believable characters and thoughts on gender

the devourers: a scholar is approached at a party by a man claiming to be half werewolf, And You Won’t Believe What Happens Next. dark and atmospheric mythology/urban fantasy if the “urban” in question was the seventeenth century and also modern kolkata. love, family, desire, monstrousness, werewolf romance, and eating human souls. what else do you want

the space between worlds: thought this would be another hunger games-esque New Adulty ripoff but it actually Slaps. one of the few people who can step between dimensions leverages this skill to earn her keep in the only wealthy city in a desert wasteland run by crime lords and plagued by hunger

runners up:

machinehood: robot rights activists, gig economy bodyguards, and world governments battle it out in a techno-future. sci-fi action

the patternist novels: in an interconnected but discrete series of novels, one man weaves a “pattern” in thought that keeps the world in order, and others aren’t huge fans of his order. spans modern character-driven novels and futuristic more action-based ones

the faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home: a night vale novel about how the faceless woman came to be, feat. revenge, pirates, secret societies, and a man named craig. the genre is “if asoue were for adults”

a master of djinn, the haunting of tram car 015, and the black god’s drums: a novel and two novellas set in p. djeli clark’s djinn-powered historical fantasy world. the first two are mystery set in egypt, the last mystery-action set in new orleans

split tooth: one woman’s early life is mythologized in a book I can’t describe well at all. folklore/myth set in the modern world.

the invisible life of addie larue: a woman who is cursed to be forgotten every time people look away from her navigates centuries. character-driven historical/romance/fantasy

moon of the crusted snow: in a small anishaabe community, the power goes out and the outside world is in chaos. small-scale community-focused apocalypse fiction.

mexican gothic: haunting of hill house-esque gothic horror with a sci-fi twist set in an isolated manor in the countryside

famous men who never lived: refugees from a dimension largely like our own make sense of their new home. litfic with a sci-fi premise.

sorcerer to the crown and the true queen: regency england’s sorcerer-in-chief must restore magic to england with the help of an unlikely ally. sequel set in the same world is about two malaysian sisters who have to find out why they lost their memory and what magic has to do with it. historical fantasy with the feel of YA (affectionate)

the rosewater trilogy: a sentient alien ship lands outside of Lagos and a town springs up around it because of its power to heal. sci-fi action.

tender is the flesh: a supplier of human meat to the rich has qualms. small-scale dystopia.

the house in the cerulean sea: adorable romance set at a group home for young magical creatures. somehow like if asoue were happy and if good omens didn’t have the apocalypse in it

the night tiger: a dance hall worker in 30’s malaysia finds a finger in a box as a weretiger is said to be on the loose. lush historical fantasy

@narrative-causality your post has arrived!

[im-in-love-with-pizza-bites]

It Takes A Village Chapter 16

Chris Evans x pregnant!daughter!reader

Series MasterList

Series summary: You find out that you're pregnant. After being kicked out of your mom's house you go to live full time with your Dad who you only saw once every few months. Will he react badly to you being a mom at such a young age?

Chapter Summary: Your home in Boston and have a deep conversation with your dad.

Series Warnings: swearing, fighting with a parent, teen pregnancy, speak of abortion.

Chapter Warnings: Teen Pregnancy, mentions child abandonment in a way, slight fluff.

A/n: I did change the name of the series from: "I'll be there to help you the whole way" to "It Takes a village" you can still find all the chapters under the hashtag "I'll be there to help you the whole way" though.

It's now September, you and your dad were on the way to the airport as you finally could go home. You were doing online school that way when you go back to boston you won't have to switch schools. You didn't start getting anything for the twins yet as well you need it where you'll be with the twins.

"We're here." The driver said.

"Come on Sweet-pea." Chris helped you out of the car before handing you dodger's leash so he could grab the bags. You followed him into the airport and through security with little trouble.

Eventually, you were in your seats. You were watching a movie your hands on your belly, paying no attention to the world around you, a soft smile on your face as you felt the twins kicking. You've coms to complete terms with this and were excited to meet the babies. You and your dad already planned on decorating a nook in your room for them next week, and of course, it's going to be Disney themed. Your family are big Disney fans after all. You wouldn't be naming your kids Disney names if you were.

——

You flopped backwards onto your bed happily. You missed this room. Missed being in this house mostly. You loved LA but this house this bed its home. Sure you loved you home in texas as well, but you wouldn't be going back there anytime soon. Maybe one day, you did miss that town. Not the people, well most of them but just the feel of the town, the place where you grew up, but with your ex and mom living there it probably won't happen.

"Hey peanut! Tomorrow we're having little get together for the family. They've missed us." Chris asked walking into your room.

"Yeah okay. Uh dad could we maybe go to the store and start getting stuff for Flynn and Felix this weeks? So next week we have everything."

"Sure! Let's get settled in a little more how about that?"

"Okay dad." You looked down at your belly resting your hands on it as you've come so used to in the last few months.

"I can't wait to meet my grandbabies!" He announced loudly. You laughed looking back at your dad who had a goofy grin and you now noticed that he had been holding something behind his back.

"What's behind your back?" You asked trying to peak.

"I got these for the twins." He pulled out two identical onesies that said "Grandpa's little man" on them.

"They're cute." You smiled.

"I know right! I saw them at Target before we left and my little men, obviously need them." Chris said happily putting a hand on your belly to fell his grandsons kicking.

"Yeah." You laughed. "I think they like them." You giggled.

"Of course they do the grandpa picked them out!" Chris declared smiling at you.

"Thank you dad." You said. His saved turned confused has he withdrew his hand from it's spot on top If your belly.

"For what Bubba?" He asked you moving so the town of you were sitting on your bed.

"For not giving up on me... For taking me in after mom-" You choked up for a second before continuing. "Kicked me out. For helping me still have a chance at a future.. I don't know not forcing me into anything." You leaned into his side pouring out all of the things you were grateful for from over the past 7 months.

"Oh y/n." He sighed. He wasn't expecting a deep conversation today. "You know your my baby girl, I'd never turn my back to you. And they." He nodded at your belly. "Wouldn't change that. I promise no matter what you'll have me by your side. And so will your sons." It was time for the waterworks you had your face shoved in his shirt as you cried. He rested his head on top of your wiping away his own tears before wrapping his arms around you.

He may have been shocked, a little mad, disappointed in you at first but he couldn't just have you on the streets of texas alone. Not that it would matter to much but he was so happy to know you were grateful. He hoped one day your mom would change her mind. Though he also knew what she did was quite unforgivable. All he knows is, even if your sons won't have their dad in their life he'll be the best father figure for them.

A/n: Took a while I know but it's here!

[elisabeth515]

(Some) Greek Gods as Historical Figures

So some days ago I secretly logged back into Mythology and Cultures amino and I stumbled across post of casting historical figures as the gods from Greek mythology. Of course, I hated it, so I made my version of this.

Note: Of course, this is going to have quite a lot of Napoleonic figures, since I am more familiar of this period, but please do reblog this post (or tag me on another post) with the hashtag “#mythical figures as historical people” and add some more of your historical figure Greek God fancasts!

Note 2: this post is for entertaining purpose, and just me introducing some guys to y’all and I am not a historian myself and hopefully you all would still like my takes😅

1. Zeus - Louis XIV of France

First and foremost, I shall introduce the king of gods featured in Greco-Roman myths. You may ask, why don’t I cast Henry VIII of England? Well, my reason is very simple: Henry is far from accurate to Zeus in actual myths.

To be honest, Zeus has a more “absolute power” energy in it, and Louis XIV totally has rocked it (like that iconic line “l’état, c’est moi (I am the state)”). Well, Henry also has that kind of energy but everyone only remembers his six wives and the uncountable number of bloodshed (not to mention Catherine of Aragon is a much better fighter than him—got this from Horrible Histories OwO)... Anyways, Louis XVI is basically a Zeus.

2. Hera - Catherine of Aragon

This brings to Catherine of Aragon herself. She’s a total Q U E E N and if you have watched “Six” the musical you already got what I mean (like, being the wife who married to Henry the longest). There’s also the early warlike aspect in Hera (featured in Homer’s works) that Catherine has it as well (at least you know that she’s getting more victories than Henry if you have watched Horrible Histories season 6, in the episode with Rowan Atkinson playing Henry VIII (which is sad because I want Ben Willbond to play him—he iconic to the HH fandom)), making her a great casting of Hera.

Hera, in my opinion, is a very strong woman who has to take Zeus’s shit and I could totally understand why she took revenge on the girls that Zeus has slept with—but anyways, hopefully you guys would like it :3

3. Aphrodite - Pauline Bonaparte

This is half-self-explanatory, really—just look at that statue she posed as Venus, the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite.

Pauline was famed for her beauty in her time, also a big chunk of scandals from her affairs (which bugs her big brother Napoleon, a lot). Nevertheless, despite her big spending habits and a great sexual appetite, she always helped Napoleon in some surprising ways (like she sold her house in Paris to the Duke of Wellington to get the funds for Napoleon).

Just like Aphrodite herself, Pauline harnessed her beauty very well. Thus, I rest my case.

4. Apollo - Joachim Murat or Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria

(Warning: long content ahead)

Firstly, let me briefly introduce them because you guys might not know them much.

Joachim Murat was a marshal of France, also one of Napoleon’s brother-in-law, grand duke of Berg and Cleves from 1806 to 1808 and the King of Naples from 1808 to 1815. After the wars, he attempted to escape yet was caught and executed in 1815 in Pizzo, Italy (if you have read of Alexandre Dumas’s “Famous Crimes” you might know him—by the way no one has cut his head off and sent it to that big nose King Ferdinand).

For those who have watched “Elisabeth” or the “Sissi” movies, you might know Franz Joseph I of Austria already but you might not know much about himself besides being the husband of the (in)famous Empress Sisi (ie. Empress Elisabeth of Austria). He was the Emperor of the Austria from 1848 to his death in 1916—one of the longest reigning European monarchs in history. During his reign, the empire had been through a lot of change, most notably, the creation of Austria-Hungary. Nevertheless, he was also the Emperor who started World War I and he died of old age in the midst of the Great War.

For Apollo, I’m not casting musicians because this is quite overdone. I rather want to shed a light to the other arts that he represented in Greco-Roman mythology. This makes me want to draw a parallel to Joachim Murat as he was also a great sucker of classical literature. Plus, he also was known to be a flamboyant dresser (his nickname was “the Dandy King” by the way), also the designer of the uniforms of the Neapolitan army (with an excessive amount of amaranth, perhaps his favourite colour). Really, everyone just sees him as a great flamboyant himbo but in reality, he’s iconically badass in the battlefield as the First Horseman of Europe. Well, also he’s known for being extremely good with women even though his wife Caroline was fierce as hell. So, in my opinion, he fits the image of Apollo that we know.

However, you guys might feel surprised why I picked Franz Joseph for Apollo. Well, he really... was a rather mediocre ruler in my opinion, and perhaps our most memorable image of him was the senile emperor who signed the declaration of war to Serbia. Nevertheless, he was a well-liked man among his subjects, at least to some old citizens of Austria-Hungary telling future generations. Besides, culture flourished in Vienna under his reign—with notable figures like Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Erwin Schrödinger. Despite the series of unfortunate events which made the empire started to crumble, Austria-Hungary arguably has its cultural importance in Europe. Sounds like what Apollo would do if he’s a ruler, somehow.

Well, enough of his political achievements, let’s talk about his private life... which was probably the actual reason why I picked him.

Enter Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria, the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, also known as Sisi.

On a side note, Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier of France, Prince of Neufchâtel and of Wargram, was Empress Sisi’s grand-uncle in-law via his marriage to Duchess Maria Elisabeth in Bavaria

Absolutely love Pia as Elisabeth in the musical so please don’t mind me using a gif from this :3 ((also, “Elisabeth” spoiler alert

Franz originally was to marry her sister Helene (nicknamed Néné), nevertheless, on the first meeting in Bad Ishl, he has fallen for the young Elisabeth, head over heels—making him defying his domineering mother, Archduchess Sophie, for the very first time. Elisabeth also liked him and did not expressed her refusal either, so they got married in St. Augustine’s Church in 29th April, 1854.

However, the marriage was not well. Sisi was not accustomed to the strict Austrian court especially Archduchess Sophie (also she was not really a fan of intimacy). Poor Franz was rather helpless in situations between his mother and his wife, and eventually, Sisi chose her freedom over her duty as Empress, traveling around the world. They two briefly went back together during the Austro-Hungarian compromise, yet she was constantly not there. Eventually, Sisi was assassinated by an anarchist named Luigi Lucheni during her stay in Geneva, Switzerland, and Franz was devastated over her death (“she will never know how much I love her”).

To Franz, he loved her so, but he really didn’t understand her needs. Even though he had countless mistresses and female companions in Vienna, he still missed his wife. I say, he was really unlucky when it comes to love. Like Apollo himself, he dated countless nymphs and humans, but a lot of his notable relationships did not have a good end. (Probably Cyrene was the most lucky one, yet she also has chosen to be left alone after mothering several children with Apollo.) For this, I picked Franz Joseph as Apollo.

5. Ares - Jean Lannes or Michel Ney

As usual, for those who don’t know much history, I shall briefly introduce my babeys these two great soldiers.

Jean Lannes was one of the marshals of Napoleon, known for being one of Napoleon’s closest friends and his fiery personality, and is considered one of the best marshals of the 1st French Empire. His finest moments including the Battle of Ratisbon in which he led his men to storm the well-guarded city with ladders (hence his nickname “ladder lord” in our very humble Napoleonic marshalate fandom :3). Sadly, he died of the wound he received in the battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809.

Michel Ney was also one of the marshals of Napoleon, known for his extreme valour (yep, he is known as the “Bravest of the Brave”). As you might know, he was one of the marshals who was in Waterloo, yet, his finest hour was during the retreat from Russia in the disasterous 1812. Sadly, he was arguably the most prominent victim of the White Terror under the second Bourbon restoration, executed in 1815 (**I am not accepting any kind of conspiracy theories of my babey survived and died in America😤).

Speaking of Ares, I have a lot of things to say (that’s my dad ;-; no jkjk). He is really not that bloodthirsty idiot who casually hates humans. Well, he’s more like a fiery dork and a man who was very faithful to his lovers, and fights very well (by the way also one of the best dads). So, the bois that come into my mind are automatically two of the most courageous marshals of France.

Lannes, if I have to get him a godly parent, it would definitely Ares. He resembled the god a lot (also I sometimes imagined Ares as a smol bean with dark hair), probably looks the most like Ares himself. He got that fiery temper, that faithfulness to his wife Louise, also being a very courageous fighter in the field—well he literally was like, “NO LEMME STORM DAT CITY *grabs ladder*”.

There you have it, my big bro our ladder lord Jean Lannes who can pull off a perfect Ares.

Ney is like a slightly introverted (and mature) version of an Ares person. You can guess his temper already through his famed auburn hair, and indeed despite his shy exterior his temper sometimes was a bit explosive, and a bit impatient (which was somehow one of his fatal flaws). He was a great fighter, known as a skilled swordsman in his youth. And you all know how brave he is in his famed epithet. Michel Ney is purely badass (and C U T E) you know (and he needs a lot of hugs because he has really been though a lot in the wars, and was a possible case of PTSD which was shown in his arguably suicidal behaviour during the battle of Waterloo). That’s why I casted him as the Greek god Ares OwO

//

And there you have it, my interpretations on the Greek gods via people in history. I originally would like to include more but somehow I realised that I have written too much about my picks. So, if you want to add more, reblog this post or tag me on the post you made on this topic (and please use the hashtag “mythical figures as historical people” so that I could look into your choices via the search bubble on this app🥺).

Last but not the least, I hope you all lovelies like this, also have learnt something new via my brief introductions on some historical people. Have a great day!

[kouhaiofcolor]

2020's finally over. Can we not go into 2021 pacifying texturism w "It's just hair" tho?

It was "just hair" until Black Women started exercising the freedom to discover the unique needs & maintenance beneficial to our hair. Then as soon as non black women got wind of it & the nerve to lurk on platforms the natural hair community was uprising thru, nowadays you've got all these non black women bandwagoning & hashtagging literally everything under the sun w/ this fake ass inclusiveness, advocacy, relatability & support for textured hair. Like all women have suffered oppression around wearing their real hair 😒. Like all races of women have been socially targeted in blatant discriminations against their hair texture, complexion, & how acceptable they are or are not together. I hate the "All Hair (Matters/Is Beautiful/Is 'Good Hair')" clout bc it talks over & totally overwrites the foundational issue around hair & toxic femininity that, at its misogynoir core, has always been that textured hair is unprofessional, unkempt, unmanageable, & ugly. Colorism also erases the initial creators of the movement — which were Monoracial Brown & Dark Skinned Black Women; put some respek onnat, period. Straight hair is not oppressed; wavy hair is not oppressed; all hair is not oppressed. Black hair is. This "all hair is good hair" bullshit is so monotonous & inconsiderate bc its almost like a passive aggressive refusal to acknowledge what antiblackness imposed on Black Women alone. None of you non black know what it's like in depth to be the descendants of a race of ppl who's features, traits & harmless existence have always been insulted, hated & envied by the whole world. Esp not all at once. That is something totally unique to us inflicted & imposed by everyone else since the beginning of time. So why be out here chasing clout under tags & movements & in spaces you are no real part of? Why wanna be a part of the Black Girl Experience that bad? Yall have identities in everything outside of us. Why vulture off of this like you even have reasons to be there? We were investing in ourselves & trying to teach generations of Monoracial Black People how to manage their hair texture & develop cathartic habits thru self care. Nb ppl ruined that.

Looser hair textures have omnipresent representation & acceptance all, over, the, world. There is no lack of being seen, romanticized or exemplified for having texture 1a-3b hair; esp on the prevalent basis around colorism we see regularly on social media & on tv. Yet what remains of the community as it stands is today the furthest thing from textured or Black at all. At this point we owe the decline (if not death) of the natural hair community to the parasitic latching of non black women, the infiltration of "pick me's" & antiblackness generally — but I still be feeling like even that's not direct enough. We're talking ab something authentic & wholesome for Monoracial Black Women created by us for us being straight up sabotaged by races of women the cause was totally irrelevant to & in regard of. Bc that's how cosmetic industries have been towards us for centuries. Bc we were always excluded & thought of least & last. By other women. By all other women; don't get it twisted. So we set out on figuring ourselves out. Doing research on our own. Incorporating self care & beneficial habits in our lives to nourish & feel better ab ourselves & disprove the racist shit non black cultures & ppl either ignorantly surmise, make up or project ab Black Girls. That includes Black Men too in case yall thought yall were safe. Yall are some of the most toxic & prevalent faces behind colorism, antiblackness & misogynoir among black ppl specifically.

But anyhow. At first a lot of the initiation of the vulturing in the nhc light skinned women were the face of. Esp w the clout around having 4c hair amongst the beige-est, most ambiguously or straight up non black individuals, good lord. Then it went mainstream for huwight ppl, whom enevitably invited themselves, & following were the masses of non black women looking to pillage for themselves while the community was being swallowed by the crowdedness & irrelevant content being put out there (specifically on YouTube, Twitter & Instagram) by "hair gurus" of the light skinned, biracial or non black texture 1a-3b variety. Hair gurus who literally may as well've fallen from the sky & met social media stardom overnight based on their hair texture & complexion alone they're so brand new. Hair gurus who aren't even in the community for legitimately informative reasons or purposes unionized in Blackness. They're whole natural hair niche be — as a favorite natural of mine put it — manipulating textured hair into a sort of submission to appear or behave like looser textures do. They'll swear by 'game changer' products they both mention & only use like once & insist you should invest in a $30 8oz. bottle of clarifying shampoo or a $35 cowash if you want your hair to behave & look like theirs. Again, mind you, these types of individuals casually claim having texture 4 hair when they're anything but, just for the attention it brings from both ppl who will gullibly follow their every word & who know what kind of scamming to look for & won't.

If it's "just hair", how come so many of you that are non black are riding the wave? If it's just hair, why have so many of you found refuge in using the hashtags & participating/contributing uninvited? How come so many ran to get a seat at the table w Black Women only to kick them to the side the more popular it became if its just hair? How come nobody was calling it natural hair before Black Women created the nhc & started growing their own? Why was there no natural hair community before Black Women coined it, reminder, for ourselves? If it's just hair, how come so many ran to youtube to begin w to start channels for their own non-textured journeys? If its just hair, why is the nhc so damn obsessed w defining curls & length than overall health & gradual growth? If its just hair, why are white girls anywhere near this? Yall are the most out of place of anyone, honestly. Even if you're curly. Why do light skinned girls get to both represent textured hair & "good hair"? How does that even make sense? Thats just putting monoracial black girls in isolated boxes they're not even allowed to be symbols of or in. If its just hair, why's it so unheard of to see the roles of Black female characters in just ab anything played by actual Black Women? If its just hair, why have so many non or partially Black women worked in ignorant succession to water down & essentially wash out the Monoracial Black Women vital to the community's relevance at all? I really do not get the involvement of non black women in this movement at all — esp when culturally you have no reason to call your hair natural. There are no & have never been prejudice notions around having or growing texture 1a-3b hair. There's nothing oppressive ab it, either. Yall have gotta stop w that. You've already made a mockery of something that was supposed to be beautiful by making yourselves comfortable in & hijacking our space itfp. Theres far too much misrepresentation of textured hair to keep up w now. This is why i say the nhc (as well as culture vulturing generally) has just become nbwoc copying white women copying light skinned women copying Black Women, bc the audacity is unreal.

Its not just hair tho. To those it applies to, yall proved that the minute Black Women started going public w their growth journeys. The minute conversations ab "shrinkage this & 4c that" broadened & went mainstream. Yall couldn't move all at once fast enough when you realized you weren't as special as you thought & had always been told — esp w melanin at its modern value. Now all yall either "natural", seeking black men for either casual sex or cultural infiltration via fetishised reproduction, certain you have texture 4 hair or know the best tips for a DIY silk press 🤭😂 yall can't sit w us. You don't belong here. I'm calling yall out on allll the bs around this "All Hair Matters" garbage, cus yall are now sputtering the same shit while literally wearing your own non black hair in black styles. Be consistent. Make some fucking sense. I don't wanna be part of this fake ass girl squad propaganda that says every other woman never looked at Black Women's hair like it was bottomest of the barrel, foh. We're not on the same team & yall know it.

[ikemenfics]

Chocolate Kisses

Kennyo: You’re going to hell, you know that right?

Me: ...hashtag worthit

2521 written pieces of evidence that I shouldn’t be writing. later...

For: uh....Kennyo.  @daeva-agas​ Help me.

Up in the mountains, shrouded by trees, a lone figure sat atop a rock, meditating.  His features were deep set with the pains of a man who had seen painful years.  A deep scar bisected his face, a lone witness to the tragedies that had befallen him.  

Though his eyes were closed and there was no sound, he felt something shift.  Like those instincts animals have before an earthquake.  He had prepared for this moment.  Reports of strange happenings in both Azuchi and Kasugayama had put him on high alert, though he wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  Opening his eyes, Kennyo watched as a blade pierced his reality, slicing a clean line through the air, as if ripping through an invisible screen.

A figure stepped out.  He was clearly not Japanese.  His features reminded Kennyo of the traders seen around Nobunaga’s ilk, but his clothing marked him as being not one of the Portuguese.  Kennyo had seen few of the foreigners who had recently taken to Japan, but he knew none wore such blinding fabrics.  There was an air of elegance from the man, from his flashy clothing to his poised stance.  Clearly, this was a man of rich living and rigorous training.

“Greetings,” the man said, bowing with a flourish, sheathing his rapier in a fluid motion that bespoke a lifetime of practice, “My name is Edgar and I have been commanded to give you this.”  With a sweep of his arm, Edgar produced an item, tossing it to Kennyo.  Instinct bade Kennyo catch the bag, though he did not give it any further attention.

“Why?  The Devil King now sending foreigners to do his dirty deeds?”  Midnight eyes met with emerald in challenge.  He didn’t get up, but Kennyo eyed the newcomer, assessing what fight this Edgar might bring.

“Devil King?”  Edgar grinned, an expression that left a cold spot in Kennyo’s soul.  The man’s eyes sparkled with amusement, to be sure and his face looked the part of a jovial man.  But something…deep in those glittering depths, that smile took an edge that recognized that title not of a separate man…but the kind of recognition that only comes with ownership.  This one clearly thought he be the devil of this world.  “My good man, I am not here to commit a ‘dirty deed’,” even the way that was worded made Kennyo well aware that this man was well versed in deeds.  “I merely come to bring you joy to spread on this day.  For today must be quite special, indeed.”

“And if I do not desire this…joy of yours?”

“That is not my jurisdiction.  I simply was sent to deliver.  And now, I bid you good day.”

The figure in white stepped back into the void he’d created and unsheathed his sword, using the thin tip, resealing the world from the bottom up.

Kennyo finally looked down at the thing the strange figure had tossed to him.  The pouch itself was clear, shiny oddly shaped pieces of silver something inside.  There were odd markings on the bag itself and it crinkled as Kennyo moved it about in his examination.

“Joy…” he muttered, dropping the item, “Such a thing does not suit a demon such as myself.”  After a moment’s hesitation, he plucked the thing from the ground, opting to carry it versus littering the pristine environment that was kind enough to hide him and his men during these war-torn times.  Another moment, he inhaled, moving to finish his morning’s meditation.  After all, he had new things to think about now.

Meanwhile, a group of figures sat at a table, sharing in a game of cards.  Edgar entered, leaning down towards one of the figures.  “Apologies…”

The figure nodded and stood, grabbing his scarlet cloak as he did.  “Don’t tell the doctor,” the man said, placing a cap upon his head before leaving.

“Are you sure you got this, old friend?”

“That is none of your concern.”

His eyes were still closed, but yet again, there was that feeling.  Like almost nausea, but from outside his body, however that was supposed to work.  Kennyo opened his eyes again, but rather than a slicing into the world, there was a flash and Kennyo found himself staring into ruby orbs that, to Kennyo’s amazement, shifted into a deep blue.  (Another demon…).  If Edgar was flashy, this one was just simply gaudy.  Same blinding white uniform, but now a flash of scarlet that Kennyo could still see even when he blinked.  

“I was not aware I needed more joy…” Kennyo muttered.

“You were told to spread joy,” the man said, his voice cold as ice and as distant as the moon, “to refuse the King of Hearts will lead to ruin.”

“I am already ruined.  I am simply a transient demon here to enact retribution before I fade away.”

Azure flashed to crimson again, “So be it.”  The world became so bright, Kennyo had to block his eyes, fearing they would burn away…

Back at the card game, the caped figure returned, dressing down to resume in the game. 

“You look tired..” a concerned voice

“That one is stubborn.”

That moment, two more heads perked, listening to unheard orders.  They stood, one plucking a black hat from the table. 

“It seems more reinforcements are needed.”  One said, nodding to the other.

“An unknown difficulty has arisen.  Let’s not be late.”

In Kasugayama, Shingen sat, the cold air tightening his chest.  It was a relief from his never-ending battle with his inner temperature, but the chill air was not kind to his lungs.  Still, it was nice to finally not feel uncomfortable inside his clothing, though any excuse to be natural with a partner was never unwelcome.

There was a strange glimmer in his view, then the appearance of a pale man.  Shingen examined him.  Pale was an appropriate descriptor, as this person made Kenshin’s icy appearance seem vibrant.  Even the man’s hair was pale as moonlight.  Shingnen stayed put, sudden understanding dawning on him.

“If you take our weapons again, be advised there’s apparently backups now,” he stated.

The man chuckled, his pink eyes dancing with amusement, “Then I’m quite glad I won’t be needing to take them.” 

Shingen laughed as well, “I must ask what brings you by, then.  Not that I mind company.”

“Oh?”  The man smiled, giving the warlord a look, “Though, sadly, there isn’t enough time for genial company.  I bear news that you might be interested in hearing…”

Across a distance in Azuchi, you were walking the halls when the world warped.  (OH NO!  NOT AGAIN!) You backpedaled, having little to no intention of repeating the incident featuring six hot guys and one almost faint you again.

“Ah, ah, ah, don’t be so quick to run,” a voice said, a hand grabbing the back of your kimono.  Another hand reached, tearing a swift opening in reality, “I’m just an innocent, harmless person with a message for you, dear lady!”  He stepped into the world, flicking aqua hair over his shoulder, before clapping.  “But oh my, your robe!  It is quite decorative.  I think I would like one when I return to cradle.  Though,” he looked almost aghast, “should you be wearing it out here?  In this weather?”

“It’s ah…a kimono.  Traditional clothing for this place.”  The man nodded, taking it all in, “A robe to wear outside.  Brilliant.  And the color.  Oh but I shall have to postpone girl time for later.  I have news of one Kennyo that I think you should hear..”

He entered his camp, his men approaching with worried expressions.  He waved his hand to them, “I am fine.  My meditations took longer than I thought they would.  Have you all had your midday meal?”  They nodded and Kennyo returned the gesture, “Good.  We need our strength if we’re to keep with our plans.  Any news from our spies?”  Kennyo shifted, hearing a strange crunching.  He glanced down, seeing a spot of a clearish item catching the light.  He pulled out the pouch, eyeing the shining things inside.  Something tugged at his memory, but he couldn’t identify the noisy bag, nor its contents.  Call it instinct, though, but he was sure they were somehow important.  “Where did these come from…” he muttered to no one.

“Did you say something, Kennyo-sama?”

“Ah, no.  I will attend the lake for some fresh water.  Apologies that I did not help with the meal.”  Kennyo took the package, eyeing it on and off as he went.  The small things inside glinted and caught the light, but also held folds and imperfections that Kennyo couldn’t quite come to terms with.  If this was metal, it was rather damaged metal.  What use could these possibly have?  And yet, that nagging feeling just simply wouldn’t leave.

He could smell gunpowder and knew he was no longer alone.  [That strange ninja is here, again.  He better not be scaring off the wildlife again.]  The pop of a firecracker let Kennyo know where the location of the nuisance was.  He approached, Sasuke darting up a tree before Kennyo came too close.

Kennyo stared up at the man, “How many times must I tell you not to practice your tricks here?”

“Apologies.”

“Why do you keep coming back?”

“It’s out of the way of everyone.”

“Obviously not everyone.”

“Ah, but you aren’t in your camp.”

The bag in Kennyo’s hand crinkled, drawing Sasuke’s attention.

“Oh dear…”

“You know what these are, then?”

Sasuke hesitated, remembering his own adventure with the confections, “They’re called kisses.”

“Absurd.”

“It’s true.  They’re a candy from my village.”

Kennyo looked nonplussed, “You eat poor metal.”

“You remove the foil.”

What a strange man, a strange item, and just a strange day.  Kennyo shook his head.  Turning, he left the ninja and gathered his water, muttering about the lunacy of wanting to name food after kisses.

Later, Kennyo and his men descended from their hideout, moving into the plains.  The plan was simple, disguised as soldiers from The Devil and the Dragon’s armies, the townspeople will be more against the warlords and side with Kennyo, bolstering his numbers.  He himself remained as the monk that would provide the balm for the injured souls of the people.  

His men separated, leaving Kennyo to walk alone.  It wasn’t long, though before Kennyo realized something was very very wrong.  For one, the town seemed entirely peaceful.  Too peaceful.  There should have been a sign of struggle by now.  

He clicked his tongue, intending to check on his men, but found riders coming towards him.  The standard let him know that Oda Nobunaga was racing towards him.  Alone and beyond outnumbered, Kennyo grimaced and fled.  The men didn’t seem to follow, allowing Kennyo to slip into the trees, tracing his way to the town, change, and hide in one of the tea houses.

“The dainty man was right.  I’m impressed.”

“I have no desire to converse with you.”  Kennyo passed Shingen, intending to hide himself away in a corner.

“Is that any way to greet an old friend.”  Shingen followed Kennyo, leaving the man unable to move again, lest he draw attention.

“What do you want?”

Shingen tapped the table as if pointing to some unseen object, “In exchange for an exquisite item known as a ‘cupcake’ I am here to help you with those.”

“And ‘those’ would be?”

“With the kisses.  That’s what these are.”

Shingen shifted slightly, pointing to the pouch that didn’t quite fit right in Kennyo’s robes.

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you would know of such strange things.”

“Well…” Shingen smirked, “it would be remiss of me to not offer myself to my friend as the first to receive such a gift.”

Kennyo eyed Shingen, “I’m not going to kiss you.”

“No love for your friend and brother.  I’m hurt.”

A low growl rumbled from the monk.

“I could see if one of the Oda army would be willing-”

Kennyo had grabbed the bag, shoving it almost violently to Shingen, “Fine.”

Shingen’s lips remained upturned as he opened the bag of chocolates.  “I remember when Sasuke brought these.  Delightful little things,” he said as he plucked one out, unwrapping it, and placing it in his mouth, giving a lewd sound as it melted on his tongue. 

He glanced to Kennyo, who looked somewhat ill, “Promiscuous lech.”

Shingen  and stood, leaning to kiss Kennyo atop his head, “Don’t forget to spread the kisses.  Last time someone defied the kiss gods, Kenshin lost his weapon.  Quite tragic.” 

Kennyo stared as Shingen left.  Spread?  To who?  He huffed, grabbing the chocolates, giving one to the old man that had served him.  “Give a kiss to your wife.  With blessings of the Buddha.”  It sounded weird to say, but Kennyo didn’t seem to know what else to make of it all.

As he moved through the town, he gave a piece to each he’d seen, directing them to kiss their spouses or lovers in exchange for the blessing.  If Buddha was going to make him spread kisses, he might as well spread them to any and all.  [This is penance, isn’t it?  The demon having to give the people blessings before he’s sent to hell]

“Kennyo-san…” He knew the voice.  He turned, finding you.  You held out your hand, expectantly.  Kennyo plunked a chocolate into your hand, “Blessings of the Buddha.”

You shook your head, “That’s not how you give a kiss.”  You stood on your toes, bringing your height to his face, planting a small kiss on his cheek, “I was told by someone that’s a correct kiss.  Thank you, Kennyo-san.”  You took your treat, unwrapped it, and ate your gift.  You bowed, pointing towards a path, “By the way, I was told that was your safest bet to not get caught.”

Kennyo sighed, shaking his head, “Your his woman and giving me help out of town.  Will wonders never cease.”  You smiled, bowing again, and moved past the man, leaving Kennyo to his escape.

He slipped into the forest, up the mountain, and to his camp, finding his men relatively unharmed, though rattled.  Someone had ratted your plan to the Oda AND Uesugi armies.  Luckily, the men had seen the forces and doubled back to wait orders from their leader.  Kennyo praised his men, assuring them there would be a next time.  For now, though, he was tired and was sure they were too, so rest was needed more.

He went to his little shack, settling himself on the floor contemplating the day’s events.  Small nails tapping let Kennyo know a guest arrived.  He picked the tiny creature and placed it in his lap.  He took out his final piece of Hershey’s, unwrapping it as he’d seen you and Shingen do, giving it to the small weasel.  “Here, Hozuki.  Blessings of the Buddha.”  Recalling what you and Shingen had done, Kennyo leaned down, giving Hozuki a kiss, the critter giving a squeak in response, taking the chocolate with gusto.  “Glad you like it.  Hope this completes this joy.  I don’t think I can tolerate more.”

Writer… Yes?

Are you SURE it’s just soda?

Cherry coke, why?

Is it original recipe coke?

Ha..ha..no

Kennyo has a new stamp Uh...yeah

Are there other new stamps

Uh…

Writer?

OH HEY LOOK, IT’S EDGAR

“The writer does sure love their strange humor”

[swanlake1998]

Article: The New Company Ballet22 Spotlights Men on Pointe

Date: April 14, 2021

By: Claudia Bauer

The conversation around gender, both in the ballet world and in the larger culture, is slowly evolving toward greater inclusion. Roberto Vega Ortiz and Theresa Knudson are giving it a big push with Ballet22, their new company that showcases men on pointe—dancing not in drag or as comedic caricatures, but as themselves, each in their own authentic gender expression.

Founded last fall in Oakland, California, during the pandemic, the young company has already held two online performances and will hold a virtual spring gala April 16–18 and 23–25. It's also tapped into a growing community of male and nonbinary dancers who love pointework and are hungry for authentic artistic self-expression. "The mission of Ballet22 is pushing the boundaries of what could be possible, and making the pointe shoe ungendered," says artistic director Vega Ortiz.

From Isolation to Innovation

As a longtime devotee of pointework and an Instagram influencer, Vega Ortiz is keenly aware of the enthusiasm for pointework among male ballet dancers, via hashtags like #MenOnPointe, and of the lack of high-quality training and performance opportunities. So as a pandemic project, he and close friend Carlos Hopuy, a former Ballet San Antonio principal who has danced with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo since 2012, started teaching pointe classes on Zoom under the name MaleBallerinas.

The response was overwhelming. "We had dancers from Germany, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, the U.S.," says Vega Ortiz. Knudson adds: "These are people who have to train in privacy or secrecy because there is not a place for them. Seeing male and nonbinary bodies doing this work is so inspiring—there's so much joy and power." Knudson, who is Vega Ortiz's roommate and now serves as Ballet22's executive director and ballet mistress, was tuned in to the venture's significance and growing audience—and its possibility for growth.

The popularity of MaleBallerinas inspired Vega Ortiz and Knudson to expand from classes to a company. "It was always a thought to make it a company, but we didn't realize how soon it would happen," says Vega Ortiz, who has danced with Nashville Ballet and the Trocks. They were able to ramp up quickly, thanks to the combination of Vega Ortiz' artistic vision and huge following, and Knudson's business savvy gained from founding her own company, Halcyon Dance Project, in 2019, plus her degree in business administration.

Crucially, Knudson secured fiscal sponsorship through the San Francisco indie nonprofit Intersection for the Arts. "Fiscal sponsorship means we get to use their nonprofit status," she explains. "With that, we were able to ask for tax-deductible donations and we could tell people we were a legit organization. For our first show (last December), our friends bought tickets for their friends, and we had people donate afterward. When people see our work, they're excited and they want to support it."

Expanding the Possibilities of Ballet

Dancers are excited to perform the work, too: Along with Vega Ortiz, the company roster features Hopuy and fellow Trock Duane Gosa, New York City Ballet corps member Gilbert Bolden III and San Francisco Ballet soloist Diego Cruz.

"With Trockadero, I'm switching my wigs, I'm changing my shoes—I'm a male dancer, now I'm a female dancer," says Gosa, who danced Swan Lake's Odette variation in Ballet22's December 2020 performance. "It was really cool to feel these things that I could only dream of before. Performing genderless, as myself, without the mask of the makeup and wigs, was the biggest takeaway for me. It left me more confident personally."

Bolden, who taught himself to dance on pointe with Kathryn Morgan's YouTube videos, in addition to help from friends and co-workers, agrees. "I didn't want to do drag. I really wanted to be myself on pointe, which is why this is so exciting for me." Mastering pointework has also influenced his dancing at NYCB. "It's made me more thoughtful in how I use my feet, legs and body, because I had to learn how to do the delicate finesse. And when I'm partnering, I know how a girl wants to feel and how she wants to be on her shoe."

Ballet22 has also expanded the artistic palette for choreographers like Ben Needham-Wood, whose dance film "Pointe A2B" premieres in the gala. The five-minute, single-take film features Vega Ortiz and Hopuy in a kaleidoscope of partnering as they move through an art gallery. "I would have both men bourréeing, and then one would be a secure base for the other and then transition back onto pointe, creating this shifting structure. That interplay was really fun." On a bigger scale, he says, "Ballet22 is a great starting point for a conversation that needs to happen: What is the role of gender in dance? What is the role that we have in our communities for raising awareness for important causes?"

Leaping Into the Future

While their initial focus is on male and nonbinary dancers on pointe, Knudson and Vega Ortiz plan to make the company fully inclusive as it expands out of its current project-based format. As companies eventually return to full-time work, the roster will likely change as well. "Women want to be part of it, which is so amazing," says Vega Ortiz. "And it's important to have a safe space for trans men and trans women. Ballet22 is a safe place for everyone."

Their post-gala plans include online classes for all ages, a summer intensive and to eventually grow their school, The School at BlackBox Studios, into a full-time program where, in addition to classical training, men will learn pointe. "If we can offer a place where it's safe for everyone to feel that they can be themselves and have great experiences," he says, "that's what we want. The work will speak for itself."

[hippychick006]

Misha’s cult follower’s entire argument is celebrities should be “using their platform” [for politics] and in this way, Misha is better because he is “doing more” than Jared.  I just… 

Anyway, time once again to look at some cold, hard, facts which I wouldn’t be doing if Misha’s stans would just leave Jared the fuck alone. Seriously, you can consider Misha to be God himself and I don’t give a single fuck, but trash Jared using lies on his social media and you get my attention. 

Putting this under a cut for those blessed amongst you that appear to be able to exist in a bubble of nirvana to just scroll on by.

Firstly, and most importantly, it’s not about “using your platform”, it’s about  ‘understanding your audience’ and using your platform effectively. To this end, let’s look at Twitter platform only as an example, because I’m lazy and have other things to do and it’s where I’ve seen most of the noise.

Misha:

Misha had not ever posted using BlackLivesMatter hashtag prior to George Floyd’s death (on 25th May).  

On 27th May, Misha retweeted a Huff Post news article and got 13.1k likes, 2.2k retweets and 317 comments. It did not use the BLM hashtag.   He added a comment “How many more black men must die in America before we do something?” (But didn’t offer any suggestions on what he was doing or what anyone else should do). Slacktivism at its finest.  His next immediate tweet was about Gish.

His next post about BLM was 28th May, which co-incidentally (or not depending on if you’ve been watching Collins closely), was the top trending day for the BLM hashtag.  This was the tweet:

Again, nothing of substance, other than using the hashtag, which was still trending, though the tweet did generate 31.4k likes, 8k retweets and 650 comments.

His next post was on 29th May, photo op with the kids about having hard conversations with them – you mean you weren’t teaching them about this stuff before Mish? Anyway, that post still didn’t have anything of substance but once again used the trending hashtag.

On May 30th, he tweeted about the Live event featuring POC activists. This event replaced a previously arranged Gish event which even Misha knows he’d have been trashed for if it had went ahead as planned. All 3: Misha, Jensen and Danneel posted exactly the same pre-organised message for the live event, instead of individualising it. I personally thought that was very tacky (sorry).  This tweet got 5.1k likes, 723 retweets and 120 comments. It was not tagged BlackLivesMatter which was already falling in the trending topics.  He retweeted a further 10+ tweets about the riots on that day.

On May 30th, Gish had their 1-day event, one item on the list was raising money for NAACP legal defence and education fund.

On 31st May, he tweeted about Gish raising $151k for NAACP legal defence and education fund as part of the Gish 1-day event.  He posted another few tweets about the live event the previous day and the riots.

On 1st June, he retweeted Obama’s thoughts.  Another 5 tweets about the riots

Anyway, I got bored as his entire twitter feed is US political, despite most of his fans being outside US.  Fast forward about a 100 or so like-minded posts (honestly, the depths I swim in to pull these together…) to… 26th June where Misha posted about the second live conversation, this tweet got 2.7k likes, 311 retweets and 56 comments.

 Jared:

Jared’s last post before his BLM post was 14th May.  Unlike Misha, his social media is primarily for his professional working life (as is the case with most celebrities who want to continue a career in acting, as opposed to Misha who appears to have accepted his career in television is all but over and is setting himself up to go back into politics).

Jared had not ever posted using BlackLivesMatter hashtag prior to George Floyd’s death.  

29th May was Jared’s first post.  He provided a link to a document containing further links on how to be a better ally. He stated clearly what his position was.  This tweet was liked by 43k people, 1.7k retweets and 269 comments.  On the same day, he retweeted a Randy Orton tweet making it clear that he stood with BLM (as opposed to ALM).

1st June he retweeted Obama’s post with a comment. This retweet got 23.7k likes, 3.2k retweets and 421 comments

19th June, he retweeted Obama’s post about June Nineteenth

21st June, he cross posted his Instagram post about Father’s Day using the hashtag Black Lives Matter.  He got 19.6k likes, 2.7k retweets and 638 comments.

 Jensen:

Jensen’s last post before his BLM post was 19th May and was about FBBC.  Again, unlike Misha, his social media is primarily for his professional working life and separate business interests.

Jensen had not ever posted using BlackLivesMatter hashtag prior to George Floyd’s death.  

Jensen posted on 30th May using the exact same wording as Misha and Danneel regarding the live event. This tweet got 10.3k likes, 1.2k retweets and 298 comments.  He did not use the BLM hashtag

On 1st June, he retweeted Jane Elliot video that got 18k likes, 3.5k retweets and 375 comments.  Also on 1st June, he tweeted a link to Ways to Help and used the BlackLivesMatter hashtag.  This got 18k likes, 4.5k retweets and 574 comments.

On June 26th, he linked to Misha’s post about the second live session and got 19.9k likes, 1.9k retweets and 321 comments.

 So, what is any of this telling us?

The data is telling us that Jared’s few tweets reached and resonated with far more people on his platform than either of Jensen’s or Misha’s did. The data is also telling me that Misha’s constant tweeting is diluting the message and switching people off, his last tweet on it was 2.7k likes, pretty much his die hard fanbase and are not achieving anything positive.  In fact, his platform are doing more harm than good at this point with how they’ve gone after allys.   Jared’s few tweets struck the right note for his particular audience. Any more and they’d be switching off in droves (not really an effective use of platform).

In addition, though it looks like Misha is being more proactive with arranging the live events, I’d personally question the success given less than 0.0033% of Jensen and Misha’s combined platforms tuned in to watch the last event live.  And those that did watch live, appeared to be more interested in getting ship content than in the actual message - so much so that Jensen had to make a video on IG telling them to look and listen.  

Gish does get credit for raising $150k in charity in 24 hours, but I wouldn’t put them on a higher pedestal for it, Doing charity doesn’t give a free pass to be an asshole (particularly one that misuses Pride).

Just stop with the lies and the trashing of a decent man in order to feel better about the guy you like. Particularly when there are real assholes that pretend masturbating to 11 year old girls ffs.  It’s senseless, go ahead and like Misha, but accept there’s a lot in fandom that don’t and some are going to blog about it in their own private spaces. Feel free to do the same with Jared but be more respectful and keep it away from his space. That’s all anyone is asking for. 

[multimetaverse]

Jamie Johnson 5x05 Review

If you were a fan of Andi Mack or Doafp you should check out the pretty great British show Jamie Johnson which just launched a coming out story line for one of its main characters and covers a bunch of other important issues. Let’s dig in!

My reviews will feature spoilers from throughout the series and if you’d like to watch the story from the start there are only 3 eps in the 1st season, 10 in the 2nd and 3rd, and 13 in the 4th and 5th with casting and writing already underway for a 6th season. All the eps are available on the CBBC website if you live in Britain or have a VPN. You can also contact @tkstrand for access to the eps (just don’t tell Scotland Yard). A big thanks to Mike for introducing me and so many others to Jamie Johnson and single-handedly starting the fandom. I highly recommend watching all the eps from the start; Jamie Johnson is a very charming show that tackles a lot of important issues in the guise of being a show about soccer and the show has gotten better each season and the writing shows no signs of stalling or declining. The acting does start off really rough in S1 but has improved markedly and some of the actors are very talented though overall the acting is closer in quality to a show like GMW or No Good Nick than Andi Mack or Doafp. In fairness, a big reason for that is that the show has to spend so much time on soccer games and practices and the kids are actually pretty good players; so good in fact that for S4 the actors actually entered the 2018 Gothia cup in Sweden and did extremely well. Jamie Johnson is in many ways a British Andi Mack but with a British Gary Marsh who is much less of a censoring shithead and a British Terri Minsky and crew who are better and more consistent writers

Tonight was a big night for reformed bully and star soccer player Dillon Simmonds. He’s the closest analogue to TJ Kippen the show has though unlike TJ he’s a main character and has been in the show right from the pilot; in some eps he even gets the 2nd credit after Jamie. 5x05 was in many ways a callback to 4x05 which was the first ep that had subtext for gay Dillon. 4x05 also introduced most of the characters who will play a big role in Dillon’s coming out story line: Ruby Osborne, her biological sister Alba, her foster moms who are a married lesbian couple, Dillon’s younger brother Liam, and Dillon’s father. S4 is really when Dillon Simmonds becomes a hashtag good boy and his arc is focused on him getting out from his Father’s incessant pressure to go pro though there is some delicious gay subtext in eps 4x11-13

The show’s always been good at setting up plot points in advance, like Dillon’s diabetes, Wozza’s ADHD, and Duncan Jones’ shadyness, but those plots were set up and then addressed all in the same season. I don’t think it’s that surprising that the gay story line is the exception. It’s very likely that the writers didn’t intend Dillon to be gay until they set out to write S4 and they likely didn’t have full permission to go ahead with it until S5. It’s also likely that their original plan for exploring Dillon’s sexuality was going to involve Ruby trying to act on her crush on Dillon; 4x13 set that up and then in 5x01 Ruby tells Zoe out of nowhere that she’s over Dillon and only sees him as a brother and wouldn’t you know it, she doesn’t even think Dillon looks at girls in a romantic way!

Thankfully the show is going in a much better direction with the introduction of Elliot. He’s already been fleshed out with a personality and hobbies like astronomy and magic (for his next trick he’s going to make Dillon’s heterosexuality disappear). I was shocked at how flirty the Delliot scenes this ep were, not just because they were gay scenes but also because the show really has not had these kind of scenes before for any of the straight characters either. Even Jamie hasn’t had more than pretty clear hints that he likes Jack and wants to be with her. I don’t know if it’s because the show is targeted towards an audience of young men or if there’s a cultural difference across the pond but there’s consistently been very little romance of any kind throughout the series. If this had been an American series, there’s no way that Jamie wouldn’t have had at least one girl he went on a date with or something, even if it was only a brief thing. It’s refreshing in some ways and it means that the show has to look elsewhere for drama and angst

Dillon is obviously drawn to Elliot and thinks he’s cool but he has quite the reaction when he learns that Elliot is gay. He runs to tell Ruby that she needs to cut it out with Elliot because he’s gay which is clumsy writing because Zoe had just told him that Ruby told her that Elliot is not in fact her new boyfriend but is her new gay foster brother. They obviously needed to show Dillon’s strong reaction to the news but also needed a way to come off as kind of homophobic but my own theory is that Dillon wanted to make sure Ruby didn’t waste her time pursuing a gay guy like Sienna Jones had wasted her time trying to pursue Dillon in S4. As the show hasn’t really focused much on romance I’m not expecting much to come of Delliot especially since they have a built in escape hatch with Elliot only being in care until his mom is out of hospital but I am looking forward to what happens with them this season and what will happen with Dillon in the remaining seasons this show has

I think this was the least that Jamie has been in any ep. One thing I really like about this show is that they’re not afraid to have main characters miss an ep or two unlike American shows that usually have to have mains appear in every ep even if there’s no actual story for them. From the S5 trailer it looks like Jamie will get really into e-gaming while his broken leg heals after he was accidentally run over on his 16th birthday by his deadbeat dad Ian Reacher. I would assume that Jamie eventually gets back into real soccer but it does promise a lot of drama between Jamie and grandpa Mike who has always been Jamie’s staunchest supporter

Duncan ‘’Big Dunk’’ Jones, former pro soccer player turned silver fox and head of Phoenix FC, took a big step forward in redeeming himself for trying to scuttle Jamie’s career with Hawkstone by appointing Jamie’s mom Karen as the new head of wellness which fits with the CBBC announcement that S5 would in part focus on mental health

Alba once again lost her cool during a game. It’s clear that a lot of her anger issues stem from feelings of abandonment as well as the constant uncertainty and rapid changes she’s experienced as a foster child. The show has always been good at showing how what’s going on with the children in their home lives affects them at school and on the pitch, like Jamie acting out because of his dad walking out on the family and Dillon being a bully to try and fit into the role his dad wants him to play. It’s very interesting that they’re now bringing back Liam Simmonds to begin his redemption arc as he was the first to make Alba lose her cool by attacking her foster moms at his father’s instigation way back in 4x05

To the show’s credit, they’ve always been firm in showing how awful bullying and homophobia are and all the soccer teams in the series have shown a zero tolerance policy for it. It’s a different world in many ways from North America, I couldn’t imagine an American show about football or even a Canadian show about Hockey that would plausibly show a zero tolerance policy for bullying and homophobia

Looking Ahead:

Next ep features Liam’s return to Phoenix FC after Alba accepts his apology for his homophobia. His redemption arc will be interesting to watch especially as it;s certain to tie in to Dillon having to face up to his father who is the avatar of toxic masculinity and homophobia. Perhaps it will take Liam defending his brother to make his father see the errors of his ways

Not sure who will take over coaching the U14′s now that Mike has said he’ll be stepping aside

Zoe faces another talented black player who she clearly does not respond well to. Zoe has always been hyper competitive and worried about losing her place to another female player which in part stems from the stress she’s under as her ill mothers primary carer. Good for Zoe for getting through to Howard Royle about Hawkstone lacking a women’s team

5x07 looks like it will be a huge ep for Dillon and Delliot and it seems likely that Dillon will snap after realizing that Ruby and Elliot think he’s homophobic and will come out to Elliot. Should be good

Until next week Jamie Johnsoner’s

[human-trash-fire]

Shot Through The Heart Ch. 2

Aelin:

Aelin reclined deeper into the massage chair currently working the knots in her upper back, as the water continued to fill at her feet. Mimosa in hand she sighed and closed her eyes, she was at peace for a brief moment before Lysandra shrieked. 

“OH. MY. GODS. A, why didn’t you tell me?!” She practically screamed, much to the chagrin of every patron in the upscale salon. 

“Tell you what…?” Aelin replied, rolling her head dramatically to the right to look at her friend.

“You’re trending on twitter again” she shoved her phone in Aelin’s face, “and you’ll never believe why!”

Aelin looked at the Twitter homepage and there at the top, with 1 million retweets and counting was #AelinCallHimMaybe. “What the hell? Hang on,” she put down her drink and pulled out her own phone. Flipping apps she went to Twitter to find the hashtag. There was a video linked, by someone with the handle “@moonmoon69”right at the top.

“WAIT! I wanna see this” Lysandra said at the same time Elide, on her left leaned in and said “Click it!” All three girls, heads together and mimosas abandoned, crammed in to look at Aelin’s phone.

She clicked play and immediately one of the most beautiful men she had ever seen appeared on the screen. His sepia toned skin was glowing in the sun, and he had long blonde hair pulled into a bun atop his head. He was wearing a Terrasen Army uniform, though the jacket was completely forgotten, and the t-shirt he wore instead clung to every dip and curve of muscle. He was standing in what was clearly a military post somewhere in the desert and smiling with perfect charm. “Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, you are my Queen. I, Sergeant First Class Fenrys Moonbeam, would like to humbly ask you to accompany me to the Army Ball this year. Please, call me maybe?”

Aelin’s jaw hit the floor as the scene before her cut to boots walking on the ground, and the music began. Suddenly Fenrys was back on the screen lip-syncing the lyrics to possibly the cheesiest pop song ever written, and all three women began laughing. Aelin couldn’t help it when her heart skipped a beat as Fenrys turned to the camera and winked at the end of his verse. The scene changed again and this time Fenrys, and four other men, all equally muscular and attractive, were laying on chaise lounges in nothing but short-shorts and combat boots. 

“You have to say yes, look at them!” Lysandra squealed, while Elide nodded vigorously on her other side.

The men continued to lip sync from different places on the base, always shirtless and shining with sweat. Aelin at this point had began to laugh hysterically, and all three girls crooned over the men dancing on screen. They had absolutely no talent, but seemed not to care how ridiculous they looked as they popped up from the dirt and lit off colored smoke in the background. Each of the six men had a turn to solo into the camera. Aelin’s breath caught again when, towards the end, the silver haired man with tattoos seductively danced around in what looked to be a makeshift kiddy-pool.

The last frame was all of them looking over the camera from above and smirking, before they walked away. The twitter handle @moonmoon69 popped up once more with the hashtag #AelinCallHimMaybe below it. All three girls were still giggling as she closed the link out, and looked up from her phone.

“Sweet gods,” she breathed, trying to calm herself down a bit. “Did you know the Army made men that look like that?”

“Did you see the one with long dark hair and black eyes? He looks like an angry sex God, and I think I need him in my life,” Elide replied.

“You’re saying ‘yes’ right? Do it for me, us.. Do it for Terrasen. It’s your civic duty,” Lysandra pleaded.

“For Terrasen?” Aelin replied with a conspiratorial grin, “Fuck it, i’m in. But you two are helping me figure out how to respond to this and, you’re coming with me. But first-” she chugged her previously forgotten mimosa, “Pedicures.”

***********************

“How do I even go about doing this?” Aelin asked over brunch a few hours later. The three women hadn’t stopped swooning over the men in the video, and if Aelin was being honest they had watched it three more times before ever arriving at their table.

“Well you obviously need to DM him” Elide replied, ever the voice of reason.

“Buuuuuut,” Lys dragged out the word with a smirk, “I think you should make a video of your own. It’s good press and he’s clearly in need of some feminine attention. You’ll blow his mind, and then hopefully other things,” she finished with an outrageous wink.

“LYS!” both Aelin and Elide screeched before the three erupted into a fit of laughter.

When they finally recovered, Aelin agreed that the first step should be making a video of her own. The publicity would do wonders for her, and she could reach out and worry about the logistics later. After a long debate they decided that the best way to respond would be something flirty but not embarrassing. “Let’s give the men overseas something to daydream about,” Aelin finished with a smirk.

*******************************************************

Rowan:

Half awake and entirely pissed, Rowan was sitting at the table eating breakfast with most of his Cadre when Fenrys burst in yelling “I TOLD YOUUUUU!”

“Its 0400. Why the fuck are you yelling?” He practically growled over his coffee.

“Because,” Fenrys smiled as he sat down, “She responded, you’ll never believe this… Hang on.” Fen pulled his laptop out and set it so that they could all see, then directed their attention to a video he had already pulled up. There she was, smiling at the camera with practiced ease, flanked by not one but two equally beautiful and famous women: Lysandra Ennar and Elide Lochan. Rowan’s eyebrows kissed his hairline.

“There is no way-” He began, but was quickly shushed by Gavriel, Connall, Vaughn, and surprisingly even Lorcan. Fenrys pressed play.

The three women were dressed in what could only be described as the “slutty Halloween” version of the uniform Rowan currently had on. Paired with black heeled combat boots and red lipstick, her long tan legs were on full display. Rowan hated to admit it, even to himself, but she was the literal embodiment of his “questionable” teenage dreams.

“Hello gorgeous,” Aelin practically purred. “First and foremost I’d like to thank you and your delicious Cadre for that lovely video.” Rowan choked on his coffee at the name she used for them, the name they used for themselves.

“I’d be honored to be your date to this year’s Ball, but I have a few small requests. My friends here,” she motioned to the women beside her, “would like to accompany us so that we can have a chance to properly thank you for your dedication to Terrasen. We’d like to take you Fenrys, and the men in your video on a night out in Orynth after the ball… If you’re interested.” She grinned at the camera, and the look made Rowan’s heart beat a little too fast.

“If you’ll have us,” Lysandra spoke now, “We’d like to show you around in style. A limo for the event, the penthouse suite at The Palace hotel, and a private after party for your friends and a few more of ours.”

“In the meantime,” Elide continued, “Enjoy the care packages we’ll be sending to each of you just as soon as we get your information. If you have any special requests, don’t hesitate to ask!”

“A little something to help the days go by faster on your long, and hard deployment,” Aelin winked. “We can’t wait to meet you.” 

The last shot was all three women blowing a kiss to the camera. Rowan couldn’t believe it. The Princess of Orynth had responded to Fen. It took them nearly an entire day off to make that stupid video, more than one bottle of whiskey, and it had worked. 

“Holy shit,” he breathed, the 6 men were still staring with their jaws on the floor at the frozen image of the women on screen, lips still puckered.

“I KNOW!” Fenrys laughed, “I told you it would work, and when we get home we’ll have the most insane night of our lives. You can thank me anytime.”

“Thank you,” the entire cadre chimed in unison while still staring at the screen. The next 2 months were going to drag along knowing what was waiting for them when they returned home.

Rowan cleared his throat, “But, you’re still on laundry duty boyo.” 

__________________________________

Here’s a link to the video that inspired this fic! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PKiUjRSKI8

____________________________________

FIRST AND FOREMOST: MAAAAAAAAD thanks to @highqueenofelfhame​ for editing this work, your writing is an inspiration and I’m so thankful to have you there to read my nonsense before it’s published!

Secondly: Thank you all so much for the positive responses/ reblogs on Chapter 1! I’m so excited to share this chapter with you and I assure you I have many more to come <3 Feel free to follow along on ao3 glam_reaper2 <3

Tag List:

@http-itsrebecca​ @highqueenofelfhame​ @feyrethedarklady​ @someonemagical​ @thebitchupstairs​ @over300books​

[hockeysweetheart]

Discribe a movie Badly See if anyone gets it...   

How it works there are 10 movies I wont give anything In the hashtags. 1-10 Movies I discribed badly. Number them 1 to 10 of what you think the movie I am talking about is ...  Some might be a series so I’ll take the name of it.  Just comment below 

1.Two Canadians meet He  lives in the Country  The she  is from the city. They met at the  fair. They fall in love. She moves away. He builds a house. She falls in love with someone  who was in the war they get engaged. She goes back to the country after she sees him. They fall in love again.  Also the narator is telling his story to his wife with dementa. So she remembers. 

2.Women who’s been nominated  for many oscars has three possible baby daddies For her daughter . Now her daughter is due to get married and did some sneaking around invited all three so she can find out who her real father is to give her out. They randomally break out into songs and have 2 supporting Aunts who don’t know their friend slept with all these men. But are supportive even fall in love with the 2 when its windled down... This girl and her fiance sing a song on the beach and it’s a whole musical number... Its until the evening before the wedding she doesn’t know who the father is.  All she wants is her father to give her away... Its greek to me... 

3.Boy wants to be king. The only problem is his skechy evil Uncle wants to be king as well. But the Boys father is the king. So they both Hatch a plan to kill the father. The boy is like no know what did I do runs away. Is raised by 2 men with prob a few mental issues. The girl of his dreams comes and finds him  doesn’t know its him at first  they sing a love song ...  then tells him that the kindom  and the lands in charge of is fu**** up with the uncle in charge so the only way is if he retains his title because hes next in line. 

4.Girl lives in a poor town. She is mocked about it. Becuase shes the Prettier Smarter  then the others and Lives with an inventer who is strange. Oh the town are anti readers too. This guy who thinks he can move her to his side hit on her and wants to marry  her. She is like ha not a chance. He father goes off to the invention fair and she is on her own which is normal. He runs into wolves his horse throws him under the bus He trespasses  into this big house. Which is owned by someone who really needs to shave Who can only do so if he falls in love if he can’t find love by a certain point he will look this way forever . kidnaps him  away She knows something is not right the horse takes her to the big house.. sees her father in a jail cell. The man who owns this place says if you take his place I’ll let him go but you stay. Okay  because her father is old she takes the deal. But then he gives her an actual room in the house instead of the prision cell. Because shes pretty lets make her feel like home.  Then she meets her maid, her dresser, the house keeper The mans of the house  chief steward. and basically the entertainer. And a the house keepers child and the pet dog. And together they all come and show her this hairy man is not evil as he may seem they fall in love on their own however.  He lefts her go be with her father who is sick. Still hairy man but he let her go because he loves her. And she goes back home realizes  the man who wants to marry her has locked her ill father in  a cell... throws her in too because she refuses to marry him. Goes and kill this hairy man with the whole freaking town. She gets out goes to the hairy man. But the dumb ass man who wants to marry her shot him. Hairy man almost dies but is saved when she kisses him... 

5.They lived in a poor town. Once a year they get a chance for a few of them to become Royal. They have a team of Drunky, Perky , Stylish, who guide them to their guide to be royal. ...For a bit Until  the day the evil dictator  locks them in an escape room but says the only way you will live if you murder people you just met. And only one shell live and go home. Its a trap... Until this girl falls in love with this boy  and evenually both of them are allowed to live because it would be slap in the face if no one came out alive. which they were gonna do because they love each other that much. Now the only problem is back home this guy loves the girl. So she must choose who to pick one shes been to hell and back with and a pretty boy who suddenly wants her... Oh and the evil Dictator hates her because she broke the rules... Forces her into marrage of this boy and expects them to have children to so he can be like pay back is bitch and throw the ones who surived the escape room for the first time ever two of them their child into the room. And be like the biggest you have zero control over this ever. But then he gets the idea to send them  back into the escape room with other people who already escaped the room before hoping they would die this time only there is a plan to pick the lock and half get captured half are free... And these two  lovers are seprated due to this. And she is a hot mess. And unknownly the plan to over take this evil dictator. So she agrees to do it because duh.  But then when she gets her man back he trys to kill her and she trys to write him off but all she can think about is him and says I will kill this evil dictator if its the last thing I do. The man who wants her heart kills this girls sister and she is like easy choice learns to love the guy who tried to kill her again and they live happly ever after... 

6. He was the trouble maker. She was a goody goody christian girl. Whos daddy was the pastor. One day they meet becuase she is volunteering and he is doing community serivce... as part of it he has to do this school play and  he realizes he is crushing on her and he crushing on him. They fall in love. She changed his life to take a better path. Then he founds out she is sick doesn’t have very long to live. Goes to his father hes not talking to. Asks him for help because hes a doctor.  And she gets treatment at home because his father agreed to help out. Anyways they kill two birds with one stone get Engaged and Married pretty fast. A few months later she died of her illness. 

7. She has been home schooled her whole life. Moves to a new area and the parents decided to put her in high school.  And she goes in and to be in this high school you can’t be a sad loner because there is no lunch room table for that your eating in the bathroom stall. So she  becomes  friends someone who has it out for the popular girls.. And uses the new girl to befriend the popular girls to get revenge on them.. One of them is Canadian... But  she is after one guy who is an ex to the popular girl... they get back together and she is Jealous of them. Tells the boyfriend that shes cheating on him... and They have this boolk talking about everyone... And this girl wants this the ex but he doesn’t want her. she has this house party where the friends who put her up to this come by tell her off pretty much. then the  popular girl walks in on the girl and boy talking..  also  this girl becoming a part of the popular one  she is sabotaging the popular girls  in doing that she is making the popular one who wants to loose weight become fat girls new boyfriend tells her what she is eating makes her fat. and she is pissed when she finds this out and goes home angry puts her self in this book and tells the pricipal about it the next day Pin it on her friends and the new girl. Then she breaks into the copy room  throws the copies shes made all over the school. While the girls are being talked to and everyone who is in this book sees what is written on them... Then  they have this meeting in the gym and they say their feelings and the girl who put up the new girl to do everything  tells everyone and then the popular girl gets hit by a bus and is okay but  then the new girl says she wrote everything in that book  and got in trouble for it and has to do some math thing for it gets grounded by her parents and her dad lets her go out she wins prom queen and bam shes liked again

8. A  talking  donkey finds a new owner in the middle of no where because he is to be sold. He befriends his new owner. Who doesn’t want him. and Then the king thought the donkey needed a friend and sent everyone who was un normal to this green dudes house to be firends with the donkey. Then Green dude is like one pet is enough. Goes to the king says  give them to a reserve but he and the donkey have to save a princess in a tower and bring her back to the king to be married. This king has  a sweet tooth because he took the legs off a ginger bread man... Anyways This donkey and green dude go on this adventure to save this princess. But shortly the green dude and princess fall in love. And are just over how annoying this Donkey is  and this princess at sunset she turns green to and the donkey finds out they talk green dude gets mad then gets the king to get her princess. they are to married before sunset. Becuase she keeps her being green quiet...  But then the donkey and green dude crash the wedding. Green dude admits to being in love with her and she feels the same and they get married. and once they are Married both are green...

9. This dude whos got beef with anyone better then him has more power. Wears all black  his minons dressed in white. He is pissed his wife left him years ago after he learned she gave birth to twins one girl one boy.  And it’s a world you don’t know your parents. Because they agree to fight because a robot and grown teddy bear and some alian guy help them realize they have more power then this guy...  okay so its 1 girl 2 dudes after this girl and  one of the dudes is a sibiling to this girl. She gets kidnaped by this dude whos got beef gets saved. Finds out that she is sibilings with this  one of the dudes. The dude finds out this dude whos got beef also done so much evil is his father and he’s like I kissed my sister  nooooooooooo... And they have a sibiling realtionship after that.  Oh and dad wants the son to join the dark side.... 

10.  This rich dude who owns a factory.  Shut the doors until one day he is like I want to retire soon lets give it to a kid whos about 10. But before that happened he had an easter egg hunt and people who find the golden ones got a chance to tour his factory which has been closed for the longest time. Then this poor boy finds one. and Is meet in a creepy ally but this creepy dude saying he wants to know the secerts inside. The boy runs off. Home tells his family who cannot afford 4 beds. That they could go to the factory. He picks his grandfather who was bedridden can suddnely walk... And they are in there with a spoiled brat, A Kid who eats everything. A girl who chews gum. A kids obessed with tv. and Him a poor boy.  And one by one they get taken off and these orange men sing a creepy ass song each one who gets “ lost”. And  each area they are tested until one comes out. Tho this boy broke the rules he kept the secert that  the owner of the joint said to keep to themselves. and Gives the favtory to him 

[ts1989fanatic]

It is my great displeasure to inform you that two Nashville music industry executives are threatening a woman to stop her from singing lyrics on national television that she wrote in her diary as a 14-year-old girl.

That woman is Taylor Swift, and she's being lauded as the Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 24, due to her unparalleled success over the past 10 years. It's a great honor, and a cause for celebration for both Swift and her longtime super-fans (myself included). But because of the record deal she struck when she was just 15, she is not allowed to perform a medley of the music (often written with collaborators, but always by her) that got her there. Oh, and Netflix isn't allowed to feature it in a documentary it's making about her either.

Now, instead of celebrating with Swift, her fans are commiserating, starting hashtags such as #IStandWithTaylor and partaking in a wider cultural conversation about ownership in the music industry.

This egregious abuse of power is the weird flex of the men who own Swift's back catalog: Scott Borchetta, CEO of her former label, Big Machine, and Scooter Braun, the music manager who bought the label after several years of Swift trying extremely hard to keep her distance from him, in part due to him bullying her in the past.

The multi-award-winning Swift, who signed a new deal with Universal Music Group and Republic Records last November, didn't have ownership of her masters as part of her original deal with Big Machine and said she intended to re-record her first six albums as soon as she is legally allowed (the end of 2020). She's also made no secret of her dismay at Braun being the one to own her music and the betrayal she felt when Borchetta sold it to him.

It's a sad but not uncommon situation Swift has found herself in (Prince famously changed his name in a bid to regain control of his masters, and singer Sky Ferreira recently also spoke of being in a similar position to Swift) -- that the lifetime's work she's poured her heart and soul into is owned by and feeding the bank accounts of two men who had nothing to do with its creation.

They are now refusing to let her perform that older music in specific contexts unless she agrees not to re-record her first six albums and stops speaking about frustration with the situation publicly.

In a statement posted across her social accounts, Swift encouraged people to let Braun, Borchetta, the Carlyle Group (Braun's financial backers) and other artists they're fans of know how they feel about the situation. Fans (and many others who were just outraged) started petitions and reached out to people across the music industry on Twitter to express their frustration. A small number of people have been accused of attempting to dox Braun and Borchetta, but it should be noted that Swift didn't suggest this as a course of action.

The lengths Braun and Borchetta are now going to to forbid her from re-recording music she wrote give a rare inside glimpse at how far music executives with unchecked power will go to control artists. Their actions also prove they're inadequate caretakers for this trove of artistic treasures, beloved by so many, which they're wielding like a weapon against its creator.

When signing her new record deal, Swift felt her only choice to make a better future for herself was to flee the house she built with her own hands, even though it caused her great pain to do so. Now she can't get her songs back, or even borrow them for the weekend. If you're a music fan, this is something you should care about regardless of how you feel about Swift or her music. Because if something like this can happen to Swift, it can happen to any artist, and it does, and will continue to.

In a statement issued Friday, Big Machine broadly denied this, saying "at no point did we say Taylor could not perform on the AMAs or block her Netflix special," acknowledging it did not have the power to do so, but not refuting her specific allegations. Swift's publicist responded with a statement quoting an email in which they deny Swift's requests to perform her music.

Swift is the first to acknowledge this is much bigger than her. She knows that at least she has the power and reach not to have her voice stifled. She also knows all too well the power of withholding music, having taken her music off Spotify for several years to make a point about streaming royalties. But more broadly, she's speaking to the vast power imbalance between music industry executives and artists everywhere.

It's why it's disappointing that so few prominent male artists have so far been willing to join her in raising their own voices, even though they publicly gush over her talent and will happily fish for collaborations in interviews.

The musicians who have spoken up (Halsey, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Lily Allen and Sara Bareilles) are almost exclusively female or new, or they just have smaller followings. With less clout or less of an established presence, these are the artists most at risk of retribution from cutthroat execs, and they should be applauded alongside Swift for their willingness to speak out.

It's worth considering for a moment the current push toward greater artist ownership and empowerment and how this incident will be relayed in that context in the annals of music history. To step back is to see this as part of a pattern of paternalistic power plays designed to disenfranchise artists and keep them in their place.

Braun and Borchetta claim to be on the side of musicians and artistry, often referring to Big Machine as a family. But as things stand, music history will tell a different story. It's hard to imagine anyone in the future looking back at this incident and seeing anything other than two men in a boardroom holding a woman's lifework hostage for the purposes of profit and power. History will likely not be kind to these men, primarily because, in this instance at least, they showed very little care and kindness of their own in their time.

The narrative of Swift's legacy is already secure, thanks to her vast body of critically acclaimed music, much loved by fans for its lyrical depth. It will also speak of her boldness and fearlessness in standing up for herself, others and what she believes in while being frequently berated by the misogynistic attitudes ingrained in the media, the music industry and society as a whole. It's not the story of someone playing victim, as many would have you believe. It will be the story of a victor.

As for Borchetta and Braun, their contribution to music will be remembered as what it is (nil) and if they continue on their current trajectory, their reputation for stifling the contributions of others is at risk of overshadowing anything they've done to promote and support musicians.

There is still time for them to change this narrative and truly uplift the art they claim to support. They've proven they have the power they so clearly desire. Now let's see if they've got the integrity to wield it wisely, ethically, compassionately and for the greater artistic good.

ts1989fanatic well written cogent article with a lot of very valid questions being asked primarily as I asked earlier in a post.

Where the fuck are the men of the music industry and why the hell aren’t the chicken shit assholes voicing their opinions on this subject.

PATHETIC JUST PATHETIC

[fishxx]

Se Qing and the Naked Truth

February 24th, 2017

Below the rooftop of a Beijing building that shudders against a glaucous sky of factory moans is an unextraordinary office building. In it, perhaps on the sixth floor, sits a man in a suit at a desk. The phone on his desk rings. He probably picks it up. Maybe he shifts his weight in his seat, undoing the buttons on his cuffs. Maybe he texts his wife, tells her not to wait up, a client needs this or that document tonight.

It’s 11 degrees Celsius, and a pair of broad-boned feet rest on the ledge of the rooftop above the office building. The owner of the feet crouches over them, back bent round as if in a snail shell. He looks down to the street below, speckled with pedestrians bundled in scarves and cars blaring their horns. He thinks about what kind of people might be in the office building.

Seven months prior, he’d written in a series of diaries published online:

           我总是能听到开枪的声音，开始的时候我有点害怕，时间久了，也就习惯了，那声

           音也像有人在用槌子往我脑袋里钉钉子，好像有一个建筑工地，有人要盖摩天大楼

           ，盖了这么多年也没盖好，好多无家可归的人在我的脑袋里面哭啊闹啊，我要被吵

           死了，他们不让我睡觉，也不让我出门。不睡觉也好，不出门也好，反正每天出门

           前，穿上精心挑选好的衣服，照着镜子怎么看都觉得像要去参加自己的葬礼

           I am always hearing gunshots. In the beginning it scared me a little, but over time I’ve

           grown used to it. Someone has taken up a hammer and is knocking nails into my head,

           it’s a construction site where someone is erecting a monstrous skyscraper, they’ve been

           building it for years and it still isn’t done yet. The many homeless people in my head are

           crying and jibing, they won’t let me sleep, won’t let me out the door. Staying home and

           awake suits me just fine, because every day before heading out, after putting on the

           clothes I’ve selected so meticulously for myself, and looking into the mirror, it looks to

           me as if I’ve dressed to attend my own funeral.

It had always felt this way. For much of his life, since his childhood in a suburb of Changchun, the capital of China’s northeastern province of Jilin, Ren Hang had felt as if he was stumbling through a shadowy psychosis, a jammed film reel in disparate shades of gray.

Still, through the fog of voices and visions clouding his consciousness, in Ren’s pulsing circuit board of veins, he has always felt a deep connection to his family, to his hometown, to China.

And this has never wavered, even as he moved what seemed continents away to study marketing at 17, to live in the 4-to-a-room cramped quarters of Beijing’s university housing, high from the ground, amidst the haze and cancers and pollution of a city of chaos.

–

Fragmented light splashes across the bare thighs and torso of a man whose face cannot be seen. Each hand holds a disco ball, whose mosaicked faces refract the flash’s exposure. Between the disco balls, an erect penis. In another photograph, from the last series Ren published, two nude men sit curled atop one other on the ledge of a building, pasted against a jumbled, silver skyline. Their eyes meet the camera’s gaze steadily.

As Ren crouches on the windowsill, many of these photos are already on exhibition at Foam Fotografiemuseum in Amsterdam. Museum curator Mirjam Kooiman says of the work, “It’s visual poetry. It’s without limits.”

Ren is not without limits.

The man in the office shuffles a stack of paper, maybe. He sighs when the phone rings again. Perhaps he stares at the minute hand on the wall clock.

Ren, some days, can’t tell wall clock from whiskey.

He rises slowly in the frame of the window. Stands, looks. Maybe he is naked, like so many of his subjects are. Maybe, as always, he’s meticulously selected what he believes to be the proper attire for the occasion. In one month he’ll be 30. He is always hearing gunshots.

He steps into the air.

–

January 15th, 2010

           我只会注意那些病态，结巴，物质，2维思维，单亲家庭的男孩。有一种男孩是我

           在涨潮几个小时之后会打电话给他，听到他的声音我知道虽然我还在水底，但是我

           还没有溺亡。

           I will only pay attention to those morbid, stuttering, material, two-dimensional- thinking

           boys in single-parent families. There is a kind of boy who calls me after hours of high

           tide. Hearing his voice, I know that although I am still underwater, I am still not dead.

Huang Jiaqi has the broad, hopeful eyes of youth and lips full as if they’d been stung by honeybees.

It’s been nearly a year since he ran away from home, leaving his university entrance examinations unfinished, his childhood tucked somewhere in diaries with thick-pulp pages, like those still made by tired men in the Qinling mountains.

At only 18, Jiaqi is slight of build, and can often afford nothing more to eat than a box of fried rice with a cucumber for five yuan. He devours the meal shoulder-to-shoulder with his lover, beneath the opaque and oppressive Beijing sky.

Jiaqi and Ren sleep in a house with five or six others who pad silently through the space like apparitions, also hungry.

Ren takes Jiaqi to rooftops. He snaps his shutter.

And with friends pitted naked against mosaicked Moroccan-style floors, between red curtains backlit by pale light, in reeds and bushes, amidst the haze of cigarettes in dingy apartments, Ren snaps his shutter. Boys and boys, girls and boys, girls and more girls mingle, mangled in limb and wire and branch.

Ren graduates from his compact analogue camera to a $29 Minolta X-700 film model. He is not interested in digital cameras. He says, “I like film. It’s exciting to wait.”

His work is featured in small group shows in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Nanjing.

Still, it seems no one in the art world knows Ren Hang’s name.

Jiaqi knows Ren Hang’s name, his mother’s name, the pock-marks of his left cheek, the sound of his heartbeat. In and out and in and out like the tide.

Jiaqi is Ren’s greatest muse, the reason for all things.

In eight years, an image of his face will splash the cover of an international art book published by Taschen and Ren Hang will be dead.

–

June 8th, 2008

           写给周耀辉的信

           每个人都是同性恋，每个人都是霸权者，每张脸都打上马赛克，每颗心都穿上防弹

           衣。所有的亲吻都是一味毒药，所有的拥抱都是一个牢房。

           Letter to Zhou Yaohui:

           Everyone is homosexual. Everyone is a hegemonic person. Each face is marked with a

           mosaic. Each heart is wearing a bulletproof vest. All the kisses are blind poisons, and all

           the hugs are a jail cell.

Ren books his first solo show in 2010. It opens in July under the name “Eat Naked Lunch!” at Yuyintang, a cozy underground live house in Shanghai.

One photograph features a young woman lying on her back, her knees drawn against her bare chest. Between her legs sprouts a tangled bouquet of leaves and red wildflowers. No genitalia can be exposed in the photographs on display, though the work Ren produces is often explicit, featuring cigarettes with seething red heads protruding from vaginas and lilies with their stems tucked into anuses.

He begins to exhibit quietly in other galleries and live houses.

And gradually, like a moonflower unfurling, Ren Hang’s work begins to bloom in the art world. The influence of boundary-pushing erotic photographer Robert Mapplethorpe becomes increasingly apparent, yet curators and collectors insist they have never seen anything like it before.

They are eager to comment on its starkness, its unapologetic sensuality, its balance and color, and its function as a bold fuck you to the Chinese government.

–

In the spring of 2018, Chinese social media platform Weibo announces a three-month “cleanup” effort of its site, a censorship initiative launched on the heels of President Xi Jinping’s new cybersecurity jurisdiction. Weibo quietly begins removing all content related to homosexuality. In response, social media users storm the platform with the hashtag #Iamgaynotapervert.

Though homosexual sex was decriminalized in China in 1997, members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face prejudice and a dearth of political discourse about their rights. Today, gay marriage is still not legally recognized in a single continental Asian country.

The Dream of the Red Chamber, the Qing dynasty-era novel oft considered the peak of Chinese literature features a number of steamy same-sex relationships, and passages of dialogue brazen enough to make even the most indiscreet of patrons blush: “What’s it to you if we fuck asses! It’s not like we fucked your dad,” says one character. Hand scrolls of the same time period depict what appears to be recreational sex between male friends, one colorful panel portraying a man hiking up his robes, sitting upon another man’s lap while they enjoy a cup of tea.

So whence came the disdain for homosexuality in China? Anthropologists argue that the influence of Western socio-cultural norms and exposure to foreign media rendered the subject taboo, casting shame over same-same relationships as the perverted product of delinquency or mental disorders. Others assert that the filial values of traditional China that have dominated social life since the era of Confucius are to blame.

Ren says, “We hide the body in our culture,” because it is “a demoralization to show what they think should be private.” But instead of hiding, Ren rebels—worshipping both the sacred and the sacrilegious in the human form, twisting and contorting it into geometry and shadow.

Everything about Ren’s photography is charged with the electric current of sexuality. Much of it is homoerotic. Much of it is not. As one curator puts it, “There’s no hierarchy between the female and the male model in his work. It’s very telling about these tendencies of sexuality and queerness in Chinese society and how his generation is dealing with it.”

What does this one represent?, they ask. It must be a commentary on the political state of modern China, they whisper.

When asked whether his pictures are meant to inspire or incite a sexual liberation in China, Ren responds flatly, “A sexual liberation? No.” He says, “Nudes have always been around. We were born nude. So I don’t think there’s anything to revolutionize. I just photograph things in their more natural conditions.”

Ren Hang didn’t intend to become a photographer. He became one accidentally, toying with a compact camera in the ennui of his days at the Communication University of China, snapping photographs of his roommates here and there, often naked, scuttling to the showers from their room with four bunks like narrow coffins stacked atop one another.

Perhaps he didn’t intend to become a poet either, although after his death, Tim Crowley of the KWM Art Center in Beijing says, “He was, in a way, a poet who just happened to be a great photographer.”

At times, he writes:

           "My cock"

           When soft, it’s like a piece of meat

           When hard, like a knife

           I give you soft when you eat

           Wait for you to eat hard

           Use it to kill you

And, at other times:

           "Real desperation"

           I found

           My breasts are bigger every day

           My vagina is wider day-by-day

           I can be ashamed

           I can hold hundreds of rivers

           My time is finally coming

           But I also felt for the first time

           What real despair is

           I stand in the highest place

           But I dare not take a look below

And as Ren Hang comes barreling into the world of contemporary Chinese art with images that incite gasps, fury, and arrests, he perplexes and enchants by straddling, unapologetically, the worlds of straightness and gayness, of kink and custom, of truth and deception, of masochism and tantrism, of woman and man.

–

May 9th, 2013

           还有一次连续几天晚上我都觉得我的隔壁睡了两匹马，我能听到他们的喘息，还有

           那种马的“突突”的鼻音，我每天回到家都小心翼翼地怕吵醒了他们，有一天我的朋

           友来家里住，我跟他说，我的邻居是两匹马，他们一直在睡觉，你今晚还是不要洗

           澡了，洗澡的声音太大了，我们说话走路也小声一点，不然会吵醒他们的，我已经

           三天没洗澡了。我朋友说我疯了。我说，他们不是一般的马，他们会说人话，会躺

           着睡觉。开始他以为我在开玩笑，但是我的表情越来越严肃，他说你真是疯了。后

           来我也不知道该怎么跟他解释，他再也没有住过我家。

           For a few days in a row, I felt like there were two horses sleeping next to each other. I

           was very careful not to wake them. One day, my friend came to stay at my place. I told

           him that my neighbors are two horses. They have been sleeping. You shouldn't take a

           shower tonight. The bathing sound is too loud. We can only speak quietly. Or I will wake

           them up. I haven't bathed for three days. My friend said I was crazy. I said that they are

           not ordinary horses. They speak ‘people’ and lie down to sleep. At first he thought I was

           joking, but my expression became more and more serious. He said that I was crazy.

           Later, I didn't know how to explain to him. He never stayed at my house again.

In China, mental illness is like homosexuality. It exists. We don’t talk about it.

–

April 5th, 2016

           我适应了逆来顺受，就像掷骰子，每次都掷到同一个点数，后来你发现，其实每一

           个面的点数都是一样的。这个房间里我最熟悉的就是头顶的那块天花板，它就像我

           的天空，白色的天空，没有任何阴晴变化的天空，我幻想过楼上的邻居就是住在天

           上的神仙

           I have adapted to obey just like a die that is rolled over and shows the same number every

           time. In the end you realize that each side of the die is exactly the same. I am most

           familiar with the ceiling from my room. It’s like my sky, a white sky. There is no

           pleasant change in my sky. I imagine that my neighbor from upstairs is an angel living in

           heaven with the gods.

“I love China, and I like shooting Chinese people,” Ren tells Vice Japan. “The more I’m limited by my country, the more I want my country to take me in and accept me for who I am and what I do.”

Ren is arrested a number of times—for shooting nude models in public places, where indecency is punishable by up to six months’ jail time, and, perhaps more scandalously, for self-publishing.

The Chinese government exercises nearly complete control over the press, and the country’s commitment to extensive media censorship is a well-documented phenomenon. Self-publishing, while technically legal, is a highly regulated procedure requiring an ISSN number and authors’ compliance with mandatory censorship policies.

Ren begins publishing his work underground in 2011 with the help of a friend who works in printing, knowing that he will never be able to publish his work otherwise, as the distribution of explicit photo or video content in China is illegal. The Communist Party once dubbed pornography “spiritual pollution.”

In 2015, in the vindictive heat of a Beijing summer, when asked about if he considers his pictures erotica, Ren tells a magazine intern, “I don’t like the word ‘erotica’ (in Chinese, qing se). I prefer ‘pornographic’ (se qing). I think it’s more direct.”

In China, a lifetime behind bars may await anyone who produces, disseminates, or sells “obscene materials.”

Naturally, Ren sets out to do all three.

Within five years, he produces 16 of his own zines and monographs, filled with glossy pages of penises urinating into corded telephone receivers, bodies twisted into fantastical shapes, vaginas splayed open like raw wounds. Many of the earliest of these books were sold underground in small shops whose owners knew his work.

A posterboy millennial, Ren has generated cult followings on his Weibo, Tumblr, and Instagram profiles. He publishes his photography freely on his website, alongside collections of poetry and an unassuming tab on the sidebar menu bar labelled “My Depression.”

His website is shut down unexpectedly. Once. Twice. Again. Law enforcement officers swarm Beijing galleries in wailing Volkswagen Passats, calling for the stop to his exhibitions. A man attends an exhibition and spits on one of the photographs.

He is arrested, but never imprisoned. While Ren operates as an anomaly, a dark creature inhabiting the fringes of Chinese society, authorities seem ambiguous about his status as a criminal. Is he a political rebel? Is he subverting the zhengfu?

They hesitate further because the mind of China is evolving. The economy, taking new shapes.

Chinese citizens born in the 1980s were taught that the country’s “pillar industries” included the automotive, construction, mechanical, electrical, and petrochemical sectors. But these categories are not static. In recent years, biotechnology, advanced energy, and IT have made their way to the forefront of the economy. These new pillars are China’s loyal heed to the call of science. Yet—more than anything—they’ve become the cherubim upholding the god that is capitalism to this country of atheists.

What is largely unexpected is the State Council’s 2009 announcement to make “culture” one of its pillar industries by 2020. In 2016, the Ministry of Finance earmarks nearly four and a half billion yuan in funding for cultural development initiatives. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are booming. The art world, rising.

“The market in China has greatly matured, and this has enabled us to present exciting, emerging artists from China and across the Asia-Pacific region,” says Alexander Montague-Sparey, the Artistic Director of Photofairs Shanghai.

It’s no wonder that authorities cannot put their thumb on Ren Hang with enough accuracy to stamp him out like a cigarette butt. Instead, they fumble with his burning edges.

–

May 19th, 2011

           这几年你一直在寻找一张失踪的桌子，生活在一只倾塌的杯子里，逐步进化成愤怒

           的杯底。这世界就是离你这么近，却摸不着，又看不清楚。就像一束光要和影子做

           爱，那么难，我活得像一个影子。却只能再黑夜里出没。

           In the past few years you have been looking for a missing table, living in a falling cup,

           and gradually evolving into an angry cup. This world is so close to you, but it can't be

           touched. Just like a beam of light to make love with a shadow, so difficult, I live like a

           shadow. Only to haunt the night.

Ai WeiWei is China’s most beloved and most despised political dissident. The irreverent artist is known for designing the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics and for his controversial visual arts challenging the institutions of modern Chinese society. In 2014, he exhibits an entire collection featuring only photographs of his left hand pitted against the background of famous global monuments and religious buildings, his middle finger raised in bullish protest.

The state media deem him a “deviant and a plagiarist.” He’s arrested in April of 2011 and held for 81 days by authorities. Officials allude vaguely to his “economic crimes” without filing specific charges. His assistant, Wen Tao, mysteriously disappears and is never seen again.

In the consistent spirit of controversy, he champions the work of underground photographer Ren Hang.

In 2013, he curates an exhibition called “FUCK OFF II” at the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, featuring the works of Ren and 36 other contemporary Chinese artists, many of whom are pioneering a neo-avant-garde driven by a need to challenge the sociological, environmental, and political climates of modern China. It contributes to a burgeoning, global Ren Hang following.

Ren always maintains that he is simply making pictures the way he wants to make them.

“Politics is interested in me,” he tells the press at the OstLicht Austrian photography gallery in 2015, “but I am not interested in politics.”

–

March 23rd, 2015

          ��我昨天在超市

           偷了一管牙膏

           前天把邻居的锁孔

           用口香糖堵住

           上周把小区门口的

           一排垃圾桶

           全都踢翻

           每次我做了坏事

           都觉得生活好像

           又变得美好了一些

           I was in the supermarket yesterday,

           I stole some toothpaste

           The day before yesterday,

           I blocked the neighbor’s keyhole with chewing gum

           Last week, at the neighborhood entrance,

           I kicked over

           A row of trash cans

           Every time I do bad things

           I feel like life

           Is getting better again

Ren hasn’t spoken much to his family since he left Changchun at the age of 17.

He calls his mother. He paces the length of his apartment slowly, watching one foot move in front of the other, the pattern in the floor’s wood grain rendered into clusters of tiny faces.

“I’m wondering if you’d like to model for me in a photo shoot.”

His voice hangs in the air like a bird riding a current of wind.

“Do you want me to take off all my clothes?” she finally laughs.

He is jarred by the realization that his parents must know everything. Here, all along, he believed they couldn’t have suspected a thing.

Of course he doesn’t want her to take off her clothes—she’s his mother, for goodness sake.

She doesn’t mind.

He insists that a bra and underwear will do just fine.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

She smokes a cigarette. Ren snaps his shutter.

Expressionless, she holds a pig’s severed head. Ren snaps his shutter.

–

February 2nd, 2010

           《我爱你》

           想在你身后，

           看你走路的姿势，

           盯着你并不丰满的屁股看。

           想去你家。

           想跟你睡一张拥挤的铁床，

           在半夜突然醒来，

           舔你的眼睫毛，

           摸你冻裂的嘴唇。

           想在早上抢着穿你的内裤，

           让你穿我的，

           看你站着小便，

           拍下你用过没冲的厕所。

           "I Love You"

           Want to be behind you,

           Look at your walking posture,

           Stare at your not-so-plump butt.

           Want to go to your home.

           Want to sleep with you on a crowded iron bed,

           Wake up suddenly in the middle of the night

           Lick your eyelashes,

           Touch your cracked lips.

           Rush to wear your underwear in the morning,

           Let you wear mine,

           Watch you standing, urinating,

           Photograph the toilet you used without flushing.

Sometimes Ren darts into traffic, or lunges himself ahead of an encroaching bus, only to leap backward at the last moment. Sometimes he stands too close to the platform’s edge in Beijing’s swollen subway stations. When he swims in the chlorine-blue pools of hotels around the world—places where his work is championed, where he receives bottles of wine and dinners of black caviar and foie gras from museum directors—he keeps his eyes closed, lets his body sink to the bottom of the basin, listens to the muted sparkling of the water.

He feels most at peace when he is close to death.

“Since I was seventeen,” says Jiaqi, “the most important thing for me has never changed—to protect you and to protect our love.”

Jiaqi is well on his way to establishing himself as a leading fashion stylist, editor, and model. He makes his own pictures, too. In 2018, his photography glosses the cover of Tatler Hong Kong.

He snaps an iPhone photo of Ren. Beneath the glow of a red umbrella amidst geometries of sunlight, Ren stands in a blue Umbro soccer tank top. He looks into the distance blankly, his broad and elegant cheekbones lending to his perpetual appearance as gaunt, as exceedingly gentle, as older than he is. It seems so far removed from the world of art that they both have learned to inhabit in different ways.

–

January 10th, 2013

           《最亮的光太快》

           我从来不想变成最亮的光

           最亮的光太快

           比流星还快

           我愿意变成黑夜

           我愿意缓慢得就像静止

           我愿意经常被你遗忘

           偶尔被你仰望

           即使在那仰望里

           我只是一张背景

           “The Brightest Light is Too Fast”

           I never want to become the brightest light

           The brightest light is too fast

           Faster than meteors

           I would like to turn into night

           I am willing to be slow like static

           I am willing to be forgotten by you often

           Occasionally you look up

           Even in that gaze,

           I'm just a background

Ren Hang steps into the sky.

The gray of Beijing’s carbonate heavens flashes against fragment of glass, of skyscraper, of silver branch. Perhaps a bird darts past, cutting through the air careless—careless as one must be to have been given the great gift of flight without cognition of one’s privilege.

Perhaps before peace,

He sees his mother’s face. Her harsh mouth in a line, a stream of smoke curling around her.

Perhaps

He sees a boy with bee-stung lips.

The boy says: “I didn’t even know about this thing called depression the first time I saw you crying and telling me you wanted to set the flat on fire so we could die together.”

Maybe he hears the boy’s voice ringing in his ears, a kind of private, radiant sonar.

“You said you were my home, and I was yours.”

These words are true.

But these ideas are all simulation, are all romantic projection.

The BBC runs the headline: Ren Hang: Death of China’s Hotshot Erotic Photographer.

It is all romantic projection.

He is not an erotic photographer. He is, unapologetically, a se qing photographer, an artist of the bizarre and the beautiful, unmarried to any creed or movement, an artist brazenly throwing forth pictures of a violent peace, an artist, an artist, an artist. A mere observer of his world.

And he is, by no means, a hotshot. He is simply a student of the human condition—what his lover calls, “a kid who loves life, but lacks the skills to live it.” He is only human, diseased and obsessed, incurable and in love.

So more than likely,

When Ren Hang steps into the sky,

He does not take note of the clouds reflected in the windows of the office building tearing through space, or the dusky thrush floating above him. He does not see his mother’s stern face or hear the voice of Huang Jiaqi.

More than likely,

He thinks of nothing.

When Ren Hang steps into the sky,

He refuses to become the brightest light.

The brightest light is too fast.

Kendra Clark is a New York-based editorial content creator and part-time residential student in the creative writing master’s program at the University of Cambridge. Her poetry and nonfiction have appeared in or are forthcoming in Into the Void magazine, The Evansville Review, Emrys Journal, and more.

[calleditwhatitwas]

HUFFLEPUFFSHAWN’S FEBRUARY FIC RECOMMENDATIONS

hello!!!!!!! this is me. back at it again with my favorite reads of the month. don’t forget to reblog the fics you like!!!! enjoy and let me know if u want me to add a read more or whatever! 🥰

BLURBS

big spooning shawn blurb by @shavvnmendcs ​

ok first of all. listEN. i’m not gonna turn this into a love confession but they’re the fucking GOAT ok and i love this blog to death. not only are they hilarious as fuck and a breath of fresh hair on this hellsite but their writing????? phenomenal. outstanding. out of this world. amazing. and they’re so supportive of everyone i just??????? have a lot of love in my heart for people like that. ok my fingers slipped and this turned into a love confession BUT hashtag sorry not sorry u need to read their work like yesterday ok that’s all thank u.

ps. this blurb is cute af

heavy head, big brain by @shawnsmoose ​

ok i live for fics where the reader makes fun of shawn and this is so fucking soft. i’m in my feelings and i don’t like it

moonlight by @lostinshawnslight

this is straight up rude. RUDE i tell u. how dare she elevate our standards for men like this. 

a ‘bad boy’ by @heartopen-testify / @siennarossi

i am SO glad someone took it upon themselves to commemorate shawn’s playboy jacket because it’s truly what she deserves. love her writing to death and this was so cute and painfully relatable!!!

drunken babbles (are sober thoughts) by @getwaytooinvolved

the drunk!shawn fic u never knew u needed. seriously. my HEART. it’s so funny and adorable and i am: dying

SERIES

off the record by @lostinshawnslight

girl. she literally started this series and ended it within like 2 weeks i can’t even deal???? such a good PA AU too, they’re both so soft and i am: crying

plausible deniability by @fallinshawn

ohmygod. this one is so fucking original!!!!!!!!!! this is like a cop!shawn and criminal!reader and i think it’s the first one of this kind i’ve come across i think?? so yay for that! the writing is exceptional and there’s only one part so far but i am SO fucking invested and excited already i can’t even deal with it. i love this so much fkhsfsdojfsdoijs

routines - pt. 1 (sugar daddy!shawn) by @shavvnmendcs

sugar!daddy shawn??? hello?? need i say more??? bitch i’m so fuckin excited for this one dhfsjhshsdosdf i’m dying

begin again by @bluerroses

ohmygoddddddd this fic. LOVE IT. the OC is so badass and feisty i love her!!!! and i love the plotline too! i feel like there aren’t many of those fics and i love it!! her writing is so fucking phenomenal too!! highly recommend

 when you’re ready by @mendeshoney

by now i’m fairly certain she thrives on our pain lmao no but seriously she’s back at it again with another angst fic that literally rips ur heart apart. love her and love her fics so much!!! highly highly recommend if you’re into pain!!

ONE SHOTS

sweetheart by @dylshoney

y ‘ a l l. read this smut and thank me later. OOF. dom!shawn at its finest, let me tell u. i fuckin love this one

at the same time by @shavvnmendcs

this is the niall x shawn x reader threesome u’ve been dreaming about and waiting for where the reader is dating niall. anyways i’m a hoe for it what’s new

soft love by @softboyshawn

the plus size!reader we deserved. i love this!!!!!!!!!!!! i am: soft. pun intended.

breakfast by @shawmednes

i fuckin love domestic au’s ok especially the ones like about mornings and this one is so goddamn cute i want to cry

eleanor: eight months by @smallerinfinities

this dad!shawn came for my NECK ok. alex is NOT fucking around with this one. straight up disrespectful. i loved it

a sunday in february by @harryandmolly

so by now we all know that everything she writes is pure gold BUT she brought back emma and shawn which is one of my all time favorite fics so i HAD to mention it. 

love at 2am by @wholesome-mendes

LOVE this one night stand fic. super cute and relatable and really well written!!!

as long as i have you by @lostinshawnslight

i feel like this month was the month of original au’s lmao but this is one of a struggling musician and actress and it’s the softest ever i love it so much. also i just realized that this is like the fic version of the song as long as you love me by justin bieber lmao why am i like this

love on you by @shawnsweetheart

omg guys. this one is so hilarious and fluffy i love it so much!!!!! idk why drunk!shawn gets me in my feels like this but he does and i’m a hoe for it