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kylorengarbagedump · 3 months ago

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Playing Soldier: Chapter 7

Read on AO3. Part 6 here. Part 8 here.

Summary: The longest stay you've ever had from home is about to become much longer.

Words: 5000

Warnings: Medical trauma

Characters: William Tavington x Reader

A/N: Cowritten with @bastillia <3

Off we go into the field! We are loving your comments, your thoughts, your excitement and engagement in the story - truly, we are so lucky. I hope you continue to enjoy what we have planned for the future!!

Please credit all of Grace's letter to Bastillia and her genius. Also, please thank Bastillia for her newly formed fixation on the American Revolutionary War - it's because of this we can't help but bring in actual historical figures like they're our blorbos as well, HAHAHA. It's been a lot of fun learning about history and integrating it into the fic (even if The Patriot was not always hyper-concerned about this LOL)

Love you so much! <3

The letter was crisp, addressed in handwriting that swirled across the page like fairy dust. Grace’s penmanship, for certain—something you’d always envied when comparing it to yours, which bore more resemblance to cresting waves in a storm than anything meant for man’s eyes. It had been dated for a little over a week prior.

“Thank you,” you said to Goddard. “You said this was given to you by whom?”

“Major Ferguson,” he said, stepping further into the kitchen. Then, upon glimpsing your expression and perhaps realizing you couldn’t have possibly known who in God’s sweet Holiness that was, he continued bashfully, “The Major, er, commands another unit that was deployed into the backcountry. Lord Cornwallis ordered most of us to return here to Charleston about a day ago.”

You nodded, turning the paper over in your hands. “I see.” What you wanted to ask but didn’t: Does that include Colonel Tavington, then?

It’d been about two weeks since you’d last seen him in his office. You supposed he’d made good on his intention and set out from Charleston that evening. But he’d been in the field since then, and the status of your parole hung in the balance. Ghoulishly, a part of you had hoped he’d been killed in action. Perhaps even more ghoulishly, another, hungrier part of you had wished for him to return.

You’d tried to sate that part with nightly hand-feedings proffered between your legs—but still its appetite rose anew and greedy every morning.

“Who is it from?” said Lottie. “Your sister?” She peered over your shoulder, her red curls bouncing into her face.

Goddard gave a playful frown, running his hand through hair that matched his sister’s in color and texture. “I suppose I’m not offered a greeting?”

Lottie laughed, moving around you and throwing herself into his arms. “Welcome home, Benny.”

You grinned. “Yes,” you said. “It’s from Grace.” You peeled open the wax seal and started to read.

June 10 1780

My Dearest Sister,

Though I write this on only the sixth day since I bade you farewell, I feel it has been a lifetime. You will be glad to know that I was yesterday evening delivered home in most agreeable fashion by the company of a Major Ferguson, who attended to my utmost comfort and happiness the whole journey from Charlestown ; a great improvement, I say, upon the accommodations granted to me thence.

It has been made plain to me that the disruptions we endured, Sister, were the most unfortunate results of misunderstanding. A pity that though I beseech God to upend time, He does not heed me. Impossible notions vex and bedevil my sleep night upon night—would that I might stay Death’s hand before he took Mary and Nathaniel and Elijah and Adam. I can hardly bear to think of them, yet it is with shame and difficulty that I place my thoughts anywhere else.

In my most fitful hours on the road—

“I hate to interrupt,” said Goddard, very irritatingly interrupting. “But I fear the hospital may soon be teeming. We skirmished with militia on the road, and our field medic couldn’t attend every man.”

“Oh!” Lottie looked at you, her brown eyes wide with concern. “We should certainly go and help, then.”

You frowned. You were already feeling a little concerned about Grace’s inclination to Loyalist sympathy in the letter. “Can I not have ten more minutes?”

Goddard shook his head. “The colonel already wishes to depart this evening and needs every possible man made fit.”

So Tavington was back in Charleston. For now.

“Out again?” Lottie said. “But you all only just returned.”

“Yes.” Wincing, Goddard stepped past you both to grab a cloth hanging from the stove. As he wiped his face, he sighed. “Lord Cornwallis is holding a council of war. Colonel Tavington is in attendance with the other commanders, but he hopes to gather more cavalry and depart again by nightfall.” He looked apologetic. “You know how he is.”

You pursed your lips, folding the letter and stowing it in one of your skirt pockets. You know how he is, he’d said, as if everyone in the room all had the same experiences with Colonel Tavington, and everyone in the room all held the same opinion about his demeanor, body, face, hair, hands, and eyes.

And mouth.

“A council of war?” you asked, pushing thoughts of all of William Tavington’s body parts to a corner of your mind that you’d revisit in the evening. “What ever for? I thought the Continental army had left South Carolina.”

“Most of them,” said Goddard, plucking a peach from a bowl on the counter. “But they aren’t the problem. Evidently there’s been a disaster involving a group of Loyalists that the General sent north.” He bit into the fruit and sighed, savoring it.

“What sort of disaster?” Lottie asked, her eyes great dark pools of worry.

Goddard shrugged. “Men died,” he said around a mouthful of peach flesh before swallowing. “Lots of them. Don’t know the specifics. I expect we will be receiving new enlistment quotas, though, especially with these militia pestering us now.”

Lottie frowned. “Perhaps we should—”

“Have you had many encounters with militia?” you asked, your pulse picking up. “They seem to have amassed rather quickly.”

“Putting it lightly,” said Goddard, sighing. “Even with Charleston back under the Crown, it seems the rest of the colony remains determined to resist. We even found a small holdout of Continentals up the Santee.”

“Continentals?” you pressed, struggling to maintain a neutral facade. “I query why they would not have rejoined their forces in North Carolina by now.”

“Seems they received a dispatch following the Waxhaws battle, and stayed.” Goddard shrugged and took another bite of peach. “Tenacious, those men, I’ll admit as much.”

“I’m sure it’s all very interesting,” Lottie said, waving you toward her. “But if the hospital—”

“Did your forces engage them? How many were there?” You spoke just a little too quickly, but you were finding it harder to restrain yourself. “What was in the dispatch they received?”

Goddard raised a brow and glanced at Lottie. You consciously corrected your posture so that he might not think you liable to lunge at any moment. He relaxed.

“I, er, I can’t be certain what it said,” he replied. “I never saw the message.”

You exhaled in frustration. “I imagine you were unable to capture the messenger himself, then.”

“Actually, we were able,” Goddard said. Your heart leapt into your mouth. “Colonel Tavington became nigh on feverish in his pursuit.”

Your next question hung like a noose from your tongue, your body rigid as a gallows. “Who…” You swallowed. “Who was the messenger?”

Goddard furrowed his brow and shook his head, like he couldn’t fathom why you were so interested. “Some boy.” He waved his bitten peach through the air. “A… ‘Martin?’”

You nearly sagged in relief, instead bracing a hand against the kitchen table and affixing a passive expression to your face. “Oh.”

“The colonel made a…” Goddard winced, “compelling example of his family.” He paused, grimacing again. “And of their property.”

“I don’t want to hear of such dreadful things,” Lottie interjected. “Anyhow, we really must be off.” She grabbed your wrist. “Let us not stay the King’s men their care.”

“Yes, of course,” you said, forcing a nod. Though your worry was assuaged, your curiosity was very much not. You had, however, pushed both too far. “Let’s be off, then.”

The morning air was already ripening with heat, sticking to your tongue as you breathed it in. You were glad to be rid of your sling, sweltering thing that it was, before the summer’s wrath descended in full. In the smallest of ways, it was freeing. Even if your shoulder did still twinge with pain from time to time, it grew stronger each day. One less restraint upon your body. And one less reason for anyone to insist you couldn’t be of use.

You had welcomed the introduction of hospital labor into your routine. It hadn't been necessary, but staying in the Goddards’ home on your own only chafed your invisible shackles. Without a distraction, you imagined yourself as an anxious dog pacing in a barren cage. Working in the hospital also gave you the opportunity to collect information while wearing one of the most innocuous disguises available.

And besides all of that—you were good at it.

“I hate that the colonel keeps Benedict away so frequently as of late,” Lottie said as you followed her on the cobblestone. “I worry about him.”

You nodded. “I'm sure he worries about you, too.”

“I’m sure he does,” she said, sighing through her lips in a blubbering sound. “He knows I languish in his absence. It’s so difficult. The loneliness, I mean.”

“The loneliness?” You frowned. “You don’t keep busy?”

She laughed. “Of course I do! But it’s no replacement for companionship. Especially of family. You know as much.” With a playful smile, she added, “Benedict tells me it’s all the more reason for me to be married.”

“Is he pushing you to marry?”

“Not in so many words,” she said. “He does seem invested in introducing me to his fellow officers as often as possible.”

You couldn’t imagine doing the same to Grace. She had been your primary companion in life since your mother had passed—in some ways, more your responsibility than your father’s. After all, for those first few years, you were the only one able to tend to the animals or the crops, you were the only one able to make the meals, or sweep the floors. You would climb into bed with her, hours after she’d fallen asleep, after your father had emptied his glass of gin and you’d gotten him to his room.

Thankfully, your father eventually put down the gin. You didn’t think it was possible to put down responsibility. You didn’t even know if you wanted to.

“I see,” you replied. “Are they kind, at least?”

Lottie snorted. “No,” she said. “Most of the Green Dragoons are utter villains.” She folded her arms protectively over her chest. “I’m much more inclined toward Major Ferguson’s corps. He only oversees men of honor.”

There was that name again, said with the same dreamy insistence that Grace had tried and failed to conceal in her writing.

“Major Ferguson,” you said, as if recalling a long-forgotten acquaintance. “I keep hearing that name today. Do you know much about him?”

“Oh, I dream of it.” She giggled with all of the secrecy of a girl with a crush on a church boy. “I think—besides my brother, of course—he might be my favorite officer of all His Majesty’s soldiers.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Truly?”

“I promise you,” she said, “you have never met a man with greater wit, charm, or passion.” She laughed and gave a teasing smirk. “I think he could convince General Washington himself to throw down his arms and pledge allegiance to the King if given half a chance.”

“I will take your impressions under advisement,” you replied, grinning. You suddenly had an idea who was likely responsible for Grace’s shifting sentiments.

When you arrived at the City Hospital, Lottie dipped off to check on the sick she’d tended to the day prior. You, personally, didn’t see the purpose in conversing with those you had no duties to and decided to sit and read through more of Grace’s letter.

In my most fitful hours on the road, when grief seemed to me a dark and terrible ocean without shore, I was sought by the gracious Major Ferguson, who told most diverting stories and drew from me laughter of a mystifying source. I query whether he may be adept with some beguiling magick to have so oft performed a vanishment of my tears. He is a clever and skillful man as well as kind.

You, I am sure, would think more highly of him than you did Nathaniel, though I fear I am now far ahead of myself, Sister, and must stay my pen lest my flights of fancy make off with me, as you know they are apt to do. I am besieged now by shame to even write it, and know that were you here, Sister, you would soothe me by turning my mind to practicalities. As such, and to ease the pain of your absence I feel again coming upon me, I shall address them. I know the welfare of our home indispensable to your peace of mind, so let me assure you of it.

Despite your growing suspicions surrounding Ferguson, a smile crept over your face as you read Grace’s report on the farm. She listed every crop that had needed tending on her return, the condition of each chicken and goat by name, and included an effusive exaltation of your neighbors who had kindly fed them in your absence.

I do not wish to be alone. Major Ferguson is to depart with his men two days hence—

The delicate clearing of a throat resounded from somewhere to your side.

You snapped from the letter, looking up to see a bashfully pleading Lottie leaning around a doorframe. This version of Lottie was becoming all too familiar given the short time you’d worked alongside her. You let out a sigh.

“Now?” you protested, raising the letter to emphasize that you were occupied.

“Please, oh please,” she stepped into full view to clasp her hands in adjuration. “There’s so much blood, it’s horrid, and the bone is broken, and—”

“All right, Lottie.” You couldn’t help yourself. You smiled. “I’ll help.”

Down the hall and into the ward, a dolorous assault slammed your senses. Injured men groaned out in chorus, and the scent of blood hung in the air like coppery vapor. Lottie ducked her head and led you over to the hospital physician—Dr. Moore—who was hovering over a badly wounded man. From what you could tell, he was a young infantry soldier, his coat removed and head wrapped in bandages. Blood smothered his face, dirt smattered his legs, and his right arm was stripped of clothing.

At least, you believed it was his arm. In its current state you couldn’t imagine it being of much use for any purpose other than occupying a dog’s mouth.

“Go on,” Lottie murmured, urging you forward. “I—I’ll be ill.”

Moore caught you both approaching and adjusted the spectacles over his nose. “Charlotte,” he said, testing with his fingers what some might call flesh, but you’d probably call meat. “Where were you? I need your assistance setting the bone.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I, um, I…”

He frowned. “He doesn’t have all day, Miss Goddard.”

She elbowed your ribs, and you hopped forward with a wince. “Actually,” you said, “I’ll assist in her stead, doctor.”

“Hm?” He looked up, squinted at you. “Poultice girl?”

You nodded, even though you'd introduced yourself multiple times. “My name is—”

“Fine, yes. Come now. Hold this for me. Just there above the wrist.”

As you stepped to assist, Lottie quickly backed away, turning pale beneath her freckles as she watched you support the bloodied, blue-mottled limb. “Oh, yes, thank you so much,” she said, turning away, “I’ll be right, ah, right down that way, so, not too far!”

“Hold on, Charlotte,” said Moore. “We still might need you.”

She whinged. You weren’t fully sure how she served in medicine when she halfway lived in fear of it.

Standing by Moore, you propped up the soldier’s wrist and elbow. He stiffened and groaned through his teeth, seeking out reassurance in your eyes. Why yours, you didn’t know—you had no words of wisdom to offer him and didn’t particularly care to think of any, especially when he was impeding the work with his wooden limbs. Lottie swept to his side and patted his other shoulder, keeping her focus on his face.

“It’s all right, sir, we’re going to take care of this quickly, I promise.”

He winced, nodding, and loosened in your grip. You glimpsed her for a moment, her gaze like a deep, warm embrace. This part came as naturally to her as yours did you.

It ached, how much she reminded you of Grace in that moment. The last line you’d read of Grace’s letter—I do not wish to be alone—pricked your heart like a needle. You did not wish for her to be alone, either. You did not wish to be here, in Charleston, spending time gathering scraps of information when you knew she waited as the tender, vulnerable center of your home.

Moore started to work, and you stood still, bracing the soldier’s arm as he wiped away the blood. Even if granted leave, however, you were uncertain if you wanted to return home. The threat of the British grew greater in South Carolina, and under the supposition that both Grace and you were Loyalists, you could maintain a semblance of safety. Especially with your father’s condition still unknown and Tavington still itching for the opportunity to wring all of your necks.

Behind you, the clicking of heels. “And this is our most esteemed physician, Dr. Henry Moore.” It was the matron of the hospital. “Dr. Moore?”

“A bit busy right now,” Dr. Moore said. The soldier groaned as Moore palpated the skin on his forearm, coaxing the severed halves of bone together beneath.

“Can you take a moment?” she asked, before walking toward the other end of the ward. She tossed over her shoulder, “Colonel Tavington wishes to speak with you.”

Your eyes widened. You turned, met Tavington’s gaze and flinched, jerking the soldier’s arm. He howled in pain, and you grumbled, grabbing a wad of unused bandages and stuffing them in his mouth. He whimpered into them. Dr. Moore sighed, manually readjusted your grip, and got back to work on his sabotaged bone setting.

Tavington, meanwhile, regarded you as you imagined he might regard a body climbing to its feet after he’d gutted it. His right hand flexed absently at his side. All you could do was stare at him completely normally and not at all like a bolt of excitement had zipped through you at the sight of him.

He cocked a brow, his focus flicking over you before he turned to Moore. “Dr. Moore—”

“Busy.”

“—the British legion requires your services immediately.”

“I’m sure you believe your needs to be of great importance, Colonel, but—”

“The field medic I’ve currently retained is indisposed.”

“—as you can see, Charleston keeps me preoccupied as is.”

“You should be prepared to depart as early as this evening.”

Moore paused with a sigh, and turned to face Tavington. “Colonel, I make no assumptions regarding the frequency with which you hear this word, but no.”

Tavington’s eyes fluttered as if the doctor had clapped in front of his nose. “Perhaps you believed me to be making a request, doctor,” he replied. “I was not.”

You pinched your lips between your teeth. Moore had stopped his work on the soldier’s arm entirely. Silent, you caught Lottie’s attention from the corner of your sight, and found her face flush with anxious warmth.

“Colonel,” Moore said, with even more exasperation than the previous time, “I am the only physician in Charleston—perhaps all of South Carolina—at present. I cannot abdicate my duties here to ride with cavalry all night.” He stared at Tavington, who did not move or even shift his expression, like Moore was a fussing baby. “But I can—all right. Listen.” Moore looked at Lottie, then back to Tavington. “Miss Goddard here will be able to serve your needs adequately, and she has the added benefit of having no additional responsibilities aside.”

Lottie tensed, her gaze darting between Moore and Tavington. “M-me, doctor?” With a nervous smile, she said, “Of course, it would be my honor, but… would it be possible for my friend here to join me?”

“Your friend?” said you, the doctor, and Tavington at the same time.

“Please,” Lottie whispered, looking at you. She turned to Dr. Moore. “She’ll be a great help to me.”

Moore sighed and grabbed two splints, lining them up along the man’s forearm. You didn’t blame Lottie for wanting you there. But this would mean you wouldn’t return home. It would mean more time Grace would spend alone. You pinched the splints together, and the soldier whined, muffled by the bandages. As he twisted his head, blood trickled down his cheek, right in Lottie’s line of sight. She choked, turning to try and cough away her clear growing nausea.

“If you insist, Charlotte,” Dr. Moore mumbled as he started the bandaging process.

Tavington, who was watching with winnowing patience, looked at you. “Unfortunately,” he said, “your friend’s freedom does not extend beyond the borders of Charleston.”

You frowned. “But my intelligence was valid.”

“Yes,” he said, “but it did not produce the promised results.”

“A dispatch rider was found and detained, was he not?”

Tavington’s brows raised fractionally. “What was not found was a certain Captain Michael—“

“I am not my father’s keeper,” you growled, shifting more to face him. The soldier whined again and you shot a leer at him. “Shall I next beseech the pagan gods to divine his location, Colonel?”

Lottie glanced at you wide-eyed, alarmed at the tone you were using with a colonel of the British army. “She’s overworked from all of the injured we need to treat,” she offered. “She doesn’t mean that, Colonel Tavington.”

“She does,” he said, still focused on you. He stepped forward, voice lowering. “Divine? No. Reveal—given the insight you possess—yes.”

You snorted. Moore grabbed another roll of bandages and started using it to constrict the soldier’s arm. “If you are still unable to locate my father after everything I’ve told you, I hardly—”

The man groaned in agony, and you realized you’d started tightening your grip as you spoke. You relaxed, and he groaned louder.

Tavington sighed. “Do shut up, Private.”

Your face scrunched, almost amused. The man settled, and you took a breath. “I hardly believe that’s an issue with which I need concern myself.”

“I would say your investment in your father’s life concerns you a great deal,” he replied.

“Alas, but I cannot serve as your prophet, though you flatter me with the notion.” You shrugged. “All of those men under your command, and no success. Perhaps there’s a deficiency somewhere you need to address.”

Lottie hissed your name under her breath. “Please don’t make this harder on me.” Then, turning to Tavington, big brown eyes pleading, said, “I beg of you, Colonel. She’s simply tired. I’ll vouch for her myself!”

“Do you want to take them or not, Colonel?” Moore was tying off the second round of bindings. “If not, I’ll ask you to kindly and politely depart the ward so I can continue getting work done. You may have noticed this, but we’ve a couple dozen of your men here who need my assistance.”

Tavington’s tongue rolled in his mouth, and his eyes met yours. There you found the curiosity you’d spied while in his office, familiar glimmers of interest as he studied you. You swallowed, holding his gaze, wondering what exactly was going through his mind, wondering if he could see your speeding pulse. His head tilted, his chest fell in an exhale.

“And you… You wish to come.”

That really was the question. Your participation in this war had already dumped guilt onto your back as you unceremoniously condemned strangers to suffer and die. The thought of going along with Lottie brought a new deluge of emotions, some of which you worried would war fiercer than the soldiers in the field.

A terrible guilt for abandoning Grace. An even more terrible sadness that you wouldn’t know when you next would see her. And perhaps the most terrible excitement at the thought of waking daily and sleeping nightly within the domain of the most despicable bastard you’d ever met.

Despite it all, you knew that if you kept up the Loyalist facade, Grace would remain safe at home. Your father was the one in danger. And if you were out in the country with his primary—and deadliest—pursuer, you had the highest chance of protecting them both.

All you had to do was stay alive.

“I do, Colonel,” you replied.

“Both of you,” he said, with some amount of dread.

That wasn’t a question, but Lottie nodded anyway. “She’ll be an asset to you, Colonel. A great asset. I promise!”

“I somehow doubt that very much,” he mumbled. “Very well.” He turned to Dr. Moore, who still couldn’t be bothered to look at him while he wiped off the remaining blood from the soldier’s hands and face. “Send them along to the barracks at once. They’ll need to be briefed and supplied before we depart.”

Moore nodded. “Right away, Colonel,” he muttered.

Tavington’s eyes found yours a final time. Whether there was want or warning within them, you couldn’t discern. He turned on his heel and left the ward.

Your shoulders sagged, weight dropping to the ground that you hadn’t known you’d been carrying. Lottie provided you an expression you would’ve described as contrite if there wasn’t so much relief hidden behind it.

“Thank you so much,” she whispered. She rubbed the soldier’s back as he stood and swayed, his arm properly stiff at his side. “Off you go, sir. Get yourself a bed.” Turning back to you, she frowned. “I’m not sure if I can put my appreciation into words, really. I know how badly you wished to return home.”

“Thank you, Dr. Moore,” you said as he stood and moved to the next man. As expected, he did not reply. You shook your head and shrugged to Lottie. “It’s better for me to be doing what I can to serve His Majesty.” You hoped that didn’t sound as contrived as it felt leaving your mouth.

She pursed her lips, waiting for when Moore was out of earshot to whisper, “You have a funny way of showing it, the way you speak to Colonel Tavington!” The horror of your conduct had pinkened her cheeks. “Were you trying to get yourself hanged?”

You frowned. “Of course not.”

“Well, be more careful, then!” She huffed, crossing her arms. “I won’t always be around to rescue you.” She shook her head and brushed her hands down her dress like that would shoo the gore from her person. “Or perhaps he just favors you.”

Your next breath lodged in your throat, and you coughed. “I’m sorry—” You coughed again, straightening. “He what?”

She laughed, nudging you gently. “Oh, you are funny. Imagine, Colonel Tavington favoring anyone,” she said through giggles. “If you’d seen your face…”

“Right,” you said, bizarrely disappointed.

With a sigh, Lottie adjusted her sleeves. “I’ll tell Mrs. Smith that we need to be departing. Oh!” She gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth in delight. “This means that I’ll be in the field with Ben!” With a smile, she skittered over to the matron as she attended an ailing woman.

You tried to grin, but strained your cheeks, deciding to settle into the seat where the soldier had been instead. If you were to be departing with Tavington’s legion tonight, you needed to finish Grace’s letter. You pulled it from your pocket.

I do not wish to be alone. Major Ferguson is to depart with his men two days hence and I must admit that I dread his absence. Already once he has made a most welcome visit to certify my welfare. I told him I was indeed well, but that I should like very much to know the condition of my dear Sister. Though I with most indocile nature demanded his intelligence on the matter, he remained to me gentle and courteous. He wishes it was in his power to oblige me but it is not. He suggested however that should I wish to write you, that he may deliver you my Letter when next he is called to Charlestown. A gallant and charitable offer indeed!

Despite Papa’s endless grievances of the British army I believe he construes them all unkindly. Perhaps every one he encountered was akin to that murderous devil we so unfortunately met. In that case I should understand his misgivings.

A sense of irritation grew in your chest. You decided you didn’t particularly care if this man Ferguson was in fact Jesus Christ himself rose from the dead. The fact he was busy using your sister’s naivety to his advantage made you want to crucify him despite it.

Murderous devil, perhaps, but at least Tavington…

You paused. You couldn’t think of anything he’d done that wasn’t, in fact, worse.

But enough of wars and men. Never have you and I been apart so long, nor our home so reminiscent of a cavern. How clamorous the sound of my pen in this silence, dear Sister. Pray write me when this letter finds you. Until then I shall look each day to the South road and hope to see you return. Do not fret that I am well. Mrs. Jones has called upon me to come for supper and company, she insists, whenever I feel the pangs of solitude too keenly. For this I am grateful.

Ever, ever I remain

Faithfully and Lovingly Your Sister, Grace

P.S. I am sorry for the words herein whose inking is damaged. Mr. Mouser trod upon this Letter and entreats me now with uproarious meows to attend him.

You smiled as you finished the letter. But your heart wilted. You weren’t sure when you would be coming up the south road, or when you’d be able to unburden Grace of solitude. You knew only that you were making the choices you felt were right to keep her safe. Just as you’d always done.

Dr. Moore had left some parchment out on the table with the medical supplies. You grabbed a few pages of it along with his pen. The letter wouldn’t be long, but you could at least let her know that she did not need to worry. That you wouldn’t be returning home, but you would promise to find her, to see her soon.

You dipped the nib in the ink. You started writing.

#william tavington #colonel william tavington #colonel tavington #the patriot #jason isaacs #playing soldier #oh it's so fun living in 1780 where you had to set bones with. splints.

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pinkpinkmermayyy · 8 months ago

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some of my favorite YouTubers! Some of these are coquette but some of them are not, so I’m still going to tag the coquette tag but it won’t apply for all of these

CZsworld, a horror themed channel that focuses on the intricate histories, theories, characters and stories of many horror movies, books, and sometimes tv shows. He also talks about people/figures from real life in more parody-esque horror history videos. He’s extremely cool and an amazing channel to watch to get into the Halloween mood during October, but watching him at any other time is enjoyable as well

glamourdaze, a collection of different videos from the 20th century, such as beauty and healthcare videos, or just videos of people from different decades in this century living out their lives. What makes this channel one of my favs is that they revive the clips of people from decades such as the 1920s to color them and slow them down (to make it look less choppy and more realistic in how the people move) and it really gives a whole new different perspective on these eras and makes us realize that this wasn’t too long ago.

Erin Parsons Makeup, a very talented makeup artist and vintage collector who’s really cool and someone I love seeing talking about makeup and fashion from history. She’s very similar to glamourdaze except she mainly focuses on vintage/antique fashion and recreates retro looking styles in her looks and it’s just really neat :>

Schafrillas Productions… yeah he’s just very neat and I like watching his movie/tv show reviews. Though his content where he’s passionate and excited about a piece of media is enjoyable, watching him rip apart something he genuinely despises with an infinite amount of rage is funny as all hell

Micarah Tewers, a very talented, artistic, and funny seamstress who makes different types of dresses and outfits in her videos. I love how much dedication and detail she puts into her work to make it stand out and look amazing whenever she wears it, and I also really enjoyed her prom dress videos. She’s also really funny and I love all the extra hijinks she shows herself getting into in between making her project and the video itself lol

Nylijah Myeesah, aka the channel of @/lovesickbrat is a really great coquette channel, and she also has some very good points on different parts of the coquette community and how some aesthetics (such as traumacore or doelet) need to be criticized more because of what they promote.

Colin LooksBack, a Disney based channel that focuses on the characters and movies/other media from Disney, as well as the behind the scenes details of how classic Disney films were made, especially the animated movies made during Walt Disney’s life/career

Karolina Żebrowska, a history fashion themed channel that you probably have heard of. She makes a lot of historical videos as fashion videos and she’s just very talented and intelligent and you should check her out.

Finally, Lavendertowne, the channel I have the fondest YouTube memories of as she was the one who inspired me to start art. I used to love her creepydrawstas and her videos where she drew different stuff as people, as well as her art tutorials. I wouldn’t have gotten to my point in my art journey if it weren’t for her, and overall she’s very cool and sweet.

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isan0rt · 1 year ago

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Actually, @lightandfellowship asking about other Dark Road historical fashion thoughts on this post did kind of get me thinking about it and you know what I think is really interesting? Is that there are only two students that are at any point wearing entirely Western-looking (non-Japanese) clothing without an obi and obijime, and that’s Xehanort (pre-arrival at Scala)...

And Baldr.

Even Master Odin is wearing an obi and obijime despite otherwise dressing like Gandalf, but we’ll leave him aside for the sake of this discussion.

For the most part the students are wearing fusion clothing, but that’s typical of the Taisho era. The Taisho period, which immediately followed the end of the Meiji Restoration, was a period of great change in Japan, and of Westernization. It was very common for people to wear a mix of Western clothing with traditional Japanese clothing. You can see a lot of this in the Dark Road students;

(This got really long lol. Discussion of the secondary and tertiary Dark Road students’ design choices, culminating in discussion of Eraqus, Xehanort, and Baldr’s designs and what they might mean in the context of a Taisho-period-adjacent setting, under the cut).

- Most of the male students, plus Urd, are wearing very loose, bloused pants, probably tobi trousers or karusan-bakama.

- Vidar, Vali, and Vala have some of the most traditionally Japanese silhouettes among the upperclassmen. Vidar is wearing a sleeveless lapped garment that isn’t strictly traditional, but has a very Japanese look to the way it’s assembled and to the color styling, while Vali is wearing pretty authentic-looking Japanese faulds, and is obviously supposed to make you think of the kabuki ideal of a ninja. Vala also looks EXTREMELY Taisho-period; the wearing of silk-painted or embroidered, brightly-colored hakama with an obi and furisode or kosode was extremely common for girls in the Taisho period. Vala has some sort of fantasy puff cuff-sleeve-thing instead of furisode, but her hakama and obi are lifted straight out of the 1910s. Interestingly, these upperclassmen, like Eraqus in the lower class, survive the longest.

- Heimdall, Sigrun, and Bragi are all wearing a mix of actual traditional Japanese clothing and Western elements. They are all wearing short kimono, with Sigrun having a very classic obi styling, Bragi is wearing traditional workman’s clothing (a hanten and sarubakama, with an obi without obijime, interestingly), and Heimdall appears to be wearing a kosode, with obi and obijime. However, Sigrun is wearing leggings and gaiters, Heimdall has some WILD thigh-high Three Musketeers boots and that very intensely high-collared, French-looking bolero jacket, and Bragi is, as previously discussed, wearing a bomber jacket (and also Chuck Taylor sneakers, Bragi you sneaky, deeply anachronistic guy).

- Helgi and Hoder, interestingly, appear to be blending Japanese and Chinese clothing styles; they’re both wearing obi and obiage, but Hoder appears to be wearing a cheongsam, and while Helgi is wearing a sleeveless kimono as a shirt, his fur ruffs very much evoke some traditional theatrical depictions of Son Goku (the Monkey King not the DBZ character); but I’m not that knowledgeable about Chinese clothing so I won’t make too many conjectures here.

- Urd and Hermod and Vor all have very fantasy-like designs, with the girls having fewer garments from either real Western or Japanese styles. Hermod and Urd as discussed have the bloused pants, Vor’s coat looks VERY much like a traditionally silk painted kimono that’s been altered to have a Western tab-collar, but has a traditional Japanese rope bow on the back, and all three are wearing obi and obiage. However, Urd’s robe/cape thing is VERY Western Fantasy Wizard, meanwhile Vor is wearing actual pumpkin pants. Hermod’s looks the most period, with his haori retaining the traditional lapels but altered to have Western bishop sleeves, and he’s wearing VERY WWI-style gaiters.

Now lets talk about the other three, who are actually our main characters; Xehanort, Baldr, and Eraqus.

Eraqus is absolutely wearing nothing but traditional Japanese clothing (aside from the obvious Kingdom Hearts elements of the turtleneck and crossed suspenders). He is wearing extremely traditional hakama, with the most traditional haori of any of the cast. His hair is partially loose but what is pulled back is pulled into something like a topknot; Eraqus is designed in every way to evoke the look of the samurai class. What I think is significant with that is that, as mentioned, the Taisho period followed the Meiji Restoration, when the samurai class in Japan were more or less disbanded in the face of modernization of Japan. I don’t think it’s unrelated that at this point, the Scalan society that considers Eraqus a ‘blueblood’ is also in decline, and is ultimately ended within Eraqus’s lifetime. He is the last of his kind, and he is dressed like it.

Then, there’s Xehanort. When he leaves Destiny Islands to go to Scala he’s dressed in an outfit that calls to mind Ephemer’s, and is extremely Western and modern-looking; which makes sense, since he was raised by Player, and the KHUX time period has very modern and Western fashion (remember Bragi’s Chucks?). But once he’s a student, he’s replaced his button-down shirt and collared sleeveless duster with a turtleneck (Kingdom Hearts, lol) and haori of his own, an exact photo negative of Eraqus’s haori except that Xehanort’s is sleeveless. But Eraqus is a blueblood, and as far as anyone in Scala knows, Xehanort is a nobody and a foreigner; he is still wearing Western pants in a Western style, held up by a Western belt and without any obi in sight. Xehanort was born in Scala, and he resents being seen as Just Some Guy, but he doesn’t belong there like Eraqus does; his haori on top is trying to make him part of that world, an equal to Eraqus, but what’s underneath reflects that Scala doesn’t consider him either of those things.

And then, there is Baldr.

I’ve seen other posters point out that his clothing is all black, under a white jacket (I’m sorry I don’t remember who pointed this out!), but also, Baldr has the most Western and contemporary clothing of all of the characters in Dark Road. In contrast to Xehanort, with his loose, pre-WWI-era jeans, Baldr is wearing contemporary skinny jeans with a wallet chain and fashionable low-buckled boots. He’s also wearing a waistcoat, and a bolero jacket with what looks like knit cuffs. He doesn’t fit in with the others at all, even less than Xehanort does.

And pointedly, like Xehanort, he is not wearing an obi.

I feel like it’s not a coincidence that this game visually sets its characters in the Taisho era, the time period that transitioned Japan from the traditional Japan to the modern, Westernized Japan of the 20th century, and the character who puts a permanent end to Scalan society is the only character dressed entirely in Western and modern clothing. Obviously I can’t say for sure what the intent was, but at the end of the game, the three characters left standing are Eraqus, dressed in the most traditionally Japanese fashion, Baldr, dressed in the least, and Xehanort, the fusion, who is dressed like Eraqus on the surface, but underneath, is dressed like Baldr.

#KHDR #Kingdom Hearts #Kingdom Hearts Dark Road #long post #related to; fashion history #In case this seems like talking out of my ass lmao my qualifications are I have a degree in fashion #with a focus on fashion and costume history #did my final graduating paper on how modern Japanese street fashion #was influenced by Meiji and Heian and Taisho fashion #and also worked as a professional costumer for the theater industry for several years #Butttt it's been a little bit so there may be inaccuracies #but these are my thoughts from like. A costume design perspective and how costumes inform character for narrative purposes

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sewlastcentury · 2 years ago

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I love your ‘Uno Reverse’ series! Photographs are a such a scarce but important resource for a dress historian, and this series really puts things into perspective. Thanks for doing this work!

Do you have any advice for someone like me who wants to become a dress conservator/historian? I’m a tailor’s apprentice but I’m having a lot of trouble deciding how to continue my education.

Glad you're enjoying it :)

Oooh, big question. Prepare for a lot of words:

Dress history is a weird field to get into. If you want to be a historian, unless you're independently wealthy and can just spend all your time researching and writing, the usual professions are curatorship and professorship. There aren't a lot of either position available - many settle for historical societies, small colleges, etc - and neither make much in the way of money. Definitely consider your options very thoroughly! (Though if you're a tailor's apprentice you probably already know that, lol.)

Conservation is - from my POV - a better choice in the long run, because while institutions can stop hiring people to teach or do research, any place with a collection has to keep conserving it. Conservators also make more money, no question.

I went to a program that specialized generalized in both (FIT). Like you, I was unsure of what I wanted, and the flexibility was attractive. Other programs tend to specialize in one or the other, and now that I've been through FIT's program, I understand exactly why. There was no way to give us both curricula in their entirety in the two years we had, and I ended up feeling like I barely learned anything. However, I was coming from having completed a long conservation internship; I had studied up pretty thoroughly on fashion history before I attended the program at all; and I had already been through a separate MA previously, so I already had research and writing skills on a higher level than FIT even cares about. Given that caveat.. if I were to go back in time with this info, I would attend a different program that specialized in one or the other and therefore provided more comprehensive skills.

If you're interested in conservation, my biggest piece of advice would be to do an internship, preferably with a firm that specializes in it or at a big museum with a dedicated department. That will give you experience and familiarity like nothing else and also help you to understand whether it's the right field for you. But internships like that can be pretty competitive, so the second best option is to volunteer at a local historical society or house museum. Almost all of them are constantly on the lookout for volunteers, especially ones interested in preservation and the more scientific side of collections management. You won't be paid, unfortunately, but the upside is that almost any small institution will happily take helpers because they're desperate and cash-strapped. Reading through online publications like the National Park Service's Conserve-O-Gram is a great way to start building knowledge if nobody there is equipped to give it to you. (Every institution I've worked at has had a copy on hand for reference, lol.)

I volunteered for a small house museum years back and literally on day one they threw me at the clothing collection and told me to dress mannequins and pack textiles. I had very little idea what I was doing, but it was a great learning experience - and one that you're never going to get at a museum internship because they're so much more careful about their objects and access. (Pros and cons, but hey.)

+ As far as I know, you will need an MA to be hired to most conservation positions, but there's no reason you can't get started in the field without it first and make sure that's the degree you want/need. In terms of curatorship/professorship, an MA will get you into small local colleges but for anything larger you'll need a PhD, and that's a big commitment. You have to really like academia to get one of those suckers! As far as I'm aware, there are no stipended MA programs and only one PhD program (Bard) in this specific field that pays, so again, you have to be fiscally comfortable (or willing to go into debt and work two jobs) to get an advanced degree in the subject. It's a vicious cycle that keeps a lot of people out, and institutions can afford to keep it up because it's so competitive. +

All that said, historic sewing is a fantastic way to get into the field because knowledge of construction and technique gives you an excellent understanding of historic dress, and hand sewing techniques are essential for conservation. You're already on the right track!

If you want any book recs, off of the top of my head Refashioning and Redress and The Care and Display of Historic Clothing are two great, readable volumes.

Let me know if you have any other questions, but hopefully this helps!

#fashion history #dress history #textile conservation #advice #My second choice for MA was glasgow FYI #and in retrospect i think i would have liked it way more #but i haven't been so i can't say for sure!#i also know people who've attended UNL and i know Georgia has a program #California also has some more science-heavy conservation programs #i am technically trained as both a conservator and historian but god save you if you actually want me to conserve anything #the stories i can tell about FIT........#masters trauma #i say this jokingly but it's real #my other MA meanwhile was great #not all academia traumatizes alike #:)

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papirouge · 1 year ago

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Are any designers worth investing? Like Hermes or maybe looking into vintage items from Chanel or Louis Vuitton? I I’m not looking into designer fashion because I’m not skinny lol and I don’t think I’ll fit into the clothes, but for accessories like purses, wallets, and scarves and shoes

You'll can find a good summary of my fashion guide tips here (last paragraph)

Of all the brands you mentioned, Hermès is less crappy. Hermès and Louis Vuitton are both historically luggage brands but I never heard anything good from LV maroquinerie, meanwhile Hermès one quality & savoir-faire seems to have remained fair. They are also made in France, and it shows. The port€feuille Soufflet is beautiful and so pur€

Petite Maroquinerie (wallet, purse...) is definitely a great investment if you want quality item that aren't excessively expensive. I mean, Hermès is VERY expensive (I think the only brand with such a high price range for clothing is The Row) but you will definitely find high quality maroquinerie for smaller/indie brands. If its handmade and locally produced there's virtually nothing that makes them different from luxury/high end/famous brand. I already explained that those brands high price were to cover cost of the marketing/ads (those celebrities/models they paid for it), not bc of the intrinsic value of the products. Luxury bags have like a 3000% markup....

An etsy indie designer might delivery the same quality for 10 times cheaper (bc they wouldn't have need to cover their marketing investment). You might actually find excellent quality maroquinerie on esty so don't be blinded by brandnames and marketing 🤍

#answered

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h-f-k · 2 years ago

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It feels so weird to type this in english knowing we’re both hispanic, but anyway, here are my recs for channels that upload video essays I’ve enjoyed:

Sociology: I actually majored in this and so of course this is the one that’s making my brain go ??? Perhaps Shanspeare? She talks about topics like the obsession with aesthetics, ageism and how it plays out in different industries, people’s fascination with true crime, gender roles, beauty standards. I specifically remember having watched two: infantilization and the body hair debate, and 12 going on 21: the end of the tween era and. I liked both. The videos last from about 30-50 minutes. And I’m not sure if she’d fit here but Hanna Witton is a sex educator and obviously there’s a lot of topics that can be linked to that one, so you might find something interesting there.

Film/tv: friendly space ninja, ladyknightthebrave and Rowan Ellis. They all have long videos, more than an hour or so. The second one has one on the haunting of bly manor that includes excerpts from a interview she did to the show runner of the show and another one in which she discussed holocaust films with a man who wrote a book on it. Jessica Kellgren-Fozard also has some on media analysis and queer history.

Art: great art explained. He gives context, talks about the authors, techniques and materials used, links with other works by the same authors, etc. The only thing is that the duration is around 20 minutes or so, definitely not long but still informative.

History: Karolina Żebrowska, she focuses on fashion from previous centuries, sometimes comments on the clothing used in historical tv/films. There’s also history tea time with Lindsay Holiday, she mainly talks about royal families from different places and time periods.

Bonus (sports): I’ve read your posts on plenty of them, but never this one, so I’m not sure if you’d be interested but I’m including it just in case. These two (part one and two) on the cycle of exploitation in women’s figure skating.

Hopefully you’ll find something to watch in at least one of those options. And if you come across any other video essays or channels on those topics, pls let me know, I also enjoy them 🩵

I LOVE YOU!! I watch and I’m subscribed to a few youtubers you mentioned! I recently discovered friendly space ninja and i love him, his channel reminds me of cosmonaut variety hour but bc the thumbnails look kinda similar lol, but i love his videos. And karolina is so funny i love her and her fashion videos. I haven’t watched that many videos of Lindsay Holiday but it’s bc i find her voice just a tad annoying jeksjss but i like that she covers royal figures across the centuries/world. I will definitely check out the first two cause I’ve never heard of them and they sound super interesting. Also the last one about figure skating reminds me of when i fell into a rabbit hole of russian figure skating and all the drama with Tutberidze kfksbdnssb (this was around the winter olympic games) thank you so much my love!!!

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suuho · 2 years ago

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also, on that note – i love that nct unit debut. they’ve worked together before, they deserve to debut as a unit; this feels more in line historically with what we know of sm. jaehyun, jungwoo and doyoung have great artistic chemistry and balance, and if this unit would have been with taeil, it would have been a sole vocal unit which is not what sm will do anymore. it would have been futile.

what i want out of this is not that the unit shouldn’t debut; i’m excited for that. it’s that the unit should debut and taeil should get his own solo opportunities, and get a proper solo release that is not just an OST. it is actually comical that he hasn’t gotten any solo endeavors yet. he doesn’t have a fashion ambassadorship, he doesn’t have solo schedules, he doesn’t even have an sm station to his name. he is first and foremost a singer and the first nct member enlist, so where are his opportunities? as a singer? where is his sm station, where is his single release, where is his mini album? starlight has had higher streaming numbers than, like, any other actual nct song?

and while i love and cherish and adore ten, he has infinite time to release solo work and has already done so. i look forward to his mini album, but he’s had his turn already. they could have pushed that further back in favor of treating taeil properly as an artist in the very same group jaehyun and doyoung are in, too. who are getting opportunities left and right. lol. anyways! if you talk shit about jungwoo, it’s on sight.

#kaz talks #/ rant #also; i adore doie / jae / ten etc. i love them all #but it is getting tiring to watch everyone debut and get opportunities left and right while we’re on burrowed time with taeil lol #and he has a history of being pushed to the back of the call sheet like wtf

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m1ckeyb3rry · 28 days ago

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Ok TLs!! So there wasn’t that much new info in Yuki or otoyas profiles so I just wrote down the new info but lmk if you want more LOL Also picked out the most interesting Top 3s I think most have been cycled around already

Also the clarification on the psychic power one that I feel gets lost in translation it’s specifically in reference to supernatural stuff LOL kinda like “top 3 people who would be able to see ghosts” which is why Rin makes that comment about liking horror LMAO

Wait another note THEY REVEALED CHIGIRIS SISTER they didn’t give her a name which I’m lowk pissed about but she’s 21 (4ish years older than chigiri I think if I’m doing the month calculation right)! Bday 10/25

- Karasu anon

Yuki Profile:

Q: What would you be doing if you’d never discovered soccer?

A: That’s impossible. God would always lead me back to finding soccer.

Q: If you could only bring one thing to a deserted island, what would you choose?

A: My glasses, since I can’t see anything without them!

Q: Favorite historical figure?

A: Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He was a fighter who lived through both glory and tragedy.

Q: If you had the option, would you choose to go to the future or the past?

A: The future. I want to see what cures we’ve found for different illnesses.

Day before the U-20 match:

I chatted a bit with Nagi about things like what we like and how we won our way up here. It seems like Isagi’s presence is pretty influential to Nagi. It’s got nothing to do with me, but having a rival like that seems kinda nice.

Otoya Profile:

Q: What would you be doing if you’d never discovered soccer?

A: I’d make chill (lofi) music. I wanna be someone who makes that kinda stuff.

Q: If you could only bring one thing to a deserted island, what would you choose?

A: Nothing. I’ll figure something out and go with the flow. Deserted island wahoo—

Q: Favorite historical figure?

A: Steve Jobs. He made the iPhone, which is pretty priceless.

Q: If you had the option, would you choose to go to the future or the past?

A: The future. I wanna know the fashion and music of the future. Then I’ll get along with the girls of the future. Ah, I wonder if Ninja talk/terms are still cool in the future.

Day before the U-20 match:

I reached out the girls I knew for the first time in a while. But basically no one replied. Seems it’s really true that if you’re a bad texter girls will dislike you. Welp, onto the next! Wahoo ♪

Top/Worst 3:

Longest eyelashes

Top: chigiri, Rin, Sae

- Otoyas comment: I’ve seen Chigiri’s lashes up close. They’re so long you could balance a pocky stick on them. Fr fr (big lie)

Worst: Otoya Gagamaru igaguri

- Chigiri’s comment: I’ve seen Otoya’s lashes up close, but his monolids are so prominent that you’d think he got them waxed

Biggest Foodie

Top: Aiku Reo Yukimiya

- Nious comment: He (Aiku) knows a lot of good places to eat! Maybe it’s because he takes girls out a lot to eat there, it’s great!

Worst: Nagi Gagamaru Zantetsu

- Reos comment: I know it all too well. Nagi’s fridge is filled with just jellies. What a weirdo.

Who’d have been the most active in the Sengoku Period?

Top: Karasu Sae Barou

- Hioris comment: He (Karasu) gives off the vibes of a wise general. It’d be really reassuring if you’re his ally, but the worst if you’re his enemy.

Worst: Sendou Bachira Raichi

- Shidous comment: Hes the type to be the first one to enter battle and the first one to die ♪

ahhh yeah that’s what i was assuming for the psychic powers just based on the notes about it!! it’s still funny to me either way LMAOAOA can you imagine karasu x reader ghost hunters au or smth 😭 also WTF WHY WOULDN’T THEY GIVE HER A NAME UGHHH at least we have a canon age and whatnot 😒 i lowkey think i guessed it too #slay

YUKIMIYA IS SO CUTE UGH and please otoya kills me every time 😭 bro fr decided to hit up the roster the day before the match JFKDDND UNREAL

OTOYA WITH 0 EYELASHES??? WHATTTT that actually cracks me up omg chigiri let him get up 😭 i wonder if his eyelashes are white or green?? also yukimiya as a foodie is adorable i bet he’d plan the best dates

OH MY GOD HOLLYHOCK IS REAL HELP HIORI SAID IT��S CANON THAT’S CRAZYYYYY 😭😭😭 they have to be stalking me atp because how’d you know i made karasu a general back in like JULY 😒😒😒😒 well technically he’s not a general yet but if you know history and who he’s based on it’s obvious he will be..and hollyhock is literally set in the sengoku period brooo that’s insane 😱 karasu really does give wise general vibes though i def see it ugh i love him

#answered asks #karasu anon translations

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lilac-nites · 3 months ago

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I don’t even remember bc it’s been so long. I was really into anime when I was younger and probably found a book about Japanese street fashion. I was obsessed with both gal and lolita, but personally lolita was easier since gal required makeup skills lol.

I really love that lolita essentially adapts historical clothing for modern day. I have always loved frilly clothes and lolita to me was a version that was easier to wear than actual historical clothing and it was cute too. I do still want to get into historical costuming one day. I also really like how clothing quality is valued and how secondhand is an important part of the comm. After learning more about garment manufacturing, I avoid buying low quality clothing new unless it’s secondhand. Even then, I’ll avoid Shein or Forever 21 secondhand. I also like how committed we are to documentation of media and clothes. It’s rare to find jfashions this well-documented.

I think what I dislike the most is the recent fast fashionification of it lately. It’s somewhat disheartening to see people get into lolita because they saw a really nice, super themed coord and immediately want to start there instead of trying to build a wardrobe with pieces that can be mixed and matched. Or buying pieces that are low quality just because it looks good in photos but the construction of the dress isn’t great. There isn’t really a way to shortcut lolita and especially dislike when I see people try to get several low-quality dresses instead of saving/waiting/creating something better. It’s def not a new thing per se, but I’d hate for the fast fashion attitude of “it’s cheap, why not buy it” and “it’s cheap and is easily replaceable” to become the norm. I’m worried it’ll lead to brands making even lower quality clothing to compete with cheaper or low quality clothes. I think the fast fashionification also leads to a lot of people coming into lolita spaces without lurking, which leads them to not understanding the community and its culture and clashes happen as a result.

I wear mainly classic lolita and simple sweet lolita. I do love the 2010s ott style, but I’d rather have non-print pieces that are easier to mix and match and wear casually. That’s my personal style, which I’ve been trying to translate into my lolita wardrobe.

To any Lolita who happens to pass my blog, or you follow it I got a few question for you.

I'm curious about the egl community on tmblr and I wanna know more about you guys.

•What got you into the Lolita/Egl fashion ?

•What do you love most about it?

•What do you hate/dislike about it?

•What style do you do?

I'm genuinely curious about what you guys might have to say, so lemme know🥰

#lolita fashion #lilac talks #im the lolita that bought from indie brands (& not the good ones) and im getting rid of it #i also really dislike when people call lolitas catty or gatekeepy as if they were expecting all lolitas to be nice and handhold instead #of seeing each of us as a person #im always willing to help but not every lolita or every lolita space wants to help beginners or even talk to other lolitas #some just wear the clothes and what we wear should not be a value judgement #musings

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audreydoeskaren · 2 years ago

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Saw this post on Xiaohongshu a while back and it’s a really good example of 18th century erasure, so I think I’ll share this here (not calling out anybody or anything just sharing). OP posted a series of scanned images from a Republican era source (of unclear provenance) showing what people *thought* were historical fashions at the time, and the outfit for what they described as the “end of the Ming” is actually from the 18th century, the Qianlong era in the Qing Dynasty. The other images of the Qing all show stereotypical 19th century fashions. What’s fascinating about this is that it shows that 18th century erasure is by no means a recent phenomenon, it had existed since at least the 1920s/30s, when I assume this was made. Great for illustrating that people in the Republican era knew fuck all about Chinese fashion history (even something as recent as 120 years ago) and by extension a lot of other Chinese history.

Textbook mid 18th century women’s fashion from the 燕寝怡情 painting series. (Ironically, the person who uploaded this image to Pinterest labeled it Ming Dynasty lol)

I always think that 18th century erasure is harmful to both Ming and Qing fashion because as is the case with this source, actual Ming Dynasty fashion makes no appearance and Qing Dynasty fashion is appropriated. What this is doing is more than just creating fashion history misconceptions though, it basically reconfigures the whole discourse on what is and isn’t Qing, and more importantly for that time period, what it means to be Chinese, what to embrace and what to reject. 18th century erasure discourse has immense power in stretching the limits of mental gymnastics, as it can make people mentally push the starting date of the Qing Dynasty to around 1800, one and a half century later than the 1644 of reality, and decide that things they do like about the Qing belong to the Ming instead. This is dishonest and annoying at best, and at worst I can make a case about how The Qing™️ in 18th century erasure discourse isn’t referring to the actual dynasty anymore, but functions more as an umbrella term for “everything we deem degenerate and don’t like”. Honestly why would anyone try to nudge 18th century fashion in the direction of the Ming if they didn’t think the Qing was bad in the first place.

The Qing has become a sort of all use hate object since the proliferation of Western colonialism in China, and it’s evident that this sentiment lingers on in the present day. If you scroll through the comments under this post you can find multiple people bashing the Qing for its apparent inferior taste and lamenting the loss of Chinese beauty, based on the incorrectly dated historical fashions. What they don’t know is that some of the supposed “pre-Qing” things they praise for their beauty and Chinese essence are, in fact, also from the Qing. I’m not even going to unpack how the whole thing about the Qing “degenerating” Chinese cultural evolution has close ties to eugenics and racial science popular around the time. Anyway, I’d just like to remind everyone that when you bash what you think to be Qing and contrarily praise what you think to be pre-Qing, both things could in actuality be from the Qing and you are creating a binary opposition out of nothing.

*On a side note, I think it’s fascinating that OP added a Chinese flag emoji to the image, probably because of a growing nationalist paranoia where people imagine they’re defending Chinese artworks from being “stolen” by Koreans. I’ve seen more Chinese people paranoid about supposed Korean stealings than actual Korean people using Chinese images inappropriately. Korean people as a hate object are also very much en vogue right now, for whatever reason. It’s almost established as a racist cliche in recent years that “Koreans like to steal”, and it’s so normalized people don’t even perceive it as offensive. Not saying that OP is intentionally being racist, but this emoji under this context triggers my fight or flight response.

#rant #18th century erasure #qing dynasty #qianlong era #colonialism #nationalism

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prettyxholic · 2 years ago

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100 Questions To Lolita

Hello! I’m prettyxholic and I decided to answer the 2001 “100 Questions To Lolita” questionnaire! I found this first on the website of lolibrarian Raine. Please take a look at her answers too, and keep in mind the historical context of the post! http://www.rainedragon.com/100-questions-to-lolita-2001-quiz/

1 Please tell us your screen name, date of birth, and origin. 　→ prettyxholic, February, and I’m from Maryland (USA)

2 What is your height, weight, clothing size, and shoe size? 　→ Height 5’1″, 90lbs, JP medium, 22.5cm shoe

3 What made you start doing Lolita fashion? 　→ I was feeling lonely due to life circumstances. I even stopped being a musician and couldn’t be in any ensembles anymore. I had plenty of time to be alone and I stumbled on lolita fashion again. The memory is vague, I don’t remember exactly what motivated me to look for my first piece

4 What is your favorite Lolita genre? 　→ Sweet lolita! Although I’m not sure if I will ever be OTT sweet, lol

5 Do you have any particular commitment to that genre, or your own definition of it? 　→ I’m a sweet lolita who loves fruits (mostly strawberries), and I hope I can get more prints that have desserts. The phrase “a sweet lolita who wears sweets” speaks to me

6 Do you have your ears pierced? How many piercings? 　→ I have 5, but I don’t wear earrings that often anymore

7 What is your favorite brand? 　→ Baby, the Stars Shine Bright! I also enjoy Angelic Pretty, Innocent World, and Sleepyland!

8 What is your favorite outfit? 　→ Juicy BABY Love Love Berries skirt in ivory and Strawberry Doll jsk in pink are fighting for the number one spot in my heart, LOL. I wear them with a white blouse, wooden sole shoes, and various accessories

9 How many lolita friends do you have? 　→ There are many people I admire, but I don’t have any friends that are so into lolita. I do have a dear friend who likes to talk about it with me and even owns some jsks from AATP and AP, but she is constantly in fashion crisis Q^Q

10 What was the best thing about doing Lolita? 　→ I feel happy when I wear my things. Buying is also part of the fun for me, I like to collect as much of each set as I can in my preferred colorway(s)

11 On the contrary, what is the most disgusting thing? 　→ I fear for people who do not wash their clothes. In 2022 I would hope that we have all made an effort to learn laundry skills or find a dry-cleaning business owner to date

12 What is your favorite magazine? 　→ N/A

13 Headdress group? Team Bonnet? Team Headbow? 　→ Team headbow! I don’t actually own any bonnets yet

14 Do you have bloomers? 　→ Yes, they’re essential

15 Do you tie your headdress in front? or are you on the team that ties it behind your head? 　→ The first time I wore a rectangle headdress I wanted to tie it in the front, but I’m shy. Next time I will definitely tie it proudly in the front

16 Do you have a favorite music genre or band? 　→ I like several genres, but I will always be thankful to Vocaloid producers and many utaite/youtaites for making me feel love towards music for the very first time. Wowaka (r.i.p.), Soraru, Mafumafu, Jubyphonic, Hachi, Hitoshizuku x Yama, ryo, and more: thank you for everything!

17 What is your mobile phone ringtone? 　→ Apple default…

18 Do you go to lives in Lolita? 　→ I don’t go to lives. I get worried about being crushed to death in a crowd

19 For those who go to lives, do you headbang? 　→ If I went to lives I would move my head to the music a reasonable amount, and probably jump

20 What color do you like? 　→ Reds and ivory are my current favorites! Pinks are great too, of course

21 What are your hobbies? 　→ Music appreciation, watching anime (Bungou Stray Dogs my beloved), studying Japanese language, and playing rhythm games

22 Please tell me if you have a favorite perfume. 　→ I have no favorite, I just tend to go for something that is vanilla

23 Is there anything you say “I’m careful about this” when it comes to lolita? 　→ I put on my shoes carefully and always keep them in the dust covers

24 Where are the places you visit / hang out at frequently? 　→ I’m a student, does my university count? T^T Otherwise, I like to be at my own or other peoples’ houses

25 How many times a week do you wear Lolita? 　→ At this time, once a week maximum (though I’m slowly building up my wardrobe so I can be a lifestyler one day). This summer I dressed up on Saturdays to go to a friend’s house to play board games. His family has never paid any mind to what I wear, so I always end up feeling comfortable

26 Please tell us the most embarrassing episode you had when you were a beginner in Lolita fashion. 　→ There was no extraordinary incident. My coords weren’t always good when I was just starting to wear the fashion, though… and it is so hard to do a suitable hairstyle

27 What is your hairstyle and color now? 　→ Long curly (3C) hair. No particular cut, and no bangs (I’m aware that I should do something about this). I tend to tie it back in a few different styles. The color is multiple shades of medium-dark brown, but I would like to dye it all a single darker shade of brown sometime

28 How long have you been in Lolita? 　→ About 2 years

29 Do you have a dedicated lolita storage space? 　→ I’m currently moving, so it’s all in storage bins rn www (although I’m planning to put it in my tiny closet at my student apartment)

30 Have you ever thought about leaving Lolita? If so, why? 　→ I think I will be much older (35?) when I start thinking about what will ultimately become of my lolita wardrobe. Right now, I’m happy. I hope to wear this fashion forever and be buried in my pink Angelic Pretty Strawberry Doll jsk set LOL

31 What is your motto? 　→ Drive fast and leave a sexy corpse

32 What are your dreams for the future? 　→ I want a good job (hopefully doing something about sustainability/environmental management). I want time to spend composing music. I also want to live close to a physical location of BTSSB, it would be nice to no longer have to pay for shipping

33 “This person would definitely look good in Lolita!” Are there any celebrities you think that about? 　→ I don’t pay much mind to celebrities

34 Please tell us the item with the most memories and those memories. 　→ I think it’s too soon for me to answer a question like that

35 What was the first item you got? 　→ Cheese Cocoa “Deer in Forest” OP + Barette… I was too excited to buy, it is not my style at all

36 Do you have a signature pose for taking a picture? 　→ I learned this from another lolita, who posts on instagram: positioning one leg in front of the other and turning the toe inwards creates a longline, it helps me look less short. Then I do something confident with my arms or show off my bag

37 What is the “Bible” of your heart? (Like what Books, magazines, CDs, etc. represent your inner self) 　→ My iTunes library… full of Vocaloid music www. Maybe my old marching band uniform counts too

38 How many centimeters tall is the highest heel you have? 　→ My Victoire shoes from BTSSB are 2.55 inches… not very impressive

39 Have you ever worn a tiara? 　→ No, not my style

40 Do you want to be a prince once in a while? What kind of prince? Dark system? Hakubakei? 　→ When I was younger I thought it would be cool to be a dark, calm prince. I can look pretty androgynous but I’m too short and not at all mysterious ^^’

41 What kind of lace do you like? 　→ TORCHON!!!! I will never tire of it

42 Do you own a (ball jointed) doll? Those who have them are usually so enthusiastic about them! 　→ Not yet. I avoid looking because I need to focus on buying clothes. It is not good for me to yearn for things that aren’t attainable yet

43 What’s inside your lolita bag right now? 　→ Can’t say wwww

44 What is your favorite flower? 　→ I think orchids are the prettiest, but I would be happier to receive anything in relation to spider lilies

45 What is your favorite accessory right now? 　→ My 2012 BTSSB Cherish my Juicy Cherry Hairpin! AATP’s Eat Me Cookie Rosette is a close second

46 Please tell us your favorite / recommended cosmetics. 　→ I haven’t had time to practice or get into makeup T^T I never even wear eye makeup or lip makeup at the same time. I own a few things but I don’t recall the names exactly

47 Bright eyes are the hallmark of being a doll! So do you use false eyelashes? If you have any tips on how to use them, please let me know. 　→ My eyelashes are pretty full, even at the bottom. I don’t foresee myself using false eyelashes often (if at all), but nothing beats falsies

48 What is your particular eye makeup style? 　→ I have hooded eyes so I get discouraged. I could put on so much eyeshadow only for it to disappear as soon as I open my eyes. For a couple years now I’ve preferred to do my eyes like this: I put an understated amount of sparkly red under the bottom outer half of my eyes and lengthen my upper lid just a bit with thin eyeliner. Very basic, I’m trying to change T^T

49 Is your lipstick red? Blue? black? pink? 　→ I prefer gloss. Something subtle and reddish or deep pink suits me

50 What color do you often use for nail polish? 　→ Due to the nature of my major (biology) I don’t dress up my nails. Lab work could mess them up. I also keep them extremely short because I dislike the thought of bacteria under my nails

51 Have you ever changed your clothes in the toilet at the train station? 　→ Never! I get dressed, go to wherever I’m going, hang out, then go home lol

52 Have you ever had twin loli or triplet loli? Impression? 　→ Not yet! My friend in perpetual fashion crisis and I both have the Gathered Chiffon JSK, though (mine in white and hers in black x iris). I hope we will twin one day <3

53 What are you doing to keep in shape? Recommendations? 　→ Even though I could take the bus, I walk to my classes/work to manage my heart health. I recommend taking a multivitamin. In addition to my multi, I take an iron supplement and a calcium+vitamin D supplement because I'm deficient. In terms of the 2001 meaning of this question, I’m a picky eater so I have no troubles

54 Are you calm when alone in lolita? 　→ There’s no point in getting dressed to be alone. When I’m alone I like to be studying or rotting away in bed

55 How much do you spend on lolita each month? 　→ Hundreds (irresponsible for a student, I know). Next question!

56 Did you have any time lag between learning about Lolita fashion and actually doing it or resistance to starting? 　→ I was first exposed to it when I was 14 via Pinterest. Obviously I couldn’t afford it at that age so I forgot about it, and at 18 I realized I could actually do something about my desires

57 What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? (In relation to Lolita) 　→ Difficult… if it wasn’t my Victoire shoes, it was the Strawberry Doll JSK, which was about 200 USD + domestic shipping. Excluding shoes, most of my brand items are secondhand, so that helps with the price

58 Lolita really costs money, doesn’t it? How do you pay for Lolita? 　→ I’m a tutor and grader for my university, and I’ve had a private student too. The subject is statistics

59 Just here. How much is the total cost you have spent so far? 　→ 2,000-3,000? It’s not so bad

60 Is there a store you would like to see nearby? 　→ Baby, the Stars Shine Bright! I don’t live remotely close to one, though

61 Just between us, is there a store that makes you say: ‘that’s a rip-off!’? 　→ Not a store, but some resellers. About a week ago somebody sold their AP Melty Chocolate JSK+Beret with the starting bid of $1400… TWO people bid on it (insane, all of them). I actually have a bit of a grudge against that same seller LOL

62 Have you ever used an online shop? If you have, please give us some advice on the good points and bad points. If you haven’t, tell us why not. 　→ I buy everything online! It’s a very accessible and reliable way to shop in 2022 ^^

63 Just between us, even if you want to keep it your own secret, what’s an indie brand that makes you go “this is exactly my style”. 　→ There’s nothing that matches my style exactly, but I’ve been obsessed with Dreamy Pebble recently! Her heart-shaped old school headdresses and cat bags are so cute

64 Absolutely out of reach! But I want it! Do you have any brands or products like that for you? 　→ Vivienne Westwood rocking horse shoes……. one day T^T

65 What do you do with your tired old clothes? 　→ I’ve sold some things on Lacemarket, but most were NWT. I store/clean my things properly and don’t wear them that often, so nothing has gotten worn out

66 What was the most recent lolita and non lolita item of clothing you bought? 　→ Lolita: A white cherry-themed cardigan from BTSSB. Non-lolita: A brown cashmere turtleneck for my twin

67 What is something you missed out on that you’ll never see again, but you can’t forget? 　→ 2008 Innocent World Stella JSK in black x black… gone but not forgotten :(((

68 What do you think of dressing as a Lolita only during live performances? 　→ I don’t see any issues. It might even be the only option for a lonelita

69 What do you think of No-Makeup-Lolita? 　→ Me… T^T It’s fine but I’m trying to change one day

70 You suddenly meet another person totally wearing Lolita! What do you do? 　→ If I recognize the brand of the main piece I would attempt to strike up a conversation about the print name or their favorite brands. At the very least I would find something to complement about their coord

71 How old is a Lolita allowed to be? 　→ How long can humans live? It’s that number

72 Under what conditions do you think Lolita should graduate? (You can answer ‘continue forever’) 　→ Graduation should occur when the fashion no longer sparks joy. It might also be practical to graduate if financial circumstances become unfortunate

73 Stop this! Are there any things no one should do in Lolita fashion? 　→ There is a fairly obvious answer (fairly obvious if you know the fashion’s history and the principles it stands for). Also, body contact sports. Imagine playing soccer and somebody’s AP resin necklace swings and smacks you in the face

74 Do you have a specific sense of what a perfect Lolita should be? 　→ A perfect Lolita is someone who can tie their own waist ties and tighten their own corset lacing www

75 Other than what you said 73, what is something you wish people wouldn’t do? 　→ Alterations aren’t bad. Everyone should be able to fit into their clothes the way that they like. Stop telling people not to alter their brand

76 What do you think about Lolita fashion for men? 　→ Any gender = OK!

77 Have you changed in any way since you started Lolita? 　→ I appreciate indie brands more. Dreamy Pebble, Sleepyland, Moonrise Theater, The Black Ribbon, and Fuwaya are some brands that I favor

78 What do the people around you say about you wearing Lolita? Do you accept it? 　→ Everyone supports me (in an outspoken or quiet way). My twin ties my waist ties for me and helps me put on/take off my shoes. My grandma helps me do up my corset lacing. I’m thankful

79 What kind of lolita fashion do you do in the hot summer months? 　→ I’m always indoors, so I’m still able to wear layers and wool/knit cardigans without worry

80 Do you go to school or work in Lolita? 　→ No. It could be distracting to others and is potentially hazardous in laboratory settings

81 What is your usual outfit style? 　→ I didn’t grow much past middle/high school, so I continue to wear a lot of clothing (hoodies, sweatpants, jeans) from that time. I can wear it to class because most of it is lab safe. I also get hand-me-downs and gifts from my partner, who is taller than me

82 Do you have any objections to second-hand goods? 　→ Stained bloomers and socks give me the ick… in addition to visibly yellow sweat stains…. Please continue to cherish it, repurpose it, clean it, or recycle the fabric

83 Do you have a boyfriend (or husband)? Does he understand? 　→ I have a girlfriend. We always support each other

84 Please tell us your ideal male image. 　→ Fukuzawa Yukichi of Bungou Stray Dogs. He would be incredibly marriageable if he wasn’t already married to his job www

85 What kind of person is the Lolita who left the biggest impression on you? 　→ Tyler Willis is rough around the edges but can be soft at the same time. She has a sailor’s vocabulary but also spreads messages of kindness and encouragement to other lolitas. Tyler = strong boundaries, firm beliefs, and wicked humor wrapped up in an OTT sweet package. Historically, I’ve had a tendency to be too nice–– I’ve become wiser ever since I watched her videos

86 Have you ever made your own clothes? What kind of clothes is it? 　→ I’m not a sewist ^^’

87 Have you ever made an accessory yourself? What did you make? 　→ I’m not creative or skilled at crafting anything other than music

88 This thing I made was a great success! Is there anything you feel that way about? 　→ A great success in my life was making jello with whipped cream on it on my own for the first time… delicious

89 Tell us if you have an ideal Lolita outfit or coordination. 　→ The Juicy BABY Love Love Berries set in ivory (SK, KC, OTKs) with a princess sleeves blouse, wooden platform shoes, brooch, and lots of BTSSB hairpins. I’m about to acquire the OTK’s but the KC is hard to get

90 Is there anyone you admire? What kind of person are they? 　→ I follow a bunch of cool lolitas on instagram! Lolitadebtcrisis is incredibly funny, relatable, and stylish. I’m always cheered up when I see a new Lolitadebtcrisis post! There are others, but I thought of this one first

91 You can date any person for just one day. The other person will also dress however you want. Who is it and what kind of date? 　→ They would be fictional wwww If I could go out with Ozaki Kouyou of BSD I would ask to go to a botanical garden or drink tea with her. What she usually wears already is beautiful

92 What kind of store would you like to have if you were to open one in the future? 　→ Cat café. I love cats

93 When looking at lolita, your eyes will go straight to this motif. What is it? 　→ Strawberries. AP prints with strawberries always make me check my bank account www

94 Do you want your child to be a Lolita too? 　→ I would prefer it if she could follow her heart and continue to sleep all day

95 How much can I spend on one loli outfit? 　→ At this time? Not more than $550 for the whole coord, and I spend the money over time instead of all at once

96 This is quintessentially Lolita! Is there a certain gesture that makes you think this. 　→ Bringing the hands in front of the chest to show off one’s rings and necklace at the same time! I love coords where the jewelry is all AP resin pieces

97 I want to wear that once in my life! Do you ever think that about any style other than lolita? 　→ Not really… I wanted to get into light academia before but that’s another financial commitment and it takes time to thrift

98 Looking at your Lolita collection or style, what one word would you use to sum it up? 　→ Cutie

99 What is your ideal Lolita image? 　→ A super cute and polished sweet lolita. Layering perfectly and always having a bag to go with my outfit while not looking OTT. Wearing plenty of skirts. Styling my hair without any hairs being out of place

100 Thank you very much! Please give us your impression of answering 100! 　→ I had a lot of fun! I want to update some of my answers in a few years so I can see how I’ve changed.

#angelic pretty #angelicpretty #baby the stars shine bright #babythestarsshinebright #btssb #innocent world #innocentworld #alice and the pirates #aliceandthepirates #lolita fashion #lolitafashion #sweet lolita #classic lolita #egl community #egl #bungou stray dogs #bungostraydogs #bsd

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chuckaf · 4 years ago

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Chuck Fic Rec List: Updated

So my fic rec post was in my notifs again the other day, and I noticed a while back that the formatting on the post has gotten all messed up and it’s also had like three reblog additions to it anyway meaning there are three versions out there lol. so, I wanted to do another list of chuck fic recs! I’ll keep the other one up still, so I’m not gonna repeat every fic here, just some I really recommend. I’m also adding the fic summaries, which I didn’t on the old post, and some more of my own opinions so, buckle up for a long post!

Chuck Versus the Steampunk Chronicles | Steampunk.Chuckster

1896. A world powered by steam, where humans and machines coexist, and airships are the fashionable mode of transport. The US Empire's deepest and darkest secrets arrive at Chuck Bartowski's doorstep. Have they fallen into the wrong hands? Or will the inventor prove his mettle, even while he's forced to hide from the very people he's protecting? AU, ongoing chronicle, Charah.

A genuinely incredible AU story, with an entire crafted world and universe, so detailed it frequently blows my mind. There is heart and family and infuriatingly brilliant slow-burn, plus a buttload of danger and super fun historical/steampunk action. Oh how I LOVE it.

Chuck vs the Charade | somedeepmystery

When computer nerd Chuck Bartowski returns home to an empty apartment and a dead girlfriend he finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of espionage and deceit. Everyone around him is playing a part to get what they want and when he starts falling for the new woman in his life, he can't help but wonder if he can trust her or if she's the one he should fear the most.

An action and twist-filled AU based on the movie Charade, which is just such a brilliant fic concept I absolutely adored it from the start.

Two Sides of the Same Coin | dettiot

When you're a spy, there's all kinds of occupational hazards when you work with another spy. For Sarah Walker, though, one mission becomes a life-changing experience. Because working with Charles Carmichael leads to protecting Chuck Bartowski.

The first time I read this fic my mind was just blown to its genius. Such a brilliant interpretation of what the Intersect and its concepts set up in the show could be, and ooooof the Chuck/Sarah interactions, my HEART. Related to it, its companion piece:

A Flip of the Coin | dettiot

What made Charles Carmichael agree to become Chuck Bartowski? Well, to start, it wasn't as much of a change as you'd think. A companion to the early chapters of Two Sides of the Same Coin from Carmichael's perspective.

Chuck vs The Butterfly Effect | n7agentbartowski

Chuck Bartowski is a normal guy who just hit rock bottom. No girlfriend, no career and no super computer stuck inside his head. It isn't until Chuck meets a gorgeous stranger on the beach that he begins to think his life is about to change for the better. An AU Chuck fic without the Intersect. "Change one thing and it changes everything."

I said it on the OG post, but this story has one of my top 5 Chuck/Sarah fic meetings. So funny, so... very Chuck. The story is a little angsty overall, but a great read.

Chuck vs the Rogue Spy | Crumby

When a rogue spy from Chuck Bartowski's past shows up to help him during his first solo mission, Chuck hopes that he'll finally find out what happened to Sarah Walker. Post-S2 AU.

There’s a lot of Season 3 fix-it fics out there, which I don’t usually read bc I actually love season 3 lol, but this one’s a good one! A twisty deviation from canon, but still feels really true to character.

Chuck Versus the Nerds Rewrite | Steampunk.Chuckster and David Carner

What happens when two nerds talk endless hours about their favorite TV show? A new take on the show you know, but with the flair, twists, and turns you've come to expect from Steampunk . Chuckster and david . carner. Somewhat canon. Charah.

As the summary says, a different take on the show, which honestly makes a couple changes I would too, but also adds a bunch of fun twists and plots that make it totally new and fresh. Seeing Chuck and Sarah’s thoughts in the more canon sections is just delicious, too.

The Trapped Assassin | SarahsSupplyCloset

After a mission goes awry, the CIA's most lethal assassin is ordered to take vacation while her superiors figure out what to do with her. But when she meets a disarming tourist, their immediate connection only adds to her disillusionment with the agency and her career. Will he be enough for her to finally take the plunge and leave the only life she's ever known? Charah AU

A warning for the very justified M rating if you don’t like that sort of thing, but this is definitely a plot-heavy fic, too. A really neat Sarah-heavy AU, with a whole lotta Chuck/Sarah fancy French vacationy goodness.

Chuck vs the Second Chance | malamoo

AU from mid-season 2 and onwards. Chuck and Sarah part ways only to be reunited years later. COMPLETE.

Literal, crying-at-my-screen angst. Not even a super happy ending. But a brilliantly written, part-reflective/flashback fic, exploring what would’ve happened if Chuck and Sarah’s relationship really was an assignment all along-- and the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking. But if you want a little heartbreak, this is your fic.

Ready at Your Hand | dettiot

In the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a Catholic plot against the queen comes to the attention of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham. To protect Elizabeth, he develops an unusual plan: hide the passing of intelligence between two agents by a false romance. When Lady Sarah Walker and Chuck Carmichael meet, though, their pretend flirtation becomes much more.

I love Chuck fic for the very reason that it’s inspired such adventurous and totally unique AUs. Here’s some Elizabethan fake-dating Chuck and Sarah! They have to be so Proper, it’s like that hand moment from Pride and Prejudice but Elizabethan and times a billion. The pining!!

Sarah Versus Getting Married | Steampunk.Chuckster

Sarah Walker is getting married. Canon. Charah.

I’d recommend all of SC’s fics if I had the room, and I’m already recommending a ton sksks but most of my fic recs are AUs, and this one isn’t! It’s canon, and covers some of in the gap in 4x24, with Sarah just before the wedding itself. Super sweet, heart-tugging, brilliant.

A Chuckmas Carol | Mikki13

A new twist to Dickens' beloved "A Christmas Carol". When Sarah begins to shut out the world around her, three spirits come to show her the error of her ways. Season 3 AU.

Another Season 3 AU, this one written pre-series so it definitely doesn’t fit to canon, but it’s still wonderfully rich in character depth and angst and it also made me cry. Plus, festive!

Chuck Versus Thin Ice | Steampunk.Chuckster

On the doorstep of the Olympics, top American curler Sarah Walker has lost her mixed doubles partner and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. Her coaches throw newbie Team U.S.A. curler Chuck Bartowski onto her team and thrust them into the Olympics, hanging America's curling hopes on two people who only have a short amount of time to learn to trust one another. Charah AU.

Do you like curling? Or the Winter Olympics? It doesn’t really matter because somehow this fic made me extremely invested in both of those things, as well as Chuck and Sarah and them being INSUFFERABLE. Catch me now knowing a ton about curling thanks to this fic.

Walker’s Eleven | Moonlight Pilot

Not the same plot as the movie. Sarah Walker never got out of the con game or became a spy, and now she's on her final con. What happens when true love and betrayal get added to the mix? Twists, turns, and Jeffster!

Con!Sarah always interests me, and this fic is full of her. Lotta con plot, lotta Chuck and Sarah.

The Detective and the Tech Guy | thecharleses

Sarah Walker is a Pinkerton detective. Chuck Bartowski is an electronics genius. They wouldn't have met except for a case of mistaken identity and murder. Will the detective and the tech guy solve the mystery, distracted by the riddle in their own hearts? An homage to The Thin Man film series. Formerly co-written by Steampunk . Chuckster and dettiot, now ONLY Steampunk . Chuckster.

Everyone in this fic is so damn cool. There are so many martinis. But also great heart and family and like, standing up for who you love, and later also Chuck with Baby Clara content which frankly the show robbed us of. Also, PI!Sarah!!!

Gravity | Poetic4U

AU. Sarah makes a decision that altered her life forever.

This is just a one-shot, which many of these stories are not, so a good one if you don’t fancy a big read! Just because it’s short, though, doesn’t mean it’s lacking; a really awesome what-if AU, and heavy on the Chuck and Sarah.

A Yuletie Tale | Steampunk.Chuckster

Sarah Walker was dumped the day before Christmas Eve, and her Plus One at her work’s annual Christmas Eve Soiree is now officially a Plus Zero. Her best friend Ellie Bartowski has a solution to her problem, and Sarah finds she isn’t quite as sure about it as Ellie is. AU Christmas Charah.

I’m particularly in love with this fic because, instead of beginning with a meet-cute, it involves Chuck and Sarah already two years into a friendship-- Sarah is Ellie’s best friend. And she’s been crushing harrrd on Ellie’s brother. Also Chuck is in a tux. It’s pretty.

Set, Spike, Dive! | Frea O’Scanlin

Chuck never expected to even make it to the Olympics. Everything is working against him: he's too tall for a diver, too inexperienced for a medal, too much of a wildcard to really make his mark. But an unexpected meeting at the airport, some intriguing new friends, and a whirlwind romance on the sand just might set up London 2012 as the time of Chuck Bartowski's life.

A London 2012 AU, because why not. This is just a fun Olympic-y ride!

OTP (One True Pairing) Prompts | David Carner

A series of Prompts I found online about different times and places in Chuck and Sarah's life. Mostly AU, mostly one-shots. I assume mostly fluff, but I might get deep. I doubt it, it's me. Charah...ALWAYS (It says complete, but if an idea strikes me...)

If you’re not so into long stories, this fic is perfect. Individual set-ups and stories, all Chuck and Sarah, and all super cute. You could dip in and out and just pick a scenario you enjoy.

Chuck vs The Frontier | ninjaVanish

AU: Chuck was enjoying a simple life as a 19th century watchmaker until an encounter with a beautiful Secret Service agent thrust him into a world of intrigue and adventure he never wanted. But then, with Agent Walker around, it can't be all bad, can it?

This fic gets props for being historically-set but still including the Intersect. Again, a historical AU, so the pining!! the need to be Proper!!! But besides all that, there’s a lot of action fun as well.

Chuck Versus The Crosswalk: Remastered | WvonB

Will a last minute mission help our two favorite characters finally get together? This is the remastered version of my first story.

The original version of this fic is on my first list; this is the updated version! It’s not a complete AU, instead a story that diverges from canon, so if you’re more into canon characters and setting than a new AU scenario, this is a great fic for that.

Little Girls, Paper Wreaths, and Choc Chip Cookies | DanaPAH

Very AU: Sarah Walker is a single mother whose Christmas spirit needs a boost after a tough divorce. She isn't quite ready to go looking for romance, but her little daughter's affection for their new neighbor may lure it right to her doorstep, anyway.

An incredibly sweet AU one-shot where Chuck and Sarah are new neighbours, and Sarah has a super cute little girl. So much sweetness and love and hope. I love this fic so much it literally led me to write my own neighbour-kid-AU, so, not to toot my own horn but I’ll link it here anyway.

May Your Walls Know Joy | halfachance

Looking for a fresh start after some tough times, Sarah and her three-year-old daughter move to LA. When they meet a sweet curly-haired nerd who lives next door, though, Sarah realizes they might just find more happiness than they'd ever imagined, if only her past doesn't catch up to her first. AU.

It’s what the summary says; if you wanna read, feel free!

Chuck vs the Sound of Music | quistie64

AU. Chuck, nerd extraordinaire, is a man with seven children and Sarah must protect them all from Fulcrum's evil designs. Warning: there will be singing.

I mean. Not much mystery as to the concept with that title and summary lol, but this is a super fun, soft ride with a lotta sweetness, and yes, singing.

Just Two People | David Carner

Meet Sarah Walker PhD, Psychologist, specializing in personality traits. Meet Chuck Bartowski, man who has left THE electronic company of 2020. When Burton Consultants tries to figure out what is wrong with the morale of Orion Industries, what happens when a guy named Chuck meets a woman named Sarah. I'll give you a hint, it's me writing.

David’s done something pretty special with this fic. It’s Chuck and Sarah centric, but very much an ensemble piece, too, with a lot of Team Bartowski and other familiar faces throughout.

Chuck Versus the Con Game | Steampunk.Chuckster

AU. Chuck and Sarah are partners in the con game. It's an existence wrought with danger and violence. Every day could be their last. Every mission could be the end of the line.

This is where I freak out SC and declare this fic the reason I ever got hooked on Chuck fic and then wrote Chuck fic, and the reason I still love it today but. that is true lol. Just so. so good. It’s also written with the chapters out of chronological order, which is super fun from a reading perspective. But con!Sarah AND con!Chuck?? Best. The kind of fic you will be thinking about for days (if not, y’know, years).

As you can tell by the repeats, I highly recommend just about anything by Steampunk.Chuckster, dettiot, or David Carner, but there are a TON of amazing Chuck fics and authors out there. I’ve never known a writing community so wildly creative-- there are so many unique AUs and canon explorations and story concepts that this show has manifested, and it’s all so much fun.

Most of the Chuck fic community is still over on FFN rather than AO3, so if any of these whet your appetite, feel free to have a browse there for more stories. I’m sure you’ll find something great. Personally, all the incredible writing there has also led me to write a buttload; I’m at halfachance on FFN, so if you see any of my stuff or wanna chat fic, feel free to message me there or here.

Happy reading, folks!

#chuck #fic rec #chuck fic #nbcchuck #praying if i edit this to add to it or i reblog it to add to it all the links stay and the line breaks don't disappear sksks #the old one still looks okay on desktop but it's messed up on the app and on mobile and it's just all generally messy #so i've been wanting to make this for aaages lol yay to finally doing something! woo!

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alnwicks · 3 years ago

Photo

I’m so happy someone asked about dear Sophie - I’ve missed her! One day I will go back and do a mini series of her story, but for now, here are the updates on the Clifton family! and LOL “the Queen’s uncle” i am dying!!

Princess Sophie of Clifton

Sophie has come a long way since skipping her father’s second wedding and icing out her stepmother at a restaurant as a teenager. While there was much animosity between Sophie, her father Felix, and stepmother Francesca, she started to open up much more following the birth of her half-siblings, Flora and Louis. While she was not completely accepting of Francesca until Flora and Louis were older, she turned out to be a super-cool (and very loving) older sister.

Sophie graduated from the Fashion Institute of Clermont in Gardania and returned to Winchester to work for Winchesterian Vogue. She became deputy fashion editor at the magazine in just 5 years. When she was 29, Queen Victoria asked her to attend a last-minute benefit on her behalf - and that’s when she met Matt!

... and got married! Sophie got married!!! She married Prince Mattheus of Summerset, the cousin of King William II of the Winden Territories. Mattheus was serving as Ambassador to Winchester when they met at the benefit, and they got engaged a year later. They got married at the Royal Chapel in old historic Alnwick, and Sophie wore her mother’s tiara.

(L-R) Lord Thomas, Princess Sophie, Lady Catherine, Prince Mattheus and Christopher, Viscount Alnwick, pictured together at their home 16 years ago.

But that’s not all! They also had kids! Sophie and Matt have three children, Lady Catherine Josephine Carmichael, Christopher Edmund Carmichael, Viscount Alnwick, and Lord Thomas Spencer Carmichael. Throughout their childhood, the family lived at the Ambassador’s Residence in Alnwick and grew up with their cousins. Lady Catherine now works as a graphic designer, Christopher, Viscount Alnwick works in foreign relations for the Winden Territories, and Lord Thomas is in his final year of University.

Sophie and Matt still live in Winchester, where Matt continues his work as Ambassador. The two plan on relocating back to the Winden Territories when they are needed.

Katherine, Duchess of Clifton

When we last saw Katherine, Duchess of Clifton, it was at the events surrounding the coronation and wedding of Queen Victoria. Following her divorce from Prince Felix, Katherine remained in very good graces with the royal family, with the family often breaking protocol to include her in events (some may remember that Katherine’s sister-in-law, Queen Alexandra, chose to have Katherine walk next to her in the funeral procession of King Thomas. The late King’s brother, Felix, had to walk behind the rest of the family).

Katherine was vital in the helping Queen Victoria transition from princess to Queen, and supported Alexandra in the time after Thomas’ death. Katherine spent the entire year following the accident at the palace and with Alexandra, filling in at engagements when needed. Even after the birth of Victoria’s daughters, Katherine continued to take on royal engagements and host events on behalf of the royal family. On Victoria’s 10th anniversary as Queen, Katherine was made a Grand Dame of the Royal Albertian Order - the oldest and most prestigious award given to members of the royal family for dedication and service.

Katherine and Jeffrey at their wedding nearly 12 years ago.

Just when Winchester thought they couldn’t love Katherine more, she shocked them by announcing that she had remarried. Her new husband, Jeffrey Crowe - who was previously unknown to the public - had been the chief of Queen Alexandra’s personal security team. When he retired, the two tied the knot in a small ceremony attended only by family.

These days, Katherine is well into her 80s. She recently posed for a portrait with Felix, Sophie, and her grandchildren, as well as Felix’s other children. She spends her time chatting with her grandchildren and volunteering with organizations that promote children’s literacy. She and Jeffrey live in an apartment within Alnwick Palace, where she has tea with Alexandra twice a week.

Felix, Francesca, Flora and Louis

The Duke, Countess, Lady Flora and Louis, Viscount Alnwick, photographed 9 years ago.

Prince Felix, Duke of Clifton is the uncle of Queen Victoria, brother of the late King Thomas. He is a colorful character and is infamous throughout Winchester for his divorce and subsequent hasty remarriage, followed by the quick birth of twins by his second wife.

Many of you will remember that Francesca had an extremely difficult time assimilating into the Alnwick family, and her relationship with Katherine and Sophie (who could forget “pipe down, whore”?!) didn’t help. However, once Felix revealed himself to be the same not-so-great guy he always was, Francesca sought Katherine out for advice - and ended up making a friend.

When the twins were 21, Felix found himself in yet another cheating scandal - this time with his university girlfriend, who had suddenly been widowed. Though Francesca loyally stood by his side, saving him from yet another divorce scandal that would assuredly ruin his already poor public reputation, his family nearly completely cut him off. Her response secured her favor in the royal family and reminded Alexandra to quietly remove Felix from all possible guest lists in the near future.

Lady Flora Alnwick attended the University of Britechester and majored in International Relations and Chinese. She attended Queens’ College School of Law, and now works for the Winchesterian government in overseas trade regulation. She is rumored to be dating Harrison Roust, a professional tennis player.

Louis, Viscount Alnwick attended the University of Foxbury and studied business. He works for a hedge fund, and has a rather active public life on the party scene. He has been romantically linked to a number of models and actresses, and allegedly fathered a child with Winchesterian actress Lily Breckett.

Thank you for asking about the more minor characters! Feel free to ask more questions if you want to know more :)

#family update #princesssophie #princefelix #flora #louis #francescaclemons #ladykatherine

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butchladymaria · 2 years ago

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not sure if you’re referring to my analysis essay, but at the risk of nudging into “make your own post” territory i do want to address your points here just for fun! this got long, so under the cut it goes —

Firstly, I do agree with the interpretation that he wouldn’t dress Doll in hunting attire. The thing is, there’s a vast ocean of nuance between “dressing doll in hunting clothes” and “dressing doll in hyperfeminine gender conforming clothes”, and Maria’s taste isn’t as mysterious as many make it out to be if you look closer at her attire. Maria’s homeland of Cainhurst allowed its citizens to be knights regardless of gender, but gave visually distinct uniforms for men and women. As you can see below, despite of the fact that she could have modeled her attire on either a masculine or feminine outfit, Maria’s hunting clothes far more closely resemble the masculine knight’s set.

I can’t speak for everyone, but when I point out how Gerhman feminizes Maria through Doll, it doesn’t really have anything to do with hunting attire vs civilian attire. I’m talking about how Maria’s garb shows that she was gender nonconforming by her own cultural standards, yet Gerhman omitted that in making Doll. Regardless of his presumed motivations, it’s inaccurate to just ignore that completely. In any case — just because we only see her hunting attire in-game, why should we assume that her masculine taste in fashion was solely the result of the hunt? I don’t think most folks imagine that other characters who dress masculine such as Gascoigne would be dolled up in a dress if not for the hunt (although it’s a great concept lol, good for him if true). It’s also not as if masculine civilian clothing doesn’t exist — plenty of corpses wear button-up shirts, waistcoats, and coats that fit the bill.

I don’t know how much canonical basis there is to prove that Gerhman “did love/care for Maria because of who she was and not what she looked like”, as in all my research there was nothing which points to that decisively one way or another. If that’s your headcanon, that’s totally cool! However, I will say this: people, especially parental/guardian figures as Gerhman was, as far as we know, to Maria, can care about a deceased loved one and still erase their GNC identities after death — and for a whole host of reasons. The specifics are a very complex issue for another day, but suffice it to say that those things aren’t mutually exclusive. The existence and memory of gnc people is complicated by a society that doesn’t want their memories preserved accurately — just look at any lgbt+ historical figure for that one.

On your point of mourning dolls — if you do look them up, you’ll actually find that they were only made for very small children, usually infants or toddlers at the oldest, and Maria was obviously well out of that age range. What’s more, other forms of mourning art were used for adults. post-mortem photography, hair art, etc were all common (and its actually a super interesting rabbit hole to go down, highly recommend). If you’re still going to claim that Doll was made as a mourning doll, it implies that Gerhman saw Maria as his daughter (which is decently in line with canon), but it also brings a whole lot of somewhat unsavory baggage along with it. To summarize: the mourning doll represents the culmination of the Victorian obsession with the inherent innocence of white children, and their emphasis on those children as paragons of untainted purity. I highly recommend you check out Eternal Innocence: the Victorian Cult of the Dead Child if you’re interested in learning more — you’ll see what I mean about that baggage being unsavory.

Either way, it directly implies that Gerhman was trying to make Maria in effigy as pure, innocent, and untainted. Maybe that’s okay on paper when it’s a baby we’re talking about, but Maria was a grown adult. Unlike an infant, she did have thoughts and opinions. It also puts the attire he chose for her in even more unflattering light — possibly implying he saw her gender nonconformity as impurity to be expunged…? Rather historically accurate, if nothing else. It gets even more uncomfortable when you consider that purity was heavily connected with obedience, dependence, and lack of personhood in this time period. The obsession with preserving purity seem in mourning dolls was the same variety that argued women did not belong in politics or the workplace lest they become “tainted” by the outside world (and protest being considered the wards and property of their husbands the same way children were of their fathers, among many other things). In other words, the infantilization of women was a key part of Victorian era misogyny that equated their “purity” to that of children — which must be preserved at any cost, even after death. Making a mourning doll of Maria would have been out of place even in Victorian times, but it only gets worse if you do follow that line of reasoning to its logical conclusion in the historical context mourning dolls come from.

To conclude, my larger point that I develop more in the essay is that it’s a bit of a lapse in logic to point to the historical existence of, for example, mourning dolls while overlooking the historical context of possession when it came to women and children that contributed immensely to their existence in the first place, and the deep prejudice that existed against GNC people at that time period as well. It isn’t accurate or logical to take a cultural and historical artifact like mourning dolls and completely remove the complex web of contextual meanings they were bound up in. I’m 100% in favor of acknowledging the historical influences of the Victorian Era on Bloodborne — in fact, I think it’s crucial to a complete understanding — but that’s a lot more complex than face-value comparisons. More broadly, I think we do Bloodborne a disservice by ignoring that broader historical context and womanhood, especially given how the themes of the game focuses on women, motherhood, and childbirth.

I saw this post the other day that I can't seem to refind, but it mentioned that when Gehrman created the doll, he makes her in the image of Maria but strips her of a lot of her non-gender conforming appearance. But if you think about it for a while, it makes a lot of sense why Gehrman wouldn't put the Doll in a hunter outfit. Because Maria being a hunter is what led to her experiencing the awful Fishing Hamlet, and eventually dying. Gehrman probably regrets ever teaching her, or letting her come along on that mission. It's also worth mentioning that he did love/care for Maria because of who she was and not what she looked like. When the Moon Presence brought the Doll to life, it didn't act or think like Maria because the Moon Presence can't just take her out of the Nightmare (or doesn't want to, but trying to analyse the actions of Great Ones will give you a headache). Also the whole Mourning Doll thing. Seriously, just look them up.

TLDR: Gehrman was a Personality man.

#sry for the long ass addition but i wrote a like 40 page paper on this last semester and im making the most of that lol #/nm by the way 😭 i rly hope this doesn’t come off as rude or meanspirited its not meant to be #everyone is free to headcanon whatever they want about bloodborne (lord knows i do) n that includes urs!!#just adding my thoughts on cos as far as analysis goes i think theres a bit more to consider #at least if ur goal is a holistic analysis #WHICH it may not be and thats ok too lol it is just a little video game. that we play to have fun #op if ud rather me remove this rb thats totally cool btw /gen #im just a bit tired of people pointing to mourning dolls as if it proves there’s nothing amiss about how gerhman created and treats the dol #because like. no lol! it’s worse actually!#ignoring the fact it doesn’t make sense #because maria is an adult woman and these were made for babies #if you do go with that It Is Worse #you cant really just take a cultural artifact thats steeped in the historical and cultural significance out of its original context #without missing a huge swathe of the meaning it held #as an extreme example think of taking the christian cross and removing all context from what it means to make a point or something #like the connotations and original meanings are Super Important and by overlooking them you can end up #implying a lot of stuff you didnt mean to lol #anyway this is half just me being autistic about history and bloodborne lol there is So Much there #mine #bloodborne #miss doll

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