#Project Spe

[a-spes]

Soo, what do we think about my next embroidery project? 👉👈

I am almost done with the flowers for my grandma, so I thought I would make myself a nice marvel themed shirt 👉👈

And that's the images that I'll use as inspiration

[hiro-sama]

I'm still on a break from vn dev but I'm THINKING about the half-demon project so have this decadent Mairō as a teaser. 😇

[cheswirls]

looking @ old fic i started when i was 14/15 is so funny bc im realizing once again why i never mark fics as abandoned even if its been literal years since i've touched them. specifically i was checking docs for stuff i started and either did or didn't post to ffn.

and its like. nothing is bad??? like i can see where my outside-the-box ideal of fic writing comes from. not just fics but writing in general, i'm p sure. even if it's a total cliche plot setup, there are details on each that rly make it stand out like oh yeahhhhhh i did have this great idea once upon a time.

funny too bc was it executed well in prose??? no absolutely not i wrote like shit when i was 15. would i revive an idea one day and revise it to be less cliche or cringy while still keeping the stand-out elements??? yea maybe. i might. everything i'm currently working on that i started from 2021 up to now still holds my supreme interest, but like i'm not gonna say never.

esp since i write fic first and foremost for my own need and specifically what i like to read, it makes it impossible to consider an idea i've thought extensively about "not worth writing anymore". anyway not making this too long i jus found everything interesting to consider

[kanjirumonos]

[lytransthropy]

EarthBound has the player calling Ness's father to save the game and I kinda wish that more games had quirks like that! 💖

I have never played earthbound but AUGH it makes sense knowing what I do about it to have that mechanic be a thing!

I was partially inspired by the fact that when I was hospitalized recently i was only able to contact my loved ones through a phone booth area and I think I can really draw on that experience when writing this even if it isn't 1 to 1

[lycankeyy]

Sorry for everyone who follows my projects having to deal with my unmedicated adhd ass jumping from project to project every five seconds with no guarantee on when anything will actually get finished if ever

[spaceroadtrip]

Finished my first draft of Spes Super Sydera today! 114000 words and absolutely no notes for it whatsover! I'm proud of myself for managing but now I've to figure out how to unravel the mystery part of those plot because I only discovered what it was while writing it.

But that's for later!me to worry about. Current!me gets to celebrate finishing the first draft!!!

[aphrodeiities]

𝔰𝔠𝔬𝔯𝔭𝔦𝔬 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱 𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔰𝔢

paid natal chart readings are open :)

follow for more content!

♇ scorpio ascendants are seen as polarising people, people who are magnetic and mesmerising, majority of the times they can catch an audience's attention, or they can be the type of person who's energy everyone is aware of but is left alone. due to this mysterious nature majority of them carry, there's this instinctive curiosity people have for them, wanting to find out any information about them and even breaking their boundaries. people see individuals with scorpio in their first house as people who are ever-changing and willing to become a better [or even worse] version of themselves.

♇ when it comes to self-identity, many of them do like to see themselves as the stereotypical mysterious and dark person, and some of them like to identify themselves as people who are students of life whose have their own fate in their hands. scorpio ascendants see themselves as people who are wise, and majority of the times they have the right to, many of them have gone through a lot of traumatic experiences that caused them to become people who are astute enough to guide themselves and other people.

♇ moving onto the impression they make on others; is that they are people who are charismatic, determined and powerful. giving the impression that they are individuals who are strong and magnetic, sometimes people with scorpio in the ascendant carry themselves to be more than who they are, so there are moments where people think of them as deceptive.

♇ the first house is part of the content that conveys about someone's personality, and to have scorpio in the first house means that their persona consists of being ever-changing, powerful, charismatic and observant, though they could also be people who are mean, grim, cold and could like to use their power to manipulate those around them.

♇ pluto being the planetary ruler of scorpio, [and yes i do know mars is as well, but im just focusing on pluto], this being the ruler of their first house means they have a lot of life lessons to get through, and sometimes this can make the individual depressed and tired with life. majority of the times having pluto in or the planetary ruler of your first house can make it seem like the kin is being punished for choices they have done in their past life. besides the negative, these people having pluto being the planetary ruler of their first house makes them someone of many faces, [not in a bad way], they can restart and give themselves a new identity to help them shift throughout life in a more stronger way than before.

♇ moving onto appearances, stereotypically scorpio ascendants do have piercing eyes, and a lot of them tend to have blue piercing eyes, like i have spoken about in my scorpio blue eyes post, scorpio ascendants vary in height but majority of the times they have this slender appearance that sometimes make them look like an owl. when it comes to the hair, there could be a lot of scorpio risings who have blond hair but still have an ominous or powerful appearance that makes them come off as striking. many of them do look good in black.

♇ when it comes to their personal ambition, scorpio ascendants are like their co-planet sharer, aries. they're adamant and have a strong desire for success. they're definitely people who strive to have influence in whatever they take action on, they don't like feeling that whatever they do or get is going to make them feel small or overlooked. due to this, this can make them someone who likes power and control, it can manifest into an obsession for it.

♇ the strengths and weaknesses that a scorpio ascendant would most likely have would include them being charismatic, reforming, high-reaching and transformative, but they can also be people who are controlling, obsessive, resentful and destructive, including, self-destructive.

♇ they project their personalities to be individuals who are the first to do a specific thing, they like to be on their own lane, they'd rather lead a crowd than follow it. thus their competitive nature, due to them normally being in situations where someone might've tried to dominate them too much; they can become people who feel ill at ease when authority is around them. because of them being people who don't like to follow rules, they can be considered as too rebellious and come off as controversial.

♇ kins with scorpio in the ascendant view the world as their own trials and tribulations, they are likely to view the world as a race they're the only competitor in but the race bringing much hurdles and obstacles, one of the obstacles having spikes and chainsaws. they perceive the world to be something to either be on top of never below, seeing the world as a ladder and having no intentions of staying on the ground.

♇ moving onto their self-image, scorpio ascendants think of themselves to be people reforming and as people who want to become a better version of themselves. they are forever changing, they view themselves as people who need to survive and adapt to every situation they run upon. [sometimes this can bring a victimising-mindset, if not, then just one that is always paranoid]. they have the self-image of thinking that they're people who are protective over themselves and the possessions they have in their lives.

♇ scorpio ascendants usually do leave an impact on people's lives, majority of the time they enter quietly and leave with a bang. sometimes the impact they leave on people can be compared to the tower card in tarot, majority of the times people with scorpio energy in their first house are here to give people a lesson, especially within the themes the ascendant would land in the other party's house, for example if a scorpio's ascendant were to land in someone's third house they would teach them a lesson about sibling-hood, friendship hood, being comfortable with their verbal skills and abilities to be secure of expressing ideas.

pluto's masterlist

scorpio in the houses masterlist

paid chart readings

pluto

[penumbramewtwos]

awe x3 he's so cute!! tysm for drawing them and taking the time to do so, I really appreciate it! :D

@penumbramewtwos

Chilli's drawing was so good I had to return the favour

(plus I just really Chilli lol, he's funny and adorable)

I apologize if it's not the best, my art skills ain't the best and Mewtwos are hard to draw

[falmerbrook]

How are the Falmer hitting me with arrows? (headcanons on how Falmer navigate and hunt/fight)

I'm keeping up the Falmer headcanon momentum.

So Falmer in Skyrim (the game) have a blind effect applied to them and fortify sneak. As I'm sure anyone who has plundered a Dwemer ruin has experienced, despite their blindness, those buggers sure can shoot and arrow. As a matter of fact, they have a surprising amount of archers in their communities. There's also a question of how they are able to navigate the often treacherous Dwemer cities filled with dangerous guarding contraptions and tall drops. So here's my thoughts on how they get around and navigate/fight/hunt so well.

Echolocation

You know what other (real life) creature has poor eyesight, big ears, and is able to pinpoint small targets for hunting? Bats.

I like to imagine that Falmer are in the early stages of evolving echolocation. While they don't have the precise echolocation capabilities of bats, I headcanon they can use it to get a general picture of the size and shape of their surroundings, so they can get a decent idea of obstacles, the size of a room/cavern, if there is a gap or cliff, and if an object or creature is moving around. Falmer moving about will use echolocation to navigate (akin to using something like a cane to just detect obstacles or walls), and while on guard or hunting they can use it to scan an area to get a baseline for what the area is like and therefore if something changes within it.

Bats that have evolved echolocation tend to have large ears to better pick up the reflected noises, and strange looking wrinkles and folds in their faces to help reflect or project the sound to the ears better. This could explain the wrinkles on Falmers' faces and the larger ears (I also tend to make their ears bigger than in the games in my drawings for that reason).

That all being said, for your consideration, please imagine if Falmer's faces looked like this:

(Wrinkle-faced bat, white-throated round-eared bat, vampire bat, horseshoe bat, great stripe-faced bat, slit-faced bat)

And if they sounded like this (as I picture it, it would be a sort of secondary noise set alongside their normal vocalizations that we hear in-game):

(in real life, this is more of a noise you can feel in your head than hear)

(this one is slowed and pitched down so we can hear it)

Clairvoyance

I've often wondered (these are the sorts of things I think about while I'm working) how clairvoyance would work in-universe, but I think it could be useful to someone (or a group of someones) who can't see. For those who don't know, clairvoyance is an illusion spell in Skyrim (the game) that shows a blue magical path towards the current objective (quest marker). They way I like to headcanon it, the way clairvoyance works in-universe can vary, but it’s mostly used for giving the mind’s-eye an “image” of the route/location of what the caster is thinking about. It’s like a mix of a clarity of understanding (a “eureka!” moment) and a mental picture. It’s a spell that requires pretty heavy concentration and mental training, since it requires not only casting the spell but maintaining a certain objective in your mind.

Falmer have figured out how to use it to “see” (understand) their surroundings in a way that allows them to fight, hunt, and navigate complex architecture. It’s not a replacement for sight though, just a way of adjusting without it. This is the skill that allows them to use bows with fairly good accuracy. They understand this spell more as a navigational skill than what the above world sees it as (a spell). I imagine they have their own very different system of understanding and classifying magic since they've been so separated from the rest of the world, but that's a post for another day.

While echolocation is mostly used for purely navigating and scanning the environment to get a sense of scale and placement, clairvoyance is used more for a specific purpose, whether that be to navigate to a specific point, navigate difficult terrain, pinpoint the position of a target/enemy, find something (an object they lost, a friend or family member, etc.), etc. While a guard or hunter may use echolocation to scan, they may then use clairvoyance to pin down a potential threat. Usually, unless one is very skilled in magic, they can only focus on a single target or subject at a time using clairvoyance, and it is a learned skill that most individuals have at least a basic grasp on, but only those more skilled in magic can use for complex, frantic, or stressful situations. They don't see it so much as a spell to learn and master, but rather a basic skill of life, like how we may see learning to read and write.

Of course, part of their ability to navigate also just comes down to having been born that way and just naturally learning the placement and arrangement of things in their environment. They don't know what they're missing, and like a blind person or animal, could adapt to it in their own non-magical ways as well. The magic and evolution just help them thrive.

Anyway, thanks for reading another Falmer Post™!!

[charlotteharlatan]

A list (non-exhaustive) of why the 1941 flashback scenes are haunting both me and The Narrative, Part 1:

1. Both S1 and S2 have scenes that take place that night - THAT CERTAIN NIGHT - in 1941. It is specifically revisited in S2, which leads the audience to believe that night was of particular importance, both to Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship and to the overall plot of the show.

2. In the same vein of things that are referenced more than once, the song “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” was first released in 1940, and it’s entirely plausible that they both heard it for the first time in 1941 while in each other’s company.

All evidence points to the song being personally significant to Aziraphale and Crowley. We know it as Their Song, and they seem to think of it that way as well - otherwise Crowley’s “no nightingales” comment in the last 15 minutes of S2ep6 would not have struck Aziraphale so hard; we can see by his expression that the words affect him. With that statement, Crowley seems to be referencing not only the song itself, but possibly also a specific memory they share that involves that song.

At first, one might assume he means the occasion at the Ritz at the end of S1, because that song is indeed playing in that scene. However, I think that scene itself is also partially a reference back to 1941, which I’ll get to in a later item.

3. When examined closely, many scenes and plot elements from the rest of the show may be nodding to 1941. When Crowley and Aziraphale discuss ways that humans fall in love in the pub scene in S2ep2, Crowley references being caught under an awning in the rain, a very transparent callback to Eden when they huddled under Aziraphale’s wing.

So, Crowley’s contribution harkens back to Eden, but what does Aziraphale mention? What is called to his mind when he thinks of falling in love? Cotillion balls. Music and dancing. Things he’s read about in Jane Austen novels, the moments therein where the protagonists realize they’re in love. On its surface, Aziraphale’s idea of falling in love seems more like an abstraction than something the angel has experienced himself. Except: perhaps he has. Perhaps, just like with almost everything Aziraphale says and does, we should be looking at it much deeper than surface level.

Maybe he’s projecting just like Crowley is, just in a less straightforward, more opaque sort of way, which you have to admit would be very in-character of him. Maybe he’s thinking of a moment we have not directly seen yet, a moment that has only been gestured to. In other words, “a joke the paleontologists haven’t seen yet,” the paleontologists in this case being, well, us. We know Aziraphale is actually capable of sleight of hand in the right circumstances, so maybe him talking about a ball is only a feint, a flamboyantly waving hand as a distraction to keep our attention away from what the other hand is doing. Maybe he is also recalling a specific memory of himself and Crowley, one that involved music and dancing, and the realization that the feeling between them was love.

So with all that in mind, what moment from the show do we have great reason to believe was Aziraphale’s realization of his own feelings, and to an extent, Crowley’s as well? Yup, you’ve got it: 1941 again. The aftermath of Crowley rescuing him at the church and saving his books. The face that launched a ship. (Sorry.)

4. Backtracking slightly to the topic of music and dancing and The Ball, let’s talk about this: just like Crowley “did a rainstorm” to try to get Nina and Crowley to fall for each other the same way he fell for Aziraphale, The Ball may have been Aziraphale’s effort to recreate the occasion on which he realized he’d fallen for Crowley. Perhaps it was intended to be a “do-over” of past events where they almost connected, with the aim of finally reaching each other this time. We’re all aware by now that while Aziraphale did fully intend to get Maggie and Nina together, he also threw a ball specifically to dance with Crowley.

It does initially seem odd that he thinks Crowley will respond well to such a big, ostentatious party, but perhaps Aziraphale has tried the subtle route before to little avail. Like when, you may well ask?

5. Well, for one: their rendezvous in 2008, right after the Antichrist arrives on Earth, in S1ep1. Crowley has been unsuccessful in convincing Aziraphale to help him avert the apocalypse, but the angel has fewer qualms about a lunch date at the Ritz.

After the Ritz, they go back to the bookshop, with Aziraphale telling Crowley he still has some Chateauneuf du Pape left “for special occasions,” which is an interesting comment - the reason why this is a special occasion to Aziraphale is never named, as Crowley glosses over it in favor of pointing out that nobody will be having any wine anymore if Heaven wins the upcoming war. Aziraphale reiterates his refusal to engage with that topic, and ushers Crowley into the shop.

All this leaves the vague impression that Aziraphale has his own agenda for the evening (because all appearances of passivity aside, the angel almost always has his own agenda). And Crowley, not noticing this or perhaps choosing to not notice it, is throwing a spanner in the works of said agenda by continuing to bring up the apocalypse. And so, stuck at this stalemate, they drink the ‘special occasion’ wine in the shop, and listen to music, and get very drunk. It’s a small detail, but we know the music is coming from the gramophone because it’s the same record Aziraphale was listening to when Crowley called him the night prior.

So, wine and music. Why are these elements significant? It isn’t named, but in S2ep4 when Aziraphale and Crowley have returned to the bookshop after the magic show, the bottle of wine they share in the back room is the same kind, Chateauneuf du Pape.

And while there is noticeably no music playing when the two of them are sitting in the quiet, private, candlelit back room of the shop, the gramophone can be seen over Aziraphale’s shoulder in many parts of the scene, looming over their conversation like a musical Chekhov’s gun.

And here’s the real kicker: the gramophone, as it happens, is normally positioned facing the opposite direction. In bookshop scenes from the rest of S2, even earlier on in that very same episode, we see it facing the usual way, in the direction of Aziraphale’s desk.

This means that it was intentionally turned so that the “mouth” of the gramophone would be visible in this scene, and turned towards Aziraphale and Crowley. You may well ask: “the background of this scene is dark and out of focus, how can you tell for sure which way the gramophone is facing?” If you look closely, you can see the gramophone’s crank is on the right side, visible in some shots past the lip of the wine bottle. If the gramophone were facing in its usual direction, the crank would be on the left and invisible in these shots.

And, to add another layer to it, we know how important cranks are as a symbolic object in this series, how much power these objects can hold in the hands of the correct wielder. Crowley turns a crank to prime the engine of the universe - in other words, to begin the music of the spheres; and much later, he uses the Bentley’s crank when he restarts time on the Tadfield airbase. What if the gramophone’s crank was used in a similar way in 1941, to temporally create a little universe of their own, either metaphorically or literally?

Great care was taken in planning every aspect, every little detail of this show; almost nothing is a coincidence; staging scenes especially is done with the utmost degree of care. All of this to say, we as the audience seem to be meant to relate the scenes from 1941, 2008, and 2023 narratively, even though they take place decades apart. Throughout the years, Aziraphale may be trying - subtly at first, but then less so - to recreate the events of 1941.

Okay, that’s items 1 through 5. I definitely have more but I hit the limit for gifs and images for posting via the mobile app, so I’m going to have to post the rest in at least two more parts. Because I still have ghosts in my head and I must write about it. Hauntings are easier to handle if there’s someone in the house with you who sees the ghosts too.

Link to part 2

[rivalkieran]

that guy would love media and character analysis

personally I believe that if lacktwo were not under the thumb of interpol influencing him to be The Super Serious Flawless Agent he would be like. a massive nerd. like a HUGE nerd

[margueritesauvage]

Hello, here's my variant cover for LAYLA IN THE LANDS OF AFTER #2 for @spellboundcomics DeMULTIVERSE Phase II launches TOMORROW on KICKSTARTER! Prelaunch page is LIVE!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/spe...

[misc-obeyme]

Hey cc

So in the vampire pop quiz I think it was Dia who said something very interesting "looks like they are fixated on mc because mc is the manifestation of their desires" now that did align well with my effort to understand why would all 7 of them be this obsessed lol

Anyway in my head mc goes like guys that's just my idea of how a proper human should be lol pretty sure if any other human ended up here who kinda like hot demons you all would be obsessed about that human too

Anyway, can I request a drabble about this kind of mc not insecure, just not understanding why mc deserving all this attention

Barb would be interesting to drabble about this since it took him sooooo looooong to open up to mc a bit

happy to see you are still having fun with Barbs thirst trap 😎

-🐆

Hi there, 🐆 anon! I apologize for the delay on this - it's been taking me a little longer than I anticipated to get through the drabble requests...

Augh the Barbatos shower picture is going to be the death of me, I swear. I'm still thinking about a nsfw drabble based on one of his lines lkasdfkjfj it's a problem, I swear.

Anyway, here's a Barb drabble with MC not getting why the demons are obsessed with them! I thought it was a cute little scenario. And Barb is just being super romantic as always lol. I can't help it, I am but a humble fluff writer.

Barbatos could see it on your face - a subtle expression that the others might not pick up on. It told him the story of how you were trying your best to hide your own confusion. It was something that happened every time one of the brothers complimented you, when they fought over you, when they expressed this need to always be near you. A slight furrow of your brow, the tiniest downturn of your lips, the fleeting uncertainty that flashed through your eyes.

Ever since your first day in the Devildom, Barbatos had seen this look. He was always watching you. The more he did, the more it became clear to him that you didn't understand why everyone seemed to think there was something special about you.

Perhaps he waited too long. Perhaps he should have mentioned it to you sooner. But you didn't seem distressed. All he ever saw was bafflement. So he let it be for quite some time. Until he finally found himself alone with you when it displayed itself.

Barbatos had been pouring you a cup of tea as he heard about the brothers' latest antics. You were telling him that they had been arguing over who got to work with you on an upcoming school project.

"And then Levi got involved and I had to calm everybody down before Lotan was summoned," you said.

You were looking down at the table, your mind clearly elsewhere, when that expression flashed across your face.

Barbatos put down the teapot. "Does it make you uncomfortable, MC? When they argue over you this way?"

You met his eyes, seemingly startled by his question. "No," you said. "It's a little silly, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable. Why do you ask?"

"It's only that I've noticed the look of confusion you sometimes have in moments like these," Barbatos said. "As if there's something that troubles you about it."

You frowned in thought for a moment. "I guess I just don't understand why they care so much? Why do they think I deserve this much attention? I just act like a regular human would. Why are they so… obsessed?"

Barbatos chuckled. "Do you truly not see? This is exactly what makes you so fascinating."

"I don't know what you mean," you said.

"Despite being a totally unique individual, you still believe you are ordinary," Barbatos said gently. "I have been alive for a long time, MC. I have met many humans. No two are alike. You are not 'regular' because there is no such thing. You are yourself and that is why we love you."

Barbatos was pleased to see that confused look replaced by a soft blush. "You…?" you couldn't finish your question.

Barbatos took your hand and kissed the back of it. "Indeed," he said. "Even I have fallen under your spell. I will remind you of how special you are for the rest of your life if I must."

You laughed, a little taken aback. "I don't think that's going to be necessary."

Barbatos only smiled, your hand still clasped in his. He was content to see such a soft and sweet expression on your face, a glint of happiness in your eyes. Despite what you said, if he ever did see that confusion there again, he would do everything he could to bring your smile back instead.

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[ljblueteak]

From The Beatles site X

Culver City, CA (February 20th, 2024) -- Today, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Sam Mendes, and Neal Street Productions announced a groundbreaking creative endeavor to tell the story of The Beatles with four distinct theatrical feature films. The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles – Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison – have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.

As conceived by Mendes, who will direct, the four theatrical feature films – one from each band member’s point-of-view – will intersect to tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history.

Image

SPE will finance and distribute worldwide with full theatrical windows in 2027. The dating cadence of the films, the details of which will be shared closer to release, will be innovative and groundbreaking. 

Mendes will direct all four films and produce alongside his Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris and Neal Street’s Julie Pastor. Jeff Jones will executive produce for Apple Corps Ltd.

“I’m honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” said Sam Mendes.

“We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time,” said Pippa Harris. “To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”

“Apple Corps is delighted to collaborate with Sam, Pippa and Julie to explore each Beatle’s unique story and to bring them together in a suitably captivating and innovative way,” said Apple Corps Ltd. CEO Jeff Jones. “Sony Pictures’ enthusiastic support, championing the project’s scope and creative vision from the start, has been invaluable for all of us.” 

“I know I speak for our CEO Tony Vinciquerra, who was instrumental in making this happen, and every Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group colleague around the world when I say: ‘yeah, yeah, yeah!’” said Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group. “Theatrical movie events today must be culturally seismic. Sam’s daring, large-scale idea is that and then some. Pairing his premiere filmmaking team, with the music and the stories of four young men who changed the world, will rock audiences all over the globe. We are deeply grateful to all parties and look forward ourselves to breaking some rules with Sam’s uniquely artistic vision.”

[tens-girl]

Had a couple of days to process now, and put together my thoughts on Macbeth. Putting them under the cut to avoid spoilers!

The whole show is astonishingly good; the staging, the lighting, the costume, the sound - oh goodness, the sound - and the performances from the whole cast.

Every decision makes sense, it adds to the storytelling, it helps you understand the characters and their experiences. It’s hard to put into words how well put together and immersive the whole experience is.

The two things that I took away most strongly were the sound and David’s performance.

It’s well-documented that the audience experience the play through headphones, but nothing can prepare you for what they actually do with it. There is a sense in which experiencing the sound in this way creates a dissociation between the actors and the audience (which in itself has a point), but it achieves so much I can forgive it. The immediacy and intimacy is incredible.

Right from the beginning, the sound of the witches creates a truly unnerving atmosphere, and then throughout the play that is how their presence is communicated. It’s a beautiful solution to an age-old problem - how to make the witches scary not silly. The sound and the smoke, perfect.

The sound effects and music are beautifully atmospheric and not overused. The freedom the actors have to face away from the audience, to whisper and modulate their vocal performances in ways entirely unlike what is normally possible in theatre, is used brilliantly to communicate quieter moments and private asides. Some of the moments between Cush and David are just haunting and gorgeous, intimate moments that should be like this rather than projected to the back of a theatre.

I think David used the sound incredibly well though. More than the others, he made such great use of the way pauses between lines offered silence, that could be filled with breaths that tell the audience so much about what the character is feeling. I wasn’t expecting quite so much ‘David breathing’ but I was delighted with it. And the sounds he made during that scene with the witches - *chef’s kiss*. These are things that cannot normally form part of theatre acting, and they were fantastic as part of this performance, getting you right into the heart of this character who is falling apart in front of you.

Now, David.

There were two versions of me in the theatre that night. The former theatre studies student and literature post-grad who was excited to see such a lauded production of this play starring an exceptional actor who I’ve admired for 20years, and the slightly feral David fangirl born approx 13 months ago when I experienced Crowley for the first time. I want to speak firstly as the former!

I’ve read so many times that you can’t truly appreciate David’s talent until you see him live, particularly in Shakespeare. You honestly can’t know how true that is until you do. He is phenomenal. His presence is compelling; while not stealing from others, he still doesn’t really allow you to take your eyes from him. So much of it is what you’re used to seeing in his other work, but there is something special too.

David understands Shakespeare. Many actors can study it and learn it and perform the lines, communicating the meaning and bringing it to life. David does something that is clearly more natural and special than that. The language just feels natural, he plays with it, he enjoys it, he lets it breathe and play back. I understood every line, grasped meaning I hadn’t before, and never once thought that this language was old or strange or hard. It lives on his tongue, and it’s magical. David doing Shakespeare is something truly special.

On top of that, he is also still *him*. There are moments of pure David. He makes you laugh and cry and smile and shiver. He throws every cell of his body into every moment.

There are so many moments I loved, but I’ll pick one. After Macbeth is told of his wife’s death, his speech broke me, the vulnerability and quiet pain and heartbreak was stunning. When David does vulnerable, his whole face changes, and he sheds 20years from it, looking young and soft and devastating. It’s his special skill, and it’s the one I hate him most for because it works every time and I can’t forgive him for always breaking my heart, but boy is it beautiful.

And now the feral fangirl bit. Everyone always says that David is so very nice and kind and generous and perfect. It’s almost a cliche. But genuinely, after seeing him so powerful in all his outstanding glory on the stage, to be face to face with the unassuming, soft, and patient guy that is David, seeing him proceed calmly along the line of tensely excited fans desperate for his signature, steadily signing for everyone, calmly interacting - he is simply gorgeous in every way, inside and out.

I was desperately uncool, garbled something dreadful about how good he was. He looked me in the eye, smiled, and said thank you. He is beautiful.

There is only one way to sum up my experience…