#Raini gets the crown obvs

[sunshineandviolets]

my ocs as dolls pt 2 - specifically lol surprise

Asher (they) // Shanaya (she) // Raini (she)

Mai (she) // Crystal (she) // Reiko (she)

[ dollmaker used here ]

[hacash]

celticaurora said: OH HO HO MORE PERIOD DRAMAS ABOUT THE ANARCHY??? Truly an underrated time period, how have I not heard of Cadfael before????

Did someone say my favourite medieval detective show ever? (yes, me) Well if you’re looking to watch a show that combined murder mystery, medieval history, nuanced portrayals of organised religion and gentle herbology then put on your slippers and get comfy, pal, because you are in for a smooth ride.

Cadfael is one of those cosy british murder mysteries like Poirot and Midsomer Murders that you used to watch with your gran on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Unlike most murder mysteries, however, it’s set in the middle ages - which makes it even better, because what’s a good mystery without a few swords to brighten things up?

it’s the 12th century, and England is in the middle of the Anarchy, our first proper civil war centuries before Cromwell made it cool (yes, I am salty that it’s never recognised as such by historians). The Empress Maude and King Stephen are fighting for the crown, the country is in turmoil, and with so much bloodshed, who has the time or the inclination to investigate unlawful murders in these dark and dangerous times? Our boy Cadfael, that’s who. Cadfael is a former soldier and crusader who’s since settled down and become a monk-slash-pharmacist in Shrewsbury Abbey. His general know-how and tendency to care about teensy little things like cold-blooded murder mean he’s often off solving unexplained deaths and dangerous political scrapes that the abbey finds itself drawn into.

Be warned, the show was put together in the mid-nineties, and you can definitely tell, with such classics as Patented Plastic Swords, Wounds With No Bloodshed, and Knitted Chainmail. Fortunately there’s not much you can do to screw up a monk’s cowl and habit.

The show is based on a series of books by Ellis Peters (real name Edith Pargeter), and they are just as good, if not better, as the show. Would highly recommend.

Reasons for watching:

The Anarchy. A truly underappreciated period in British history (because it was interesting, not because it was particularly fun); Cadfael proves a neat introduction if you’re looking to get a bit more into that wacky time when we had a war for nineteen years all because Henry I never had a legitimate son. While it shows some clever insight into the various politics and events that took place (even though I’ll never get over the show’s painfully inaccurate portrayal of Stephen) it’s particularly good at portraying what life was like for ordinary people who had no real interest in whether Stephen or Maude ruled, but found themselves swept up in the conflict.

Murder Mystery Bros

Before Sherlock and Watson made it cool, England had Brother Cadfael and Undersheriff Hugh Beringar. Crime-fighting duos are always fun, but the broship between Kindly Badass Cadfael and Death-before-Dishonour Beringar is really lovely to watch. (with the slight proviso that Beringar’s appearance changes...more than once.)

One-Dimensional Religious Characters? Never Met Them

One thing I love about this series is because it’s set in an abbey, it covers all the different spectrums of how you could be a Christian in 12th century England and basically goes ‘the Church was an institution made up of humans and like all other such institutions was capable of great grace and kindness, and unbelievable dickbaggery’. Where else would you get such a span of characters ranging from:

Cadfael, who’s basically that one bloke that atheists on tumblr will say ‘oh, I don’t like organised religion but that one Christian dude’s pretty cool, why aren’t the rest of you like that: kind, cares about the down-trodden, deeply pious but also pretty worldly-wise. Brother Oswin: lovely and earnest in his faith but also essentially useless when it comes to doing anything practical. Abbot Heribert: nice cuddly grandpa abbot who’s very lovely but doesn’t do all that much. Abbot Radulphus: firm but fair Reasonable Authority Figure (tm). Prior Robert: pompous stuck-up git who exhibits all of the authoritarian tendencies of the medieval church without actually being downright evil. Brother Jerome: equally fundamentalist tattling little sod who’s nonetheless so pathetic that you occasionally pity him, if only because it can’t be fun being that unlikable.

The one problem with this is that there are no female regular characters, monasteries being famously non-female-centric. Plenty of awesome female guest characters though.

(Also, the conflicts between Cadfael and his more conservative colleagues? Not Politically Correct History, this was actually a thing! Neo-Aristotelian thought was a way of thinking that arose in the Middle East (Cadfael was a crusader) that relied on logic and reasoning, as opposed to the blind acceptance of authority demanded by orthodox Augustinianism; and this became a big intellectual Thing amongst academics during Western Europe at this time. Not only did Ellis Peters write a historically accurate character we can relate to, it’s a humongous fuck you to anyone who thinks medieval Europe was full of cavemen still working out how to make fire.)

Cadfael Himself

Sir Derek Jacobi playing a lovely old soldier-turned-monk whose main cares are promoting peace over bloodshed and seeking justice for the underdog (as well as usually setting up the Couple of the Week amidst his sleuthing, because of course). With plenty of snark. What’s not to love?

-

Also if you’re interested in reading about the Anarchy, may I humbly suggest Sharon Penman’s When Christ and His Saints Slept? Penman’s storytelling isn’t always the best – it’s sometimes less historical fiction and more dramatic retelling of the facts with some additional characters popped in  - but it’s pretty good fun and fully introduced me to the sheer chaotic madness of the Anarchy. (Also for those of us who’ve been burned by medieval authors’ inability to write a well-founded female character to save their life, her stories always seem to stray clear of the typical pitfalls; eg gross sexual assault/this woman really likes sex so she’s obvs a harlot/this woman dislikes sex so she’s obvs a prude/i am a Strong Female Woman and anything Feminine is Beneath Me, which is a definite plus.)

[the-witch-of-roses]

Julerose [ Juleka X Rose ] Headcaons

I think I want to do more stuff for Miraculous Ladybug as well as my own original work to take a break from DC. Creative juices have been running low but probs once new series have been started Ill write stories for them.

Notes- These are my own personal headcanons that might not match up with the show! Please be warned that it’s been very long since I've watched the first few episodes and as a result, some things may not make sense. I have headcanons for how their relationship started but if you just want to skip to when they are already in a relationship, skip past the break. Btw it is 2am and I am sick so I'm sorry for messiness and all the errors but I felt like this so who am I to judge.

PS: Don't like these funky little lesbians purely because you hate lesbians and not because you dislike the character/the relationship? Get off my blog :)

- Things started to blossom when Rose was akumatized [ Princess Fragrance ] and Juleka was her support afterward

- The two had been close friends up to that point and Juleka started to think of something more when she became jealous of Rose’s crush and even mad at the prince afterward because she blames him for Rose’s akumization

- The same time she was grasping her feelings was when Rose also realized

- Rose had support from all her friends but she felt close to Juleka in a certain way and suddenly all she could focus on was how Juleka’s laugh was rare yet beautiful, how she plays guitars as easily as breathing and how she does makeup like a professional

- With both of them being shy and unsure no way made a move much to the confusion and amusement of their friends which constantly tried to get them to interact more which always seemed to backfire

- When Juleka was being treated badly by Chloe it led to Rose sticking up for her and speaking out against Chloe and when Juleka was akumatized [ Reflekta ] Rose only worried about her

- Finally, the two got to talking and a late night confession led to them dating

- For whatever reason?? They thought their friends wouldn't be accepting?

- They kept it secret, nothing seemed changed at school besides there would be a lot more touching through constant hugs and holding hands under a table

- They all knew

- They knew before Juleka and Rose knew

- No one even had to say anything it was a mutual understanding from everyone

- The two dated in secret before finally going public by an accident when the two were spotted getting Andre’s special ice cream [ Glaciator ]

- A selfie from Alya and Nino had the two sitting next to each other with Rose having her legs in Juleka’s lap and the two sharing a strawberry and lavender ice cream [ aka pink and purple ]

- They were so concerned about the reactions of their friends only to be reassured and told that their friends have been trying to get them together ever since they showed mild interest

- Funnily enough, Luka and Juleka’s mother didn’t find out until the boat party [ Captain Hardrock ] and while neither were upset they were surprised at never having a clue

-Next Headcanons Will Be About The actual Relationship-

- Rose can be considered way more edgy than Juleka

- Juleka’s aesthetic is tea on a rainy day and soft love songs with electric guitar

- Rose’s is heavy rock music with flower crowns and coffee so sweet it makes your teeth hurt

- Rose always offers Juleka a sip of her coffee but hates the taste of coffee while Rose loves it

- There’s a park by Rose’s house with a field full of flowers the two sit in

- Rose uses flowers to keep Juleka’s hair out of her face

- The two share a Tumblr with both posting music videos and Rose posting craft DIYs and Juleka posting makeup tutorials

-The page is called Jeweled Rose [ Rose’s name obv means rose but part of Juleka’s aka jule means jewel ]

- They have quite a following and support of their relationship

- Their followers call them “funky little lesbians”

- Rose gets easily cold but doesn't like to be a bother by telling people so Juleka has taken it upon herself to learn her body language so she takes off her overcoat and gives it to Rose

- Poor rose is drowned by it but shes warm

- Juleka wears a black lace shirt under it and when people first saw her without her classic jacket they were confused up until they saw rose walking around looking like she was wearing a blanket

- Juleka is by no means a controlling girlfriend but she is protective

- Everyone thinks she is the protective one because she defends Rose in public but honestly Rose more than once has had a “one on one” with someone if she thought they might hurt/were hurting her jewel

- Btw Rose calls Juleka her jewel and Juleka calls Rose her heart

- Rose speaks more in words while Juleka speaks in actions

- For example, Juleka learned sign language so Rose doesn't have to take her headphones off to talk as well as doing Rose’s makeup for events and getting her gifts just because

- Rose writes song after song for Juleka and calls her a ton of nicknames as well as posting and saying daily that she loves her

- Rose loves to compliment Juleka on things she can control, she sees no point in complimenting on things she can't [ hair color or eye color ] because of Juleka’s low self-esteem [ aka she compliments things Juleka works hard on and does to make her feel better about what she is doing ]

- Makeup is a huge thing, Rose used to know basic makeup stuff but she learned certain terms just so she could complement Juleka’s look in certain ways

- She always compliments her guitar playing too

- The two dance a lot especially in the field by Rose’s house

- The two dance with petals flying up around them and then when they get tired they listen to music together while Rose makes flower crowns and Juleka gathers flowers to dry and press to decorate her notebooks and room so she has a constant reminder of her dates with Rose

- The two found a bunny in the field one that was obviously a pet and not a wild one because not only did it come right up to them but it looked nothing like other wild rabbits

- Sure enough, the rabbit was found to be spayed when taken to the vet and after getting no response from found pet posters they kept the bunny and even though it’s at Rose’s place they consider it a mutual ownership

- They named her Dandelions and she's white and brown

[willgayers]

Omg you're from Finland?? So cool!! As an American that is very seriously considering moving out of country somewhere and is considering moving to a Scandinavian country, I'd really appreciate it if you'd share a little bit about what life is like there? Do you enjoy living in Finland?? Sorry if this is weird...America is just a pretty scary place to be lately.

first of all; i spent half an hour writing the answer and then accidentally closed the tab. i am sCREAMING INSIDE !!!!!

but, lets do this again, so:

hey!! yeah i am from finland! born and raised! and its not weird to ask ,, tbh i kinda get your point. i actually answered to an ask yesterday telling what are my 5 favorite things about living in finland, but i can tell you some more under the cut, especially differences etc ! this was actually fun to write 

ok first things first, food is very expensive. ofc not in fast food chains like mc donalds etc, but restaurant-restaurants are expensive and also grocery stores, unless you’re buying the store’s own product so at least we’ve got a cheaper option. but yeah restaurants are very expensive (salads starting from 12euros, pizzas from 13euros, chinese/nepalese starting from 12euros, sushi is so damn expensive dont even get me started on that, i only ever eat it in a lunch buffet… and if you wanna order a steak or something like that lmao prepare to pay nearly 20euros OR MORE),, anyway during lunch hours there are usually special offers. coffee prices aren’t that bad. we also have starbucks! but not all the drinks that you guys have

just like food, alcohol is very expensive, so if you like your liquor be ready waste a lot of money on it. thats why finnish people actually go to estonia by ship to full the cabinets bc their alcohol is so much cheaper! its a finnish tradition lol. same goes with cigarettes. its 8 euros for a pack in here so 9 dollars.

traveling abroad is pretty expensive, but mostly just to the states and some very exotic places like the maldives idk. its like 1000euros to travel to california (i would know because i’ve always wanted to visit but im poor af 3). traveling inside finland is not that expensive , gas is p expensive but depends on the gas station 

clothes are not that expensive, at least it depends on what you’re buying. mostly anyway its the same price range that in usa i think but we don’t have the same stores, at least not forever 21 and primark for example but we do have h&m and zara and then some european stores like bik bok (which is my personal fav!) also victoria’s secret is super expensive cause it’s not normal for finns. there are only 2 of them in here anyway, one in the capital city aka helsinki and a small one at the airport

now to holidays! in actual calendar order ;-) valentine’s day; not big on celebrating, stores have stuff and some people do spend it but… not like… many easter; we have a thing similar to trick or treating, kids only dress as bunnies and witches tho may day; basically students (from like college) get “crowned “with student caps. everyone goes out to a park for a picnic and to drink. a lot. im telling you finnish people are huge drunks,, also its part of the tradition to dress funnily, stores sell weird may day clothing (like glittery hats and neon colored sunglasses), also there are sugar donuts and a either alcoholic or non-alcoholic (you decide) drink called sima. aaand decorations like balloons and paper streamers are literally everywhere midsummer; other finns go to their cottages and barbecue and go to sauna and swim in the lake. others go to a festival to get wasted. either way its a beautiful finnish tradition lmao, also this is the night when the sun shines for the whooole night!! not like literally shines but its not dark at all. there are bonfires and honestly, i’d say midsummer is the one holiday where finnish people really drink. like its -the- heavy drinking holidayhalloween; NO trick or treating which was very sad to kid-me bc no one gave me candy when i went t-o-t as a kid. also still pissed off cause it’s my fav holiday. stores sell halloween stuff and people dress up for parties, but no one really decorates. which sucks. finland sucks for halloween tbh. one plus is that we have the perfect halloween weather because its super dark and chilly and rainy and orange leaves everywhere during halloween-time!!thanks-giving; very very very little people celebrate this. definitely not a common thing. i only do it with friends and we call it friends-givingindependence day; obviously finland’s independence day. 100 years this year!!! christmas; 1000000% celebrate. so much snow. so cold. every store has christmas things and plays christmas music. everyone decorates. i mean it’s only fair bc santa claus lives in finland duhnew year; well i don’t think theres a country that doesn’t celebrate this tbh. stores sell stuff again. we have fireworks. also a lot of drinking. againalso obvs moher’s day and father’s day

concerts happen, not as often (especially with big stars) as they do in the states, but they happen! so do festivals. i actually summer-work at the largest one in finland ayyyyyy 

also, finnish people swear. like. a lot

MINUSES;- it can get freezing in the winter. last winter the lowest we hit was like -32 degrees- most of the time during summer it rains. this is also a finnish people joke because there was a meme saying “in the bible it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. they called it the apocalypse. in finland it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. they called it summer”- some finns are very narrow-minded, so expect not everyone to definitely not agree with you. i actually have a hard time dealing with this and usually always stood out from the mass mainly bc i am way too social and open-minded and everything to hang out with kids my age because their opinions and standards never really match to mine. finns are tbh kinda raised to be cold and they have to be well educated. oh boy if you only would’ve heard all the things they have told me after i have told them that i wanna make a living out of singing and acting and writing! - well the expensive things that i mentioned and the lack of halloween :-( - also if you wanna make it big, like international-big, in the music industry for example, it is very hard to try and do that from here because literally no one either knows that we exist or thinks that we live in igloos and have polar bears in our backyard. also everyone loves sweden more lmao and we hate that. there’s actually a finnish joke ,, we won them in hockey one year with 6-1 and every time we argue with a swedish person… thats always a great comeback, no matter how long its been :-)

PLUS- THINGS;+ we are mostly a very safe country with an amazing president+ free health insurance+ free studying + same sex marriage is approved+ summer is very beautiful if its not raining. especially in the countryside. amazing!!! + finns aren’t over-all bad, for example there is an incredible bond between finns when it comes to extreme finnish stuff, like midsummer drinking, seeing dramatic movies that revolve around finnish history (like war for example, a re-make of an old movie called the unknown soldier just came out and it was intense in the cinema!), hockey victory and this especially!!!! like it doesn’t matter if you hated that guy from your math class, if you two run into each other on a victory night, you fucking hug for three hours because WE FUCKING WON and tbh that is what i find most beautiful in our culture. its cute + ok honestly, just christmas again. finland is the winter wonderland i am telling you!

overall, i enjoy living in finland very much. it is a home and even though i wish to live abroad one day, finland will always be my home!! so if you really wanna move out, i suggest you at least consider finland. we are actually an amazing country. i hope this helped you! XO