#akaanonymouth

[lilolilyr]

Aww thank you! I'm so happy you think so <3 & yes I'll definitely make more in the future, I like making manips and this fandom is the best! Also taking prompts btw, just send me an ask and I'll see when I have time to make something for it!

I did already make a manip for this fic header here, and this one for @squishmittenficfan's wonderful AU fic :)

@akaanonymouth @sapphicdbc @shippingsincebeforeyouwereborn thanks for reblogging it as well, and the nice things you guys said <3 thought you might like to see the other two manips as well! Do you want me to keep @ ing you if/when I upload new Berena content?

& here are the sources of the manip above, hadn't posted them yet (I think... Or maybe tumblr is hiding them again because of the Evil External Links)

Catherine Russell | Jemma Redgrave | background

& Zenobia you were spot on with the highschool faculty AU vibes, the background pic's a teachers' room, I needed something with chairs bc Bernie's sitting down, & didn't find anything good under 'hospital staff room', so school staff room it is xD now I remember reading a Berena teacher AU, but I can't remember the name...

Note: when making manips, remember to adjust the lighting, especially the skin colour of people who usually have the same or very similar skin colour because that makes it Really noticeable and adjusting it after the fact is a Pain 🙈 I tried a bit, just left it at Eh Good Enough & then I managed go fuck up Again and edit new Serena face & hands into the pic where I hadn't painted over Bernie's missing arm piece yet... So I had to edit that in too xD oh well, it was still fun!

I know Berena is very canon and doesn't really need me to make silly manips, but something about this photo of Jemma Redgrave just Screamed Bernie looking longingly at Serena to me :D I'm thinking pre-relationship, Serena completely oblivious to Bernie staring at her... until maybe a colleague of theirs points it out to her, because Bernie was staring at her during the entire meeting!

Catherine Russell | background image

[starfleetwitch]

[seahorsepencils]

"Hey there. Why don't you be history, and I'll be Rudolph?" — Bad Pick-Up Lines with Drunk Serena Campbell: Christmas Edition (1/?)

With help from @akaanonymouth, @ktlsyrtis, and @starfleetwitch.

[batnbreakfast]

Thanks to @iordio , @ariverandasong , @starfleetwitch , @bitchbrisket , and @akaanonymouth for the lovely evening! ☺️

I had a lovely batday bash - including a lot of food (and feet 😂) related gifts - next time we’ll chose a quieter location though. Even the best bat ears couldn’t deal with that.

[starfleetwitch]

Filing this under 'People @akaanonymouth is convinced kissed in a coffin'

[ktlsyrtis]

I've finally slept off enough of the jet lag to piece together some semi-coherent thoughts about last weekend.

First and foremost, it was so wonderful to get to see and talk to so many internet pals in person. Sharing this whirlwind experience with @seahorsepencils, @batnbreakfast, @starfleetwitch, @akaanonymouth, @iordio, @elphiessolsikke, and @ariverandasong is something I'm going to treasure always

(the rest is under the cut because this got long 😅)

Octopolis:

I have never been in a theater as small as the Hampstead. It is literally no bigger than my living room, with only two rows of seats around three sides. So when I tell you that Jemma was RIGHT THERE you can get a sense of what I mean lol.

Truly the wildest part was the moment of this person who you've seen on screen so many times suddenly being a real human person in front of you. Like I think my brain broke for the first few minutes of the show 😅. From that point forward it was just sitting back and taking in how engaging, funny and gorgeous she is in person. There were a few lines and moments in that show which will live rent free in my head forever. Especially what a huge dork of a dancer she is 😂

Afterwards the group of us waited in the cafe to say hello. When she came upstairs she excused herself for a bit because her brother and his family were there to see the show that night, which was very sweet, and then she came over to talk to us on her way out.

I know it sounds trite, but she really is just the sweetest, loveliest person. She took the time to talk to everyone and was so kind and engaged. I was able to give her the scarf I made for her. When she found out I knit it she was like "Really? Why would you do that for me??" 😂

The highlight of the evening came courteous of @seahorsepencils, who had seen the show the night before and told Jemma that a group of Berena fans was coming the next day.

Some actors might've been like 'oh god' and run for the back door. Others might make a big show about dressing up for their public. Not Jemma, oh no.

Meeting her was so overwhelming that I didn't notice at first. But while she was talking to someone else it suddenly clicked that she was wearing Bernie's pink coat! (I think I almost ripped @starfleetwitch's arm off when I realized lol) Slowly, the rest of what she was wearing sunk in:

Pink coat? Check. Black skinny jeans? Check. Sweater over a button down? Check. Chelsea boots? Check.

That's right friends. Jemma Redgrave, glorious dork that she is, FUCKING COSPLAYED BERNIE WOLFE FOR US!!!!!!

Honestly my biggest regret of the whole trip was that in the whirlwind of everything we didn't take a picture with her. Fortunately some other fan was there that night and got some photographic proof:

(yes, she is holding the scarf I made; no, I will not be able to be normal about it lol) (also when we told her we were going to Catherine's show the next day she said to "give her my love" 😍)

Great Expectations:

Another day, another incredible UK theater. The Royal Exchange is a gorgeous venue; much larger than Hampstead, but still very intimate. We were able to get seats in the front row banquettes for the matinee, which was an amazing experience.

Catherine on stage is...the only thing I can think of is a force of nature. Her sheer presence made it seem like she was a foot taller than the rest of the cast and she owned the stage every time she was on it. On top of that, she somehow she managed to make racist, decrepit Miss Havisham really hot??? Which is a contradiction my brain still hasn't been able to fully reconcile lol

Because of all the work that goes into her makeup she understandably didn't stage door after the matinee. Fortunately some of us also had plans to go to the evening show.

This time around my seat turned out to be on the aisle where she made all of her entrances and exits, which meant she was literally inches away from me every. single. time. (shoutout again to @starfleetwitch who was sitting directly across the aisle and therefore on the receiving end of many a gay-panicked stare on my part 😅)

It was a rainy day in Manchester and the official stage door is outside with no overhang, so we took a chance and hung around in the cafe/bar area after the show. We figured that Catherine going to the bar was as likely as the sun rising in the east lol

Fortunately the chance paid off - she came out to the cafe to have drinks with a couple of her costars and was kind enough to come talk to us (after asking if we could talk in the bar so she could get a glass of wine of course 😂)

I have to tell you friends, I have very little recollection of what I said from this point forward lol. Truly talking to her was like having some kind of out of body experience. There were a couple of specific moments that are burned in my memory

I gave her the shawl I made for her, and she immediately flung it around her neck and wore it for the rest of the night *cue internal screaming and flailing*

When we told her we'd seen both shows that day, her response was "Oh god why?? It's bad enough having to be in it twice"

I don't know if she like bathes in the blood of children or something, but her skin is FLAWLESS. Literally she looks 10 years younger in person with no makeup on, its insane. Also her eyes are just as sparkly as you think they are, and when she makes eye contact it is A LOT

She asked if we all wanted to take a picture and proceeded to put her arm around me ☠️☠️☠️

She spent a good amount of time talking to us and was just as lovely, funny, and ridiculous as I could've hoped lol. In particular she mentioned how happy it makes her that Berena has taken on such a life beyond Holby and that we've all made such wonderful friends because of it.

After we let her go to talk to her cast mates, I somehow poured myself into a seat in the bar and someone got me a much needed gin as we all tried to unpack what had just happened. At some point she came back into the bar and went out of her way to come over and talk to us again (she basically appeared right next to me, and when I tell you the sheer relief that it was in the 30 seconds I wasn't spouting my usual girl crush bullshit about her 😅)

...

The rest of the trip was sub-optimal, bordering on karmic retribution lol. The tire on our rental car blew out on the M1 on our way back to London, and what should have been a 4 hour drive came out closer to 9, when all was said and done. At that point there was only time to eat, sleep, and catch the plane home

I may not have had as much time to see everyone and to spend in London as I had hoped, but I have zero regrets about the trip. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I'm so, so glad I went

And the most important life lesson:

[doctorjameswatson]

@batnbreakfast @ktlsyrtis @iordio @ariverandasong @seahorsepencils @elphiessolsikke @starfleetwitch and I believe @akaanonymouth (matching real names to tumblr names is harder than I thought 😆)

I was about to get into my car for work earlier and the postman arrived and handed me a card with handwriting I didn’t recognise. So I decided to open it then and there ….

OMG YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so happy that you all took the time to organise this but then I realised who else had signed it and …

I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE NOISES I MADE

I RAN AROUND MY CAR

and thoroughly confused my Dad 😂😂😂😂

But yes, thank you so much, I shall treasure it forever and it’s made me so happy!! 😊❤️

[starfleetwitch]

How dare you... Say something... That accurate 🤣

I've been nursing this pint glass of coffee in a desperate attempt to get this done 🤣

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the Berena fandom the sound of frantic typing and Christmas playlist can be heard around the world!

[berena-winter-event]

The Official a (not so) Silent Night Playlist

As this is a song-inspired event, we felt some accompanying music was in order! Enjoy this collection of songs nominated by your fellow Berena fans

Tracklist:

Auld Lang Syne Ingrid Michaelson // @daystarsearcher

Baby It’s Cold Outside Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan // @choreomanic

Back to December Taylor Swift // @lilolilyr

Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell // @sapphicdbc

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Darlene Love // @doctorjameswatson

Christmas Lights Yellowcard // @lilolilyr

Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) Diana Krall // @batnbreakfast

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy Tchaikovsky // @bonnissance

December 1963 Franki Valli & The Four Seasons // @slightlyintimidating

December Will Be Magic Again Kate Bush // @veganpepsibaby

Happy XMas (War is Over) John Lennon & Yoko Ono // @slbrigzi19

Hazy Shade of Winter Simon & Garfunkel // @tebarambles

He's Stuck in the Chimney Again Ana Gasteyer // @seahorsepencils

I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday Wizzard // @sapphicdbc

I'll Be Home For Christmas The Carpenters // @shippingsincebeforeyouwereborn

I’m Gonna Be Warm This Winter Connie Francis // @doctorjameswatson

Imperfect Christmas Malinda // @imagebender

In the Bleak Midwinter Julie Andrews // @lapalfruity

Just for Now Imogen Heap // @ktlsyrtis

Last Christmas Wham! // @choreomanic

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Dean Martin // @ktlsyrtis

Let the Bells Ring Kate Rusby // @doctorjameswatson

Men of Snow Ingrid Michaelson // @seahorsepencils

Once Upon a December David Newman // @starfleetwitch

One Toy Soldier Enya // @starfleetwitch

River Robert Downey Jr // @batnbreakfast

Santa Baby Eartha Kitt // @lapalfruity

Sleigh Ride The Ronettes // @ariverandasong

Snowfall Ingrid Michaelson // @tebarambles

Someday At Christmas Stevie Wonder // @danceswithcows01

Song for a Winter's Night Gordon Lightfoot // @pers-books

Stay Another Day East 17 // @akaanonymouth

Step Into Christmas Elton John // @veganpepsibaby

The Christmas Song The Raveonettes // @slightlyintimidating

The Heartache Can Wait Brandi Carlile // @seahorsepencils

The Longest Night of the Year Mary Chapin Carpenter // @shippingsincebeforeyouwereborn

The Power Of Love Frankie Goes To Hollywood // @slightlyintimidating

Underneath the Tree Kelly Clarkson // @ktlsyrtis

Valley Winter Song Fountains of Wayne // @akaanonymouth

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Ella Fitzgerald // @batnbreakfast

Where Are You Christmas Faith Hill // @danceswithcows01

White Christmas Bing Crosby // @coldblizzardqueen

White Winter Hymnal Fleet Foxes // @akaanonymouth

Winter Song Ingrid Michaelson & Sara Bareilles // @tebarambles

[pers-books]

Thanks to @slightlyintimidating for tagging me to share five songs I have on repeat right now. (This is more music tracks than actual songs):

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Boston Pops Orchestra (the only version worth listening to, in my view!)

Yellow - Jodie Whittaker

Theme from Harry's Game - Clannad

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto

Thirteen - Segun Akinola

Tagging @lapalfruity @akaanonymouth @ariverandasong @riversofmars @thisbluespirit with the usual caveat that you needn't play if you don't want to!

Merry Christmas all!

[lilolilyr]

A Berena (Holby City) canon-divergence getting together fanfiction on Ao3, 2k G, no warnings

I wrote a snippet that's kind of a version of this with Serena calling Elinor for her birthday a while ago on tumblr (under the cut) here, but ended up writing more of a version with Bernie and Charlotte, now it's on Ao3!

Thanks @squishmittenficfan for helping me along! <3 I know it didn't turn out particularly long anyway, but without you as a sounding board it wouldn't have gotten posted at all!

My Berena tag list: @sapphicdbc @akaanonymouth @starfleetwitch @shippingsincebeforeyouwereborn @lavendelhummel, let me know if you want to get added or removed from the list!

[starfleetwitch]

Me later when I see @akaanonymouth for the first time in two weeks.

It's me. Hi. I'm cat.

[starfleetwitch]

@akaanonymouth I feel like with your height and strength, my status as a shortie and enough practice, we could pull this off as a party trick 🤣

[seahorsepencils]

london/manchester adventures: part 1

Vague spoilers below for anyone who hasn't seen Octopolis.

A few weeks ago I went to see Octopolis and Great Expectations with the Berena group of @batnbreakfast @ktlsyrtis @elphiessolsikke @iordio @starfleetwitch @ariverandasong and @akaanonymouth.

I have a lot of feelings/thoughts! For the sake of brevity I'm going to try to keep the focus narrow.

octopolis

Anyone who's not able to see the production, I highly recommend buying a copy of the script online if you can. It's very beautiful and strange, and I think it's a satisfying read if you want to get a sense of some of the funnier and more vulnerable moments, and imagine Jemma in those moments.

I saw the play three times in total (twice on Thursday and once on Friday night), and each performance was very different. Because the show is a two-hander and both actors do such an amazing job listening to each other and taking in each other's (and the audience's) energy, there's a lot of variable space for the mood/vibes to shift between performances.

The Thursday matinee got lots of laughs in the first half and then felt really sad at the end. The evening show got almost no laughs at the beginning and felt sort of tense? In a way that I don't think was intentional, but made for an interesting experience watching it. Also the director, Ed Madden, was at that performance - my eyes kept flicking over toward his area of the audience to try to gauge how he was reacting.

Friday was definitely my favorite performance of the three. Ewan Miller's comic timing is pretty great in general, but in this production it was perfect - and everything he said felt very honest and vulnerable, not like a punchline. And the chemistry between both actors was definitely at its best in this version. I will say that I found the chemistry to be a bit unsatisfying in general - they have a lot of fun together, but I never quite believed that either one had fallen for the other, so it didn't quite click for me as a romantic chemistry. But thinking of the two as curious and vulnerable friends and intellectual partners, I definitely found that chemistry to be most palpable in the Friday show.

Additionally, Jemma hit a different level of anger in the Friday show, which I loved. I think the ending of the play really depends on the sense that her character feels incredibly betrayed, and on Friday, I could really feel the depth of that betrayal in her reaction to it.

And if I'm not misremembering, the final dance between the characters was a little different in that version - not the choreography itself, but how they initiated physical contact at the start of it. It had a bit more of a loving/vulnerable quality, which was very sweet and sad.

Oh, also: Jemma snort laughed the most times in the Friday performance. Very important data.

My favorite difference between the three was the bows at the end of the Friday night performance - Jemma and Ewan did a little cute shoulder bump during each bow, like they were happy about how well it went and what they'd created together this time around.

It was really lovely being able to see the show with friends the third time around, and to spend time talking about bits of the production that broke our brains, and parts where her intonation was similar to a specific Bernie moment, etc. It was also great being able to chat with Jemma after the performance - I'm not good at writing about that sort of thing so I'm going to refrain, but @ktlsyrtis's post covers it pretty nicely.

[batnbreakfast]

Yesterday in pictures (2/2): A walk around Hackney & Spitalfields and later on a lovely and entertaining dinner with @starfleetwitch @akaanonymouth , and @bitchbrisket at the Mercado Mayfair, build into a former church. Loved seeing you all! @iordio and @littlemisso We missed you around!

[starfleetwitch]

@akaanonymouth Go team weirdo! 🤣

The trick is to not let people know how really weird you are until it’s too late for them to back out.