#alexander ask answered

[jhoca]

Hiii! Omg i love you Art could you do some more Hamliza please?

more hamliza!

[vaike-kass]

There is too little of me, too much of the world.

Art mostly inspired by mindmap during interrogation by inspector/my general impressions of Quarantine! I spent three weeks drawing this art, lol, but it was worth it

Only Dankovsky/only background versions:

[nonsenuser]

nba posted this w the caption 2-2 ohhhh they cooked omg 😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️

[sapphicfromthehip]

a look into the historical fashion of sfth characters

[—> angelina roland edition | see below the cut !!

first: what’s the time period and setting that the character is in?

the off season takes place in the late 1800s (more specifically 1895!) in england. we also know that angelina also lived in america for a decent amount of time. (or i assume it was a good chunk of time at least, long enough for her style to be influenced by it for the purpose of this analysis.)

general overview of the fashion for the period:

in both british and american fashion around 1895, the bustle was falling out of style, giving way to skirts with a more bell-shaped silhouette that skimmed the hips and flared toward the hem. at the same time, sleeves were growing more dramatically puffed, leading to the distinctive "leg-of-mutton" sleeve trend.

late 1800s british fashion:

british women’s fashion in 1895 was all about dramatic silhouettes and romantic details. bustles were officially out, and skirts started skimming the hips and flaring out at the hem in a smooth, bell-like shape. the waist was still tightly corseted, keeping that hourglass figure in style, but the overall structure was softening compared to earlier decades.

the real star of the year? sleeves. specifically, the iconic leg-of-mutton sleeve. they were huge—puffed up at the shoulder and narrowing at the wrist—creating a bold contrast that made waists look even smaller. bodices were fitted and often high-necked, though evening looks sometimes dipped lower.

fabrics were rich and textured: think velvet, silk, wool, and taffeta, often layered or trimmed with lace, embroidery, or ribbon. outerwear like capes and short jackets were popular, especially with fur or braid details.

hats grew wider to balance the sleeves, usually decorated with flowers, feathers, or bows. hair was worn up, softly waved or puffed to match the romantic, oversized look of the time. gloves were a daily essential, and parasols still made an appearance when the sun did.

late 1800s american fashion:

american women’s fashion in 1895 followed a lot of the same trends as britain, but with a bit more practicality woven in. the bustle was officially done, and skirts took on that smooth, bell-shaped silhouette—fitted at the waist and hips, flaring gently at the bottom. corsets were still a must, keeping the waist cinched and structured, but the overall shape was starting to ease up.

leg-of-mutton sleeves were everywhere. they hit their peak size around this time—huge at the shoulder, narrow at the wrist—and were a staple in both day and evening wear. they gave that bold, almost theatrical touch while still fitting into the modesty of the era.

day dresses were typically high-necked and long-sleeved, often with layered bodices or decorative panels. fabrics leaned heavy and durable—wool, cotton blends, and silk—especially for middle- and working-class women who needed practicality as well as style. wealthier women wore more delicate materials like velvet and taffeta, often trimmed with lace or ribbon.

outerwear included tailored jackets, capes, and mantles, many with bold collars or cuffs to match those big sleeves. hats were getting larger too—picture hats, bonnets, and toques all decorated with feathers, artificial flowers, and sometimes even birds (victorians were intense about hat decor).

hair was worn up and often softly waved or curled at the front, with pins and combs for decoration. gloves were a daily accessory, and parasols stuck around, though they were a bit more common in southern states where sun exposure was more intense.

so in 1895 america, fashion meant flared skirts, sky-high sleeves, cinched waists, and a mix of function and flair. victorian drama, but with a touch of that american practicality.

differences between american and british fashion:

british fashion was all about elegance and polish. upper-class women leaned hard into the drama—fabrics like velvet and silk, bodices with detailed embroidery or lace, and silhouettes that followed parisian trends to a tee. everything was a little more formal, a little more elaborate. even outerwear felt fancy, with lots of tailored capes and fur trims.

american fashion? still dramatic (those leg-of-mutton sleeves were everywhere), but way more practical. daywear often used sturdier fabrics like cotton-wool blends or plain wool, especially for middle- and working-class women. yes, rich american women wore silk too, but the average person needed clothes they could actually move in. plus, regional differences mattered—fashion in new york wasn’t the same as in texas or montana.

so while both had the same silhouettes—cinched waists, flared skirts, big sleeves—british fashion was more about looking luxurious, and american fashion was more about making it work.

now, on to what i think we’re all here for, what i think angelina would wear:

angelina’s clothing would most likely reflect how both places influenced her personal style. while her father’s status means she’s expected to dress in the traditional, formal upper-class style of late 1800s england, angelina’s more rebellious nature means she doesn’t fully conform.

she wears the classic 1895 silhouette—bell-shaped skirts, corseted waist, and leg-of-mutton sleeves—but her outfits are more practical and less ornate than typical upper-class fashion. sleeves are often rolled up for comfort and movement, and she incorporates pockets, a detail more common in american clothing.

her hair is most likely worn up but in a simpler, looser style than the tightly curled, polished look favored by british aristocracy. hats and outerwear are more modest and functional rather than heavily decorated.

overall, i think that she would blend these cultures together to express her individuality—combining british elegance with american practicality in a way that allows her to have the freedom she needs to do things. (like i don’t know, taking her injured lover to france or something? who knows?)

[ziasoup]

A bit of Lams?

ong themb

[ewanmitchellcrumbs]

Hello! I hope you are doing well.

I found a video on YouTube of Ewan and Davey arriving at the McQueen show on Saturday. Ewan looks great!

I don't know if you will be interested in watching it, but here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X3lWzv575E

Thank you for sending this! Here it is for anyone else who'd like to see:

[fromdove]

heh.... heard u js finished the naturals series bb 😋😋 so......... thoughts ....

little yap sesh <3

okay okay. so i would’ve finished the series ages ago but i fell into a teensy slump during the first book because... listen. the Naturals had me in a chokehold and i got so jealous for no reason?? like michael i want you biblically. carnally. spiritually. emotionally. why are you flirting with her and not me!!!

anyway after i stopped being dramatic and stopped pacing around the house muttering “he’s mine actually,” i came back and devoured the rest of the series and it was... beautiful. just. i fell so in love with all the characters and the world and the mess. the writing was so good it made me feel deranged, and yes, the plot points confused me sometimes but i just smiled and nodded like "yes queen, i understand perfectly" (i did not).

also now i can finallyyy write fanfics about the series!! do ppl even read Naturals fic on on tumblr dot com???? is it just me & u out here in the fandom dust, whispering into the void?? who knows.

Number One: My Baby Momma, Lia.

first of all: i would let her ruin me and then write a poem about it. like YES queen manipulate me!! gaslight me with affection!! steal my wallet while we cuddle!!! i love her so much it actually makes me malfunction. HOWEVER… sometimes she does things and i’m like girl why are you being like That. but also… be like that to me specifically... and also also i remember she’s just emotionally constipated and mysterious and has cheekbones that could slice my soul in half and i forgive her. i wanna make her soup and brush her hair and be the person she finally lets her guard down for. she deserves love. she deserves me baking her little cupcakes and leaving her notes in her jacket pockets. ill clean for her. read to her until she falls asleep. i’ll kiss her forehead and lips and never ask too much questions. i will love her with devotion only found in tragic poetry.

Sloane my beloved: my sweet analytics angel. my crunchy numbers cupcake. she owns my heart. she is the only exception to my “no one is allowed to be smarter than me” rule. MY BABY. my babiest baby. she can do no wrong. i want to listen to her ramble about the statistics of shark attacks while we fall asleep in a blanket fort. i want to build her a cozy reading nook and label it with a pie chart of our love. i want to build her ikea furniture and listen to her calculate probability while i hand her screws.

but ok. when she says “according to my calculations” i do flinch a little. it’s giving “quirky disney side character” sometimes. but that’s not her fault!! i blame the mouse. i blame sitcoms. i love her deeply, math cringe and all. also her dad sucks and aaron deserved better. my poor girl.

Michael Townsend, my actual husband: he’s insufferable. he's flirtatious. he's confusing. he’s mine. i want to be the one he calls when the world gets loud. i want to drag him out of his self-loathing and into my arms. i want to kiss his stupid sarcastic mouth and then make fun of him for the way he eats pasta. i will scream at him and then kiss him immediately after. he’s ridiculous. he’s perfect. i love him so much. i want to take him on quiet lil dates and hold his hand and tell him dumb jokes. also he’s hilarious. agent starmans deserves a medal just for dealing with his antics. the mooning dare?? i blacked out. i had to close my laptop for a second. also. thatcher townsend? prison. he can choke. actually.

Cassie (miss main character): can i be honest? i was so jealous of her in the beginning. like i wanna be in ur place aaah. but then i kept reading and fell in love with her. she became my girl. like actually my girl. my soldier. my heartbreak. the things she’s been through? the layers?? THE TRAUMA???? my heart is a little bandaged-up plushie when it comes to her. if she and her mum had just waited five more seconds i might have known peace. she’s been through so much. she’s strong and soft and sad and brave and i just want to wrap her in a weighted blanket and tell her everything’s gonna be okay. her baby sister? pain. her mom? i cried. i think her mother had D.I.D.? maybe. either way, ouch. i have such a huge soft spot for her. let me make you some cupcakes. cookies. brownies. let me fucking cuddle the shit outta u baby come hereee

Dean: ugh. my soft boy. dean is so tired and so lovely. so emotionally mature in a way. his blond hair and his big brown eyes? i know they’re warm. don’t tell me he has his father’s eyes because his are way gentler. canon. i wanna be there when he’s hurting. i wanna clean up his knuckles and kiss him on the forehead and tell him he’s safe now. i will give him 400 children. he deserves everything gentle. everything warm. i would knit this man a sweater. i would bake him cinnamon rolls. i would write his name in the fogged-up bathroom mirror just because i miss him while i’m showering. like. i’m not normal about him. sometimes he says something all low and gravelly and i’m like. okay. ruin me then??? he’s quiet (love a man who shuts the fuck up sometimes lmao) but when he does speak it matters. i bet he still gets all shy when you kiss his cheek eheheheheh help me wtf

also, daniel redding? rot. in that fucking cell you piece of actual shit.

Celine Delacroix (celine dion): so at first i was like “ma’am why did you fake your disappearance???” but then she started showing up all sparkly and i was like yk what?? diva behavior. slay. theatrical. ART. iconic. show stopping. peak. god forbid women have hobbies like?? i support women’s wrongs. i’ve decided to respect it. also if she makes sloane happy, she’s perfect in my book. i love her so much like get me pregnant pls.

Agent Briggs: why do i have a crush on him. he’s meant to be a dad figure and yet my brain said “daddy??” i am deeply mentally ill. and deeply in love. why do i have a crush on him. he’s a father figure. and yet. the daddy issues jumped OUT. i don’t wanna talk about it.

Agent Sterling: same situation. she’s meant to be mom-coded. nurturing. guiding. and yet. i find myself staring. and spiraling. and then immediately feeling guilty. i love her. but also… mommi? she’s supposed to be maternal. and yet. and yet. something in me short circuits. like why do i want her to scold me softly and then give me tea. i need help. i feel disgusting

Judd: sir. asking if cassie’s grandma is single at her mom’s funeral is wild behavior. it had me sobbing and laughing. like bro. read the room. but also... i adore him. he’s so ride-or-die and protective and warm. very grandpa-coded. i wanna knit him a hat. and a scarf. and an ugly christmas sweater. he's grumpy and loyal and would 100% kill for the kids. 12/10 would trust him to fight a man for me at a grocery store.

what i'm reading rn: not that anybody gaf • the brothers hawthorne • caraval series (then ouabh. reading the stephanie gerber universe) • the raven boys (book 1 rn) • boys of tommen (book 1 rn but almost finished) • shatter me (giving it another chance. was cornball the first time but i have hope) • hollow boys • rereading the cruel prince universe bc jude and cardan and my babies i would fucking die for them. • shadow and bone (gonna dive into the whole grishaverse)

anyway. sorry for the long yap. i just love my little murder mystery babies so much.

pls talk to me about them. always. forever.

[milk-is-stable]

hi friend! sorry you're sick. for your rewatch may i request mystery of the midnight circus? i hope you feel better soon!

The Mystery of the Midnight Circus

Sick Day rewatch, requested by @i-couldve-mimed-it and @local-human-disaster I'm sick and have brain fog, so I'm rewatching longforms and giving my *super coherent* commentary.

Pre-watch thoughts: I love Sherlock Holmes, and Tom's senile sherlock is so funny and also weirdly sweet, so I'm really looking forward to the revisit!

Liveblogging:

Sam is the one who makes the Sherlock Holmes choice, a mystery doesn't have to be Holmsian inherently, but Sam went there immediately.

Interestingly, Tom went for the Old Man route even before Sam called him "Holmes," you can see him off stage beginning to mime using a cane. It's possible he was going for 'circus baton' and switched when Sam called him Holmes, but I like to think that he was going for old man right from the start. Which, judging by Sam's amused expression, was not what he was expecting.

"I look something like a pond today" is classic

Tom is really frighteningly good at playing a slightly out of touch old man. And tying in SO many good jokes while doing it. "We're all subjects under her majesty." "Good God, what's happened to the mirror???" "Eating the Bees!!"

"Enjoy the empire!" ".....let's not get into all that."

AJ: Uhhh, guys, this was about a CIRCUS, remember? Sam: You know what's more exciting than a circus?

Sam is a little too good at being a creepy clown, if I was scared of clowns this would be Not Good for me (though of course we can't get out of this without making fun of AJ a bit. "You can't see because it's dark")

This is a job for Mr. Sherlock.......Houses? HOLMES!

AJ: "Sherlock...." Tom, raising his eyebrows incredulously: "yes?"

"Can you guess who it is?" "I can guess but I wonder if you want to define it yourself first?"

"Are you really here? or are you just a figment of my-" *kiss* "Ah, you're a figment, good"

There was some drama here but lets dissolve into sex metaphors for a few minutes, this is a comedy show after all

AJ: floating around the stage like a spectre. Tom: look, can you just stand still for a minute

READ ALL ABOUT IT! READ ALL ABOUT IT! ah there's no one fucking here.

Justice for Old Johnny Rocksbury, he never got to make his mark on the town!

It's Raptor Boy and the Amazing Normal Man!

"You're the understudy? well maybe you should be SIX FEET UNDER! " ".......I don't get it :D" (see this is what Tom meant by being cute by being willing to play stupid)

*Long dramatic unison death call* Sam: get off the stage, fuckers

The thing about Watson trying to solve the case, talking about the facts of the deaths is that in that Moment, Sam hadn't thought of the twist yet. But the twist of Watson as the clown retroactively makes this scene really tragic, because it shows how broken Watson's mind really is by this time.

Senile Holmes continues to be the Best. "I've never been more sane in my life- did you ask me how I was doing? eh, that's close enough." "Are you doing cocaine again?"

Welcome to the moral of the story everyone, I hope you're happy with it because it's all we're getting .

Sam: I'm sorry, it feels like I abandoned you back there. Tom: I know....and now I'm going to pull off the biggest plot twist this side of the british empire.

Sam: SAY LESS *pulls off one of the most emotional and dramatic performances in his career* Tom: You left your facepaint on you moron. (keep it funny boys, keep it funny)

Seriously, what a good death scene, it's so good...Shirley Holmes! (fun fact I played a character called Shirley Holmes on stage once...)

And scene! This one is so much fun, you can see how much fun they're having on stage with all the different pieces, and while there aren't as many 'one liner' style jokes, there are so many funny character beats and interactions that are so much fun to revisit. And I'm serious about Sam's Watson, I think it's in his top three most emotional/impactful performances (the other two being Benjamin from Strange Noises and Sam from Beetroots and Murder)

[faeryaesther]

is this a safe place to say that jannik beahviour with the rat gave me a tiny bit the ick? i know hes coming from a good place with the support and he probably doesnt even know that much about the allegations (which is a whole problem itself) but seeing him so nice and supportive during the ceremony was 🤢

daily reminder to never trust men lmao

Hi anon. It is a safe place to talk about it here, don't worry.

Frankly, I felt the same. The reason why I hated that that guy was 'gifted' the walkover in the semi is because he will be glorified as the one who will be deemed as the best contender to take down Jannik in the final considering 2 factors: their head2head, and the previous 2 meetings (USO23 & Cincy24): in which, Jannik lost in the former and barely won in the latter. However, the 'will' in the previous sentence did happen, and we saw all of the discussions leading up to the final and the focus was not even on whether Jannik could defend his title or not, but rather will Zverev finally win a slam? It is sickening to think that the media coverage and image protection the tour is trying to portray on him. It was hyped as one of the most anticipated matches as the number one and two are going to meet in the final, but in the end, the women's final was far a lot better in a lot of aspects; entertainment, grit, guts and storyline in general.

As much as cliché as it gets, the root cause for why tennis players seemed to not give a damn about the allegations and proofs the victims brought forward is because of the bubble these people live in. I've observed that mostly, only those who are active on Twitter and tumblr are those who are aware of the case thoroughly. This sport is a white sport, first and foremost. Hence, we will get white treatment AND protection. To make it worse, I'll rephrase it. It is a white AND favoured-by-men-who-have-stupid-egos sport.

While I want to blame the players for everything they said and did with the 'glorified' abusers, the same thing can be said towards the tour as well. ATP Tour, ITF Tennis, Germany's tennis, and other organisations who are responsible for handling/managing him. No strict liabilities, actions taken, and penalty were given. People who read are not goddamn stupid, for fuck's sake. There should be an obvious reason as to why the case was 'settled' outside. And him, with better power and manipulative tricks, made it believable that the allegations were not valid in the first place if he settled it outside the court. I knew it too well for it to end like this. It is really frustrating to see the outcome of the trial like that because even if I dont have any experiences with domestic violence, my close friend was a victim, and I witnessed almost everything that she faced. It is terrifying to see your abuser roam free and being glorified to an extent that people would cross countries just to scream his name and smile while showing support to him. Disgusting, really. The tour is not doing enough in creating awareness that this guy faced DV allegations with proper evidence presented. They are not taking this seriously because why? As long as Zverev's performance can bring in the money and attraction to ignorant fans, they will milk him out. That is their priority.

This is why I favored the idea of bringing in a widespread cancel culture among fans. And the tour has to be the 'flagbearer' of that. Do you have allegations with EVIDENCE presented? jail. shame. cancelled. Exactly how korean media/kpop stan culture is. That man should never know peace in the streets, and everyone should not be shaking hands and exchanging words with him. But, such things will never because why? We know it by now. The industry favours a guy who can bring them attention, regardless of what they did. A man can bring such spotlight, no matter how fucked up his past actions are.

Part of me wanted him to accuse Jannik of doping as well so that Jannik would never be close to him (like Nick), but I hate HATE to paint a guy as a saint in this situation. He (Jannik), too, is a complicit. And that guy is such a manipulative ass for 'crying' wtv wanting attention that he is served with another heartbreaking loss in the grand slam final and letting his opponent symphatize and making a scene out of it.

While at that, I also want to believe that players who speak English as first language probably are more aware of the situation and 'forced' to be in situations that require them to speak of him nicely for the sake of the rules and PR. I believe that Morgan made Taylor aware of the case/situation given how she posted that Instagram story after Taylor defeated him. And iirc, if they were to speak against the rules, a serious action would be taken on the player. Hence, they have to play by the rules. I hope these players who are aware of the severity of the case and have the conscience to not be friendly with him can speak about this while not having their careers gambled on the line.

I hate to say it, but Jannik's so-called 'kindness' came from his ignorance as well as how the tour made it possible for their players to stay ignorant about the case.

And while at that, I want to say that in any situation, it doesn't matter how nice the abuser seems, regardless of the gender, abuse is still an abuse. Physically, verbally, and mentally, they count the same way if it has damages on the victims. I believe in them. I thank every outlet that interviewed the person who shouted at Zverev's speech and gave them a platform as to why it is important to discuss this 'uncomfortable' topic. They deserve a bigger audience and attention to make EVERYONE who engages with this sport aware that The World Number Two is not a saint the tour want him to be. He is an abuser with victims being ignored and forgotten. And that reputation should echo louder by taking the first step that the person bravely did: Make him uncomfortable at all times.

If he swept everything under the rug, thinking that nobody would ever think about it again, he made a rookie mistake. Even the worst crime left prints behind, and it will always be talked in his career: someone who abused was glorified on the tour. I hope what they did there be the first step for everyone to be more comfortable in making him uncomfortable. Then, the media attention will come next. With urgencies and attention, one day, maybe, we will get to see his downfall.

I'm basically talking too much at this point, but I want to make it clear that I won't stop you from portraying any of the players on tour as the bad guy for hahahoho-ing with him. You are free to do so, and I am nobody in the conversation from stopping you saying otherwise. You know yourself best, and I will not take offense from it. I will still criticize Jannik for being 'too kind' in that situation. Therefore I hope they never meet in a big stage ever again.

[coeluvr]

Who is dominating your inbox right now?

Mostly Vincent! Everyone wants the annoying annoyed guard lol.

There's a lot of Fadiya, then E and then Alexander.

[jhoca]

dumb question but what's the deal with John Andrè and the last post?

Do you mean this post? Hamilton's letter about John André? (this letter is available online; I read it here)

So, this letter was an update from Hamilton to Laurens about Benedict Arnold's betrayal, which brought John André - a British officer in charge of intelligence in America and who was only recently in communication with Benedict Arnold - down with him. For some reason, Hamilton wrote at length about how elegant and amazing John André is, and that he visited and spoke to André, and what a shame it was that André should be punished while Arnold ran away, etc, etc.

For context, Hamilton sent this letter in October 1780. Laurens was a prisoner of war at the time. Laurens had been in the South for over a year to help the Southern campaign, which suffered many losses; Laurens fought and lost his home Charleston to the British earlier that year, in May. Laurens was taken prisoner and has since been on parole in Philadelphia, desperate to be released via prisoner exchange (a process that takes months). In June, Laurens gets a letter from Hamilton and learns of his engagement to Eliza. Hamilton doesn't hear back from Laurens until the end of July. In the following months July-September, letters to each other are lost, miscarried, or delayed. In early October, Laurens's father is captured and locked in the Tower of London. ...and then Hamilton sends this letter about Benedict Arnold and John André.

Basically: Hamilton gushes over John André to Laurens, who was not in the best mental or emotional state. As a prisoner of war, Laurens was likely at his lowest point: very isolated, demoralized, unable to work or fight (prisoner of war), lost his hometown, lost his father (captured), and probably thought he lost Hamilton too (to Eliza). So this letter about André is like salt on a wound.

[otmaaromanovas]

Hi, it would be awesome if you could give us an idea about alexei's personality described by people in his close circle

Hello! Sorry for the late reply. Here are some quotes about Alexei from the people closest to him, and some extracts from his letters and diaries that show his personality.

Alexei's personality

"The Heir ran along the shore and loudly expressed his joy with every surge of water. In general, how much noise and fun there was! I still remember this time with pleasure. Water splashed, flushed and cheerful children returned home." - Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva, nurse/nanny, A Few Years Before the Catastrophe

"Alexei, the only son of the Emperor and Empress, a more tragic child than the last Dauphin of France, indeed one of the most tragic figures in history, was, apart from his terrible affliction, the loveliest and most attractive of the whole family. Because of his delicate health Alexei began life as a rather spoiled child." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

"The more the boy opened his heart to me the better I realised the treasures of his nature, and I gradually began to feel certain that with so many precious gifts it would be unjust to give up hope. Alexis Nicolaievitch was then nine and a half, and rather tall for his age. He had a long, finely-chiselled face, delicate features, auburn hair with a coppery glint in it, and large blue-grey eyes like his mother's. He thoroughly enjoyed life — when it let him — and was a happy, romping boy. Very simple in his tastes, he extracted no false satisfaction from the fact that he was the Heir — there was nothing he thought about less — and his greatest delight was to play with the two sons of his sailor Derevenko, both of them a little younger than he. He had very quick wits and a keen and penetrating mind. He sometimes surprised me with questions beyond his years which bore witness to a delicate and intuitive spirit. I had no difficulty in believing that those who were not forced, as I was, to teach him habits of discipline, but could unreservedly enjoy his charm, easily fell under its spell. Under the capricious little creature I had known at first I discovered a child of a naturally affectionate disposition, sensitive to suffering in others just because he had already suffered so much himself." - Pierre Gilliard, Alexei's tutor, Thirteen Years at the Russian Court

"Spring 1915 …Yesterday he [Alexei] gorged on black crackers and in the evening, he was sent directly to [Dr.] Derevenko." - Letter from Maria to Nicholas II, Maria Romanov: Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Diaries and Letters

"18 March [1912] - Pavlovsk… Recently, on the 14th, my wife had lunch with their Majesties, and was embarrassed by the behaviour with the Heir, who is almost two years older than Vera. He wouldn’t sit up, ate badly, licked his plate and teased the others. The Emperor turned away, perhaps to avoid having to say anything, while the Empress rebuked her elder daughter Olga, who was next to her brother, for not restraining him. But Olga cannot deal with him." - 1912 Diary of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich

"In appearance he resembled his sister Tatiana : he had the same fine features, and her beautiful blue eyes ; he loved his sisters, and they adored him, and patiently submitted to his teasing. The Tsarevitch was a lively, amusing boy, with a wonderful ear for music, and he played well on the balalika : like Tatiana he was shy, but, once he knew and liked anyone, this shyness vanished. The Empress insisted upon her son being brought up, like his sisters, in a perfectly natural way. There was no ceremonial in the daily life of the Tsarevitch : he was merely a son, and a brother to his family, although it was sometimes quaint to see him assume '' grown up " airs. One day, when he was indulging in a romp with the Grand Duchesses, he was told that some officers of his regiment had arrived at the Palace and begged permission to be received by him. The Tsarevitch instantly ceased his game, and, calling his sisters, he said very gravely : *' Now, girls, run away. I am busy. Someone has just called to see me on business." - Lili Dehn, close family friend, The Real Tsaritsa

"Sunday 13th August 1906 …we were all invited to have tea with Their Majesties. All four daughters came to the dinging room, and also, the the great joy of our children, the two-year-old Tsesarevich. He went around the tea table and after greeting everyone, climbed onto his mother’s lap. Igor was sitting beside her, and the little Heir happily moved onto his lap and called him “New” as he was someone unfamiliar. After that, my boys and the Tsar’s girls played with him merrily on the floor…We were all delighted." - Diary of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich

The following are all from the diary of Sidney Gibbes, English tutor:

"25 January: [Alexei is] On sofa: foot tied up. Talked about the dog and then showed him new picture-book. Afterwards made a paper hat each, which turned out badly, and then began paper boxes; I showed him one complete. He spoke more English in making the box and asked the questions relative to it in English."

"3 February: We drew things on the blackboard with eyes shut. Added tails to pigs, and his manner lost much of its shyness."

"8 February: During this lesson we played on the floor, and I made him flags out of paper by drawing it and colouring. He coloured one and I the other. Flagstaff was also rolled out of paper and tied with wire."

"3 March …Began the story of ‘The Fisherman of York’. He understood very little. A[nastasia] N[ikolaevna] came in from Music [lesson] and explained in Russian." - Printed in Tutor to the Tsarevich

"The Tsarevich lay all day, while we tried to amuse him as best we could. The poor little man longed for Monsieur Gilliard's company. He knew so well how to entertain him and make him forget how ill and weak he still felt" - Sophie Buxhoeveden recalling Alexei's attachment to tutor Pierre Gilliard during imprisonment, Left Behind: Fourteen Months in Siberia During the Revolution

"If the Tsarevitch had any peculiarities, I think the most striking was a decided penchant for hoarding. Many descendants of the Coburgs have been unusually thrifty, and perhaps the Tsarevitch inherited this trait. While thrifty he was really a most generous child, although he hoarded his things to such an extent that the Emperor often teased him unmercifully. During the sugar shortage he saved his allowance of sugar, which he gravely distributed among his friends." - Lili Dehn, close family friend, The Real Tsaritsa

"This unusual and exciting night seemed to fill the Czar’s young son with mischief. As I sat in the room near the Emperor’s study, giving the final orders and' awaiting news of the arrival of the train, I could hear the youngster running about noisily, trying to get across the corridor to where I was, to see what was going on there" - Alexander Kerensky, head of the Provisional Government describing the night the Romanov's waited to be moved from the Alexander Palace, The Catastrophe

"Suffering and self-denial had their effect on the character of Alexei. Knowing what pain and sacrifice meant, he was extraordinarily sympathetic towards other sick people. His thoughtfulness of others was shown in his beautiful courtesy to women and girls and to his elders, and in his interest in the troubles of servants and dependents." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

Alexei was "elegant, intelligent, and had unusual presence of mind. He possessed, moreover, other winning qualities: a warm, happy disposition, and a generous nature which made him eager to be of help and enabled him quickly to establish rapport with others." - General Count Alexander Grabbe, Major-General of the Tsar's convoy, The Private World of the last Tsar

"in the periods of what may be called his good health, he had all the spirits and mischief of any ordinary boy of his age… As time went on and his first shyness wore off, he treated us as friends and… had always some fun with us. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly buttoned, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used at once to stop and tell me I was 'untidy again'" - General Sir John Hanbury-Williams, British ambassador in Mogilev, The Emperor Nicholas II, as I Knew Him

""He had a kind heart and was very fond of animals. He could be influenced only by his feelings, and would not yield to authority. He submitted only to the emperor. He was a clever boy but was not fond of books. His mother loved him passionately. She tried, but could not be strict with him, and most of his desires were obtained through his mother. Disagreeable things he bore silently and without grumbling. He was kind-hearted and during the last period of his life he was the only one who liked to give things away. In Tobolsk he had some odd fancies -- for example, he liked collecting old nails, saying: "They may be useful."" - Testimony of Sidney Gibbes to the Sokolov Report, The Last Days of the Romanovs (1920)

"Alexis Nicholaevitch, being a very playful and mischievous boy, on one occasion peeped through the fence. After this was learned by Nikolsky [deputy guard at Tobolsk] he came and made a huge fuss about it. He reprimanded the soldier who was on duty and spoke in a very sharp tone to the czarevitch. The boy got offended and protested to me that Nikolsky was shouting at him." - Testimony of Evgeny Kobylinsky to the Sokolov Report, The Last Days of the Romanovs (1920). To find more about Kobylinsky's unique relationship to the family, see this post.

Alexei's relationship with his sisters

"We all kissed the Empress' hand and that of the Grand Duchesses. That year, we kissed the Tsarevitch's little hand, too; but afterwards, that custom was stopped, since the Tsarevitch didn't miss his chance to boast about it and give himself airs in front of his sisters." - General Alexander Spiridovich, Chief of Security, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 1

"10 January. Aleksei and Anastasia are both moving their beds into the playroom, where they lie next to each other all day. During the day we all have tea up there." - Extract from Tatiana's 1917 diary, Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters

"Aleksei, my little soul, darling little one. It is so boring here without you and Papa… I was just at the Grand Palace with Maria and Shvybz [Anastasia]… I squeeze you in my mind and love you very very much." - undated letter from Tatiana to Alexei, circa 1916, Russia’s Last Romanovs: In Their Own Words 

"As for poor Alexei Nikolaevich, he was as if rooted to the armchair the whole time [unwell]. It was touching to see his sister, Tatiana Nicholaievna, lavishing attention on him before the luncheon." - General Alexander Spiridovich, Chief of Security, Last Years at Tsarskoe Selo, Volume 2

"Sweet Piggy! Sleep well and wake up in the morning with a belly full of milk! Alexei 1914" - letter from Alexei to Anastasia, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 1)

"...Don’t tease Maria" - Letter from Alexandra to Alexei, 1 December 1914, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 1)

"28 January Tuesday …Too lazy to write this by himself, so Olga is writing it!" - Alexei's 1916 diary, Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings (Volume 2)

Alexei's haemophilia

"Everything possible, everything known to medical science, was done for the child Alexei. The Empress nursed him herself, as indeed, with the assistance of professional women, she had nursed all her children. Three trained Russian nurses were in attendance, with the Empress always superintending. She bathed the babe herself, and was with him so much that the Court, ever censorious of her, complained that she was more of a nurse than an Empress." - Anna Vyrubova, close family friend, Memories of the Russian Court

"Livadia. 30 August 1913 …Alexei is well. He has already had 4 mud baths. I took a photo of him when he was being treated in the mud and will glue in an album for you. Alexei’s leg stretched 175 degrees and the leg is almost straight" - letter from Maria to former nanny/nurse Maria Ivanovna Vishnyakova. Maria Ivanovna Vishnyakova was Alexei’s nanny, though was dismissed by Alexandra following disagreements and allegations against Rasputin. I find it intriguing that the girls stayed in touch with her and kept her informed of Alexei's health.

I have slightly less information/quotes on Alexei saved as my research is largely about his sisters, but I hope that this was insightful nonetheless. Thank you for your question!

[papaseidon]

🐺

Twerk little wolf twerk!!

Wanna buss it down low ,.?

Wurk little wolf Wurk!!!

Let's see how you hit this..

Jerk little wolf jerk!!

Wanna save ya mom then..

Twerk little wolf, twerk little wolf, twerk!!

[alexandria-thornton]

Alexander I am worried we may have to neuter Kermit. You too, by the looks of things.

Ask yourself this very poignant question:

WHAT FUCKING DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT EVEN MAKE????????

[simp-ly-writes]

(hello it's me again and another idea for the Jackal 👀!)

Fic idea, feminine pronouns.

Reader is Jackal's companion (they team up after reader accidentally saves Jackal during a mission and Jackal feels reader would be an interesting companion so decided to keep reader by his side)

One winter morning in a hotel in London, the two of them didn’t feel like getting out of bed so they took their work to bed - Jackal leaned against the headboard and studied a blueprint/design of some project for his upcoming “job” (he was wearing glasses - I love him wearing glasses 😫!!!), reader lay down and checked her client list and payments (each of them was working on their laptops)

While working, reader suddenly remembered the information she had read about Jackal and peeked at him a few times, on the umpteenth time he tapped her on the head with a pen and asked if there was a problem (but she didn’t know where to start so she ignored him) and the awkward atmosphere between the two continued until Jackal asked the reader if she wanted to hear about his past…

When the flashback ended, Jackal pulled reader closer and asked her if she was scared. She calmly replied that whether she was scared or not, she was here with him, and if he wanted to kill her, please shoot her straight in the face because she didn't want to be recognized (while she was talking, Jackal took off his glasses and leaned down to kiss reader 😭?)

Always happy to see you and another outstanding request! I really loved the fluffy and yet angsty ending UGH it was so fun to write (I also added a little holiday spice to it 😉 lol) hope you enjoy reading it~ Find the fic: HERE!

[milk-is-stable]

you should rewatch the prime minister’s first day!!! beauregards 1 and 2 have a special place in my heart

The Prime Minister's First Day

Sick day rewatch! I'm sick, so I'm rewatching longforms and giving some commentary/analysis while I do so because I have too much brain fog to properly write fic today, which is what I was going to do with my time.

Pre-watch thoughts: An underrated one for sure, I remember there being lots of good jokes in this one, but then again it doesn't exactly have the pathos that some of the other plays do, there's not really one character that you end up emotionally rooting for like there is in some of the others.

Liveblogging:

"I know you're nervous....you're the prime minister and it's your first day." Who, what, where!

That little stare at the audience after saying "the horrible vultures of journalists" makes me wonder if there was an audience interaction earlier in the show regarding journalism.

"you're gonna be a brilliant conservative prime minister" <- (WE'RE PRICKS, GERARD!)

Welcome Beauregard no.1 to the stage! And welcome Prime Minister to the Main Room!

How many Prime Ministers have you known since 1975? :)) Go on, we're all dying to hear. :)))

Tom is taking up the mantle of "if we don't get some conflict into this soon then we don't have a story" this time around.

OH, are we sticking with that magic, Beauregard?? Do I have to add a 'yes' onto my spreadsheet of longforms in the "Is there magic" column??? (yes that's a real thing I have, let me live my life)

"Have they told you?" :))) "Ah, I can see they haven't" :))))) "Have you met the king yet?" Sam: MY TIME HAS COME

"I can see by your head that you have leukemia" *sad-J*

Welcome into the room Beauregard no.2! (why is the Beauregard in the palace number 2 and the one at downing street is number 1?? I feel like it should be swapped...OH. I forgot that Sam addressed that specifically XD)

Nothing but respect for my Prime Minister, Prime Minister James James, a man with very poor balance and an easy name for voters to remember.

Love Sam bouncing back and forth between genuine concern for whatever is happening with AJ's knees and remaining in character to roast the shit out of him.

"If I make a joke, you'll Know It." >:(

AJ: "Uh, I just wanna say that you know, those things I said about the monarchy" Sam: "As a conservative MP??? Did you remember that you're a CONSERVATIVE politician in this scene AJ?? Think very carefully now!" AJ: "No, fuck that, I'm going anti-king now, for the Drama!" Sam: "Oh, you want DRAMA???"

"How many Prime Ministers have been here? NAME THEM!"

Sam: I'm going to keep making Obvious Jokes about the royal family, if nobody minds.

"How was it seeing the king?" "He went Very Tall." <- underrated joke right there

Tom: Somehow I'm going to make Worse jokes about the royal family than Sam did, but the difference is that I didn't do it on purpose...

AJ: Hang on I'm going to come into this scene. Tom: What the fuck are you doing? AJ: Don't worry about it, just go with it. Tom: what is happening- AJ: ffs just 'yes, and' me!

*pting!* (very good stagecraft here, Sam countering what AJ planned to do and AJ going along with Sam's counter)

AH, Former Prime Minister Brown!

Number 1 on Netflix, mother fucker

[Andrew, presumably] <- everyone say thank you caption writers

This is a really dark moment towards the end. Also, your wife is a horse. Which wasn't really necessary, if I'm honest.

And, scene! I think my initial statement was spot on, this one has a lot of great jokes in it, but the real star of the show I feel is the political satire, not any one specific character, so it's harder to have an emotional investment in it. That being said, I love the Beauregard brothers, and Sam's king charles is hilarious!