#allan best character hands down

[booksunet]

i-.... i watched the movie... i thought it was going to be a silly fun barbie movie... i'm in shambles...

the emotional rollercoaster that a barbie movie brought me is wild,,

[maleyanderecafe]

The Kid at the Back (Visual Novel)

Created by:𝖋𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖘𝖎𝖆 | TealCat

Genre: Thriller/Romance

The Kid at the Back is very cool looking and technically well done. I love all the character designs made in this one and Sol himself is pretty interesting at least that's what it sets itself up to be. All routes lead to the same ending though which is r18 considering that we basically see him jacking off to the main character's voice.

The story starts out with Darling Quinn finishing class. One of their classmates, Brittney tries to get them to join them for lunch together while the class representative, Crowe Ichabod comes in to defend Darling from her. Darling can then choose to go with Brittney to the cafeteria, go to the library or go to the rooftop.

Choosing to go to the cafeteria with Britney will lead to meeting a couple of other characters: Jess, a shy girl who follows Britney around, Deryl the friendly jock and Geo, the quiet cool kid. If the player has their own lunch, they will sit down and talk to Geo and Deryl for a bit as they have their playful banter while going with Britney will have a conversation with Crowe. In the end though, Britney's outfit is ruined by another girl who seems to have beef with her, before the entire cafeteria gets thrown into a food fight. In the end, Darling gets hit in the head with one of the trays causing them to pass out and end up in the infirmary. Crowe stays for a bit after Darling wakes up but ultimately leaves for classes. Darling ends up seeing another student who seemingly has had his hand cut and he gets bandaged up before Darling ultimately goes back to art class.

Choosing to go to the roof will lead to Darling going to the roof to eat lunch, only to end up accidentally eavesdropping on someone during a call. The boy, Hyugo, asks Darling for a favor to take his place as he needs to ditch his partner, Sol, in his next class to do something.

Choosing to go to the library will lead to them going there to read, only to find someone in their seat. There are a couple of ways this can go depending on choice. The one with the least interaction is sitting next to him then going to class afterwards to see him in the back. Sitting in another seat will lead to Darling seeing a commotion in the back where the guy is getting beat up. Here, they can either step in or chicken out. Chickening out will lead them feeling guilty when the two meet up in class, but helping them out will prevent him from getting bandaged later. Talking to him directly leads to the most interaction with him, with Sol getting more snarky with the player, and asking what they will give him in return. The best response is to just demand him to give them their seat back, to which he refuses and Darling ends up sitting on them, causing them to blush and start talking about the book he's reading, Edgar Allan Poe and well as what books that Darling has been reading before the two head to class. Choosing to do something intimate will lead to Darling asking if he wants a hug to which he makes a confused response and Darling will end up sitting next to him after a bit of awkwardness. They can also offer to buy him a drink where they can choose (the latte will have the best response out of him) before they head to class.

Darling will end up spotting Sol in the back seat (as the name implies) though will have different reactions depending on their interaction with Sol, to feeling embarrassed that they left him to get bullied, to surprised if the two met in the library etc. The professor will ask everyone to pair up and Darling is left to partner up with Sol. The two will introduce themselves to each other, before deciding who will be drawn first. Sol will have different interactions based off whether Darling declares they're good at drawing to bad at drawing as well as which route they took (and how much affection he has towards them.) So this can vary from him getting embarrassed that Darling is trying to draw him from a 3/4ths angle to, to him brushing hair away from Darling's face that gets them flustered, to talking about Hyugo and others. It all really depends on previous interactions. At the end, while Darling is leaving, Sol will ask for their number as a way to keep in touch with them for the project. Upon leaving, they'll also see a poster for the Hallow's Ball. Upon returning to the dorm and eating, Darling will talk to their other friends, Geo, Deryl, Brittney, Jess and Krowe about the ball. They will then text Sol about the ball, who seems hesitant, but ultimately agrees to go knowing Darling is going. The last scene is Sol masturbating to Darling's messages, implying he's done it before and that he's happy that they finally were able to talk.

So first thing I have to say off the bat is I really like the designs of all the characters. They all have their own charm and are unique, which I can always appreciate. I also like that Brittney isn't really like the mean girl she's depicted as she is considering she pretty much just asks Darling to come eat with them and basically only really fights when she gets attacked first. Kind of a minor thing, but I do like it. Small animation in the main menu is nice as well. One of the things I think is cool is that there are slightly different reactions to how you meet Sol when the two of you draw each other, which can lead to different CGs and dialogue, which is a subtle but nice way to give bits of information about them and more interaction with him without having to write out a bunch of scenes.

Sol as a yandere, well there's currently not a ton considering it's a demo, however, we still do get a semi good idea on what he does know. For one, we know that Sol has been stalking Darling for a while, given his comments at the end, and that he has been listening to their voice for a bit. I do like seeing his more flustered reactions in some cases, like when Darling sits on his lap or when they're drawing him, because flustered yanderes are the best. It's likely that he probably got a favor for Hyugo on his route, considering it's very coincidental, and it would make sense that he would manipulate the situation so that he would end up hanging out with Darling. Sol it seems has been dealt a hard hand in life, considering he always gets bullied or otherwise hurt by others. Still, this could also in itself be a manipulation tactic in terms of getting Darling to care about him, which would make him technically a Damsel yandere, something I would be very happy to see, since that's something that I would love to see more in yandere content in general. But yeah, other than that he seems like emo (gothic? punk? I don't know styles), and a bit awkward.

Overall, he seems very cute and the game itself is very well made. I hope we get to see more of it in the future because it does seem like something that does have a lot of potential in what kind of yandere can come later on.

[kooktrash]

the art of obsession | kim taehyung [teaser]

NOW POSTED

summary: in a world of painters and poets, there were two college students looking for the right sort of inspiration. through devotion in your craft, you find yourself drawn to kim taehyung—a grad student painter who’s everything you’ve ever looked for in a character. his walk, his form of speech, his art, it all captivated you to the point where you wanted to recreate him in words and you begin to realize how similar the two of you really are. you share a sort of obsession in your work that seems like only each other could understand and he invites you into his world of oil paints and charcoals in hopes of drawing you on paper.

✎ genre/au: dark academia. college au. painter!taehyung x writer!y/n [afab. she/her]

✎ TBD

“There is no beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion.” — Edgar Allan Poe

warnings: smut. slight obsession. prestigious college. dark characters. tae literally takes oc to a graveyard. MORE WARNINGS TO COME

“I told you, it might be scary,” Taehyung said as he walked parallel to the graveyard toward a tree that stood tall along the sloping hill, “But this is the best view of twilight, if you want, I could walk you back to campus.”

“No, it’s fine,” you cleared your throat deciding to walk ahead of him so you could be the one sitting upright against the tree. Taehyung dropped his backpack a few feet away from you and began getting his things out.

You didn’t question him, only observed the way he carried on like you weren’t even there. It’s not like you minded, you didn’t have any real agenda to get him to spend time with you and frankly, you felt a bit relieved to see that he wasn’t trying to figure out what you wanted. It was unspoken the way the two of you seemed to think similarly and brought out your tools.

Taehyung didn’t say anything when he flipped his sketchbook open and found a charcoal he could use as he began to sketch without much thought into it. He even made himself comfortable by lying back, using the angle of the hill to help him not lay horizontally and he bent a knee up as a sort of flat surface he could rest his book on. There was a small breeze that carried through his linen shirt and brown trousers but he wasn’t much worried about himself.

He was more worried about you, who had asked to spend time with him but had no real plan to do so. He’ll admit, when he said no it was just on reflex from all the other times he’s out right rejected others before but he only thought it over because he’s been curious of you two. When you told him you would join him for a moment he debated saying no again because this was his favorite place to be to watch the sunset but it wasn’t all that normal. He even tried to warn you and offer to take you back when you saw the graveyard but you didn’t even seem to care when you sat down. Now that he’s looking at you up close, he can see the way your brows furrowed in concentration as you scribbled in your journal, already feeling inspiration.

It’s now that Taehyung is realizing why he’s been so curious. He finds you beautiful, he’s sure he’s mentioned that before, but he finds you beautiful in an unsettling way. Just looking at you seemed to send him into a wave of emotion like you’re exactly what he’s wished to create on canvas. Before he even knew what he was doing, his hands were working away to make another sketch, eyes on you as he worked.

“What are you writing in that little journal of yours?” He found himself asking after some time. The sketch was rough and yet it was so refined that there was no mistaking what it could be. It was a monochromatic sketch of you with your back against the tree, legs straight before you and your hair covering your face with the howl of the wind. Your hands looked delicate when you wrote and you looked so lost in your own work that managed to capture that same essence in his drawing.

Your eyes met his and he didn’t back down from the stare even as it intensified with each passing second until finally you said, “I’ll tell you if you show me what you’ve been doing in that little sketchbook of yours.”

For some reason a small smile came to his face as he laid on his side using his elbow for support and reached over to hand you the sketchbook. You took it with a sense of excitement that quickly turned into disbelief as you looked at it. The back of your index finger hovered over it but never touched for fear that you would smudge it and when you finally handed it back to him, wordlessly, you gave him your journal.

At this exchange, Taehyung moved to sit up, not bothering to brush off any loose grass blades off his linen shirt and read over a short passage.

A certain coolness in his gaze that made him appear cruel.

A charming aura that seemed timeless, not modern but ancient like he was created from every classic literature known to man.

His gaze, his smile, his voice—all deep like red velvet.

The list went on, each short sentence followed by another in what one could assume was meant to describe him. He didn’t say anything either as he handed it back to you the same way you had done with his sketchbook. Neither of you were looking for critique or praise, more so acknowledgement of what the other had been doing and once you had it, it was enough.

Taehyung stared forward as the line of bright Orange finally vanished from the sky and a cool blue clouded it. Nothing was said as you both stood up with your things and even less was brought up on your walk back to campus.

It wasn’t until you stood at the bus stop that Taehyung decided to ask, “Are you busy tomorrow?”

“No.”

He pulled out a piece of paper from the pocket in his trousers followed by a pen as he scribbled something down before handing it to you, “Meet me here

at 8:00pm.”

You didn’t have to say anything for Taehyung to know you would show and he left without much of a goodbye.

::.

here’s just a little snippet of what I’ve been working on bc I miss fall and need it to hurry up

permanent taglist: @notmyfaultbutours @rerefundslocals @fandems @sugaluvmyg @guvgguk @kimyishin @libra04 @kooromiwrld @classycreationcupcake-blog @alwaysdreamingnotsleeping @cherrymonlightt @nikkiordonez12 @asking4-sanity @thvlover @saweetspoiled @uwu2rawr @shaybts-blog @babycandy111 @tearyjjeon @joons-uparupa @jeonninja @yellowcupid08 @02010802faves @knudsenheggedel @skzthinker @unnatae @aurorthi @beautywine @95ene @taekookstata @lilliankoo @shescharlie @annenakamura @lesoleile @burnahtsw @babybella337 @kooloveys @ku-ku @chaelvrx @minnie-mouser22 @Imeneghd @whoa-jo @evajeonsworld @marvelbun @sunnikthv @kochycooky @heyhowyoudoin3 @acielelyseen @giselleswifeee @jeonjk25 @ilikeitlikethatt @bangmechanpls @lvr2seok @badbyeyoongi @jaerisdiction @watermelonjuice15 @artmsmaid @xyahrinx @angeleen777 @jooniesxbby

[student-in-nightraven]

Catblocked

Bsd x gn reader

Characters: Nikolai, Fyodor, Poe, chuuya

Genre: fluff, crack

Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai just came back from a tiring mission and was eager to cuddle up to you to let the stress out, when he saw you he got excited and start sprinting to you, just before he could get to you your cat jumped Infront and started hissing, it's fur standing on its tips, this stopped Gogol in his tracks, like the cartoony thing they do to stop themselves from running, he looked down to your cat with wide and deadly eyes, you started to feel chills run down your spine "Um..kolya? Are you okay?" You asked nervously, moving closer to him slowly and nudging his shoulder, he whipped his head up at you and smiled "Dorogaya(dear) have you thought about getting a pet dove instead?" You sighed and took his hand dragging him back to your bedroom to cuddle up to him, he was still eyeing your cat, he'd never hurt it of course, he loves you too much to hurt you like that! Doesn't mean he won't terrorise the cat tho, be careful around this clown.

Fyodor Dostoevsky

It was rare for Fyodor to be affectionate, one of those rare days was today, it was a rainy evening, Fyodor had just finished his work and decided he'd coddle you for a while, it's been quite a while since you spent time together. He got up from his chair and went out to look for you, he found you in the living room on your phone, he sat down next to you and kissed the crown of your head "How are you my dear?" He asked while petting your head, you smiled "I'm good, you?" "I'm okay" he tilted your chin up smiling and started to lean in when all of a sudden a cat jumped on his head, causing him to grunt audibly, he quickly pulled back eyes shut tightly and grabbed the cat by it's scurf looking at it dead in the eye, he let go of it and the cat plopped down on the floor, hissing at Fyodor, you tried your best to contain your laughter but Fyodor still heard you, turning his head back to you while glaring, causing your laughing to stop immediately, he closed his eyes tilted his head up a bit and left "Wait WAIT FEDYA I'M SORRY COME BACK PLEASE" you yelled after him but he had left to go to the kitchen he was making tea, he made none for you you don't deserve it for laughing at him also he hates your cat now, congrats 👏

Edgar Allan Poe

You and Poe both loved animals, he had a cute raccoon you had a cat, most of the times those 2 animals get along so you didn't worry about that, Poe was writing something new you put a trey of food down next to him on the desk, he looked up at you and smiled sheepishly "Thank you my love" he took your hand and kissed it, pulling you in his lap and holding you gently as if you were made from glass, you giggled and nuzzled closer to him he pulled back enough to see your face, caressing your cheek with his thumb, he kissed your cheek and as he was about to move to kiss your lips a loud hiss could be heard which caused Poe to Yelp and pull back immediately, both of you turned your heads to the direction of the sound and you could see your cat hissing at Karl swiping it's paws at him, Karl was holding on the cats tail for his life, you got off Poe's lap and he stood up, you took your cat and he took his raccoon, "Karl! Why were you holding (cats name)'s tail! That's painful" he scolded Karl "*cat name* you're no better, you don't swipe at Karl he's your friend!" Once you settled your pets down you held your cat to your chest and Poe kept Karl on his shoulder , turns out your cat wanted to jump on Poe to "protect" you from him and Karl didn't want the cat to scratch Poe so tried holding the cat back, the cat wants y'all to part but Karl is the glue💪 maybe you'll get your cat to warm up to Poe one day.

Chuuya Nakahara

You and chuuya were having a nice romantical dinner to celebrate your anniversary, he set up the table and cooked food for you, in return you bought him fine wine, there was one of those old fashioned candles on the table, some rose petals here and there, basically the atmosphere was great after dinner he took you to the couch to watch a movie, during the movie he turned to you and kissed your neck, you returned the kiss to his lips he smirked and kissed back, before things could get heated your cat jumped on chuuyas back clawing him, Chuuya full on screeched, your neighbours thought a highschool girl got kidnapped that's how high pitched his scream was, he turned around to catch your cat keeping it as far from his face as possible, the cat was still trying to scratch him "YOU PIECE OF SH-" "Chuuya!" "what?! It scratched me!" You took your cat and put him aside, you turned to chuuya checking to see if the scratches were deep, luckily they weren't,before you could leave he took ahold of your wrist "hey where are you going? What about the night anniversary?" He said putting emphasis on night "Sorry chuuya but I better calm *cats name* down before it scratches you again" you kissed his lips and left to get your cat, chuuya huffed leaning back on the couch and crossing his arms "we should've gotten a puppy instead..."

Please make it up for this pouty man later

The end

[diagonal-queen]

Hihi! May I req an emergency req? With male!reader accidentally dropping/pushing a plate or glass and breaking it. Reader rushing to clean the mess up even with his bare hands and out of concern, the character yells at them to be careful or smth and reader flinches? How would they react? (And if ur fine with it, reader having SEVERE daddy issues and domestic violence so that's why they act like that) pls don't make reader those crybaby types but someone similar to dazai but less uhm, dazai? Like dazai but when he seems human if u yk what I mean) and reader being a teen (14-17)

Format: Anything u want!

Characters: Kunikida, Fukuzawa, Chuuya, Poe and Ranpo (separate) (omg if u could, then ranpoe together being father figures I just love the ship it's my comfort ship😭💖💖)

Platonic pls :)) (chuuya being an older brother figure, Fukuzawa and kunikida being father figures)

I FEEL LIKE ITS TOO SPECIFIC SO FEEL FREE TO NARROW IT DOWN 😭😭. Make sure to take care of urself and have a wonderful day <33

-🩵

okay so. i'm really REALLY sorry T-T but i do not write male readers so i am gonna go gn with this (again i am sorry ily <3)

When Reader flinches after they yell

♡ characters: Doppo Kunikida, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Chuuya Nakahara, Edgar Allan Poe, Ranpo Edogawa (bonus Ranpoe together!), teenage!gn!Reader

♡ synopsis: Reader breaks a piece of flatware and when they go to clean it, they're yelled at and flinch. How do the characters react to this?

♡ cw: Reader suffers from domestic abuse-related trauma and has daddy issues, yelling, trauma response (specifically a kind of silent/blunt affect type reaction), swearing, mentions of reader's hands being cut (unintentionally by flatware shards), father and older brother figure dynamics, lmk if I missed anything

note: I hope you're doing alright 💙 Anon, and I hope that these make you feel better :') come to me for hugs if you need them. I also hate yelling and have daddy issues so like, I feel you my dude. AND RANPOE IS MY COMFORT SHIP TOO omggg they're the best DM me and let's rant about them. Apologies for errors and I hope you enjoy x

Kunikida:

Let's say you're a mentee of his at the agency. Kunikida obviously only has good intentions and would hate for you to get hurt (Yosano...*shiver*), so he kinda freaks out a little when he sees you about to grab ceramic shards with your bare hands

Caught up in his alarm, he yells at you not to touch the shards and then goes to get a broom (or one of those little dustpan things) to clean up the mess

He comes back and sees your expression, and is honestly a little confused at first. You did manage to stay out of harm's way so he doesn't understand what's got you so distressed (he's so smart but also so very dumb)

You sit there while he quickly cleans the mess but when he notices that your eyes have kind of glazed over and you seem to be somewhere else, he gets a little worried and asks if you're alright

You tell him that you got frightened when he yelled because it reminded you of something and he has a moment of '...shit'

Kunikida puts down his dustpan/broom, puts a hand on your shoulder and gently explains that he wasn't mad at you but that he was just worried about you. He'd rather you made a mess unharmed than cleaned up the mess but gotten hurt

Don't be fooled by his calm demeanour, he actually feels really bad and will probably beat himself up for making such a mistake

He does end up cleaning it for you and asks you to please take care of yourself and be careful

Fukuzawa:

He has an odd tendency of being very intense with his kids out of the blue and then immediately feeling bad for it which is exactly what happens with you

You were probably bringing him tea or something when you accidentally dropped the tray and the cup shattered. He probably barely even reacted at all to it honestly, mostly just because he doesn't care THAT much about a cup. He has more

But then you apologise and kneel down to get them and this man might be tough but he is a softie at heart and panics when his kids are in harm's way (you're basically his kid let's be real)

So he yells, and it's basically that one scene in the theatre from Untold Origins all over again, except unlike Ranpo he knows that you don't really shake such things off so easily due to your past. So he's still concerned just for different reasons

He knows that as a father figure in your life he's supposed to protect you and that he had good intentions but it still affected you negatively in a way, and he's like. Really really sad about that fact (but he doesn't show it awh)

He apologises for yelling and asks you not to try and clean up ceramic shards with your bare hands because infections and y'know your hands are a pretty important part of your body

Fukuzawa is still firm as he speaks but he's also very gentle and nice about the whole thing and sits with you until you feel better

If you thank him for looking out for you, he'll be thinking about that for like the next week :'((((

Chuuya:

Chuuya yells like, a lot, but he often makes a conscious effort not to do so around you because he knows that you don't like it. Being a habit though, it sometimes comes out unintentionally

So say you're bringing him something to eat while he's working or something and while you're approaching him you drop and shatter the plate.

He's like 'Oh let me get that' and was gonna grab the shards with his ability (he doesn't have an issue with doing it himself cus it's lowkey quicker), but then he sees that you're about to collect them barehanded and yells at you to stop

When he sees you flinch he immediately starts backtracking like 'Wait, no- that's not what I meant' and comes to kneel beside you and pat you on the head (or back, whichever)

He quickly composes himself and apologises, saying that he was just worried about you, not angry about the plate or you wanting to clean it.

He tells you that he's gotten cuts on his palms before and they 'hurt like a motherfucker' so he didn't want you to get hurt too (and he's kinda being jokey about it because he's nice like that)

He just exudes comfort energy, so your panic moment doesn't really last that long. He's honestly very chill about the whole thing because he knows that you're not gonna make the same mistake

Even if you did though he'd help bandage your cuts without hesitation

Poe:

Poe is the opposite of Chuuya- he just DOESN'T yell at all. That's why it caught you as offguard as it did

When you dropped the plate he was a little scared because of the loud noise, but was relieved to see that you hadn't gotten hurt.

He really doesn't care much about a broken dish, because he can buy a billion more with ease. He just cares that you were about to hurt your hand (I'm quite sure you can possibly injure nerves by cutting your palm, and as a murder mystery writer Poe would absolutely be aware of this)

So he yells in an attempt to get you to quickly stop when you kneel down to clean it, and when he sees your face he feels awful

Poe hates yelling too, so he is extremely apologetic about the whole thing. He feels really bad because he knows that you find a lot of comfort with him and he's scared he's just ruined your trust in him to keep you safe

You tell him that you know he wasn't trying to be mean or malicious but he still feels really bad about it (lowkey you end up comforting HIM ngl)

He decides to clean up the mess himself (and lets you cuddle Karl while he does because he's basically an emotional support animal)

Will literally do anything to get you to trust him once more because he feels such an unnecessary amount of guilt (you have to really hammer it into him that you DO still trust him- he doesn't entirely believe you (projecting sorry lol))

Ranpo:

Ranpo is the Super Highschool Level Older Brother Figure. And as such he is appropriately concerned when he sees that you're about to try and handle a broken plate with bare hands

I'm absolutely certain that several times in the past Ranpo's dropped his fair share of dishes and gotten cuts from trying to pick them up too fast and he doesn't want that happening to you

So he yells to you not to touch them. When he sees your reaction to this, for a split second he panics but he actually handles it surprisingly well for a (2)6 year old

He comes over and sits down beside you. Then he explains to you that he doesn't want you to get hurt unnecessarily (especially somewhere like your hands) because he cares about you, so he panicked for a second and that's why he yelled.

(to everyone's surprise /j) he does apologise to you for it and give you a hug to help ground you and comfort you (he also gives you a little squeeze cus he feels bad aw)

If you ask him if he's mad about the broken dish he immediately goes back to normal and is like 'Pfft not at all. It's a plate Y/N' and tells you not to worry about it

He does make you feel better about the broken plate, but this is Ranpo we're talking about. You think he's gonna clean it up, or even help you clean it? No, that job unfortunately still falls entirely on you (damnit Ranpo)

Except this time you take cautionary measures before you do so. And Ranpo's happy to see it :)

Ranpoe:

Right, so these two are just little children in the bodies of men in their late twenties. However they are still very much in touch with their dad sides especially when it comes to you

So you're carrying a plate for some reason (maybe they're busy solving mysteries and eating snacks idk) but you drop it and it breaks. Poe's a millionaire and Ranpo is Ranpo so they don't care that they have one less plate

Then you hurriedly apologise to them and bend down to grab the plate and they both overreact and yell at you to stop (for the same reasons written above in their seperate scenarios)

Once they see you flinch they both have different reactions. Poe rushes over to see if you're alright but Ranpo is more wanting to give you a second to breathe and process

And that's literally what happens. Poe (and Karl) rushes over to check on you and Ranpo waits a minute before he joins him.

Ranpo comes to comfort you while Poe gets rid of the broken plate, then when he comes back he helps Ranpo explain why they both yelled earlier. He lets Ranpo do most of the talking though

They both express that they're just glad you didn't get hurt. And that you're allowed to make mistakes! Just don't do anything that will get yourself hurt

Will let you help them with their work/watch them work if you want to (usually that stuff's confidential but hey it's not like people are gonna question Ranpo and Poe now is it)

anon i will be your parental figure and we can straight up just forcefully shatter plates together (with safety glasses on though!!!) to let off steam

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Dance The Night Away - Ryan!Ken X Female (Human) Reader

Title: Dance The Night Away

Ryan!Ken X Female (Human) Reader

Additional Characters: Barbies (Mentioned), other Kens (Mentioned), President Barbie (Mentioned), Reader's Boss (Mentioned), Allan, Midge (Mentioned), and Weird Barbie (Mentioned)

WC: 3,073

Warnings: Reader works for Mattel, post Barbie movie events, Ken being adorable, nervous Ken, Reader is mentioned wearing a dress, mini angst, and pure fluff

Entering Barbie Land, you let out a sigh, a bit out of breath. You were only human of course. And for some reason, after rollerblading, driving a snowmobile, bicycle, spaceship, a camper van, and boat; not in that specific order... You'd at least have a car to drive down the very long pink road, right? But no. You questioned it, a lot. But you might as well get your steps in. And it wasn't that bad, you were getting used to it - you had been visiting the magical land for at least five months now. You weren’t entirely keeping track. 

You worked for Mattel. Your job was to, a couple times a month, check in on Barbie Land. Now, Mattel didn't have any worries about the Kens taking over Barbie Land again, and they had fully trusted that if anything did happen, President Barbie - and all the Barbies for that matter - would try and fix it. You were... You didn't really know the point of your job really. But you had always wanted to work for Mattel, loved their work, and when you saw that they were hiring... Well, you couldn't pass that up. And the pay was good.

Who knew that you were going to find out that the dolls were real and living in a magical, imaginative world alike to a town in Sweden? Who knew? Who knew you were going to become best friends with most of these Barbies and Kens? Who knew that you were going to love your job?

You loved it whenever Mondays and Fridays rolled around. Typically, people hated Mondays, whether because of school or work, but you loved it. Because it meant that you would get to go to Barbie Land, see your friends... And you know, check up on things... As you were supposed to do. 

Making your way downtown, you waved at some of the Barbies, clipboard and pink pen in one hand, waving with the other. Your trips to Barbie Land were pretty simple. You arrived, you went to see President Barbie, wrote down a small report, and then headed back. These trips normally didn't last more than a couple of hours; two hours max. You really wished you could stay longer though. You had been asked so many times by different Barbies to stay for the dance parties and girl's nights. You wondered if you stayed a bit longer if your boss would be okay with it. You didn't have anything else to do when you got back to Mattel, just to hand in your report and do some additional paperwork, but that stuff was easy.

Eyes on your clipboard, you read the checklist in your head, going over it; not fully paying attention to where you were going, but you were skilled enough not to run into anyone or anything. Checking off the top check-box which read; 'No Kens have taken over Barbie Land', when you hear someone shout your name. Without even raising your head, a smile immediately came to your face, you knew that voice. Looking up, seeing Stereotypical Ken - well, Ken, on the beach. 

You met Ken on the first day that you came to Barbie Land, and over time, you had grown pretty close to the handsome doll. Which was weird in the beginning, but you quickly got over it. But Ken... He was a gem. You adored him. He was so sweet and so kind, and you just loved his smile. The smile that he got every time he looked at you. Ken was immediately intrigued by you when you first came to Barbie Land, and when he heard that you worked for Mattel. He quickly introduced himself, as Ken, and he couldn't help but notice how beautiful you were. The way your eyes sparkled as you looked up at him, the soft smile on your face, the sound of your voice as you introduced yourself to him in return. Only when your smile turned into a small frown of confusion did Ken snap out of whatever daze he was in, realizing that his words had begun to dwindle off until he was literally just staring in awe of you.

Awkward...

You began to slowly notice after that first encounter, Ken would always be around if you needed him; or when you didn't need him. It was sweet to see him rush over to you when you passed the beach. Seeing that bright smile on his face as he walked with you to see President Barbie, it sort of became a routine at that point; him walking with you to your destination. You loved spending time with Ken, hearing his stories, hearing his laugh... And the way he looked at you, it was as if you hung all the stars in the sky.

"Are you going to see President Barbie today, Y/N?" Ken asked, a voice full of wonder, smiling, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement. 

Shaking your head while letting out a small laugh, you looked up at the doll, "I always do." You answered, nudging his side which made his smile widen.

"That's good, that's good..." He mused, his tone sounding thoughtful. Ken's gaze, as your eyes connected, seemed to sparkle all the more. 

Nodding your head, you looked back in front of you, clipboard to your chest, "Well, has there been anything fun happening as of late?"

"Well..." Ken's expression turned a bit sheepish, "... One of the Barbies is having a party tonight," His tone was lighthearted, and he couldn't seem to pull his eyes away from looking at you, even if it was only your side profile. 

Your eyes lit up, as did your smile, "Oh! That sounds fun!"

"I was just thinking..." Ken began with a smile, but a nervous one, "...That if you had the time? Maybe you want to come with me..." He trailed off, looking down at you as he walked.

"Tonight?" You asked, wincing slightly. 

"Uh, yeah..." Ken's face fell at your response, which made you feel bad for letting him down. "I mean, you don't have to come if you aren't able to..." He then quickly turned and gave you the sweetest of smiles, "... But I understand. You probably have things you need to do back over in the Real World anyway." Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, Ken walked a bit until he noticed that you weren't by his side. Quickly turning back around, he speedwalked back over to you, seeing the sad frown on your face. He furrowed his eyebrows innocently, tilting his head slightly, quickly taking one of your hands in his. "Y/N..." He began, but you didn’t look up from his hand encasing yours. 

"I'll stay for the party." You said softly - almost breathlessly - finally looking up at him, "I doubt my boss will be too mad with me if I go... I'll go back to Mattel, let him know..." You shrugged. 

"You will?" Ken couldn't seem to believe you, his eyebrows going up in utter surprise and delight. "You... You'll stay?" He seemed so happy, and his expression was priceless as he tried hard to get hold of himself but he didn't last for long, fist bumping the air as he let out little 'yes, yes, yeses;' you couldn't help but laugh a little at his actions, finding him adorable - as always.

"I've been missing out on these parties for a while... So what are these parties like?" You asked Ken, who’s eyes widened at your question.

"Oh, you're in for a treat," Ken exclaimed, his tone enthusiastic, he just couldn't wait to see you enjoying these parties for yourself. "There's music, snacks, and dancing," He said, his arm looping over your shoulder, loving the fact that he was in close contact with you; you felt your cheeks burn at the contact. "Could I… Possibly dance with you, Y/N?" He asked, crossing his fingers with his free hand at his side.

"Oh, Ken," You giggled as you looked back up at him, "You're so adorable... Of course, you can dance with me," You told him, your hand reaching up to hold the hand that was over your shoulders, giving him a gentle squeeze. "But it looks like we're here." You gestured to the large pink building of the Pink House.

Ken's face fell a bit once he realized that your walk with him was over. He had liked being near you, and now that it was over he felt kinda sad that you were leaving. Even though he knew he was going to see you at the party, he didn't want you to leave him. That was something that you did notice about Ken after a while, he was pretty clingy... But you just thought it was because of what happened with him and Stereotypical Barbie. He loved her, but she didn't really appreciate him and took him for granted before she saw her ill ways. Then the whole patriarchy thing happened... You thought that maybe he spent so much time with you, and wanted to spend so much time with you, was because you actually paid attention to him. Maybe... You weren't entirely sure. 

Unwrapping his arm from you, you kept a hold of his hand in yours, smiling up at him as if to hope that he would cheer up a little. "Ken..." You began, his sad, blue ocean eyes meeting yours. Even though he was sad that you had to go - as he was everytime - he couldn't help but feel his plastic heart race as you held his hand in yours.

He didn't want you to go.

Bringing your bottom lip between your teeth momentarily, you admired the man in front of you. The way the light shined down upon him; his blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and crystal clear blue eyes, you couldn't help but stare at him, wanting nothing more than to reach out and stroke his cheek as your thumb gently rubbed across his knuckles. He was simply so gorgeous; perfect. 

Taking a chance, not wanting to be too late for your meeting with President Barbie, you went up on your tip-toes as you leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. As you pulled away, you noticed that Ken looked shocked as he slowly brought his hand up to his cheek, rubbing it lightly as his mouth fell slightly agape; his eyes almost shyfully meeting yours in surprise, "I'll see you at the party." You smiled before taking a few steps backward, your smile never fading as you waved goodbye.

Ken then beamed, watching you go until you were no longer visible. Feeling a rush of excitement and adoration, Ken repeatedly fist-bumped the air, cheering to himself as he walked back towards Beach. You kissed him... On the cheek. Your lips having brushed softly against his skin... Your hand rested on his chest as you pushed yourself up on your toes... You kissed him on the cheek! Ken couldn't get over you. You actually cared about him, you listened to him and valued his thoughts and opinions. Ken hadn't met anyone who really did that for him, until after his mishap with the patriarchy and after Barbie helped him realize who he really was. You really made him feel special, and Ken couldn't wait to see you at the party.

~~~

At the party, Ken leaned against a pillar, his eyes quickly glancing around the room, trying to see if he could spot you. He was beginning to worry that you weren't coming. Maybe you changed your mind about going... About him... Ken was scared, the last time that he had felt this way was with Barbie. She didn't feel the same about him, and it hurt. He didn't want to get hurt again. But you made him hopeful, hopeful to find that love that he had always been craving.

Allan, slightly boogying beside Ken, noticed his odd behavior, frowning, "Are you alright, Ken?"

"Uh, what?" Ken jolted as he looked over, having been so deep in thought that he didn't even notice Allan was beside him at all. He was so focused on finding you, so worried that you wouldn't show. That you'd forgotten all about him... "Y- Yeah, I'm cool, I'm cool..." Ken tried to play it cool in front of Allan. He was obviously not okay, but Ken wouldn't let Allan or anyone else find out he was feeling so worried or nervous for that matter.

Allan frowned, he hated seeing Ken upset, "You seem nervous, Ken." Ken continued to watch the dance floor, and finally, something clicked in his brain, "Oh," Allan muttered, "The human, Y/N... Are you looking for her?" Ken nodded, still not turning back to look at Allan. "Do you want me to go find her?" He offered, already knowing the answer.

Looking at Allan, Ken took in his almost puppy-dog expression before shaking his head. "No, no, it's okay..." Ken reassured him, "She said she'd come... Maybe she's just running late… Yeah…”

Allan nodded in understanding, taking his own time to look around at the party when his eyes met your figure. A smile crept on his face as he grabbed Ken's attention with a pat on the shoulder. "She's here, Ken." 

At his words, Ken snapped his gaze to Allan before looking to where his best buddy was looking, his blue eyes widening at the sight of you. You stood there, looking absolutely beautiful, wearing a stunning pink dress that hugged your curves perfectly, your hair framing your face, the lights highlighting your features. You were swaying on your feet slightly to the beat, looking around the party the same as he had. Were you looking for him?

Ken couldn't stop the grin on his face as your eyes found his in the crowd, your face lighting up as well. Trying to stay cool - but ultimately failing - Ken rushed over to you before practically bouncing on the balls of his feet in front of you with a large grin.

"You actually came!" Ken exclaimed happily, "I... I thought you weren't coming." He confessed, his tone becoming soft and a little embarrassed as you just looked up at him with a smile and a shake of your head.

"I said I'd come... Sorry, I was a bit late though. I went back to the Real World to get dressed." Smiling, Ken looked down at you; he could tell that you were nervous by the way that your face scrunched up slightly. His eyes flickered to your lips, wanting nothing more than to kiss you. "Hey, Ken," His eyes quickly looked back into your eyes, which twinkled under the glittering lights of the many pink disco balls. You then offered him your hand, making Ken raise an eyebrow in confusion, "Care to dance?"

Looking at your hand, Ken took it without a second thought, a grin spreading onto his face. On the dancefloor, Ken danced with you, twirling you out and back into his arms; somehow dancing to the perfectly choreographed dance with everyone else. Ken loved being close to you; your soft and delicate touch against his skin, your intoxicating scent, everything about you. It was almost like a dream; dancing in the middle of a room, surrounded by the Barbies, Kens, Midge, Allan, and Weird Barbie. As he danced, Ken kept his eyes fixated on you, and only you. He felt happy, so very happy, that you were here, that you were there beside him, smiling up at him as you danced... Both dancing the night away.

As the party came to an end, you held Ken's hand as you both walked down the plastic beach. You knew that you would have to go back to the Real World soon, but you didn't want the night to end. Being in Barbie Land... It seemed so unreal, so perfect to you, and it was so easy just being with Ken, talking to each other, laughing, dancing, just living the moment.

"I don't want to leave," You sighed, staring off at the setting sun, Ken's hand tightening slightly in yours. 

"I don't want you to go either," Ken responded, pulling you closer to his side.

Leaning your head on his shoulder, you let out a sigh, "I know... But I have to go." Upon Ken's silence, you paused walking mid-step, pulling back to look up at him. Seeing his little pout, you gave him a small, reassuring smile, "I'll be back Friday. No worries."

Ken let out a slight groan. "Friday is so far away..." He practically whined, looking down at you as he pouted.

You chuckled, poking his cheek in hopes his cute pout would slip away, "Come on, Ken... You know I'll be back. If I didn't come back, I'd probably get fired." His hand still in yours, his thumb brushing over your knuckles, you quickly added, "And of course, I'll come back to see you. I love getting to come see you when I visit." Ken's pout faded as a bright smile came to his face.

"I could come with you!" Ken suggested enthusiastically, his blue eyes sparkling in delight at the idea of coming with you.

"Oh, Ken..." You breathed out, biting your lip as his smile faded slightly, "I don't know how that's going to work... This is your home..." You reminded him as he shook his head. “And I don’t want you to get in trouble with Mattel…”

Looking down at your hand in his, Ken let out a long, sad sigh. Ken felt very reluctant to let you go; he wanted to spend every waking minute with you, spending every day with you; he wanted to take you on dates... Be girlfriend, boyfriend. He was really going to miss you, and he wasn't sure if he could handle not having you there. 

"You promise you will come see me?" He asked, finally looking up to meet your eyes as you gave him a smile and nodded.

"Of course," You promised, your eyes shining brightly with determination as you leaned up to quickly press another kiss to Ken's cheek once more, "I promise. And I'll try staying later too." Ken's face immediately lit up at the action, your kiss having sent a tingle throughout his entire body, piercing his soul. 

Gazing down at you, absolutely entranced, he muttered, “Cool… So cool..."

[oliveroctavius]

What would be the top ten Harry Osborn that isn't the green goblin stories?

I read this ask and went "ten? Really?", sure I couldn't even come up with ten arcs he had a notable part in. (It's one of the tragedies of Harry Osborn's life that the moments when he's trying to kill his best friend are some of the only times when he has Peter's full attention.)

But then I sat down to write the list and they just kept falling out of my pockets. Not ranked, but in in-universe chronology order:

A childhood flashback. "Nice Things", from Amazing Spider-Man Extra #3. I love this Norman characterization.

Giant-Size Gwen Stacy. High school Harry as Gwen's sidekick... I adore the little friend trio that exists only here.

Obligatory Spider-Man: Blue mention. If you're okay with the background characters truly being in the background, you can also read the non-TLDR'ed version in ASM (1963) #39-47.

Also obligatory ASM #96-98. If people know one thing about silver age Harry, it's the scandalous drug overdose thing. Would be great if they read the actual plotline.

Everyone's read The Night Gwen Stacy Died... so I'll skip ahead to ASM #176-180. Technically he IS the Goblin for a bit during this one, but it belongs here for the finale. Start with ASM #172 for full context, including Liz's side of things.

SSM #63. Getting Harry's house burned down is really not Peter's best moment and that's kind of why I'm putting it on this list.

ASM #260-261, 263: The highest-octane entry in the saga of Hobgoblins harassing the Allan-Osborns. Plus, Normie is born!

"A Matter of Trust", from Amazing Spider-Man Family #4. An exploration of Harry's return in Brand New Day.

"Birthday Boy", from Amazing Spider-Man Extra #1. Short and sweet story about the Peter/Harry friendship.

ASM (2015) #12-15. Rare Slott endorsement. Harry and the ladies bust a supervillain, Peter punches Tony Stark in front of Miles...

As a bonus, the backup story about the Coffee Bean at the end of Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son #1. (Ignore the main story, I know he gets shot on the page before the story break, just, don't worry about it, he's fine.)

I'll also drop a handful of underrated bits from the Harryliz era: ASM #188, ASM#249-251, SSM #130, SSM #177... These are more background appearances, but ones that I consider to have solid characterization and/or make up important dots in his overall arc.

[scotianostra]

On September 7th 1736, Captain Porteous was dragged from prison and lynched by an angry mob in Edinburgh.

I love when I can connect posts from previous days, if you remember this Thursdays post on Robert Fergusson birth date, in his poem The Daft Days, he mentions the ‘Black Banditti’ oh and the Aqua Vitae, is of course whisky!

And thou, great god of Aqua Vitae!

Wha sways the empire of this city,

When fou we’re sometimes capernoity,

Be thou prepar’d

To hedge us frae that black banditti,

The City Guard.

Captain John Porteous, was a Scottish soldier and Captain of the Edinburgh City or Town Guard, the old “police” force of auld reekie. The story of the unfortunate Porteous starts in January 1736 when three men, Andrew Wilson, William Hall and George Robertson, were charged with smuggling and attempting to rob Collector of Excise, James Stark at the Pittenween Inn, Fife.

All three men were initially faced with the Grassmarket gallows, though William Hall had his sentence revoked for returning King’s Evidence against his fellow conspirators. Judgment day for Andrew Wilson and George Robertson was set for 14 April. A few days before the execution date Robertson managed to escape his fate, leaving Wilson alone to face the hangman’s noose.

The following is from Edinburgh Poet, Allan Ramsay, (who I also mention on Thursday as Fergussons “muse”) for a first hand account of the events……..“

A true and faithfull account of the Hobleshaw [riot] that happened in Edinburgh, Wednesday, the 14th of Aprile 1736 at the hanging of Wilson, housebreaker.

On the Sunday preceeding viz the 11th, the two condemn’d criminalls Wilson and Robertson were taken as usual by four sogers [soldiers] out of prison to hear their last sermon and were but a few minutes in their station in the Kirk when Wilson who was a very strong fellow took Robertson by the head band of his breeks and threw him out of the seat, held a soger fast in each hand and one of them with his teeth, while Robertson got over and throw the pews, push’d o'er the elder and plate at the door, made his escape throw the Parliament Close down the back staire, got out of the Poteraw [Potterrow] Port before it was shut, the mob making way and assisting him, got friends, money and a swift horse and fairly got off nae mair to be heard of or seen. This made them take a closer care of Wilson who had the best character of them all (til his foly made him seek reprisals at his own hand), which had gaind him so much pity as to raise a report that a great mob would rise on his execution day to relieve him, which noise put our Magistrates on their guard and maybe made some of them unco flayd [unusually afraid] as was evidenced by their inviting in 150 of the Regement that lys [lies] in Cannongate, who were all drawn up in the Lawn Market, while the criminal was conducted to the tree by Captain Porteous and a strong party of the City Guard. All was hush, Psalms sung, prayers put up for a long hour and upwards and the man hang’d with all decency & quietnes. After he was cut down and the guard drawing up to go off, some unlucky boys threw a stone or two at the hangman, which is very common, on which the brutal Porteous (who it seems had ordered his party to load their guns with ball) let drive first himself amongst the inocent mob and commanded his men to folow his example which quickly cleansed the street but left three men, a boy and a woman dead upon the spot, besides several others wounded, some of whom are dead since. After this first fire he took it in his head when half up the Bow to order annother voly & kill’d a taylor in a window three storys high, a young gentleman & a son of Mr Matheson the minister’s and several more were dangerously wounded and all this from no more provocation than what I told you before, the throwing of a stone or two that hurt no body. Believe this to be true, for I was ane eye witness and within a yard or two of being shot as I sat with some gentlemen in a stabler’s window oposite to the Galows. After this the crazy brute march’d with his ragamuffins to the Guard, as if he had done nothing worth noticing but was not long there till the hue and cry rose from them that had lost friends & servants, demanding justice. He was taken before the Councill, where there were aboundance of witnesses to fix the guilt upon him. The uproar of a mob encreased with the loudest din that ever was heard and would have torn him, Council and Guard all in pices [pieces], if the Magistrates had not sent him to the Tolbooth by a strong party and told them he should be tried for his life, which gave them some sattisfaction and sent them quietly home. I could have acted more discreetly had I been in Porteous’s place.”

A total of 9 were reported to have been killed and at least 20 wounded by the City Guard. Porteous was arrested the same afternoon and charged with murder. He was tried at the High Court of Justiciary on 5 July 1736. There was no shortage of enthusiastic witnesses to testify against Porteous’ actions. The jury, no doubt spurred on by the mob gathered outside, did not hesitate in finding him guilty, and he was sentenced to hang on September 8th.

When the news reached London, Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole managed to secure Porteous a Royal Pardon. Porteous was still being held at the Tolbooth, the history is a bit vague about why, I surmise it may have been for his own safety, as there is mention of the guards being increased at the old gaol leading up to the day in question.

A 4,000 ­strong mob took to the streets of Edinburgh. A total lock­down was ordered by the City Guard and all gates, including the Netherbow Port were closed – shutting out many troops stationed outside of the town. The enraged mob made their way to the prison and set the doors ablaze, Porteous attempted to flee but was eventually grabbed by force and dragged up the Lawnmarket, then down along the West Bow towards the Grassmarket where Andrew Wilson had met his end. Porteous was strung up on a dyer’s pole and brutally lynched until he ceased to move. The government would later declare a reward of £200 for any information of those responsible for Captain Porteous’ murder, but none of those guilty would ever be found.

Sir Walter Scott’s famous novel The Heart of Midlothian written in 1818 would later recall the events in great detail.

If visiting Edinburgh and you find yourself in Greyfriars Kirkyard you can find Captain Porteous’s grave is towards the west wall, once a year the re-enactors of the Town Guard pay “respects” to the man there.

The pics are "The Porteous Mob" by James Drummond, The Porteous Riots, A Scene from the Heart of the Midlothian by James Skene and The Porteous Mob by Stanley Cursiter.

You can find a contemporary account of the Porteous affair here from the excellent Newgate Calendar https://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng187.htm

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | The Terror (Corman, 1963)

I'd mostly known The Terror as an example of the work of the fading horror star played by Boris Karloff in Targets, a movie which in part was borne out of Roger Corman wanting to make more money off the movie and get more shooting days out of Karloff. In that movie it represents the old horror, fantastical, stodgy, out of touch with reality, and is juxtaposed against the new horror unsettlingly ordinary and commonplace, most memorably when it plays at the drive-in during the climactic shooting rampage. But the contrast between old and new is present in this movie as well, if less intentionally foregrounded. On one hand, you have Karloff, cast for his legendary stature in the horror genre and also because he needs money. On the other hand, you have Jack Nicholson, who by the end of the decade would represent the cutting edge of film acting.

Now, where Targets shows the old school being outmoded, it appears relatively robust in The Terror. This isn't a career highpoint for either Karloff or Nicholson, the former, while looking a little unhappy still imbues his role with a great deal of presence, especially with those booming line readings he could do in his sleep. Nicholson would go on to become a great actor, but such greatness is not evident here, and the bulk of his line readings come across as stiff and uncomfortable, and he spends a lot of the movie tilting his head up and looking down from an unflattering angle. There's a scene where Nicholson and a possible ghost played by Sandra Knight are conversing in a cemetery, and she keeps talking about how she's dead that might be the least energetic, most under-emoted scene that Nicholson's ever been in, which I suppose is appropriate for Knight given she might be dead but definitely not for Nicholson. If you'd heard of Nicholson's reputation but had somehow only seen this movie, you'd think everybody lost their minds.

The actor who acquits himself best is Corman regular Dick Miller, who gets a little bit of swagger. Apparently what little of the plot kept changing as the production progressed (with multiple directors chipping in, including Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Hill and even Nicholson himself), and I suspect given Miller's history of bit parts, he was comfortable stepping into scenes as needed. In Miller's words:

"When we were shooting in the castle, none of it made any sense. Some of the things I did were ridiculous because I was a butler and I was there just for Karloff to talk to, for Jack to talk to, just a butler."

And:

"In the rewrite I became the heavy. Now all these scenes I were played with different dimensions with fantastic character changes. So this came out at different levels, as well as my hair length and body weight. I was walking in and out of doors changing 20 pounds during this picture. And because the one part was shot in the winter and the other in the summer, my color would change. I would leave the castle white, come into the sunlight and I was practically black, really suntanned. And my hair was a different length; my sideburns were moving up and down. It was a wild thing."

This messy production history also explains the total lack of narrative momentum, with scene after scene spent hanging around a castle with little in the way of plot progression. To a lot of people, this movie will be torture with its molasses-like pacing. But for those like me, who just marathoned a bunch of Corman's Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, who like gothic horror elements in any capacity, and for whom just traipsing through a castle and all its creepy corridors, especially if the one or more characters are wearing something flowy or puffy and there's some Hammer/Bava lighting inside and some fog outside, it's a good enough time.

[omnibused]

Do you have any headcanons about Em?

Okay, sorry this took me so long but I have so, so, so many and tried to trim it down. Hope this gives a little look into her character, and maybe gets me writing more about her!

General Tid-Bits and Miscellany

◇ Emerald or Em. "Gem", affectionately by her father and brother, perhaps a romantic partner. Never Emmy.

◇ She has an older brother, by three years, named Carnelian; they were inseparably close, and protective of one another, as children. She would consider him her best and closest friend.

◇ Her father gave both her and her brother their names based on how dearly he adored calling their mother, Helmi, his "little pearl".

◇ Adores muggle literature, particularly fantasy and the emerging sci-fi genre. Her current favorites are the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe and "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus".

◇ Adores muggle music, particularly Chopin. She's not entirely convinced Chopin was a muggle, but it's a little fantasy she keeps to herself.

…little Em absolutely believed Chopin was a wizard, fooling muggles all along. ♡

[I've had a WIP one shot about these two for weeks I wanna' finish.]

◇ Speaks slightly-above-conversational Finnish, learned from living near her maternal grandparents in Finland, off and on. She has a noticeable accent when speaking English, as well.

◇ Prefers Italian style coffee; if not available, she'll sip cup after cup of unsweetened peppermint herbal tea.

◇ She's left-handed, and has a bit of an altered wand style for it. Her brother and father accredited her edge in dueling to it, but she pays it no mind - aside from bumping elbows at desks and dinner tables.

◇ A naturally introverted and inquisitive child, she learned much of what she knows about magical theory and history from isolating herself in the MacDougal manor library. Even if she was too afraid to put much of any of it into action without guidance.

◇ She went through a degree of homeschooling with her father, Hephaestion, and paternal relatives for a short time. However, kind as her father was, her uncles and grandparents tended to keep her at arm's length, as if she represented a break in the family's lauded pureblood status.

Family and Story Related

◇ She and her brother were both late to show any sign of their magical abilities; the latter hadn't begun to show any magical talent by the age of 9 or 10, shortly before he would have begun his formal magical instruction. Fearing there was another squib, and disappointment, in the family, their mother's brother, Aleksi, attacked the boy to hopefully "provoke" his latent abilities. While it left Carnelian with a permanently scarred face, his magical capabilities were awakened when he inadvertently propelled his uncle through a wall, in self defense. Emerald began showing proficiency in protective and defensive magic shortly after, with his help.

◇ Helmi, their mother, was born a Squib into a pureblood family - her bitterness was passed off on her kids, especially her son. Her family let her stay, but weren't particularly proud of her, and rarely spoke of her in any company.

◇ Carnelian was sent to attend Durmstrang, nearer their maternal grandparent’s home, at 11 - rather against their father’s wishes. He cited his discomfort with their admittance of the dark arts in their curriculum, as reason for his hesitance.

[I HC Durmstrang is somewhere in western Russia, myself, since there’s no absolute canonical location.]

◇ Their grandfather claimed to "know the headmaster" when pushing for the children’s enrollment at Durmstrang, whether or not that was true was never really uncovered. He was, most likely, lying.

◇ Emerald attended Durmstrang for her first year of formal magical education, but was swiftly withdrawn by her father afterward. Her regular owls home confirmed his fears at what the school taught its students.

◇ Hephaestion attempted to withdraw Carnelian as well, but Helmi and her family protested strongly and thwarted his efforts. Em and her father returned to Scotland, where her mother and brother (presumably) stayed with her family in Finland.

◇ Em's father paused her homeschooling to meet with his wife and in-laws to speak about her, and their son, returning with him. He was gone for several months, and still returned alone - talk of Em enrolling in Hogwarts began, then. Her father always had a defeated sort of air about him, after that. 

◇ Em and Carnelian wrote to one another nearly every day when he went off to Durmstrang, and even after her father withdrew her and they became separated. They remained in consistent contact up until her enrollment at Hogwarts. After a single letter of congratulations, she hasn't heard anything from her brother in months.

◇ She wrote to him, nevertheless, through her fifth (and first) year at Hogwarts - including the trials and tribulations regarding the discovery of her new ability. Even if the owl would always bring them back unopened, or she never sent them at all, it helped her to process her feelings as so much began happening around her at once.

…that and she always wrote that things would be so much better handled were he in her place, instead. Her confidence and skill more than quadrupled over the course of the year, thankfully.

~◇~ I also have this headcanon where her brother would return to Scotland around 3 years after finishing his formal education, and apply to be a professor (even just an assistant at first) at Hogwarts. It would be during his sister's 7th and final year in school, and the beginning of their happy reunion. Because I absolutely want them back together and part of one another's lives and happiness forever. ❤️

Whether or not there'd be any interest in reading it is one thing, but I so want to write it.

Thank you so, so much!!

[daveysjackie]

i’d just like to share this photo of allan which i ahve on my wall i cant sleep either insomnia gang

allen <33333

hands down the best character in the movie

insomnia is terrible. let’s hope we pass out sooner rather than later

[byneddiedingo]

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Shall We Dance (Mark Sandrich, 1937)

Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, Jerome Cowan, Ketti Gallian, William Brisbane, Ann Shoemaker, Harriet Hoctor. Screenplay: Allan Scott, Ernest Pagano, P.J. Wolfson. Cinematography: David Abel. Art direction: Van Nest Polglase. Film editing: William Hamilton. Music: George Gershwin.

This was the seventh teaming of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and the fatigue is beginning to show, despite a score by George Gershwin and songs with his brother Ira. Shall We Dance is marred by a tired script  that reworks the familiar pattern: The Astaire and Rogers characters meet cute, feel an attraction to each other that they resist, find themselves in farcical misunderstandings, and several spats, songs, and dances later assure themselves that they are in love. In this one, Astaire plays a faux-Russian ballet dancer called Petrov -- he's actually Pete Peters from Philadelphia, Pa. -- who really wants to be a tap dancer. The idea of Astaire as a danseur noble is absurd from the start, and Astaire knew it -- he had turned down the lead in the 1936 Broadway production of the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical On Your Toes, which like Shall We Dance centers on a production that combines ballet with Broadway-style dance. Gershwin, too, was not entirely happy about the idea of composing ballet music, but both men were eventually persuaded to go along with the idea. The plot gimmick is that Peters/Petrov has fallen for tap dancer Linda Keene, who initially spurns him, and through a series of mishaps the rumor gets started that the two are secretly married. After much ado, they really get married so she can divorce him and put a stop to the rumors, but by then they of course have really fallen in love. One problem is that, unlike the best Astaire-Rogers films, Top Hat (Mark Sandrich, 1935) and Swing Time (George Stevens, 1936), the songs in Shall We Dance don't grow organically out of the screenplay. They have to be wedged in, like Astaire's number "Slap That Bass," which takes place in the engine room of the ocean liner on which Petrov and Linda are traveling -- one of the oddest of the Big White Sets for which the Astaire-Rogers musicals were famous: It's the cleanest engine room ever seen. The biggest Astaire-Rogers dance duet in the film is "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," which is performed on roller skates in a park when Petrov and Linda try to evade pursuing reporters; it, too, seems designed more to get Astaire and Rogers on skates than to contribute to the plot. On the other hand, there's an obvious missed opportunity for a romantic duet to the Oscar-nominated song "They Can't Take That Away From Me," which Astaire sings to Rogers, but he doesn't follow through by dancing with her. He does dance to a few bars of the song when it's reprised later in the film, but his partner is Harriet Hoctor, a dancer whose specialty was a deep back-bend that she performed while en pointe. There's a sequence in which Hoctor does her thing while dancing backward toward the camera, which she is facing, that's flat-out creepy. Astaire-Rogers film regulars Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore are on hand to do their usual fussbudget routines. Blore's bit in which he tries to tell Horton over the phone that he's been arrested and is at the Susquehanna Street Jail, constantly being interrupted in his attempts to spell "Susquehanna," is the film's funniest moment.

[joinersstirling]

Joiners Bridge of Allan

Bridge of Allan, a picturesque town located just outside Stirling, is known for its beautiful architecture and a strong sense of community. The town’s historical significance and scenic charm have made it a desirable place to live, and as a result, there has been consistent demand for high-quality craftsmanship, particularly in trades like joinery. Joiners in Bridge of Allan have established themselves as skilled professionals who are essential in both the construction of new homes and the preservation of older, historical properties. Joinery in this region isn’t just about construction; it is a craft that combines tradition, precision, and artistic expertise.

The Role of Joiners in Bridge of Allan

Joiners are highly skilled tradespeople who work with wood to create structures, fittings, and furniture. Their work is integral in both residential and commercial buildings, covering everything from doors and windows to staircases and cabinetry. In a town like Bridge of Allan, where there is a mixture of Victorian-era buildings, modern homes, and commercial establishments, joiners play a vital role in maintaining the town’s character while adapting to modern needs.

Whether it’s a new build requiring intricate woodwork or the restoration of an older property that demands attention to detail, joiners in Bridge of Allan bring their craftsmanship to bear on a wide variety of projects. The local environment, with its historic buildings, lends itself to bespoke joinery services, which are essential when working within conservation guidelines.

Traditional Joinery in Bridge of Allan

One of the most respected aspects of joinery in Bridge of Allan is the emphasis on traditional methods. Many joiners in the area pride themselves on using techniques passed down through generations. These methods include hand-cutting joints, shaping timber with planes, and using classic mortise and tenon techniques to ensure that each piece is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Traditional joinery often comes into play during the renovation of the Victorian and Edwardian buildings that are common in Bridge of Allan. Homeowners and businesses alike seek out skilled joiners who are able to maintain the historical integrity of their properties, whether it’s repairing sash windows or creating custom mouldings to match the original designs.

In addition, many joiners in the area work with timber sourced from Scotland, which not only supports the local economy but also maintains a connection to the region’s natural resources. Oak, pine, and Douglas fir are frequently used materials, each offering unique characteristics that can enhance the beauty of a space while providing durability.

Modern Joinery in Bridge of Allan

While there is a deep respect for tradition, joiners in Bridge of Allan are also well-versed in modern techniques and technologies. As the construction industry has evolved, so too has the work of joiners. Many firms and independent craftsmen in the area now combine the best of traditional woodworking with cutting-edge tools and design software to deliver high-quality finishes that meet contemporary standards.

For example, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines are now widely used in joinery workshops to achieve precise cuts and shapes that would be difficult to replicate by hand. This ensures that joiners can offer both speed and accuracy in their projects, whether it’s crafting a custom kitchen or fitting out a modern office space.

Modern joinery in Bridge of Allan is also focused on sustainability. With growing awareness of environmental issues, many local joiners are taking steps to ensure their work is as eco-friendly as possible. This might involve using sustainable timber sources, reducing waste in the workshop, or choosing finishes that are less harmful to the environment. Many customers are now seeking out joiners who can offer environmentally conscious options for their projects.

Bespoke Joinery Services

A key aspect of joinery in Bridge of Allan is the emphasis on bespoke services. The nature of joinery means that much of the work is custom-made, tailored to the specific needs and tastes of the client. This bespoke approach allows joiners to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship, whether they are designing custom furniture or creating unique architectural details for a property.

Bespoke joinery is especially valued in a town like Bridge of Allan, where homes often have unique architectural features that require custom solutions. For example, a Victorian home might need a staircase designed to fit within a particular space or custom-built shelving that complements the character of the house. In such cases, joiners work closely with clients to understand their vision and deliver a product that enhances the home’s aesthetic.

Many local joiners also offer bespoke furniture-making services, creating one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect the personality and style of the homeowner. From hand-carved tables to intricately designed wardrobes, bespoke joinery allows for a level of personalisation that mass-produced furniture simply cannot offer.

The Importance of Joiners in Heritage and Restoration Projects

Bridge of Allan has a rich architectural history, and joiners are often called upon to contribute to heritage and restoration projects. These projects require a deep understanding of traditional building techniques, materials, and historical context. Skilled joiners in the area are adept at working on listed buildings, ensuring that any repairs or alterations comply with conservation regulations while preserving the historical significance of the property.

For example, sash window restoration is a common project for joiners in the area, as these windows are a hallmark of Victorian and Georgian architecture. Restoring or replicating these windows requires precision and an understanding of the historical design, which is why many homeowners and developers turn to local joiners who specialise in this type of work.

Conclusion

Joiners in Bridge of Allan are essential to the town’s building and restoration landscape. Whether preserving the historical charm of Victorian and Edwardian homes or creating modern, sustainable woodwork for new builds, these craftsmen combine tradition, skill, and innovation in their work. As demand continues for both bespoke and restoration services, joiners in Bridge of Allan are likely to remain an integral part of the town’s architectural identity for years to come. Their commitment to quality and craftsmanship ensures that they are not only preserving the past but also shaping the future of this charming town.

[denimbex1986]

'In "Barbie," America Ferrera's character Gloria tells us that it's impossible to be a woman, while "Oppenheimer" demonstrates that the violence of patriarchy also makes it impossible to be a good man.

When faced with the consequences of their own actions, both Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) and Barbie (Margot Robbie) seek to exercise strong leadership that is remorseful, accountable and rooted in feminist values of repair and community — but in Oppenheimer's patriarchy, as in the patriarchy of our real world, practicing feminist leadership is punished.

Recently, Warner Bros., perhaps inspired by the underlying message of "Barbie," apologized for tweets that made light of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, just days before the anniversary of these events. This is a version of leadership that Oppenheimer was denied and that Barbie is able to enjoy: strength through accountability and repair.

When "Barbie begins," we see snippets of an idealized Barbieland. Lawyer Barbie stands up in court and says, "I have no difficulty holding both logic and feeling at the same time. And it does not diminish my powers, it expands them." On the other hand, as a successful man in a patriarchal nation, Oppenheimer was denied feelings. He couldn't unionize his workplace without consequences and he couldn't express remorse or regret about the use of the atomic bomb. As soon as he did, he was punished.

Our political leaders are similarly denied remorse. President Obama's visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, which marked the first time a U.S. president had visited the site where nuclear bombs were first used in warfare, was derided as an apology tour.

"Barbie's' Gloria (Ferrera) is exasperated. "I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us," she said. I, too, am just so tired —of seeing men contort themselves to hide their best qualities: kindness, softness, joy, and care.

I am so tired of men choosing to be hard in order to not be seen as feminine. I'm so tired of men choosing violence, emotional and physical, of excusing the violence of other men, in order to stay in the boys club. I am so tired of the gender binary reinforcing patriarchy, and of patriarchy reinforcing the gender binary. I'm so tired of men attacking women and the queer community to prove themselves to other men. I'm so tired of "girl dads" being celebrated, rather than girl dad qualities being extended to children of all genders. We all lose when these are our societal norms.

In both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," men perform masculinity for other men, preserving their egos by harming the women around them: in "Barbie, the Kens battle throughout the film, only working together when attacking what Barbie has built. Her dream house becomes Ken's Mojo Dojo Casa House, and the Barbies become subservient to the Kens. In "Oppenheimer," women are sexual fantasies, mothers-to-be or mothers. In both cases, as trophy wives or fantasies, for men to prove their worth to one another, for patriarchy to succeed, women must be the second sex and queerness must be isolated (Sorry, Allan).

What would have happened if Oppenheimer lived in Barbieland – a world, Will Ferrell tells us, without real weapons? What could he have created, what world would we live in today, if he had been able to hold feelings and logic, and the U.S. had never developed or dropped the atomic bomb?

In "Oppenheimer," when the rules break down and he begins to question the scale of violence that the state is pursuing, he is punished. In "Barbie," when the rules break down and her heels hit the floor, her community surrounds her with care and concern. She is encouraged to seek out the root causes of her unease. And, in the real world, she is confronted with the consequences of her life: that she has been complicit in creating impossible standards for women, and that the Kens have been taken for granted.

In "Oppenheimer," the only accountability he faces is damage to his career, his ego and his sense of self. He is never accountable to communities most harmed by his work. He imagines the damage of the bomb, but unlike Barbie, he is never confronted with the communities he has hurt, the lives destroyed by his creation. Even at the end of the movie, as he fears the world has been set on fire, he never has to experience loss like the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or downwinders, Indigenous communities and uranium miners across the southwest U.S. have.

The day I saw "Oppenheimer," I also watched a Congressional hearing on Afghanistan. Like "Oppenheimer," the hearing had no testimony from communities directly impacted by U.S. militarism. We continue to repeat our history because we have failed to practice accountability, listen to dissent and address harm with community, care and a commitment to repair. And part of why we have not learned these lessons is because patriarchy, as we see in the film, punishes dissent so effectively that we are afraid of dissenting at all. Just look at how Ken is scared of dissenting until he is introduced to patriarchy. Neither the Kens nor Los Alamos' scientists can break ranks without punishment.

Unlike Oppenheimer, Barbie is directly confronted with the harms of promoting an idealized feminine image and, through Gloria, is reimagined as an ordinary Barbie celebrating a life renewed through the promise of equality. She is confronted with the impact of taking Ken for granted: instead of seeking equality, the Kens enact revenge, trashing Barbieland and taking steps to consolidate their power. When the Barbies come back to restore Barbieland, almost miraculously, Barbie apologizes. She knows she has taken Ken for granted, and the other Barbies also realize that the weight of unyielding leadership has become too heavy. It's both a burden and an opportunity; one that they want to share.

"Barbie's" matriarchy is imperfect, but that is the point: it is capable of evolution, and the movie follows not just Barbie's journey, but the journey of Barbieland as it adapts to new challenges. Barbieland's challenges are flat feet, the revolution of the Kens, and adopting variations of Barbie with existential crises. Our challenges in the real world are many: climate crisis, endless militarism and a patriarchal, homophobic and racist state. "Barbie" shows us it is possible to adapt to meet those challenges. We can prioritize abundant life, instead of violence and power. We can follow Barbie's lead and work with Allan to enact queer liberation. We can build a society based on accountability and care.

If we imbue feminist values into our politics and our culture, our institutions and how we treat one another, we can uproot patriarchy and embrace abundant care for one another. And maybe then, we can have more dance parties and fewer nukes.'

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Barbie

[The following review contains SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie opens with an extended montage depicting an average day in the glamorous life of Margot Robbie’s Stereotypical Barbie. She awakens in her pink plastic Dream House, dresses herself in one of her many fabulous outfits, cruises down the street in her pink plastic convertible—greeting Mail Carrier Barbie, Construction Worker Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, and President Barbie along the way—relaxes at the beach (where the surf is eternally gnarly, the “water” permanently frozen in a six-foot wave of molded plastic), and finally returns home to enjoy a night of partying, complete with elaborately choreographed dance routines. In Barbie Land, women can do and be whatever their hearts desire. It is, in other words, a feminist paradise—the exact sort of setting you would expect to be inhabited by the revolutionary doll that taught little girls everywhere that playtime isn’t just preparation for future domestic responsibilities.

That’s what the omniscient narrator (voiced by Dame Helen Mirren, of all people) repeatedly insists, at least; in truth, this “utopia” is as empty, illusory, and insubstantial as Barbie’s morning glass of imaginary orange juice. While Ryan Gosling’s delightfully demented Stereotypical Ken technically introduces the concept of “patriarchy” (albeit a comically juvenile facsimile thereof; his “Kendom” revolves around such shallow masculine signifiers as mini fridges, acoustic guitars, pickup trucks, pickup artistry, and frat boy posturing) to Barbie Land, the infrastructure of inequality was already firmly established. The Kens are essentially second-class citizens: whereas Barbies are allowed to be doctors, award-winning journalists, and heads of state, the subordinate Kens are seemingly forbidden from pursuing careers; they are glorified accessories, their worth defined solely by their relationships with their female counterparts. The Barbies likewise own all property; Stereotypical Barbie outright admits that she has no idea where the Kens actually live.

The Kens are not the only victims of this subjugation, either. Michael Cera’s Allan is frequently ignored and taken for granted—and despite his generally laid-back attitude, this casual disrespect clearly upsets him. And Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie is ostracized due to her failure to conform to her society’s beauty standards—a trait that she explicitly cannot control (her disheveled physical appearance is the result of being loved too dearly—and played with too roughly—by a previous owner).

This surprisingly nuanced meditation on the nature of power dynamics is further reinforced by the characters that our protagonist encounters in the Real World. The Mattel CEO portrayed by Will Ferrell, for example, is not actively malicious; indeed, he genuinely believes in the toys that his company manufactures, regurgitating the corporate mission statement of “inspiring children to dream” with absolute sincerity. His good intentions, however, do not absolve him of his complicity in a system that routinely marginalizes women; as evidenced by the fact that his board of directors is a veritable sausage fest, he still benefits from and perpetuates institutionalized misogyny. And rather than engaging in healthy self-reflection when confronted with incontrovertible proof his “invisible” privilege, he instead becomes uncomfortably defensive, his feeble justifications rapidly deteriorating into incoherent babbling: “I’m the son of a mother and the nephew of a female aunt! Some of my best friends are Jewish!”

Featuring stellar performances, spectacularly beautiful production design, and a gloriously irreverent tone, Barbie is an endearingly cute, fun, charming cinematic experience. To those viewers already converted to the cause that it champions, its central theme may come off as obnoxiously didactic and heavy-handed… but the alt-right’s ineffectually venomous reaction to the film makes it abundantly obvious that even a literal Deus Ex Machina is too subtle for certain audiences.

[veritaaas]

And I. Choose. Us.